The Club arose from a conversation between Ron Young a Bridge enthusiast and Adrian Ryan, Director of the Golf Club during a social game of golf in late 1994. Ron mentioned that he would love to be playing Bridge regularly, but unfortunately there was no Bridge Club in the area. Following on from this Adrian put forward a proposal at the next Committee Meeting of the Golf Club, that the Hawks Nest Golf Club - Bridge Club be formed. This proposal was unanimously accepted and shortly afterwards the President of the Golf Club announced that formation of a Bridge Club had been approved and lessons under the tutorship of Ron Young would be held in February and March 1995. On 1st May 1995, following these lessons, which drew a good response, the Inaugural Meeting of the Bridge Club was held. It was agreed that Bridge be played at the Golf Club on Monday nights (Duplicate Bridge) and Friday afternoons (Social Bridge). The 40 persons in attendance elected the following office holders for the year to 30th April 1996: 1995 Foundation Committee: President - Ron Young Vice-President - Adrian Ryan Secretary - Peter Holligan Treasurer - Heather Angel Coach - Bill Westwood Publicity Officer - Thalia Wilson Handicapper- - Beth Williams On the 1st May 2015 Hawks Nest Bridge Club celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Inaugural Meeting at the Golf Club. Since its formation in 1995 the Bridge Club has been a source of enjoyment to many. Founding Members 2015 pictured left to right: Adrian Ryan, Beth Williams, Pauline Cole, Shirley Pearson, Dawn Dale, Rex Dale, Carolyn Seymour, Jean Ryan Presidents to Date: 1995-1997 Ron Young 2002-2003 Heather Angel 2014-2016 Trish Gratwick 1997-1999 Beth Williams 2003-2009 Adrian Ryan 2016-2018 Glenn Conroy 1999-2001 Adrian Ryan 2009-2012 Leslie Falla 2001-2002 Rex Dale 2012-2014 Sue Donohue
PAGE 2 H A W K S N E S T B R I D G E C L U B I N C. The initial membership has steadily grown from 40 in 1995 to 99 in 2018. In the main our membership consists of retirees who live in an area which extends from Hawks Nest on the eastern coast to Tea Gardens, Pindimar, North Arm Cove, Stroud and Bulahdelah, with several members living in Sydney and playing at the Club regularly. From 1995 until 2002, HNBC played in many venues. Except for short periods during peak holiday seasons, regular games took place on Monday evenings and Friday afternoons at the Golf Club. When the Golf Club was unable to accommodate the Bridge Club (at peak holiday periods for commercial reasons and during renovations) temporary venues were utilized. These temporary venues included The Lodge (now known as Oceanside), the Uniting Church Hall and the former Council Library. From 2002 until 2006 the regular sessions were held at the Tea Gardens RS & C Country Club. As with the Golf Club during peak holiday seasons, sessions were relocated to temporary venues, which then included The Grange. During their stay at the Country Club a new Constitution was adopted and the Club became the Hawks Nest Bridge Club. In 2007 the Club moved to The Grange Country Club an excellent modern venue with fine facilities. Following a recommendation made at the 2007 Annual General Meeting the Club became Incorporated in October of that year. In 2007 a Club team consisting of Carol Richards, Jeanette Whalan, Chez Rands and Leslie Falla competed in the Hunter Interclub Teams Event and was successful in winning the C Grade Competition, whilst a team with Joe and Val Sloey, Shirley Pearson and Beth Williams was placed second. And more recently in 2016 a Club team consisting of Linda Conroy, Glenn Conroy, Marcia Dane, Bill Taylor and substitute Colin Gratwick, was successful in winning the Hunter Teams B Grade Competition. CLUB COMPETITIONS The Annual Pairs Championship was contested each year from 1996 to 2012 and the winners duly presented with the perpetual trophy, which was donated to the Club by Sally and Gordon Ingate. 2007 saw the introduction of the Restricted Pairs Competition which was won by Marcia Dane and Bill Taylor. It was strongly contested by those players whose Master Points did not exceed 25. A new Club Pairs Championship was introduced in 2013 with players competing for a new Sally & Gordon Ingate Trophy. On this occasion the runners-up, Lorna & John Worgan, were presented with the Consolation Plate and the Restricted Pairs Championship was not contested. In 2014 the Restricted Pairs Competition was reinstated and open to players with less than 100 Masterpoints. At this time the Teams Shield and Handicap Pairs Shield were also introduced. Both continue to be enjoyed by members. The Handicap Pairs Trophy is contested on both Fridays and Mondays each year. New Novice Competitions were introduced in 2015 for players in varying ranks of less than 50 Masterpoints. To view results of HNBC Championships and Competitions click on: www.bridgewebs.com/hawksnest/honourboard
