Meritorious Service Award – Maree Posthuma
Maree Posthuma is one of the most dedicated members Mornington Camera Club has ever seen.Since joining 13 years ago, her contribution has been phenomenal. But for Maree’s efforts in many ways, the Club may well have closed.Anyone entertaining thoughts of closuredidn’t reckon on Maree!!!
For the last 10 years she has been the Club’s competition steward. This is an onerous position, requiring exceptional organisational skills and dedication and close attention to detail and accurate record keeping.She has introduced very high standards of print mounting and mount sizes.Maree also organises and takes part in selection panels for the VAPS Interclub and for several Interclub Competitions which she instigated.
In addition, Maree has produced a well put together and informative Club Newsletter for the last 7 years. Another responsible job she has taken on is that of Club Treasurer, a task she has carried out with great efficiency for the last three years.Thanks to Maree, the Mornington Peninsula Camera Club is in a very sound financial position. Over time she has organised many fund-raising events –sausage sizzles at Bunnings every year being one of them. She has a wonderful ability to persuade various local businesses and individual people to donate money to the Club either in direct financial terms or via sponsorship to cover various expenses.
At a Community level, Maree has helped organise the Club’s involvement in many annual community events, acting in some cases as a particular event’s official photographers.
Maree is a wonderful teacher to new or novice club members. She has people round at her home to show them how to cut and prepare matt board, to instruct them in the many uses for Photoshop and how to make the best possible use of their camera.She has alsorun several introductory photography classes for Club members.
A skilled and dedicated photographer, Maree has been Club Champion in at least 2 categories each year for the last 12 years, so it will be readily understood why she is so good at passing on her knowledge and skills to her fellow Club members.She attends and participates in all Club excursions and week-ends away and, as always, is ever ready to take newcomers to the Club under her wing.
Every year, as part of her Competition Steward’s job, Maree prepares a magnificent Club Syllabus. It takes the form of a twelve month wall calendar and lists all Club events and meeting dates. In addition, member’s prize-winning images are displayed on each month’s spread. The amount of time and effort to produce this calendar is huge. It is printed in full colour throughout, and the money to pay for it is raised via sponsorship which Maree organises.
Maree Posthuma’s many and continuing contributions to the Mornington Peninsula Camera Club are truly outstanding.Maree has done more for her Club than any of its members will ever know about and the Sponsors of this nomination and the Club’s Committee strongly believe that she is more than worthy of a VAPS Meritorious Service Award which VAPS hereby awards her.
PresidentBadges and Awards Director