[EID] The Peter McNamara Achievement Award - the 'Mac' - judge for 2009

Mariann 2macs2 at tpg.com.au
Tue Feb 16 09:11:01 CST 2010


hi everyone - pleas pass onto your other lists.  Sorry for the length of the
articles below 
 
I am very pleased, as the current Patron and Manager of the 'Mac' award,  to
announce that Helen Merrick will be the 2009 'Mac' award judge.
 
The Peter McNamara Achievement Award - the "Mac'  

Judge for 2009 - award to be presented at AussieCon4 2-4 September 

Helen Merrick 

Helen Merrick hails from Perth and is part of that interesting eclectic
bunch from WA who all seem to punch above their weight.

Helen is immersed in SF and among her many talents, will now join a select
group of outstanding Oz SF genre supporters in being appointed as the 2009
'Mac' award judge. She has previously been part of various Aurealis Award
panels and been a judge for the James Tiptree Award.

Helen Merrick is a science fiction reader, fan and critic. By day, she is
Senior Lecturer in the School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts at Curtin
University, Western Australia. She has published widely on feminism, science
fiction, and science studies, including contributions to The Cambridge
Companion to Science Fiction (2003); Queer Universes: Sexualities in Science
Fiction (2008) and the Routledge Companion to Science Fiction (2009). 

Helen is the author of The Secret Feminist Cabal: A cultural history of sf
feminisms (2009) and co-editor of Women of Other Worlds: Excursions through
science fiction and feminism (1999) and serves on the editorial boards of
Extrapolation, Transformative Works and Cultures, and Paradoxa. 

And if this was not enough Helen is currently completing a co-authored book
on feminist science theorist Donna Haraway. 

She shares her precious 1/2 acre slice of urban bushland with one grown-up
and three youngish humans, and a host of 'Earth Others' including possums,
snakes, blue-tongue lizards, kookaburras and a multitude of native parrots,
as well as chickens, guinea pigs and a cat. Helen loves to garden for the
apocalypse by planting lots of local native plants, vegetables and fruit
trees. 

When she finally grows up Helen is hoping to have more time for baking
bread, making preserves and fighting global warming! 

Well if ever there was a most well rounded Oz SF contributor - it's Helen

Thanks Helen, the 'Mac's is in good hands for 2009.

Mariann R McNamara

Patron and Manager 'Mac' Award

February 2010

 

 

Background to the Peter (Mac) McNamara Achievement Award - the 'Mac' 

(note* I acknowledge that the information on each specific 'Mac' award
winner to date has been compiled from various publically available sources)

This is an open award with no exclusions other than the judge of the award
year. 
 The award is given to an Australian who has made an outstanding:
 .         Contribution through their personal endeavour, and 
.         Made a difference 
 both towards and in the standing of Oz SF, either as a writer, film
producer, organizer, editor, publisher, reviewer or commentator.
 The recipient of the award is judged at the sole discretion of the award
judge.

Background - how did it come about .?

 

On 9 March 2002 Robert Stephenson approached Mariann McNamara, asking if she
thought Mac would mind if he were to establish an award that would
acknowledge Mac's achievements in the Australian (Oz) SF genre.  Mac as the
editor and publisher of the independent Aphelion Publications, had published
5 magazines and 14 books between 1986 and 1999 - a significant contribution
to Oz SF literary expansion, written a number of critical essays in various
Oz magazines, monthly contributor between 1986 and 2004 to SA Radio 5EBI SF
Review, and board member including Chair, Dep Chair, Treasurer of SA
Writers' Centre 1994-2004, and lastly Aurelia's Award convenor for 4 years
til 2001 - and so much more . including editing 2 published anthologies
while he was ill - between 2002-2004!

 

The 'Mac' award would in turn acknowledge a person from within the Oz SF
community who had themselves demonstrated similarly a significant
contribution and would carry his torch into the future. Mariann had no
hesitation.

 

The catch was that it needed to put to Mac - who had 15 days previously been
diagnosed with a terminal malignant brain tumour . Robert wanted Mac to be
involved while he could.

 

Well everyone knows the rest of the story. 8 years have now passed and
amazingly Mac lived for 2 of those award presentations.

