How did you get started in Bridge? At what age? Who do you learn from?
Around 9 when my parents were learning but didn’t really play till 16. Uncle & parents.
What do (did) you do professionally?
Computer systems development & support. Now Bridge directing
Who is your partner and for how long? Longest Partnership?
Now Therese Demarco, Bruce Neill & Viv Wood. Longest continuous partnership was with Therese Tully (1999-2012)
In your playing career, what is the bridge success that has the most meaning for you?
Playing with Therese Tully in the Sao Paulo Venice Cup very shortly after breast cancer surgery and coming away with the best overall datum result for any Australian pair in any of the events.
And your worst moment in bridge?
Playing very badly in the first set of the round-of-16 match against Sweden in Lille in 2012.
What do you do between sessions to put you in the best frame of mind for the following sessions?
Try to relax often by reading something other than bridge.
Do you have a favourite and least favourite convention?
Not fond of Bergen. Like Rangewood.
Would your prefer to have more system or less?
Moderate amount. Having too much, can overload the brain with system at the expense of having enough left for play & defence.
What do you to do to improve your game?
Discussion with respected players, reading, playing & reviewing all results, bidding practice on BBO
Favourite bridge book?
“Card Play Technique or The Art of Being Lucky” by Mollo & Gardner
What interests or hobbies do you have besides bridge?
Reading, cooking & gardening
What is the number one thing that bridge has done for you as a person and for your life?
It has taught me how to interact with people from all walks of life and to have more confidence in myself and my abilities.
Bridge results and awards?
Gold Grand Master
National Titles
Multitudes including: NWT, Spring National Women’s Teams, ANC Women’s Teams, GNOT, VCC, GCC Mixed Pairs, GCC Women’s Teams, GCC Open Butler, Hans Rosendorff Women’s Teams, ANC Women’s Butler, AN Women’s Pairs. Some many times. There are probably others.
State Representation
1974 QLD Open; SA Women’s 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2003, 2022; SA Open 1984, 1985, 1986
National / International Representation
Australian Representation
1982 Far East Championships Bangkok Cecile Miles 3rd
1984 Olympiad Seattle Barbara Travis
1985 Far East Championships Sydney Barbara Travis 1st
1985 Venice Cup São Paulo Barbara Travis
1986 Far East Championship Penang Barbara Travis
1987 Far East Championships Shanghai Barbara Travis 3rd
1987 Venice Cup Jamaica Barbara Travis
1989 Far East Championships Djakarta Barbara Travis 3rd
1989 Venice Cup Perth Barbara Travis
1990 Far East Championships Singapore Cecile Miles 1st
1991 Venice Cup Yokohama Cecile Miles
1992 Olympiad Salsomaggiore Cecile Miles
1994 Far East Championships Wellington Jill Courtney 2nd
1995 Far East Championships Beijing Alida Clark 1st
1995 Venice Cup Beijing Alida Clark
1996 Olympiad Rhodes Alida Clark
1997 Far East Championship Hong Kong Margaret Bourke 3rd
1997 Venice Cup Hammamet Alida Clark
1999 Asia Pacific Hangzhou Therese Tully
1999 Venice Cup Bermuda Therese Tully
2000 Olympiad Maastricht Therese Tully
2004 Olympiad Istanbul Therese Tully
2005 Venice Cup Estoril Therese Tully
2007 Asia Pacific Bandung Therese Tully 2nd
2008 Olympiad Beijing Therese Tully
2009 Asia Pacific Macau NPC
2009 Venice Cup São Paulo Therese Tully
2010 Commonwealth Nations New Delhi Therese Tully
2010 Asia Cup Women’s Ningbo Therese Tully
2012 World Mind Sports Games Lille Margaret Bourke (round of 16)
2013 Asia Pacific Hong Kong Margaret Bourke 3rd
2013 Venice Cup Bali Margaret Bourke
2014 Commonwealth Nations Glasgow Margaret Bourke
2015 Asia Pacific Bangkok Margaret Bourke 2nd
2015 Venice Cup Chennai Margaret Bourke
2017 Asia Pacific Seoul Margaret Bourke
2017 Venice Cup Lyon Margaret Bourke
Any other details/information you wish to provide
Was co-editor of the ABF Newsletter from 1994-2007 building it into the regular multi-page document it it is now
