TRUMPS PLUS 9 2 8 4 4 1 4 4 7 O D E R N Spring Issue VOLUME 5 Issue 3 C R E S C E N T Published Quarterly SWANBOURNE CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW CLUB TEAMS CHAMPIONS Mimi Packer, Linda Coli, Rose Moore, Helen Cook and Virginia Seward (not pictured) (Full story P. 4) Also inside: Articles from Ron Klinger, Peter Smith, John Aquino, Maura Rhodes, Jonathan Free, Peter Hicks, Rose Moore and a special bonus “Fox Double” Editorial Most members will be aware An important feature of this editorial is by now that I will retire as to assert my strong conviction that the editor of Trumps Pus in 2012. real strength of our club is in the strength Having been a member of WABC for of the group that volunteers to manage nearly thirty years, it is my intention here and care for every aspect of club life. to reflect on the changes at the club, This includes not only the competitive particularly in the past decade and the bridge activities but the social life of the challenges for the future. club, the amenities of the building, the The relocation of WABC from Dalkeith to amenities within and outside the Swanbourne heralded several major building, and the responsible, prudent structural changes for our club. The most and far sighted management of the important of these was the change from a finances of the club. private club, with unencumbered free hold Our club has over one thousand title to the land on which the club house members, many of whom play several stood to a community organization, within times each week. The great bulk of the a purpose built club house, on lease hold work to manage the club is done by land owned by the City of Nedlands. The fewer than fifty volunteer members. club remains on the site at the discretion Every member has the capacity to help of the Council. in some small way and if everyone did Visitors from other Australian states and help in a small way it would enhance overseas are mostly very impressed by immeasurably all members’ enjoyment of our wonderful facilities set in such a great life at the club. location. Accordingly, it is not surprising The future of the club is dependent on that our club has grown to be the largest continuing effective renewal of the and busiest club in Western Australia. volunteer leadership group and their The essential character of the club is management expertise. Most of us can that it is primarily not for profit and contribute to that process but all of us managed by volunteers. Such is the scale can assist in many small ways that can of the operation that it is essential for its help all of us gain maximum enjoyment efficient and competent administration of the time we spend at the club. that the volunteer based committee Accordingly, I ask for the support of all employ paid staff in several capacities. members to help out after bridge on both The most important of these are the weekdays and weekends and during Executive Officer, The Bridge Directors social events and congresses. Please and the cleaning staff. The balance approach a committee member or one of between volunteer management and paid the volunteer bar staff to offer your help. staff is a subject of ongoing and legitimate With apologies to John F Kennedy, debate and ultimately defines the “Ask not what your club has done for character and values of the club. All you, but what you can do for your club.” members should participate in this debate John Rigg, Editor. and all should listen to and respect the views of those who hold responsible positions in the club’s management structure. 2 President’s Report Spring is sprung, the grass concerned our relationships with the is riz ... I won’t go on, you people who make the Club work, our know the rest. But as we Executive Director and our Directors. We move into Spring, what can have recently been advised that we we look forward to? Well, the next big should be making the standard payments event in our calendar is the Melbourne for Superannuation to them, and we are Cup lunch, still a couple of months off putting that in place. Fortunately, our but I mention it because it is an event finances can stand the Superannuation where you have to book early to secure costs at this stage, but they have not a seat. Another month after that we have been able to stand another cost. Our the Christmas Congress, quite a while diligent Treasurer, Kitty George, in away but it will be finished, I expect, by reassessing the economics behind the the time of the next edition so I mention Bar has noticed that our costings have it now. not included GST. That is, we pay GST Looking back, we held the Masters in on Bar transactions, but our Bar prices Teams of Three in August, and this was have not covered the cost of GST, and very successful with 28 teams, a slight some other costs such as cleaning. To increase on the 27 teams in 2011, which get the Bar breaking even we have had to in turn was a considerable increase on the 2010 inaugural event when we had 19 teams. While everyone enjoyed the event, the start was unfortunately marred Editor: by traffic difficulties arising from the City John Rigg to Surf Fun-Run and the Tournament Committee will be looking at other dates Assistant Editor: for next year’s event to avoid this clash. Val Krantz Congratulations to Team Smith (Peter Smith - Val Keevil, Kate Nadebaum and Helen Seward Sue Lendich) on their win. Editing and inter- We have also just finished the Club views Teams Championship competition. We had six teams compete with Team Moore Computer Layout - Rose Moore, Mimi Packer, Helen Cook, Lynne Errington Virginia Seward and Linda Coli, finishing up as winners after five hard fought Printing rounds. Congratulations to Rose and and Records her team; it is good to see new names Sheenagh Young on the honour board. Turning from bridge, your management committee has been involved in recent CONTRIBUTIONS ALWAYS WELCOME. times with a number of changes to the CLOSING DATE FOR Club that are taking place behind the DECEMBER ISSUE IS scenes. One area of change has 25TH November 3 raise prices to $2.50 per glass of cask- Finally, a quick mention of forthcoming wine, and $3.50 per glass of bottle-wine, competitions. We have three with commensurate changes to other championships coming up – Mens’ Pairs, prices. These have been the first price Evening Pairs, and Mixed Pairs, all increases since we moved to Swanbourne. Jenny Bosich, who has opportunities to win points and to get been managing the bar over the past two your name on the honour boards. And a years, has been able to contain costs by little later in November we have the shrewd buying but unfortunately cannot various Jackpot Finals. There is also a contain this increase. BAWA event of interest to many of us, The Committee has also been looking at the final of the Grand National Restricted managing maintenance. While our Pairs in early October, and we wish our facilities have held up well in the aggressive seaside environment we have entrants in that state wide competition experienced evidence of wear and tear every success in winning a trip to that we need to address. A small Canberra. example that you may not have noticed is the rust on the door handles on the outside of the doors to the courtyard and the deck. Small bolts on the downpipes are also badly corroded. Tony Brand WABC Club carried out an excellent review of the Teams state of the building a year ago and that has served us well in discussing Championship maintenance provisions with various 2012 companies. We hope to establish an arrangement with a maintenance By Rose Moore company shortly. Another matter that we need to address is the position of Editor of Trumps Plus. You Over two windy and wild Saturdays in will notice elsewhere in this edition that September, Virgina Seward, Mimi we are advertising for a member to take Packer, Linda Coli, Helen Cooke and I over this role. John Rigg has given took on the big guns in the Club Teams outstanding service over the past five Championship. years in re-establishing and editing our We felt like we were the new kids on the magazine but now finds it necessary to block. The newbies that were retire. He goes with our grateful thanks challenging the famous gold names that for producing a series of wonderful adorn the plaques that surrounded us. publications. His departure means we Only a few weeks earlier, Peter Smith are looking for someone to step into the had taught Linda Coli and I the 2 over 1 role. It provides the opportunity to make system and we worried we would find a significant contribution to the Club and if problems in uncharted waters. you feel you might be able to take on the Fortunately this was not to be. We loved role, please speak either to John Rigg in the system and found confidence in our the first instance, or to myself or to Gwen Wiles or Kitty George, and we will be able to give you some details on what is involved etc. 4 bidding and how far to push our we made the 4 spades.