2019 Paint+Take Survey

Will this be the miniature you paint?
Vote in the survey to choose!

The ever popular Paint+Take returns for 2019, and as always YOU get to choose the miniatures!
You'll find a survey here which will let you choose your favourite minis (don't worry if you change your mind - you can edit your responses after you've entered them)
The survey will be open until May 29th.

What is Paint+Take? It's simple! We supply a whole bunch of miniatures, paints and paint brushes, and YOU get to paint them - and you also get to take home any miniatures you paint!
But wait, in the immortal words of Tim Shaw, THERE'S MORE! There are also painting contests with fabulous prizes!

The Escape Room

GeekFest 2018 is proud to announce our escape room for 2018!
In groups of 2-5, you will be locked in our real life escape room. With only thirty minutes on the clock, you'll need to work as a team to solve a series of puzzles that will test your logic, communication, team work and lateral thinking.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL!
Book via 5655 1811 or email

GeekFest 2018 presenters: Joe Italiano

"I have been involved with comics since I was twelve. While still in college, in 1977 I began a comic mail order business, which has since expanded to become Alternate Worlds in 1988. Alternate Worlds covers retail, wholesale and distribution of comics and collectables. Alternate Worlds is the oldest comic based business in Australia and one of the oldest in the World.

I was there at the birth of CCG’s (Collectable Card games) and CMG (Collectable miniature gaming) and have been playing many since, competing in various championships. I have numerous, untold final 4 positions, Australian titles in various systems as well as World championship titles in a few. I was appointed Australian TO (Tournament Organizer) for a number of companies and their gaming systems. My fondest memory of CCG was a game called Wyvern, for which I broke the system (I told them how and that the victory conditions should be changed) and so they did.

During this time, my love of role playing (RPG) inspired me to fill a void in the RPG vacuum and I wrote a Super Hero RPG “Super Squadron” which was released in 1983. Although it was very well received and I release two expansions for the game and a newsstand gaming magazine, my hobbies were not giving me enough of a return, so I expanded my comic mail order into a fully fledged store.

In 1990 I ran another Comicon called Supecom, although successful, I realized I was stretching myself thin adding conventions back into the mix, so I dropped out of this type of convention scene.

I have one of the most extensive comic collections in the world, covering both the US publications and Australian comics. My final year of Graphic Design History thesis was based on comic history/influence, which earned me a Higher Distinction for the year. (By this stage, even my professors were more appreciative of comic art). I am knowledgeable in the evolution and history of comic books as well as their collectability and grading. I think it’s time I shared this knowledge."

Joe from Alternate Worlds will be discussing the art of pop culture and comic collectables. Bring along your treasures as Joe will be giving evaluations on selected items from the crowd in an ‘Antique Roadshow’ style talk.

GeekFest 2018 Presenters: Craig Fison

Craig Fison is a designer and Maker. He has worked on some of the best known films over the last 25 years .

Imagine a lad From Kwinana, an industrial town south of Perth W.A. with no prospects except going into industry busting out and rebelling from the school that once told him he would never make a living from art.

Well with a list from Star Wars, Moulin Rouge, Mission Impossible 2, Cleopatra, The matrix etc etc the list goes on just google his name.

He has worked all around the world In theatre and on films making props and painting scenery for all number of productions. He has specialised in miniatures over the last 15 years and was the Art Director On Adam Elliots Feature length Stop Motion Animation Film “Mary an Max ” which was all shot in a small warehouse in Melbourne.

He has currently been bring his skills to everyones doors by combining his theatrical skills and artist talents in a Mix of Interior design and Set building enabling people to feel like they are on the set of a lavish film or giving the sense that your on holidays in your own home or at you favourite restaurant. check out his web page www.craigfison.com.au or follow him on Instagram @ artprojector, Or come to geek fest and listen to him Give a talk on sets props and miniatures.

GeekFest 2018 presenters: Sandra Reid

Working as a Costume Maker with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre (London) and Glyndebourne Festival Opera (Sussex), Alexandra (aka Sandra Reid) moved to BBC Television as a Costume Designer in 1964 working on drama and light entertainment productions, principally ‘Dr. Who’, for which she designed the Mark 1 and Mark 2 Cybermen.
After moving to Australia in 1968 she lectured in Costume, Fashion, Textiles and the decorative arts; her principal design credits being with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, both on staff and as a freelancer. Alexandra has also worked in the corporate sector as a trainer in Effective Speaking and Personal Presentation; in retail, employed by Myer Melbourne in the Import Fashion Dept.
Following her positions in the UK with Glyndebourne Opera in 2000/2001 and 2004/2006 she returned to Australia. Along with occasional appearances as a guest speaker she has recently begun writing her autobiography.

