Con Report

[callistra]

First, this speech here explains better than I ever could about the Marge Hughes Award, also known as the Mumfan. :-)

I am very very very very honoured to have been thought of for this award. I was completely taken by surprise, and it's one of the highlights of my life. I can't express enough amazement, gratitude, awe, and sheer happiness and support the thought of the award has given me. :-)



The Marge Hughes Award recognises exceptional contributions to our community through dedication and care, by being welcoming and promoting the spirit of the community in which we thrive.
The award was named after Marge Hughes, and to give you an idea of who she was, I’d like to read a statement provided by Dave Luckett:

Of course it shouldn't come as a surprise to me that there are prominent and active fans around today who don't remember Marge Hughes, otherwise known as Mumfan. It was, as far as fannish history is concerned, long long ago now. She died, God, I suppose eighteen years ago now, when nearly everyone who's out con-running these days was still in short pants, or not even alive. But it is a surprise, all the same. Mumfan was a one-off, a nonesuch, and I thought, (not examining the thought at all, or I'd have known it was ridiculous) that she'd never be forgotten.

She was Warren Hughes' mother, and even Warren isn't seen about much these days, though he does usually turn up to Swancon when he's in town.

But that isn't her claim to fame. Nor is it scholarship, or geekiness, or artistry, or brilliant wit, or being a great organiser. No, it was much more than that. It was goodness. It was warmth, and gentleness, and a sense of fun that never hurt, and acceptance, and laughter and wisdom that went far beyond mere cleverness. If you needed a shoulder to cry on, you went to Mumfan. If you needed someone to rejoice with, that was her. She never asked you why. She always knew, because she always noticed.

She went away and died, one day. She never said, never gave a hint. But when it happened, we all - every fan who knew her - felt a bleak loss of, I suppose, dimension. It was more than the void a good person leaves in the lives of those around her. Mumfan was what a lot of us aren't. There was a stillness about her, a depth, a stable core, a bone-deep integrity that she communicated to us. When she listened and accepted, she helped us explain ourselves to ourselves, helped us learn be satisfied with what we are, and to know it was right.

We felt, all of us then, that we couldn't just let that go. We had to remember it at Swancon. We thought we'd do something in her memory for the person who did the most, unrewarded and unnoticed, to make the con a success - that is, a joy, a wonder, an affirmation of who we are, in our several and shambolic ways. We are fans. We are family, and she was mother to us all.

Previous winners of this heartfelt award include (...I removed the names here as I don't have their OK :-) ) all who embody the spirit in which this award is given.

This is one way in which the WA Science Fiction Foundation supports the community and the amazing energy that people give in order to organise events like Swancon for over thirty years. It is recognition for the difficult, unseen and largely uncelebrated work they have accomplished. It’s the kind of work that nobody usually sees, but WA fandom couldn’t run without it.

2007’s winner of this award is someone who has long upheld the values this award represents. They have given tirelessly over many years, often behind the scenes making sure things run smoothly. That such effort is not easy to pinpoint is a testament to their skill, and the difference it makes to the whole.

No one has been as dedicated and enthusiastic towards welcoming people into Swancon as this year’s winner. Many people will remember being impulsively invited along to lunch or dinner or room parties during the convention. They’re known for getting people talking to one another, sharing experiences, sharing support and mischief alike. You could say that they’re a good choice if you want to learn how to make the most out of your convention experience.
This person has the kind of sparkle that people tend to notice instantly. One person who remembers our winner’s first Swancon, said they’d never seen anyone “throw themselves headfirst into the sci-fi fan community” the way they did, that it was a “non-stop, headlong rush of enthusiasm from the moment she walked through the door” and now, several years later “she’s still rushing through”.

Another remembers that some con goers were surprised when they’d made a fuss of her, they replied that the reason they’d made a fuss was that “she threw herself into our community whole heartedly. That there had been people going for years who had in all that time not gotten as involved, or spoken to as many new people as she did during her first con.”
Since then, aside from all the conversations, the invitations, the socialising and welcoming that she does – that’s just the kind of person she is, she’s also supported numerous conventions, from photocopying, printing, bag stuffing, registration to massive single handed efforts in fundraising.

