Meet the driving force behind AJPA, our AJPA president, D’Arne!
Tell me about yourself and how you came to be president of AJPA?
I have enjoyed puzzling since I was a child. As an adult, people started to comment on how fast I puzzle. As I heard it more often, I began to wonder if I was fast. The only way to find out was to do a race. An online search only brought up events in Belgium and the USA, so I started to think about creating one in Australia.
In an auspicious turn of events, I had a trip planned to Spain for a football event and I saw there was a puzzle race happening at the same time. I booked a ticket and when I arrived I discovered that I had entered myself into the first World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship!
They put me in the front row with a camera in my face. I quickly realised that I was way out of my league but I carried on and had the time of my life. I enjoyed it so much that when I came home I immediately set up the Australian Jigsaw Puzzle Association!
Has anything surprised you about AJPA?
I’m surprised by the impact of events on individuals. I’m the lucky one who gets to engage with people one on one and hear their stories and the impact our events have on them on a personal level. There have been hugs and tears and it blows my mind. Those moments inspire me to keep going with AJPA.
It’s also an incredible community of people. Puzzlers seem to be the nicest people.
I was also surprised by the demand for events. When I first started, I was told I’d be doing well if I got 20 people to attend my first event. Well, that event sold out with 124 people signing up.
We’re now increasing the number and capacity of events across Australia to match demand. Managing this demand can be a juggling act because AJPA is entirely run by volunteers, but it’s something we all love and enjoy.
What’s your favourite brand of puzzle?
I’m a Ravensburger girl.
How often do you get to puzzle?
Since starting the AJPA, a lot less than I did before!
What do you do when you’re not volunteering for AJPA?
I recently quit my job to launch a new business – Interschool Puzzle Club. Through AJPA, we’ve been able to give adult puzzlers a safe space to connect with like-minded people and celebrate a hobby that’s so good for their wellbeing. I want children to have access to this too. I hope that the Interschool Puzzle Club will give students all over Australia the same opportunities.
