THE BIL ROSE AESTIVAL
The Bil Rose Aestival is one of the first events run by Scrabble Victoria each year.
Originally starting in 1994 as "The Aestival Festival" before becoming simply "The Aestival" in 1997, the event was named for Bil Rose, one of the most popular players who had been a part of the Scrabble playing community in Victoria since tournaments commenced in the early 1980s.
Bil was noted for his poems, that would be featured in Across the Board, as well as his game play. Bil continued to play well into his 90s, and would feature in The Guinness Book of World Records for the oldest competition Scrabble player at the time. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 98, one month after his last ever tournament.
The Tournament continues in his honour and is a proud fixture on our calendar. The format is a round robin over 7 rounds. Divisions are named for a theme, typically birds or tennis (given it coincides usually with the Australian Open commencing each year.
HONOUR BOARD
Division Winners in each year
2024David Eldar, Oscar Ivanovski, Oliver Podesser, Luke Breen
2023
Nick Ivanovski, Noel Coulter, Angie Winkler
2022
Andrew Fisher
2021
David Eldar, John Rider, Kannan Sethuraman, Darren Chaitman, Fintan Conway
2020
Anand Bharadwaj, Jeremy Yip, Jenny Brysha, Paula Messer, Carol Mascitti, Elize Plaganyi
2019
Andrew Fisher, Geoff Wright, Noel Coulter, Kris Howat, Dominica Krstic, Anne Menheere, Balada Catanchin, Oscar Ivanovski
2018
David Eldar, Geoff Wright, Janet Bau, Benjamin Lee, Khwanjai Thammaping, Dominica Krstic, Balada Catanchin, Jeremy Yip
2017
Peter Kougi, Barry Harridge, Jenny Brysha, Lorraine Thomas, Geoff Shepherd, Latha Weerakkody, Laura Khan, Trish Magee
2016
Trevor Halsall, Julie Belle, Cheryle Jerram, John Rider, Janet Bau, Dominica Krstic, Latha Weerakkody, Carole Eden
2015
David Eldar, Natasha Podesser, Dianne Gibson, Jenny Brysha, Dorothy Barraclough, Oliver Podesser, Siva Sivapalasundram
2014
Naween Fernando, Norma Fisher, Bridget Halge, Mary McMahon, Paula Messer, Anne Menheere, Irlande Alfred, Ann Goodwin
2013
David Eldar, Dianne Davis, Bridget Halge, Marie D'Rosario, Diane Stoyan, Stephanie Saunders, Rena Aitken
2012
Peter Kougi, Katie Rowe, Patricia Mitchell, Mal Eden, Khwanjai Thammaping, Gianna Devcic, Ruth Fewings
2011
Naween Fernando, Lois Binnie, Wayne Stoyan, Lorraine Thomas, Stephanie Saunders, Eileen Mills, Jean de Neef
2010
Trevor Halsall, Mary McMahon, Anand Bharadwaj, Patricia Mitchell, Jenny Brysha, Julie Belle, Stephanie Saunders, Gianna Devcic
2009
Trevor Halsall, Norma Fisher, Sal Costanzo, Kris Howat, Isabel Van Hoorn, Oliver Podesser, Stephanie Saunders, Irlande Alfred
2008
David Eldar, Zina Costanzo, Meg Henderson, Rob Hutchinson, Wayne Stoyan, Brenda Thurgar, Khwanjai Thammaping, Carol Mascitti
2007
Julian McKail, Geoff Wright, Marj Miller, Carol Johnsen, Patricia Mitchell, Mal Eden, Cheryle Jerram, Pat Weston, BJ Winzer
2006
Naween Fernando, Barry Harridge, Audree Clifton, Angela Newton, Dawn Thomas, Cheryle Jerram, Anne Menheere, Stephanie Saunders, Mary Mackie
2005
David Eldar, Alastair Kane, Matte Dunn, Mary McMahon, Jim Warmington, Nan Smith, John Lynch, Joyce McCombe, Tyrone Busuttil, Romany Mulvaney, Betty Egan, Vivian Eckhaus
2004
Naween Fernando, Frank Csarics, Rod Casey, Gillian Kinder, Patricia Mitchell, Marjorie Page, Dianne Gibson, Mike McAvoy, Janet Bau, Frank Wasley, Gloria O'Loughlin, Savitri Cooray
2003
Trevor Halsall, Carmel Doney, Sal Costanzo, Neil McLean, Elaine Capewell, Doug Ristic, Eric Pitt, Lorna Patching, Gladys Minihan, Marlene Ellis, Jennie Jones
2002
Steve Sunter, Gwen Lampre, Lois Binnie, Nicole Findlay, Patricia Mitchell, Michael Hornung, Marian Gori, Diane Stoyan, Gladys Minihan, Alan Cole, Phoebe Eizenberg
2001
Sue Kyatt, Dianne Davis, Patricia Mitchell, Rod Casey, Evelyn Hill, Mal Eden, Brenda Thurgar, Romany Mulvaney, Stewart Bell, Gillian Kinder, Rose Salmon, Jennie Jones, Gloria O'Loughlin
2000
Saheed Jimoh, Barry Harridge, Carol Johnsen, Maria Zucco, Angie Pearse, Isobel Van Hoorn, Julian McKail, Bil Rose, Audrey Fenner, Diane Stoyan, Helene Slode, Karen Harris, Lynne Goodinson, Dorothy Barraclough
1999
Alistair Kane, Marie Knight, Gwen Chadwick, Joy Smith, Rose Young, Mal Eden, Eilene Howarth, Margaret Boucher, Elizabeth Spillane, Tony Pogmore