The Camp of Chugnut

(in the nice Christian We don't want to do any thing "Nasty" kind of way)

2010 was my first experience of comics camp - and apart from fellow Ballaratian Antonio Woodward this was the first time I met any of THE great names in the Australian Comics scene!
I'm sure that every one of these people will deny that they are one of the Greats - but that was definitely how it felt for me going in to this camp!

I must admit that i was feeling a little intimidated - I didn't know these people - I had seen some of their work - and I had a distinct feeling that their stuff was well above the calibre of my own!

But I was convinced by my friend and fellow comics artist (actually the guy who got me into drawing comics in the first place) Anthony Wooodward, to go to Camp Chugnut and meet these people and hang out with them - and possibly prove myself! He didn't say that exactly, but that was how it felt for me!

So we organised to head off together! Since I don't drive, I was the map reader! Luckily I do this well (being an experience non-driver) and we got there much quicker then we thought - allowing for traffic!

When we got to Camp Eureka - we found Pat Grant and John Retallick in the main room - Pat already had his sketch book out - and I could see immediately that this was going to be a serious weekend. I hoped even more then ever that I wouldn't embarrass myself! Both Pat and John were very welcoming - they obviously knew Anthony previously - so I almost felt like I had an immediate "in" - though I still felt like I needed to 'earn my place' (all this was I THINK in my head - but for some reason I couldn't see these guys as 'normal' people - they were much higher in my mind and I therefore had to work hard or submit to be allowed into their realm of greatness - or to even get a look at it!)

It didn't take me long to get my pens and sketch book out - this is what I had been waiting for for so long - all I wanted to do was spend the weekend hanging out with other people who draw comics - draw them myself and not feel like I really had to do much else - but not be a burden to everyone else!

I think I should note in here that it was I who won the "Who can draw the best garlic?" competition between myself and Michael Fikaris at approx. 2am on the first night -a competition, held after much alcohol and of which origins I cannot recall , and which I do believe was initiated my Michael Fikaris himself!

In total -- the weekend was SUPERB! Not only was it a great time for me to meet all these people I had never met - who are not only new friends, but new friends with like minds - but it was also a great time to actually get to know some of these people - and I feel that there is really not many better ways to get to know people then when you are playing them in table tennis!

I don't recall really winning - but I think that I held my own... maybe a little (that is until Bernard came on the scene and I got blown out of the water by Bernard and Andrew!)

Comics camp was great for me - I feel like I have built the beginnings of some possibly great friendships - and if nothing else I have met some of the people that I have for some time looked up to and respected in the Australian comic arts and zine scenes!

I'm trying to find some way to lighten this up and make i not so 'suck arse' before I really sign it off - so I'll just reiterate that "IT WAS ME WHO WON THE 'WHO CAN DRAW THE BEST GARLIC' COMPETITION" YYYEEEESSSSS!!!

and...

I REALLY wasn't THAT bad at table tennis!