Most families would settle for a single child qualifying for a national tournament, let alone four.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
But the Veas are not most families, with two girls from the household qualifying for a national chess championship for the second year in a row.
Imogen and Nicole Vea are following in their older sisters' footsteps, and hope to beat the silver title the pair won at last year's tournament.
They will join other primary team members Kathleen Laidlaw, Charlotte Mitchell and Kimberley O'Mara at the Australian Schools Teams Chess Championships in Perth on December 3 and 4.
The school's secondary team will make its debut at the competition this year, featuring Brooker Harder, Kasinda Johnston, Niobe Harris and Ella Vessey.
Nicole said the family had chessboards at home, with occasional practice between the sisters.
Imogen said she was both nervous and excited about the prospect of playing in Perth.
She said she enjoyed the strategy and thinking required while playing the game.
"It can be really challenging and I like that you need to use your head while working on it," she said.
Nicole said the pressure of different styles of playing added to her enjoyment of chess and kept it fresh.
"With the long hour games, you have to take your time and think two steps ahead, while with the short hour games you have to be really quick," she said.
Coach Steven Sengstock said Nicole and Imogen's sisters, Amelia and Gisela, were a key part of 2015's primary school team.
He runs 90-minute classes each week, and incorporates books by famous grandmasters into his lessons.
"No doubt the youngest siblings are hoping to go one better [than last year's team]," he said.
"Many students also compete weekly against adults at the local Vikings chess club and occasionally on weekends throughout the year. We're one of the schools that does a great job maintaining the girls' enthusiasm for chess in high school years."
