Kevin Ryan commenced collecting stamps as a schoolboy.
While working in Thailand in
the 1960s he developed a keen interest in that country’s philately.
| Kevin Ryan, MAP [1926 - 2004] |
Kevin Ryan commenced collecting stamps as a schoolboy.
While working in Thailand in
the 1960s he developed a keen interest in that country’s philately.
He joined the Launceston Philatelic Society in 1967, shortly after moving to Tasmania. In 1972, he joined the Tasmanian Philatelic Society and the Glenorchy Stamp Club in 1973, over the intervening years he has served on the committees of both groups in many capacities. He is a Life member of both the latter groups as well as the Patron of the Tasmanian Philatelic Society.
Kevin’s quest for knowledge resulted in the publication of Siam Lithographed Surcharges 1949-1956 which was awarded a silver bronze medal at Bangkok in 1993. He also contributed articles to the journals Thai Philately and Thai Times.
In the period from 1980 to 1993 he exhibited his Asian collections at various State and national exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand and Bangkok, achieving silver and vermeil awards.
He helped form the Philatelic Association of Tasmania and was later served as Secretary, then President of the Tasmanian Stamp Council and held various positions on the Purves Foundation.
Kevin was a State and national level judge, as well as a commissioner to both national and international exhibitions.
Postscript
(by
Malcolm Groom, MAP)
Kevin Ryan passed away suddenly in Launceston in July and was buried after a service in St John's Church at Glenorchy on 9th August 2004. With his passing we lost a committed philatelist and a great mentor to exhibitors and organised philately, particularly in Tasmania.
Kevin was the first Tasmanian delegate to the Australian Stamp Promotion Council (later the APF) and one of the founding members of NAPE. He encouraged many members of NAPE. He encouraged many others into organised philately and exhibiting nationally and internationally. He had a great philosophy that exhibiting was a personal challenge and something to be enjoyed first and foremost and was always available with constructive advice and encouragement.
He began collecting in 1957 with Australian First Day Covers but during time in Thailand from 1963 to 1967 as an Engineer he developed an abiding interest in Thai philately culminating in exhibiting Siam Lithographed surcharges to Vermeil level in Bangkok 93 and publishing a book on his research entitled Siam Lithographed Surcharges, 1914-1916.
Kevin was a member of all the Tasmanian philatelic societies and was Patron of the Tasmanian Philatelic Society for ten years before his death. He served on the Committee in many capacities and was a founding member of the Tasmanian Stamp Council and its forerunner. He was a delegate to the Stamp Promotion Council. For his work in Australian philately he was made a Member of the Australian Philatelic Order in 1997.
He researched many aspects of Thai philately and was a member of and regular contributor to the journals of the Thailand Philatelic Societies of Great Britain and Thailand and had many friends in those societies.
Kevin was also a National judge and commissioner and deeply involved in all the exhibitions in Tasmania. He was also an unstinting worker at all the National exhibitions from 1967 until 1999.
His encouragement, knowledge and friendship will be sadly missed in Australian philately.
[ Source: The Asia Pacific Exhibitor, No. 62, November 2004 ]