Paint+Take 2018 survey

At GeekFest 2018 we're letting YOU choose the Paint+Take miniatures. Please follow the link to the survey and vote on your favourite figures in each of the nine categories. We'll be ordering the most popular figure in each category for your painting pleasure come January 21st. The survey will close on October 31st.

GeekFest 2018 Presenters: Jennifer Windt.

Time travel is not just science fiction—in fact, we all engage in mental time travel, and we do so all the time. We time travel when we remember past experiences, but also when we anticipate future ones. And we time travel in spontaneous fantasy or daydreams—as well as when we fall asleep and dream at night. In this talk, I will explore the role of time travel in our conscious lives. Might time travel even be closely intertwined with our sense of self and identity?

Jennifer M. Windt is a lecturer in philosophy at Monash University. Her research centers on philosophy of mind and philosophy of cognitive science, with a particular focus on mind wandering and spontaneous thought in wakefulness, dreaming, sleep, and self-consciousness. She is the author of Dreaming (2015, MIT) and together with Thomas Metzinger edited Open MIND (2016, MIT; an open access version is available at open-mind.net). As of July 2017, she is starting a 3-year research project on mind wandering in wakefulness and sleep funded by the Australian Research Council.

GeekFest 2018 Presenters: Matthew Lee.

Matthew is the editor and publisher of The Campaigner magazine, a tabletop lifestyle publication put together in Australia but available to the world. He is also owner of game and hobby media services company Motive Force, and a member of Tabletop Game Designers Australia.

Have a magazine, book or other publication you want to make, but don’t know where to start? Join Matthew as he talks about the basics of creating physical media. Learn about how to get started, and what options you have when bringing your creation to life.

Paint+Take 2018

First Place 2017, by Nik Top.

Ever looked at all those awesome figures online or in the gaming magazines and wanted to learn how to paint them for yourself? Well your luck is in - Paint+Take returns for 2018!  The rules of Paint+Take are simple - if you paint it, you can take it. We provide the miniatures, brushes and paints, plus a handy place mat (because we get in trouble when you paint on the actual tables...) with basic painting instructions on it. There are a whole plethora of Reaper Bones miniatures to choose from, and each table is provided with a choice of eleven paints including two metallics.

Painting Classes:
Want to learn more advanced techniques? There will be two hour long painting workshops run in the very same venue by a large man with a beard.
Learn to paint Skin and Fur: 1000-1100
Learn to paint Armour and Cloth: 1300-1400

Second Place 2017, Pete Spiller

Painting Contest:
The traditional GeekFest Paint+Take Painting Contest also returns with first, second and third prizes for best figure painted at GeekFest. There are also a number of 'Cool paint job' awards - these don't go to the best painted figures but to the ones with the coolest ideas.
Entry is simple - just paint a figure in the Paint+Take building, leave your name, a contact number AND the miniature with the organisers and come back at 1615 when the winners will be announced and showered with prizes!
This year's contest is divided into:
Junior (under 16)
Open (over 16)

Photo Booth:
The Paint+Take Photo Booth returns! Once you've finished painting your amazing mini, why not take a photo in our amazing photo booth and share it online? The photo booth has been designed to offer a range of spectacular backdrops and uses LED lighting.

Gladys; (2017 demo)

Gauntfield; (2017 demo)

Blue Wizard; (2017 demo)

GeekFest 2018 dates and theme announced.

GeekFest 2018 will take place in January 21st 2018. We have decided to introduce an annual theme to the event - 2018's theme is... TIME TRAVEL!

See you there!

The Graewolfe Exhibit

Renowned crafter of steampunk artefacts to the gentry, James Graewolfe will be running a pop-up museum of his artefacts, as well as dellivering two presentations; Joys and Advantages of Steampunk and Steampunk Prop and Costume Making. He will also be selling his wares.

Geekabilly Girl by Bambi L'Amour

Annemiek Nelligan makes geeky jewellery and accessories under the wonderful name of Geekabilly Girl by Bambi L'Amour. She specialises in items inspired by and featuring pop cultural icons from super heroes to video game characters.

