President's Welcome

 Michael Walker

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME
As the recently elected President of the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies (VAPS) and on behalf of the VAPS committee, I would like to welcome attendees, guests and presenters to our 2026 VAPS Convention and Exhibition.

As is the norm, we depend on the local club to stage these events, and I would like to express our appreciation to Roz Harris, Mal Baker and their team at the Echuca Moama Photography Club, for their support in conducting this convention.

Each year, the VAPS team works hard to assemble an exciting program that will inform, inspire, and entertain attendees and I’m sure that the speakers, workshops, and activities we present to you this year will do that and perhaps inspire everyone to renew their enthusiasm and commitment to the marvelous creative pursuit we all share.

Of course, the formal sessions are only part of the story. The annual VAPS get together is a great way to catch up with like-minded friends, to share experiences and ideas. For that reason, the social aspects of the convention, such as the cocktail party and the dinner, are a wonderful opportunity to renew friendships and to make new ones.

Staging a convention of this size and scope requires the cooperation and assistance of several organisations and individuals, and on behalf of the VAPS committee I would like to extend our sincere thanks to:

• The staff at the Tatalia Function Centre for their assistance in planning the event,
• All our member camera clubs who have contributed their photographs, digital images and AV’s to once again create and exhibition we can all be proud of,
• Our presenters for sharing their work, knowledge, and experience,
• Our Sponsors, Camera House Echuca for their continued support for “Best in Show” and Photobarn for their support for the Viv Ball Landscape Prize and finally,

I would like to express sincere thanks to the VAPS Convention Coordinator, Joseph Maher, for his enthusiasm and diligence in organising yet another fantastic Convention.

I find the exhibition of the year’s work is one of the most inspirational aspects of the VAPS program, and as is the case each year, the exhibition will be open for viewing by the general public.

It has been a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Theo van der Meulen, and to present our program for 2026. I sincerely hope you will enjoy the hospitality of Echuca Moama Photography Club in this fantastic Tatalia Function Centre. Please join us in all the activities, both formal and social, and make this an event to remember.

Michael Walker AFSM
President VAPS