The Rockhampton Mahjong Club is proudly hosting the 29th Australasian Mahjong Festival this week, the first time the festival has been held in the Rockhampton Region.
Bringing together 140 players from around Australia and New Zealand, the festival is centred around the Chinese game of Mahjong that has been adapted to the Western version that includes hands featuring a combination of tiles in patterns of runs, pairs, pungs and chows as well as winds and dragons.
The 29th Australasian Mahjong Festival kicked off yesterday with a Meet and Greet at the Rockhampton Museum of Art and competition sessions starting today.
The four competition sessions will unfold at the Rockhampton Leagues Club with the Rockhampton Mahjong Club complementing the schedule with excursions of the Region.
Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said Council contributed $5,000 towards the festival through the Community Assistance Program with the five-day event showcasing some of the best experiences in the Region.
"The organisers have done a wonderful job of attracting an Australasian-level event to Rockhampton and are using the opportunity to shine a wonderful spotlight on our Region," he said.
"In addition to the Mahjong action, participants will also have the chance to tour QRLX, Paradise Lagoons, Rookwood Weir as well as our favourite local attractions including Rockhampton Museum of Art, St Aubins Village, Rockhampton Zoo and Mount Archer.
"This means we will be welcoming an influx of visitors to town for the festival, which no doubt brings economic benefits for motels, restaurants and other local businesses."
Rockhampton Mahjong Club President Jan Davison said the club volunteered to host the 2024 event with planning underway since August last year.
"We've been hard at work with planning since we arrived home from last year's festival held in Caloundra," Mrs Davison said.
"Venues had to be booked, excursions planned, miles of paperwork completed and games to be chosen then printed.
"Funding through the Community Assistance Program was vital to being able to host the Meet and Greet at the Rockhampton Museum of Art.
"It's perfectly positioned along the stretch of riverbank boasting many historic buildings so we are proud to host the occasion there."
The local club was formed in 2010 and averages about 70 members who meet every Tuesday at the Rockhampton Golf Club.
