Another landmark Silver Jubilee event drew great support like the others - about 54 people came along
to the 25th Club AGM and Quiz Nite at the Carey Baptist College in Penrose, every single one staying
to the finish coming away with one or more of the 93 prizes that were donated by companies and individuals.
We started with the customary mix-and-mingle at 5:30pm, but instead of going straight into the first
course of dinner at 6pm, we sat down at the tables for the AGM. For the first time, the annual reports
had been circulated beforehand to those Club members on email, as well as available in hard-copy at the
meeting. And for about the fifth time in the Club’s history, a secret ballot was held as there were more
nominations than positions on the Club Executive - voting papers were handed out as members arrived at
the door, giving more time to think over who to vote for. Phillip Donnell became the new president unopposed;
Helena Gane the vice president similarly; David Titheridge and June Sinclair won the positions of secretary
and treasurer respectively. For his hard work with internet publicity John McCarthy received an honorary
Life Membership, a pleasant unexpected surprise.
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We remained at these tables for our main course with plenty of sumptuous food - ham, chicken, salads,
mushrooms, beetroot - there was much left over for those Oliver Twists in the group, and even for the
birds the next day.
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Afterwards, we were randomly put into teams for our Quiz Nite, using numbered tickets that had been
handed out at the door. One of the tickets had no number - Geoff won a box of chocolates as a spot prize
and could choose his team. The quiz was to be in ten categories, including such things as national parks,
tramping places, Club history, tramping etiquette, tents and other equipment, places in Auckland, and
world geography. Before the questions started, each team had to make up a name for itself, and nominate
two categories as “jokers” where they would earn double points. David K was the quizmaster, ably assisted
by the new Club president.
It was a great time of fun as, to the background music of trains whistling
by, we put down correct answers, wrong answers, and even wrong answers before realising the correct answers
after the team’s category answer paper was passed on to the next team for marking!
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When we reached the third category an equally appetising dessert was served, people leaving the tables
for the servery as the questions were being presented.
We also had three games where contestants
came forward to vie for a prize, with the first to answer three questions correctly winning the prize.
The three prizes were 3 nights motel accommodation for two people in Tasmania (airfares excluded), two
nights bed-and-breakfast for two people at Ompaere in Northland, and a one-hour relaxation (including
back and shoulders) massage
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Once all categories were through and marked, and team scores totted up, the prizes were handed out,
with the winning teams given first priority over the choice. There were so many prizes donated that the
remaining prizewinners were first of all drawn out of a hat, then the leftovers were given out as a free-for-all.
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By this time a number of people had left, one to put in some late-night swot for an exam and the
others to catch the last of the rugby. Their penalty - not only missing out on prizes but also watching
the All Blacks get thrashed by the Wallabies!
And the prizes - they included money belts, breakfast
cereals, eating utensils for camping, compasses, dehydrated camp meals, foil emergency blankets, caps,
mugs, dolls, shirts, thermals, a backpack, a tripod stool, snooze cushions, pants, a pen radio and sleeping
masks.
Phillip, the new president, concluded the evening by commenting that, as our physical
bodies wear out, we as Christians grow more spiritually and Christ-like, the process being completed
at the time we leave the world and reach heaven. He used as illustrations photos of Patons Dam taken
on the first Club trip in 1979, which is now almost non-existent, and an old black-and-white photo of
his brother Roger and himself taken as infants.
COST: $25
SPONSORS FOR PRIZES: Roger Donnell;
Hubbards Foods; Pack ‘n’ Pedal Manukau; John Vaughan & Co; Katrina Tulip; Peter and Val Osborne; Stoney
Creek; Cadburys; Living & Giving Newmarket; Ampro; Jon Collins; Doug & Leonie McKenzie; Jae Ahn. As
a way of saying thankyou for such a night, please support these sponsors
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