Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — Good luck to all participants in Hume’s third junior chess tournament, which will take place at Craigieburn Library on 20 February. Trophies and medals will be awarded not only to the overall winner and runner-up but also in categories based on school year level, from prep right through to year 6 — and there is a special award to encourage the participation of more girls in the tournament.

The tournament is an initiative of the local Bandicoot Chess Club, which passionate community members and chess players have led with huge success in the short time since the club started up. Club president Danny Basobas has been the driving force behind the club, which he established in August 2015, and the club has since grown rapidly to a membership of over 40 members. Danny’s passion for chess extends beyond the game itself — he has a keen awareness of the benefits for local kids of developing logical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills.

The Bandicoot Chess Club has also donated several chess sets to local schools to help an promote interest in this great game beyond the club’s members. Those schools include Mount Ridley College, Willmott Park Primary School and Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School. Congratulations to Danny and the club’s executive for their fantastic work and their successes to date, and all the best to the eager young chess players participating in this month’s tournament. I look forward to hearing about all of the winners.