History Update 2010-2018
Life Members added - Brien Cohn(2014).
Presidents 2008-2011 David Rendle,
2011- 2015 Heather Hartkamp-Prince,
2015-2017 Liesel McGregor,
2017-present Heather Prince
The Club's membership steadily increased as more people embraced digital photography (from 79 in 2010, to 125 members in 2018).
The Photoshop Special Interest Group (later named Digital Darkroom) was launched by
Graham Mourney in 2006, for members to learn and share information and techniques.
After long service, Graham handed over the leadership of the group to Heather Prince in 2015. It continues to be well-attended. The group meets monthly and caters for beginners & more advanced members separately. It also covers programs other than Photoshop.
The 8-week Introduction to Photography Course was presented once per year during the years from 2010 to 2014, then twice per year in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, this course resumed being presented once per year to allow opportunities for workshops and special presentations to members.
In addition, a Photoshop course was presented once per year from its launch in 2009 to 2014, before being discontinued due to lack of participants. The cause is believed to be the availability of the plethora of online information and tutorials, and also that Photoshop was being overtaken by Lightroom as the popular post-processing software, and there were not enough club
members sufficiently proficient in its use to present a course.
In August 2009 monthly EDI competitions commenced, after being trialled in the previous 12 months. Following the 2009 Archives Proposal from Graeme Harris, the first Year Book was produced in 2010 for
the 2009-10 club year. Matthew Armitstead toiled for many hours and harassed all the club
members until he had all the relevant information & contributions for a splendid book.
The Year Book is a comprehensive showcase and historical record of the Club's activities for each club year. It Includes reports on members' outings & camps, newsletters, Officials reports from the AGM, even Births, Deaths & Marriages.
Members are very supportive of the Year Book by their cooperation, contributions, positive feedback and purchasing personal copies.
The Lightseekers was established in 2013. Weekly meetings are on Thursdays during the day• alternating field trips & in-house meetings. The Lightseekers group provides alternative activities for both members who struggle to make it to the Wednesday night meetings and for those members who are thirsty for more photographic opportunities and knowledge.
2014 -125th Anniversary & VAPS Convention.
Consecutive weekends saw the club host its 125th anniversary celebrations, as well as the VAPS Convention, thus creating a photographic festival for the GCC members. The 125th Anniversary dinner showcased the club's long history with presentations of photographs, photographic equipment, club memorabilia and nostalgia.
Also, in 2014, the honour of Life Membership was bestowed upon Brien Cohn, who stepped
down from his role as Secretary after 6 years of service in this role.
VAPS awards
2010 VAPS Service Award: David Rendle
2015 VAPS Meritorious Service Awards: Graham Mourney, Heather Prince, & Brien Cohn.
We value the opportunities to strengthen ties with other clubs and associations through many social encounters, and annual lnterclub competitions with Essendon, Ballarat and Corio Bay Camera Clubs, and our close involvemen