On Monday 3 December 2007, Point Lookout Croquet Club, Maryborough, lost a dedicated member, friend and mentor. Queensland croquet lost one of its champions, and Australian croquet lost an elite player, with the passing of Lorraine Bray.
Early life
Lorraine was born in Toowoomba. Her father was a police officer, and the family moved frequently in her childhood, eventually settling in Maryborough. She enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Corps and served until the end of the war, then worked as a secretary until she married Ron in 1952. They had two children, Paul and Lynn. Ron passed away in 1973.
Lorraine played basketball, tennis and hockey, and met Ron through hockey. After injuring herself at tennis she took up croquet, following her mother, who had played the game for many years. She quickly showed a natural talent for the sport.
Club and administration
Lorraine committed herself to Point Lookout Croquet Club, serving continuously as treasurer for many years, as well as Greens Director, President, Club Captain, and Tournament Manager for the Biennial and Masters Tournaments. She always considered it her duty to pass on her knowledge of the game to new members. Her commitment to the club was recognised in Life Membership.
Playing career
Lorraine won her first state championship in 1963 (2nd Division Singles), and her career escalated from there. By her retirement from competition in 1996 she had been Queensland Doubles Champion seven times and Queensland Singles Champion nine times, represented Queensland 20 times (six as Captain), and won the Gibson Medal ten times. She won the Australian Ladies Singles Championship twice (runner-up twice more) and the Australian Doubles Championship twice.
She represented Australia in the MacRobertson Shield in New Zealand in 1979, and again in 1988 and 1990, winning the Tasman Shield on both later occasions.
The highlight of her career was her first Australian Singles Championship win, coming from an unwinnable 0-24 position to win the game 26-24. She was also the first woman in Australia to complete a triple peel in a competition game.
Honours
In 2000, Lorraine was awarded the Australian Sports Medal, cast to commemorate the Sydney Olympic Games and awarded to an elite few across a number of sports. On 25 November 2007 she was honoured for her long and illustrious career with a plaque in Maryborough's Walk of Achievers, at the corner of Wharf and Richmond Streets.
*Farewell to a great lady. Point Lookout Croquet Club, Maryborough.*