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 The Sydney Shell Club
The "Sydney Shell Club" (The Malacological Society of Australasia - NSW Branch, ACN 067 894 848) is part of a national society dedicated to fostering the study and appreciation of shells. Shells are found in the sea, in rivers, on land and as fossils.
The membership includes people with a diverse range of interests within the study of shells - ranging from those interested in the beauty of nature to those concerned with exploring the mysteries of mollusc DNA.
Membership and
Conservation
The membership includes both amateurs and scientists, which makes for great stimulating and interesting discussions and field activities. Museums and universities are well represented.
Scientific members are always willing to share their knowledge with those who want to know more.
At branch level the focus is very much on appreciation and gaining knowledge.
A strong commitment to the environment goes with membership.
All members want to be able to revisit field sites and observe changes to populations and biodiversity.
Feel free to review our Code of
Ethics
Field Trips
Field activity is the heart and soul of the Club. Members continuously visit and revisit sites, monitoring the changing mollusc fauna. Some collecting of live material takes place but more often photography and dead specimens provide an appropriate
record or collection specimens. Field trips are held in coincidence with low tides to maximize the benefit of each visit.
See our program of meetings and field trips.
Increasingly many old well-documented collections are offered to members from estates and members transferring overseas.
The process of recycling quality shells with good data is ongoing.
Diving provides the opportunity to see and collect deep-water species in their natural environment. Diver members are adding to species and distribution knowledge all the time. Photographs of feeding, courtship and reproduction and other data are shared with scientific members.
Meetings
Meetings of the Club (NSW Branch) are held on the 4th Saturday of each month at the Ryde Eastwood
Leagues Club, Ryedale Road West Ryde. Meetings commence at 2.00 p.m., however the room is usually open from 1.00p.m. so that members can chat and share news before the meeting. The formats of meetings vary, but usually there is a
presentation about a particular family of shells, or other marine
creatures along with examples. Members are encouraged to bring to each meeting specimens for identification together with any books or papers that may help.
Publications
Publications of the Club include the "Sydney Sheller" which is produced
monthly. Content is based on articles written or contributed by members. (Note
copies of many articles and club minutes from the Sydney Shellers since July
1998 are included on this web site)
The editor of the Sydney Sheller will accept articles about field trips, unusual finds, species variation, book reviews, comments and items of general interest. (Wherever possible
contributions should be sent by email or disk.)
All publications are free to members. Back copies of some issues of all
publications may be available for nominal charges.
Library
The Sydney Shell Club has a library for research and shell
identification. It is available for members only. Click
to see a list of library material and library rules.
Markets
Markets are held informally before and during each meeting. Members who have specimens to exchange are encouraged to use the meetings as an opportunity to share their finds whilst others expand their collections.
Guest Speakers
Guest speakers and overseas visitors are always welcome. Whilst the program is set well in advance opportunity to share information with visitors is never overlooked.
Shell Shows
Shell Shows are a popular activity. The Club stages an Annual Sydney Shell Show each
October, where members can display the best of their specimens and research. Competition is keen. The Club hosted the Second Australian National Shell Show in 1998
and the Fifth National in 2006. These events attract a large audience from around Australia and overseas.
Research Support
Research support is provided to students of Malacology of all ages via the Mollusc Research Awards. Donations to the award fund are tax deductible. The Awards are designed to support amateurs and students undertaking research. Applications are advertised in the
publication Australasian Shell News each May and grants are allocated in August each year.
Anyone can become a contributor to help us all learn more about molluscs.
Membership Fees
The annual membership fee is $40 adults, $25 student or pensioner, $15 junior, $5 additional
family members, including the Sydney Sheller News
Letter, and Australian postage. (A4 envelope non-folded add $18/year,
overseas add $8/year)
Becoming a member of the National Organization to receive personal
copies of their two publications is a separate fee.
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