NICE THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

The 1988 Houston MA Convention, Show and Sale is less than two months away and, as one of the three Show Chairmen for this big event, I am discovering what a lot of planning and hard work goes into something like this. My hat is off to all of you past National Show Chairmen!

So, as I got on my horse first thing this morning and proceeded to ride madly off in all directions, I realized what a busy time it is right now for us, and that this issue of CROWN JEWELS will be fat enough even without my column! I tried to think of something special I could share with you, and still keep it brief. That wasn't hard.

For quite some time now, I've been wanting to give credit, credit that is way past due, to a collector out there who has contributed immeasurably to the hobby, but has done so kind of "behind the scenes." Several of you collectors have corresponded with her over the past years and will recognize her name right away. She is Laura Van der Endt of Gymea Bay, New South Wales, Australia! 

First, a little background on Laura. She is a school teacher by profession, having received her training in the Netherlands, which is her native country. In 1973, after six years of teaching there, she came all by herself to Australia. She was 30 years old at that time and a divorcee. She settled in Sydney, New South Wales, and took a job teaching Physical Education and Health in a local high school. Even though her address has changed from Sydney to Caringbah to Gymea Bay in the years that I have known her, I am assuming these must be subdivisions of Sydney, because she seems to have kept the same teaching position. Gymea Bay, the address listed in the current CROWN JEWELS DIRECTORY, is the correct one.

She's petite, pretty, bright and enthusiastic, and has endeared herself to many. Included in her fine collection of glass and porcelain insulators are specimens made and/or used in Australia and New Zealand as well as many pieces acquired from other countries. She has promoted and participated in bottle shows in Australia. exhibiting her insulators in an attempt to encourage and educate collectors. She is particularly proud of having acquired several insulators from the United States as the result of her extensive correspondence and trading with collectors in this country. In 1982, she made a trip to the States, stopping off on the way (7) to visit Keith Neal of Guernsey, Channel Islands and see his impressive collection of British Railway Insulators. 

While she was in America, she paid me the honor of a visit in Houston as well as Jack Tod in Phoenix and several other collectors she had known only through the mail. Laura has spent literally hours making shadow profiles of her insulators, recording both measurements and markings. Because of her efforts, we have been able to add many new CD and U-numbers to the style charts for foreign insulators. She has also supplied information on insulator manufacturers where ours was sketchy or lacking, identified heretofore unattributed markings and verified the rarity of certain Australian insulators. I, for one, am deeply indebted to her. We all are. Thanks, Laura! 

And now, her special good news! She was married on November 21, 1987, to a fine fellow by the name of Gary Monckton, whom she met in Australia. She sent the photo, which was taken at the wedding. From what Laura tells me, they both enjoy many of the same things, and while Gary isn't an insulator collector, it sounds as though he is very supportive of her interest in them. They worked hard together fixing up the house they share in Gymea Bay. It's not a big house, but big enough for two people, a dog and insulators! Laura says, "Gary really doesn't know the extent of my commitment to insulators, although he should have some idea, because he helped me move 80 boxes of them into the house in Gymea!"

Laura sends her love to all her friends in the hobby and hopes they will soon grow accustomed to calling her Laura Monckton, since she is very proud of her new name. Letters should be sent to her at: 11 Avenel Rd, Gymea Bay, N.S.W., Australia, 2227. To direct dial by phone: 011-61-2-526-2868. 

Congratulations to you both, Laura and Gary, and best wishes for a long life together! Next time I'd like to recognize another dedicated collector over there in the same neck of the woods -- Kieran Shanahan of Auckland, New Zealand. SEE YOU IN HOUSTON AT NATIONAL!