The Dubbo Bridge Club has marked half a century this week.
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The club was formed in 1969 as the Macquarie Bridge Club with members from Narromine, Trangie, Wellington and Dubbo.
"It was a mixture of people. People who had just learnt and people who were already playing socially, people who had played as students but hadn't played much," Dubbo Bridge Club president Jane North said.
In 1997 it was renamed as the Dubbo Bridge Club. By then, the other towns had developed their own groups.
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"We've gone from strength to strength," Ms North said.
"We now have our own premises in Elston Park which we moved into in 2007. It was a tremendously positive thing for the club."
There are 80 full-time bridge members and about 40 associate members, which are people whose home club is somewhere else but they also belong to Dubbo Bridge Club.
However, the club is always looking for new people, especially younger members.
"It's a constant battle to teach beginners and retain beginners. Often the beginners lessons seem to go well but the only produce a couple of new, keen players," Ms North said.
"We'd love to get more younger members in. We currently have one young pair who are only both about 30-years-old. They're about 20 years younger than the next lot. The average age of our members is well into the 70s."
The Dubbo Bridge Club president said she would love to have school students involved in the pastime. But to do so would require a dedicated teacher who was willing to host bridge during lunch.
Ms North said bridge was a great way to keep your brain sharp.
"It's mentally stimulating, plus it's also sociable. You go out and meet people, which is great, particularly for older people. Bridge players all know each other and they're people who you wouldn't know otherwise," she said.
Ms North said bridge was also something that you were always learning more about.
In Dubbo, there are three regular games held per week, plus an extra game once a month. Once a year there's also a two day congress and regular team days are held with other clubs in the area.
"There's quite a lot of bridge if you want to play," Ms North said.
On Sunday, the Dubbo Bridge Club held a celebration at Lazy River Estate to mark its 50 year milestone. Members from across the 50 years were invited to take part in the luncheon with the furthest attendee coming from Brisbane.
NSW Bridge Association chairman John Scudder and former president of the Australian Bridge Federation Bruce Neill were also in attendance.