The special celebration coincided with the club's Fun Day, held in April.

President Phyllis Emery welcomed social members including Fred Mumford and Jan Warburton along with Patron, Margaret Murray, who all joined for the event.

Phyllis indicated the committee felt it was an opportune event to recognise Moya for her outstanding contribution to the club.

Committee member Dee Carrington explained Moya retired from the position of Club Captain, which she held since 2012, but will continue as a member of the committee, contributing her wealth of experience to the ongoing smooth running of the club.

Moya had lived in England and had enjoyed playing croquet there so, having recently moved to the area, she responded to the invitation to a public meeting, held in May 1999, to assess community interest in setting up a croquet club locally.

Three years previously, a group had been set up through U3A with Margaret Murray as coach, playing on a small court at Sarah Claydon Village in Milton.

Wanting to expand membership and develop their skills on a larger court, the original U3A members decided to set up an independent club.

At the public meeting the club was officially established as the Milton Ulladulla Croquet Club and was constituted in August 1999 at its first general meeting.

The Milton Ulladulla Bowling Club had agreed that the club could take over their small practice bowling green as its permanent home ground.

As one of the original founding members of that newly formed club, Moya has been active and instrumental in the growth and development of the club since that time.

In addition to teaching new members, organising club and interclub events and keeping members informed of the rules and rule changes, plus other committee work, Moya was also developing her own skills on the court, participating in club, interclub and regional competitions on the south coast, Dee said.

In 2011 Moya swept the board in the club championships, winning the golf singles competition, ricochet and golf doubles with George Emery.

Moya continues to serve as a committee member, a role she has performed for many years. She has always encouraged members to join in competitions and helped them develop their croquet skills and learn the strategy involved.

"The Fun Day was an ideal opportunity and a great pleasure for all members to show their appreciation for the enormous contribution Moya has made to the club over the last 20 years," Dee Carrington said.

"As a token of our thanks, Patron Margaret Murray presented Moya with a certificate of appreciation and President Phyllis Emery presented Moya with a bouquet of flowers."

On the court many members enjoyed friendly fun and rivalry in doubles matches.

"Playing on a half court versus the usual full-sized court can be a challenge for some so they have to adapt quickly to a more compact version of the game, but we soon witnessed a number of running a hoop in one shot, the record set for the day by Carmen Champion," Dee said.

Eight sets of doubles partners were on the courts at the same time, racking up their hoop scores and attempting jump shots and stop shots with varying degrees of success.

The winning doubles pair was Kerry Perkins and Peter Champion, followed by Cheryl Fibbins and Mike Heighway in second place and Sharon Heighway and Richard Nesbitt in third.

Milton Ulladulla Croquet Club is located at the Showground on Croobyar Road, Milton. The club is open seven days a week and welcomes visitors and new members. Club Captain Tony DeFriend conducts lessons for those new to croquet and the club provides all the equipment required, including a range of mallets for use by players.

Anyone interested in trying croquet and joining the club should contact Tony on 4454 2321 or Phyllis on 4454 1598.