Doctor Who Down Under Exploring the Australian Connections
By Doctor Who Online |
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If you've never visited Australia, it's worth considering. Australians
are well-known for their passion for cricket, an appreciation for cold
beers, and they also love to play
at Australian online casinos. Australians are also huge fans of
Doctor Who, and they have a deep connection with Doctor Who, dating back
to its early days. As one of the first countries outside the UK to
broadcast the show in January 1965, Australia played a significant role
in the Doctor Who journey. Additionally, Australian writers C.E. Webber
and Anthony Coburn made important contributions to the show's inception
and its first-ever story.
The Inception of Doctor Who in Australia
The history of Doctor Who in Australia began when the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
(ABC) acquired the series in March 1964, intending to premiere it in
May. However, the Australian Film Censorship Board (AFCB) categorized
the first 13 episodes as only suitable for young adults and up,
preventing the series from airing on Sundays at 6:30 PM. It wasn't until
January 1965 that the ABC found a suitable time slot, but once it did,
Australian audiences quickly embraced the show. The ABC became one of
the earliest and longest-standing purchasers of the series, providing
ample opportunities for Australian viewers to enjoy Doctor Who, often
with more prime-time first-run episodes and more repeats compared to
British audiences.
Fan Activity in the Land Down Under
With such a long history of broadcasting the show, Australia was also
one of the first nations to develop a strong fandom. Besides a few
branches of Keith Miller’s British Doctor Who club, there were also
rumours of a fun club in Sydney around 1974. However, none of these can
actually be confirmed.
The first Doctor Who national club appeared in August 1976 and was
founded by the members of the Sydney University Science Fiction
Association (SUSFA). Furthermore, they even planned to build a Dalek to
enter a race held at Melbourne University. They unexpectedly won the
race and continued to organize screenings of Dalek films and other such
events.
The Story of the “Save Doctor Who” Campaign
The power of the Australian Doctor Who movement became evident in 1976
when ABC decided not to purchase any new series episodes. In a protest
towards the decision, over 20 SUSFA members turned up outside the ABC
headquarters. Although it wasn’t much, it allowed the Whovians to meet
each other and expand the group.
Shortly after, ABC’s management decision was revealed in the student
newspaper, and all fans were called to start a letter-writing campaign
and to join the freshly-founded Australasian Doctor Who Fan Club. The
campaign involved creating posters and leaflets, networking with sci-fi
enthusiasts nationwide, conducting a radio interview, and writing
letters to various media outlets, not just ABC.
Finally, ABC changed its mind and did acquire the new series - seasons 2
and 3 -, and it’s not clear how much of the success can be attributed to
the SUSFA and Howe or due to great ratings registered by the BBC.
Doctor Who Clubs and Groups Across Australia
The Double Gammas were the first Australian and New Zealand fan award
system introduced by the Supreme Council of Time Lords. This happened in
1984, and the awards were open to all Doctor Who fanzines, fan writers,
and fan artists from Australia and New Zealand.
However, even earlier than that, The Queensland Doctor Who Fan Club had
already been up and running since 1978. The Brisbane Doctor Who Fan Club
is another great example of a movement that had great success.
Unfortunately, it was closed by 2000, but numerous local meetings and
conventions took place in modern years.
Final Thoughts
Doctor Who has garnered a massive global following, and Australia has
been no exception. With a history of broadcasting the show dating back
to January 1965, Australian fans have nurtured the show's popularity.
From fan clubs and campaigns to the 60th-anniversary celebration, which
will be broadcast on Disney+ in November 2023, Australians have remained
dedicated Whovians. This global phenomenon extends beyond Australia,
with
Doctor Who fans in countries like Japan also embracing the Doctor's
adventures, showcasing the show's enduring and widespread appeal.
©
Copyright Doctor Who Online, 2023. |
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Added:
11/10/2023
Written by:
Doctor Who Online |
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