2026 APRIL NEWSLETTER
CHARITY DAY
Each year, WABC raises donations for one of the smaller, lesser known, not for profit, charity organisations. This year’s charity is Deserving Better WA. Their core mission is to empower marginalised West Australian individuals through education, support, and advocacy, fostering the belief that they deserve better. The charity has advised that the funds raised will be directed toward expanding and strengthening their secure IT and client management systems, with a strong emphasis on privacy, safety, and access.
As always, we need your help to support this worthy charity, and ask you for donations such as chocolates, wine, giftware, gift vouchers, bridge tokens, or any other item that you deem would be suitable, to help make up gift baskets for the raffle. As always cash donations on the day will be most appreciated, and there will be a clothes’ drop. If you would like to help with selling raffle tickets, then please contact Robin Challenor.
PARKING
There is a lot of work going on at the Hospice and parking is sometimes a challenge. The Council has painted some directional arrows and designated the end car bays as “No Parking” to help with traffic flow. We can also park in the backyard if the weather permits. On busy days the gate will be open. There are some guidelines below but not parking in the dirt access laneway is the main issue. The Council has put a no parking sign and road marking here but bridge players seem to think that the parking on the dirt is alright. It is not. It is an access lane to the WABC back yard where there is Council water infrastructure; it is also access to the fire break. Do not park here (see the NO photo below), you will be asked to move. If you park in the back yard please park facing or back towards the fence (see YES photo).
SWANBOURNE PARKLAND
The Perth Children’s Hospice Foundation (PCHF) have published a plan to create a coastal sanctuary on the land between the Hospice and Bridge Club buildings. There has already been extensive community consultation, and the plan has been displayed in the Club hallway for some time. The plan has been submitted to the West Australian Planning Commission and is expected to be open once more for public comment about mid-April. The plan does cover part of the WABC leased area and the Club is working with the City of Nedlands and the PCHF to ensure that the Club will not be adversely impacted.
PLANNING AHEAD
BAWA TEAMS OF FOUR
The categories and WABC Captains this year are Novice (<100MPs) Kate Gould, Restricted (<300MPs) Karen McLean & Christine Sabier, and Open Deana Wilson. Players may only represent one club during the year and must be a member (Home or Alternate) of the club represented. WABC has entered one team per category. If you wish to play for WABC then please contact the appropriate captain or ask at the office.
Friends of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Games Day
At WABC on Sunday 12 April. 10am for a 10:30am start. Play Bridge, Mahjong & Scrabble. More details about booking a table on the Club website.
WABC HANDICAP PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC members only. Friday Afternoon 24 April & 1 May. Enter on the Club website. There is a normal duplicate session as well. This is a good chance to play against the better players and beat them on the scoreboard.
RED POINTS ANZAC DAY & MONDAY
The session on ANZAC Day and both sessions on Monday 27 April are Red Points. All welcome.
CHARITY DAY
Friday afternoon 8 May 2026. A red point bridge session with all table money, less director’s fee, going to the charity. Please arrive at 12:30 to hear from the charity’s representative, followed by the drawing of the raffle.
AUSTRALIA WIDE NOVICE PAIRS
Monday morning 25 May. Just turn up. Normal table money. There is a normal duplicate session as well.
WABC WINTER CONGRESS
Our biggest congress. Friday 29 May through to Monday 1 June. There is a range of one and two session events including a Novice and a Restricted session. More details and entries on myABF or use the paper entry forms at the Club. There are walk in duplicate sessions on Friday morning and Monday morning only
WINNERS & PAST EVENTS
SUPER NOVICE CONGRESS PAIRS
Won by Wendy & William Morgan from Phil & Sue McGinnity and Fraser Ferguson & Marjorie Kinney
NOVICE CONGRESS PAIRS
Won by Trish Christie & Barbara Norman from Jo & Nat Wright and Gayle Berry & Derek Dorward.
RESTRICTED CONGRESS SWISS PAIRS
Won by Shirley Lavarack & Ziggy Morawiec from Denis Baker & Karen McLean and Veronica Ntoumenopoulos & Angie Somic.
WOMENS PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
Won by Gwyneira Brahma & Deana Wilson from Lisa Cusack & Jane Henderson and Patricia McNamara & Belinda Taranto.
NEW MEMBERS PARTY
The annual party involving new members, club patrons, past presidents, Committee members and other club volunteers was held on the last Sunday in March. Bubbles preceded a short game of bridge followed by snacks and more bubbles. Fifteen of our new members came along. The East/West field was won by Meg Warner & Jodie Basham. There was a tie North/South with Diana Neale & Mike George coming equal first with William Turner & Tessa Mayall. Keep an eye out for our new members as they are the future of our club.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome to the following new members: Marie Intini; Jayne Middlemas; David Minchin; Peter Trinder; & Keith Wood
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
The Rookies course may be drawing to a close but there is a Card Play course starting at 9:30am on Thursday 9 April. The first four weeks look at improving your play in No-trump contracts and the second four weeks look at Suit contracts. If you want to take more tricks as either a declarer or as a defender then come along to as many lessons as you can. The lessons are stand-alone.
Beginners Part 1 with Jodie Basham finishes soon and there is a short break before Beginners Part 2 starts on Monday 4 May. Hopefully everyone has enjoyed their introduction to our favourite game and intends to continue learning and playing.
WILD HANDS
There was large contingent of West Australians visiting Hobart in March to play bridge in the annual Tasmanian Festival of Bridge. The tournament was great fun and there were some wild hands. Dealer, Not Vulnerable against Vulnerable opponents, you pick up the hand on the right. Yes, a 7-6 handshape, and you did check that you hadn’t missorted it. What to open? A pre-empt? Or start low and just keep bidding?
You choose to open 1H and both left hand opponent and partner Pass. Very disappointing!
North doubles and you bid your second suit. Left hand opponent passes again. Partner corrects back to hearts. Now, that’s a big warning STOP sign right there. Partner couldn’t raise hearts originally but prefers hearts to clubs! North, who clearly has a big hand, doubles again. Undeterred, and wanting to be a nuisance, you venture one more bid It’s only 3H, how bad could it be? At this juncture, South decides to show their spades by bidding 3S. North promptly bids 4S. You pass. Partner doubles!
The result at our table was 300 to East/West when 4SX went two off.
Around the room, scores ranged from 1700 to North/South for beating 5HX by East through to 1100 to East/West for beating 6SX by South.
Shape is good, especially with a fit, a misfit is not so good.
Points aren’t everything. Poor North, only 25 HCP.
PUBLICATIONS
TRUMPS PLUS: The next issue is here shortly. If you have any contributions or ideas then get in contact with John Nelson or Kath Negus.
BAWA FOCUS: The March issue is here.