Rocupex 2001, a joint National Exhibition between Taiwan and Australia was staged in Lukang, Chung Hwa province, some 3 hours south of the capital Taipei from 22 to 26 June 2001.

The APF responded to a request from the Chinese Taipei Philatelic Federation to become actively involved in the exhibition; the planning for this joint exhibition commenced some time ago and has further cemented the very good relationship we have with our friends in Taiwan.

Without a doubt this was the friendliest exhibition one could hope for with all the locals bending over backwards to make the Australians welcome.

The venue for the exhibition was the modern Lu Kang Industrial Training complex on the outskirts of Lu Kang which was really a hostel of hotel standard with large training rooms, auditoriums and a very large hall within which the exhibition was staged.  It was an ideal situation with everything very convenient, especially for the jury and organisers.

The Australian team was led by the writer and included Malcolm Groom (Juror/Commissioner), John Sinfield (Juror/Commissioner) and John Dibiase (Apprentice Juror/Commissioner) who between them took 94 frames of exhibits to the exhibition.

Opportunity was taken to have quite a number of philatelic seminars during the show and in the main these were well supported by the locals.  Attendance for a Taiwanese show was down on what we have come to expect by Australian standards was well attended with an estimated 10,000 visitors.  The Chinese Taipei Federation is to be commended for holding the show, their biggest ever National, outside of the capital, Taipei.

The Grand Prix of the exhibition was awarded to Liao Huei-Ming (Taiwan) for  this exhibit of the Sun Yet-Sen 16 cents issue.

The Australian results were:

Traditional Philately

Postal History

Postal Stationery

Aerophilately

Astrophilately

Social

 [ Source:  APF News, October 2001 ]