Welcome to the Vickids 2022 virtual stamp exhibition. COVID has played havoc with traditional stamp exhibitions in Victoria for the last two years, as a result putting on hold the school stamp club exhibits that have been a feature of the spring Victopical show for many years. In its place, with the support of Vicstamps.com and webmaster Hugh Armstrong, the Vickids virtual stamp exhibition is being held for the second year.
The 24 exhibits in this year’s Vickids Virtual Stamp Exhibition come from Grade 1 through Grade 5 students in two schools, Hillcrest and Glenlyon Norfolk. The exhibits feature stamps on diverse topics of particular interest to each student. Exhibits have been personalized with artwork and/or decorative stickers, as well as notes about the stamps and what they portray.
A special shout-out to Olive, a Grade 5 student at Glenlyon Norfolk School. Olive entered her exhibit in "Around the World with Stamps, 2022", an international youth competition organized by the Association of Scottish Philatelic Societies, and placed first in the Age 8-11 year old class. Well done, Olive! Visit the competition's website.
The past two years of COVID that have restricted opportunities for extra-curricular activities, and imposed heavier workloads and considerable stress on teachers. The teachers who have persisted nevertheless with stamp clubs in their schools have shown extraordinary dedication. Many thanks and warm wishes to Shelley Weston (Hillcrest School) and to Rhonda Stark (Glenlyon Norfolk School) for supporting stamp programs in their schools again this year. Congratulations as well to student Aslan Stark for taking on the challenge of organizing a new stamp club at the Glenlyon Norfolk Middle School.
The School Stamp Programs in Victoria are the legacy of many, many years of dedicated support for youth philately by the late Don Shorting. The Wellburn Foundation, and indirectly the many collectors who have donated stamps and supplies to the Foundation, continues with several initiatives to encourage newcomers of all ages to experience the many rewards of our hobby. The school programs also enjoy the steady support of our local stamp clubs, GVPS and VIPS, and local dealers, Ian Kimmerly stamps and Weeda Stamps. Thanks as well to the individual collectors who have donated their duplicate stamps for the kids’ enjoyment (special thanks to George Smith who responded to a request for cheese-themed Swiss stamps!).
Take some time to enjoy this year’s Vickids exhibits. We hope these young collectors will continue to explore the many joys and possibilities of stamp collecting, and look forward to their participation next year—touch wood—in a revived Victopical Stamp Show.