ESSENDON CAMERA CLUB
FORMED 1956
APRIL 2016 NEWSBRIEF VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETIES
ESSENDON CAMERA CLUB
TURNS 60
Essendon Camera Club was formed on 23rd April 1956. It was initiated by 19-year-old Gary Lewis at his parents home off Buckley Street, Essendon. Four people came. Gary wrote a report for the Essendon Gazette saying that about 50 people attended.
The first elected president was Gordon Adams, with Gary Lewis as secretary. The first venue for meetings was the Doutta Gala Hall in Royal Avenue in North Essendon.
A major venue, in the early 2000s, was St. Thomas Memorial Hall at Moonee Ponds junction. The clubs early records were lost in a fire in January 1978 at the Essendon Community Centre.
The club moved to the Essendon Baptist Church in Buckley Street Essendon, then to the Aberfeldie Baptist Church in Price Street, West Essendon, where it is now.
The club has had a fairly illustrious history and, during the 1970s was one of the highest achievers in the VAPS Interclub. It has had several notable photographers, such as Alex Murray, Ian Cust, Mike Spillane, David Oldfield, Loris Peggy, Neil Ross and Neil Anderson and, more recently, Jean Hoffrichter, Jane Clancy, Steve Sheddick, Carman Caruana and Jan Hannasky. Much service was given to the club by Jenny Colson.
Alan Wilson - History And Archives
JULY 2017 NEWSBRIEF VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETIES
ESSENDON CAMERA CLUB
Essendon Camera Club was formed on 23 April 1956. A young 19-year-old, Gary Lewis, organized the first meeting of the club at his parents home in Buckley Street, Essendon. Four people came. Gary wrote to the “Essendon Gazette” saying that the meeting had been a great success with approximately 50 people attending. In the formative years, Gary was the president and secretary.
Early meetings were held above the chemist’s shop in Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds, then at the Doutta Gala Hall in Royal Avenue, North Essendon. Later meetings were changed to St. Thomas Memorial Hall at Moonee Ponds Junction. The next move was to the Essendon Community Centre next door. That place was gutted by fire in January 1978, so the club returned to St. Thomas. The club is now at the Aberfeldie Baptist Church in Price Street, West Essendon.
Alex Murray joined the club in 1957 and has the record for the longest serving president: 21 years. David Oldfield was president for eight years (1989-1996), as was Ian Forrest (1981-1988). In more recent times, Jenny Colson and Alex van Harmelen have been presidents for several years.
Essendon Camera Club has conducted a 10-week photography course for many years. Ian Cust R.I.P. and Neil Ross largely ran this course in the early years. Now the course is digital and organized by Matthew Wings.
Last year, 2016, the club had 162 members, making it the largest affiliated club with Victorian Association of Photographic Societies.
JUNE 2018 NEWSBRIEF VICTORIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETIES
JENNY COLSON
SPECIAL AWARD
Jenny joined the Essendon Camera Club early in 1993, with her girlfriend Sue Jackson. She fitted well into the club and was soon actively involved in its activities. She became secretary in 1997 and held that position till 2002. In 2003, she was elected as president. She held this position, initially for five years. She resumed as president in 2009, and served another three years. She was also print and slide secretary for several years, which is an onerous job. Jenny is a keen photographer and she was soon promoted from B-grade to A-grade photographer in the club.
Jenny was at the forefront of organizing the yearly Melbourne Cup Weekend get-away. A number of members of the club would go away for the Cup “long-weekend”, e.g. to Echuca, Halls Gap, and so on. The idea was to enjoy the company of other club members, dress-up for a Cup sweep, and take some photographs. In recognition of her long and extensive service with the club, she was made a life member.
In 2006, she became treasurer of Victorian Association of Photographic Societies, and held that position for 12 years. She brought out her monthly treasurer’s report, which was clear and detailed, for all those years. In Victorian Association of Photographic Societies, Jenny has attended the Convention each year, where she helped behind the counter, and was on hand to assist as required. At committee meetings, Jenny also prepares the lunches. This is something she also does at Victorian Association of Photographic Societies judging events.
She is friendly, frank and full of common sense. Not afraid to speak her mind, she a positive, lively, honest and forthright personality on the committee. Thankfully, she is going to remain in a non-executive role, without the onerous duties of Treasurer. Her contribution to photography in general in the past 25 years has been enormous, and she is worthy of heartfelt thanks.
She has already received the State Service Award and the Meritorious Award so in 2018, to mark her retirement as Victorian Association of Photographic Societies Treasurer, the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies committee wishes to confer on her a special medal of service in thanks for her extensive and exceptional service to photography.