Page 4 - ABF Newsletter February 2026

There’s been a lot happening in Australian bridge – at the table and away from it – and this month I want to give you a fast-moving tour of some of the highlights and key developments. From the Summer Festival of Bridge and youth successes to changes in how we select our international teams and recognise outstanding contributors, there’s plenty of good news and important prog- ress to share. Let’s get straight into it.
Summer Festival of Bridge and Youth Week
Our recent Summer Festival of Bridge and Youth Week in Canberra once again demonstrated the strength, depth and spirit of the Australian bridge community. My sincere thanks go to Laura and her entire organising team for deliv- ering two very successful events. Major festivals only look effortless from the outside – in reality they depend on a great deal of planning, flexi- bility and hard work behind the scenes, and the results this year showed just how well that effort paid off.
Congratulations to all event winners and place- getters across the festival. I would like to make special mention of the three pairs who qualified for the Under-26 Australian Team (Paddy Taylor - Bertie Morgan, Heath Watkins - Kate Macdonald, Adrian Le - Fletcher Davey) a terrific achievement and a strong sign for the future of our interna- tional program. In addition Jess Brake and Shane Harrison, whose performance in taking out both the TBIB Open Pairs and the Mixed Matchpoint Pairs was an outstanding display of consistency and class.
The festival also gave us the opportunity to recog- nise exceptional long-term service to our game. It was a pleasure to present Allison Stralow with a lifetime award of free entry to the South West Pacific Teams in recognition of her many years of contribution and leadership as ABF President. Allison will be stepping down in April, and it was
fitting to acknowledge her impact in front of the national bridge community.
Finally, thank you to players for their patience and understanding during the few days where air-conditioning issues affected comfort at the venue. The venue staff worked hard to resolve the problems as quickly as possible, and your cooperative approach was appreciated.
Changes to Playoff Qualifying Points and International Performance
During the Summer Festival I ran an information session outlining the changes already under- way – and those being considered – to how we approach international performance and team selection. These follow the work of the Interna- tional Performance Task Force and are aimed at building a more coherent, partnership-focused
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
This certificate is proudly presented to
Allison Stralow
In recognition of outstanding service to the Australian bridge community as Councillor, Board Member, Secretary and President.
Through her dedication, leadership and commitment, Allison has made a lasting contribution to the Australian Bridge Federation and to the game of bridge in Australia.
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LIFETIME RECOGNITION
In appreciation of this service, Allison is awarded complimentary entry for life to the South West Pacific Teams event — or its successor — at the ABF Summer Festival of Bridge.
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Australian Bridge Federation Board
2026
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Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: February 2026