“It’s about inclusion”: Inside one of Australia’s only dedicated Rummikub groups

A group of Maroondah and Knox locals have found a “second family” through their love of Rummikub and the Yarrunga Community Centre’s weekly Rummiklub social group. 

For its five members, the weekly games at the Yarrunga Community Centre in Croydon Hills have become more about being part of a community than winning.

Rummiklub facilitator Suzanne Tobin said the group highlights the importance of community centres and social groups, especially for those living alone. 

❓ What is Rummikub? Rummikub is a game where players take turns placing numbered tiles to create ‘sets’.

💬 More chat than competition: Despite being one of the most popular board games, selling over 50 million copies worldwide, Tobin said she was unable to find anyone other than her daughter to play with, prompting her to create ‘Rummiklub’.

• Tobin said the game is the perfect social glue, easy for anyone to pick up and understand, and often the backdrop for the group’s socialising rather than the main event. 

• 🗣️ “We like to win, but we’re not competitive, " says Tobin. “We’ve been playing for a while now, and we’ve never had any arguments or disagreements.”

🫂 Strangers turned family: Games at the Rummiklub are informal and focused on connection with rules bent to allow all five members to play together, often helping each other make moves.

• Most of the members live alone, with the club providing an opportunity to meet people with similar interests.

• 🗣️ “It’s about inclusion,” says Tobin. “We’ve become really close as friends, and we care about each other.”

⭐ Rewarding work: For Tobin, the hours of volunteering are a no-brainer, with the group offering a place of connection for anyone who needs it.

• 🗣️ “It gets you out of the house … [and] it keeps you connected with the community. You get to meet all these wonderful new people,” she said.

• Tobin said she hopes to expand ‘Rummiklub’ to a second group.