Historical information

This trophy is one of several from the 1930s that were awarded as part of the inter-church indoor sports competitions held in Warrnambool. One of the sponsors of these competitions was Fletcher Jones, the well-known clothing manufacturer. The head office and major factory of the Fletcher Jones business were in Warrnambool. This trophy was awarded to the Congregational Men’s Institute for deck quoits. The game of quoits consists of competitors throwing four or five rings or hoops on to a raised spike some metres away. The hoops are generally made of plaited rope and the game is said to have been started or popularized by sailors on board ship. In deck quoits the raised spike is usually replaced by concentric circles drawn on the playing surface. This game became very popular on ocean liner cruises from the 1930s on. The Congregational Men’s Institute was a leading men’s activity group in Warrnambool in the 1930s. A Congregational Church was opened in Liebig Street in Warrnambool in 1864 and transferred to Henna Street in 1940. This Henna Street church was sold to the Salvation Army in 1979 when the Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Church to form the Uniting Church.

Significance

This trophy is of interest as a memento of the now-defunct inter-church sporting competitions held in Warrnambool in the 1930s.

Physical description

This is an electro-plated nickel silver cup with two side handles, a thin stem and a silver base. The cup is mounted on a Bakelite stand.

Inscriptions & markings

‘I.C.I.S.A. Deck Quoits Championship Won by C.M.I. 1935’