About Us
Duncraig Badminton Club welcomes experienced players who are interested in playing badminton in a friendly, sociable environment. We play every Wednesday night from 8-10pm between January and December. We play with feather shuttlecocks, across all four courts at Duncraig Recreation Centre. Games are usually timed to ensure everyone gets plenty of matches. Our membership consists of around 40 players of all ages and nationalities and we are regularly joined by visitors, who often join the club as members.
Duncraig Badminton Club is affiliated with the Badminton Association of Western Australia (BAWA) and being a member of Duncraig Badminton Club means that you will also gain BAWA membership. This provides you with reduced competition entry fees, invitations to key BAWA events, playing insurance and a range of discounts detailed on the BAWA website. Your membership fees will also support WA states teams and develop the next generation of badminton players.
Since our formation in 1974 members from Duncraig Badminton Club have been involved with state and national teams. The full story of how Duncraig came to be the club it is today is described below.
Club History
In the beginning….
On 15 August 1974 a group of interested persons met and agreed to form a badminton club that would play at the Sorrento-Duncraig Recreation Centre at Warwick Road, Sorrento. This recreation centre was still under construction with a due completion date of January, 1975 and would house four badminton courts. A club was formed – President: Jim Carruthers, Secretary: Lyn Smith and Committee: Alan Walton, Amy Rowlands, Jeff Cameron.
The early years…
The inaugural playing night was Wednesday 5 February 1975, with three clubs (Mixed, Juniors & Ladies) operating under the name of the Duncraig Districts Badminton Association. The hours of play were 7.30-11.30pm, annual fees were $8 and weekly shuttle fees were 50 cents, with membership limited to 80 players.
By 17 March 1975 the Association had 60 members – the Junior club had 25 young players, and 18 visitors had attended. At the Special General Meeting held in October 1975 the records show that the Association had 95 members! The Association was, obviously, an immediate success with the first interclub match being played against the Wanneroo Club and an End-of-season Function attracting a group of 47 people. Plastic shuttles were used on club night with feather shuttles provided for any interclub matches.
By 1975 a Constitution was being written, (passed in 1976), several social functions were organised throughout the year, a coach was employed to raise the playing standard, and regular competitions were held, including the Club Championships. In 1977 it was decided that only feather shuttles would be used and these were bought at a cost of $4.90 per tube. Supper was a feature of each playing night with games stopping at 10am, and players returning to the courts for further play until 11.30pm.
In 1978 the club affiliated with the Badminton Association of Western Australia Inc and entered teams in the metropolitan pennant competition and by 1985 four teams competed in the Commonwealth Bank Pennants Home and Away Competition: Duncraig Alpha, Duncraig Beta (both in A Reserve Grade), Duncraig Vampires and Duncraig Demons (B Grade).
In 2007 the Club decided to become an Incorporated body and a new Constitution was prepared with the name changing to the Duncraig Badminton Club Inc. As with all groups, there have been seasons with low membership but never less than 26 members and in the period 2007-17 membership has been on average 30+ players.
Summary…
The club has a long and colourful history and been based at the same venue since 1975, playing on the same weeknight and at similar playing times.
From the beginning the Duncraig Badminton Club has been well organised, keen on player development, and on providing members with a range of competitions and social activities.
Duncraig Badminton Club has been a strong, vibrant club for more than forty years with many of its members contributing, not only to the club management but to the sport of badminton in WA and nationally.
Club Constitution
Duncraig Badminton Club Constitution
Committee
Duncraig Badminton Club is run by a committee of volunteer members who act as officers, club captain and vice-captains. A separate social committee is responsible for organising the club’s social events throughout the year including the end of year dinner and fun club competitions throughout the season.
