Bridge in the Ballroom

On Wednesday afternoon November 15th Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria welcomed 160 bridge players from across Victoria to a game of bridge in the Ballroom. The occasion marked the first time the Ballroom, with a length surpassing even Buckingham Palace's Ballroom, had been set up for Bridge.
The day included players of all skill levels and from all parts of the State. This included 65 social and formal bridge clubs (listed below the photos) and a number of distinguished guests who have contributed to the game.
In many ways, Victorians have left an indelible mark on the international Bridge scene. Victoria is home to Ben Thompson, the first Vice-President to the World Bridge Federation Executive Council and the World Bridge Federation Chief Tournament Director, Laurie Kelso. The world’s biggest Bridge streamer and influencer, Peter Hollands, is based in Victoria and the world’s biggest bridge podcast,Sorry, Partner, is based in Victoria. Even in bridge, Victoria is the 'Education State' with the State Library of Victoria housing the Bourke Bridge Collection, one of the largest collections of Bridge books in the world.
The game of bridge in he ballroom was a delightful afternoon which not only celebrated the game, united players from all over the state and of all skill levels but importantly allowed ideas about it's future to freely flow.
Photo from the day our President George Del Papa and Margaret Wylie