A history of VMUG and iMug 1985–2020: VMUG News

By Noel Jackling OAM

As noted, the first newsletter for the Society comprising 16 pages, was published in August 1985 using a computer with a mouse, utilising novel desktop publishing methodology. Then there was a gap until the production of the next newsletters in March 1986 and August 1987. Then in November 1990, newsletter publication got underway on a regular basis.

From November 1990 until December 1999, VMUG News was issued monthly, with January each year providing some holiday respite. A full set of newsletters is accessible on TROVE at: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3014943624

The earliest issues of the Newsletter in the 1980s were printed by KPMG. Its editor for almost the whole of the 1990s was Peter Westmore, who not uncommonly worked throughout the night to ensure that the magazine came out on time, and who would himself wrote countless articles to fill any gaps. Peter Westmore, for his own business purposes, had purchased a laser printer costing some $30,000, which was used to print each issue until outsourced to a third-party printer.

From August 1994 to the last issue in December 1999, the glossy full colour front cover was professionally designed by graphic artist Robert Charlton or one of his RMIT students and separately printed. Robert also attended to page design and layout. The magazine was sold in newsagencies.

Due to the Society’s rapidly deteriorating financial situation, the last hard copy of VMUG News was published in December 1999. During much of the 1990s, Murray Gavin used to meet in the VMUG office with a small number of other VMUG members, including Derek Rawson, and envelope and post the monthly issues of VMUG News.

Derek Rawson edited and did the page layout of the last six issues in 1999. In 2000, because of the lack of funds for ongoing printing of VMUG News, an attempt was made to move the Newsletter into a digital format, a task that Derek undertook, but this required too much effort on the part of too few, and survived for only three issues.

The cessation of publication of VMUG News mirrored the community’s move to the Internet as a means of communication and source of information.

Next: VMUG premises in Ross House

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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.