Service Awards 2011

Honorary Life Membership of The Photographic Society of New Zealand (Hon.PSNZ) – Ron Fitz-William FPSNZ

The award of Honorary Life Membership of the Photographic Society of New Zealand is awarded for outstanding service to photography, particularly through organisational or similar work

This recipient joined the North Shore Photographic Society in 1957 and the Photographic Society of New Zealand soon after.

He served one term on the Society’s Honours Board and for his undoubted judging ability he was always in demand to judge many camera club competitions.

He has been a top slide duplicator, using his skills for the benefit of club members and also sharing his experience to give encouragement to photographers seeking their Honours distinctions.

He has generously opened his home over the years, to groups of photographers, guiding them around his large property giving encouragement in nature and general photography.

He achieved the Society’s Associateship in Natural History Slides in 1988 and in recognition of his outstanding photographic skills was awarded a Fellowship for Open Prints in 1994 then, in recognition of his service was awarded the Service Medal in 1994.

Over the last 50 years he has worked tirelessly for the North Shore club as projectionist, committee member, and co-ordinator of inter-club competitions, slide duplicator and all-round support especially for new members.

For this unstinting service, the club awarded him Life Membership and now is their Patron.

This member has unselfishly given his time and shared his extensive knowledge of photography for the benefit of others and is an example of how sharing the enjoyment of one's hobby can bring so much pleasure to others.

This award is well deserved to a person who has devoted his life, knowledge and passion for photography, truly an outstanding achievement.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand has great pleasure in presenting the distinction of Honorary Life Membership to Ron Fitz-William FPSNZ, at Auckland 9th April 2011

Honorary Life Membership of The Photographic Society of New Zealand (Hon.PSNZ) – Graham Richards APSNZ

The award of Honorary Life Membership of the Photographic Society of New Zealand is awarded for outstanding service to photography, particularly through organisational or similar work.

This recipient has been involved in photography since 1944 and with Camera Clubs since 1953. He joined PSNZ in 1957, has been a Panel Judge for 42 years and served four terms as councillor.

He has been actively involved in many camera clubs, particularly in their administration. Firstly with the Tokoroa Photographic Society in 1953, then as he moved to different communities, with South Waikato CC, Whangarei CC, Kaeo CC, Mid North CC and Kaitaia CC.

He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of Tokoroa CC and is currently Patron of South Waikato CC.

His administrative achievements are numerous; he has organised a mini-convention for photographers in Kapiro and helped the Club to create an audio-visual slide programme titled ‘Tokoroa Today-1962’, he chaired the 1967 Northern Regional Convention and was a member of the 1978 Northern Regional committee.

He has been active promoting the art of photography to the communities he has lived in: a Sound Slide and Photo Exhibition for the Whangaroa County Council Anniversary Celebrations, a photographic record “A bay of Waitarure Convent School” and then presented it to the school as an album.

He has convened photographic workshops in Northland for the youth of the District, the “First Light 2000” Exhibition in Kerikeri for the Millennium Celebrations and “Kerikeri Photo Bay 2006” - a photo-show of prints from the youth of that district.

As an example of his dedication to photography, each day for two years he carefully recorded the construction of the Art Centre in Kerikeri, then presented the Centre with a framed photo collage of its construction.

This enthusiastic photographer has never missed an opportunity during these 67 years to promote photography, whether at club, local or national level.

His service is truly inspirational. He is a true ambassador for photography.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand has great pleasure in presenting the distinction of Honorary Life Membership to Graham Richards APSNZ, at Auckland 9th April 2011

Honorary Life Membership of The Photographic Society of New Zealand (Hon.PSNZ) – Bill Percival LPSNZ

The award of Honorary Life Membership of the Photographic Society of New Zealand is awarded for outstanding service to photography, particularly through organisational or similar work.

This recipient has been an active and prominent photography administrator for over 50 years. PSNZ was founded in 1953 and he joined the Society soon after, then in 1956 he became a foundation member of the Howick Camera club.

His club administration was extensive being Treasurer and President and for his service the club honoured him with Life Membership in 1986 and Patron in 1995.

He served PSNZ as Councillor and Treasurer and became President in 1990. He served on many organising committees over the years: two PSNZ International Exhibitions, two Northern Region Conventions, two Sight and Sound XPOs and a National Convention.

His leadership was exemplary and he chaired many of these committees.

He achieved his Licentiateship in 1993 and was awarded the PSNZ Service Medal in 1994.

