Hi All

Well it's another journal and what has happened since the last time I wrote? A lot I am sure. Well you may have noticed (or not) that I didn't write anything in the last journal. Many apologies for that. But like many of you, time is in short supply and disappears at an alarming rate. But that doesn't mean this one is going to be twice as long. First I should mention that due to job commitments Paul Siu will be standing down from his role as Treasurer and I would like to thank Paul on behalf of us all for an outstanding job. Dennis Clair has kindly offered to take up the job on top of his other roles in our Society (Editor, training committee, Society constitution and now Treasurer).

I was informed in August that Barry Mitchell passed away earlier in the year from cancer. I personally didn't know Barry but I was told he worked at the University of Queensland for many years then went out on his own. I am sure many of you would have known Barry and it is always tragic when one of our own is taken in such a manner. My condolences to his family and friends.

Our Membership is always an issue of concern as we need to find ways of convincing glassblowers out there that they should join. If anyone out there has any ideas please let us know, we are open to suggestions of ways of attracting new members to our society. But I draw the line at a new set of steak knives.

I would like to remind you all of the up and coming international symposium in Holland next year. I was very excited when I received some travel books on Holland, Paris and Barcelona recently for Fathers day and my birthday. It made me realise how soon that will be, so if any of you are considering the trip you had better start planning it before it's to late. More information can be found at www.glassblowers.net and they make it clear that it's also in English, so if you are like me and can only understand one language (and I have troubles with that one sometimes) then we have been catered for.

Dennis has continued to do a marvellous job with the journal this year but we have decided to reduce the number of journals per year down to 3 rather than 4 due to lack of contributions and time commitments. This is regrettable but it's been on the cards for a while now. If people are concerned by this decision please feel free to contact me. I would be very willing to listen to any suggestion to rectify this situation. This will also help to keep the fees down.

John Holmes, Mike Carter and Dennis Clair met in Sydney in June as the SGSANZ training committee; in regards to the glassblowing training program - the Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Scientific Glassblowing) PML502 00. If people are interested in the minutes then they should contact Dennis. I am sure he would not mind sending you a copy. These guys are doing a great job and this meeting was at their own expense. I personally feel that as a society that some small contribution should be made for their out of pocket expenses. I realise that we don't have a large bank roll to allow too much in the way of reimbursement of expenses but some contribution to acknowledge their input would be the right thing to do.

Perhaps now that John Howard has acknowledged that there is a problem with global warming more money will be spent on RD in this country, as I feel it's been neglected for far to long with numerous projects being starved of funds or just closing down over the last 10 years. A few weeks ago we had the hottest day recorded in October (Oct 12th) about 36oC and the lowest humidity on record, which brought the arsonists out to create serious fires which burnt out large areas of Hobarts bush clad hills. Then last Friday (Oct 27th ) I watched from my dining room window, snow falling on the beach. Near the end of spring. We rarely see snow in the middle of winter (2-3 times in 18yrs) but I have never seen snow at this time of the year at sea level.

Well it's time to wish you all the best for the festive season, as this will be the last journal you will see until next year. So take care and enjoy your time with family and friends over Christmas and the New Year.

All the best

Mike Brandon
November 2006

Please feel free to contact me if there is anything you wish to discuss or comment on. bsg.mikeb@tassie.net.au