100-years-young and Gloria still has some tricks up her sleeve

With a sharp brain for numbers and a cheeky gleam in her eyes, Toowoomba Bridge Club’s Gloria Collins is still a force to reckon with across the card table.

SHE’S A CARD: 100-year-old World War II nurse Gloria Collins still enjoys playing a game each week at the Toowoomba Bridge Club. The razor sharp centenarian said she loves the camaraderie and friendship the local bridge community has brought to the later years of her life. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A beloved former Gatton College matron and active member of the Toowoomba Bridge Club has celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her favourite playing partners from over the past few decades.

100-year-old Gloria Collins enjoys playing bridge, Wednesday, July 28, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Born on July 25, 1921, Gloria Collins has lived a full and rewarding life as a World War II nurse, caring for amputees in London and at the Niagara Falls Hospital in Canada before returning to Queensland where she formally took up the game of bridge after moving to Gatton in 1959.

Ms Collins was a student of the great George McCutcheon from Scotland who was instrumental in setting up bridge competitions in Australia, helping found three of the earliest clubs in Queensland – Toowoomba, Dalby and Gatton.

“I’ve more or less played bridge socially all my life, but it wasn’t until moving to Gatton that I began to get serious,” Ms Collins said.

“I just love how this game keeps your mind active and allows you to meet so many interesting and kind people.”

Ralph Geddes, 93, was Ms Collins’ bridge partner for the better part of 10 years and said she was still as sharp today as she was when they met.

At the wise age of 100, Gloria Collins is Australia's oldest active playing bridge club member and this sharp centenarian definitely still has a few tricks up her sleeve. Picture: Kate McCormack

“Gloria and I bonded over the fact we both liked to play acol, which is a bidding system not many of the more modern players tend to use these days,” he said.

“I suppose when you’ve been around as long as we have you also unfortunately tend to lose a lot of your bridge partners to old age, so it’s been nice to play with someone who has as much experience as Gloria.”

Ms Collins is well known at the Toowoomba Bridge Club for her fashionable dress and colour co-ordination.

Pamela Gibbet has been playing in the same club as Ms Collins for more that 25 years.

“She’s always beautifully turned out and stylish,” she said.

“And she still has a brilliant mind and a terrific brain for numbers.”

Ms Collins said she couldn’t recommend bridge enough.

“Playing bridge has shaped the later years of my life beautifully, it’s kept my brain active and healthy, and I’ve made so many lovely friends here over the years. It’s nice to be part of a community.”

When asked why the skilled bidder never married, Ms Collins simply replied, “because I didn’t have to”.

100-year-old Gloria Collins still enjoys playing bridge as it keeps her mind sharp. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“When everyone around me was settling down and getting married, I advertised for a husband and got 16 replies, but they all said ‘you can have mine’,” she said.

“You could say I found better camaraderie and companionship with my bridge partners instead.”