News ARCHIVES 2006 | 2007 | 2008

13 Dec ember, 2006 - I know, it's been a while

Hi All,

It has been a long time between updates but I am hoping that the club events page and the "Captains Log" has been keeping you informed of all the latest club news. There are however a few things that the events don't cover and one of them is about the amount of publicity and awareness the club has received over the last year. I just wanted to thank the members involved in all these appearances. Because of this publicity the club has had one of its most successful years. We have also managed to raise over $2000 for charity.

Don't forget to listen to MMM radio on Wednesday nights at 8.00pm for the Paul Murray show's "Stump-A-Nerd" Panel.

Three expert nerds putting it on the line for fandom.

Thanks for the Support

Here is the run down on where you may have seen us this year in the media:

Front cover of the Melbourne City Weekly
Front Cover of the Emerald Hill Times
Front Cover of the Northcote Leader
ABC Radio - numerous times throughout the year including 8 separate interviews on one day
RRR Radio - Zero G with Rob Jan
Bert's Family Feud - Episode "Star Trek V's Star Wars" to be replayed on January 22nd, 2007
ABC TV Show "Collectors"
Channel 9 Show "What A Year" for 1969
Channel 10 News
The Age Newspaper - Page 3 of the Education section with Dr Djoymi Baker
Every Wednesday night at 8.00pm on MMM's Paul Murray Show

You May have also seen us in person at one of these events:

Good Friday Appeal - Telstra Dome
Melbourne Museum Star Trek Exhibit
VCA Gallery - Resistance is Futile exhibit opening
JB Hi-Fi in store appearance in Geelong
Walking through the middle of Melbourne down the Bourke St Mall handing out Flyers
Astor Theatre presentation of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" on Friday Sep 8th.

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7 September, 2006 - Today's The Day (well almost)

Hi All,

Well we are gearing up for a big day tomorrow, as Trek turns the big 40.

Starting at 12.30pm out the front of the GPO, a small group of us will be heading down Bourke St in full costume handing out flyers for the club and the movie session at the Astor. Please fell free to join us, as there is no such thing as bad publicity.

We are also expecting big things form the media tomorrow as we already have a couple of radio interviews lined up and there was a release in the Herald-Sun yesterday about our plans.

This is going to be BIG!!!

Why not come down and join the party, see you in the city

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7 August, 2006 - Discounts Galore

Hi All,

I popped into Alternate Worlds on Sunday (they offer us 10% discount on all Trek merchandise) and they have about 6 full trestle tables of Star Trek novels. Both hardcover and paperback. The Hardcover are all marked down to $10ea and the paperbacks are only $5ea. Make sure you check the boxes underneath too (the Austrek discount doesn't apply as they are already cheap).

Check them out at 76 Chapel St, Windsor, Vic.

Just Collectibles on Chapel St have also just changed owners. I am happy to let everyone know that they are also offering Austrek members 10% off on any Star Trek merchandise they have and will also be involved in the Chapel St Walking tour we have planned for October.

Check them out at 212 Chapel St, Prahran, Vic

See you round the shops

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20 July, 2006 - Club Events Page Updated

Hi All,

Just letting you know that we have just updated the Club Events page with the latest in Melbourne Sci-fi and Austrek events. We will also get the latest Newspaper articles on the club up on the site as soon as we can. In the last 3 weeks we have been on the cover of the Northcote Leader, The Emerald Hill Weekly and the City Weekly - In full costume !!!

Gary Lockwood will be in town in September, so make sure you get along to the Astor to say hello and pick up an autograph from one of the guys who made it all happen. Tickets are only $25 to that one.

Please also take note that October is very busy and we have had to move the date of the meeting to the SECOND SATURDAY as StarWalking host their meeting on the first. Try to pop over there and see those guys, it's always a great day.

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16 July, 2006 - Convention details updated

Hi All,

It is with great pleasure that we would like to announce Jane Badler (Diana from V) as a Special Guest at our 30/40 Convention and Ball. Jane is well known in science fiction circles as the leader of the Visitor Invasion force from "V" but lately she has become known on the Melbourne Jazz circuit as one of the best singers around. We were lucky enough to meet her at the First Contact Convention in April this year and she has agreed to come along and say hello to us at our Second Sci-Fi Festival.

See you there

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07 July, 2006 - Special Invite to Austrek Members (over 18's only, sorry)

Hi !

Our space-rock band "Sonic Attack" would like to warmly invite friends and members of Austrek to our "Space Ritual" night at Ruby's Lounge Belgrave on Wednesday 12 July.  Entry is free.  (We'd also love to play at any future events  around Victoria, so please bear us in mind)

A promotional spiel is below and thanks in advance for letting members know about this space event!!

regards

Gordon Williams
www.sonicattackband.com
0419 421 270

SONIC ATTACK - SPACE RITUAL
Wednesday 12 July from 8.30pm - Ruby's Lounge, 1648 Burwood Highway Belgrave

Welcome trippers to a retro blast to the UK space rock bands of the 70's. A trip to the past and the future.. a journey far into space and deep inside your mind!  You thought you've seen it all?  Let SONIC ATTACK blast you with their searing synths, screaming guitars, smoke and strobes as we revisit the space-rock festivals that left Earth's gravity before most of you were born.  Humans - free. UFO abductees and aliens welcome!

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09 June, 2006 - May Update

May 2006 - Austrek : The Museum Experience

May 2006 will go down in Austrek history as one of the biggest events for the club, and our 30th anniversary was a perfect time for it to happen.

As part of the Melbourne Museums "Community Collections" program, Austrek had a display at the Museum for the entire month . There were parts of Austrek history on display as well as many Star Trek collectibles. We were there each weekend in costume handing out flyers, hosting discussions and generally having fun.

