Galactic Tours Convention

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Convention
Name: Galactic Tours Convention
Dates: March 7-10, 1986
Frequency:
Location: Melbourne Town House, Swanston St, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
Type:
Focus: Science Fiction, Multimedia, space
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date: 1986
URL:
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flyer published in Auzwars Chronicles

Galactic Tours Convention was "a science fiction/science fact multi-media convention" held in Australia. Guests of Honor were David Prowse, Katy Manning. Fan Guests of Honor were Denise Cunningham, Susan Clarke.

The convention was a multimedia SF fan convention with a healthy dose of space displays, the Enterprise Bridge, and SF panels and programming. School groups toured through the displays so students could learn about the space program and its links to science fiction and cosmic inspiration. In that sense, Galactic Tours transcended the fourth wall and spoke to all participants, whether they were fans of space, science fiction, media fandoms, or simply curious onlookers.

NASA display materials were supplied for the convention.

Advertising

GALACTIC TOURS CONVENTION


Billed as "The Multi-Media Science Fiction/Science fact Convention of 1986", Galactic Tours Convention will be held in March next year at the Melbourne Town House in Swanston Street. We are told there will be a full-size model of the bridge of the starship Enterprise, the Doctor's TARDIS, a display of modern technology, a fashion parade and regular convention items such as panels, art competition, literary competition, costume competition, videos, banquet and more. Any profits from the convention go to the Red Cross Society. Further information is available from the Chairman... (private address included).[1]

Reactions and Reviews

After some hassle with the convention timetable, the MSFC actually managed to put a panel together at Galactic Tours. It was a fun panel. Well I enjoyed it. James Allen read from HG Wells' The Time Machine and it was performed by Danny Heap and Lindsay Jamieson. A talk on time travel and alternative futures with strips of toilet paper being used as a model for demonstrating related concepts was also included...


The club made over $150.00 at the auction... Club secretary and Nova Mob trendy Alan Stewart, won a prize for the best poem in a competition at the con. Jodi Willis did her bit to promote not only the Melbourne SF Club but also the Doctor Who Club of Victoria as well. Flyers, Ethels and other things were distributed throughout the con.

Wolfgang Peterson's version of Enemy Nine was especially screened at Galactic Tours. I enjoyed the first two thirds of the movie but found the climax to be typical trashy BIG budget Americana. More like Indiana Davidge and the Mine of Doom than SF to me.

I enjoyed Galactic Tours. It was a bit too uneven for my tastes - catering as it did for the media side of things.[2]

Gallery

All photos (below) were supplied from the Helena Binns Collection and used with her family's permission. All photos (unless marked otherwise) were taken by Helena Binns

  • An alien named TERL on the awning outside the hotel, courtesy of a book publisher

  • Julie Hughes and Alison Wallace advertise the hotel

  • Craig Hooper and Liz Czepiel welcome people to the convention

  • Tessie de Gabriele at Galactic Tours

  • John Meekings (convention chairman) and Robyn Cullen (committee member). She is wearing the GT uniform.

  • Space talk to Galactic Tours

  • Katy Manning answers questions with Dallas Jones

  • Betsi Ashton at Galactic Tours

  • Planetarium visit at Galactic Tours

  • Katy Manning meets fans Fabian Stretton and Paul Poulton

  • Space Association of Australia display in the Science area at Galactic Tours

  • Kate Doolan gives the space shuttle some spit and polish

  • 'All these ships were named Enterprise' - space display at Galactic Tours

  • On the Bridge

  • Shane Morrissey (kneeling), John Meekings and Robyn Cullen, with one of the TV crews that filmed interviews.

  • David Prowse in the Captain's chair, Marje Miller and Shane Morrissey (at the console) and others on the Bridge including Tracy Adamczyk, Jenny Maclean, Helena Russell, Robyn Cullen and John Meekings - photo by Kate Doolan

  • David Prowse, Shane Morrissey and Helena Binns on the Bridge - photo by Kelvin Roberts

  • Diane Marchant and Betty de Gabriele at the banquet - photo by Helene Shaw

  • Susan Clarke (Guest of Honour) clings on to Klingon Robert Jan

  • “You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon.” - MC Greg Franklin and band of slightly cultured but maurauding Klingons

  • Julie Hughes and Tony Nathan oversee operations in the dealers' room

  • Dealers and fans mingle

  • Among the collectibles - photo by Kelvin Roberts

  • Aliens among us - Gail Adams on the left - photo by Helene Shaw

  • Denise Cunningham (GoH), Greg Franklin, and others

  • Captain's Chair at Galactic Tours

  1. ^ Text advertisement in Ethel the Aardvark #3, June/July 1985, Melbourne Science Fiction Club, p. 7.
  2. ^ Phil Wlodarczyk, 'Galactic Tours Con.', Ethel the Aardvark #8, March 1986, Melbourne Science Fiction Club, p. 4.
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