In all aspects of his club and society life, he has always been in the forefront of whatever activities have been present at any time. He has been a tireless advocate for photography both within his club, our Society and the wider community and has generously given time and encouragement to promote the art of photography to new club and society members.

Together with these achievements and his passion for photography make him a deserving recipient of this award.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand has great pleasure in presenting the distinction of Honorary Life Membership to Bill Percival LPSNZ, at Auckland 9th April 2011

PSNZ Service Medal 2011 – Carolyn LPSNZ and Frank Green APSNZ

The PSNZ Service Medal is awarded for service alone of an outstanding nature and usually awarded to an individual, however, in special circumstances maybe awarded to a team

The team in this instance is a husband and wife who have been stalwarts of our largest photographic society for 20 years.

He, joined the Christchurch Photographic Society 20 years ago and has since held the position of Treasurer, Vice President and President while she, came to the club some years later as a Committee person, Secretary, Publicity Officer and Website coordinator.

Both have been active competition secretaries and have also taken a particular interest in encouraging new members, arranging meetings and outings to assist them integrate into the club culture.

For the Christchurch National Convention in 1999, he was the MC and for the 2006 convention was Treasurer and Vice Chairman while she, took responsibility for sponsorship.

Outside the club they contribute to promoting photography in many ways.

He, as an accredited judge in the southern region and for many years was a mentor to the Mt Pleasant Photography group.

For the last six years they have organised an annual photographic competition, initially associated with the Festival of Flowers and now with the Ellerslie Flower show. This competition raised $4500 which they donated to the club for a new data projector.

They have also organised three public photographic exhibitions titled: ‘Woolston Suburb’, ‘Birds of Canterbury’ and recently ‘Memorials of Canterbury’.

Whenever there is a need, this team roll up their sleeves and support each other to see the task through. They are worthy recipients of this award.

It is with pleasure that The Photographic Society of New Zealand awards the PSNZ Service Medal to Carolyn LPSNZ and Frank Green APSNZ, at Auckland 9th April 2011

PSNZ Service Medal 2011 – Heather Harley APSNZ

The PSNZ Service Medal is awarded for service alone of an outstanding nature.

In 1998 one of our clubs was on the brink of disbanding, membership was low and dispirited. An urgent meeting called to arrest this decline had only six people attend. Those six stalwarts decided not to close the club but to use all available funds on publicity to resurrect it.

One of those at the meeting was not even a club member, but through her enthusiasm became the leading light to organise a club photo rally open to the general public.

This highly successful event was the first step in the renaissance of the Nelson Camera Club and under her presidency from 1999 to 2004 the club evolved into a cohesive, enthusiastic organisation of over 60 members.

Encouraged by its ever enthusiastic president, the club felt confident enough to organise the first of many PSNZ events: Firstly the National Exhibition in 2003, the Southern Regional Convention in 2005 and then in 2010, the PSNZ National Convention.

Her leadership skills did not go unnoticed and she was elected to Council and took on the Regional Conventions portfolio and later the Publicity and National Convention portfolios.

In 2005 for her work in helping rebuild this energetic camera club, she was elected a life member.

Despite her many organisational roles, she has developed her own photography, firstly attaining a Licentiateship and later an Associateship, also achieving considerable success at club, Regional and National competitions.

These attributes are significant examples of her attitude towards photography, those wanting to enjoy making photographs and to building a lively Camera Club.

It is with pleasure that The Photographic Society of New Zealand awards the PSNZ Service Medal to Heather Harley APSNZ, at Auckland 9th April 2011

PSNZ Service Medal 2011 – Beverly Sinclair

The PSNZ Service Medal is awarded for service alone of an outstanding nature.

This award is being presented in recognition of forty years service to a Camera Club and for the passion and commitment in sharing her photographic skills and knowledge with others.

During many years this enthusiastic person has served on several committee positions, always being helpful, friendly and known to have a positive attitude towards getting things done.

As a competent photographer she makes good use of her skills for other organisations and whenever asked to judge competitions at her Club always gives clear and helpful comments on the individual images or audio visuals.

Her assistance with all Club activities has been rewarded with Life Membership.

She has helped with two Regional Conventions in Whanganui.

Using her notable editorial skills she ably edited New Zealand Camera from 1977 to 1983. Then, in 2003 she was editor of the historical edition of “Camera” - The First 50 Years.

This publication is a significant treasure for the Society for it records the happenings and events of those early years and has proven to be a very valuable source of historical information that otherwise may have been lost.

It is with pleasure that The Photographic Society of New Zealand awards the PSNZ Service Medal to Beverly Sinclair, at Auckland 9th April 2011