Saturday the 21st of April was the day the Klaverjas Club “Ons Genoegen” celebrated their 50th anniversary. The celebrations started in the morning at the Lenah Valley RSL clubrooms. Players had come together from Launceston and Hobart to participate in a tournament of wits and skill (and a bit of luck).

The day’s proceedings started with a presentation to Jack Sudmyer, one of the remaining original founders of the club, with a life membership trophy. 50 years is a long time to be an active member of a club !
Following this presentation Freddie Von Schmidt, President of the Dutch Australian Society, “Abel Tasman”, presented us with a huge celebratory birthday cake – fresh from the Golden Tulip bakery in Sandy Bay.

With
Annie, Freddie and Jack

With formalities out of the way the 32 tournament players “hit the deck” and commenced round one of the four round tournament. Annie Witbreuk and Magda Steenhuis managed the highest score in round one of 2212. This was only just beaten in round two by Willie Van Noord and Joke Kerklaan who both managed 2348 in round two. After lunch, round three and four sorted out the “veterans from the youth” with the winner of the tournament being Willie Van Noord with a total of 7177 points and 6 marsen. Hot on her heels was Truda Claridge, also a northerner, with a score of 6933 points. Third place went to Joke Kerklaan who ensured that the south managed at least a place with 6728 points.

Following the prize giving ceremony the players dispersed only to re-appear for the evening’s festivities. The theme of the event was the 50s.
Many people dressed up in period costume and a grand parade was held with Betty and Jack Huigsloot taking out the prize for the best dressed couple. Evelyn Meerding knocked out the female competition with a fawn “bont jas” over a navy polka dotted number and the prize for the best dressed male was won by Bram Vonk with a dashing 3 piece grey pinstripe and matching fedora.
Wouda Visser presented us with an evenings entertainment that started with singing a song she had written herself to the tune of “My bonnie lies over the ocean”. The Lyrics described the Card club, how it started, how it brings people together and what it means today. That was followed by a “heb je Sarah gezien ?” act with Tony Koppen and a cast of helpers that provided plenty of frivolity as Tony was transformed from the ground up to a fully dressed Sarah. He didn’t win any best-dressed prizes but certainly gave us a night to remember and a tough act to follow.

Established in the autumn of 1957.

The card club “Ons Genoegen” includes people from all walks of life,
including builders, cooks, plumbers etc to business owners and company executives. 
Members include Dutch, English and Australian people, ranging in age from 26 to 90 years old.

You can write to
Klaverjasclub “Ons Genoegen”
125 Wells Parade
Blackmans Bay 7052

or contact John Visser
0407 562 768