Here's one for all the Dr Who fans that didn't read The Weekend Australian:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,23988950-5010800,00.html

With great sadness we must report that veteran actor Don S. Davis
passed away on June 29, 2008. He was 65 years old.

Don co-starred on Stargate SG-1 for the show's first seven years,
helping to launch the enduring science fiction franchise. Davis played
Major General George Hammond, base commander and a father figure to
many of the show's characters.

He is also well-known for his portrayal of Major Garland Briggs in
Twin Peaks.

Off-screen, Don was beloved by the show's cast and crew. He departed
the show in 2003 due to a medical condition that restricted his
workload, but returned for several guest appearances on SG-1 and
Stargate Atlantis in the following years. Don worked hard to improve
his health, and continued to work both on screen and off until his death.

The following message was provided by Don's representative and his
wife, Ruby Fleming-Davis:

Dear Fans and Friends of Don S. Davis,

So many of you have been touched by not only the work and art of Don
S. Davis, but by the man himself, who always took the time to be with
you at the appearances he loved, that it is with a tremendous sense of
loss I must share with you that Don passed away from a massive heart
attack on Sunday morning, June 29th.

On behalf of his family and wife, Ruby, we thank you for your prayers
and condolences. A family memorial where Don's ashes will be scattered
in the ocean will take place in a few weeks, and should you wish to,
please make a donation to the American Heart Association in Don's memory.


Born August 4, 1942 in Aurora, Missouri and raised there, Don received
a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in theater and art
from Southwest Missouri State College in 1965. He then served three
years on active duty in the United States Army, entering as a Second
Lieutenant. He rose to the rank of Captain and was stationed in Korea
before completing his required tour of active duty.

Upon leaving the army, Don began working toward a Master's degree in
theater at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, and
received his Master's degree in 1970. He taught at the University of
British Columbia for a decade before returning to SIU to complete his
coursework for a PhD in theater, receiving the degree in 1982.

Don's list of film and television credits is lengthy, dating back to
1982. He met Stargate co-star Richard Dean Anderson on the set of
MacGyver, where Don worked as a stunt double for actor Dana Elcar.

When production on Stargate SG-1 began in 1997, the producers tapped
Davis to play the base commander -- originally written to be a
by-the-book antagonist, but quickly softened by Don's own personality
and experience.

In 2003 Don married his soul mate and the great love of his life, Ruby
Fleming-Davis. The two have resided in British Columbia with their
three dogs, Teto, Ming and Charley.

Don's off-screen career as an artist blossomed especially in the years
since he left Stargate. A look at his Web site, DonSDavisArt.com,
reveals his tremendous gifts in painting, drawing, and woodcarving.

Don's final Stargate appearance is in Stargate: Continuum, the SG-1
DVD movie that will be released July 29 in North America and August 18
in the United Kingdom. He will also appear in the forthcoming films
"Vipers," "Woodshop," and "Far Cry," according to the Internet Movie
Database.

Many fans of Don's work have had the opportunity to meet him in
person, as he was also a regular face at fan conventions around the
world. Fans learned that behind General Hammond was a Southern
gentleman with a big heart, a no-nonsense attitude, and all the love
and respect one could imagine.

GateWorld's editors visited with Don in 2006, where he talked at
length about his career, his time on Stargate, and his feelings about
his fellow cast members. That two-part video interview, "Intimate
Portrait," may be found in the Interviews archive.

Services for Don S. Davis will be small and private in Vancouver. His
Web sites will be updated this week, and his obituary has been
published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper. In lieu of flowers or gifts,
the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart
Association in Don's memory.

---

To: SFFiG@...
From: grombek@...
Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:44:27 +1000
Subject: [SFFiG] Doctor Who Club results

I'm very pleased to announce that at the recent elections for the Doctor Who Club of Victoria, our very own member Judith McGuinness took the Presidency by a very close margin!

Congratulations to Judith and I look forward to seeing what she will be doing with the club in the coming year, including next April's 30th Anniversary for the club.

Also congratulations to another of our members, Craig Hill for keeping his seat as Vice President.

