A history of VMUG and iMug 1985–2020: VMUG premises in Ross House

By Noel Jackling OAM

In about June 1991, VMUG opened an office in Ross House, Flinders Lane, Melbourne, and John Birch was appointed as a part-time administrator, a position in which he served until March 1997.

He was followed by Naomi Brewster, who provided administrative assistance until 2000, when VMUG's financial position forced the closure of the office and the termination of the services of the Administrator.

In about 1992, Administrator John Birch created a FileMaker Pro database to manage membership and payment of membership fees, which Robert Charlton extended and refined.

A successor to this database continues to be used to administer the Society. Stanton Ryan, Ralph Learmont and Ron Rankin are some of those who have refined the database from time to time.

In about 1991, Michael Scheurer established a mail server in the VMUG office so that committee members could communicate with each other using a slow dial-up modem. A dedicated phone line was used for this purpose. This was way before the Internet and email were available to the general public. But it was a precursor to the email group list that Michael established in 1999.

Next: Help Desk, Computer Training and Public Domain Software

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Table of Contents

  1. The early years
  2. The 1990s—rapid rise and rapid decline
  3. VMUG News
  4. VMUG premises in Ross House
  5. Help Desk, Computer Training and Public Domain Software
  6. Meetings
  7. The rise and impact of the Internet
  8. iMug Apple Collection at Museum Victoria
  9. An odd occasion
  10. iMug Widget—a small feature to advertise meetings
  11. A few prominent VMUG/iMug members
  12. In conclusion
  13. Appendix 1 - Four special December meetings
  14. Appendix 2 - Apple Effect timeline banner 1976–1990
  15. Appendix 3 - Apple Effect timeline banner 1990–2006
  16. Appendix 4 - Libretto to 'An Apple a Day'
  17. Appendix 5 - Libretto to 'The Very Model of a Modern Apple MacBook Pro'
  18. Appendix 6 - Office Bearers
  19. Appendix 7 - Life Members

Download the entire History of VMUG and iMug 1985–2020 as a PDF.