FAN HISTORY  (A time line of SF Activities in the ACT)
This page is under constant review (as new information is added).
1953
The Futurian Society of Canberra was formed on 8th November 1953.  The president was Geoff Bennett and the secretary was Peter Jones.  In 1954 Geoff Bennett continued as President while Arthur Porter became the new secretary. 
1956
On the Easter weekend in 1956, Geoff Bennett organised a meeting of Sydney and Melbourne science fiction clubs in Canberra.  What became of the Futurian Society of Canberra?
1971
The Canberra Science Fiction Society was formed in June 1971.  Leigh Hyde was the first President.
1973
Nikki White hosted Star Trek fan dinners (over several years) in Campbell.
1976
Bob Ellis started a local D&D group.
1977

• For the tenth anniversary of Star Trek in September 1977 local fen (Alison Bloomfield, Erica Dawe, Robin Robinson, and Nikki White) sent a photograph and message for an Australian Scrapbook gift to Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry.  The scrapbook project was coordinated by Sydney Star Trek club Astrex.
  
• In November, Nikki White hosted a party for the 15th Anniversary of Dr Who.
  

• Nikki White commenced production of the long running media science fiction fanzine "Multiverse".
  
• Astrex, the Sydney Star Trek Club, occasionally had meetings in Canberra from 1979 to 1983.
  

• At Easter 1982, local fan Jocelyn Munro hosted a Battlestar Galactica meeting and starts a fanzine "The Galactican".
  
• Nikki White commenced production of a Blake's 7 letterzine "Centero".
  
• The Canberra Science Fiction Society hosted "Circulation II" 26-28 November 1982, their second SF Convention, at Ainslie Hotel with 'mascot' Karen Warnock.
  

• The Dr Who International Fan Club Australasia held a 'convention' in Kambah.  Bill Woodrow was named as the Canberra branch coordinator.
  
• Steve Leahy and Mark Juddery commenced production of the Gallifrey Gazette - a Dr Who fanzine.
  
• The Canberra Science Fiction Society hosted "Circulation III" from 30th November to 2nd December at the Southside Caravan Park.  The convention 'mascot' is Kim Huett.
  
• Mark Denbow and Kim Lambert started "Transfinite Audiovisuals".  They presented stunning multi-slide presentations set to music for several conventions.
  

• INIT, a Dr Who Club of dubious origin, commenced in Canberra.
  
• The Dr Who International Fan Club Canberra hosted "Con-who-sion" a Dr Who Convention on 22nd June 1985.  Katy Manning (actress) and Dallas Jones (fan) attended as guests.
  
• In August 1985 the Belconnen Town Library hosted a Dr Who display.
  
• Mark Stonham started "The System" a Blake's 7 Fan Club, and produced "DSV1" a club newsletter.
  

• Valma Brown and Leigh Edmunds produced a SF News and Discussion Fanzine "The Notional" They continued to produce this fanzine monthly for some time after they moved to Perth.
  
• The Dr Who International Fan Club held a New Year's party, Bill Woodrow resigned as Canberra coordinator, and Katrina Weeden took on that role.
  
• On Saturday 19th January 1986, a Canberra versus Goulburn Dr Who Fan Cricket Match was held at Goulburn Oval.  Goulburn won.
  
• On Saturday 15th February 1986, John and Rachel Shave (second hand books) attended a special meeting of Canberra SF fans.
  
• First entry of local Canberra SF Fans in the March Canberra Parade.
  
• Nikki White commences production of "Dodecahedron" a Dr Who letterzine for 6 issues.
  
• The Dr Who International Fan Club Canberra hosted a general "relaxacon" at the Griffin Centre in Civic from 7th to the 8th of June 1986.  Narrelle Harris was the special guest (just prior to moving to Perth - and we missed her).  This was the first time the play "Dr Trek's 7" was performed (performed again on several occasions by popular ? acclaim).
  
• Michael Hailstone produced the "Matalan Rave" a personal fanzine.
  

• CAPCON in Canberra is the 1987 National Science Fiction Convention.  Down Under Fan Fund(DUFF) winner Lucy Huntzinger and (FFANZ) winner Lyn McConchie attended.  (For more information on DUFF and FFANZ refer to).
  
• In March 1987, media SF Fans held a "minicon" in the Griffin Centre and entered the Canberra Festival parade in a variety of costumes for the second time.
  