This also helped the club gain un-precedence media coverage including JJJ, RRR, ABC, Leader Newspaper, The Age, City Weekly and the upcoming TV appearance on "Collectors" on the ABC.

We also signed up a lot of new members, many who can't wait to see what we do next..

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02 June, 2006 - New DVD Release

Austrek and First Contact Conventions is supporting the release of Neil Gaiman's BBC series "Neverwhere" due for release on DVD June 8.

Come to the Multi Club Mini Con for you chance to win your own copy. Sure to become a favorite of fans everywhere.

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16 May, 2006 - Enterprise Season 4 News   

Hurray !!! Star Trek is back on our screens. On Tuesday 23rd May, Channel 9 Melbourne will start to show season 4 of Enterprise. It will be in the usual time slot of 12.00pm Midnight. - Thanks to Q for this bit of info

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16 May, 2006 - Austrek Publicity

As many of you know, we have that huge exhibit at the Melbourne Museum this month and it is doing great things for the club. We have been interviewed on the ABC radio and also JJJ. Keep an eye out for the "Northcote Leader" as they are running a story on us as are the "City Weekly". Make sure you listen to RRR this Monday 22nd at 1pm, our friend Rob Jan and his show "Zero G" will be talking to Austrek's president Scott Liston.

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23 April, 2006 - Huge Events Update

Make sure you all check out the Austrek Events page as we have just added the full line up for the rest of the year. As you will see Austrek are everywhere this year and we are even taking a meeting to our members in Geelong. Hope to see you all at an event.

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18 April, 2006 -

Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal

Thanks to those who came down and helped out at Telstra Dome on Good Friday. We were there in costume and had many photos taken with the people who were there. As you might imagine, we stood out from the crowd in the Original colors. Photos will be posted soon.

We also donated $500 to the appeal, well done to those who participated.

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12 April, 2006 - Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal

This Friday Austrek will be helping out at the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal. We will be meeting at the Northcote Town Hall at 9.30am and heading into Telstra Dome from there. We will be in full costume roaming around the crowd helping people out with directions and of course information on the club and Star Trek. Hope to see you there. Call Scotty on 0439 444 901 with any queries.

Can't make it to Telstra Dome with Austrek, why not head down the Nepean Highway and join some old friends?

DATE : Friday April 14th 2006 - From 8:30AM - 5:00PM and later then later on at Telstra dome if you wish.
VENUE : Elsternwick Junction - the intersection of Nepean Highway and Glenhuntly Road. Melway Ref 67 E3.
ON THE DAY: Car parking will be on street parking on NEW street (NO entry from Nepean Highway as its one way!) and we will be pitching our shade tents on the lawns out the front of the GOLF club on the city bound side. McDonalds and the golf club have generously allowed us to use their toilets for the day and the local Pub has great cheap counter meals. There is a 7/11 right there on the corner. Of course, as normal, we will be supplying BBQ lunch (including Fish), soft drinks, Easter Eggs and Hot Cross buns and a shade cloth as well as some seating (but bring your own if you can)
AFTER : Off to Telstra Dome for the count and dinner.
ATTENDING ADVICE: We NEED you to help out, so if you can, please email ( dscreen@vicnet.net.au ) back to let us know you can make it - even if its only for a few hours..

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24 March, 2006 - Collectors Fairs

Just a quick news point for everyone today. As some of you are aware Melbourne has a great many collector fairs happening each month. These are a great place to pick up some rare pieces of memorabilia or just catch up with friends.

The next one is Sunday 26th March at the Camberwell Town Hall and the next one after that is on Sunday 9th April at Sandown race course.

The club will have a table at that one, so come down and say G'day.

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24 February, 2006 - Final flight of fantasy

Thanks to Austrek Member Richard for this update via the email.

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16 February, 2006 - More Sad news just to hand

It is with deepest regret that I have to be the bearer of more sad news on the Trek an Sci-fi front. Much loved actor Andreas Katsulas has passed away. After a long battle with lung cancer the much loved actor passed on February 13th, 2006. People will know Andreas from the characters he brought to life. The great Romulan Commander Tomalok and the even greater Babylon 5 character G'Kar. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and our fellow fans around the world.

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04 February, 2006 - Date announced for March Away Mission

On Sunday 19th March we will embark on our 3rd away mission for the year. It is something rather special this time due to the support the club is being shown. We will set out on a walking tour of the Chapel Street collectible stores. Meeting at either 11.30 for lunch or from 1.30 at the first shop it will be a fun filled afternoon with bargains to be had. Peter from Alternate Worlds has given the club a 10% discount on the day and George from Just Collectibles is opening the store because we asked him to (they don't normally open Sunday) and is also giving club members a 10% discount on the day. Thanks guys for the support and see you on the 19th

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25 January, 2006 - Bring Back Deep Space 9

They are still looking to fill some key staff positions as well as gaining fan support. If you loved the show, why not help this group try to bring it back.

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09 January, 2006 - Roll on 2006 !

Well in case you haven't realized, it is a huge year for both Star Trek and Austrek: The Star Trek fan club. Star Trek starting airing on September 8th, 1966, that makes this year the 40th birthday for our favorite show. Add to that the fact that Austrek was made a registered club in November of 1976 you realize that we are 30 this year. That only means one thing, PARTY, PARTY, PARTY !

Happy Birthday Austrek and Star Trek !

The party has already started with details of our first major convention in many years up on the web site along with information on the first 6 months of club activities including meeting activities and away missions. Everyone come along and get involved in a huge year of Trek.

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For the latest Star Trek news direct from the US check out www.trektoday.com

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