Chess club building connections beyond the board

OVERLOOKING the ocean at Portarlington Neighbourhood House, a group of keen chess players gathers each Monday morning.

For most of the members of the Portarlington Chess Club, it is as much about the conversation as it is about the competition.

Facilitator Stanley Rusiniak said the club offers more than just a game.

“I enjoy the company and the people, the friends you make. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter to me,” he said.

Portarlington Neighbourhood House program mananger Robert Sztogryn (right) said each club is run by a keen facilitator like Stanley Rusiniak (left). Photo: Nyah Barnes.

Rusiniak first learned to play chess at 12 years old aboard the HMS Strathmore while emigrating from England to Australia in 1960. But he didn’t play regularly until his 40s, when lunchtime tournaments at Robert Bosch reignited his interest.

“I didn’t win many games and I’m not a chess guru,” he said. “I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the friendship.”

After stepping away from the game again, Rusiniak returned about a decade ago after moving to Ocean Grove.

In 2018, he responded to a callout in the Portarlington Neighbourhood House newsletter seeking someone to lead a new chess group.

At its peak, the group had up to 16 regular members.

Both facilitator Stanley Rusiniak (left) and Paul Brewin (right) learned to play chess as children but spent many years away from the game. Photo: Nyah Barnes.

Rusiniak said Covid-19 proved challenging for the group, particularly for players motivated by social interaction. Some adapted by playing online, while others met in homes when restrictions allowed.

Now playing with three different community groups each week, Rusiniak said he never expected chess to become such a significant part of his life.

Fellow member, Paul Brewin also rediscovered the game later in life.

“[My brother] showed me how the moves worked, and after about three months, I was beating him, so he never played me again,” Brewin said, laughing.

After learning the game as a teenager, Brewin later found himself back at the board decades later while working in Russia. He played regularly during lunch breaks.

“They got out a chess set and put me up against one of their players,” he said.

The Portarlington Chess Club meet on Mondays at 10am to play a variety of competitive and social games. Photo: Nyah Barnes.

“Somehow I beat him, and after that I played him every day for about six games, and won them all.”

Now in his 70s, he has taken up the game again after joining the Portarlington club.

After his winning streak, Brewin was gifted a hand-carved wooden chess set, which he still treasures. He said the game remains a rewarding mental challenge.

Portarlington Neighbourhood House program manager Robert Sztogryn, said community-led programs like the chess club are vital, particularly in areas with ageing populations.

“Isolation is a big problem in the Bellarine,” he said. “We are trying to find more friends for people to get rid of the problem of sitting by yourself at home.”