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<DIV><SPAN class=839105914-16022010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>hi everyone - pleas
pass onto your other lists. Sorry for the length of the articles below
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=839105914-16022010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=839105914-16022010><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=839105914-16022010><FONT size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=839105914-16022010>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT
face=Calibri>The Peter McNamara Achievement Award – the “Mac’ <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT
face=Calibri>Judge for 2009 – <SPAN class=839105914-16022010>award
</SPAN>to be presented at AussieCon4 2-4 September
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><U><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT
face=Calibri>Helen Merrick <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT
face=Calibri>Helen Merrick hails from Perth and is part of that interesting
eclectic bunch from WA who all seem to punch above their
weight.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><FONT
face=Calibri>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.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 5pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT
face=Calibri><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU">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 <I>The</I> <I>Cambridge Companion to
Science Fiction</I> (2003); </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU"
lang=EN-US>Queer Universes: Sexualities in Science Fiction</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU"
lang=EN-US> (2008) and<B><I> </I></B></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU">the
<I>Routledge Companion to Science Fiction </I>(2009).
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 5pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU"><FONT
face=Calibri>Helen is the author of <I>The Secret Feminist Cabal: A cultural
history of sf feminisms</I> (2009) and co-editor of <I>Women of Other Worlds:
Excursions through science fiction and feminism</I> (1999) and serves on the
editorial boards of <I>Extrapolation</I>, <I>Transformative Works and
Cultures</I>, and <I>Paradoxa</I>. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 5pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU"><FONT
face=Calibri>And if this was not enough Helen is currently completing a
co-authored book on feminist science theorist Donna Haraway.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">When
she finally grows up Helen is hoping to have more time for baking bread, making
preserves and fighting global warming! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Well
if ever there was a most well rounded Oz SF contributor – it’s
Helen<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Thanks
Helen, the ‘Mac’s is in good hands for 2009.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin">Mariann
R McNamara<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Patron
and Manager ‘Mac’ Award<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">February
2010</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><STRONG><U></U></STRONG></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"></SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin"><o:p>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><U><SPAN
class=839105914-16022010>Background to t</SPAN>he Peter (Mac) McNamara
Achievement Award – the ‘Mac’ </U></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><SPAN
class=839105914-16022010>(note* I acknowledge that the information on each
specific 'Mac' award winner to date has been compiled from various
publically available sources)</SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><U></U></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P><PRE><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">This is an open award with no exclusions other than the judge of the award year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The award is given to an Australian who has made an outstanding:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Contribution through their personal endeavour, and <o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 37.5pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Made a difference <o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.5pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">both towards and in the standing of Oz SF, either as a writer, film producer, organizer, editor, publisher, reviewer or commentator.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE><PRE><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The recipient of the award is judged at the sole discretion of the award judge.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></PRE>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><U></U></SPAN></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><U>Background
– how did it come about …?<o:p></o:p></U></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Well
everyone knows the rest of the story… 8 years have now passed and amazingly Mac
lived for 2 of those award presentations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Again
a very big thank you to Robert Stephenson for establishing what has become an
award of recognition <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>– not just as
a memory to Peter (Mac), but because Oz speculative fiction needs to celebrate
those who do make the difference. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For
Robert, Mac was that someone who helped writers by finding the magic in their
work and made them better at their craft.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">For
5 years, Robert managed the awards and funded the beautiful trophies presented
to date and til 2009. - A magnificent contribution.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Alongside, but not known then, was Tony
Shillatoe, who personally provided for those first 5 years, the $500 given to
each winner.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To both, their
generosity is to be warmly applauded.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Many thanks.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is an ongoing quest
and one that will hopefully culminate in an Oz SF writers’ residence.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The $500 is now her personal
contribution to the winner. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Judges (J) and winners (W)
have been:<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 54pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(J)
2002 Peter (Mac) McNamara <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>In 1975 Paul launched <I>Void magazine</I>, the first professional
science fiction magazine Australia had seen since the demise of the joint
Australian and British production <I><A
title="Vision Of Tomorrow (page does not exist)"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vision_Of_Tomorrow&action=edit&redlink=1"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Vision Of Tomorrow</FONT></A></I>. Collins edited and published
five issues of Void between August 1975 and March 1977, and the magazine was
instrumental in encouraging lapsed writers <A
title="Wynne Whiteford (page does not exist)"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wynne_Whiteford&action=edit&redlink=1"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Wynne Whiteford</FONT></A> and <A title="Jack Wodhams"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Wodhams"><FONT color=#ff9900>Jack
Wodhams</FONT></A> to take up writing again, as well as encouraging a new
generation of Australian science fiction writers and readers.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #f8fcff"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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 <I>MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and
Fantasy</I>, over 140 short stories and a handful of trade
books.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #f8fcff"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Paul and partner <A title="Meredith Costain (page does not exist)"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meredith_Costain&action=edit&redlink=1"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Meredith Costain</FONT></A> have written 18 books on countries,
all of which have sold to American publisher Chelsea.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Paul compiled and edited a seven-volume
boxed set, called <I>Book People — Meet Australia's Favourite Children's Authors
and Illustrators</I>. He and Meredith Costain also compiled and edited the
science fiction series <I>Spinouts</I>. There were three sets: Spinouts Silver,
Bronze and Sapphire. They also put together a series called <I>Thrillogy</I>,
for <A title="Pearson Education"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearson_Education"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Pearson Education</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #f8fcff"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Paul's latest writing includes a fantasy trilogy written in
collaboration with Danny Willis.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
November 2009 Celapene Press published his much-acclaimed "The Slightly Skewed
Life of Toby Chrysler".<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(J)
2003 Richard Harland<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Jack Dann is best known for
his science fiction, an editor and a writing teacher, who has lived in <A
title=Australia href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Australia</FONT></A> 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 <A title="Jorge Luis Borges"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges"><FONT color=#ff9900>Jorge
Luis Borges</FONT></A>, <A title="Roald Dahl"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl"><FONT color=#ff9900>Roald
Dahl</FONT></A>, <A title="Lewis Carroll"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll"><FONT color=#ff9900>Lewis
Carroll</FONT></A>, <A title="J.G. Ballard"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.G._Ballard"><FONT color=#ff9900>J.G.
