Regretfully, the APF learned in July 1998 of the death of Arthur Holmes who died peacefully in Sydney, NSW, on 4 July 1998, after his holiday to Canada with family.

As APF News readers will be aware, Arthur was the founding editor of the Youth supplement in APF News.  Arthur worked tirelessly as the Youth Convenor to the Western Australian Philatelic Council for the last three years.  Even after his laryngectomy last year, Arthur’s energy knew no boundaries in the promotion and advancement of stamp collecting for youth. Arthur’s organisation of activities for youth were many and varied, from the conception and formulation of the Dealer’s Discount Booklets, to the preparation and distribution of the Youth Leaders Kit.  When the extra-curricular activities in schools was disallowed, Arthur initiated the 500 strong “Postal Stamp Club (WA)” and continued visiting home schools and private schools. He was also editor of the Junior Stamp Groper and youth editor of three Youth Philately Around Australia columns of APF News.

As a State Youth Officer, Arthur Holmes made a major contribution to the National Youth Development Program.  He worked closely with the Youth Officers in the other States in supporting Youth Leaders with ideas and print materials for use with young philatelists.  Regrettably the Youth Leaders Kit which he started in 1996 as a result of a decision at the State Youth Officers’ Conference in that year, was not completed before his death.  However this project will continue. At the State Youth Officers’ Conference on 11-12 July 1998, a model for completing the kit was developed.  It also was decided that the title of the final version will include his hame.  It will be a fitting memorial to a person committed to organised youth philately.  Although Arthur was Canadian, he adopted Western Australia as his home and the APF and the WAPC will always be grateful for his achievements.

The following text formed the opening paragraphs of the Youth Philately Around Australia supplement in the October 1998 issue of APF News:

“When are we going to get our next lot of exchange books and newsletter?” the young girls from the Kalgoorlie region asked when they heard the news about their mentor and friend Arthur Holmes.

How do you fill the shoes of someone who has over the last three and a half years carried out the things listed of in the media release, part of which reads as:

“Youth booths were organised at all local stamp fairs in W.A.  There are about 6 a year as well as a Hobby Spectacular and the annual Western Australian Philatelic Council's show Swanpex. Last year WA held a half National - Fremantle 97.  Arthur has attended all but about two in the last two years.  Arthur established a Youth Postal Stamp Club with over 500 youths, ranging in age from 5 through 19.  All meticulously detailed on individual cards.  Approval booklets were designed, filled and sent to over a quarter of the database, shortages of stamps being the main reason not all club members received them. Many senior members of clubs donated stamps to the Junior Approval booklets, but as resources are low Arthur was using stamps from his own collection to supplement the books. Working Bees for the collection, sorting and soaking of stamps from one of the government offices is another project that Arthur worked on. In 1997 Arthur was the Youth Editor of three of APF News, but reluctantly relinquished this responsibility due to ill health. Arthur was also on the committee of Swanpex and Southpex Stamp Shows. Arthur did continue with the organisation of the Youth Leader's Kit with his inter-state counterparts, and saw it through to the last week he was in Western Australia, before his trip to Canada in May. One of his last tasks was the copying of over 600 sheets and the co-ordination and distribution of same. Arthur co-ordinated, wrote, edited and distributed each edition of the Junior Stamp Groper to the youths on the data base.”

Even when he lost his voice, owing to throat cancer, Arthur still was very determined to “get his way” with doing things for the youth in his “mail order stamp club”.  He had been known to write notes at council meetings and then hit the table until he got his way. With the help of a team of others Arthur organized a kids stamp club, for 5 to 19 year old kids, to the remote parts of Western Australia. There were about 500 kids “on the books” and they looked forward to receiving the packet from the club each month. There was also the “Stamp Groper” a newsletter which Arthur wrote and published. Anyone who looks after kids knows that it is not easy to write a newsletter which can keep the attention of such a large age range of young people.  We ask what can we do to help kids.  Why not “take a theme out of Arthur’s albums” and become a “mentor” to some young people.  Arthur was not an exhibitor but he certainly was a mentor to a lot of young people. His style of mentoring was to encourage youth to collect stamps.  Not only that, he knew how to organise people into doing what he saw was right for his charges.  In May Arthur went home to Canada to celebrate his eightieth birthday and on his way back to Western Australia took sick in Sydney and passed away on 4 July 1998.  Arthur will be missed not only for what he did but for what he had planned to do.