Additional InformationLuc Truswell opened Belmondo’s in an old house on Hastings Street and began looking for fellow bridge players. A small group began playing bridge with Luc and his playing partner Simon Andrew gave lessons. Penny Sykes and Sally Simmons lived across the street and were early members of the group. At a similar time, Kath Finnemore (late Kath Neilson) was giving bridge lessons in her home. The two groups combined and the inaugural meeting of the Noosa Bridge Centre was held on 13 September 1977 with nine members. The foundation president was Luc Truswell; vice-president, Freda Ellis; secretary, Kath Finnemore and treasurer Mike Marc.
In the following years, play took place at players’ homes, Pine Trees Resort Motel, Noosa Bowls Club and later Sunshine Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. On 28 October 1986, the club purchased the church hall in James Street, Noosaville (built circa 1947). As James Street became increasingly developed and the vacant block next door that the club used for parking was to be developed, the Club applied to Noosa Council for land to move the club to. The Council offered land in Wallace Park and the James Street building was relocated to its current location on Wallace Drive on 16 March 1994. Anticipating growth in member numbers, a large extension was added. The new wing was named the Les Shearer Room in honour of the president at the time.
Laurie Cowled remembers the moving of the building as follows:
"On March 15, I note that I watched the club house being loaded onto a truck and took many photos. I set my alarm for 4am the next morning. On 16 March I awoke before the alarm went off and from 3.45am until 11 am watched the bridge club move ever so slowly to Wallace Park.
"What a job! At various corners, power lines had to be taken down. In other spots, it was touch and go as to whether the truck and its load would fit through.
"Looking back, I remember that the roundabout where you enter Wallace Park was so new that the trees had not yet been planted or that they were so small the truck with the club aboard went straight across it.
"When it and the hangers on (like me) arrived at its new site, we were all on a high!
SOURCE: Noosa Today, 7 September 2017 Address3, Wallace Drive, Noosaville, 4566, Australia