 

Again a very big thank you to Robert Stephenson for establishing what has
become an award of recognition  - not just as a memory to Peter (Mac), but
because Oz speculative fiction needs to celebrate those who do make the
difference. 

 

Robert has said that Mac was that special person who encouraged him, helped
him, gave him the nudge and the understanding needed so he had the
confidence to pursue both publishing and writing.  For Robert, Mac was that
someone who helped writers by finding the magic in their work and made them
better at their craft.  

 

For 5 years, Robert managed the awards and funded the beautiful trophies
presented to date and til 2009. - A magnificent contribution.  Alongside,
but not known then, was Tony Shillatoe, who personally provided for those
first 5 years, the $500 given to each winner.  To both, their generosity is
to be warmly applauded.  Many thanks.

 

>From 2007, for the next 5 years, Mariann McNamara assumed the management of
the 'Mac' award, with the aim to consolidate and develop the potential to
grow its prominence within the genre as well as the 'rewards' it may bring
the future winners.  This is an ongoing quest and one that will hopefully
culminate in an Oz SF writers' residence.  The $500 is now her personal
contribution to the winner. 

 

Judges (J) and winners (W) have been:           

        

.         (J) 2002 Peter (Mac) McNamara 

 

In 2002, through clever foxing by Robert S, Mac 'judged', unbeknown to him
at the time, (W) Paul Collins, someone whom Mac considered to be a 'true
brother in arms' for small press, as the inaugural recipient.

 

In 1975 Paul launched Void magazine, the first professional science fiction
magazine Australia had seen since the demise of the joint Australian and
British production
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vision_Of_Tomorrow&action=edit&re
dlink=1> Vision Of Tomorrow. Collins edited and published five issues of
Void between August 1975 and March 1977, and the magazine was instrumental
in encouraging lapsed writers
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wynne_Whiteford&action=edit&redli
nk=1> Wynne Whiteford and  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Wodhams> Jack
Wodhams to take up writing again, as well as encouraging a new generation of
Australian science fiction writers and readers.

To date, Paul has published over 20 chapter books, around 30 non-fiction
hardcovers for the education market, 11 anthologies, two collections of his
own stories, edited the MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and
Fantasy, over 140 short stories and a handful of trade books.

Paul and partner
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meredith_Costain&action=edit&redl
ink=1> Meredith Costain have written 18 books on countries, all of which
have sold to American publisher Chelsea.  Paul compiled and edited a
seven-volume boxed set, called Book People - Meet Australia's Favourite
Children's Authors and Illustrators. He and Meredith Costain also compiled
and edited the science fiction series Spinouts. There were three sets:
Spinouts Silver, Bronze and Sapphire. They also put together a series called
Thrillogy, for  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearson_Education> Pearson
Education.

Paul's latest writing includes a fantasy trilogy written in collaboration
with Danny Willis.  In November 2009 Celapene Press published his
much-acclaimed "The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler".

.         (J) 2003 Richard Harland

 

In 2003, Mac was very pleased that his soul mate (W) Jack Dann, probably one
of few blokes Mac shared hugs with . was the winner.  

 

Jack Dann is best known for his science fiction, an editor and a writing
teacher, who has lived in  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia>
Australia since 1994. He has published over seventy books, in the majority
of cases as editor or co-editor of story anthologies in the science fiction,
fantasy and horror genres. He has published nine novels, numerous shorter
works of fiction, essays and poetry and his books have been translated into
thirteen languages. His work, which includes fiction in the science fiction,
fantasy, horror, magical realism and historical and alternative history
genres, has been compared to
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges> Jorge Luis Borges,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl> Roald Dahl,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll> Lewis Carroll,
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.G._Ballard> J.G. Ballard and
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick> Philip K. Dick. 

 

Jack is a significant and magnificent 'patron' and 'mentor' to many of
today's Oz SF writers and his support and 'opportunity making' has
contributed to the depth of the entire Oz SF genre. 

 

.         (J) 2004 Janeen Webb 

 

2004 brought (W) Stephanie Smith to the podium.  Stephanie has been
instrumental in supporting Oz SF writers at the high end of publishing.

