Page 25 - ABF Newsletter February 2026

Membership management – collect your club’s annual renewals through MyABF
Over the Christmas period, several clubs with 31 December year ends used MyABF to manage their annual membership renewals. This year over $212,000 was processed through MyABF (more than double the figure for 2024/25). This can massively streamline managing the collection of your annual membership renewals – particularly if a lot of your members are happy for the payment to be auto- matically put through MyABF on a nominated date. I know from my own past experience as treasurer of my bridge club what a painful experience it can be to keep track of memberships, who has paid, how they paid, chase who is still to pay, sort out people paying twice by accident, etc.
Does your club have a 31 March membership year? Quite a lot do. If so, you are the next major batch of clubs that could take advantage of this area.
If your club is interested, please contact MyABF sup- port and we can provide you with more information – and put you in touch with people that can help.
But please do so at least two weeks before 31 March.
The Membership management functionality is pow- erful but, like any powerful tool, it can be dangerous in the wrong hands!
It definitely needs a bit of set up in advance – the system can’t magically do all your renewals for you without this being done!
Stripe fees reduction
Finally, as mentioned in my last newsletter article, the reduced charge to recoup Stripe transaction fees has now come into effect. For the club settlements recently paid at 31 January the fee was 1.85%, in- stead of the previous 2%. While, at face value, this might seem a small reduction, it adds up significantly across a large number of transactions.
Hopefully, as usage volumes grow even further, we will be able to obtain further improvements to the fees and then also pass those onto clubs. Why not take a look at what your club can do? The adminis- trative savings for a club are enormous, as well as increased convenience for players.
Bridge feature in Dare Magazine
Anita Spurling
Jan van Riel from Bridge Victoria was contacted by the editors of Dare Magazine, as they wanted to speak with two people who were passionate about their hobbies, and two games in particular: Bridge and Mahjong. I was nominated for the bridge section, as I am passionate about the game, even though my enthusiasm is unfortunately not matched by outstanding results!
Bridge is always about learning, and we all embrace that. In a world where people can feel disconnected, bridge is a way that people of all ages can develop lifelong friendships whilst increasing cognitive abilities.
www.seniors.com.au/dare-magazine
60 studies found that bridge enhances cognitive function in older people, while 2022 research involving more than 11,000 older Chinese people found those who played mahjong or cards regularly had a significantly lower risk of dementia.
For Canberra’s Judy Forno, 77, there’s been a noticeable improvement in her ability to focus and make decisions since taking up mahjong 14 years ago. The game has also boosted her self-confidence.
“We don’t keep score in either group I play in, but if you’re playing to win – which everyone is, to a degree – you have to be aware of what you’re doing all the time, so it makes you concentrate,” she says. “It certainly gets the brain working and gives you mental stimulation.”
Cognitive health and dementia expert Professor Kaarin Anstey from the University of NSW confirms that games like bridge and mahjong are uniquely placed to keep our brains active as we age. How often you play doesn’t matter. What counts is the difficulty level.
BRIDGE
Played using a standard card deck, with four people
in two partnerships, working together to bid and win ‘tricks’ (cards) from the other pair. Anita says having a basic understanding of cards can help you pick up the game faster. Australian Bridge Federation clubs operate beginner courses that run for four to six weeks.
regular interactions with colleagues, but her beloved card game has bridged (pun intended) the gap.
“Sometimes you can hear the peals of laughter around a bridge table; people are just laughing their heads off, having fun,” says Anita, who now plays three times a week. “I’ve made some really valuable long-term friendships that I would not have otherwise met through bridge. These people are so important in my life.”
Judy agrees. She plays mahjong twice a week – once with friends, and once at the Canberra Seniors Centre, where she enjoys interacting with people from all walks of life. “There’s a real mix of people that play,” Judy says. “We stop in the middle and have morning tea, so there’s some communal chat. It’s taught me tolerance and patience with people as well, through dealing with different personalities and different skill sets.” 
Be prepared for unexpected medical expenses with Seniors Health Insurance. Call 1300 936 012 or
go to seniors.com.au
“Once a game becomes easy, it’s probably not challenging you much cognitively,” she says. “Playing challenging games is one way to keep your brain active, especially where the games involve problem solving and memory.”
KEEPING CONNECTED
Another reason games like bridge and mahjong are so good for brain health is that they’re played in groups, forcing you to interact with other people. Since social connection has been shown to lower the risk of dementia, that’s a big boost.
Professor Anstey says there isn’t much research comparing games like bridge and mahjong to digital games, but the social elements of the former may give them an edge. “Playing challenging games in a group provides both cognitive challenge and social interaction, so can play a key role in a brain-healthy lifestyle.”
That social interaction is a big part of the appeal for Anita, who learned bridge through online tutorials during the 2021 lockdowns. After retiring, Anita noticed how much her world shrank without
ME
MAHJONG
Originating in China in the 19th century, mahjong is a tile- based game that has several variations from different parts of the world. Judy says it’s similar to playing 500 or rummy but using tiles that you pick up and discard to make particular hands. You can learn online, at your local seniors club or through a mahjong club.
Visit abf.com.au 24 DARE
Visit mahjongclubs.org
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: February 2026
Page: 25
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026
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