January Newsletter now available

Gold Coast Bridge Club Newsletter
Issue No 100 - January 2015
Major Sponsors
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President’s Message
I trust you all enjoyed a happy festive season and I hope 2015 brings us all good health and great cards at the bridge table. For
me personally, it was wonderful to have our only child Andrew home for Christmas as last year he took a gap year from uni and
spent the year travelling around Europe and spent Christmas in Berlin. Family is the most important aspect of life for most of us
and for many, the Gold Coast Bridge Club is a family. We are there to support one another in both good times and bad. I know
a few years ago when my husband was battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma that the support and love I received from club
members really helped me get through that difficult time, which hopefully is behind us.
With those thoughts in mind please always remember to treat one another kindly and courteously at the bridge table. Bridge is a
very competitive game and we wouldn't keep coming back if it wasn't, but it is just a game of cards after all. The relationships
we build at our club to me are far more important and long lasting than a win at bridge. Cecily Critchley and Lynley Jenkins,
our club teachers and Paul Brake our State Youth Coordinator, are doing a wonderful job bringing new players into the club and
we need to support our new players, encourage them, and remind ourselves what it was like to be beginners. I know I used to
play very calming classical music on my way to bridge in the early days to try to calm my nerves. I know sometimes I didn't
want to make a bid because playing that bid was so daunting. So please, please, remember to treat others as you would like to be
treated at our club.
During November we lost two wonderful nonagenarians of our club, Kay Newman and Peter Leden. I was in New Zealand for
Kay's funeral but was able to attend Peter's. What amazing long lives they both lived and what character and life they
contributed to our club. It is sad also to no longer have Mary Bullivant playing with us. She is now in Villa Serena, a nursing
home at Robina, and I know she would love to see visitors from the club. We all think at this time too of our gentle and kind
Saul Isaacs in his fight with cancer. Connie and Saul are in all our thoughts and prayers at this time.
At our Christmas party I had the pleasure of announcing that we will again be giving out winning tickets at the club. They will
not be handed out at special point events and will be handicapped. The overall handicap winners will receive winning tickets
but the outright winners will still receive the points for that session. There are still some issues to sort out regarding which
handicap system we adopt, but regardless we will be reintroducing winner's tickets from the beginning of February.
Thanks also for all the contributions to our Salvation Army Donation. When I dropped the baskets in, the lady who took them
from me said that this sort of thing restores her faith in human nature. I know our donations would have helped struggling Gold
Coast families have a better Christmas.
Congratulations to Jack Luke-Paredi, our 12 year old from our group at All Saints Anglican School who is playing regularly in
the club, often with our Australian Youth Player, Jessica Brake. Jack received a very nice mention from Tony Jackman in
Saturday's Courier Mail for coming up well in the field of the Queensland Individual event played on the Sunday before
Christmas at QCBC. Well done Jack.
That's all for now, a very happy New Year to you all. Di Hodges
Newsletter Milestone – From your editor, Neil Raward
When I was first elected President in 2006 as one of my initiatives I announced that I would produce a monthly newsletter and I
am very proud to have continued the tradition and the January newsletter marks the 100 th edition. I enjoy producing the monthly
newsletter knowing that many members share the same enjoyment.
Board Report
At the December the following items were raised:The Treasurer provided a report stating that November results were one of the best the club has recorded. Revenue was over
$20,000, the highest monthly revenue in the last eight years. Player numbers were also up on the same month last year.
- Architect plans are being drawn up for the provision of a unisex disabled toilet and renovations including a new non-slip
flooring near the food servery area, estimated to cost $20,000.
- A defibrillator has been purchased and a training program is being instigated.
Telstra Car Park
Members are reminded that under no circumstances may you enter or exit the Telstra car park by Old Burleigh Road!!! This
follows a complaint from Telstra to the club that a vehicle believed to have been driven by a bridge club member created a
dangerous situation for a Telstra worker as he was walking across the front of the Telstra property. The use of the Telstra car park
is a privilege given to us by Telstra and we certainly do not want to forfeit the use of the additional parking area.
Education
Our education coordinators, Cecily and Lynley have been busy programming some new initiatives. The first being a Workshop
on Sunday 18 January from 9.30am to 4pm at a cost of $15 (BYO lunch) on Play and Defence in No Trumps. This great value
workshop will be very popular, so register your name early on the noticeboard list or enter by email.
