This naturally prompts the question as to what is disorganised or unorganised philately, or, more correctly, what falls outside the scope of the APF’s umbrella.  Generally, uncovered by the APF would be all stamp collectors within Australia who have neither joined a stamp club, nor exhibited their material.

The APF is apart of a worldwide network of national philatelic organisations administered by the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP), located in Geneva, Switzerland.

Overall, the role of the APF is to create an environment within Australia which creates interest in the hobby generally, and the various philatelic events specifically, such that new collectors will emerge, and existing collectors will be encouraged to join clubs and even exhibit their material.  This role includes the need to keep collectors advised on a timely basis of changes which could affect their collecting interests and activity.

To learn more about the APF visit their website, www.apf.org.au.  This is an excellent website with a great wealth of information regarding philatelic activity in Australia.  In addition, several of the State Councils have their own websites containing much local information.  These sites are available through the links in the APF site. The breadth of information in these sites is constantly under review to both ensure accuracy and to expand the content.

To assist in this role, the APF provides a number of services which are available to individual collectors, stamp clubs or state councils.  This support is supplemented by similar types of services from the various state councils.  These services fall into two categories, apparent or visible, and invisible, or not so obvious.

The visible services are

1.                  Maintenance of a retail store, located in Adelaide, supplying album pages, page protectors, replica cards, and other products.

2.                  The APF website, a virtual mine of useful information.  A printed sitemap of this website is available which can assist with the navigation.  This map is not completely up-to-date, but provides a good initial guide to the contents.

3.                  New Replica cards are produced each year in conjunction with Australia Post, and are generally available for sale at the first National exhibition each year.

4.                  The Collector Series Brochures for Collectors – presently there are seven brochures addressing many frequently asked questions about philately.  Brochures No 8, 9 and 10 are currently being developed.

5.                  The Visiting Speaker program lists all those high quality collections which can be made available to clubs to enhance their annual programs.

6.                  Volunteer Workers Insurance cover – the APF has instituted an Australia wide cover on all volunteer workers involved in any philatelic activity within Australia.  The full details of this cover have been provided to the State Councils and will appear in a future article in this series.

7.                  Public and Products Liability Insurance for Clubs and Philatelic activities – this cover, initiated by the APF on a national basis, replaces the various state based covers, with the greater spread of risk reducing the overall premium to clubs and societies.  Whilst the cover is co-ordinated through the APF, it is paid for by the clubs.

8.                  One-Up Club – a scheme whereby an exhibitor at National or International level can improve their exhibit to the next medal level.

9.                  Philatelic Journal support scheme – new philatelic journals are encouraged with financial assistance towards the publication costs, but subject to the journal maintaining an acceptable standard.

10.              A grants scheme designed to assist with approved philatelic research.

11.              At the APF Annual Meeting a forum comprising state representatives, project managers and other interested parties discuss topical matters relevant to the current philatelic environment.  A summary of these discussions is given to the APF Executive for consideration and subsequent follow up.  Democracy in philately in action.

The invisible support services are

12.              APF Exhibition Manual – the APF provides a very detailed Guidebook covering the preparation for and the running of a National Exhibition.

13.              A booklet has been printed in July 2009 listing all of the Stamp Clubs and Societies within Australia.  It is accepted that it will become dated, but can still be a useful guide to interstate travelers, as well as overseas visitors to Australia.

14.              The APF has approx. 1,000 double sided 16 sheet display frames for use at national and international exhibitions at a small cost to the organising committees.  The APF also funds the storage and continual maintenance of these frames.

15.              The APF arranges for the training of National level philatelic judges and constantly ensures the total and quality is sufficient to meet the ongoing demands of national exhibitions within Australia.

16.              Accords are arranged with overseas countries which allow our National level judges to gain overseas judging experience on a reciprocal basis.

17.              The APF maintains a database for assistance with the running of national and higher level exhibitions.  Known as Showman, the database contains the exhibiting history of all Australian exhibitors.  This program assists with consistency in judging, as well as producing the exhibition Certificate and the Palmares data.

18.              Support for exhibitors participating in overseas international exhibitions

·         Trained commissioners are provided for the safe transport of the exhibits;

·         Organisation of customs clearance for the exhibits both leaving Australia and on their return; and

·         Obtaining Movable Cultural Heritage approval where required.

19.              10 year old replica cards – these are no longer offered for sale, but can be made available free of charge to assist in promoting philately at publicly attended club and State Council events. Under no circumstances can these cards be sold.

20.              Classic collections – every so often exceptional collections will come along which are worthy of permanent record.  Subject to the owner’s consent, the APF arranges this.

21.              The APF has set up a procedure to facilitate the Customs clearance of exhibits included in National exhibitions which originate outside of Australia.

22.              Financial grants are provided on an annual basis to the state councils for use in developing both youth and adult philately.

23.              In this world of expanding postal products, the possible introduction of new experimental exhibition classes is constantly being reviewed.

24.              On behalf of collectors, the APF provides liaison with Australia Post and the Trade.

Many of the above services are self-explanatory.  This article is the first in a series.  Over the following months, details of those support services requiring further explanation will be published in Stamp News.  In the meantime, if you would like to know more about any of these services prior to their being published, contact the writer by email.

Many of these support services are already detailed in the APF website.  It is intended that those presently absent will be added following their publication.  This article will also be included to allow our progress to be monitored.