Port Macquarie Hastings Bridge Club - Learn & Play Bridge

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Member Profiles

Badger, Neil

Blanch, Daphne

Gott, Jo

Huskens, Fred & Annalene

Stevens, Allana

Ross, Shirley

 

Neil Badger - Secretary, Publicity Officer, Preacher, Web Master & Priest.

Neil was born in April, 1946 and spent his first 5 years in Washington DC where his father was an economist with the IMF.  The family returned to Australia in 1951 and settled in the outer Sydney suburb of Epping.  By this time Neil had 2 younger sisters.  He attended Eastwood Primary and then went on to Epping Boys High.

In 1960 Neil’s father was transferred to London.  Neil wasn’t happy there and 2 years later he returned to Sydney and stayed with his aunt.  She wasn’t really equipped to handle a teenage world traveller and consequently his studies suffered.  Failing the Leaving Certificate but later passing the Matriculation exam he was accepted into UNSW to study Engineering.

It was here that, as well as many other distractions, a mate and he discovered a card room.  There he was introduced to the world of bridge, often playing with Robyn Griffiths who lived next door.    Although sowing the seed for a love of bridge it did little for his academic career and combined with  partying contributed to an early departure from the halls of academia.

He then moved into the world of computers where he had a successful career spanning 30 years.  He first worked for IBM in Sydney.  During this time he met and married Megan who was studying at Macquarie Uni.  Once she had graduated they deferred her teaching career and headed to Europe for several years.

On returning to Australia Neil set up a small computer company programming for small businesses, a company he still owns today.  Rapidly expanding usage of mini computers made this a very successful enterprise.

In 1978, getting fed up with Sydney, Neil took a job with East West Airlines in Tamworth.  He was installing their first computer and in his spare time was working with the local office supplier installing computers around New England.  Neil, Megan and their 2 young daughters lived on a 100 acre hobby farm just south of Tamworth airport.  When East West Airlines folded they had to decide whether to stay in the bush or move back to the city.  They chose the country and Neil says that although financially it was not a good decision the lifestyle more than compensated for it.

Neil now concentrated on his computer company which expanded throughout the New England/North West area.  Working for himself gave him a great deal of flexibility with time to become involved in company organisations.  He spent time as Chairman of the local CYSS and was the P & C President for his kids’ schools as well as a term on the executive of the state P & C.

In 2007, with both daughters working Neil and Megan made the decision to retire to Port Macquarie.  Megan now works part time at Camden Haven High and Neil is the ‘house husband’. 

Upon arriving in Port Macquarie Neil looked up Robyn Griffiths and she suggested he attend the Bridge classes at Hastings.  Neil says “I hadn’t played bridge since Uni so I was a little rusty and some of the bidding basics had moved on since 1964 but whatever the attraction that grabbed me at Uni is still there and you can see me at the Club 3 or 4 days every week”.

So how fortunate for our Club that he made this decision.  In his unassuming, pleasant, competent manner he makes a great contribution to our Club.  As well as being the publicity officer, he looks after the web page, assists with the bridgemates and is a Director. 

We all remember Neil with purple hair, then no hair, raising money for cancer research.  Neil, all members of our Club thank you for your efforts.

Blanch, Daphne

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Jo Gott

Jo was a foundation member of the Port Macquarie Hastings Bridge Club. ^[1]
Jo started playing Bridge as a child. Back in the days before radio , families used to sit around the dining table after dinner and play card games.
Games like Whist and Bezique. Into this world came a new game - Bridge, it had two incantations: Auction and Contract and Jo used to play these with her parents and later her parents-in-law. The neighbourhood waifs ^[2] used to drop in for an occasional lesson, amongst them Thomas Edison ^[3] and Charles Goren ^[4] .
Tom was so frustrated at trying to balance his cards in one hand and the candle in the other that he went on to invent the Electric light bulb which revolutionised the playing of Bridge at night. This may explain Jo's love of the Tuesday night Teams event.
Chuck was quite inept at Bridge in his early days, but having an analytical brain he set about a systematic study of the game and developed a system for evaluating hands, high card point. He later refined the system to account for distributional points. He went on to become World Champion and his books sold millions.
Chuck and Jo were instrumental in developing the infamous Precision bridge system and this can still be seen in action on a Tuesday night when Jo plays it with her daughter Debbie.

