From the "The Young Collector" No. 33:
(February 2008)

Hello everybody!

By the time you read this, sometime in March, you will all be back at school.  To those who are starting your schooling or at a new school I hope that you make many friends, and those resuming at your present school, meet up with friends you may not have seen during the holiday break.

Did you know that there are some young collectors receiving this magazine who do their lessons at home?  We wish them well for a happy and successful 2008 also.

Those of you are particularly observant may have noticed that MICK MEYLES' name has been absent from the bottom of the page opposite for last year as distributor of the gifts to those who enter our competitions.  Mick has decided to take a break from his youth activities to concentrate on his business interests.

In addition to the prize distribution Mick has run children's stamp groups monthly in schools and libraries and promotional activities at exhibitions and fairs for almost 20 years in southern and northern Tasmania.

He has also volunteered at exhibitions interstate, including Australia '99 and Pacific Explorer our last international exhibitions.

At Pacific Explorer Mick was dubbed "the Pied Piper" as he spent most of his days guiding youngsters and quite a few adults around selected youth and adult exhibits to show them what can be collected and exhibited. He went home with the soles of his feet covered in blisters that took weeks to heal and a very croaky voice!

In latter years Mick has run three youth stamp groups in Kingston, Hobart and Rosny Libraries holding sessions every month except January, including school holidays, at other times of the year. Over the years Mick must have helped many hundreds if not thousands of children and quite a few adults / parents also!

I am sure that all of you join with me in wishing Mick all the best in his endeavours and maybe in the future he will resume his association with youth philately.

2008 is a big year for people involved in the Scouting and Guiding movement, it being 100 years since the formation of scouting groups for boys in Australia. At Canberra Stampshow 2008 from 14 to 16 March the link between scouting and stamp collecting will be celebrated as the theme for the exhibition and displays of scouting philatelic material.  Did you know that scouts and guides can earn a collecting badge by collecting stamps and showing knowledge about stamps and what they have collected?

By for now and happy stamping!

Erica Genge
APF Youth Development Officer.

Stamp Detectives
(From the February 2008 issue of The Young Collector)

Study an Australian Stamp Catalogue to answer these questions.

Postal Services

Everyone will receive a small gift if they send the answers with their name, age and address
to GPO Box 9800, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001 

1.         How many wings on the plane shown on the 1929 3d Airmail stamps?

2.         What was the value of the 1934 Airmail stamp?

3.         In 1949 a blue stamp was issued for the Universal Postal Union.  What Anniversary was it?

4.         In 1955 a 3 1/2d Mail Coach stamp was issued.  What colour was it?

5.         Whose 'Round the World' Air Service stamp was issued in 1958?

6.         1959 was the 150th Anniversary of What shown on the 4d slate stamp?

7.         What is shown on the 50c stamp in the 1972 Pioneer issue?

8.         What three birds can be seen on the 1974 30c UPU Centenary stamp?

9.         A set of 5 stamps was issued in 1980 for National Stamp Week.  How many postmen can you see on the full set?

10.       Old Post Offices were shown on the stamps in 1982.  Where can the Tasmanian one be found?

    [ You'll find more pictorial hints in The Young Collector ]

The UPU Theme