Mount Barker Courier
Brief: COTA
Wednesday 19/8/2009
Page: 11
Section: General News
Region: Mount Barker SA Circulation: 13,074
Type: Regional
Size: 366.81 sq.cms.
Published: --W----
Card game designed to span generations
After learning from his parents and Australian congress
bridge player Barbara Travis, who previously taught in Mt
Barker at Auchendarroch House, he is now a member of the
Building a bridge to a longer and healthier life may SA Bridge Association.
be right at your fingertips.
Mr Keyte said bridge was "not a very hard game to learn,
but a hard game to master".
Research has shown card games such as
"It's a game where you really have to have your wits about
bridge can have a number of benefits particularly for senior citizens - by
you," he said.
By Kid Olnev
keeping minds active and staving
The Nairne Primary School teacher said it was an
international game which he enjoyed playing online
with people from around the world, and believed
more young people would benefit from learning to
off diseases such as dementia and
Alzheimers.
According to Michael O'Neill,
chief executive of National Seniors
play.
Australia, bridge and other card
games are important in keeping
"People think of bridge as something to learn when
they are retired, but in other countries it's not," he
brains stimulated.
"It helps people to live longer and
live healthier," he said.
said. "It's good for your maths skills and it's good for
your thinking and kids take to it."
"It strengthens your response to
congress bridge player who has played
Mt Barker Bridge Club member Myra Finlay, a
for 60 years, said she believed it
regenerative diseases."
While crosswords and
number puzzles such as
Sudoku also exercise
was an "incredible" game.
"It's just such a mental
challenge, it really tests
memory
and
your
intellect," she said.
the brain, Mr O'Neill
said card games
such as bridge
required
several
players,
which
in turn provides
socialisation.
"It contributes social
inclusion and avoids
isolation," he said.
The
mental
Nairne resident
William Keyte has
recently begun
sharing his
knowledge about
bridge with
member of the
Mt Barker Bridge
challenge and social
aspects of bridge are
what William Keyte
Club.
enjoys most.
The Nairne resident has recently begun conducting
monthly bridge lessons for members of the Mt Barker
Bridge Club.
Three Hills bridge groups recently joined to form the club
which meets every Monday.
As the grandson of a bridge champion and son of parents
who enjoyed the game, there is little wonder Mr Keyte took
to the game.
His grandmother was the national champion of Fiji but
although he was taught many card games as a child he was
never taught brigde.
"It's estimated my grandmother taught over 2000 people
to play bridge over 60 years," Mr Keyte said.
Myra Finlay, left, who has been playing bridge for 60 years,
However, it was only five years ago that he decided to at the Mt Barker Bridge Club with members George Grebneff
Anna Rene and Norman Bullen.
pursue his family's long running interest in the game.
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