Ballard</FONT></A> and <A title="Philip K. Dick"
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick"><FONT color=#ff9900>Philip K.
Dick</FONT></A>.</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(J)
2004 Janeen Webb <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">2004
brought (W) Stephanie Smith to the podium.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Stephanie has been instrumental in supporting Oz SF writers at the high
end of publishing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Courier New'">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 <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>SF writers it was Stephanie
that got the gong! and she began managing the list for HarperCollins in 1998.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(J) 2005 Van Ikin<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN>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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">In
1990, he co-founded <I>Eidolon: The Journal of Australian Science Fiction and
Fantasy</I>, and worked on it as co-editor and co-publisher for almost a decade.
He has been the Reviews Editor of <I>Locus Magazine</I> 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 <I>Publishers Weekly</I>. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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…<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">It’s
good to see and read that Jonathan is still doing that.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(J)
2006 Justin<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Ackroyd<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: auto 0cm" class=style1><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">(W)
</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Shaun
Tan</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
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
</SPAN><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Peter
McNamara Convenors' Award for Excellence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Mac </SPAN></STRONG><STRONG><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">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 <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Dreaming Downunder) </I>it would also be
prescient – he was convinced that Shaun was indeed someone so
special!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></STRONG></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">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 <A
href="http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-rabbits.html"><FONT color=#ff9900>The
Rabbits</FONT></A>, <A href="http://www.shauntan.net/books/red-tree.html"><FONT
color=#ff9900>The Red Tree</FONT></A>, <A
href="http://www.shauntan.net/books/lost-thing.html"><FONT color=#ff9900>The
Lost Thing</FONT></A> and the acclaimed wordless novel <A
href="http://www.shauntan.net/books/the-arrival.html"><FONT color=#ff9900>The
Arrival</FONT></A> have been widely translated throughout Europe, Asia and South
America, and enjoyed by readers of all ages. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Shaun has
also worked as a theatre designer, and worked as a concept artist for the films
<A href="http://www.hortonmovie.com/site/index.html"><FONT color=#ff9900>Horton
Hears a Who</FONT></A> and Pixar's <A
href="http://www.pixar.com/featurefilms/walle/"><FONT
color=#ff9900>WALL-E</FONT></A>. He is currently directing a short film with <A
href="http://www.shauntan.net/film/lost-thing-film.html"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Passion Pictures</FONT></A> Australia; his most recently published
book is <A href="http://www.shauntan.net/books/suburbia.html"><FONT
color=#ff9900>Tales from Outer Suburbia.</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(J) 2007
Dianne Debellis<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(W) Bruce Gillespie
was a very very popular and deserving winner in 2007.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Bruce Gillespie has been publishing fanzines since 1968. In January
1969, the first issue of <I>SF Commentary</I> 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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>In 1984, Bruce began <I>The Metaphysical Review</I> 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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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. <I>Scratch Pad</I>
is an electronic-only fanzine that includes all the non-mailing comment sections
of Bruce's apazines since 1991. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>Steam Engine Time</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN> 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 <I>Peregrine
Nations</I>) has become the new co-editor. <I>Steam Engine Time</I> appears on
<A href="http://efanzines.com/SFC/SteamEngineTime/"><FONT
color=#ff9900>efanzines.com</FONT></A>, with a print version available to those
who contribute, trade paper fanzines, correspond, and/or send money.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN"
lang=EN>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’. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN>(J) 2008 Ron <SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Serdiuk</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(W) Sean Williams
a</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">uthor
of <U>seventy</U> published short stories and <U>twenty-nine novels</U>,
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’.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In 2009 Sean posted
on his site the following: </SPAN><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">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.<BR></SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><BR><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">In 1989 I wrote thirteen stories, only two
of which were ever published, much later, and one novel--<SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">When the Cow Came Down</SPAN>, unpublished
(and so may it remain forever).<BR><BR>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, <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">The Dark Imbalance</SPAN> and
<SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">The Stone Mage & the
Sea</SPAN>.<BR><BR>In the ten years since then (not counting 2009), I've written
and published almost three million words of fiction.<BR><BR>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.
<BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>The truth is that I wouldn't have given up. I <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">couldn't</SPAN> 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.<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><BR></SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Separately Sean has
stated: <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">I strongly believe in giving
back <SPAN class=839105914-16022010>to </SPAN>the community.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>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…<o:p></o:p></I></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">All the sentiments
that are what the “Mac’ is about.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"><SPAN
style="mso-list: Ignore">·<SPAN
style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">
</SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">(J) 2009 Helen
Merrick<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN>Who will be the 2009
winner?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Mariann
McNamara<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Patron
and Manager ‘Mac’ Award<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">February
2010<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></o:p></SPAN></B> </P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>