Newsletter - August 2026

NEW MEMBERS

CLUB NOTICES

State Pairs Qualifier

East Lindfield | Wednesdays at 10:00am

5, 12 & 19 August. Join us for this exciting 3-week State Pairs Qualifying Series.

Play all three weeks, with all three scores counting towards the final

standings. Win your place to represent North Shore Bridge Club at the State

Pairs Final at Bridge NSW this September. As an added bonus, you'll earn Red Points at double the normal rate

throughout the series.

No entry required – simply come along and play.

Supervised Games at Lindfield Bowling & Bridge Club

We are always encouraging our newer players to play more Bridge. Our supervised sessions are friendly, relaxed and designed to help you build confidence.

You can ask for help or advice at any time, with one of our experienced teachers always on hand to assist.

East Lindfield

The Willis

Rookie Games at Lindfield Bowling & Bridge Club

Our Rookie sessions are among the most popular games at the Club, regularly attracting plenty of tables. They are fun, friendly and the perfect way to build your confidence while meeting other new players.

East Lindfield

The Willis

No partner? No problem! Just come along – everyone is welcome.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

President's Update – Keeping Costs Down Through Automation

Over the past 18 months, your Committee and staff have worked incredibly hard to keep your bridge affordable. While the cost of almost everything has increased, we've deliberately held off increasing table fees by finding smarter, more efficient ways to run the Club. Next month marks one of our biggest milestones yet as we say goodbye to our faithful old payment system (PP) and welcome PP2 . It's exciting, a little nerve-racking, and the culmination of hundreds of hours of work behind the scenes. I want to explain why this matters, because understanding where our costs come from also helps explain how every member can help keep fees down.

MyAccount, Auto Top-up and Why I'm Slightly Obsessed!

Not a day goes by where I don't think about MyAccount and Auto Top-up . If you're one of our 886 members already using Auto Top-up – thank you. You are genuinely making a huge difference. Once your balance reaches your chosen level, your account tops itself up automatically. No phone calls. No emails. No SMS reminders. No manual processing. It simply works. From the Club's perspective, it's the perfect system. If your balance goes into the negative, however, Sue has to spend time contacting you, chasing payment and updating your account. Nobody enjoys those phone calls – not Sue and probably not you either! Every manual transaction takes staff time.

Ka-ching... there goes another cost saving.

Paying Through MyAccount

If you top up through MyAccount using your saved card, your account updates automatically. Job done. If you pay through the website by credit card, it usually works well too... provided the correct payment option is selected and your ABF number is entered correctly. Unfortunately, quite a few people accidentally enter incorrect information. That means Mike has to investigate who made the payment, find the correct member record and manually update the account. Ka-ching... more staff time.

Direct Bank Transfers

Many members think paying by direct bank transfer saves the Club money because we avoid approximately 1% in bank merchant fees. That part is true. However, with PP2, direct bank transfers become our least efficient payment method. Every transfer has to be manually checked because reference information isn't always entered correctly. We simply can't risk crediting the wrong member's account. Each payment must be matched and processed by hand. Once again... Ka-ching...

The Good News Last month we asked members to move away from direct bank transfers where possible. You listened. Our manual bank deposits dropped from 77 in May to just 44 in June—a fantastic 43% reduction.

That's a wonderful result and I genuinely thank everyone who made the change. But those 44 payments still require manual processing, so there's still room for improvement.

Paying the Director at the Venue

Our next focus is payments made at the Director's desk before a session. There's nothing wrong with paying this way... ...except you're usually approaching the Director during the busiest few minutes of the day while they're organising movements, setting up the session and answering player questions. In May, Directors processed 194 payments. In June, that dropped to 164 —another pleasing reduction of 15% .

Again, thank you. But imagine if those 164 payments had already been processed through MyAccount before arriving, or better still, automatically through Auto Top-up. It gives Directors more time to concentrate on running great bridge sessions rather than processing payments.

Keeping Table Fees Down The Club has not increased table fees since 1 April 2024. During that time:

inflation has increased by approximately 7.5% wages have increased in line with the Clubs Award superannuation has increased by 1% insurance, utilities, rent, software, cleaning and catering have all increased.

In real terms, every table fee we receive today is worth around $1.50 less than it was two years ago. Despite this, we've continued to absorb those increases by improving efficiency rather than increasing prices. Your Committee and our wonderful staff have done everything we know how to do to reduce operating costs.

PP2 represents the final major automation project available to us. Once it is fully implemented, we've largely exhausted the opportunities to reduce costs through smarter systems. Future cost increases will inevitably need to be reflected in our pricing if we're to remain financially sustainable.

Our Next Challenge – The Willis Recreation Centre Thanks to the outstanding work of our Treasurer, we now have detailed financial reporting showing exactly how each venue and session performs. Having good information allows us to make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

Our next challenge is The Willis Recreation Centre. At present, the venue operates at a loss of approximately $10,000 per year . The fixed costs aren't going down—in fact they'll almost certainly continue to rise. That means the answer is simple: we need more people playing there. Rather than immediately increasing table fees or reducing sessions, your Committee has given ourselves six months to turn this around. This is where you can help.