 

After leaving school in New Zealand, Stephanie travelled for some years,
working in offices and other casual employment. Arriving in Australia, she
completed a Librarianship degree and worked in that field for a number of
years, and also had three children. After a few years of full-time
motherhood, Stephanie began part-time work with the editors at HarperCollins
Publishers. When the opportunity arose she was able to transfer to a
full-time job as a fiction editor, initially working on both children's and
adult titles. The Voyager list ('for travellers of the imagination') came
into being in 1995, and fortunately for Oz  SF writers it was Stephanie that
got the gong! and she began managing the list for HarperCollins in 1998. 

 

  (J) 2005 Van Ikin  

 

Jonathan Strahan, one of the busiest, most successful, and well-known
editors in Australian speculative fiction, or, for that matter, the
world-wide speculative fiction scene, won in 2005. 

 

In 1990, he co-founded Eidolon: The Journal of Australian Science Fiction
and Fantasy, and worked on it as co-editor and co-publisher for almost a
decade. He has been the Reviews Editor of Locus Magazine since 2002 and has
edited more than twenty anthologies and collections and lots of year's best
annuals. One of his most interesting projects is a new SF/F best of for
Night Shade Books, just released in the United States. The collection
recently received a starred review in Publishers Weekly.  

 

Only person ever in his lifetime could keep Mac on the phone for more than 5
mins. Jonathan and Mac would spend hours on the phone. constantly plotting
opportunities to do more for the genre in whatever way they could.

 

It's good to see and read that Jonathan is still doing that.

 

.         (J) 2006 Justin  Ackroyd

(W) Shaun Tan was the winner in 2006, a very special outcome, as Shaun had
been the inaugural recipient of the then Aurealis Convenor's Award, since
renamed the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award for Excellence.  Mac was
determined that Shaun would win this (then) new award because even then Mac
knew that while it might be controversial (Shaun was so young) (and he was
up against the other special - according to Mac at the time Oz SF
contributor - Jack Dann's and in particular that year's wonderful anthology
Dreaming Downunder) it would also be prescient - he was convinced that Shaun
was indeed someone so special!

Shaun Tan grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. In
school he became known as the 'good drawer' which partly compensated for
always being the shortest kid in every class. He graduated from the
University of WA in 1995 with joint honours in Fine Arts and English
Literature, and currently works full time as a freelance artist and author
in Melbourne.

Shaun began drawing and painting images for science fiction and horror
stories in small-press magazines as a teenager, and has since become best
known for illustrated books that deal with social, political and historical
subjects through surreal, dream-like imagery. Books such as
<http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-rabbits.html> The Rabbits,
<http://www.shauntan.net/books/red-tree.html> The Red Tree,
<http://www.shauntan.net/books/lost-thing.html> The Lost Thing and the
acclaimed wordless novel  <http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html>
The Arrival have been widely translated throughout Europe, Asia and South
America, and enjoyed by readers of all ages. 

Shaun has also worked as a theatre designer, and worked as a concept artist
for the films  <http://www.hortonmovie.com/site/index.html> Horton Hears a
Who and Pixar's  <http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/walle/> WALL-E. He is
currently directing a short film with
<http://www.shauntan.net/film/lost-thing-film.html> Passion Pictures
Australia; his most recently published book is
<http://www.shauntan.net/books/suburbia.html> Tales from Outer Suburbia.

(J) 2007 Dianne Debellis

(W) Bruce Gillespie was a very very popular and deserving winner in 2007.
Bruce has been a magnificent contributor to SF fandom, emerging writers and
those who need an outlet for the more critical analysis of the genre.

Bruce Gillespie has been publishing fanzines since 1968. In January 1969,
the first issue of SF Commentary appeared. It has been lurching along, with
occasional total seizures, ever since. It has been nominated three times for
the Hugo Award (1972, 1973 and 1975), and has won a number of Ditmar Awards
(Australian SF Achievement Award). Eventually he received what he considers
the ultimate accolade, serving as Fan Guest of Honour for Aussiecon 3, the
world convention held in Melbourne in 1999. More recently Bruce was a paid
guest by dint of the efforts of the many contributors to the Bring Bruce
Bayside fund. 