I asked to give this speech tonight. Because I still hold dear, the heartfelt memory of being introduced to Swancon for the first time. I was welcomed into the thick of it, where it was wild with joy, more fun than I’d ever had and the most incredible sense of community. That I am here tonight is thanks to a very special person within our midst.

I would like to present the 2007 Marge Hughes award to Sarah Parker.


Goodness. *wipes brow*
Now, I suppose I should start from the beginning, and work my way up to the end.


I'm probably going to keep this reasonably short, for me, because I am just terse at the moment, and a lot of memories were tinged with feeling sick or needing to sleep for more hours than there are in the day. :-) Also, I was in a right tizzy before the con, since the morning sickness was constant and overwhelming. Things are a lot better now, but I was really hitting the end of my tether on Thursday night. Ok, I lied. This is about as long as my normal reports are. :-)

Thursday
Get my stuff organized, get V's stuff organized, J's already done heaps. Rest if V lets me. We checked in and managed to miss the opening ceremony, which is funny because I spent most of the weekend going "Wasn't I there for that?" and just being wrong. Dinner at the Lido with a bunch of cool people, great to start well. My social calendar for Swancon is filled before the end of the dinner with bid parties and room parties. Cool. :-) Vinnie is Ok but not too happy, obviously tired and a little grumpy. Most of my lunch times are already filled as well, which is a bit of a surprise. I'm stressy, tense, and holding on with my teeth. Vinnie decides he doesn't want to sleep in the portacot but would rather run around the hotel room in circles going WHEEEE for hours straight. I take him to J's panel, where he runs around going WHEEEEE but I have helpers helping me. Handy, but then he got so tired he bit me, which is the first time in about six months, and he only does that when he is really tired. So the two of us retire, and he screams blue murder for the first hour of trying to get him to sleep. :-( Eventually he passes out, hoarse from crying and complaining about not being at home, and I sneak back into my clothes in the dark (I got into bed too, so he knew i was there) and snuck out to the common area just outside our bedroom, and got to chat to a few friends. I read them some of the Dance of Anger, which I am enjoying very much. I realise later that my skirt is inside out. :-) Classy, eh?

Friday
Our alarm clock woke us at 5 by standing in his cot and crying. I hadn't slept well at all, and had been staring at the clock until about 2ish, so bleary eyed and shocky we stumbled to upright positions. Con doesn't start until 8ish, so we re-arranged out plans so J took us all home. We got home at 6:30 in the morning. Fed V, played around for a bit, he was in bed again by 9, and me too. J returned to con in time for startup. I was exhausted and sick, and glad to be asleep. I woke at about 11, and had a shower and got dressed and was sitting on the couch staring out the window when J's parents arrive. I luff them so. :-) J launched Femmeconne for me *grin* with baby_elvis and emma_in_oz helping. He sent Kris home to get me! :-) Kris saw his parents, and got to bond with his dad which consisted of Rod saying "Bond bond!" and Kris going "Yup. Bond. Bye!" as he reversed out the drive way.

Managed to completely miss Professional Promotion, which I was looking forward to. Not sure what happened around here, but did end up at lunch with lie_xin and angriest, which was fantastic. And ..er..Tim? I think it was? He seemed nice. I took him to see the art show afterwards, which was very cool. I spent a lot of time resting, on Friday to try and make up for the night before, plus I had a 10:30 panel. Which I did make it too, but did rapidly run out of energy and was resigned to silently offering people ginger bears. They were yummy, but boy was I over ginger by the end of Swancon. Between them and the ginger beer, I was really over ginger. The taboo panel was interesting, in that we did not end up sitting around telling dirty stories like I thought we would, but we did decide there were a few things that were unconscious taboos - sports enthusiasm being one, Aboriginal fans or authors being another. There was more, but I was extremely tired.

Friday night was the box party, which was a lot of fun. My personal space is fluctuating wildly though - at times the crowd was fine, at other times I really needed to escape. Had a great chat with Neil, who is the first man I've ever spoken to who actually asked what it is like being a SAHM since his friends who were doing it were saying it's the worst job in the world. Unfortunately, I kind of have to agree, there's a lot wrong with it. It's also one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but it's still bloody hard work trying to stay sane. :-) There were a LOT of people at the box party. Good thing they had a big room.