The first beginners lessons for the year start on Sunday 1 & 8 February from 9.30am to 4pm (these 2-day sessions equate to the
normal 8 by 2 hours lessons previously held). The cost is $75 which includes a free lesson book worth $25. To encourage
attendance, members are asked to distribute the flyers by handing them to people who may like to attend, also by placing them
on notice boards in their home unit blocks.
Christmas Luncheon
The Christmas Luncheon was a resounding success and the 120 members (compared with 92 in 2013) who attended thoroughly
enjoyed the food and ambience of the day. It was also great to see many members dressed with the Christmas theme in mind.
After the luncheon all present enjoyed a pleasant afternoon of bridge.
January Swiss Teams Congress - Sunday 4 January
The January Congress had 36 teams (32 in 2014) enjoying the day. I would like to thank our sponsor Daydream Island Resort
& Spa for their generosity. Members were magnificent for the contribution of food and snacks on the day thus adding to what
was described by many who attended as a great day of bridge and enjoyment of the Club’s hospitality.
Australia Day Celebrations
The club will celebrate Australia Day on Saturday 24 January, come and join the fun. Prizes for best dressed pairs.
Valentine’s Day Luncheon
Perhaps most of us have lost the romance that goes with Valentine’s Day. If so we invite you to attend the Valentine’s Day
luncheon where we can reminisce what we once remembered about the significance of this special day. The luncheon will be
held at Northcliffe Surf Club (a major sponsor of the club), Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise on Thursday 12 February at
1.00 pm (after Thursday bridge). I know that it is two days early, however Thursday is the best day as we always have great
support from Thursday players. Members and guests are most welcome to attend and order from the extensive menu at their own
expense. Please place your name as an attendee on the notice on the main Notice Board. Thank you and I hope that we have a
really good roll up for this luncheon, which is the first social occasion of 2015.
St Patrick's Day Luncheon
As social secretary I also propose to hold a St Patrick's Day luncheon with our new major sponsor D'arcy Arms (an Irish pub
and restaurant) on Thursday 19 March. I will give further details in the February newsletter.
January Birthdays
1st - Brett Simpson, Raynor Loewenthal, 2 nd - Carole Stratigos, Freda Cheilyk, Estelle Segal, 3 rd - Denise Mansbridge, Kathy
Toth, Lois Robinson, Thomas Kenny, 5th - Gerry Brameld, Andrew Richman, 6th - Wilma Crisford, 7th - Danny Hatcher,
13th - Coral Aiken, Mary West, Margaret Anderson, 14th - Diane Hillman, Renee Schut, 16th - Isabella Eret, Shirley Wanz,
17th - Lois Steinwedel, Trevor Fletcher, Neville Francis, 18th - Iris Warren, 20th - Judy Bolscheid, 21st - Dianne Rayward,
23rd - Louise Garnett, 24th - Babi Westergaard, 25th - Anita Walters, Janet Pezaro, 26th - Paul Brake, 31st - Peter Stone.
Future Events
 January Swiss Teams Congress - (Sunday 4 January ) – Sponsored by Daydream Island Resort and Spa
 Monday afternoon eclectic (best 3 of 4 scores) – Sponsored by D'arcy Arms - $50 voucher
 Achievement Award for January – sponsored by Benowa Tavern - $50 voucher
Benowa Tavern has become a sponsor of the club and is offering a $50 voucher each month as an Achievement Award for the
Player of the Month who will be selected by a sub-committee. All members of the GCBC who dine at the club receive a 10%
discount and the Tavern also will donate 10% of the spending of each member to the club which can be used as additional prize
money. Please support the Benowa Tavern as it will be of great benefit to members and the club.
New Members
Please welcome the following new members - Elizabeth Affleck, Julian Egerton-Vernon, Madeleine Ansford,
Stephanie Dummett and Wendy Lemon
Member's Welfare
Fred Krauss is a patient in the Gold Coast University Hospital. Iris Warren is still recovering from a recent fall.
Promotions
National* - Ruth Young, State* - Watson Zhou, Local - Babi Westergaard, Laura Heal, Wendy Flens, Club - Ethne Huddleston,
Graduate - Annette Gatland, Bob Still.
Enjoy Your Bridge
Neil Raward (Vice President/Editor)
Please come with a smile and leave with a smile and treat your partner and opponents with respect and dignity
Players who require a partner for Mon, Wed & Fri please contact Neil Raward (0402 417 584)
Players who require a partner for Tues, Thurs & Sat please contact Shelley & Jim Moodie (5591 2135)
Night time players wanting partners please contact Eva Berger (5527 0829) or Tom Strong (5593 3416)
Welfare Officer - Denise Richard (5520 5087)
Sponsors___________________________________________________________________________________

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