(2009-2018)
The Essendon Camera Club was founded in 1956 by Gary Lewis. It has always been located in the Essendon/Moonee Ponds area. Since its inception, it has fared quite well, having around 50 members for many years. It peaked, in so far as membership is concerned, with 162 members, in 2016.
Since 2009, the executives of the club have been as follows:
| Year |
President |
Secretary |
Treasurer |
|
2009 |
Brian Basham |
Sue Newton |
Murray Kissell |
|
2010 |
Jenny Colson |
Sue Newton |
Norm Dench |
|
2011 |
Jenny Colson |
Sue Newton |
Norm Dench |
|
2012 |
Jenny Colson |
Alan Wilson |
Norm Dench |
|
2012-13 |
Alex van Harmelen |
Alan Wilson |
Luke Peers |
|
2013-14 |
Alex van Harmelen |
Brian Basham |
Allan Hines |
|
2014-15 |
Alex van Harmelen |
Alan Wilson |
Kate Fletcher |
|
2015-16 |
Alex van Harmelen |
Alan Wilson |
Kate Fletcher |
|
2016-17 |
Carmen Caruana |
Alan Wilson |
Kate Fletcher |
|
2017-18 |
Robyn Wannan |
Alan Wilson |
lneke Struk |
These members have given very valuable service to the club.
For over 40 years, a 10-week introductory photography course has been conducted by the club each year. There is usually room for 40 budding photographers at each course. Until about 10 years ago, the course dealt with film and slide photography. With the advent of digital photography, Brian Basham reformulated the course to incorporate digital photography.
For many years, the course was run by long-standing club members Ian Cust and Neil Ross. Now
(2018) Matthew Wings is course co-ordinator.
In 2016, the club celebrated its sixtieth year. There was a major display of members' works at The Incinerator Gallery in Holmes Road, Moonee- Ponds. We also had a 'party' at a club meeting, with a large cake in the shape of a digital camera.
A substantial grant was obtained from the Moonee Valley City Council as a consequence of an application put in by Pam Kreuger. This grant funded our birthday celebrations and paid for new equipment.
Over the 10-year period, club membership grew and grew. In 2016, we had 162 paid-up members, making us the largest club affiliated with VAPS.
The club has undertaken many activities since 2009. Carmen Caruana and Steve Sheddick had their estimable photographic exhibition, 'Alchemy', at the Gallery Voltaire in North Melbourne in October 2015.
There was a car-rally won by Kate Fletcher. And a visit to Werribee Mansion, and so on.
VAPS long-service medals were achieved by Jean Hoffricther, Leo McGuire, Allen Hilton, lan Cust, Clem DeSilva, and so on.
Club stalwarts inevitably died. Last year, Ian Cust died. He was club secretary for over 30 years and a wonderful photographer. Neil Ross, a man of many talents, and club trophy-maker passed away last December. Lorna Pearce, Barbara Dunton and Victor da Costa have also passed on.
Overall, the club has had an interesting decade