This event is named for Dr John L Thwaites and his wife Marjorie who were wonderful players in the early years of the Victorian Bridge Association. Dr Thwaites served as President from 1947 to 1953 and they were both great contributors to the running of bridge, for which they were awarded Life Memberships. When the VBA moved to Poath Rd in 2000, their grandson John Thwaites, then Deputy Premier in the Victorian Government, officially opened the VBA’s new premises and recalled fondly his grandparents’ bridge exploits.  Each pair in this event must comprise a male and female player. There are two preliminary sessions and two final sessions, scored as matchpoints.