Born in 1926, Daphne Isobel Savage (nee Howells) joined Ipswich Croquet Club in 1980. A hand injury requiring microsurgery held back her progress in 1981-82, but by late 1982 she was runner-up in the Queensland Championship AC Singles, the George Moore Trophy. She set up a practice area in her backyard with the help of mentor Henry Tite.
Playing and officiating
Until May 2015, Daphne practised at least twice weekly, mentoring new players and officiating at Ipswich Croquet Club, and travelled regularly throughout Australia competing in singles and doubles, managing and refereeing at events including the elite Gold Coast tournaments. She was Ipswich Club Champion for three years, and won the prestigious Queensland Gold Medal event in 1990, one of only two Ipswich club recipients (the other being Mrs Ivy Tite, Croquet Queensland President 1976-78, who won in 1970).
Daphne qualified as a referee in 1987 and continued until 2013, when her health prevented her from continuing; players still consult her on rule interpretation to this day. A highlight of her refereeing career was serving as referee of an international game in 1993, for which she was presented a British Association Badge. She was an ACA Examining Referee from 1990-1996 and helped conduct referee courses across Queensland.
Administration
- 1988-1996: Chairperson, CAQ State Selection Committee
- 1988-1996: Secretary, CAQ State Handicapping Committee; member of the Laws Committee; contributed to reviewing and updating the CAQ Constitution and By-Laws
- Represented Ipswich, Graceville and Stephens clubs in pennant teams; captained Ipswich's 1986 winning pennant side
- Ipswich delegate to CAQ monthly meetings for over 10 years; Ipswich's Brisbane South Region delegate, 1999-2014
- President of Ipswich Croquet Club, 2006 until her resignation in September 2015 due to ill health, receiving Life Membership in 2000
During her presidency Daphne spent nine years negotiating with Ipswich City Council for a clubhouse redevelopment, realised in August 2016 at the club's heritage-listed Queens Park site.
Beyond croquet
Across 92 years Daphne volunteered widely in the Ipswich community: with the Silkstone State School Ladies Auxiliary (1958-69), as a Brownie leader (from 1959), with junior Australian Rules football administration (from 1964, alongside her late husband Mervyn, who received posthumous Life Membership in 1976), in Ipswich Ladies Vigoro administration for 20 years (1964-84, receiving Life Membership in 1987, plus Queensland Life Membership for her state-level service), and with Heart Support Australia following her own heart attack in 1996, where she served as laundry convenor and Patient Visitation Counsellor for eight years.
*Nominated by Ipswich Croquet Club; inducted into the Croquet Queensland Hall of Recognition in September 2018.*