CAULFIELD PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
LIFE MEMBERS
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PRESIDENT
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Formed 29th January 1980; photography has been a part of the history of Caulfield, almost from the time it was first settled. The area was originally a farming district, followed by market gardens, then suburbia immediately after World War II.
During the 1930's the East Malvern Amateur Photographic Club, for a number of years, was known as the East Malvern and Caulfield Amateur Photographic Club. In 1958 The Caulfield Technical College Camera Club (Now the Caulfield Campus of Monash University), affiliated with Victorian Association of Photographic Societies but the club apparently only lasted a few years. In 1960, in the Caulfield suburb of Carnegie, a Camera Club was formed and met in a hall in Truganini Rd, Carnegie, but closed down in 1983.
The Caulfield Photographic Society Inc., was founded by Paul Robinson in response to requests within the local church community of St. Anthony's Parish, Glenhuntly and was originally known as St. Anthony's Camera Club. Support was received from the Parish Priest, Fr. Kevin Ryan, a boyhood friend of Fr. John Brosnan of Pentridge Prison Chaplain fame, who had been a keen amateur photographer and 8mm movie maker in the 1950's. The first meeting, 29th January 1980, was attended by eighteen people, amongst whom were the Riggs family - John, Christina and Mark, Ann-maree and Ken Moodie (Foundation Secretary), Bill MacDonald, Agnes Reilly, Kathy Peart, Paule Collard, Chris Jones and Don Ferguson (a relative of the famous photographer, George Rose, founder of the Rose Stereograph Company).
This inaugural meeting was given a presentation about composition, using his own award winning pictures, by Alex Murray of the Essendon Camera Club. A fellow Essendon Club member, George Moore, accompanied Alex providing additional valuable commentary. During the first year a constitution was drawn up and at the End of Year Presentation Night, Fr. Ryan and the local State MP, Dr. G.M. Vaughan, presented the awards.
Gradually membership declined and at one point only six members made up the club. To stall the closure of the club it was decided to change its name to the Caulfield Photographic Society and commence conducting Introduction to Photography Courses initially managed by Paul Robinson, Ken Moodie and Richard Kemp. Ken became ill, Richard withdrew owing to studies, then Jean-Philippe Weibel joined the teaching team in 1989 and together with Paul, they have been conducting the course to this day, with the support of other club members. The course has ensured a steady growth of members and is a useful source of income for the club. Jean-Philippe has been a stalwart member of the club being one of the longest serving members and contributed to a number of roles to maintain the club's ongoing operations.
The second generation of members included Noel and Irene Kerr (Local artists), Elsie Phair (also a member of the Oakleigh Camera Club), Mick Brophy (a Tasmanian who moved into the area after living in Japan and the U.S.A. since World War 2), Jean Somerville and John Commin joined the club upon the closure of the St. Kilda Camera Club, Maurice and Ivy Kimber (joined after the closure of the Victorian Railways Institute Camera Club), Jim Paterson (formerly of The Melbourne Camera Club) and Frank Sady (who went on to the Coal Country Camera Club then moved to Geelong and was elected for several terms as President of the Geelong Camera Club). The club room at St. Anthony's became difficult to use, as a dancing school rented the adjacent hall making it difficult to conduct smooth meetings. So in 1991, the club moved to St. Peter's Church Hall, cnr Ames Avenue and Neerim Road, Murrumbeena, meeting on alternate Monday nights, which improved the viability of the club and its flexibility in carrying out joint meetings, especially when courses were being conducted. Visitors are always welcome.
The club has been involved in invitation Interclub competitions over the years such as with GMH, Camberwell and Knox. In recent years, the club has undertaken long term commitments to separate Interclubs with Western Suburbs and Foster CCs. The club has its own judging panel used by other clubs around Victoria.
2014 Members Paul Robinson, Jean-Philippe Weibel, Kath Gillies, Mario Mirabile, Gary Beresford and Sue Rocco were able to do Judging on National and Club Level.
A number of members have been successful with their photography at National and International levels.
While the club continues to have membership turnover, a core group, the third generation, have maintained a greatly needed stability. Their generosity of support ensuring the continued success of the club includes Kath Gillies, John Commin, Peter Grossman, Jon Hogan, Marion King, Gary Mather, Pamella Aldersea, Mariolina Salpietro, Jenny Courtney, Sue Kelly.
A fourth generation contributed to the ongoing growth and strength of the club. These include Sue Rocco, David Doyle, Mario Mirabile, Gary Beresford, Geoff Edwards, Julie Emmerson, Tony Harding, Chris Renwick and Linda Donald.
Practical activities have always been a feature of the club. Almost from its inception weekend outings occurred, some of the most memorable being sailing trips in a yacht owned by Don Ferguson. One outing coincided with the 1984 Sale Convention; members had been camping at Walhalla, then arrived at the convention in dirty clothes and unshaven, late on Sunday evening, to look at the Interclub exhibition. The cost $1 per club member gleefully accepted by Jane Bower (Jane became Victorian Association of Photographic Societies the following year), wondering who this lot from the hills were.
Since the early 1990's the club has conducted weekend outings, once at least each two months, with two weekend 'camping trips' (mostly accommodated in rented country homes) being in May and the Melbourne Cup long weekend in November. On these 'camping trips' sometimes a mini-bus is hired with memorable trips to Broken Hill and Mungo National Park, Mallacoota, Robe (S.A.), the Grampians, the Otways, Coal Creek, Beechworth, Walhalla, Marysville, Bright, Sale and many others.
The club's 30TH ANNIVERSARY was held in July 2010 with special guests, Mayor of Glen Eira, Steven Tang and his wife Jessica, Victorian Association of Photographic Societies Representatives, Judges, inaugural and early club members present. An exhaustive effort by the President at the time Sue Rocco together with Kath Gilles, Chris and Michael Renwick of Rotondo Homes and Geoff Edwards made this a successful dinner held in the club room.