Greetings from the desk of Miss Tick, and a Happy Hogswatch to you all.
As any sensible witch knows - though sensible witches are regrettably rarer than one might hope - there comes a time in the turning of the seasons when even a well-behaved broom begins to twitch with impatience, and the cauldron develops opinions of its own.
This is usually a sign that the world is up to something again. Therefore, in the interest of preparedness (and avoiding the sort of surprises that ruin good boots), I present this month's Brooms and Cauldrons newsletter: a modest compendium of guidance, warnings, and the occasional sharp prod of common sense.
In this edition of Broomsticks and Cauldrons you will find:
Want to commemorate your visit to the Discworld and your Xciting adventures with the Witches of Lancre and The Chalk?
Our lovely convention t-shirts and mugs are now available to preorder for those attending the Australian Discworld Convention in 2026.
Special conditions apply - see our website shop for Xplicit details.
Two! months! remain until your chance to upgrade at the Early Bird price is finished, finito, fini1.
How does it work? Well, if you purchased a supporting membership before or on 9th August 2025, you may still upgrade to an attending membership at the Early Bird price - but only until 31st January 2026.
Follow this link to upgrade your supporting membership.
No time to waste... don't diddle or daddle... this opportunity - which includes upgrading all at once, or by instalments - ends 31st January 2026.
(After this date, you'll have to upgrade to the standard attending membership price, regardless of when you purchased your supporting membership.)
Haven't got any membership yet? Visit the shop to get your attending membership now!
Here's a sneak peek from our charity auction catalogue to whet your appetite for Sydney's Australian Discworld Convention.
Richard Kurti and Bev Doyle2 have generously donated scripts from their outstanding 2010 television adaptation of Going Postal.
Signed and dedicated by both writers, these scripts will tantalise and Xcite any Discworld fan and are something that a collector's bookshelf shouldn't be without.
Also included, bonus bookmarks from Richard's recent crime novel release, Requiem of Revenge (4.47 stars on Goodreads!).
For more sneak peeks, check the socials or stay tuned for the next Broomsticks and Cauldrons newsletter.
Pratchat is a monthly Terry Pratchett and Discworld book club podcast, which launched in October 2017. Hosted by two Australian Pratchett fans, writer Elizabeth Flux and comedian Ben McKenzie, Pratchat reads and discusses one of Pratchett's books or short stories every month with a special guest - and not just the Discworld ones!
Don't miss out. A Pratchat episode, now a Nullus Anxietas convention tradition, will be recorded live from the Stamford Plaza Sydney Airport Hotel. "Bee there Orr Bee a Rectangular Thyng"3
Doctors Pat and Jan Harkin are long-time fans and friends of Terry Pratchett. They are regulars at Discworld conventions all over the world, with Pat as the Discworld Auctioneer at many of these events. Fun fact, Pat was once questioned by customs about the large collection of yellow ducks4 in his suitcase bound for a Discworld Convention.
Vicki, Jim and Jay have been working for over a decade to bring Good Omens: The Musical - based on the novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - to the stage.
More about all these fabulous people can be found on our website's Guests page.
Rob Wilkins worked with Terry Pratchett for over twenty years, first as his personal assistant and later as his business manager. When Rob will turn up for a chat is anyone's guess (it's quantum), but it's always a pleasant surprise when he does.
Darren Jones is an amateur musicologist with a special interest in music therapy. He is a longtime Discworld fan and first came to our attention after he performed a punk version of our very own Hogswatch song on his YouTube channel, DJ Boogie.
More about all these fabulous people can be found on our website's Guests page.
Witches have a long, proud history of gathering to display their prowess in the Craft, ensuring a sense of pride, accomplishment and complete lack of bloodshed5.
All who practice the Craft are invited to display their skills at the Nullus Anxietas X Witch Trials (a.k.a. The Maskerade), be it in cosplay, for a talent, or with a prop.
Step up and show your peers your best Pig Trick6! If you are handy with a hot glue gun, nifty with a needle, or magic on a microphone, we want to see you shine by bonfire light. Who knows, you may even get an approving nod from Granny!
Visit our website for more about the Maskerade Witch Trials. Entry forms will be available in early 2026.
Fresh off the clacks all the way from Genua:
Lady Lilith de Tempscire cordially invites you to her Grand Masked Ball and Carnivale on the evening of Saturday, 11th April 2026.
Step into a night of mystery, merriment, and music - where masks conceal, revelry reigns, and every guest becomes part of the spectacle.
Find out more about the Gala Dinner here, and purchase your tickets in the shop.
The Australian Discworld Convention is entirely run by volunteers, and we need a large number of volunteers beyond the committee for the convention to run smoothly. No special skills required, just enthusiasm (although if you do have some special skills, we'd love to know about them!). If you'd like to volunteer and haven't already done so, please fill out the form here.
A huge thank you to those of you who have already sent in your forms. We would like to remind you that all volunteers need to be attending members of the convention. If you have missed that step, then please upgrade your supporting membership or purchase your full membership.
Memberships for Nullus Anxietas X - Australian Discworld Convention - 10-12 April 2026 in Sydney, NSW, can be purchased here.
As always, if you'd like to volunteer at the convention, we'll need your help, no expertise required... Please fill out the volunteer form.
Wait... This is your first convention and you have no idea wot's wot? Go to the Newcomer's ABC for everything you didn't know you wanted to know, including a special playlist of special videos for you, special newcomers, made specially.
Until then, wotcha, and Happy Hogswatch!
1 finagling, filing, feegling CRIVENS!
2 who will also be Zooming in to chat to us!
3 from Soul Music
4 What duck?
5 no guarantees
6 pig or no pig
