Medtrek (con)

Medtrek was an Australian multimedia (at first Star Trek) con. It generated two zines, one fiction: Medtrek and one non-fiction: ReviewZine. Most of the Medtrek planning committees consisted of members of Astrex.
==Medtrek 1 (1982)==
This con was held 13-14th February, 1982, at the Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath, NSW. The pro Guest of Honor, science fiction novelist A. Bertram Chandler, was listed in pre-publicity as "a surprise" and the fan GoH was Shayne McCormack. Fan groups campaigned for their candidates in The Galactic Senate elections. Mistress of Ceremonies was Lynn Punton. This first con had a strong Star Trek flavour.
File:Medtrekgroup.jpg|Con attendees in Starfleet uniform at Medtrek, 1982.
File:Julie Townsend 1982.jpg|Sue Pears as Zaphod Beeblebrox and Julie Townsend and Bogart the Teddy Bear, Ambassador for Hoka at Medtrek 1 (1982)
===Reaction to Medtrek 1===
==Medtrek 2 (1984)==
This con was held 10-11th March, 1984, at the Shore Inn Hotel in Artarmon, NSW. The pro Guest of Honor was Bjo Trimble and the fan GoH was Nikki White. Again, fan groups campaigned for their candidates in The Galactic Senate elections. MCs were Tim Richards and Narrelle Harris. This convention was the first National Science Fiction Media Convention and hosted the Australian Science Fiction Media Awards.
Image:Medtrek2group.jpg|Jimmy's Angels (Saavik, Tharrah and Tackee) help Therin (Ian McLean) campaign for James T. Kirk in the Galactic Senate Elections, 1984.
==Medtrek 3 (1987)==
Medtrek 3 was subtitled Eccentricon, and it was held 4-5th July, 1987, at the then-Hawkesbury Agricultural College in Richmond, NSW. The pro GoHs were Bjo Trimble and Blake's 7 actor Brian Croucher. Master of Ceremonies was Ian McLean. This was the National Science Fiction Media Convention for the year and hosted the Australian Science Fiction Media Awards.
* the con zine was The Ultimate Mary Sue
* the con also produced the Star Trek Charity Calendar
* Theme: By Popular Demand: The Galactic Senate Take Over (i.e. Fan groups campaigned for villainous candidates).
Image:Maltz.jpg|Maltz (Ian McLean) campaigning for the Galactic Senate, Eccentricon, 1987.
 
File:Eccprograming.jpg|programming from the Progress Report 
Image:eccflyer.jpg|Progress Report #2
Image:eccflyer1987.jpg|flyer, printed in Spock #46 
===Medtrek 3 (1987): Con Report===
==Medtrek 4 (1991)==
This con was held 4-7th October, 1991 at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, in Richmond, NSW. The pro Guest of Honor was David Prowse of Star Wars. The fan GoH was Marianne Plumridge.
Other guests of honor were Ian "Ace" Auhl (professional model builder), Gary Armstrong (models, props, costumes), Peter Lupinski (costuming and latex work), Edwina Harvey (huckster), Jozef Szekeres (animation) and Nick Stathopoulos (artist, also the con's Master of Ceremonies).
The con had about 110 attendees.
It was chaired by Joanne Keating, Susan Clarke, and Patrica Anderson. Other con members were Ruth Collerson, Graeme Batho, Jo Kaye, Susan Bellenger, David Hayes, Christopher Smith, Ian Kerr, Mavis Smith, Rebecca Kennedy, Karen Auhl, Linda Cox Chan, Andrew Scott, Coralie Johnson, and Peter McMullen.
The program book contains 48 pages. It contains:
* a full-page photo of the con chairs: Joanne Keating, Susan Clarke, and Patrica Anderson
* programming, descriptions of programs, rules
* a bio for Prowse
* full-page photo of Prowse
* a full-page photo of Marianne Louise Plumridge (fan artist), fan guest of honor 
* a bio and interview with Plumridge
* a two-page comic by Linda Cox Chan and Sean Rowleson called "Revenge of the Empire"
* smaller photos of the other con com members
* bios of each of the con chairs and the other committee members
* an introduction regarding the con and its history
* transcript of an 4-page interview with Prowse, conducted by the mail and administered by Justine Fisher. Some excerpts:
From the program book: 
Image:medtrek1991-1.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-2.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-3.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-4.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-5.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-6.jpg|from the program book
Image:medtrek1991-7.jpg|from the program book
==Medtrek 5 (1997)==
This science fiction media convention was held 25-27th January, 1997, at the University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, in Richmond, NSW. The pro-fan GoHs were Lewis Morley and Marilyn Pride.
==Medtrek: 30th Anniversary (2012)==
A small reunion of Medtrek originals was held on 11 February, 2012, in Bundanoon, NSW, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first Medtrek convention.
==33 RPM, the Medtrek Reunion (2015)==
This science fiction media relaxacon, organised in secret by Edwina Harvey via Facebook, was held 20-22nd February, 2015, at Hotel Blue, Katoomba, NSW. It celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the first Medtrek convention. The surprise Fan Guest of Honor was Susan Batho, who thought she was having a quiet weekend away with her husband. On the Sunday, after hotel checkout, many attendees journeyed to Medlow Bath for afternoon tea and to explore the recent renovations to the Hydro Majestic Hotel, venue of the first Medtrek.
After the success of this weekend, Medtrek 6 was conceived.
Image:medtrekreunion.jpg|Attendees of the Medtrek reunion, Hotel Blue, 2015
Image:medtrekoriginals.jpg|The "Medtrek originals" visit the Hydro Majestic, 2015
==Medtrek 6 (2017)==
This reunion relaxacon was held 28-30th July, 2017, at the Nepean Shores Resort in Penrith, NSW, celebrating 50 years of Star Trek in Australia. The Fan Guest of Honor was Edwina Harvey and Master of Ceremonies was Ian McLean. A special issue of Beyond Antares was the con fanzine, featuring all-new Mary-Sue stories.
Image:medtrek6.jpg|Cover of program book
Image:medtrek6zine.jpg|Cover of con fanzine
==References==
Category:1980s Conventions
Category:1990s ConventionsCategory:Conventions in AustraliaCategory:Star Trek Conventions