Conchology Section
Auckland Museum Institute

Any organisation that succeeds is due largely to the input and support determined by it's members. The third year as your President has been very rewarding to me. For the willingness and effort that so many have made to ensure successful meetings and events that we have held this year, I sincerely want to say thankyou to you all. In particular our Committee members, and especially our Secretary Rosa Tyson (with her new computer), our Treasurer Neville Hudson, our Website and Shell Show convenor Peter Poortman, and Tony & Jenny Enderby our valued Poirieria editors, and our new President I'm sure will say "keep up the good work".

The 5th National N.Z. Shell Show 2004 was a great success and I would say that the standard of exhibits were the best yet. One of the Australian judges emailed to thank us for making the trip so enjoyable and congratulated us on our magnificent Show. It made him quite envious as this year their Shell Show was down in numbers.

Our monthly meeting attendance has averaged 16 this year with our largest attendance of 23 at our mid-winter July meeting. A number of past and present members died this year, notably two previous Presidents Mr. Ken Hipkins (1957-1961) and Miss Joan Coles (1972-1976). We have been happy to welcome a good number of new members with at least three very keen young boys, that contact has been made with. That should present a challenge to us by having a field trip outing or visiting a collection, so they could meet each other and be encouraged with their interest in shells. I recently visited the Hunua School with a few of my shells and was impressed by the interest that they had and the studies on marine environment, with their shell collections that they had brought in.

A field trip to Burgess and Moko Hinau Islands was enjoyed by 18 members. Our annual Shell Auction was well supported. Dr. Leslie Newman, the curator of the Auckland Museum Marine Dept. was recently welcomed. A modified Shell Club lapel badge was produced this year, and is available at $6.50.

Congratulations to our Patron, Professor John Morton with his major new book 'Seashore Ecology of N.Z. and the Pacific'. Congratulations also to our life member Margaret Morley on her new book 'New Zealand Seashells'. We now await the N.Z. review of Volutes by Patrice Bail, Allan Limpus, and Richard Willan, shortly to be published.

2004 Programme.
Feb: Holiday finds, plus feature families Patellidae and Acmaeidae.
Mar: Professor Jack Grant-Mackie, topic Fossil Scallops.
Apr: The family Cypraeidae, Michael Bressolles and other members.
May: The family Turbinidae, and hints on how to manage Shell Show exhibits by Margaret Morley and Doug Snook, and also Peter Poortman on managing your Shell Collection.
June: Minor shell families and a Blue Planet video.
July: Our focus family Xenophoridae and Tony & Jenny Enderby's fantastic coloured slide show.
Aug: Landsnail night, with Brian Parkinson's coloured slides.
Sept: Back at the Museum for Margaret Morley's new book launch.
Oct: Cypraeidae. Dr. Mike Hart speaking about his favourite shell family.
Nov: Olividae family with Ian Scott concentrating on the genus Oliva and aiding collectors with identification.
Dec: A.G.M. Christmas Party, and coloured slides from the President.

Patricia Langford (a Vice President) has had a difficult year healthwise, and is hoping next year will be much better. Next year is a real milestone in the life of our Conchology Section, when we become 75 years old. Seventy five years ago Dr. A.W.B. Powell gathered together five small primary school boys on 11 October 1930 and formed a Boys' Club to study natural history in general, and shells in particular. Mr David Baker is the sole survivor and current member.

I trust each one of you will have a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Doug Snook
President.