Nell’s long association with bridge started in 1991. Nell and her husband Alan had moved to Mt Martha after they both retired - Nell as a nurse and Alan a Forestry scientist. They moved there to be with Nell’s mother - and Nell’s sister Gwen. Gwen encouraged Nell to take up bridge after their mother died.
They learnt at the Mt Martha Community Centre. Nell remembers having an excellent teacher in Shirley Simmie. Nell and her friends had previously played Solo. They took to bridge instantly. Nell and Gwen played with friends in each other’s homes every Monday afternoon for many years. It was great fun - learning to play better bridge with wonderful company. They also played Thursday nights at Mt Martha. They were taught Standard American - 5 card majors.
Nell started to play weekly at Mt Martha, Mt Eliza and Mornington. After playing for a few years Nell felt ready to enter some more difficult competitions. She remembers venturing nervously to a session at the Berwick Bridge Club. Nell and her partner were so excited - bidding (and making!) a slam against one of the top pairs.
Nell and Alan stayed for 20 years at Mt Martha. She reminisced about playing bridge on New Years Eve. They played every NYE without fail - what an understanding husband - he was happy to leave them to their obsession.
Nell then entered competitions much further afield. Nell had a good friend from nursing days. Her friend lived in Albury. Together they played at some amazing venues. She has great memories of bridge holidays at Norfolk Island with the very popular Ron Klinger. She remembers those holidays with Ron and Susie with great fondness. She was so lucky to have a husband who would come along - not to play but just for the fun of it!
Her enjoyment of Ron Klinger’s holidays took her to many places. She played bridge teams at the Cook Islands. She recalls competing against people from Tahiti who played quite a different system based on French ideas. More fun was had at Lord Howe Island, Lake Macquarie, Tangalooma (Moreton Island), Brisbane and Sydney.
Nell considers herself to have been privileged to have competed against players who played a variety of systems. She played at many clubs where Precision and ACOL were also played.
Nell was lucky to have had some wonderful friends and teammates from all over Victoria. Together they played teams at the Gold Coast - 10 times. She remembers playing at the ANA Hotel - when play was also held at night! Very tiring. But they had such wonderful times at their shared apartment. Later she played at the Convention Centre in Broadbeach.
Nell played twice in Canberra at the Summer Festival of Bridge and twice at the VCC in Melbourne.
Over the years Nell has played at so many clubs. After moving back to Melbourne Nell played regularly at Kew, Ravens, Kooyong and Waverley as well as country congresses in Yarrawonga, Albury and Ballarat. She also enjoyed playing with friends at their homes.
Nell has had a very enjoyable life. She had a wonderful 60 year marriage and has 2 fantastic caring children. But bridge has been an enduring presence in her life.
Nell now plays regularly at the MCC (her home club since 2008), RACV (a member here for 10 years) and on BBO. She and a partner Bev are previous winners at the RACV Healesville competition.
Nell is so grateful to have bridge in her life. She feels it has been so good for her mentally. She cherishes the wonderful friends she has made along the way.
Nell would encourage us to keep extending ourselves at bridge. A few years ago, she attended some Two Over One bridge lessons. She travelled to Sydney for these.
Nell offers some tips to us all. She is a believer in counting one’s losers. Nell’s tip is that not every 12 points is worth an opening bid. Nell would encourage us to never stop learning.
Nell has just had her 94th birthday. She was so thrilled to have been able to celebrate her birthday with a group of good friends from the RACV.
Bridge is an enduring pleasure in her life. Nell hopes that many others will follow her into the world of bridge.
(Written by Margaret Yuill - July 2024)
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