By day, Wayne Mills is a senior lecturer of languages and literature at the University’s Faculty of Education.
By night, weekends, and any spare moment in between, Wayne Mills is the Quizmaster of the internationally acclaimed Kids’ Lit Quiz™. He is also the founder, director, fundraiser and driving force behind the nearly 20-year-old, now international, literary competition.
Wayne Mills is also the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Margaret Mahy Medal award, which is presented in recognition of an especially significant contribution to New Zealand’s children’s literature, publishing or literacy.
For almost two decades, Wayne has created and administered thousands of quizzes the world over, all focusing on the vast and varied subject of children’s literature. Aimed at 11-13 year-old students, the quizzes encourage reading, expand literary knowledge, build confidence and competitive skills, and get young readers genuinely excited about the wide and wonderful world of books.
"I’m absolutely delighted to be given this award, particularly when you consider the prestige of the names of previous recipients—Margaret Mahy, of course; but also Tessa Duder, Gavin Bishop, Ann Mallinson," says Wayne, who is also a committee member of the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust. "I am not an author, an illustrator or a publisher, so I am particularly proud to be recognised for what I’ve achieved."
His inspiration to concoct the quiz came from years in the education sector, first as a training teacher at Ardmore Teachers College, then as a primary school teacher, then a lecturer in English and Language at the University of Waikato. Wayne became increasingly concerned that young students were encouraged to compete in sports, science and maths—but not reading.
He decided to do something about it, developing a set of quizzes for 14 different teams in the Waikato which then competed for the regional final.
Today, eight countries - New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, South Africa, China and Hong Kong—participate in the competition and vie for a place in the World Final. Like last year, the 2008 World Final will be held in Oxford, in July.
"For kids who love the smell and feel of books, and the challenge of competition, there is nothing like it. When they come into the quiz venue and see 200 other kids, all excited about books, the solitary experience of reading is transformed into a group activity affirming that reading is cool."
The Margaret Mahy Medal will be presented to Wayne Mills at the Storylines Children’s Literature Trust’s annual Margaret Mahy Day at Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts in Pakuranga on Saturday 29 March 2008. Registration forms are available from the Secretary PO Box 96 094 Balmoral 1342 Auckland.
Faculty of Education Lecturer and Quizmaster Wayne Mills (MP3, 13m01s, 3MB, first broadcast 18 March 2008)
* Photo Caption: University of Auckland education lecturer Wayne Mills, aka the Quizmaster, has been awarded the Margaret Mahy Medal for his services to children’s literature