Bring a friend. Play an extra session. Encourage someone who's been thinking about returning.

Every extra table makes a difference.

Cruise Countdown On a much happier note, our Bridge Cruise is now fully booked! With 48 bridge players and a total travelling party of 56, it's going to be an amazing trip. From everything I can see, Will and Jen Madden have organised a fantastic program of bridge and activities for all those going. I have to admit... I'm just a little jealous that I can't come along!

Welcome TeamInvest Finally, I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to TeamInvest , our newest sponsor joining the NSBC family. TeamInvest is a member-based investment community that brings together people who enjoy learning about investing, sharing ideas and making better-informed investment decisions together. Their philosophy of education, collaboration and continuous learning aligns beautifully with the culture we've built at North Shore Bridge Club. Many of our members enjoy discussing markets, business and investing, so this partnership is a natural fit. It creates opportunities for members with an interest in investing to connect with like- minded people while supporting the Club at the same time—a genuine win-win. TeamInvest will be sponsoring our Gold Point Congress on Sunday 9 August , where we'll also honour one of our most respected Life Members by competing for the John McIlrath Trophy . As always, thank you for supporting your Club. Every small change members make—whether it's using Auto Top-up, paying through MyAccount or simply encouraging a friend to play—helps us keep costs under control and ensures we can continue delivering great bridge for years to come.

OUR MEMBERS - OUR CLUB

This month’s conversation was with Terry Dunne a committee member of North Shore Bridge Club and now also Secretary of the new Lindfield Bowling & Bridge Club.

While I know little of Terry other than through being also a committee member when the conversation started I thought the easiest place to start was the beginning – where were you born?!

As it turned out it was a good start as Terry was born in Sydney after his parents having moved suddenly from Cairns. He later worked out that he was probably at 9lb, the heaviest three-month premature baby to have been born at that time (this small mathematical problem was calculated on birth dates and wedding dates).

His parents returned to Cairns a little later when Terry was about two years old and that is where he spent his school days – he was raised by his father and extended family due to some health issues with his mother.

Terry’s reflection on life is that while in Cairns through his childhood/teenage years - it was a happy environment even if they were poor – poor but happy. He played lots of sport of every kind – if you didn’t play sport in a small country town you got into trouble. Despite the happy childhood the idea of living in Cairns did not appeal and his only visits since adulthood have been to catch up with family. It may be a great holiday destination but not for him – he suggests that when leaving Cairn's airport, people should turn right towards Port Douglas and the beaches rather than left towards Cairn's city.

He left Cairns at 16 with a university scholarship and studied in Townsville. On graduation he moved to Brisbane and joined a family accounting business and then moved into finance with Metway Bank which became Suncorp Metway.

His next big move was to London – after a relationship breakup which challenged his stability. He worked in financial markets in London with a number of banks. He met his wife Karen in London and when they returned to Australia it was to Sydney where Karen was from.

Returning to Australia, he initially struggled with slower pace and narrower version of investment of local financial markets, compared to London, which was spectacular and exciting and dynamic, whereas Sydney was a bit sleepy. So, he moved jobs quite a bit, drifted for several years working as an accountant in a number of businesses.

Then he and Karen had their first child – they were determined they were both going to continue working, their kid would go off to childcare, but when their son was born, they just realised they were never going to send him to childcare. It was okay in theory but the moment they saw the bloke they

weren’t going to do it in practice. As Karen was earning more than Terry, he became a stay-at-home Dad, and then along came a second child and the stay-at-home Dad role continued.

Then Karen was offered a gig in Southern California, so they rushed to get married – if not married he couldn’t go to America.

They were there for about five years and Terry was primary caregiver for the little ones which is one of the highlights of his life. The GFC ended the stay in America and Terry, and family returned to Australia all but broke in 2011.

Luckily Karen got a great job and that took an enormous weight off their shoulders. Terry took a lower- level job as an accountant that provided flexibility to manage kids through school Terry noted that hen is sometimes shocked that the kids survived his parenting.

So now to Bridge – well not quite because Terry was a pretty serious chess player. Started at University and went to tournaments until he played his final tournament in London and played really well, but when he looked around the room he realised that there were at least 20 or 30 others who played better than him. He also played correspondence chess – where you mail a move to whoever you’re playing – might take a year to finish a game and he often had 20 or 30 games on the go at any one time. The advent of chess computers killed that form of chess, and now he only plays a little casul chess online.

One day while driving through Double Bay, Karen spied a sign saying for a bridge club that was holding beginners classes and suggested he give it a go –this was back in 2000 – so if you want to judge how good Terry is at bridge all you need to know is that it has taken 25 years to accumulate200 MPs

On that note we ended our conversation – life in general is a whole series of various tangents and Terry has certainly taken a few along his way – thanks for the conversation, Terry.

Last month we gave you the background of most of our sponsors. As a result, I hope our members start using these sponsors for any of their needs – I have – I have engaged Tailored Journeys to help me plan a trip away next year to Europe.