I crashed pretty early, and slept like a dead thing. John had a shower and comes out asking me a question only to be greeted by snores. Dainty ones, of course!!

Saturday
I had sleep! All night long! And it was SOOOOO GOOOOOD! I think I ate breakfast. I have a copy of the program open while I am writing this, to remind myself of what I was doing. Instead, it is reminding me of all the stuff I wanted to get to, and failed, and I keep asking John what was I doing?? I was quite sicky that day, and I think there was a lot of napping going on. is this the day I walked to the chinesie bakery and bought enough custard puffs and etc to make myself feel worse? Eh, who knows?? :-) Actually, I think there was a gynaecon panel on... silences in SF/F which I had to attend since I am writing about that sort of thing. (I received some very nice comments tonight about some of my writing in fact *grin*). It was a good panel. Then we raced off for lunch at Lido, then raced back for the writing workshop, which was great except I needed to sleep and couldn't think of a starting sentence to save my life. :-) I think I napped after that, and then made it to the Trashy SF/F panel for a bit. I may have returned to napping some more. I was eating the pineapple custard buns at the Trashy SF/F panel, I remember that bit. :-)

Ok. Um. Saturday Dinner. We went to the Mela Indian, which was pretty damned awesome. I shared a Thali with Mynxii, we both needed a vegetable boost which was brilliant. I met kae_dash's boyfriend, and he seemed very nice. We went to the Moon before dinner, I remember. I hate that place. :-) Anyway, curries good. babalon_93 bought some stickies, seemly delighted that you can buy them for $16.50 a kilo. Thankfully, she did not buy a kilo. :-) Babalon_93 also brought along a costume for me, which was brilliant because I had a mental black hole about the masquerade and every time some one mentioned it to me, I had coherent conversations which I then instantly forgot. I got to wear a sari! And it was sooooo comfortable I declared I was only going to wear Saris for the whole pregnancy! I just need to run out and buy one now. Retired quickly, and went to the Bid Party where I sat quietly and held baby Spanky and listened to every one have a good time.

Sunday
I made it to Fat, Feminism and Fandom, where we decided Fans see beauty in non-normality. It was a good panel. We all sat in a circle and the babies played in the middle and Jo Squires has the most BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY EVAH! and there was chocolate. :-) After that, I retired to my room where I made a very special cake. I have not yet seen any photos on the net of the cake, but when I find them I shall post them. I cleaned the room a little, and finished the cake and babalon_93 arrived bearing foodstuffs for her going away party. The party went well, heaps of people came. Before the party, actually, was the Femmeconne discussion where we talked about our plans for this year and what we're hoping to do and what we're going to do. It will, of course, be awesome. I will be writing a report of that meeting when i find my paperwork, and feel as able as I feel right now. Back to Babalon_93's party. Went well. Heaps of people. Eventually I just dozed off and listened to people talk. I discovered that while you can doze, it's not enough when you're pregnant, so once every one ran off, I think I tried for another hour nap. It didn't work too well, but I was holding together. I made it down stairs for the launch, where they were just setting up. I sat down in a chair at the back, and just couldn't move. I think my blood sugar levels dropped too much, and I just started crying and shaking and being unable to cope. John ran off and got me a hot cup of tea and fred_mouse gave me some chocolate, so I was able to pull myself together while every one ran around me. I'd kind of skipped lunch, and while the weird fish biscuits were tasty (well, kind of buttery rather) they weren't a solid decent meal. Anyway. I felt better, and the launch happened. John won something. I was glad to just sit quietly the extra time. :-)

We went out for dinner. We went to a vietnamese resturaunt. The first few of our party walked in, and said "We need a table for ten," to get the very professional response: "YOU'RE KIDDING ME!" Food was very very very fast here. It's the vietnamese cafe and resturaunt opposide the Northbridge hotel. I raced back to get showered, made up, dressed and ready in less than ten minutes. I was presenting a Tin Duck, and it would be my first official speaking arrangement. I don't think I have ever used a microphone before, so I wanted to have time to practice before hand. Thankfully I wasn't the only person who wanted to practice the microphone thing, we all did a quick test during set up.

