Victoria 2000

Victoria 2000 was a State Philatelic Exhibition with National Postal Stationery Class and was held at the Melbourne Park Function Centre, Swan Street, Melbourne from Friday, 20 to Sunday, 22 October, 2000.  The exhibition was an integral part of the ANDA Coin, Note and Stamp Show and also included the Victorian Philatelic Council's annual Congress.

There was great interest in this venue as a potential alternative to the Melbourne Exhibition Centre for major philatelic events.  In fact subsequent to Victoria 2000, the Victorian Philatelic Council moved to secure the Melbourne Park Function Centre for three days in early October 2002 when it will host Victoria's next full National philatelic exhibition.

The National Postal Stationery class attracted 13 entries with a further 15 entries in the various State classes plus two invited (non competitive) exhibits, some 130 frames on show in all. Dealer participation was arranged through ANDA, with 28 dealers present.

The VPC's 47th Annual Congress was held on the Sunday following the judge's critique session.  The Congress program included presentations by Melissa Kimber from Australia Post [pictured right, standing] on Designing Stamps and John Sinfield on Postal Stationery.  A recent feature of Congress programs in Victoria was been short presentations from affiliated clubs and societies. Five clubs made presentations during the 2000 congress.

Left:  Ed Druce accepts his special Prize from VPC President Robert Williamson.

Earlier in 2000, Ray Kelly had announced his retirement from the role of judge's coordinator for the VPC, his final formal role on the Victorian council, thus ending a long and illustrious association with the VPC.

In recognition of all of Ray's contributions to organised philately in Victoria, the VPC made a special presentation to Ray at the 2000 Congress.  His philatelic biography extends over some forty five years and is as impressive as it is diverse. His full biography appeared in the October 1998 issue of APF News on the occasion of his awarding of the honour of Fellow of the Australian Philatelic Order.

Two special overprints of the Space souvenir sheet issued by Australia Post for National Stamp Month were produced for Victoria 2000.  The gold foil overprinted sheet was only available at the exhibition, however a limited number of the white foil overprinted sheet is still available by mail order from the VPC at $5 each plus postage of $1 per order.  Orders (fully prepaid) should be sent to VPC, GPO Box 9800, Melbourne, 3001.

National Postal Stationery Class

Ed Druce Postal Stationery of Uruguay Gold [85] SP
Malcolm Groom Postal Stationery of Tasmania Large Vermeil [81] SP
Ed Druce Postal Stationery of Pakistan 1947-61 Large Vermeil [81]
Michel Roland Belgium 1871-1912 Postal Stationery During the Reign of King Leopold II Vermeil [78]
Ian McMahon Postal Stationery of Canada issued During Reign of KGVI Vermeil [77]
David Collyer Australian Customised Sports Postal Stationery Vermeil [76]
Ross Duberal Honduras 1882 - 1901 Vermeil [76]
Hubert Goron Postal Stationery of Ryukyu Islands 1948-1971 Large Silver [73]
Ian McMahon Belgium from 1944 Large Silver [71]
Joan Orr People's Republic of China New Year Large Silver [71]
Derek Pocock The Postal Stationery of Bangladesh Silver [65]
Arturs Neiboiss Lativa - Prestamped Envelopes 1990-1992 Silver-Bronze [64]
Deryn Druce Postal Stationery of Dominica 1879-1939 Silver-Bronze [64]

State Classes

Hans von Strokirch Danish West Indies Postal History Gold [81] SP
Frank Pauer Australian First Day Cover Producers 1927-1955 First Day Covers Gold [81] SP
Bernard Arnold Manning The Famous Queensland Chalons Traditional Large Vermeil [75]
Denis Rosenfeld Charles Kingsford Smith and the Southern Cross Aerophilately Vermeil [74]
Andrew Alwast Poland's Pre-Stamp Letters Postal History Vermeil [73]
Edward George Mouatt The Work of Artist Richard Bates as a Stamp Designer Social Vermeil [71]
James Shaw The One Shilling Octagonal (Victoria) 1854-1869 Postal History Vermeil [71]
Marjorie Crawford Flightless Birds Thematics Large Silver [69]
Jon Fladeby In Time and Place Social Large Silver [69]
John R Tollan Lithuania - The First Angel Stamp Issues, 1990 Traditional Large Silver [69]
Dingle Smith The Revenues of Victoria Revenues Large Silver [65]
D H M (Mac) Clarke Tasmania Pictorials Traditional Silver [64]
Dingle Smith Water: Resources, Development & Use Maximaphily Silver [64]
Timothy Morgan Canada, The 1928-29 Scroll Issue Thematics Silver-Bronze [57]
Harold John Chalres Sheath Home and Away Postal Stationery Silver-Bronze [55]

 [ Source:  APF News, February 2001 ]