BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
FORMED 1953
Friday 6th March 1953Page 12 - The Blackwood Times (Greenbushes, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
What is believed to be only the fifth camera club in Western Australia has been formed at Bridgetown. It will be called the Bridgetown Camera Club.
The attendance was 13 when the club held its inaugural meeting last Thursday. The founder of the club is Mr. D. Rafferty, a local photographer, who arrived here from the Eastern States nearly a year ago. Mr. Rafferty has given the town its first candid camera service and the idea of the club came to him as a way of encouraging local enthusiasts.
The club's first president is Mr. Rafferty. The Hon.Secretary-Treasurer is Mr. R. Firth and the vice-president is Mr. W. Kullack. The committee will consist of Messrs. F. Hodgson and R. Robertson.
Club meetings will be held on the first and third Thursdays in each month. The club's patron (Mr. R. Fort) gave a mark for it to aim at. He said that within 12 months members should be able to organize an exhibition of work in the lesser town hall. Membership of the club will be open until 22nd May, and after that date new members will only be elected after nomination by two members of the club.
The last meeting in the club year will be late in May and members will pay half-yearly fees to that date. There will be a difference between junior fees and senior. A meeting place for the club was a problem. The proprietor of the Freemasons Hotel had granted the use of the commercial room for the first night. Mr. Fort offered something which he described as "just a room" until the club was able to obtain permanent premises with access to water and power.
Mr. Rafferty said that lectures would be arranged from time to time. He said that a representative of Kodak was willing to give instruction in general photographic procedures.
Speculating on the possible progress of the club someone remarked that the local repertory club had its own hall and was now prepared to build a new theatre; all this in 21 years. Said the president, "Let's see if we're as far advanced in 21 years as they are".
Friday 13th March 1953Page 12 - The Blackwood Times (Greenbushes, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
Next Tuesday the third meeting of the recently formed Bridgetown Camera Club will be held and almost 30 members are expected to attend. The business discussed at the two previous meetings included plans to organize picnics, outings for taking photos and various other amusements. The club is divided into two sections — junior and senior. Members will learn developing and printing, as well as the art of taking good photos. The club organizer is Mr. D. Rafferty; the secretary Mr. B. Firth.
Thursday 9th April 1953Page 6 - Blackwood-Warren Sentinel (Bridgetown, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
Newly formed Bridgetown Camera Club conducted its first photo competition at a meeting on 31st March.
Number of entries was not up to expectations, entries from 2 members only being received. Voting decided that popular president, "Chips" Rafferty, had filled first 3 places with his exhibits. Winning print was a photograph of Bridgetown's 2 bridges, taken from a hill at town's northern end; second was another local print and third was one taken by "Chips" whilst In Tasmania.
After voting, Mr. Ron Fort was asked to give his opinion of the prints entered. Members found his criticism both instructive and interesting.
Next competition will be held on 7th April, subject this time will be open, members to decide upon their own entries.
Before closing the meeting, the president informed members that a traveler from Ilford Co. had been in Bridgetown recently and that he (the President) had approached the traveler about giving a lecture at a future meeting of the club. "Ilford traveler not only agreed," said president Rafferty, "but offered to make a special trip to Bridgetown for the purpose, and bring with him a projector and colored slides".
Books were exchanged in the library, after which supper, kindly provided by lady members of the club, was served and enjoyed by those present.
Friday 24th April 1953Page 1 - The Blackwood Times (Greenbushes, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
"Some entries are very good, but too many are just record shots, suitable for an album", said the president of the Bridgetown Camera Club (Mr. D. Rafferty) during a period of criticism following the club's second monthly competition held on Tuesday night. He went on to say that he was "pleased to see so many entries. It proves that the competitions are becoming popular".
There were ties for first and second place; Messrs. R. Robertson and C. Williamson tied for first place, and two entries by Mr. Williamson tied for second place. The third place was taken by Mr. Robertson, Other entrants were Messrs. S. and J. Goss: the competition subject was open.
Three more junior members have been enrolled — Messrs. J. Robertson, M. Rooke and D. Ferguson.
To find material for the May competition the club has decided to arrange a local hike for the first weekend in May.
The club continues with its program of meetings on the first and third Tuesdays in the month.
1st May 1953Page 266 - Vol. 60 No. 5 The Australasian Photographic Review
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
In February of this year, a group of thirteen enthusiasts got together and formed The Bridgetown Camera Club. A committee of five was elected, comprising the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Committeemen, one to represent the senior members, and one for the juniors. Subscriptions were fixed at £1 and 10/- per year for seniors and juniors respectively. A tentative constitution was drawn up, but has not yet been formally adopted. A club room has been made available by the club’s patron, local chemist Ron Fort. This is a temporary arrangement until the club can find permanent quarters.
Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Since the foundation of the club, membership has grown to almost thirty. Members have agreed to pay six months subscription for the first term, which ends in May, when we will really get down to business. This move has enabled the club to start out on a sound financial basis. A small library has been started, and a librarian appointed. Our first big print competition will be held at the end of April, when members can each exhibit six prints of any subject. It is planned to hold regular set subject competitions once a month.
Our president will deliver a talk at our meeting on the Seventh, entitled What Can Be Done With A Box Camera. He will illustrate his talk with photographs taken by himself with a Brownie Model “C” camera.
The Club would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude to the South Australian Naracoorte Camera Club, especially the Secretary, Mr. H.T. Rowe, for their help by letter in getting our club started. We hope to exchange prints in the near future with this club, of whom we think most highly.
Friday 8th May 1953Page 1 - The Blackwood Times (Greenbushes, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
The print competition rules for Bridgetown's new Camera Club were adopted at Tuesday night's meeting.
Plans were made to switch the club's meetings to the C.W.A. rooms from the present meeting place in a chemist's shop; two new members were admitted, details were announced of a lecture to be given by a speaker from a well-known photographic company at the next meeting.
Although the club attendance suffered this time from the rival attraction of the play "Martine", important business was transacted during the short meeting. The president (Mr. D. Rafferty) said that he hoped for a full attendance of members at the next meeting, when the election of officers would probably take place.
Last Saturday the club held its first hike, to collect material for later competitions. The president reported that, despite dull weather, the party found good subjects for study.
Friday 29th May 1953Page 4 - The Blackwood Times (Greenbushes, Western Australia)
BRIDGETOWN CAMERA CLUB
With several months activity behind it Bridgetown's new camera club has received several nominations for office bearers for the club year, which starts at the end of May.
At the Tuesday night meeting the president (Mr. D. Rafferty) offered to make way for any more qualified member who might have joined the club since its inception in February. He was nominated secretary.
Other nominations were: treasurer, Mr. R. Firth; committee, Miss Jan Davies, Mr. C. Rohertson, Mr. G. Long. Mr. S. Goss was nominated vice-president. These appointments will be confirmed or altered at a forthcoming special general meeting. Business facing the special meeting will be the adoption of the constitution, which has already been read.
The club held an exhibition of photographs taken recently, and the president commented on the work. It was said that quite a number were up to a high standard. The work of a junior member, Deirdre Williamson, was particularly commended.