On Wednesday afternoon November 15th Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria welcomed 160 bridge players from across Victoria to a game of bridge in the Ballroom. The occasion marked the first time the Ballroom, with a length surpassing even Buckingham Palace's Ballroom, had been set up for Bridge.
The day included players of all skill levels and from all parts of the State. This included 65 social and formal bridge clubs (listed below the photos) and a number of distinguished guests who have contributed to the game.
In many ways, Victorians have left an indelible mark on the international Bridge scene. Victoria is home to Ben Thompson, the first Vice-President to the World Bridge Federation Executive Council and the World Bridge Federation Chief Tournament Director, Laurie Kelso. The world’s biggest Bridge streamer and influencer, Peter Hollands, is based in Victoria and the world’s biggest bridge podcast,Sorry, Partner, is based in Victoria. Even in bridge, Victoria is the 'Education State' with the State Library of Victoria housing the Bourke Bridge Collection, one of the largest collections of Bridge books in the world. The game of bridge in he ballroom was a delightful afternoon which not only celebrated the game, united players from all over the state and of all skill levels but importantly allowed ideas about it's future to freely flow.
Photos from the day (see newspaper article for clubs section for photos of players taken in front of the dais)
Bridge in the Ballroom, clubs in attendance:
Alexandra Club Bridge Club, Australian Club Bridge Club, Bairnsdale Bridge Club, Ballarat Bridge Club, Bayside Bridge Club, Beaumaris Bridge Club, Benalla Bridge Club, Bendigo Bridge Club, Berwick Bridge Club, Bridge@Blake, Bridge at Tivoli, BWOnline, Camperdown Bridge Club, Deniliquin Bridge Club, Echuca Bridge Club, Frankston Bridge Club, Geelong Bridge Club, Kattery Bridge Club, Kingham Bridge Academy, Knox Bridge Club, Knox U3A Bridge Club, Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club Bridge Club, Lyceum Club Bridge Club, Macedon Ranges Bridge Club, Maine Bridge Club, Mansfield Bridge Club, MCC Bridge Club, Melbourne Bridge Club, Melton Bridge Club, Moonee Valley Bridge Club, Mornington Bridge Group, Nagambie Bridge Club, North Balywn Bowls Club Bridge Club, Northern Bridge Club, Ocean Grove Bridge Club, OZ Bridge Club, Patterson Lakes Bridge Club, Paynesville Bridge Club, Peninsula Bridge Club, Phillip Island Bridge Club, RACV Bridge Club, Real Deal Bridge, Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club Bridge Club, Rye Dromana Bridge Club, Sale Bridge Club, Sandhurst Bridge Academy, Shepparton Bridge Club, South Gippsland Bridge Club, Sunbury Bridge Club, The Quiet Club, Theodor Herzl Bridge Club, Torquary Bridge Club, Traralgon Bridge Club, Upwey Bridge Club, Victorian Bridge Centre, Victorian Youth Bridge, Wangaratta Bridge Club, Warragul Bridge Club, Waverley Bridge Club, Warrnambool Bridge Club, Whittlesea Bridge Club, Williamstown Bridge Club, Wodonga Bridge Club, Yarra Valley Bridge Club and Yarrawonga Bridge Club. A number of distinguished guests who have contributed to the game were also in attendance. Some of the guests contributions to the game are listed below: 2020 International Bridge Press Association Book of the Year Author Bridge Victoria Vice President Bridge Victoria Operating Committee Chairman Regional Association presidents Sorry Partner pod cast co-host Top placed Victorian pair in the 2023 Australia Wide Novice Pairs Various administrators and volunteers who have made significant contributions to the game over the years Victoria's highest masterpoint Earner Victoria's most prolific teacher of new players World Bridge Federation Internet Broadcasting Manager