His involvement with SPACE AGE BOOKS, was I know, of immense satisfac* tion to him. It was inevitable that with his love of books and diversification of business interests, that he would become involved with selling books. Purely by a chance passing mention in conversation in 1970 at a Science Fiction Convention in Sydney, he learnt of my passion to own a bookshop of my own, and SPACE AGE Has bom. Unfortunately,although SPACE AGE has been quite successful , it has not been the overall financial success that I would have liked it to be; which would have repaid Ron for his unflagging faith in me. As a businessman, Ron had a long,varied and successful career. Bom the son of a miner, Ron started as an apprentice boilermaker at Clyde Engineer­ ing, progressing to the drawing office RONALD E. GRAHAM 1908-79 but returned to the boilermaking until the depression. In 1931, Ron obtained a It is with deep regret that I must yerne, He concluded the letter with a miner's license and enjoyed that year announce the passing of Australia's fervant hope that AMAZING would renript gold mining at Copeland near Forster number one Science Fiction fan, Ron Hall 8 Flint's THE BLIND SPOT, bntil, in partnership with a friend, Graham. He died on Sunday the 11th of Fred Sayer, he opened his own boiler - February after suffering a stroke and Ron had an insatiable appetite for making shop, Graham and Sayer. This coma, from which he did not recover. Ron any books in anyway approaching Science business lasted a year,when due to had been collecting Science Fiction for Fiction and Fantasy, If there were customer's late payments, the partner­ many years, and made many friends all numerous bookshops in a place he was ship was dissolved. Fred Sayer opened over Australia and overseas. visiting, he would simply have to visit a Coke,Coal and Produce store, Ron everyone, and he inevitably came out opened a fruiterers. Six months later, His collection of Science Fiction with arms loaded, or arranged for them Ron sold this to his uncle and returned books, magazines, artwork and associated to be forwarded. This is how I first to Clyde Engineering. material, is one of the most comprehen­ met Ron, at McGill's Newsagency, where sive in the world. His passion to he always made a bee-line for whenever In 1935, Ron joined Babcock's and complete his collection of WEIRD TALES he was in Melbourne. He took a great Wilcox as a structural draftsman - the unfortunately, was never realised. The interest in the activities of the beginning of a long and happy association. collection will, we believe, be going Melbourne SF Club, and frequently made In 1955, Ron left Babcock's 8 Wilcox,by intact to the University of New South donations of books and cash to the club now their chief draftsman, and opened Wales, Fisher Library. Ron had a in Melbourne and conventions. If he did his own design engineering office, and section built onto his house in Roseville hot directly contribute, he certainly within a few months, had work from BHP, to house his library, which was completed helped fill the convention cash tins by Colonial Sugar,Lever Bros and others. in 1975, just before AUSSIECON. Many paying top prices for items that took Starting with four men, he had such a visitors from interstate and overseas his fancy in the auction. successful first year that at the end of have been invited to view this collection it, Ron was employing one hundred and twelve people. and partake of Ron's always generous He was keen to support Science hospitality. Fiction publishing in Australia, but when he did venture into the publishing world, Since then,the Graham Group, as it is now, No doubt he will be missed by has continued to expand, currently his magazine VISION OF TOMORROW was providing work for one hundred and the many friends he made at the World edited and printed in England. This seventy five people, though nowadays, Science Fiction Conventions. He had created problems, which I feel in time, design engineering is but a small part attended more than any other fan in would have been overcome, but distribution Australia. Being invited to a party or hassles killed VISION after twelve issues. of the Group's activity which encompasses galvanising, gratings manufacture, dinner given by Ron at an SF Convention, He helped Paul Collins with his second welding and zinc plating. Ron retired was for many people a highlight of their book OTHER WORLDS, and he always wanted convention attendance. from full-time management five years to become involved again directly in ago, and the firm is now under the publishing Science Fiction and Fantasy. As most overseas and longstanding SF capable guidance of his