The Northern Rivers Euchre Club committee met in March 2023 to discuss our tournament’s future in light of the devastating floods which ripped through parts of Lismore and the Northern Rivers, inundating homes and businesses. Prior to this, we had not held a euchre tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The February 2022 flood submerged the Lismore Workers Club as high as the auditorium where our Euchre Tournament has been held each year. To date (15.04.2023), the Workers Club on Keen Street is yet to open its doors to the public. Sadly, a number of accommodation providers also lost their businesses to flood water and are still under repairs or waiting for repairs to start today.

Our committee therefore has made the difficult decision to fold our organisation and donate our remaining funds to the Cancer Compassionate Fund, a local not-for-profit who aim to reduce and relieve undue financial pressure of patients undergoing cancer treatment.

We established our organisation in November 2012 and held our first tournament in May 2013. During this time, interest in our euchre tournament grew with players traveling from as far north as Bribe Island, QLD and as far south as Tasmania. One year we hosted 140 players, the auditorium was packed! From 2013 to 2019 (before COVID) we held consecutive tournaments and always kept to our goal of $1,000 prize money on Sunday and the distribution of $3,000 prize pool over the weekend tournament.

As Chairman of 10 years, I would like to thank our outgoing committee; Vice President Mary Harmon, Secretary Maureen Reddell, Treasurer Carmel Norberry and members; Past Secretary/Treasurer Colleen Witherdin, Terry Norberry and Bill Patch. I also thank our Founding Members; Alan and Doreen Vidler, Jean Carlson and Gwynne Glendenning. These members were instrumental in starting our Club through fundraising, policy, promotion and delivery. I remember our past members who contributed so much to the success of our tournament; Kevin Muldoon, Bob Carlson, Joy Munro and Tom Snow.

To the Lismore Workers Club, we thank you so much for your generosity and support since 2013. Your willingness to donate and accommodate our tournament each year was pivotal to our success which, over the years bought tourism to Lismore and dollars to our local economy. Special mention goes to Ted Hoddinott, Donna Pagotto and Julian Pennisi for their advice and assistance over the years.

Lastly, thank you to all our players who travelled both near and far to join in a weekend of euchre. We have made quite a few friendships along the way and supported the inauguration of Yamba and South West Rocks Euchre Tournaments, which we hope will successfully continue into the future. We also wish all the best to the Combined Euchre Clubs Association (CECA) and thank all our Queensland delegates and players for attending and ensuring our tournaments success.

My closing note is, if you do not know the card game Euchre, it is certainly worth researching. It is a wonderful, competitive game which is still played socially at many clubs, pubs and halls around Australia. A great way to socialise and make friends!

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Seed

Chairman Northern Rivers Euchre Club

The Northern Rivers Euchre Tournament is proudly sponsored by;

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