The Emmie Cornelius Trophy
From 1986 the Emmie Cornelius Trophy was awarded for this event. Emmie served croquet for 40 years. She joined Merthyr Croquet Club in 1952. In 1956 when the club was struggling with low membership she formed a new committee and supervised the subsequent flourishing of the club with her forthright manner and managerial expertise. The Merthyr Croquet Club clubhouse (originally built by the Council) burnt down in 1961. It was re-built by Emmie’s husband and son partially through insurance but mainly through funds raised by Emmie Cornelius and her committee.
Emmie was the driving force behind the establishment of tournaments at Southport and the other clubs on the Gold Coast. She made weekly trips to clubs in that area to coach players. Emmie introduced 3rd and 4th Division events to encourage newer players. CAQ still uses the beautiful trophies that were donated at the time for these events.
Emmie was CAQ President 1967-69; she represented Queensland in Interstate croquet tournaments 1968-71.
The trophy was donated by Betty Haupt in recognition and admiration of Emmie Cornelius.
CAQ Open Singles Championship
1911 Miss Robin Royle (NSW)
1912 Mr GH Gordon (NSW)
1924 Mrs Dinsdale; Mrs Jeffars
1926 Mrs Bell
1927 Mrs T Bell
1928 Mrs Margetts
1930 Mrs R S Gibson
1931 Mrs R S Gibson
1932 Mrs W Pitter
1933 Mrs W Pitter
1934 Mrs G Arnold
1935 Mrs D H Milne
1936 Mrs F Bridgman
1937 Mrs F Bridgman
1938 Mrs F Bridgman
1939 Mrs K Sapsford
1947 Mrs H Rogers
1948 Mrs H Rogers
1949 Mrs Milne
1953 Mr Wally Crowther
1962 O. Farrell
1969 Mrs Flo Hough
1970 Tom Howat (Vic)
1971 Mrs G French
1972 Lorraine Bray
1973 Mr Derek Russell
1974 Joan Hurrell
1975 Lorraine Bray
1976 Lorraine Bray
1977 Mrs C Pownall
1978 Audrey Pownall
1979 Freda Millard
1980 Lorraine Bray
1981 Lorraine Bray
1982 Bruce Ford
1983 Bruce Ford
1985 Bruce Fleming
1986 Bevan Jeppson
1987 Aggie Read
1988 Audrey Pownall
1989 Greg Bury
1990 Aggie Read
1991 Ian Costin
1992 Greg Bury
1993 Greg Bury
1994 Greg Bury
1995 Bruce Fleming
1996 Bruce Fleming
1997 Bruce Fleming
1998 Les Watson
1999 Bruce Fleming
2000 Ian Dumergue
2001 Les Watson
2002 Bruce Fleming
2003 Les Watson
2004 Bruce Fleming
2005 Tony Hall
2006 Bruce Fleming
2007 Les Watson
2008 Jocelyn Sutton
2009 John Hardy
2010 Phillip Drew
2011 Malcolm Fletcher
2012 Malcolm Fletcher
2013 David Wise
2014 Alan Honey
2015 Alan Honey
2016 Greg Whymark
2017 Kevin Beard
2018 Leslie Watson
2019 Leslie Watson
2020 Leslie Watson
2021 Heather Knight
2022 Leslie Watson
2023 Mike Gidding
2024 Bruce Fleming