4 minute read
NUDGEE BINGO: FIVE DECADES OF FUN
Bingo, a popular game of chance where players mark off numbers on cards as they’re called out by a host, is an important yet widely unknown part of Nudgee College’s history. In 1974, on a Wednesday evening in Tierney, the first game of bingo was played and since then, Nudgee College has had a long association of hosting this cherished classic with OzBingo.
From 1974 to 1983, the bingo program hit the ground running and by the end of 1983, its heightened popularity meant that Saturday afternoons were added to the playing roster. By 1985, enough income had been made from the bi-weekly bingo that it could assist in funding the College’s swimming pool and tennis complex. Six years later, bingo was being played on Sunday afternoons and the program added Friday evenings to support the Needy Kids program.
In late 1994, the Christian Brothers Conference Centre (CBCC) became the home of bingo at Nudgee College and given the success of the program, the Christian Brothers had the opportunity to utilise some of the funds for their wider-ranging ministries (Mary Rice Respite Centre, Needy Kids Program and commitment of Brothers to Indigeneous communities through Queensland and the Northern Territory, to name a few). By the early 2000s, the program had expanded beyond the walls of Nudgee College to Kedron Wavell Services Club, Carina, Redcliffe and Sandgate.
From 2013 to 2020, bingo hosted over 7,300 patrons at the CBCC, however the impact of COVID saw numbers drop dramatically.
In July 2023, to meet the increased demands for the use of the CBCC for student learning and events, the College Leadership Team and College Advisory Council made the difficult decision to close bingo at the College. On Sunday 30 July, a final Mega Session of bingo was held to celebrate the long and successful association. Loyal patrons, some for over 30 years, joined in for the final session to say farewell, win prize money and enjoy each other’s company.
The program wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without the support and leadership of the Bingo Operations Manager Leanne Warden. Hailing from New South Wales, Leanne began her career in managing bingo programs in 2003 at the then promoted to Operations Manager for children’s charity, Learning Links, running 70 bingo sessions per week and managing over 40 staff members. In 2019, she was asked whether she would be interested in running our program and almost four years later, she has seen bingo through to the end. From ensuring sessions were compliant, organising promotions and marketing, advertising, developing and training staff members and always improving customer service, Leanne managed it all. Above all of this however, she says her favourite part about her time running the competition was getting to know the different patrons every session.
“I’ve always enjoyed the social aspect of bingo and getting to know the customers. Sometimes bingo is seen as an elderly person’s game despite such a varied demographic. For a lot of elderly customers it is their only form of social activity, not to mention it keeps their brains active.”
Having been in the bingo industry for nearly 20 years, Leanne has seen her fair share of big wins but one of her more memorable moments comes from her time at Nudgee College.
“My most memorable bingo moments over the time I have been here in Queensland, apart from the people I have met, would have to be the Mega Sessions we ran with over $40,000 prize money and the three cars that were won.”
For over 45 years, bingo has been a great contributor to charities and sporting groups and has greatly benefitted the College. There is no doubt that the bingo community is also part of our wider community.
We wish to express our sincere thanks to everyone who has been associated with the running of bingo at Nudgee College.