Hobby Bastion

Hobby Bastion, Warragul's noted bastion of hobbies will be at GeekFest 2017 dealing in games. They will also be running demo games in X-Wing, Pokemon CCG, Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer 40,000.

Alternate Worlds

Alternate Worlds, dealers in finest games, comics, collectables and other such goodness will not only be at GeekFest 2017, they will also be running demo games!

Jungle Speed:

The game revolves around matching cards with identical symbols, and it has some similarities to the game Snap. The similarities between some of the symbols, as well as some of the extra rules, make the game rather challenging.
Cards are dealt to each player face down, ensuring that all players have an equal number of cards in their stacks. A wooden cylinder called a Totem is placed in the center of the table, equidistant from all players. Any remaining cards that cannot be distributed equitably are placed under the totem in an area known as the Pot. Players take turns playing the top card from their stacks in a clockwise rotation. When a player plays a card that matches the symbol of another player's top card, the two players must duel to grab the totem in the center as quickly as possible. The loser of the duel takes both players' played cards, as well as any cards in the pot, and places them at the bottom of his deck. There are also three special effect cards that come into play. Note that biting is permitted in the rules of Jungle Speed.

Check out a video of the game here.

Highland CCG:

Highlander: The Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Highlander franchise of films and television series. Players build decks from a 400+ card set, taking on the persona of one of the Immortals depicted in the franchise. The core of the game takes the form of a sword duel with players alternately playing attacks and defenses. Other cards are played to affect the basic rules of the game. You win when your opponent is reduced to 0 ability or cannot avoid a "headshot" attack (i.e. decapitation, the only way to permanently kill an Immortal within the franchise canon)

Star Queens: The Fierce Awakens

STAR QUEENS. THE FIERCE AWAKENS is a Star Wars Drag Show which takes you on a fabulous light speed journey through deep space in a galaxy far, far away. Starring Philmah Bocks & Art Simone, the girls visit classic moments from the original films, incorporating their left of centre creativity and humour. Sourcing Australia's best costume designers, they have produced a set of jaw-dropping couture, accompanied by a fierce soundtrack mixed and produced by DJ Argonaut and choreography by Two Of A Kind. The show is produced by Philmah Bocks with the signature twisted entertainment that both Philmah & Art are well known for, this is one epic show surely not to be missed.

And this year, they will also be presenting their take of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert.

The Star Queens will be performing on the verandah of the Pig and Whistle cafe twice daily (1300 and 1600), as well as mingling with the crowds and delivering a discussion on makeup. Philma Art and Jemima have also agreed to be cosplay judges.

Face Painting

Sammie Top of Cooking with Colour Face Painting and Catering will not be catering for GeekFest. She will be painting faces however. Lash out the princely sum of $2.50 for a cheek, $5 for half a face OR $10 for a full face! And yes, she CAN do Darth Maul.

Contest reminder

Here we are, nearly Chirstmas, but more importantly, very nearly GeekFest 2017!
In case you hadn't noticed, or you need a gentle reminder, we're running a bunch of awesome contests, including:

• Cake decoration!
• Figure painting!
• Film making!
• Story writing!
• Lego building!

and many more! Check out the contests page from the menu or this very handy link, and get to work on your entries!

Trebuchets and tribulations with Grant Truman

The real thing at Cardiff Castle, Wales.

First time GeekFest presenter Grant Truman builds working model trebuchets. You know, the medieval siege catapaults? And at GeekFest, not only will be be talking about the making of medieval siege equipment, he'll be there to help you to build your own model trebuchet and then use it to flatten a castle!
He will be located in the palatial workshops of Coal Creek's joinery*

*I've never been in there. I just assume they're palatial. Your mileage may vary.

Animelab

Animelab will be returning to GeekFest 2017, screening a fine selection of Anime trailers and demos in the Mechanics' Institute.

Get Geeked with Dragon Ball Z

Ben Sinnbeck, luxuriantly bearded owner of Get Geeked, Wonthaggi's own dealer in the important things in life like TCGs, CCGs, Funko Pops, Boardgames and tiny pots of paint is pleased to announce that Get Geeked will be running a bunch of cool Dragon Ball Z stuff at GeekFest 2017!
There will be learn to play sessions, demo games and a beginner tournament on Saturday, followed by the DBZ championships on Sunday. There will also be a full range of DBZ cards and accessories on sale, and a magnificent custom play mat up for grabs!
Check out more details over at Get Geeked.