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1. ^ See Club History.
2. ^ From this point on a little poetic licence has been employed by the editor to inject a litttle colour into the story.
   This may be construed by some as meaning that it is all a pack of lies, but at all times one must remember that you cannot make an omellette without breaking a few eggs.
3. ^ Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931)
4. ^ Charles Henry Goren (March 4, 1901 – April 3, 1991)

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MEET and GREET…. Annalene and Fred Husken
Manfred (we know him as Fred because a mistake was made when his name was entered into the computer. This was never corrected and he will always be FRED to all his friends at the club).

Both Fred and Annalene were born in Germany just before the Second World War. They met in 1956, became close friends and were engaged in 1958. They had often talked about going to Australia and almost immediately after becoming engaged Fred left his fiancée in Germany and set sail for the long voyage to Australia. He arrived in Sydney with nothing but the clothes on his back after his ship was sunk in the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, the crew and passengers were picked up by a Norwegian freighter and taken to Sydney.

The early months in Australia were very difficult. Fred lived at Kings Cross and with limited English had difficulty in finding work. However, after a few months his qualifications as a fitter/welder were recognized and he gained permanent employment as a fitter.< /p>

Annalene arrived in Australia a year after Fred and they were married in a registry office at Parramatta in April 1959. Annalene says “it was an immediate love affair with Australia” – she loved the harbor, the houses and the people. I’m sure that Australia loved her too!

In Germany Annalene was a tailor and eventually she found work with Earnest Hiller, the maker of suits for Anthony Squires. She worked hard and often worked night shifts. As with many immigrants there is always a yearning to return to their country of birth (the fatherland). So in 1961 with Annalene pregnant with their first child, they returned to Germany where their daughter Gabrielle was born. However, they both missed their adopted country and returned to Australia in 1962. Their son Michael was born the following year.

Fred resumed his previous job. Annalene continued to work night shifts when Fred would be home to look after the children. Annalene had tried many times to find placements for her children in kindergartens but in those days child care centres were not available. So in 1970, she decided to start her own kindergarten and she continued this for the next 30 years. They had built their home in Villawood in 1963 on a large block which proved suitable for a kindergarten on the same site. “Bimbo Kindergarten’ was opened for business in 1970. Annalene recalls she had some silly phone calls about the name but Bimbo was a baby elephant hero in German children’s books and the kindergarten was named after him. Annalene has fond memories of her 30 years caring for children.

Annalene and Fred built their current home at Lighthouse in 1992 and spend many happy holidays there before retiring to Port in 2000. They quickly became involved in the community. Fred is a Sea Rescue volunteer and acts as a volunteer ambassador for tourism in Port Macquarie. Their four grandchildren who live in Sydney also keep them busy with regular visits. Fred says he and Annalene have managed to survive life’s ups and downs together and have built a relationship which cannot be measured by material possessions. “Who needs money when you have love?”

Not long after they arrived in Port Macquarie they saw an advertisement for bridge lessons and having a liking for cards they went along. At the first lesson Fred recalls the teacher saying that many friendships result from bridge lessons and they wholeheartedly agree. They love their bridge and have made many friends. I’m sure all will agree that we are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful couple as members of our Club. Thank you Fred and Annelene for your happy, smiling presence at our Club!

Allana Stevens

Allana was born in Hamilton in country Victoria. She was the elder of two children and has ayounger brother who now lives in Queensland.Her mother was the secretary to the local councilengineer and after school Allana would spendquite a bit of time in the office gaining knowledge of the department and getting to know the staff.

Her school studies centred around maths and science subjects. It was the custom of the engineering department to employ Year 11 and 12 students for work experience. By chance Allana was able to fill this position. No male student was available and she was the first female to take up this position. This was the beginning of her engineering career. She spent her school holidays gaining experience in surveys, designs and drawing in the engineering department .

