SAPC Congress 2007

Mount Gambier Congress 2007 and State (3 Frame) Philatelic Exhibition

The Mt Gambier Philatelic Society in partnership with the South Australian Philatelic Council (SAPC) staged the 2007 SAPC Congress at the Old Town Hall, Mount Gambier on the weekend of Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 October; the event featuring both the traditional Congress interclub competition and a 3-frame per entry State Philatelic Exhibition under the auspices of the SAPC.

Exhibition Results 

State Level Exhibition

Eight entries participated in the State Level exhibition.

Michael Grieve Vic, African Queen, Empress India Vermeil
Raymond Price Labuan Gold
Werner Gensicke German Inflation Issue Large Vermeil
Harry Lower Australian Birds Definitives 1978-84 Vermeil
Pauline Grieve Cathedrals, Abbeys of G.B. Bronze
Nicholas Yelland SA Semi Official Railway Cards Vermeil
Dianne James 150th Anniversary of S.A Bronze
Nicole Graham (Youth) Frogs and Toads Bronze

Congress

A total of 42 entries participated in the Congress competition with seven societies fielding the required 4 entries with a further 14 entries by individuals.   Team scores were:

Eastern Districts

250 points

 Postal Stationery and Postal History

282 points
Encounter Bay

266 points

 Salisbury

275 points
Lower Murray

233 points

 Southern Districts

277 points
Para Hills

284 points

  

 

Martin Walker's entry Australian Mails Under the Yellow Flag, part of the Para Hills team, scored the highest number of points with 85 with three other entries (Michel Roland - Eastern Districts), Anthony Presgrave (Encounter Bay) and Peter Humby (Southern Districts) each scoring 80 points.

2007 Briskham Award

This Award has been presented at the South Australian Annual Congress since 1957 to many outstanding philatelists. It is awarded to a club member who is considered to have given many years of outstanding service to philately in South Australia. It is named in honour of AG Briskham (FRPSL) who was president of the Philatelic Society of South Australia during the 1950s. He was president of the ANPEX 1955 Council that was responsible for organising the National Stamp Exhibition held in Adelaide during October of that year. That exhibition was held to celebrate the Centenary of the issue of the One Penny stamp, printed by Perkins Bacon & Co of London and first issued in 1855. A group of philatelists who attended ANPEX 1955 subscribed fifty pounds and presented it to the South Australian Advisory Council. The money was used to establish an award that was to be known as the Briskham Award.

Arthur Bergen is this year's Briskham Award winner.  At the presentation at Mt Gambier, Arthur was a little shaken and almost speechless. He kept saying, "I don't know what to say" - I don't know what to say".  When it was announced that Arthur was the winner the watching crowd cheered, clapped and whistled their heartfelt approval.  John Bell, the President of the South Australian Philatelic Council, who presented the award said it was one of the highlights of his philatelic life.

Pictured right:  Arthur Bergen (left) with SAPC President John Bell.