PSNZ Service Awards 2021

Summary of PSNZ Service Awards 2021

At the PSNZ Vision-21Convention held in Christchurch, six service awards were presented by PSNZ President Moira Blincoe LPSNZ. These include one Honorary Life membership, four service medals and one memorial award. The following citations are edited and condensed versions of Paul’s originals.

Ann Bastion FPSNZ EFIAP MFIAP – Honorary Life Membership

They say when you want something done, ask a busy person. The busy person often needs no direction; they don’t create a fuss, have the right attitude, and just get on with what is required. Christchurch based Ann Bastion fits this description.

Ann joined the editorial team of the Society’s flagship publication, NZ Camera, in 2014. Using her initiative, she quickly developed many timesaving improvements, positively impacting production processes, many still being used today. Ann’s attention to detail is exemplary. In 2016 Ann joined the PSNZ Council as Councillor for the New Zealand International Salon and the 4 Nations competition. Ann resurrected this dormant International Salon of meeting the strict criteria of the Fédération Internationale de l’ Art Photographique (FIAP) and the Photographic Society of America (PSA). Between 2017 and 2019, she recruited and worked with committees, organising and hosting three salons.

Ann achieved her photography distinctions in quick succession with Licentiate in 2011, AFIAP in 2013, APSNZ in 2014, and FPSNZ and EFIAP in 2015. In 2019 she achieved the status of Master with the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), becoming only the second PSNZ member and person in New Zealand to become a FIAP Master. As FIAP Liaison Officer, Ann represents New Zealand at FIAP Congress, and Photo meetings held worldwide.

In addition, Ann is the person with whom our members liaise to ensure their FIAP applications are completed smoothly and successfully through a complex spreadsheet system keeping track of the many acceptances one requires to receive any FIAP distinction.

Ann retired from Council in 2020 – the year that COVID-19 disrupted our events and workflow. However, she was quickly invited to join the Honours Board and has just completed her first assessment. Ann is also a competent judge and mentor who willingly shares her knowledge and technical skills. She epitomises the Society’s ethos of ‘helping photographers grow’.

Bruce Burgess FPSNZ – PSNZ Service Medal

Bruce Burgess has been a member of PSNZ for more than 30 years, involved with both national and local organisations. Bruce is a Life Member and Patron of the Henderson Photographic Society, for which he has served as a committee member for many years, including President for two years.

As a Fellow of PSNZ, Bruce was elected to the Honours Board in 2012 and held the position for eight years, the last year as Chairman. Bruce successfully mentored many applicants for their Honours applications, including producing and presenting a workshop to many clubs on constructing photographic sets for PSNZ Honours applications. In addition, Bruce is a PSNZ accredited judge for many local Auckland clubs and further afield. As a keen AudioVisual worker, Bruce has judged the Jack Sprosen and Tauranga AV competitions and the Adelaide International AV Competition, and will shortly judge the South African AV competition.

Bruce has been on the selection panel for many National Exhibitions, PSNZ Interclub competitions, and the North Shore Salon. He was also on the steering committee setting up the International Salon of New Zealand and produced a budget submission to PSNZ Council.

Bruce is very generous with his time and enthusiastic about photography. He has led workshops in many clubs, encouraging and inspiring members to develop their skills. He is passionate about promoting photography and is always happy to help anyone learn about getting the best out of their camera.

Paul Ryder – Emma and William McPherson Memorial Award

Paul Ryder has been a member of the South Waikato Camera Club for many years. Since 2015 he has completed two terms as President and has also been the competition secretary for many years. For the past 12 months, Paul has personally hosted all monthly club meetings.

As there were no nominations for President or Vice President at this year’s Annual General Meeting, Paul yet again stepped up to fulfil the role of President.

Paul personally provides many tutorials downloaded from the web to use as teaching models at club nights to assist club members in developing their photographic knowledge and skills. These tutorials include basic camera usage to more in-depth techniques, from basic editing to using layers and more in Photoshop.

