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Auckland Shell Club |
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Auckland Shell Club |
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March Meeting
Dr. Wilma Blom, Marine Invertebrates Curator of Auckland Museum, hosted our meeting at the Museum.
She advised that much is happening with the mollusc collections. In particular ...
. ongoing updates of the collection database.
. the Demaris Hole collection is now onsite. This had been in the custody of Dr Peter Maddison (a distinguished entomologist) since Demaris & Geoff Hole (ex club members) passed away.
. the wet collection has all been "topped up".
. over 1000 Type specimens (of ~1700) have now been imaged.
Wilma kindly offered to have all our old Poirieria magazines scanned to a digital format (PDF). This suggestion was enthusiastically welcomed by those present, so we may one day be able to serve these up on our website. These old editions are full of fascinating stories and information, and can be difficult to put down when opened.
There was also some discussion on the possibility of using Museum facilities to scan the late Ian Scott's huge collection of underwater slides.
General discussion took place amongst those present on the subject of recent shell finds and collecting trips.
Members reported seeing large amounts of pumice on Northland east coast beaches - no doubt from last years eruption of an undersea volcano near the Kermadecs.
There was also lively discussion about the rules on taking shells and other biological things into and out of New Zealand.
We then spent some time viewing items of interest in the Museum collection, before topping off a very pleasant evening with supper.
New Zealand Shell Show 2013 – Pakuranga, 3-5/May
Not long to go until the Shell Show, and it is shaping up to be a great weekend. The venue (Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts) is located at 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga - very near to the large Westfield shopping centre.
The Shell Show Schedule as well as the Auction Schedule are available on our website. From there you can also download show advertising fliers in a range of sizes. Members are encouraged to distribute these to friends, acquaintances, community notice boards, etc.
The weekend timetable is as follows...
| Friday 3/May | noon - 6pm | Set up time |
| 6pm - 9pm | Judging (closed to exhibitors) | |
| Saturday 4/May | 10am - 5pm | Open to the public |
| 2pm - 4pm | Buy/Sell/Swap tables | |
| 4pm - 6pm | Shell Auction | |
| 7pm - 10pm | Prize-giving & Dinner at Valentines Restaurant | |
| Sunday 5/May | 10am - 4pm | Open to the public |
| 4pm - 6pm | Pack up time | |
| Monday 6/May | Lunchtime | Pot luck lunch at Heather’s Place |
Volunteers are required for duties during the weekend. Please contact Margaret Morley (09 576 8323 or mmorley@aucklandmuseum.com) if you can spare some time on the weekend 4th - 5th of May.
Contact Peter Poortman (petermwp@gmail.com or 09 817 1397) for more information.
Next Meeting – Tuesday 9th April
Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Due to space restrictions our club library needs to have a good sort out, so this will be the main activity of our April meeting.
Books and other items will likely be sold off cheaply or even given away to a good home - don't miss out!
We will also provide tips, suggestions, Q&A, etc on exhibiting at the Shell Show.
Poirieria Magazine
We welcome contributions to our club magazine "Poirieria".
Anything related to shells or collecting would be greatly appreciated - Eg. shelling trips/finds, personal observations/tips, scientific research, historic anecdotes, a notable washup, etc.
Please email articles to Peter Poortman at petermwp@gmail.com, or post to 26 Pendlebury Street, Green Bay, Auckland 0604.
Club Library
We have an extensive collection of books, magazines, and scientific publications available, as well as a biological microscope.
Other Club News
. Explorama weekend - thanks to Wilma, Margaret, Jocelyn & Gordon, Eugene & Alan
. Wanted: live Maoricolpus roseus from the east coast. Contact Prof. Hamish Spencer at h.spencer@otago.ac.nz or (03) 479 7981. Any found could be frozen.
. Wanted: Australasian Shell News, vol 112 (2001). Contact Margaret Morley on 09 576 8323 or mmorley@aucklandmuseum.com.
. Our annual Shell Auction will be held on Saturday 26th October (Labour weekend) at the Albany Hall.
. Items of interest for the monthly newsletter are always welcome - email to petermwp@gmail.com, or post to Peter Poortman, 26 Pendlebury Street, Green Bay, Auckland 0604.
