Newsletter 20 December 2024

In our newsletter this week..

• Message from the President
• Christmas Celebrations and Raffle Winners
• Christmas Closure
• Beginner Lessons
• Supervised Sessions
• John Brockwell's Column
• Results
• Lighter Moments

Message from the President

Well, here we are at the end of another successful year, and Christmas is only 5 days away!  There are many people to thank as this club could not run without them. 

Big thanks go to our managers Elizabeth and Steve, our directors, our teachers, our dealers, all our volunteers (of which there are many), and the Committee who work very hard behind the scenes.  We have had many challenges with our ageing building this year which has kept our House Committee very busy.  All of these people do more than is asked of them to make the club run as smoothly as possible.

Thanks also to Barbara Bialowas and her team who were at the club every day providing members with some Christmas cheer! 

Thanks to all members for their generous donations to the Barnardos Christmas Giving Tree.  The gifts were finally picked up yesterday and will make many young people very happy on Christmas Day 😊

Thanks (again) to Adrienne Stephens for keeping the traditional Christmas raffle alive, please see below the winners.  Monies raised was $508 of which half will be donated to our charity Arthritis ACT.

Lastly, I would like to thank you, our members.  We hope you have had a successful year at the table, and have made many new friends! 

Merry Christmas everyone, and safe travels to those of you who are visiting family and friends.  

- Mary

🧑‍🎄Christmas Celebrations at the Club

At each session this week there was a short break in play so members could have a drink and a sweet treat. Thanks to everyone for getting into the spirit of things and for the general chit chat. Thank you to my helpers, Mary Tough, Jenny Bergin, Lynne Tomati, Vanessa Brown, Will Jenner-O'Shea and Jennifer Yeats, all the Directors for arranging the play to accommodate the break and to Elizabeth who is always so willing to assist.

A special thank you to Julie North who very generously donated two huge boxes of delicious cup cakes that were so delightfully and impressively iced by her friend Kiara. (The Tuesday and Wednesday players were the lucky ones who got to eat them). 

 (Check out Cakes by Kiara on Facebook if you need beautiful cakes for any occasion. Kiara's number is 0403614471).

- Barbara Bialowas

Christmas raffle winners

• Julie McPhail - Hamper
• Liz Van Der Hor - Cake
• Sue Haggerty - Crackers

Christmas Closure

As you are all aware, the club will only be closed on Christmas Day. We will be open for the rest of the festive season so you can still enjoy your game of bridge!

Beginner Lessons in 2025

We have an exciting new Education Program commencing in the new year! The Beginner Lessons will be starting in the 2nd last week of January 2025. These lessons will be held in the club on Wednesday evenings (22nd ) and Friday mornings (24th) and continue for six weeks finishing at the end of February. If you know of anyone wanting to learn our “addictive” game please get them to contact our Managers - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (refer to the leaflets on the side tables and around the club rooms).

For futher details refer to our webpage through the link below. 

• Beginners Lessons
• $90

Gift vouchers for lessons are also available for purchase from the office. 

Supervised Sessions 2025

The Supervised Sessions will be taking a break over Christmas and New Year. Please rejoin the sessions when we return next year:

• Jan 29 - Dec 17 Wednesday 7pm-10pm
• Jan 31 - Dec 19 Friday 9:30am - 12:30pm

John Brockwell's Column 

Gold masterpoints

Canberra Bridge Club members have little opportunity to earn gold masterpoints in club events. That is about to change. The 2025 calendar informs us that gold-pointed events are scheduled for Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday mornings and Thursday mornings in June, July and August. As the time gets closer, more precise information will appear in this column.

Christmas competition

The Christmas competition was a total frost. No-one entered. But the prize will not go to waste. The bubbly has been awarded to Elizabeth as a tiny thank-you for publishing this column each week and for all the wonderful things that she does for our Club and its members.
Happy Christmas everyone. 

- John Brockwell 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SUMMER FESTIVAL OF BRIDGE

The Summer Festival of Bridge to be played at the Rex Hotel and running from 7 to 19 January 2025 is fast approaching.

Once again I need volunteers of all levels as substitute players. You do not need to be available for the whole time.  Even one session will be of assistance.

You may or may not be needed; but if I need you the phone call is likely to be last minute (just when you have sat down to eat your cereal or toast!!!!)

Your reward will be my gratitude and a FREE GAME with the possibility of gold or red masterpoints.

Please call me on 0450 961 935 or email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR give your details to the ever reliable manager Elizabeth who will pass your information to me.

Thank you in advance

- Perelle Scales

Results 

State Open Pairs - December 3:

• Vanessa Brown and Will Jenner-O'Shea 

Christmas Pairs - December 17:

• Vanessa Brown and Will Jenner-O'Shea 

Lighter Moments

When does a joke become a dad joke?

When the punchline becomes apparent.

Thanks everyone for a great year, have a lovely Christmas!

Elizabeth