Tom Frommer, MAP

Tom Frommer has been an active member of the Philatelic Society of Canberra since about 1960 and for the past eight years has been a member of the Council of the Society, and sometime Publicity Officer.

His many other contributions to organised philately include being a member of State and National Exhibition Committees since 1996 – Canberra Stampshow 96, Natstamp 98 [full national], Canberra Stampshow 2000 [part-National], and Canberra Stampshow 2002 [Australasian Challenge]. He served as Bin Room Manager in 1996 and as Exhibition Coordinator in 2002.

He has been a member of the ACT Philatelic Council for 6 years.

Tom has been the ACT representative to NAPE (interNational Association for Philatelic Exhibitors) since 1997 arranging meetings and promotion of the society in the ACT. Behind the scenes, his responsibilities for the NAPE journal have increased since the passing of Ed Druce, including organising the mail out of the quarterly journal.

Tom is considered one of the two leading Australian aerophilatelists in respect of both collections and research of Australian and PNG airmails (the other being Nelson Eustis, FAP). His distinguished collections include:

·          Australian Contribution to the Development of World Airmails 1914-1936: 3 International Large Gold medals : Istanbul 96, Israel 98, The Stamp Show [London] 2000 and Australian Grand Prix Award at Aeropex 94 in Adelaide.

·          Airmails of Papua & New Guinea: FIP Large Vermeil [Singapore 95, Norwex 97, China 99].

·          Famous Pilots & Famous Flights: Gold : Stampex 99

·          Airmail Labels & Vignettes of Australia 1920-60 : Vermeil [Singpex 98].

Tom was the Assistant Editor of the Australian Air Mail Catalogue for the 1990 and 1997 editions, and a 2002 edition is also being produced. This catalogue is widely regarded as the definitive work on Australian and Papua New Guinea air mails.

Tom is Author of the Catalogue of Australian Air Mail Labels and Vignettes 1920-1960, published in 1995. He has also contributed numerous articles in various airmail society magazines.

Tom has been an accredited national judge in aerophilately since 1993 and subsequently in Social Philately. In 2000, he became an accredited FIP judge in aerophilately. Has acted as a national judge and team leader in aerophilately at a number of national exhibitions in Australia and New Zealand. Since the mid-1980s he has participated in State Judging Training Courses in the ACT and has arranged State training courses for Exhibitors every 2-3 years since the mid-1980s.