In 1984, Bruce began The Metaphysical Review as a fanzine filled with all
the bits and pieces, apart from SF and fantasy, that SF fans tend to be
interested in -- music, films, travels, other fans, general books and
chatter. 

Bruce has contributed to several apas, including Anzapa (Australia and New
Zealand Amateur Publishing Association) since 1968, APA-45 during the early
1970S, FAPA (Fantasy Amateur Press Association) from 1984 to 1994, and
Acnestis (the British apa for fans who still read a lot) since 1995. Scratch
Pad is an electronic-only fanzine that includes all the non-mailing comment
sections of Bruce's apazines since 1991. 

Steam Engine Time is an intercontinental fanzine begun by Bruce with British
fans Maureen Kincaid Speller and Paul Kincaid in 2000. After three issues,
Paul and Maureen dropped out, and Michigan fan Janine Stinson (editor of
Peregrine Nations) has become the new co-editor. Steam Engine Time appears
on  <http://efanzines.com/SFC/SteamEngineTime/> efanzines.com, with a print
version available to those who contribute, trade paper fanzines, correspond,
and/or send money. 

Bruce has also written short stories for Australian anthologies and was one
of the co-founders of Norstrilia Press with Rob Gerrand and Carey Handfield.


Through his fanzines, and through publishing contributions from fans all
over the world, Bruce has provided an invaluable link between countries and
between fans, filthy professionals and even more filthy critics. 

Apart from his writing activities, Bruce has been an active and integral
part of Melbourne fandom for almost four decades. His houses -with Elaine
Cochrane - have been a focal point for fannish activity and he has been an
axis around which the fannish world rotates. 

Bruce is a much-loved and widely-acclaimed Master of Fandom and a worthy
recipient of among his many awards the A. Bertram Chandler Award and now the
'Mac'. 

.         (J) 2008 Ron Serdiuk

 

(W) Sean Williams author of seventy published short stories and twenty-nine
novels, nominated for and recipient of many awards stepped up to the podium
in 2008 at the Adelaide Conjecture - an extremely worthy recipient of the
'Mac'.  It has to be said that Mac and Sean were very special to each other
and so this was a very emotional result for Sean, Patrick and me.  

 

In 2009 Sean posted on his site the following: I offer myself as a case in
point. This is a special year for me. Two decades ago, I started writing
seriously - that is, with the intention of becoming a full-time writer. I
had no idea how long it would take. The ten-year deadline I sometimes talk
about--that I would give up if I didn't have a book in print in that
time--was hanging over me, and burning under me were the fires of
determination.

In 1989 I wrote thirteen stories, only two of which were ever published,
much later, and one novel--When the Cow Came Down, unpublished (and so may
it remain forever).

A decade after that, I dropped my last shift at the legendary CD Shop and
went full time. In 1999, I wrote five short stories, three of which were
published, one novella, and one and half contracted novels, The Dark
Imbalance and The Stone Mage & the Sea.

In the ten years since then (not counting 2009), I've written and published
almost three million words of fiction.

People talk about love of the craft, honing the art, living the dream, et
hoc genus omne. That's all important. But psychotic persistence makes
possible the impossible. 

I used to say that if I'd known how hard it would be - that it would take
ten long years before I made any kind of dime out of this lark - then maybe
I would've given up. 

The truth is that I wouldn't have given up. I couldn't have. And besides, if
hard work is all it takes, then that's a genuine comfort. It's easy to work
hard at something I love. Take out "psychotic" and put in "passionate" and
you'll get the idea. If you feel the same way, then maybe you're well on the
way too.


Separately Sean has stated: I strongly believe in giving back to the
community.  This has led me to my involvement in the Australian Society of
Authors and the Big Book Club, assessment roles for bodies like Arts SA or
the Writers of the Future Contest, as well as taking the occasional
instructional or mentoring position for organisations like Clarion and
various state Writers' Centres.

 

All the sentiments that are what the "Mac' is about.

 

.         (J) 2009 Helen Merrick

 

Who will be the 2009 winner?

 

 

 Mariann McNamara

Patron and Manager 'Mac' Award

 February 2010

 

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