Data Extract Turns Forty

The newsletter of the Doctor Who Club of Australia, Data Extract, turns forty this month. 

The magazine was first published on November 24th 1980 under the title of the Australasian Doctor Who Newsletter. It wasn't until issue 23 in July-August 1983 that the titled changed to Data Extract following a competition for readers to come up with a catchy name. The winner was Kevin Smedley of Sunbury who came up with the name Australasian Who's Who. Although declared the winner and receiving a lifetime subscription to the newsletter, the name wasn't used as the editor, Dallas Jones decided to use his own idea and call the magazine Data Extract.

The headline is the first edition was Tom Baker Quits announcing the departure of the longest-serving actor to play the role of The Doctor.  

The next three issues of Data Extract (247, 248 and 249) will include a plethora of features celebrating this 40-year milestone, including recollections from past editors and articles about the history of the publication.

Issue 247, due for release next week, looks at Christopher Eccleston's return to the role of the Doctor, interviews Thomas Crawford on his Satellite 5 fan productions and goes behind the scenes with Brand Manager Edward Russell on recreating the Beatles Abbey Road cover with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and two Daleks.

There is also a report on a  Who themed wedding, a count down the best honeymoon locations in the Whoniverse, a hunt for Campsie's missing TARDIS library and a discussion of the conspiracy of The Curator with the Boffin.

Readers can also check out the Lockdown Season with UK correspondent Bel Bailey-Melouney, discover the origins of the Doctor's dark side in War of the Valeyard and launch the first part of the Jason Towers comic 'Old Sixie versus the Bridge of Doom', telling the true tale of how the DWCA forced Colin Baker to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

If you aren't a current member of the DWCA you can subscribe online