About DVPS

On October 7th 1981 a meeting was held amongst a group of people invited by Gordon Allingham, with the idea of forming a Photographic Club. From this meeting the Diamond Valley Photographic Society was formed with Gordon as its inaugural President and 15 members.

Early meetings were held at Studio 4 in Beewar St. Greensborough where Gordon ran a picture framing business. After 3 other venues we finally settled at the Greensborough Senior Citizens Hall in Henry Street, Greensborough in 1986. In early August 2005, after the Banyule shire announced un-acceptable rent increases, we moved to the Diamond Valley Art Society situated on the grounds of the Greensborough Secondary College.   In March 2012 we moved to the hall at the rear of the Gresswell Uniting Church at 71 Devonshire Road, Watsonia.  We meet there on the second and fourth Wednesday’s of the month at 8.00 p.m.

One of our early interclub competitions was between the Sandy Camera Club in the U.K. and our society. This came about due to the fact that our second president – Brian Keeles’ brother in law was president of that club. Slides were the medium used and this continued from 1983 to 1994 when their club found it too difficult to get entries. We still compete with Rosanna Camera Club, this commenced in 1983. Then in 1996 we have shared an interclub with Alexandra Camera Club. All enjoy the social aspect of these meetings and gain from them.

DVPS became a member of V.A.P.S. in 1987 and since 1996 have submitted entries to the Victorian Interclub Competition held as part of the Convention, with some of our members attending the tutorials and workshops which are integral to the Convention.

DVPS activities provide the opportunity for Field trips, and weekends away, also social events when members can relax and get to know each other in a friendly atmosphere. One of our earlier Presidents’ dubbed us “The Friendly Club” and it is a title we wear with pride. In recent years we have participated in local Community events and this has been a good source of new members for the Society.

The aims of the Society to be on the following lines…
1. To increase the knowledge of photography and their photographic techniques.
2. To promote fellowship and exchange ideas.
3. To hold and take part in exhibitions, interclub and in-house competitions
4. Hold lectures and photographic activities.
5. To interest more people in photography as a hobby.
6. Promote the advancement of photography as a science and art.

Over the years the Society has always maintained a strong central core of members.