Auckland Shell Club

November meeting
Tony and Jenny Enderby were our guest speakers for the evening.
Both Tony and Jenny work as freelance photo-journalists - a career that was triggered by their photo of the Rainbow Warrior wreck in 1995. That photo has since been sold to numerous publications around the world, and continues to be popular because that shipwreck is now almost unrecognizable.
Since that photo was taken they have done photo-journalism assignments in 12 countries, their work has appeared in about 130 magazines, and they have won many photographic awards.

Meeting attendees were treated to a slideshow of their many amazing photos, as well as the fascinating stories behind them. We saw a huge variety of fish, moray eels, nudibranchs, anemones, crustaceans, corals, sponges, jellyfish, starfish, echinoderms, shipwrecks, etc. And of course many molluscs, including one live shell that none of us could identify.
We also saw their remarkable photo of an intact egg-mass of the giant squid - an identification that took some time because such a thing had never been photographed before.

Tony has been collecting shells since the 1960's, and diving for about forty years. But his main focus for many years now has been underwater photography, and he rarely collects shells any more. He is particularly keen on nudibranchs.
When not busy with photography, Tony and Jenny are involved in other activities such as ...
. working for the Department of Conservation (education, safety, & law enforcement)
. Goat Island glass-bottom boat (everything from taking tourist on trips, to cleaning the glass underneath the boat)
. taking groups snorkeling
. a home bed and breakfast business
. volunteer fire-fighting

We thank Tony and Jenny for a most interesting and entertaining evening.
Also on display were some wonderful trays of NZ shells by Margaret, Heather, and Peter.

Annual General Meeting - Tuesday 13th December
Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm).
We will meet in the large room for our last meeting of the year.

Annual reports will be presented, club issues will be discussed, and officers for the coming year will be elected.
This is your chance to have a say in the running and future direction of the club, so we encourage all members to attend. If you would like to put anything on the agenda then please contact our club Secretary or President.
We also encourage members to support their club - if you have the time and the skills for any committee positions then please consider volunteering.

Dr Tom Trnski (Research Manager and Curator Marine Biology - Auckland Museum) will then give us a presentation on the biodiscovery expedition he led to the Kermadec Islands earlier this year.
The Kermadecs are part of New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone, but are very remote - at least 1000 km from their closest neighbour. The region is comprised of 13 volcanic islands and islets located between New Zealand's North Island and Tonga, and at 7,450 square km it is NZ's largest marine reserve. Little is currently known about the marine flora and fauna of this relatively untouched environment, so the 21 day expedition truly was one of discovery.
What did they find? Come along to find out, and to hear first-hand about the adventure.
Please bring along any Kermadec Islands shells that you may have in your collection.
This promises to be a most fascinating presentation - don't miss it!

We will finish the evening with our traditional Christmas supper (attendees please bring a plate).
All are invited to come and enjoy the convivial atmosphere, and we especially welcome members who have rarely or never attended our meetings.

Big Day Out, Leigh - Saturday 11/Feb/2012
Bring the family and friends, meet at Goat Island Bay on the beach at 11:30am for own picnic lunch around midday. No parking at beach level.
1pm visit to Leigh Visitor Centre, an easy path up the hill from the beach. The centre manager, Rebecca, will show us around and explain the research being done by students. Entry costs $10, but we hope for a discount.
About 3pm, optional extras (depending on the weather) are to observe/photograph marine life on Echinoderm Reef at Goat Island, or snorkel with big snapper and crayfish.
Remember this is a marine reserve - NO COLLECTING. Mathesons Bay (not a marine reserve) is an option for the low tide at 4:50pm.
Tony and Jenny Enderby may suggest other places for low tide and have invited us to a BBQ at their place overlooking Leigh Harbour in the evening. More details in the February newsletter.
RSVP with numbers for the visitor centre and BBQ. Replies and queries contact Margaret (09) 576 8323 or mmorley@aucklandmuseum.com.
No cancellation.

Poirieria Magazine
Enclosed is the latest edition of our Poirieria magazine – Volume 36.
Many thanks to all contributors for the excellent articles.

Club Library
We have an extensive collection of books, magazines, and scientific publications available, as well as a biological microscope.

Other Club News
. Rare albino Powelliphanta found.

. Kerry Walton of Wellington is interested in establishing email contact with club members regarding shells. He has been collecting shells since he was a kid, and this year has been a volunteer at the National Museum (Te Papa) and also DOC. He is currently in his last year of college, and will be going to Victoria University next year to study Marine Biology. His interests are in NZ marine, land, and fresh water shells. He is happy to share knowledge as to where to dredge/go/stay around Wellington, to look for snails around the country and perhaps to exchange some material should anyone be interested. He has, for example, spare shell sand from ~500-600m in the Papanui Canyon off Otago. Kerry’s email address is walton.kerry@gmail.com.

. As part of a wider study of the genus Cominella, Hamish Spencer is looking for 3-4 alcohol preserved live taken individuals of the Norfolk Island endemic species Cominella norfolkensis. If you are going to Norfolk Island and would be willing to collect these whelks, please contact Hamish at h.spencer@otago.ac.nz. He will send you the details, including collection materials and the necessary documentation.

. Items of interest for the monthly newsletter are always welcome - email to petermwp@gmail.com, or post to 26 Pendlebury Street, Green Bay, Auckland 0604.

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