June 6 1952 – January 6, 2025

The Australian Bridge community is reeling after the sudden loss of one of the most colourful bridge personalities in Australia for more than half a century, Simon Hinge.

Simon was my favoured bridge partner in a bridge career spanning 55 years.

I was proud to be his partner and admired both his bridge brain and his sometimes devilish decisions. He would say after something went wrong “well, at least you gave it a go”.

I can’t say with any certainty when we formed a partnership, but it was enduring, and while we didn’t always agree, we never argued.

Simon, known to be intolerant of what he considered stupidity, could appear aloof and irascible, but he could also be extremely loveable.

In his 50+ years of competitive bridge, with Simon partnering many notable partners, Simon amassed nearly 11,000 masterpoints, making him a worthy Emerald Grand Master.

Simon also served the bridge community well. He was on the ABF Management Committee for a number of years, and was instrumental in helping design the current ABF website.

Simon was like an iceberg, with only part of his immense personality showing above water. He was successful in  compartmentalising areas of his life. His beloved rubber bridge game on a Friday evening saw him rub shoulders with bridge players seldom if ever seen at a bridge club.

His love for cryptic crosswords and trivia online with his band of cronies, his fascination for Collingwood Football Club, his album of “old sheds” photographed on his travels these are all legendary facets of the man. While he grew up in South Australia his many friends in Victoria are the ones who knew him best, some of them now lost to us all.

My most satisfying win in recent years (the 2018 Spring National Open Teams) saw Simon and me team with talented youngsters Ella Pattison (Jacob) – Nye Griffiths.

Simon’s personality could span the generations, and he was great friends with young people like Laura Ginnan, our Summer Festival Organiser, who showcased her imagination by organising Simon’s 70th birthday party in June 2022.

He was also a great friend to the late Jeannette Collins, and they could be seen enjoying strong lattes at all the trendy cafes in Simon’s favoured St Kilda/Middle Park/South Melbourne zones.

On Monday January 6, the end came suddenly for my dear friend. Travelling to our favourite event, the Summer Festival, a sharp cry and his head turned to one side, the life went out of Simon’s eyes and despite the efforts of Andrew Mill, two willing onlookers, the ambulance and paramedic personnel Simon could not be revived.

Stephen Lester