Caboolture Photography Club History

The Caboolture Photography Club proudly celebrated it’s 40^th Anniversary in April 2019.

The Club was started in April 1979 when 23 people met at the Caboolture Shire Hall and Paul Perryer was elected as President.  Four of the founding members were Allan Nicholls, Jane Powell (Allen’s daughter), Darren Jew and Peter White. 

The Club held outings at Allan Nicholl’s property at Bellthorpe, Mary Cairncross Park near Maleny, and they attended PSQ Conventions.  The Club often held Portrait and Nature Workshops with guest photographers such as Steve Parish, who photographed for National Geographic.  The world-renowned National Geographic photographer Darren Jew started his photographic career at the Club as a schoolboy.

The Club meeting place moved from the Memorial Hall to the garage of long time club member Allan Nicholls before finally moving to the Fernhill Hall at the Caboolture War Veterans Home in King Street Caboolture where it has been held through to February 2020. The club has now moved to the hall at the Caboolture Historical Village, on Beerburrum Road, Caboolture.

In 1982 Alan Thurlby was invited to join the Club by Nev Male to help the Club with their slide appraisals.  Alan was Treasurer of the Club for a number of years and was honoured with Life Membership.

The Club has two other Life Members – Steve Baker and Norm Finney.  During the Club’s history, there were times when Steve and Norm were the only two members, and each held the office of President of the Club for many years.  Norm joined the Club in September 2002.  At this time it was a very small group that met around one table.  They met once a month at the RSL Retirement Village.  Guest speakers, which included Judges from the PSQ, would give talks on various subjects.  No judging of images was held at this time.  Over the years Club membership gradually increased.

In late 2007, Steve Baker, who had been President for many years, resigned.  There was a short time before Norm Finney became President.  Some of the steps Norm took were to have the Club incorporated to protect the Management Committee, and he changed the name of the Club to the Caboolture Photography Club Inc.

Meetings expanded from once a month to twice a month.  On the second Tuesday of the month a slideshow was held displaying members photographs that they wanted to share with the Club, along with an informative talk.  On the fourth Tuesday, members images were judged and points awarded.  Norm was President for four years and he encouraged the development of different ideas during his term.

The Club had it’s largest historic membership in 2019 with 64 financial members and celebrated for the first time, an entire female Management Committee.  Times have changed over the years but the philosophy is still the same – to encourage and assist members on their photographic journey.