Flashback to 1982!

(Click on images to see larger versions.)

An article in the Sydney Morning Herald's "Good Weekend" section, 20th February, 1982, reviewing the events of Medtrek, a science fiction media convention, held at Medlow Bath the previous weekend. Article by Susan Hely, accompanied by a large line drawing, a collage of artwork based on several b/w photos taken on the day. Features Ian McLean as Captain Therin, right foreground.


Colour pics by con attendee, Paul Kennedy.

PS. I've just remembered how funny the Herald's official photographer was during the shoot. He was trying to pose the Starfleet crew for a group shot and asked us what we could "do". Someone suggested "beaming up". We got into the traditional formation and he said, "Okay, start beaming up - now."

Wouldn't he have been surprised if we'd actually vanished in a hail of golden glitter?

Uniformity

Over at the TrekBBS, someone asked for the Star Trek fans to name their favourite Star Trek uniform, and I hadn't really felt the need to contribute to that thread - until someone wondered aloud if "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was going to get any representation. And it helped that I was "taking a break" from yesterday's epic moving of magazines from one pile to another. (Today I'd progressed to "free some action figures from their packaging" to free up more space. But it's okay, I've always been an "opener", not a "MOMC" - "mint on mint card" - collector.)

Okay, back to ST uniforms: well ST:TMP on the big screen was my first really memorable ST experience, after TAS repeats on TV. So, call me biased, but I love the ST: TMP uniforms (even if they do look a little - okay, a lot - like 'jammies). In 1980, if I coulda put one on and leapt into the silver screen of Sydney's old Paramount Theatre and onto that starship, I'd have done so.



Above: From an early fanzine story; art by my penpal, Kamu. Note that I'd asked her to include the Andorian partial exo-skeleton mentioned by the Ballantine "Starfleet Medical Reference Manual".



Above: At the first Medtrek Convention (1982), at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains. Therin was on the debating team: "Federation vs Empire: Which is the Better Form of Government?"



Above: Therin, Arex and M'Ress join the crew after ST: TMP, with a little help from Photoshop.