Sheenagh Young
Sheenagh Young…in her own words
I am a Sydney girl originally with a background in Agricultural Science. Being in places such as Trangie, Tottenham and Cobar, there wasn’t much to do at night except play cards - euchre and canasta, read or listen to the radio. There was no TV and the fridge always ran out of kerosene. Our phone was on a party line and calling home was always a trunk call. Town was always a 4 - 6 hour round trip so only undertaken once a fortnight for supplies and the main entertainment was the RSL Club. Being a flaneur by nature, I soon grew tired of the isolation so as soon as I had saved enough dosh I was traveling. Most of my time was spent in the UK or traveling around France and the Channel Islands by motorbike (lots of stories there) plus the occasional jaunt in a borrowed MG. After stints working for Ansett in Adelaide and management roles in Sydney, I landed in WA in the early 80’s to help set up the Karratha International Hotel, moved to Perth and met a fabulous bloke called Ray who convinced me to stay put.
My bridge journey started in 1992. I was persuaded by a friend to accompany her to lessons at Nigel Rosendorff’s club in Swanbourne, where I first met Peter Holloway who was working with Nigel at the time. When my first son was born later that year, my bridge stopped until 1994. After winning the Rosendorff novelty pairs we decided to brave a session at WABC in Dalkeith. I still remember sitting there, hands shaking, praying I wasn’t going to make a fool of myself. We started playing on Wednesdays, mainly because Peter Smith ran the session and a lovely lady called Gurdip was in the club kitchen cooking wonderful curries which you could buy for lunch.
My original partner stopped playing, and I found a new partner in Gill Gavshon. Apart from the Novice Pairs Championship which we won in 1997, there were no restricted events as there is now. I met Robin Paterson at Dalkeith and we decided to play together at an event at the Italian Club. On the last board of the night we were asked by our opponents what system we were playing- in unison I said Acol and she said Standard. Now I knew why she was putting me in so many 3NT contracts when we had 22 points between us. After experiencing a modicum of success at various congresses we decided to enter the ANC Women’s Butler at Observation City. We were delighted to make round 2 but not round 3 - but we did meet Richard and Sue Grenside for the first time, along with the wonderful Ivy Dahler who is sadly no longer with us.
One of our finest moments was qualifying for the WA Women’s Team in 2003. To qualify we had to play a 64 board final behind screens. We hadn’t played behind screens before, so Richard and Sue set it up so we could have a practice session with them. Peter Smith very kindly gave us some coaching and advice on tactics. The night before the final I had a call from the BAWA President, Nigel Dutton, who rang to instill us with confidence and belief that we could win our way through and I shall always be grateful to him for taking the time to do that for us.
It was a gruelling event played at Nedlands. I remember Linda Bedford-Brown arriving with a magnificent platter of food to either congratulate or commiserate with us - we won - and went to Darwin to represent WA . Lots of fun; acquitted ourselves well; attended a cocktail party at Government House; and made many friends.
Not long after, I joined WABC in 1994, Carol Pocock asked me to join the TC, where I learnt much about the Laws and running of bridge events. I then went to the MC and BAWA MC, but the death of my husband, Ray, in 2000, left me bringing up two young children. On the invitation of Linda Wild, I ran the website and administrative work during school hours. I took over the Wednesday supervised session from Paul Brayshaw. We regularly got 12 -14 tables and I remember running around like a lunatic and relying on Bill Kemp, who ran the main room, to help me out.
These were also the days of using travelling score sheets with the results having to be entered manually which meant you wouldn’t know your results until you were next at the club or next day once we had a website. A special effort was made for championships as players needed to know their results on the night, but we all brought food and on the last night we sat around eating, drinking, and yes smoking whilst we waited. Before my time the club was a smoking venue, with ashtrays at every table. Helen George once told me that when the curtains caught on fire, Molly Virtue, wife of Sir John Virtue, was declarer, and she insisted dummy go down before the smouldering curtains were put out. Speaking of championships, at the annual Christmas party and prize giving - which you had to pay for to attend - the deal was if you won a championship you bought your own prize and displayed it on the prize table until you came up to collect it from the President. The club would then reimburse you a pre-determined amount. I remember, quite a few members, Heather Booth being one, who just brought the same old plate year after year so she could get the cash. Thankfully we got rid of that tradition.
