Rhona Barton

Rhona was born in a small private hospital in Subiaco and although an only child, remembers well her time growing up with her cousins. As a teenager when WWII commenced, Rhona recalls her father enlisting in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve and bringing home the Semaphore and Morse Code signalling materials - skills Rhona taught herself (unclear how well this works at bridge!) Rhona attended Scarborough Primary School and remembers with fondness, the principal - a war veteran - whose wooden leg caused some mirth as he tapped along the floor boards. St Mary’s Girls’ School in Colin Street, West Perth was Rhona’s secondary education - an arduous bus trip and connecting tram each day.

 Following her Leaving Certificate, Rhona commenced nurse training at Royal Perth Hospital at age 17. This was a tough initiation in the old hospital, with all the new nurses longing for a ward in the new hospital premises, and its mod cons. She remembers well some difficult assignments including Ward 2, at age 18, containing 40 men - with half on the verandah, one in a straight jacket, and the only assistance from a junior nurse aged 17.

 Rhona completed her training and set off to Sydney to begin a career in midwifery. Along the way she met her husband and now boasts four children, 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

 Rhona’s bridge life commenced at Waratah Ave in 1998 where she took lessons with Peter Smith. Rhona remembers with affection, those early bridge days, renewing her friendship with Joan Dadour with whom she did her nurse training, and this friendship and regular bridge playing, lasted 70+ years until Joan’s death two years ago.

 Rhona has been a servant of our club, as a committee person for 8 years, secretary, club photographer and laying claim to Perth’s oldest barmaid. Rhona could be regularly seen exiting Woolworths with trolleys full of liquor for the club - or so she says. This was also matched by endless trolleys full of biscuits for the club which she transported and stored.

 In 2016, Rhona became a respected new-member mentor and is currently supporting her 17th player. A servant of the club, highly respected mentor, canny player, impeccable table etiquette and true lady.

 Thank you, Rhona, on behalf of the WABC.

 (Published in November 2021 Edition of Trumps Plus)