The room looked beautiful. Mynxii had gone to special effort to make the theme an after dark garden party, and the fairy lights and topiary trees looked gorgeous. The Tin Ducks were great this year too, and I thought maybe I should enter stuff to win one next year .... :-) I saw that there was a Mumfan award being given this year, and apart from a tiny wish it might be for me, I completely forgot about it, and concentrated on the Tin Duck reading. And then that was over and I concentrated on breathing and being glad it was over!

And then the Mumfan award. It still makes me cry, that people are so appreciative of every thing I have done over the years and years, partially I guess because I never thought I would get an award. The things I have done are so diverse; and every year or two I was doing something different. Awards are usually for talent in special areas, and my talents are not usually the ones that win awards. Mynxii has amazed me once again, for seeing right into me more than i expected any one to, I guess. She and Splanky did an awesome awesome job for my baby shower, and then she went and made an award night perfect for me. I hope every one gets to have friends like this. I cried a lot. I cried when I realised it was for me, I cried getting the award, I cried all night. I mean, sure, I'm tired, pregnant, hormonal, and was weepy the week before, but I just felt so much I couldn't keep it all contained, and so I cried and cried and cried. :-) But they were happy tears, and tears of disbelief. Dr_K bought me a champagne, my only drink with a percentage all weekend, and then I ran off to find John, who unfortunately had been scheduled on a panel at the same time! Oops, ah well. These things happen sometimes. :-)

And then I spent all night being congratulated and told how people were "not surprised" and "it was well deserved" and awesome things like that which made me cry more. Some of my friends were saying how they'd known for weeks, and every one had been too scared to talk to me about the up and coming con, because they were worried I might figure something was up, which made me laugh. I thought back, and yes, almost no one actually talked to me about the con at all... *grin* Went to chaosmanor and stephen_dedman's room party. It was getting a bit hard to breath in there with all the SMOFing in the air. :-)

I didn't sleep so well, but did go to bed with a smile on my face.

Monday
Breakfast involved lots of congrats and chats, which was really nice. I was in a lowkey mood, so sat and chatted with friends who I don't think have an LJ, as well as catundra and talmor, where I bounced an idea off them, and they returned with a better idea. I missed Surely 200 Pages is Enough, and Constructive Criticism. My writing career sucketh already. :-) But did make it to Helen's "More than a Metaphor - The Science of Feminist SF" where she declared she now disagreed with most of her own paper, so would just talk about interesting things instead. We all sat in a circle, and there was food again. :-)

Lunch involved the worst restuarunt in Northbridge. Not only did they say "we will clean that table and give it to you" and then give it to the next people, they lost the order and lied about it, took forever to take our order to begin with, lost our drinks as well, and then did not apologize. I think it was the Bin Minh. When I confirm, I'll fix this up. Horrible little people. Lunch took until 3pm, and shaz_girl was nearly fainting from lack of food. Horrible, horrible place. Got back in time for Principles and Paycheques, basically to learn that David Gerrold is Not A Nice Person and has no principles, though he likes to think he has paycheques. Far more interesting to hear chaosmanor talking about writing different voices well and being paid for it. And writing decent erotica. And angriest talking about his stuff.

And then it was closing ceremony, and we all had to go home! WTF was with that?? :-) So, it was a fantastic con, had a great time, and reading back, it seems like I didn't sleep through as much as I thought I would. Only problem I could see was that it might be a recommendation to limit non-guest panels to 6 or so, and no one ever gets more than 2 in a row more than once. But that's a minor issue, everything ran like a dream and oooo I really enjoyed Russel's talk on the survey they did, and the data he got from it. That was cool, and it was really nice to talk about market demographics and statistics and sound like I have a brain occasionally. :-) I got to see lilysea, which was lovely, didn't really get to see kremmen until the last day, and didn't get much of a chance to talk to kbpenguin either. I felt like I was very self absorbed the whole weekend; between my uterus and my stomach, and my sleep requirements I was often out of it even when I was out of bed. Got to see more of willowgypsy and cyps, who fitted in like missing puzzle peices, and had a chance to really chat with a few people I hadn't talked to much before. The funny thing about that speech talking about me nviting people to meals is that I did spend all Swancon going "We're going here for lunch - are you coming?" or "We're going to find food - want to come?" and "We'll SMS you when we get there..."