Peter Pan Plumbing began supporting us last year and will again this year in the Peter Pan Plumbing Swiss Pairs on 30th August at East Lindfield with substantial monetary prizes. So if you have any Plumbing needs give them a go first.

Peter Trittis is the gentleman to call and Peter will tell you that Peter Pan Plumbing is your trusted north shore local plumber, a fact already proven by some of our members.

With over 10 years' experience in the trade no job is too big or too small for Peter Pan Plumbing.

They cover every facet of maintenance plumbing such as

Blockages Burst pipes Tap repairs and replacements Gas Roof leaks Leak testing Hot water New installations

We are 24/7 and committed to servicing our local community

So don't hesitate if you need any plumbing requirements to reach out to Peter - 0403 404 307

As you are aware The Rollers and Bridge Club have a bar open frequently for the supply of refreshing drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. As introduction to some of our wines please read below.

We will have a new wine available this month - a Rose - 95 points from Halliday and from a 5-Star Halliday rated winery, Wirra Wirra . For a Rosé, 95 points is genuinely rare - we're talking about a score that most serious reds would be proud of, on a wine that looks like a sunset and drinks like a dream. Pristine rose gold in the glass. Strawberry, blood orange, cranberry and rose petal on the nose. The palate is textural and juicy - vibrant red berry fruit, bright acidity and a savoury complexity that sets it apart from anything in the category. Marcus Ellis at Halliday called it "harmonious from the get-go" with "acidity and fruit in perfect accord." Fruit from four carefully selected sites, harvested at precisely the right moment, cool fermented and given just enough lees contact to build texture and depth without ever losing freshness. The result is a dry rosé with genuine personality and presence.

Archery Road Longbow Shiraz 2021

Another 95-point wine and at $80 a bottle from the vineyard, a huge value wine for such a low price at our bar. A complex finish, all the lashings of character we as adults have grown to become obsessed with, in one neat package. From the prized southern part of the sun-drenched Barossa, steeped in quality grown shiraz. A blend of hand-selected low-yielding parcels, you’ll find generous flavours of black fruit, olive and pepper spice, backed by silky tannins, yet the wine is intense on the palate, with a great depth and length.

MAJOR RESULTS

After the mammoth number of Events at the Festival of Bridge in June it is not surprising that in July there was only on event - the Board A Match Teams Event - held online.

The Winners of this event were Team Mundell -

TANIA LLOYD - HUGH GROSVENOR - ANDREW PEAKE - GISELLE MUNDELL

SECOND: Team ADAMS : BEN CHOSID (sub) - LIZ ADAMS - JAMIE THOMPSON - TONY NUNN - MATHEW VADAS

THIRD Equal: Team SHAO: SHERLOCK SHAO - KELSEY CHEN - RAKESH KUMAR - JAKE ANDREW - WEI ZHANG (sub)

THIRD Equal: Team BURKE: GARY LANE - ANTHONY BURKE - PHIL GUE - LEO GOOREVICH

UPCOMING EVENTS

East Lindfield MP Pairs Open, Intermediate, Restricted Championship Wednesdays, 5th August, 12th August, 19th August, from 9:45am till 1:00pm (approx) NSBC Saturday | Pairs | F2F | Championship - Winners to play in online State Metro Finals in preferred grade | Red Masterpoints No booking necessary – just turn up.

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Teaminvest Gold Point Swiss Pairs John McIlrath Trophy Sunday 9th August 10:00am till 4:45pm (approx) NSBC Sunday | Pairs | F2F | Gold Masterpoints

2 h

This is a Swiss Pairs event and GNOT Metro Qualifier.

NSBC Club Teams Championship Open, Restricted and Intermediate Played over 4 Thursday evenings starting at 7pm AEST. 27th August, 3rd September, 10th September, & 17th September NSBC Thursday Evenings 7:00pm till 9:30pm (approx)| Teams | Online | Red Masterpoints Click here to enter via MyABF

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Peter Pan Plumbing Swiss Pairs - Novice/Rookie/Restricted, Intermediate/ Open Sunday, 30th August 10:00am till 4:45pm (approx) NSBC Sunday | Pairs | F2F | Red Masterpoints Click here to enter via MyABF

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Fathers Day Swiss Pairs - Novice/Rookie/Restricted/ Intermediate, Open - Online Sunday, 6th September Starting 10:00am till 4:30pm (approx) NSBC Sunday | Teams | Online | Red Masterpoints Click here to enter via MyABF

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State Swiss Pairs - Open - Online Tuesday Evenings, 8th September, 15th September, 22nd September, from 7:00pm till 9:30pm (approx) NSBC Tuesdays | Pairs | Online | Championship Red Masterpoints Click here to enter via MyABF

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Margaret Smale 2026 Metro North - Interclub Teams Championship @ Peninusula Sunday, 20th September 10:00am till 4:30pm (approx) Sunday | Teams | F2F | Interclub Championship Click here to Register

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