Knox Photographic Society Inc

KPS started from an evening Photography class run at Knox Tech in 1973.  The following appeared in the local paper in 1974.  The newly formed Knox Photographic Club will be operating from the Carrington Park Family Leisure Centre at Knoxfield. The official opening was held on April 12 1974 where they would be showing slides donated by members and giving information on the club’s activities.  Contacts were Roger Burns and David Croucher.

KPS History 2008 to 2017

Since the VAPS Publication “Digital Revolution” 2009, KPS has continued to develop and grow. The past 10 years have been particularly successful thanks to the Members, Knox City Council and Boronia West Primary School.  By 2018 KPS had reached over 150 members and was now meeting every Wednesday of the month, generally following the pattern of : - First Wed is the committee meeting, second Wed is “Speaker Night”, third Wed is Educational night, fourth Wed is Image Evaluation and fifth Wed (if there is one) is movie night.

KPS meets at Boronia West primary school and over the years with the help of Ron Cork, Alfred Zommers and lately by Noel Butcher developed the website’s modern look and ability do surveys and allow members to vote on EoY images.  Also moving with the times, originally started by Sheryl Griffith then further developed by Andre Burton and Noel Butcher the KPS Facebook page, and the KPS Members Only Facebook page has become a vibrant connection between members with a lot of weekly activity often driven by Janette Anderson.

In 2014 KPS reached its official 40 years as a Photographic Society. We celebrated with an exhibition held over a weekend opened by the Principal of Boronia West, Leigh Johnston and closed by the Mayor of Knox, Peter Lockwood.  KPS also produced a photobook to commemorate the occasion.

KPS publishes a weekly newsletter “Mini News” and a monthly “Aperture” thanks to Noel Butcher (x Herald ) and Rob Sloane. Mail Chimp is currently used as our mail out vehicle.

KPS runs an annual Monochrome Interclub with about 8 clubs participating as well as an annual interclub with Melton Mowbray CC located in the East Midlands UK.

Generally, annually, KPS runs classes in Lightroom by Alfred Zommers and Gary Dawson, Photoshop Elements by Rob Sloane and a Novice/Beginners Camera course facilitated by Peter Knight.

With much help from members KPS has been very much involved in local community programs in particular with Mountain District Learning Centre, Knox Council, and Boronia West PS “Kids at Risk Education programs”, Knoxbrooke Training and Support Centre for handicapped adults, as well as being part of Seniors Week, providing an educational and social event for Seniors.

A couple of members, Ray Goldsmith and Murray Jean saw a need to get some of the retired KPS members away from their computers and out photographing, so have been organizing bi weekly Tuesday photography walks around the Knox – Dandenong Ranges – Ferntree Gully area in parks like Norton’s Park, Jells Park, Doongala, Shepherds Bush and when the weather is bad a bit of education and culture at MGA, coffee is an important part of this exercise.

One Sunday a month KPS facilitates a workshop mainly focused on Portraits but also on Mat cutting and an opportunity to get to know members and ask questions.

Generally, there has been 2-3 weekend away events each year, one always being the VAPS convention, but others have included Baw Baw, Kilcunda, Rawson, Buller, Apollo Bay, Castlemaine, Philip Island, Grampians, Buffalo, Portarlington, Mansfield, Balranald, and Pine Plains.

Outstanding KPS photographers in the past few years have been Kim Wormald, Kathy Willis, Marilyn Ellis, Robyn Varley, Andrew Fenwick, Ray Goldsmith, Gary Dawson, Julie Bird, Anna Miu, Albert Tay and Carmel Durant.

Other committee members during this time have been, David Burren, Julie Bird, Sheryl Griffith, Margaret Zommers, Janette Anderson, Noel Butcher, Peter Knight, Ray Goldsmith, Martin Rowe, Maureen Clark, Doug Bird, Samanther Bell, Yit How, Frank Domantay, Dianne Davy, Mark Davy, John Bell, Julie Casteau, Kingshuk Barman, Stewart Clegg, and Ian Paterson.

Clubpersons of the year have been Lyn Sloane, Doug Bird, Julie Bird, Gary Dawson, Ray Goldsmith, Dianne Davy, John Bell, Rhonda Lincoln, Noel Butcher, Peter Knight and David Burren.

VAPS 10 Year Bars have been awarded to John Tyrell, Karen Maderbacher, Walter Maderbacher, David Burren, Mark Davy, Dianne Davy, Val Moss, Peter Collins, Sheryl Griffith, Ian Paterson, Suzanne Walsh, Garick Williams Greg Hill, Peter Knight, John Wright, Les Finch, Alicia Rowe, and Martin Rowe. VAPS 15 Year Bars have been awarded to Eric Dickenson (dec), Heidi Sontag, Fred Stewart, Doug Bird, Julie Bird, Ron Cork, and Steve Weeks.

VAPS 25 Year Bars have been awarded Lyn Sloane, and Rob Sloane. VAPS 30 Year Bar awarded to Bruce Northey (dec).

VAPS 35 Year Bar awarded to Paul Burke (dec)

VAPS Meritoirious Awards have been awarded to Julie Bird, Sheryle Griffith, Peter Knight, Gary Dawson, Margaret Zommers and Neville Goldsmith.

VAPS SSVAPS has been awarded to Rob Sloane, Merilyn Sloane, Alfred Zommers, David Burren and Margaret Zommers.

Life members of KPS are Peter Cheong (dec), Blu Cheong (dec) Paul Burke (dec), and Rob Sloane.

Over the past 10 years KPS has unfortunately lost past committee members, Bruce Northey, Paul Burke, Peter Cheong, Robert Johnson, Adrian Cooke, Eric Dickenson and Frank Domentay.

KPS greatly appreciates the VAPS / APJA judges and presenters that have given their time and expertise to attend the club.