Mission Report: Oz Comic-Con 10-11/9/16
Sydney- New South Wales 10-11/9/16
On a warm September weekend, the officers of the Shuttle Animus: Lieutenant Commander Ross Manuel (CO), Lieutenant Jasmin Jesenkovic (XO/CMO) and Crewman Emma Johnston travelled north to the centre of the patrol area of our mothership the USS Tydirium and attended arguably the largest event within their area of responsibility; Oz Comic-Con at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island.
Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia’s east coast, the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west. Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs, 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions. Residents of the city are known as “Sydneysiders”. As of June 2019, Sydney’s estimated metropolitan population was 5,312,163 and is home to approximately 65% of the state’s population.
GammaCon was located within the three building precinct of the Conference Centre, while the CO and XO had attended the event in the past, this would be the first time that we had a physical presence. Set up next to the 501st Legion’s Southern Cross Garrison (Black Tower Squad) and a selection of Daleks, we unveiled our updated backdrop wall (now with Perspex LCARS screens) and our prototype command chair.
On Saturday, the Animus crew supported our mother ship at their table, with both Lieutenant Jesenkovic and Crewman Johnston being quite a draw at the Captain’s Chair, and were off their feet the entire day with Trek fans of all ages stopping by to get their photo taken in the chair, including a number of people who had been following us on social media for several months.
Owing to the fact that the actual Sydney Exhibition Centre was under construction, the Glebe Island complex was prefabricated and such had the feeling of a much smaller event, even though it was one of the largest conventions in Australia.
On the Sunday we donned disguises and walked the convention floor as DC Bombshell’s Characters, with Emma as Wonder Woman, Jasmin as Super Girl and our CO as a Green Arrow of his own creation.
This was the first event where the Animus Pattern Unique Ship Device was premiered on the uniforms of both Jasmin and Emma, with the one worn by our CO originating from Goulburn Comic Con last year.
As always a staple in the Ty’s calendar, the Animus will most definitely attend this event again