Paul also wrote an online programme for monthly assignments to enable all members to go online themselves to practise adjudicating all the entries, thus gaining valuable experience and learning the principles of good photography and then discussing the following club night.

His generosity does not stop there. He offers club members the opportunity to have their images printed to A3 size for display each night for comments and exhibition. Members pay a nominal fee of $1.00 per print through his own publishing company.

Summary of PSNZ Service Awards 2021

Janice McKenna – PSNZ Service Award

Janice McKenna has been a dedicated and committed volunteer for the PSNZ for almost seven years, despite wanting to retire. This convention is likely to be her last as a volunteer. Janice is our Trophies and Awards Coordinator with the unenviable task of keeping track of all the trophies dispersed after the National Exhibition, National Convention and Regional Conventions. She says emails and spreadsheets are her friends, but she has many friends worldwide through her love of wildlife photography.

Janice’s employment with New Zealand Couriers has saved the Society storage space and courier costs each year. Multiply that over the past five years or so - Janice and New Zealand Couriers have saved PSNZ a considerable amount of money.

At all times, liaising with Janice has been a delight. Her attention to detail and punctuality are paramount to the way she works. She is friendly, polite, efficient and well organised. Nothing has been too much trouble, even when deadlines have been tight. She has retained her cool with the organising committees and hopefully her engraver!

Janice is a very keen traveller and excellent wildlife photographer and enjoys combining both when time and money allow. Unfortunately, for now, she waits patiently for our borders to re-open while the polar bears she is desperate to photograph wait for her. Janice’s passion for wildlife extends to conservation, and through her photography, she wants to showcase the extraordinary work in this area.

She has been a regular attendee at many national conventions and likes nothing more than soaking up the learning experiences and opportunities the Society presents. “Learning and continuing to grow and improve is a never-ending journey, but an enjoyable one,” says Janice.

The Photographic Society of New Zealand has significantly benefitted from Janice’s commitment of time, attention to detail and her place of work, and the Society is indebted to her for her generous contributions.

Paul Willyams APSNZ AFIAP MNZIPP – PSNZ Service Medal

Paul Willyams has been a member of the Photographic Society of New Zealand since 2010. In 2015 he joined the New Zealand Camera book selection panel and coordinated the publication for the 2016 and 2017 editions. At the end of his tenure, he rewrote the NZC manual to help transition the role to the next person.

In 2019 Paul assumed the coordinator’s role for the Society’s popular digital competition Canon Online and continues in this role today.

Beyond PSNZ, Paul is an exceptionally talented photographer specialising in portraiture. He is an active member of the Christchurch Photographic Society and has volunteered for CPS as a competition secretary and running many tutorials on various photographic topics. He is incredibly generous and sharing with his time and knowledge.

Val Wardell APSNZ – PSNZ Service Medal

Busy people with a full plate are often the ones to take on more tasks. This member is one such person. A member of the Southland Photographic Society for more than 30 years, Val Wardell, has served committees for most of those years and served three terms as club President.

Val’s dedication to photography and the club has seen her play a significant role in raising the club’s profile in the community and among club members. She has a passion for photography and is always willing to give her time to share her knowledge, help other club members and provide presentations at club meetings.

Val has been a club programme planning committee member and representative on the Southern Institute of Technology Creative Media Advisory Committee for several years. She is a group of senior club members who provide comment and feedback on images for newer members. She can be relied on to fill in at club meetings when needed and has supported the facilitators of the club’s Photography Basics group, which provides information and learning opportunities for club members who are new to photography.

On a national level, Val has been on the organising committee of two National Conventions and at least two Southern Regional Conventions. She chaired the organising committee for the very successful 2012 PSNZ National Convention and was Secretary of the committee organising the 2019 Southern Regional Convention. She has also helped at two National Exhibition selection weekends and two Southern Regional Salon selection days.

With the PSNZ Honours Awards now taking place in Invercargill, for the past two years, Val has given her time to assist in the ‘back room’ work. But, of course, no task is beyond Val, who offers assistance with a friendly smile and willing attitude.