Dear Members, Clubs, States, and Territories,

As the festive season approaches, we, the President and Executive Director of the Australian Bridge Federation, would like to take this opportunity to wish you a joyful and relaxing holiday period.

It has been an incredible year for our bridge community, and we are delighted to see it continue to grow and thrive. Some of the highlights this year include:

• Pauline Gumby becoming Australia’s FIRST Diamond Grand Master, achieving an extraordinary 15,000 master points. This remarkable accomplishment reflects Pauline’s exceptional skill, dedication, and profound passion for the game—an inspiration to us all.
• A significantly large registration of youth players for the Youth Bridge Course earlier in the year, inspiring the next generation of bridge enthusiasts.
• The 16^th World Bridge Games in Buenos Aires, where our Australian Representative Teams proudly showcased their talents on the international stage.
• Many exciting bridge events around the country, celebrating our passion for the game and strengthening connections within our community.

As you celebrate the silly season, don’t forget there’s still time to share your festive photos with us! And why not give the gift of bridge to a loved one this Christmas? It’s a gift that fosters fun, friendship, and a lifetime of learning.

Looking ahead to January, we have a packed calendar of exciting events to kick off 2025:

• The Women’s Online Bridge Tournament
• The much-anticipated Youth Bridge Week
• The Summer Festival of Bridge in Canberra, bringing together players from near and far

We hope to see you at the table in the new year!

During the holidays, take time to enjoy a few games of bridge with family and friends—many of us first learned around the kitchen table. Perhaps this season, you’ll introduce the game to the next generation and continue the wonderful tradition.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and bridge-filled festive season.

Warm regards,

Allison & David

Allison Stralow
President, Australian Bridge Federation

David Fryda
Executive Director, Australian Bridge Federation