Published May 2025
Don’t be fooled by the unassuming brick building in Hendra whose fence is adorned with giant, whimsical, playing cards. Seasoned players at the Northern Suburbs Bridge Club call their playing space the “shark tank”.
When the six-minute clock starts ticking to signal a round has begun, a collective hush falls around the room.
The best players will receive masterpoints, which are awarded to individuals for success in competitive bridge tournaments.
Club President Graham Killoran joked: “Some people get very hung up on master points. You can’t eat them or spend them, but you can have them left in your will or engraved on your headstone – that’s about as useful as they can be.”
“One of our members here is also a member at the Redland Bridge Club, and he says often the police get called out there to sort out the fights, that’s how serious some people get.” (This reporter was unable to tell if he was joking – when questioned, Mr Killoran said he was “deadly serious”).
The Northern Suburb Bridge Club holds a full calendar of games and competitions each week, including on weekdays, weeknights and weekends.
Bridge is a card game where you play for points, in partnerships of two against two.
“It’s all about how many tricks you get, and you bid on who you think has the better hand,” Mr Killoran explained.
“It’s the thrill of taking 13 cards and seeing what you can do with your partner… It is an addiction, there’s no doubt about it.”
Mr Killoran said partnerships are like a marriage, especially people who have been playing together for years and know how their partner will strategize and bid.
The club attracts a large and diverse crowd – he said they can get 38 tables (152 people) on a weekend and they have over 500 members.
“We have a lady who is 100 in July; she is still playing, and she still does very well… it’s all about keeping your mind ticking over,” Mr Killoran said.
“We have a policy here – you turn 90, you get to play for free.”
But all ages can play, and Mr Killoran confessed his ego was dented a few years ago when he played at a conference and scoring “way up above” him was a 14-year-old boy and his eight-year-old sister.
Though they might be competitive, they are welcoming of new players.
The club conducts a course of eight lessons for beginners twice a year, but Mr Killoran said it takes “a lifetime” to truly learn how to play.
Find out more at northernsuburbs.bridgeaustralia.org.
