Perth Voice Interactive

AGE was no barrier for Mt Lawley’s Esther Finkelstein last weekend, the 87 year old taking out one of four main sessions at the WA Mahjong Festival.

The one-day competition attracted 88 players from around WA, including a contingent of 13 from Bunbury and one intrepid Queenslander.

Ms Finkelstein said she was hooked on Mahjong because it was challenging, exercised her brain and was a great social outing.

“The first time I went to Hong Kong many, many years ago I saw these people playing in the garden and I was fascinated,” Ms Finkelstein said.

“I tried to play it when I got back, but there was always something coming up, but 10 years ago I went to South Perth and got hooked.”

Ms Finkelstein says there’s definitely an element of luck to the game, which she felt was on her side during the festival.

“I was just lucky; one hand I picked up the last tile, not from the discard pile, but from the wall and got a bouquet of flowers, which helped,” she said.

Mahjong developed in China during the 1800s and was a favourite for the men who’d enjoy a flutter. Its name means “sparrow” and refers to the twittering sound the ceramic tiles make when they are shuffled on the table.

Ms Finkelstein said another great aspect of the game was its appeal to all ages, having taught her granddaughter while she was visiting from over east – and she reckons the young’uns are pretty adept at learning and retaining the rules.

The festival, which is in its second year, had three generations participating this year from the same family; Scarlett James, her mother Rikki and grandmother Lyn Corrigan.

“Our family mahjong tradition is a lively affair,” Rikki said.

“My mum Lyn introduced me and my children, Scarlett and Levi, to the game during our weekly visits.

“Recently I’ve been spreading the joy by teaching friends in Floreat and Wembley, all thanks to my passion for the game.

“Even my husband Nathan joined in and managed to win his first two games, much to everyone’s sore disappointment.”

Festival co-organiser Ivy Branson said they set it up because WA kept missing out on hosting the Australasian Mahjong Festival, which has graced various towns over east since it was launched in 1994, but he never made it across the Nullabor.

“Mahjong is undeniably a beloved pastime, readily accessible to enthusiasts throughout Perth,” Ms Branson says.

“I have personally identified a wealth of opportunities, with no less than 65 public venues in the metro area, including public libraries and community centres spanning from Yanchep to Kalamunda to Rockingham, generously hosting free weekly mahjong sessions. 

“It’s truly heartening to see this tradition thriving within our community.

“Each week over a thousand players in Perth sit down to play mahjong, fostering connections and enjoyment across generations.”

The overall winner of the festival was Cindy Livshitz who scored 52 points, five ahead of her nearest rival Yuk Ying Michelle Ng.

by STEVE GRANT