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Auckland Shell Club |
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Auckland Shell Club |
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December Meeting / A.G.M.
Heather welcomed everyone to the meeting and presented the President's report for 2012.
Committee members were thanked for their contributions throughout the year. In particular, Peter Poortman, Michael Barlow, Luen Jones, Martin Walker, Doug & Judith Snook, and Margaret Morley.
Heather reflected on a successful year, and mentioned that a review of our club Constitution would be one of our goals for the coming year. In 2013 we will also host another Shell Show, as well as our annual shell auction.
It was noted that Doug & Judith Snook have now been members for over 40 years. They contribute something to every meeting, and regularly bring many boxes of good quality and very reasonably priced shells for sale.
Heather was thanked for being such an enthusiastic and inspiring President.
Our Treasurer, Michael Barlow, presented his report which showed that the Club was in a healthy financial state - mainly due to a larger than normal turnover at the October auction, and interest paid on our bank deposits.
For this reason the club subscriptions will remain unchanged, even though they only account for about 50% of our expenses. Michael even called for suggestions on worthy things to spend our funds on.
He also suggested abolishing the "Poirieria only" membership category so that we are not obliged to produce a Porieria magazine every year.
Member Paul Leary was thanked for auditing the EOY financial accounts.
Club officers for 2013 were nominated/confirmed as follows ...
| Patrons: | Prof. Jack Grant-Mackie, Margaret Morley |
| President: | Heather Smith |
| Immediate Past President: | Martin Walker |
| Vice Presidents: | Doug Snook, Martin Walker |
| Secretary: | Michael Barlow |
| Newsletter: | Peter Poortman |
| Treasurer & Membership: | Michael Barlow |
| Website: | Peter Poortman |
| Poirieria Editors: | Peter Poortman, Patricia Langford |
| Librarian: | Luen Jones |
| Archivist: | Betty Headford |
| Committee: | Lyn Gumm, Nick Britton, Earl Simpson, Thomas Simpson |
After the formalities were completed, Heather gave us a slide-show presentation of her recent 12 day shelling trip to the East Diamond Islet - a very small beautiful island in the Coral Sea, beyond the Great Barrier Reef to the east of Cairns. Expeditions such as this are organised annually by the Brisbane Shell Club. Heather was the only New Zealander in a party of 22 (including 4 crew) mainly Australians aboard the MV Eastern Voyager.
The first stop, about 23 hours after departing Gladstone Harbour, was Paul Reef, but little was found there.
The next stop was Chauvel Reef where they undertook some dredging and diving from a few of the dinghies carried aboard the boat. Dredging was difficult in the conditions, however some nice Terebras, Bivalves, Strombs and Olives were collected. The best finds were two Cymbiola pulchra peristicta which rarely occur that far north.
Two days of collecting at the next stop, Bugatti Reef, yielded Terebra mauclata, subulata, and the lovely orange guttata, Oliva miniacea, two Malea pomum, and an Architectonica perspectiva. The most interesting find was the golden form of volute Amoria maculata - some found live and some hermit crabbed.
After departing Bugatti Reef they endured treacherous sea conditions in Hydrographer's Passage which leads out into the Coral Sea.
East Diamond Islet was a welcome sight after about 24 hours at sea. The anchor was dropped in calm water and the team marvelled at the white sand, clear blue water and the prolific bird life. It takes just 45 mins to walk around the island, which at the time was littered with dead shells (containing hermit crabs) and coral debris washed up by storms. The collecting there was a little disappointing, however two good Cymbiola perplicata were found, as well as two large specimens of Oliva sericea, some Lambis chiragra, Lambis truncata, Oliva annulata, and a Conus floccatus.
The next stop was Perfect Lagoon where once again both dredging and diving produced less than anticipated. The best finds were two specimens of Cymbiola peristricta, Amoria maculata, Murex queenslandicus, Malea pomum, Oliva miniacea, and a few Murex queenslandicus. Luckily Heather found two Conus crocatus - an extremely rare find in Australia. Conus aureus, Episcopatus magnificus, a lovely dark tulipa, and a Cypraea cicerula were also found there.
Although they didn’t find all that they had anticipated, everyone was happy with their finds and their experiences. Heather considered this trip to be the 4th most outstanding she has ever done - and there have been many!
The evening concluded with our traditional Christmas supper.
Next Meeting – Tuesday 12th February
Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Avenue, Epsom at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm)
Our first guest speaker of the year will be world renowned malacologist Dr. Richard Willan.
Dr. Willan is the Senior Curator of Molluscs at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in Darwin, Australia, and his topic will be ...
THE PRIVATE LIVES OF NUDIBRANCHS
Nudibranchs are some of the most spectacularly coloured and weirdly shaped of all animals living in the sea. But recent studies show they have a remarkable 'human side' to their behaviour – though gentle they fight, though hermaphrodite they are maternal, though surrounded by all they want they still steal.
Dr Willan will reveal an insight into their private lives in this talk that will completely change your mind about these seemingly simple 'slimy slugs'.
Attendees please bring in any interesting finds or new acquisitions since our last meeting.
You can also bring along any shells etc that you would like to sell, or shells that you want identified.
Subscriptions for 2013
These are now due for everyone who receives an invoice with this newsletter. No invoice means nothing is due.
Contact our Treasurer Michael Barlow on (09) 623 3231 if you have any queries.
New Zealand Shell Show 2013
This is rapidly approaching - just 3 months to go!
We encourage all members to participate in our event of the coming year.
The Shell Show Schedule is available here, or contact Peter Poortman (petermwp@gmail.com or 09 817 1397) for more information.
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.
Items of Interest
. Volunteers are needed to man the mollusc display tables at the Explorama exhibition which will be held at Auckland Museum on March 2 and 3. Please contact Margaret Morley on 09 576 8323 if you can assist with this.
. 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.
