Nancy Penfold

Nancy Penfold of Toowoomba first became interested in the administration of the Association when she was appointed delegate for the Toowoomba Bridge Club in 1966. In 1967 she was elected Vice President of the QBA and held that position for nine years, very rarely missing a meeting of Council. Distance was no problem to her.

During this period she was also a Queensland councillor to the Australian Bridge Federation for six years, attending meetings at her own expense. At the State level, her influence was great and her efforts cemented the relations between the clubs and the Association. In 1971 she accompanied James O’Sullivan on a goodwill tour of the near northern clubs. At the national level it was almost entirely due to her insistence that women’s bridge achieved equality of treatment with open bridge.

Apart from her success as an administrator she was also a fine bridge player. On three occasions, partnered by Ivy Dahler, she won the Queensland Women’s Pairs Championship and represented the state in Australian Team trials, both Open and Women. She captained the Queensland Wo men’s Teams for five years and, in Hobart in 1973, led the team to its first victory.

She is the niece of WFR Boyce – joint owner with MJ Sullivan of the Brisbane Bridge Club and President of the Association in 1955. During 1975 she announced her withdrawal from active bridge administration.