After Year 12 she went to study engineering at Monash University in Melbourne. Not long after arriving at Uni she met a medical student, Stan Stevens who very quickly became the love of her life. After completing her engineering degree she took a job in a small town, Korumburra. There at the local council she gained very good experience in surveying, designing roads and supervising contracts. She really enjoyed her job but there was one drawback – Stan still had 2 years of medicine to complete. Consequently there was a lot of travelling for them both between Melbourne and Korumburra.

Allana and Stan were married in 1979 when Stan completed his degree. They moved to Warrnambool where Allana worked for the local council and Stan did his internship at the local hospital before moving to private practice. In 1982 they went to England for 8 months for Stan to gain experience and a diploma in obstetrics. While Stan was delivering babies Allana was having a great time meeting friends and travelling around England and Europe.

Back in Australia Stan returned to general practice and they started their family – three sons were born over the next 6 year period. Allana was extremely busy with the children while Stan was combining work with study to become a radiologist. In 1991 Stan gained a position as a radiologist in Port Macquarie. The family eventually built a home at Lighthouse Beach.

Allana grew up in a family that always played cards in their leisure time. She loves all card games and in 2004 the time was right for her to attend bridge lessons at our Club. She was a very conscientious student and quickly became a competent player. She quickly became very involved with Club activities and has made a great contribution to the Club. Allana has served on the Committee and is a very pleasant and skillful director. All club members appreciate her efforts. Thank you Allana.

Shirley Ross

Shirley was born in the Sydney suburb of Croydon in March, 1925. The family moved to Warrawee when she was five years old.

She attended Abbotsleigh Girls School at Wahroonga, leaving after completing the Intermediate Certificate. She left school in 1942 and joined the Red Cross where she first worked at Sydney Hospital and then moved on to Warringah Convalescent Home.  The patiens were Returned Servicemen and although she was only17 she took on many responsibilities, often being the only person on night duty to attend to the patients, some of whom were maimed or suffering from the effects of malaria or shell shock.  We may ask,  how did she manage to do this?  Well, Shirley just put up her age Can't we imagine Shirley in this situation?

In 1946 Shirley married John Ross (a long time friend of her brother).  John’s father owned a property 35 miles from Walcha.  He abandoned a medical career and he and Shirley began their married life at this property – Surrey Hills.

Life in the bush was great for Shirley and John.  They had two sons and a daughter.  Shirley said that these were wonderful times.  The kids had correspondence schooling until they went to boarding school.  Shirley supervised these lessons as well as helping John around the farm.  Once the kids had gone off to boarding school Shirley became more involved in the farming activities (cattle and sheep), working alongside John drenching sheep, fencing, repairing holes made by wombats under the dingo fence.  As well she gardened.  Spinning and weaving were hobbies she pursued at this stage.

The property was fairly isolated – 35 miles from Walcha and the challenge was that there were 30 gates to get  through on the way to town.  Once a month they journeyed to Tamworth, a two hour trip, for supplies and to attend the doctor or dentist.  Despite the isolation there was a lively social life – Sunday lunches, Picnic Races, Bachelor and Spinsters Ball to mention a few.

Unfortunately the farm work took a toll on Shirley’s back and she turned to yoga.  She went to Walcha to attend classes and eventually became a yoga instructor.

The family spent their holidays camping at Point Plomer.  A few years later they purchased a cottage in Port Macquarie on the site where the Historic Well now stands.  In 1982 when the time came for retirement, their sons took over the farm.  Shirley and John bought 5 acres on Cathie Road and built their retirement home.  Unfortunately John';s retirement was cut short.  He died in 1987.  Shirley felt the loss very deeply.

However, in true Shirley fashion, she met the challenge.  She became heavily involved in the management of the RSL Loft.  As well, she conducted yoga classes.  After the closing of the RSL she took aqua aerobics at the Jindalee Rd pool. 

In 1990 Shirley moved to Governor’s Resort.  After her previous busy life she wondered what activity she could take up for her leisure time.  Florence Walker suggested bridge.  Shirley joined Yvonne’s classes and on many occasions she announced she was not continuing.  However, fortunately for us all she was persuaded to continue.

At this stage bridge is an important part of Shirley’s life, along with the movies, concerts and involvement with family.  We all look forward to seeing Shirley’s smiling face at our club for many years to come.