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from January 2012 Newsletter
Another year gone and a new one just starting. Not the best of years just ended but then, it could have been worse.
Obituaries for Ric Havyatt and Bob Estreich appear elsewhere in this edition. A celebration of Ric Havyatt’s life is planned for January but, at this time, arrangements are not finalised. It is sure that a number of members will be keen to attend. Val Havyatt has agreed to notify Committee members when arrangements are in place and we will put details on the web site as soon as they are known - so keep an eye on the site. For those without internet access, it is suggested that you contact one of the Committee, let them know you are interested in attending and they will contact you with the details when they are available.
With Bob Estreich gone - we have lost a valuable Society member, historian and a most prolific contributor to the newsletter. As Editor, I edit - I can’t write it all. More than ever we really need members to step up and write articles for the newsletter. Short or long - no matter - just give me a skeleton of the article - I will push into something we can all enjoy.
By the time you read this Christmas will be a fond memory. But we had some great Christmas get-togethers. Brisbane was first, a report on page 5. Then Sydney on 27th November at John and Carolynne’s home at Kurrajong with some pictures of John’s phones on page 11. Then the Adelaide get-together on 10th December with 29 members and guests in attendance with a report on page 8.
The Annual General Meeting of the Society in Sydney was held back in November. A new Committee was elected for 2012 - mostly the same faces but we must welcome Garry Murdoch into the team. It is always good to get some new ideas into the running of the Society - We welcome Garry to the Committee.
The recent death of Steve Jobs, head of the great Apple Computer Empire, has had far reaching effects throughout the computer industry. Not everyone will know a lot about Steve but he was a true visionary and was able, through the Apple Company, to put those visions into reality. He forsaw many of the computer and communications “gadgets” we now take for granted and predicted the iPad 20 years ago - and made it happen. It is likely that history will record Steve alongside such greats as Edison, Bell, Einstein, Wheatstone and so many others. He lived some 100 years later than those famous names but he contributed just as much and perhaps more to the way we live in the 21st Century.
The Queensland are having a big auction of mainly parts on 21st January - see page 9. And don’t forget the 3rd Giant Auction is planned for April in Sydney. We are looking for entries from members to add to the remainder of Arthur Challinor’s collection to make it a worthwhile auction. Contact one of the Committee if you have any items to sell.
Lets hope that 2012 will be a better year than 2011. To all members - have a great New Year.
Another year draws to a close and Christmas is upon us. What a wonderful time of year! Seems only yesterday I was saying these same words at the end of 2010. The year 2011 will go down in history as one of the worst for natural disasters all over the world. And it is now 10 years since 9-11, Steve Jobs of Apple Computers, a man of vision, passed away and we will shortly have a carbon tax in Oz. It has been quite a year but we are still here - and that’s something!
2011 hasn’t been good. Floods and fires here in Australia, earthquakes in New Zealand and in Japan and all sorts of problems in the USA. From reports to hand, none of our members were greatly effected by events in Australia. Our man on the south island of New Zealand, Ron Kay, reports some very anxious moments during the earthquakes but no serious damage to humans or the telephone collections. And nothing serious from fellow collectors in the USA. That’s not a bad result from a telephone collecting perspective.
Christmas get-togethers are on again this year - a great opportunity to meet and greet fellow telephone collectors and talk! The Sydney event is on Sunday 27th November at John Nichols’ home, 11 St John’s Crescent, Sandy Point from 11am. The Brisbane event is on Saturday 19th November from 11:30am at the Southern Cross Sports Club, Klumpp Rd, Mt Gravatt. Adelaide is on Saturday 10th December from 12 noon at the Buckingham Arms Hotel, 1 Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton. Details on web site or contact the local Committee members for info and attendance.
The 2nd BIG auction of telephone gear went off very well on 21st October with 90% of items sold with most items reaching or exceeding estimates. The prices realised are listed on the Society web site. Another auction is planned for April 2012.
We have only just heard of the death on 14th October of long time ATCS member, historian and telephone collector, Bob Estreich of Armidale NSW. Our condolences go out to his family. There’s another of Bob’s articles in this edition.
We have had a couple of articles in the newsletter recently along the theme “all that is old is new again”. It is interesting to note that, during emergencies, with mains power cut off and mobile base stations not operational, the good old fixed line phone comes into its own. During the earthquake crises in Christchurch, NZ Telecom freighted 300 fixed line telephones down to the disaster area to restore some communications. Then there was the Telco in the USA that would not authorise overtime to repair fixed line services as they were considered not essential as most people have mobiles. The good old copper network still does the job when fibre and mobile fails due to lack of mains power.
This edition we feature some pictures from the Adelaide Show - another great success. But what of the 2012 Shows. Will we get access to Reg’s shed for the Brisbane Show? Will the Adelaide boys be invited back to Strathalbyn? We won’t be in with the Hobby show in Sydney, but where else will we be? All will be revealed next year!
Then there is one picture from the collection of New Zealand member Malcolm McQueen after his relocation to a new house. Not bad at all.
We can only hope that 2012 will be a better year for the world. From the ATCS Committee in Sydney, from the Sub-committees in Queensland and South Australia, and from your good old Editor here in Sydney, here’s wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2012.