The new venue at the Hellenic Club (pictured left) was greeted with enthusiasm from dealers and patrons alike.  The Olympus Room on the first floor supported 324 frames of exhibits and 23 dealers, as well as Australia Post.  On the same level were the meeting room, the Kids Corner, the Supporters Club lounge, and the Taverna providing meals and snacks.

The main feature of the exhibition was the inaugural Australasian Challenge.  All of the States (except the ACT as host) and both islands of New Zealand responded to the challenge by each entering a team of one youth entrant and five adult entrants.  Each of the adult entries was to be from a different approved national class, with one entry from an exhibitor who had not previously exhibited at national level.  However, the NSW team was one member short, being unable to come up with a novice entrant.  All exhibits except for the novice and youth entry were each of 5 frames.  Thus the 47 Australasian Challenge entries provided 207 frames of high standard material.  The ACT did not enter a team but provided the majority of the jury.

Judging followed FIP criteria with the medals awarded at national level and the team with the highest aggregate score, Western Australia, was the recipient of the Ed Druce Memorial Trophy.  The trophy, a piece of marquetry, which depicts the ACT floral emblem, the Royal Bluebell, was chosen for Ed's ACT connection as well as his love for the Australian bush.  It is hoped that the Challenge will feature as a biennial event at future exhibitions, with the Ed Druce Memorial Trophy becoming a perpetual trophy.

Right:  Derek Pocock (left) and John Dibiase (right) from the WA team celebrate winning the Ed Druce Memorial Trophy.

In addition to the Challenge, the exhibition featured a range of State level exhibits from most classes (79 frames), a National level First Day Cover class (12 frames), postcards judged at national level (11 frames) and a trial "As You Like It" competition (12 frames), where the winner and runner up were determined by public vote and announced on the last day of the exhibition.

Australia Post provided excellent support to the Exhibition supplying prizes, material for sample bags and for the Juniors as well as postmarkers and a stand at the exhibition.  They also provided stamps for the Australasian Challenge winning team.

Scenes from the Exhibition

More scenes from Canberra Stampshow 2002 can be found in our Photo Gallery

Medal Results

Legend:
(NSW) New South Wales;  (Vic) Victoria;  (Qld) Queensland;  (SA) South Australia;  (Tas) Tasmania;  (WA) Western Australia;  (NZ-N) New Zealand North Island;  (NZ-S) New Zealand South Island;  (N) Novice - one required per team;  (SP) Special Prize.