By Maina M Walkley
In January 2018 I wrote an article Rediscovering the Joy of Chess and More on the Knox Community Chess Enthusiasts (KCCE) which was founded by Eddie Atacador in March 2017.
What started as a simple activity of a game of Chess between Eddie and his nephew, Rick, to pass the time created KCCE, and a revival in the game of chess was born!
The success of KCCE has not escaped the attention of Knox City Council and Coonara Community House. KCCE was featured in the celebration of Knox Seniors Festival with the theme “Zest 4 Life” from October 8 to 20, 2018”.
To commemorate the Knox Seniors Event, KCCE organized a Chess Open Tournament with the Opening Day Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held on 11 October at the Knox Westfield Community Space. It was well attended by many of its players, friends and their family members.
I was privileged to be amongst the invited guests and also included Ms Linda Keenahan, Seniors Support Officer of Knox City Council, Ms Leanne Fitzgerald (Manager, Coonara Community House) together with Ms Sally Dusting-Laird (Community Development Officer), Ms Luvy Esquejo (Business Proprietor), and Mr and Mrs Ron Bunker (Business Owners and Philanthropists), and Ken Fletcher (Secretary of KCCE) as the Emcee for the day.
Ms Keenahan expressed the appreciation of Knox City Council in the efforts of Eddie Atacador and KCCE in their contributions for creating a harmonious environment through the game of Chess, and paving the way for senior men particularly, to find a challenging recreation and an opportunity to socialise.
A Special Chess Simul Competition was the highlight of the day featuring a young Filipino, named Arvin Del Rosario, playing simultaneously against seven (7) Chess players. Arvin successfully demonstrated his prowess in the game of Chess in less than two hours.
The regular games resumed after the exhibition and naturally, wonderful morning tea was shared and enjoyed by all.
KCCE appreciate and thank the Management of Westfield Knox Shopping Centre, thru their Concierge Joanne Bartlett and Nathan Bond, Services Manager of Westfield Knox, Alex Sharman of Cafe Eighteen and this writer for providing the foods and cakes for the event.
Arvin is an IT Specialist and a former Instructor at the University of Bulacan who has just recently arrived to join his wife, Anne, a Registered Nurse in Australia. Eddie and his wife Lita have certainly made the young couple feel at home in their newly adopted country and have introduced them to the community.
KCCE project has been supported by a grant from the Knox Council Community Development Fund and Auspiced by Coonara Community House.
All are welcome to join KCCE. For information contact Eddie Atacador on 0409 417 719 or Rolly Hernandez on 0432 598 354.
