80 excited Interactors from seven Auckland secondary schools competed for the “Serious Fun” trophy at the hotly contested Trivia Night competition held annually among clubs in District 9920. Topics change from year to year but are centred around young people being encouraged to know something of their past and what is going on around them outside of their cell-phone centred social media worlds!  There was a strong turn-out from the District’s newest club – Otahuhu – the first to be based, not in a secondary school, but in a Community Centre.
 
Take about 80 excited Interactors from seven Auckland secondary schools and one Community Centre, place them around fifteen tables in a comfortable venue, throw eight rounds of trivia questions at them and see what happens!  This is the setting for the hotly contested Trivia Night competition held annually among clubs in District 9920.  The prize is the “Serious Fun” Trophy which now has the engraved names of eleven winning clubs, the twelfth being Auckland Boys Grammar School whose A-team won this year, successfully beating off challengers to their 2015 success.
 
First held in 2004,  the Trivia Night was instigated by Peter Woodcock, District 9920 Interact Chairman, as a way to get Interact members together in a social but competitive environment.  As part of the evening, club Presidents are invited to give brief reports on their club activities, fund-raising initiatives, benefitting charities and future plans.  In this way all present get a good overview of what Interact is all about and can pick up on ideas to help with on-going activities. The range of successful programmes, the amounts of money being raised and the long list of those benefitting from Interactors efforts is astounding and it is clear that the fun element plays a big part in club activities.
 
Interactors have a short time to mingle and interact with members from other schools before the first round of competition takes place. Peter makes up the questions which include such topics as The Human Body, Creepy Crawlies in New Zealand, Number 3, Trade Marks and Logos, New Zealand’s Sporting Greats, New Zealand History and, worth double points, current events from the month preceding the competition.  Topics change from year to year but the last two will always be there, reflecting the view of the quiz master (an ex-history teacher) that young people should be encouraged to know something of their past and what is going on around them outside of their cell-phone centred social media worlds! After two rounds participants share a pizza meal then get back into the serious business of finding answers to the questions of which there are 10 per round – 20 in the Current Events. Support teachers, parents and District Committee members assist with the organisation and marking during the night. The evening ends with the club reports and the presentation of the trophy.
 
Particularly heart-warming this year was the presence of a strong turn-out from the District’s newest club – Otahuhu – the first to be based, not in a secondary school, but in a Community Centre.  The splendid gold on black Interact logo on the back of their jackets and ‘Service Above Self’ printed on the front gave the teams a distinction that was the envy of others.  The Interactors clearly wore their uniforms with pride.
 
For various reasons, three Auckland clubs were not able to be present this year and it is a matter of regret that Pacific Island clubs miss out on the occasion.
 
Peter was particularly appreciative of the use of the Auckland Boys Grammar School Old Boys Pavilion for this year’s event.  Schools share responsibility for hosting each year to help spread the load.