son, Peter. fans will know, it is a rare privilage He was awarded two 'DITMARS' for to be a member of the first fandom, his publishing efforts. In 1976 at the Throughout his business career, Ron membership being open only to fans who Played a major and active role in the World Science Convention in MIDAMERICAN, were active in fandom prior to 1940. Ron in Kansas City, he was awarded the guidance of manufacturing standards as a member of the Australian Standards was adjudged eligibleobecause of a letter E.Everett Evans 'BIG HEART’ MEMORIAL he had published in May 1928 AMAZING AWARD, It is to be hoped that an , Association. This participation STORIES, which praised Frank.R,Paul's culminating in his official represent­ appropiate way of remembering Ron will be illustrations and A.A,Merritt's stories, organised by the Science Fiction ation of Australia at the United Nations lambasted H,G.Wells and vinified Jules fraternity. Conference on Standards, Heksinki,1961. been largely responsible for the rebirth A personal achievment of which Ron was Probably the last highlight was of Fantasy as a popular and respected understandably, very proud. special guest Terry Carr's speech, which form of literature. was rambling, informative,personal and He was very much the family man, as delightgully spicy. During his entire There followed one of the soon-to-be- I observed at the funeral of his wife in time in Sydney, Terry proved to be very familiar long breaks, with nothing November 197S. Dearly loved indeed by genial.easy-going, friendly and helpful - scheduled before the post-dinner masquer­ his three sons and daughter, and their a most welcome visitor. children in turn. I hope that they can ade but Doctor Who renlays and films. The masquerade was enthusiastically attended: understand how much we will miss him The only other items of import­ there weren't many great costumes, but also, and that they have the most sincere ance were the business session, at which heartfelt sympathy of all his Science lots of people tried to at least do something. Then came the most spontaneous the two-year-in-advance bidding idea was Fiction fan friends. not ratified, and where Monash beat event of the Con, The Great Foyer Kitsch AUSFA in bidding for UNICON VI (to be held Singalong, led by the shameless Jack BOILERMAKER, BIBLIOMANE, BOOKSELLER, at Easter,with Joe Haldeman as GOH):and Herman and ably supported by the Amazing BUSINESSMAN, DRAFTSMAN, ENGINEER, FAMILY the final discussion of the Australia Trekettes and a comic male relief chorus, MAN, GOLD MINER AND PUBLISHER. in 83 bid. Things were a bit confusing very few of whom could lay any claim to but we went a long way towards solving any operatic talents. This motley crew This was also our fellow fan,friend problems - future summit conferences and partner. RONALD EDWARD GRAHAM. He had the great good fortune to disrupt should manage to iron out the remaining will be sorely missed. the showing of a truely abysmal film, differences. Throughout the convention, The Ultimate Warrior, with a rousing Terry Carr was extremely enthusiastic MERVYN.R.BINNS rendition of the Mickey Mouse theme song about the bid,and had several useful chorus! - a great victory for "good"bad comments to make. (N.B, My thanks to Keith Curtis who was taste. (This scene also had the dubious one. of Ron's clc sest friends over the last honour of being recorded on film,alleged­ Last of all was the Farewell, few years, for the latter part of the ly for the consumption of interstate fen followed by the traditional Dead Dog above from Keith's introduction to the but probably for some far more sinister Party. This was held at Sydney's famous THE FAN GUEST OF HONOUR-RON GRAHAM at his purpose. .) . Moira Crescent Sian Shack, (partly be way last convention,UNICON V.) of a house-cooling), and was by all After this scene, the room means one of the strangest (and most parties were somewhat anti-climatic but enjoyable) parties ever held there... a UN I CON V very fun-indeed these were probably the most fitting end to a convention whose WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT A THREE-DAY highlights of the weekend. There was ROOM PARTY ? main highlights were usally of a fannish the Smof/bnf party. The Pulpcon party, get-together nature. the Trekker party, the dope party, and several booze parties (Several of these From the advance publicity,UNICON V So that was UNICON V. It was UNICON were amalgamated...) and few ended before looked like a relaxacon, and indeed it V on a much smaller scale;it was more three AM. was;however,it was a great opportunity friendly,perhaps because with few people for reunions and fannish fun and games.