The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group
Getting to Know the Special Interest Groups
Noel Peters - SIG Coordinator
 noelp@melbpc.org.au

I was late with my copy and apologise that I missed the PC Update deadline last month. However as I like folk to know "who is who" and "what is happening" in our SIGs and our general suburban and regional groups I hope you will forgive the delay in a couple of the following items and perhaps let me off with a caution.

Passing the Baton


Albert and Helga after their farewell presentation

After serving as convenor of the Video Editing General SIG for some five years Albert Vanzet has taken his finger off the shutter button out at Balwyn and has passed over leadership of the group to John Hall. We have known Albert as the perfectionist he is and with a significant artistic ability that he has displayed many times in producing beautifully filmed and edited videos. At the final, combined meeting for 2001 a presentation was made to Albert and wife Helga who supported Albert and looked after the refreshments for those five years.

Melb PC committee wishes Albert a happy time without the cares of office and know that after a trip away he will be there in the background ready to help again.

I personally thank John Hall and am very glad that he has volunteered to lead the group as for a time it seemed as if most folk were too diffident to step into Albert's shoes. Good luck John - we know you will have the support of a strong management cum technical team to assist through the settling in phase. The SIG has also been renamed as the Video Production SIG. This is to better reflect the particular activities of this SIG and to remove any confusion in respect to editing methods used by this and the Non Linear Video Editing convened by Lawrie Weston. Today most editing is a non-linear process.

More of the Same


John Harris and Judith Fleming

Down at Mornington there was also change in the air before Xmas. The inaugural convenor of our Peninsula Group, John Harris has taken an overseas trip and upon return will devote more time to his other retirement interest, writing adventure yarns for the eight to twelve year old brigade. This was foreseen at the time Peninsula started in November 2000 when the local management team decided the convenor's position would rotate every 12 months.

It gives me the greatest of pleasure to welcome another lady convenor in the person of Judith Fleming, into the distinguished company of Melb PC Leaders and to the even more exclusive fold of female leaders. I am sure Vicki Apokis of MYOB and Janice Wallis of Palm O/S will appreciate this 50% increase in their fairer sex's representation. Our picture shows both retiring and new convenors.

Also Frank Kristoff has taken over the job of co-convenor from Fred Millar who has supported John and provided an interesting presentation on CD burning during the year.

Sound Effects


Don James and Ken Holmes with 
sound system

Several of our suburban groups including Bayside, East, Retired and Interested Persons, North East, Video Editing General and Peninsula attract from eighty to one hundred and twenty or so members to their meetings each month. As with our monthly meetings at Pharmacy College there is interaction during question time between the presenter and individual members of the audience dotted around the hall.

In order that all may comfortably hear the proceedings, it is necessary to have a public address amplifier with inputs from a microphone for the presenter and from a roving radio microphone used by participants in the audience. Usually the link from the transmitter in the radio microphone back to the amplifier is via a UHF receiver operating in the 800 Mhz frequency band.

Melb PC has this month purchased four sets of suitable gear for use by four of the above groups. RIPSIG had equipped their own group previously, using funds raised locally. Enthusiastic members of Video Editing General bring their own very sophisticated sound mixing equipment to their meetings.

Picture above shows Don James and Ken Holmes, two Bayside stalwarts who appear to be happy with one of these Redback units during their meeting.

Incidentally while down at Bayside I saw the computer trolley the group has provided from their local funds and the cupboard that volunteer Rod Tregear built from material he has supplied. Thanks to both Rod for his work and Peter Omond, Vicar at St Stephens for permission to install the cupboard.

Images from the East Barbeque in January 2002              (Photos: James Wong)


Ken Gubbins or Hotplate Kenny


George Skarbek asking for more!


Margaret Brown and Michael Hubeek
 (sunglasses)

Reprinted from the February 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia