Newsletter - 8 December 2023
In our newsletter this week...
- President's Message
- Vale Mary Robbie
- Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal
- Christmas Raffles
- Christmas Gift Vouchers for Beginner's Lessons
- Bridge Calendar for 2024
- Annual Membership renewal for 2024
- Upcoming Sessions and Events
- Saturday F2F Bridge Cancelled on 9/12/23
- Promotions for November
- Ian Morison
President's Message
Three teams returned from Brisbane after competing in the GNOT and pairs competition with no prizes but loads of lessons learned. It was a privilege to be there rubbing shoulders with the best bridge players in Australia in a warm climate. Bridge seems to be a unique game where rank amateurs can participate alongside world champions and have an opportunity to defeat them . It may not happen often, but it is a great buzz to the ego when it does.
Table numbers seem to be holding up during this festive season and we hope you can all take advantage of us being open throughout Christmas and New year with the only sessions cancelled being Christmas day.
Please keep welcoming your opponents to the table with a smile and friendly greeting.
Tim Mather
Vale Mary Robbie
Sadly the club has lost one of its valued members. Mary Robbie passed away on 1 December. One of Mary's daughter Tracey Fear has written the message below in memory of her mother.
Mary Robbie (mum) to her 3 daughters, Kiri, Dira and Tracey sadly passed away on 1 December at Canberra Hospital. Our much loved Mum battled health challenges over the last few years with courage and resilience and we were all so proud of her stance on equal rights for women and her strong advocacy for social justice. Many will no doubt know of her considered and articulate letters to the editor of the Canberra Times. A keen golfer in her day, Mum took the men of Batemans Bay Golf Club to the Human Rights Commission and won the right for women to play on men only days!
Bridge was mums passion in her later years, and I know she would like us to say a huge thank you to the Canberra Bridge Club and her many wonderful partners for the joy she got out of engaging with you all around the card table, albeit a virtual one in the last few years. During covid and since, being able to play bridge was the highlight of her day!
Mum insisted on a private celebration of her life once all family are back together but we know she would be so pleased and humbled by your care and regard for her. We were so very proud of mum and she leaves a huge hole in all our lives. Thank you again to so many of you for your care and regard for mum.
- Tracey Fear
Our deepest condolences goes out to all who knew and loved Mary.
Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree Appeal
Thanks to everyone who brought in gifts, vouchers and cash (collected at the office) our giving tree is looking great!
Please continue to support this cause, the deadline is until the morning of 20th December.
If you wish to support them please bring gifts for the giving tree such as:
- presents for teenage boys 14-18 yrs (e.g., gift vouchers for movies, JB HIFI, Westfield, clothing and sports stores) - Unwrapped
- food such as Christmas puddings, chocolates and other non-perishables including tinned food, jam and Milo
Alternatively if you wish to donate cash, the club will collect the donations and buy movie vouchers. Please bring your donations to the office.
More information about Barnardos can be found here.
Christmas Raffle
Have you bought tickets for the wonderful Christmas raffle? Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5.
Please support as a portion of the sales goes to our worthy charity, Integra Service Dogs Australia.
A huge thank you to Adrienne Stephens who bakes the cake and fills the basket with delicious bits and pieces.
The raffle books and prizes are on the table in the main room.
Christmas Celebrations at the Club
This year CBC is planning to celebrate Christmas at all club room sessions from Monday morning 18 December to Saturday 23 December. At each session, there will be a short break in play. Members will be offered a glass of champagne/orange juice/mineral water and a sweet treat courtesy of the Club. Note that the session may finish a few minutes later than usual.
We hope you can join one of these sessions, decked out in your festive gear.
Christmas Gift Vouchers for Beginner's Lessons
Our next beginners classes commence on Wednesday evening 31 January and Friday morning 2nd February 2024. Why not give a gift voucher to friends and families this Christmas introducing them to the wonderful world of Bridge? Each voucher will cost $69 and will be available to purchase at the office.
Course overview: 6x weekly lessons
Includes everything you need to learn- textbook, detailed notes, and 3 free vouchers for 'supervised play' after completion.
- Wednesdays: 7pm - 9pm January 31- March 6
- Fridays: 10am - 12pm February 2 - March 8
Printable Calendar for 2024
The 2024 Club Calendar has now been released. You can find it by clicking on the link below or on our website. If you'd like an A3 hardcopy for your noticeboard at home, just ask the office.
Highlights of the 2024 Calendar:
- All current sessions, both face-to-face and RealBridge, remain unchanged
- This includes the Saturday afternoon face-to-face session which has now been made ongoing
- The only exception is the events night which will move from Thursdays to Tuesdays
- New daytime events have been added, giving players of all levels more opportunity to earn red master points and gain ABF promotions.
- The range of lessons have been expanded, with Will Jenner-O’Shea offering the Advanced Teaching Series on top of his existing Will’s Workshops.
- Novice and restricted players have a pathway of events to build their game across the year.
NEW Discounted Novice Events at the Summer Festival of Bridge
This is the last offer of discounts into the Summer Festival of Bridge.
Reduced entry of 75% is being offered into the
- Novice Swiss Pairs on Saturday and Sunday 13th and 14th January.
The fee is $216 per pair (discounted from $290).
Nominations for the discount by Thursday 7th December.
Please email Jodi Tutty to enter.
We have 5 entries to give away. If we have more entries than this, priority will firstly be given to those who missed out on the earlier offers and then names will be drawn out of a hat.
SFOB Partnership desk:
For all partnership enquiries (not related to the Discounted Novice Events) please contact Perelle Scales.
Perelle will be able to help you if you are looking for a partner or team mates to play at the Summer Festival. She is also looking for people who can substitute for a player at the last minute, let her know if you are available. If you are called in to substitute you will get to play for free!
Christmas Pairs (Thursday evening):
The last Thursday night event of the year is on 14 December.
- Dates: 14 December
- Time: 7.15pm
This will be our last Thursday evening competition for the year, from next year our Thursday night competitions will be moved to Tuesday nights.
Saturday F2F Bridge Session cancelled this Saturday 9/12/2
Due to the playoffs running in the club this weekend we are cancelling F2F bridge this Saturday (9/12/23). The next Saturday afternoon F2F bridge will now run on 16 December.
Note: The RealBridge is still on 9/12/23 and any other Saturdays, regardless of whether F2F bridge is running or not.
Supervised Lessons
Our last lesson for the year is Slam bidding and blackwood (13/15 December).
The supervised program will be taking a short break over the holiday period. Our lessons will restart on Wednesday 31 January 2024.
If you are a supervised player who would like a game over the holiday period, please come along. If you would like to do this, you can try your hand at a standard duplicate. The directors are very supportive. If you would prefer to just to play a few hands and have the opportunity to ask questions, please get in touch with Morag. Morag has experienced volunteers who are happy to be on call to assist.
Promotions for November
Congratulations to the people below who have moved up a rank!
- Graduate - Paddy Farrell, Irma Ficarra
- Club - Susanne Townsend
- Local - Robert Still
- Silver Local - Susan Ryrie, James Walcott
- Regional - Debra Birkby, Doreen Hand
Ian Morison
If you would like to read Ian's article please press the link below
Reminder
The Club is going to be closed on 25 December 2023 but all other days we will be open as per usual including Boxing Day and New Year's day.
Have a great weekend!
Elizabeth (for Elizabeth and Amik)