PAGE 3 HAWKS NEST BRIDGE CLUB INC. The Club has benefitted from the significant efforts of many dedicated volunteer teachers introducing new players to Bridge and improving the overall standard of play. Ron Young kick started the Club with a series of lessons from Bridge Basics by Ron Klinger, and was followed by lessons from Bill Westwood, Anne Steel, Stan Palmer, Adrian Ryan, Leslie Falla, Mike Parfait and Trish Thatcher. Trish and Leslie are qualified Teachers under the new ABF system. We have enjoyed many visits from other clubs. The first Interclub visit was with Nelson Bay Bridge Club in 1996 when the game was played at the Nelson Bay Bowling Club. Subsequent games were held at the Nelson Bay RSL Club. Visits were also made to Forster. Since 2008 exchange visits have been made each year with Tilligerry Bridge Club and more recently in alternating years with Taree. Since 2014 we have had the pleasure of visits by Nelson Bay Diggers Bridge club, who arrive by ferry to enjoy lunch and bridge at The Pub. In 2016 a return invitation was accepted and HNBC members enjoyed the ferry trip to Nelson Bay where members provided transport to their playing venue and lunch. 2008 Visit from Tilligerry 2016 Hunter Teams KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY During the early years scoring was done manually. In 2003 the Club purchased ScoreBridge computer scoring program and game results were conveyed to most members by email. HNBC became affiliated in 2004 allowing Masterpoints to be allocated to sessions and for players to play in Congresses. In 2006 Gordon Ingate generously donated a Duplimate Dealing Machine to the Club which resulted in more challenging hands. Also and for the first time, hand records of the boards played could be offered allowing players to analyse their performance. Later, when results were later posted on the HNBC website, a whole host of information became available to those who wished to improve their game. Bridgemate hand units were purchased in 2011 and with the introduction of the Hawks Nest Website in 2012, results have been available on the website for all club competitions. EnjoyBridge was the name given to the Club Newsletter which was first published in 2000. With the growth of the Internet and the email facility this important function of keeping members informed, has now been replaced with an electronic news bulletin, which is backed up by publishing Club news and results in the local papers Myall Coast Messenger and News of the Area.
HAWKS NEST BRIDGE CLUB INC. PAGE 4 2002 Christmas Party It has long been the dream to have our own clubhouse which could be shared with other like-minded community organisations. Commencing in 2007 we sought information and guidance from our members, other clubs and bridge authorities, and in 2014 our members chose to go down the path of building our own clubhouse. From that came a plan which, in turn, provided an estimate of the cost, showing the need for significant fundraising. Members organised raffles and instituted a market place table at club sessions which continues to this day. Suitably encouraged but unable to afford a block of land, Great Lakes Council (now MidCoast Council) was approached and offered a long term lease for a block of land in Hawks Nest on which to build. The Lease was signed on 23rd May 2016. Having Council support in leasing a block of land, we were then able to apply for a grant from the NSW Government Community Building Partnership Program. Our thanks go to Kate Washington MP for her support enabling the club to share in the grant allocation for her electorate of $50,000. Members were then invited to offer donations and loans; their generosity was nothing short of amazing, but not enough to fund the build, and the Australian Bridge Federation was approached and agreed to offer us a loan from the James O Sullivan Trust Fund. In late 2016 there was more excitement when the club was successful in its application for a $33,000 Stronger Communities Grant from MidCoast Council. The President and committee members travelled to Taree to receive the award from the MCC Interim General Manager. December 2015, Kate Washington MP, is congratulating Trish Gratwick, President and Treasurer, on the award of the CBP to the Club. November 2016, Lyndie Hepple, Community Development Coordinator, MidCoast Council, presenting cheque to Glenn Conroy, President and Bea Treharne, Vice President HNBC
PAGE 5 H A W K S N E S T B R I D G E C L U B I N C. The Briefing Session in January 2016 gave unanimous approval to lodge the Development Application with Council for the Clubhouse as per the plans exhibited. Following receipt of Council approval of our DA, a Special General Meeting was held on 21st April 2017 where Members gave their unanimous approval for the motion to proceed with the construction of our Clubhouse. With Council approval to proceed, the contract for construction of the Clubhouse was signed on 8 June 2017. The construction phase began in August 2017 and was completed in January 2018. We held our first session, hosting the Grange Bridge Group, on Monday 29 January. The Official Opening Ceremony was held on 23 March 2018. We will, however, continue with fundraising efforts to reduce our indebtedness and the early repayment of loans received from Members and a loan from the Australian Bridge Federation. Our Clubhouse, located at 26 Yamba Street, is within an easy walking distance to the Hawks Nest Shopping Precinct. It is well equipped with a modern Audio Visual system, can comfortably accommodate 24 tables in a carpeted playing area and has a services area including tea room, toilets and office. It will be available also for use by other similar community organisations, at a modest fee which will help our cash flow. Potential Donors are invited to contact the Secretary for further information. Our Postal Address is: PO Box 178, Hawks Nest NSW 2324