 

~Ben Hughes

---

To: SFFiG@...
From: blackreyn1666@...
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:37:06 +0000
Subject: [SFFiG] Re: Check out my Facebook profile

For those on Facebook here's our link (hope it works):

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5848472397

If that doesn't work type SFFiG into the group search

--- In SFFiG@yahoogroups.com.au, Mark Fielding <qonos2000@...> wrote:
>
>
> I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want
to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join,
you can also create your own profile.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
> Here's the link:
> http://www.facebook.com/p.php?
i=532499625&k=Z6DX33T63ZWM5AB1VC4ZXQ&r&v=2
>
> ___________________
> This e-mail may contain promotional materials. If you do not wish to receive future
commercial mailings from Facebook, please click on the link below. Facebook's offices are
located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.
> http://www.facebook.com/o.php?u=1360712695&k=c8b430
>

For those on Facebook here's our link (hope it works):

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5848472397

If that doesn't work type SFFiG into the group search

--- In SFFiG@..., Mark Fielding <qonos2000@...> wrote:
>
>
> I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events
and I want
to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once
you join,
you can also create your own profile.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
>
> Here's the link:
> http://www.facebook.com/p.php?
i=532499625&k=Z6DX33T63ZWM5AB1VC4ZXQ&r&v=2
>
> ___________________
> This e-mail may contain promotional materials. If you do not wish to receive
future
commercial mailings from Facebook, please click on the link below. Facebook's
offices are
located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.
> http://www.facebook.com/o.php?u=1360712695&k=c8b430
>

---

To: SFFiG@...
From: grombek@...
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:43:09 +1000
Subject: [SFFiG] What next?

Dear People,

Time for some input. I'm not going to say I'm stuggling for ideas, instead it's time to gather some ideas from our wider community. That sounds much better.

So what would you like to do? Tell us anything you'd like, no matter the logistics yet - someone may have an idea to make it work that you hadn't thought of.

 

Currently, short-term ideas include:

Show & Tell: Bring along your geeky possessions to show off.

Anime discussion: Tell everyone what your favourite anime is and why it should be their favourite as well!

Zone 3: Always a good excuse to shoot people.

Bowling: Fun, social, and then we can compete with other nearby sci-fi clubs :-D

 

Got other ideas?

 

You Want Suggestions?  Here's just a few:

Movie Night at one of the cinemas (including a dinner)
Movie Night followed by ten pin bowling

TV Marathon:  At another club I belonged to, we used to get people to
suggest their favourite Sci-Fi TV programs, and then program a random
selection of episodes and watch them over a long weekend. We screened
programs continuously, day and night!
Movie Marathon:  Variation of the above, except with movies
*If a weekend is too long, we also had 24 hours non-stop and 12 hours
non stop

Games Days: Bring along your favourite board or computer game

Inter Club Activities:  We used to have a wonderful time competing
with other Sci Fi Clubs in Cricket, Ten Pin Bowling, Soccer, Aussie
Rules etc.  Something along those lines?

Inter Club meetings - where two or more clubs combine for one big meeting.

Meals:   Take your pick between breakfast, lunch and dinner and get
together for a good old chin wag over something to eat

Walking Marathons:  Follow a set of instructions to find certain
things around the town.  Along the way, you may be expected to collect
things, spot things or answer some questions on your way around.  Can
be a load of fun!

Karaoke:  Only if your game!

Social Activities:  Wool Museum, Ford Museum, tour of the Gaol, Mini
Golf or ordinary golf, Botanical Gardens, Fishing, Timezone.

That should give you some food for thought to start with!


--- In SFFiG@..., "Ben Hughes" <grombek@...> wrote:
>
> Dear People,
> Time for some input. I'm not going to say I'm stuggling for ideas,
instead
> it's time to gather some ideas from our wider community. That sounds
much
> better.
> So what would you like to do? Tell us anything you'd like, no matter the
> logistics yet - someone may have an idea to make it work that you hadn't
> thought of.
>
> Currently, short-term ideas include:
> Show & Tell: Bring along your geeky possessions to show off.
> Anime discussion: Tell everyone what your favourite anime is and why it
> should be their favourite as well!
> Zone 3: Always a good excuse to shoot people.
> Bowling: Fun, social, and then we can compete with other nearby
sci-fi clubs
> :-D
>
> Got other ideas?
>