2026 MARCH NEWSLETTER
JOAN BUTTS WORKSHOPS
What a great success the Joan Butts Workshops were! Not a spare seat to be seen. Thank you to everyone who helped to ensure that each day ran smoothly and to Kitty George who put Joan up. Hopefully, everyone's game has improved. Joan also ran Teacher Training Workshops at WABC and Melville. These were also very informative and it was interesting to meet teachers from other clubs.
How did Joan keep control of 140 participants?
GENERAL
The traffic from Fremantle has got steadily worse since the Old Fremantle Bridge was closed and parking at the club has been poor on some days. Fortunately, the City of Nedlands have extended the permit for the contractors to park down near the Swanbourne Reserve and the City have also re-painted the arrows in the carpark.
The Club President and Executive Officer were invited on a tour of the Hospice recently. There is lovely view from the top floor and workers everywhere.
Hospice - Top Floor View
Hospice - Work inside
HOUSEKEEPING
After bridge, please tidy up around your table. Close up the bidding boxes, throw any rubbish in the bins, put water glasses back on the used trolley, and leave your boards neatly stacked in numerical order and the same way around.
The "Tea Stations" have a roster for tidying up at the end of each break. The roster is based on the first letter of our surnames. There are eight, roughly equally sized, groups. This month it is surnames beginning with H, O, or T.
You may have noticed chairs with some pink string. These stick or grab when pushed back and need the floor protectors changed. If you find such a chair that hasn't got pink string then please add some. The pink string is near the scorers. Now, it's just a matter of changing the worn protectors.
PLANNING AHEAD
Membership Renewals
Still a few members to chase but thank you to everyone who has renewed.
BAWA INTERCLUB TEAMS OF FOUR
Please let Martin (bridge@wabridgeclub.com.au) know if you and your partner are interested in representing WABC in the 2026 BAWA Interclub Teams of Four. This is a competition where a team from one club visits another club to play a 28 board match and then has a drink and some snacks afterwards. There are usually about six matches to play per team. There are some changes this year. The categories are Novice (<100MPs), Restricted (<300MPs), and Open. Also, in 2026, players may only represent one club during the year and you must be a member (Home or Alternate) of the club represented. WABC usually enters at least one team in each category. Entries close at the end of March.
WABC WOMENS PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP
WABC members only. Tuesday Afternoon March 10 &17. Enter on the Club website. There is normal duplicate as well.
NEW MEMBERS PARTY
By invitation only. If you joined WABC in the past year then you are about to receive an invitation for a short afternoon of bubbles and bridge with a more experienced partner. Sunday 29 March.
Friends of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Games Day
At WABC on Sunday 12 April. Play Bridge, Mahjong & Scrabble. More details including cost and how to book 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 beat the better players on the scoreboard.
RED POINTS
Not only is there a Red Point session on ANZAC Day itself but also for both sessions on Monday 27 April.
WINNERS & PAST EVENTS
Wednesday Night Swiss
Won by Kate Pinniger & Carla Sullivan from Peter Hicks & Ian Rowlands. Both pairs had big wins in the final round to make it a nervous wait for the final result.
WABC MIXED PAIRS CONGRESS
Won by Trevor Fuller & Marnie Leybourne from Chris Cullen & Mimi Packer with Gerry Daly & Viv Wood in third place. The best Restricted Pair was Jeff & Sandy Veling. The Best WABC Pair not already winning a prize was Gwyneira Brahma & Dave Munro.
JOONDALUP CONGRESS
There were some good results in the northern suburbs for some WABC members. Kaiping Chen playing with Tuya Cook was first in the sixty pair field. David Burn & Lynne Milne were second followed by Gwyneira Brahma & Deana Wilson. Warwick Potter playing with Gerry Daly was fourth.
ALBANY CONGRESS
A large contingent of WABC players ventured down to Albany for the long weekend. Personally, I think it's just an excuse to visit and sample the delights of the Country Bakery in Mt Barker as you travel to and fro.
Still, there was some bridge, a Welcome Pairs on Friday followed by Pairs Qualifying and Finals on Saturday and Teams on Sunday.
Robin Challenor & Penny Fletcher-Hughes came third in the Main Final. Maura & Rick Rhodes won the Pairs Bowl. Megan Jefferies & Christine Sabier won the Pairs Cup.
The Swiss teams was won by the locals, though the team in second place contained Maura & Rick Rhodes. In third place was Nicki McGrath & Warwick Potter along with Nicki’s daughter Francesca & Jack O’Reilly. The best team with 0-600 MPs was was Denise Baker, Megan Jefferies, Karen McLean & Christine Sabier. The Veling team (Jeff & Sandy, John Finlay-Jones & Prue Hart) were leading the Teams at the lunch break.
The clear winner for those of us not doing so well was the morning tea on Saturday.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome to the following new members: Laura Breen; Laurel Jarrott; Rosemary Ongley; Desmond Thompson; & Nigel Zeller.
LESSONS & WORKSHOPS
2026 WABC TEACHING PROGRAMME
As mentioned earlier, the Joan Butts Workshops were excellent. The Club is looking at buying Joan's online lessons for the Library, which could then be accessed, probably at the club, by members.
The programme for 2026 has started with both Beginners Part 1 with Jodie Basham and Rookies with Warwick Potter underway. the Rookies Lessons are stand-alone so come to whichever you can.
There will be some changes to to our teachers for Beginners Part 2. Jodie will step away from the Beginner Programme and Jane Henderson will step into this role while the club advertises the position. WABC appreciates the time and effort Jodie has put into the Beginners Programme.
Other courses coming up are Card Play 1 (Suits) in April and Card Play 2 (No Trumps) in May. Thursday mornings 9:30- 11:30.
The 2026 timetable is here.
PUBLICATIONS
TRUMPS PLUS: The next issue is early April. If you have any contributions or ideas then get in contact with John Nelson or Kath Negus.
BAWA FOCUS: The next issue should be out late March. Talking of BAWA, Chris Mulley and Viv Zotti have switched roles with Viv, who was the Vice President, becoming the first lady to be the BAWA President.