Around this time, I became tournament organiser of the Hans Rosendorff Memorial Congress. This was for women’s teams only and started on a Friday night, finishing on Sunday. We used to get 2 or 3 teams from interstate as it was a PQP event. As a TO you have to be prepared for anything, and one year, a rather religious NSW player who still plays today, wanted to attend the nearest Catholic service, so I had to pick her up, find the right mass service and take her there and bring her to the club for the last day. I am still waiting for her thank you. (Editor’s note; maybe coming from a higher being!!!) The plan to move the club started many years before we landed in Swanbourne. We were getting squeezed out of Dalkeith due to parking restrictions which became ever more Draconian as the years moved on. Luckily for us, many years before, members had purchased debentures which allowed the club to buy the premises from the church which meant we now had something to sell to finance a new club.
With the extraordinary work of presidents Linda Wild, Helen Kemp, Des Cain and their hardworking committees and subcommittees this was achieved in 2008. Kim Paterson had also organised subdivision approval for the site to become 3 blocks so it was a desirable purchase for any developer. We moved into our new premises, designed by architect and member, Tom Lemann with a great deal of input from Tony Brand, at the end of January but the first 2 weeks were a bit of a nightmare as the sewer line had not been connected so we were using porta-loos in the driveway - not pleasant in summer. Much had been said by various players about the distance the club was from other areas - notwithstanding, the membership flourished.
I take great pride in being the TO of the most successful and profitable ANC in history which was held in Fremantle July 2015 and achieved with the help and determination of Kitty George, Hilary Yovich and Robina McConnell. I might also add that I gave what is arguably the funniest Victory Dinner speech of any ANC.
I was working at the club on Boxing Day 2014 when I needed help. Luckily Alastair Tulloch was playing that day and when I spoke with him, he immediately put me in contact with a former colleague which resulted in major surgery a week later - and me out of commission for 3 weeks. I mention this to thank Alastair for saving my life - and checking up on me in hospital - and to the Management Committee and members for offering me all the help and support I needed. We really do have an amazing bunch of people here.
I have been fortunate to have worked with amazing Presidents and committees over the years and it truly takes a special type of person to take on the role of President. These are members who give freely of their time to help run what is considered to be the best bridge club in the country and endeavouring to keep 1000 members happy is an arduous task. I would like to suggest to each and every one of you that the next time you find yourself at the table with one of these extraordinary people, present or past, you thank them for all the work they do, or have done, seen and unseen, for our benefit - guiding us through the implementation of GST, building the club, COVID and power thefts to name a few.
We wouldn’t have the club we do without Peter Smith and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for all his help and putting up with me over the years. He has been our North Star, our one true constant, guiding us every step of the way. We were all in a state of trepidation when he said he wanted to retire. I had arranged with Andy Hung to come to WA to hold a series of workshops and chanced my arm by asking if he would be interested in taking over Peter’s role. Thankfully he said yes and now we have another top flight international player who, over the last couple of years, has developed his own way of conducting lessons and instigating new and evolving methods to retain new players, all whilst still representing Australia at the very top of international competition.
Finally, I would like to end by saying thank you to every member of this club. Your continued support of WABC by choosing to play at the premises rather than online is what keeps the club going. To the many members who constantly give of their time to help out during congresses, running the bar, gardening, mentoring, being duty partner, house pairs and last minute substitutes or serving on subcommittees, I would say you are the backbone of this club and what makes it truly great. I know you will all support Martin when he takes over this role and makes it his.
Many of you have asked me what I have planned. I do have a plan to gain further qualifications in a particular field of interest but I also look forward to being back at the tables and hopefully playing at the Gold Coast Congresses in the next year or two - we’ll see how the 19th November goes as Robin might decide to dump me.
I have many more stories accumulated over the past 20 years of being your Executive Officer but this article is long enough. Just know that I am truly grateful to you all.
Sheenagh.
Nigel Dutton, President BAWA 2022
I have known Sheenagh in an official capacity for more than 20 years. We first met, when as a member of the BAWA MC, she was a staunch advocate for WABC. Naturally she made a significant and valued contribution to bridge in general. She often gave, particularly to me, wise counsel which was much appreciated. Sheenagh, on more than one occasion, provided valuable information, which helped diffuse and solve issues which were adversely affecting the Association. We continued our association when Sheenagh took over her role at WABC.Over the years I have found her to be totally professional and very efficient - quietly advocating for WABC but always cognisant of the fact that the club was part of a wider bridge community. Congratulations on your retirement, and best wishes from me and the Association.
Sylvia Bray, President Elect 2022
Sheenagh has undoubtedly been the backbone of our club...the unbroken link over the past 20 or so years. This has meant that through Sheenagh, with her determination and management skills, a wealth of knowledge and expertise has been accumulated, giving the club a sound foundation to build on. Add to that a fashion flair bordering on what I would call ‘polished Goth’.
This profile is taken from the November 2022 edition of Trumps Plus