ExpiredWhoventures: 40 Years of Australian Fandom

On 24 August 1976, a group of students from the Sydney University Science-Fiction Association and a Dalek gathered outside the ABC’s headquarters on Elizabeth St, Sydney. The national broadcaster had threatened to pull the plug on Doctor Who, and the fans were rallying to save it.

One month later, on 21 September, the group’s organisers distributed the first issue of Zerinza, a fanzine for the newly created Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club. The club itself held its first ‘Doctor Who Party’ on 24 November 1979, and changed its name to the Doctor Who Club of Australia some years later.

This October, the DWCA is celebrating its ruby anniversary with a look back through time. Come along to view footage of past events, as well as video messages from club members and supporters. You can even be among the first to pick up Issue #232 of Data Extract, the club’s current fanzine and successor to Zerinza, which will be launched at the event.

We are also excited to be joined by Kerrie Dougherty, one of the ADWFC’s original founders, who will be on hand to walk us through the early days of the club. Kerrie has also had a long and interesting career outside the club which has seen her curating science fiction exhibitions, running Dalek races, writing books, and even undertaking academic work in space archaeology!

Finally, the Club Shop will be open with all the latest releases. Witness the unification of old and new Who in Big Finish Productions’ Classic Doctors, New Monsters boxset, or travel back in time to the origins of Jack and Ianto’s love affair in the much-anticipated Torchwood release Broken. You can also get your hands on the limited edition Thirteen Doctors action figure set!