IN its formative years the game of croquet was a realm unto the British upper-class, played on the lawns of manor houses and vicarages.
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Today, it is played by thousands of Australians on full sized courts, garden clubs and backyard lawns, popularised in retirement villages and aged care facilities.
While the number of active members varies from year to year at Shoal Bay’s Harbourside Haven, the one constant for the past decade has been the intense competition between three of the organisation’s more senior members.
At 99 years of age and the eldest among the trio, Jack Ryan is also the most competitive and currently holds bragging rights over Eric Holiday and Bart Richardson, who are both a mere 95-years-old.
Unfortunately Mr Richardson, a World War II prisoner of war hero who survived Hellfire Pass, was absent for our interview but the friendly rivalry was obvious between the remaining nonagenarians.
With their more active sporting days behind them, both Mr Ryan and Mr Holliday say a healthy, outdoors lifestyle was central to their longevity.
‘‘I have always enjoyed sport, particularly soccer, and eating Eric’s vegetables,’’ quipped Mr Ryan, a life member and former president of the famous Adamstown Rosebuds soccer club.
‘‘You know I played for Australia, though it was with the Air Force during the war and we had a match against the old enemy [English RAF team].’’
The talents of Mr Holliday, on the other hand, are not so much confined to the sporting arena as on the farm.
Born “under a gum tree in Bobs Farm”, Mr Holliday started working on the family acerage at age seven and for many years operated the famous rose farm on Marsh Road [now the site of Tailor Made Fish Farm], which at its peak employed 40 workers.
An OAM and Justice of the Peace, Mr Holliday was a prominent member of the vegetables association, rising to its national president. He has also mentored thousands of students at the Tocal agricultural college.
‘‘Eating fresh vegetables is my secret to longevity, along with keeping busy and moving into Harbourside [where he has been a residents’ advocate for 15 years],’’ Mr Holliday said.
While both gentlemen have their ailments, they are looking forward to locking horns on the croquet court next year and taking part in the end-of-season Christmas party which would coincide with Mr Ryan’s centenary.
“I look forward to having my son Stephen, grandchildren and great grandchildren here and having another win on the croquet court,” Mr Ryan added.
