On Saturday 6 July 2024, our Saturday afternoon HiLo players jumped into the deep end to learn about IMPs, VPs and everything else that goes with teams competitions in bridge. With a very sound ten tables, it's a huge congratulations to the brave Lo players and a big thank you to the Hi players who offered their guidance during the event.  

Congratulations to our Great Lakes team who qualified right up to the Northern zone finals of the NSW Country Teams 2024 Comp in Coff Harbour, 29-30 June 2024. Gil Clarke, Pauline Erby, Megan Grant and Barbara Williams placed a creditable 6th in the field of14 strong teams from Ballina, Armidale and Coffs, Nambucca and Port Macquarie. Just missing out on the cut-off to progress to the city-country finals, they placed 1st in the runners up comp the next day, with Gil and Pauline topping the pair data. Well done all.

Every year our club offers free bridge lessons to newcomers and those who wish to improve their game. This year's cohort appears keen and competent, with 21 attending the second series of lessons on Tuesday 7 May. It's also heartening to see many of our 'newbies' venturing out of the safety of supervised play into the 'big playground' of regular sessions. Well done all!

It is with deep sadness we say goodbye to one of our sweetest and dearest members, Marie Schutte, who died suddenly on 22 April 2024, aged 88.

A warm and loving woman, family was very important to Marie - fortunately, her closest were with her on the day she died. Mother of three and grandmother of many, she often spoke proudly of their many achievements. Marie had many close friends - her genuine and unwavering smile (and contagious giggle) endeared her to many of us at the bridge club and beyond. She will be sorely missed.

Beginners lessons over the last 7 weeks were very successful, culminating in 24 newbies consistently in attendance and showing a promising zeal. Thanks to comittee members Sylvia and Shirley for ensuring each lesson was informative and enjoyable.

Our next round of free lessons begin on Tuesday 7 May 2024 at 2pm and run for 4 weeks. These will consolidate and build on previous lessons, with a focus on bidding.

We're reminded that our annual membership fees are now due. These are payable at the door by credit/debit card (as per each game's table fees) or via direct deposit. Details:  Member: $30; Associate member: $20; Bank details: Great Lakes Bridge Club Inc, BSB: 637 000 Acc # 726 459 037 Please reference your NAME

Did you know that our club purchases Masterpoints from the Australian Bridge Federation (ABF) for our members and do you realise how much is paid for these? The ABF Masterpoint Scheme aims to stimulate interest and competitiveness in bridge by ranking its members’ achievements. (It also assists in financing the ABF’s national and international commitments.)

As a healthy and thriving club, we are proud to regularly congratulate our members as they progress up the ranks, from Graduate to Grand Master and beyond! 

At the last Great Lakes Bridge Club (GLBC) committee meeting for 2023, several issues were discussed in depth, resulting in some changes for 2024:

System cards

Monday 11 December 2023 saw another crowded, happy and enjoyable celebration of a successful year of bridge. The event started with the presentation of awards and certificates (pictured and listed below). A delicious lunch followed, ending with a relaxed game of casual bridge.

The latter included a pair of our most senior members - with over 180 years between them, their combined time playing bridge is estimated to be over 60 years!

Trophy winners (pictured clockwise from top left) were:

Over 70% of the registered active bridge players in NSW have fewer than 100 masterpoints. We are pleased to have an ardent set of novice players who turn up consistently and 'have a go'.

Late in 2023, our club once again took part in the NSW Bridge Association’s UHMP State Pairs Championships, restricted to players with less than 100 MPs. Pictured are our local winners, Pam Wallingford and June Beard who incidentally collected O.56 Red Points each for their efforts (As many of us are aware, these are quite difficult to accumulate).