• Widja Santoso started a Robotech fanzine "Robotech: Macross Memories" in 1987.
  
• Julie Bozza produced a Buckaroo Banzai fanzine "Samurai Errant" from 1987.
  
• 18 March 1987 is the opening night of "Run for your Wife" play at the Canberra Theatre.  Local media fans met Katy Manning (actress) in the foyer after the show.
  
• The "Mad Canberra Mob" (local media SF fans) attended "Eccentricon" a Blue Mountains media SF Convention in July 1987.  They won both the "Galactic Senate Elections" (representing Thrush - the Man from Uncle) and the Group Entry Costume award.  They also performed "Dr Trek's 7" again.  These fans formed a new club "SF Media Appreciation Division (SF MAD) coordinated by Katrina Weeden.  (It's worth noting that in 1991, Nikki White's candidate Barnabas won the Galactic Senate elections at the Medtrek IV convention.  Another win for Canberra!)
  

• David Tansey started the Esoteric Order of Dagon Inc. and a fanzine of the same name in 1988.
  
• A small Dr Who Club "The Dr Who Enthusiasts" started operation.
  
• The SF MAD club entered the Canberra Festival Parade with a Star Wars group theme.  The entry appears on local television news.
  
• The Committee of the 1989 Australian SF Media Convention "Conspire" held a December 'minicon' in the Griffin Centre.
  

• The Australian National University Library hosted a display of rare Science Fiction books.
  
• Gaslight Books, owned by Gayle and Robert Lovett, opened in Fyshwick.  It continues to be the only SF and Mystery new and second hand specialist book store in Canberra. 
  

• SF MAD entered the Canberra Parade in March.
  
• Canberra SF Society produced their first anthology "Singularities", edited by Garry Wyatt.
  
• Black Mountain Healer Hold, a local group of the Friends of Pern (an Anne McCaffrey Fan Club) commences.  They co-hosted a "Gather" with SF MAD at Downer Village in May.
  
• Mark Juddery produced a multi-media SF news fanzine "Vertical Hold".
  
• Terry Pratchett visited Canberra 15 August 1990.
  

• Sirius, a professional SF magazine edited by Garry Wyatt commenced with Issue 1 in March 1993.
  

• An Aussiecon Three (World SF Convention) promotional Christmas party is held at the Calwell Community Centre Canberra.
  

• Local author Maxine McArthur wins the 1999 George Turner Award for her novel "Time Future"
  
• Janice Gelb, the 1998 Science Fiction Down Under Fan Fund (DUFF) winner, attends an informal meeting of local fen at Gaslight Books on Tuesday 17 August 1999.  Janice was touring Australia prior to attending Aussiecon Three in Melbourne.  (For more information on Fan Funds and DUFF in general refer to Marc Ortlieb's Australian SF Information site here.  Janice Gelb has photographs of her Australian visit here).
• The Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild was formed by Les Petersen and Maxine McArthur, after discussions at the Melbourne Worldcon.
  

Artist Bob Eggleton (www.bobeggleton.com) visited for a signing at Gaslight Books, Fyshwick ACT, on Sunday 10 December 2000.
2001

• ACT Writers Centre held a "Speculative Fiction" Month April 2001.  Jack Dann (author, editor and reviewer) attended.  A special panel featuring Jack Dann, Colin Steele (reviewer and Librarian, Australian National University) and Stephen Matthews (Reviewer) was held on 7 April.  Maxine McArthur (Author) and Alison Venugoban (Author) were special guests at a Morning Tea held at the Writers Centre on 11 April.  Jack Dann also presented a writers workshop during April.
  
• The Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild released their anthology "Nor of Human" on 7 April 2001.  The book, edited by Geoffrey Maloney, was launched by Jack Dann at the Canberra Writers Centre.
  
• The Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild announced the Gregor Samsa Award for Short Fiction to be presented April 2001.  (This appears to be a "one-off" award?).
  
• The "Canberra SF Committee" held their inaugural Canberra Science Fiction Convention at the Canberra Museum and Gallery, 5-6 May 2001. The event was held during National Science Week with the theme "Science in collusion with Fiction".
  

• The Canberra SF Association held their second SF convention "SF Con 2002", 24-26 May at the Novotel Canberra City. Guests included Sean McMullen, Ian Irvine and many others.