This year's con ran smoothly and beautiful, thommo, dafwarg, and stephpenguin, and the concom, you should be very proud of yourselves. I have heard people say this was the best con in years, and I think I might agree. When you do it again though, pick somewhere with a pool. *wink*

Comments

[stephiepenguin.livejournal.com]

I covet a SwanCon with a pool. I'm totally adding that to the 'list of things learnt 2007' for future reference.

I wanted to mention, the Vietnamese restaurant opposite Hotel Northbridge is so delightful. My parents go there all the time (me not so much, but that doesn't detractfrom its delightfulness). I am also in love with the Mela Masala, I ate there twice and I am dragging my mum there with me later this week, because I know that she will love it, too.

My only regret from this con was that I didn't have enough time to see all the people that I wanted to see, and go to all the things I wanted to, but I suppose it was a sacrifice that had to be made. I hope that I get the chance to talk with you sometime (next year or perhaps at femmeconne, if I make it), because you seem fabulous.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Awesome!! More compliments! I won't be able to go to Femmeconne cos my head won't fit into the valley!!

LOL

I think that the lack of time to catch up with every one you want to is going to be a problem for the rest of your swancons. I am SURE I come out of them every year mentally listing off the people I should have spent more time with ...

I was so looking forward to the Acacia/All Seasons again, because the food in northbridge is so damned awesome! And my morning sickness meant I had to be somewhat restrained in my choices! I want to go back to the indian place again! I was to try a dosi!!
:-)

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

I would like a copy of your list of things learned :)

I hope you make it to Femmeconne too - I'd love to spend some time :)

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

All I can really say is that I love you. Thank you. For being you, for introducing me, for mentoring me, being patient and loving me back, even when we don't agree or see eye to eye.

You deserve this and I'm very very proud of all you have achieve, and I wait with bated breath for all you will achieve.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

So I'm your most likely candidate to take over the world right now? No one else is stepping up to the plate?
*grin*

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

I figure that we'll each take a half ;P You can have your minions of darkness and I'll have mine - we'll meet in the middle and have a party :P

[angriest.livejournal.com]

I bags Scotland, which to be honest neither of you would want. It's cold and wet and full of ridiculously large red-haired cows.

The rest of the world, feel free. But Scotland is MINE!!!

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

I like Scotland! It has rolling hills and lots of mist!!! And mystery! And myth!

[angriest.livejournal.com]

Too late. I called shotgun on Scotland.

[mynxii.livejournal.com]

:Þ~~~

:)

[msvyvyan.livejournal.com]

What is SMOF? :)

And you do deserve that award. So happy for you. :)

[leahcim.livejournal.com]

What is SMOF?

There is no cabal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMOF).

[akire-yta.livejournal.com]

please keep moving, there are no smofs, nothing to see here...

[cheshirenoir.livejournal.com]

...and remember if someone describes themselves as a SMOF they probably aren't, but if several people describe an individual as a SMOF, that person probably is.

(I used to live with a SMOF. She was scary!)

[lucretiae.livejournal.com]

Lets just hope that the SMOFs and the World Domination Subcomittee never join up. Now that could be scary!

[callistra.livejournal.com]

*points at icon*
:-)
Hee hee heee
Not so secret secrets that run the world. Depending on who you talk to.
:-)

And thanks for the nice compliments on the award. I wish you were here sometimes, but I think Perth might be a bit boring for you now LOL

[dafwarg.livejournal.com]

you're welcome :) I'm glad you enjoyed yourself! And yes, I'll have to agree with Steph - when running a con there really isn't time to socialise a lot (or, you know, attend panels :P).

*ponders 2011* I think we should be able to find something with a pool - or at least a spa ;)

[callistra.livejournal.com]

I don't know if we could fot thirty people into a spa. I guess it's a challenge *grin*

[cyps.livejournal.com]

It was lovely meeting you and I'm glad we got a chance to chat at Pancakes.

[callistra.livejournal.com]

Pancakes is such a nice way to begin the trip back to normal life. I wanted to be there but just couldn't socialise the way I usually do, so thank you for coming and chatting to me!
:-)