Kim Ellaway
Kim Cooke was first introduced to bridge by her mother in 1974 in Mount Isa. Her father would only allow her to play during the school holidays. In 1976 Kim played in her first congress in Townsville (June Queens Birthday) which is now the Barrier Reef Congress. It took the players from Mount Isa six hours by plane to get there (milk run) however only two hours to get home. She learnt bridge with Judy Zeller who is still playing bridge and is currently the Bundaberg Bridge Club’s president. During her time in Mount Isa, Kim held the positions of masterpoint secretary, treasurer and secretary and was on the working committee for the first congress to be held in Mount Isa. She also, with her mother Marion Cooke, won the pairs event that year at the congress.
Kim married Ray Ellaway in 1989 and was appointed Manager of the QBA in 1995, a position she has
held now for 24 years.
Kim has said that the most influential person in her life, bridge and otherwise, was her mum – Marion Cooke, friend and bridge partner. “She taught me to enjoy my bridge and to be polite to everyone regardless of the situation”.
Kim was awarded Life Membership of the QBA in September 2019.
State Representation
- Australian National Championships – Queensland Women’s Team 2006, 1994, 1992, 1990
- Australian National Championships – Queensland Youth Team 1984, 1983
State Titles
- 2011 Queensland Graded Teams Championship [with Marion Cooke, Lindy Vincent, Richard Ward]
- 2007 Queensland Graded Teams Championship [with Marion Cooke, Lindy Vincent, Richard Ward]
- 1997 Queensland Graded Teams Championship [with Marion Cooke, Lindy Vincent, Richard Ward]
- 1988 Queensland Women’s Pairs Championship [with Marion Cooke]
- 2007 Barrier Reef Congress Eric Parsons Open Pairs [with Ray Ellaway]