Luke Easton joined on 14/May/2016
Luke lives in Dunedin ... "My brother, Clint, and I have been collecting fossil and sub-fossil molluscs from the southern Wairarapa for many years. Due to our excavations of sub-fossil Powelliphanta shells, I am particularly interested in Powelliphanta for conservation purposes but also, as a result of my brother's interest, I have recently become intrigued with fossil mollusca from an evolutionary perspective."

Clint Easton joined on 3/May/2016
Clint lives in Thames ... "My first record of collecting molluscs was sub-fossil Powelliphanta's with my brother at a moa nest site in the Wairarapa. Bruce Marshall & Alan Beu have been a strong influence for me having a interest in molluscs. Especially when I was recovering from my knee operation Bruce helped me identify the molluscs from the Tongaporutuan Stage in the Southern part of Wairarapa and have learnt a lot from him. All the material I have collect are donated to the museums. My strong interest are molluscs from the Wairarapa region."

Margaret Clayton joined on 27/November/2015
Margaret lives in Rotorua.
She recalls that her early childhood years were a time with family digging for pipis cockles and cats-eyes for the purpose of feeding not only her family, but a community of families. Seashells did not appeal to her during that time. However in the late 60s she was drawn to a seashell doll dressed in seashells which she still has. That was the start of her journey. Her collection is an assortment of old NZ folklore ornamental pieces intact with putty and medical plaster. Some had been given and some she had scouted out in antique shops or bought privately. It has only been in the past 7 years that she has actually collected seashells to create with.
While living down south for many years, visits to the Paua house in Bluff totally inspired her. More so from what one can create into jewels, ornaments, etc. Photography of seashells will be more practical so she intends to explore that in early 2016.
Recently she was given the book "Marine Shells of The Pacific" by Walter O. Cernohorsky. She is now studying that, and regards it as very comprehensive reading.

Stephanie Winslade joined on 2/September/2015
Stephanie has been collecting shells since she could walk.
She remembers as a child taking bucket loads to her great-grandmother and great-grandfather thinking she was assisting them with their shell collection.
When she stayed at their place as a kid, it was like going to a museum.
[Editor: Not surprising really, because her great-grandparents were Ida Worthy and Baden Powell!]
Stephanie currently lives in Whangarei and is doing a small shell collection as an assignment for her Environmental Science studies.
She would like to learn more about New Zealand Molluscs, and hopes it is something she can share with her daughter.

Jason Plaisted joined on 26/July/2015
From a very young age Jason was introduced to shell collecting by his family.
His interest in the pursuit was re-ignited at the start of this year at the Wellington Shell Show in Petone. Since the show he joined the Wellington Shell Club and has been collecting as much as possible.
Jason is originally from Whangarei and travels to Northland and the Auckland region on occasion throughout the year. He is looking forward to meeting other members around the country.

Jim & Leigh Crossland joined on 8/July/2015
Jim started collecting shells in the late 1970's and early 1980's when he lived in the Pacific Islands.
He is interested in all Indo Pacific gastropods and bivalves, including small shells like mitres, terebrids and costellarids, and also the numerous species of cones.
In 1985 Jim started importing shells from the Solomon Islands, and since about 2000 he has been importing them from Guadalcanal.
Jim & Leigh sell their imported shells at shell shows, Pasifika, Te Matatini, and Riccarton Market.
They also sell them online at eBay (as sishells), TradeMe (as bayfield), and on Facebook (as Jim’ Shells).
A list of their species is available by email on request.

Bert van Tiggele joined on 7/July/2015
Bert collected fossil shells from the Dutch coast for about 50 years, and is a member of the Dutch Shell Club "NMV".
A few years ago NMV started cataloging all the fossils from the Netherland coast, and Bert gives input to that massive project which will take about 10 years to complete.
He moved to New Zealand about 10 years ago, and is an active collector of NZ seashells. As a member of the Wellington Shell Club he has collected at the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, and many other places in the South and North Island.
Bert was a regular visitor to India and has many seashells from the coast of Tamil Nadu in his collection.
During his younger years he often scuba dived in the Mediterranean Sea, so he also has a good collection of European Seashells.
Small shells are his favourites because many collectors ignore them! He does not buy shells.
Bert welcomes visitors to Nelson to view his collection.