Newsletter - March 2020

View this email in your browser March 2020 Mardi Gras Parade – Saturday 29 February 2020 There were about 100 excited 78ers, partners and guests in our Mardi Gras Parade 2020 78ers contingent. We carried the new 78ers The First Mardi Gras Australia banner (provided by Mardi Gras) and placards made by 78ers in the MG Workshop. The 78ers once again received a great reception from the estimated 300,000 spectators and we were able to enjoy the more spacious 78er areas at both the Parade Marshalling area and the new viewing area. The bus to Central after the Parade, however, is on the must improve list for next year! Thanks to the SGLMG elected 78ers Committee for organising the float and communicating with 78ers as well as passing on our concerns to Mardi Gras. Thanks to Sandra Gobbo for posting the photo collections to both our Facebook pages and our website https://www.78ers.org.au/. And many thanks to William Brougham for videoing the Mardi Gras Parade and our Lavender Menace forum and to Jeffrey Feng for his Parade photos of us. A big thank you to Meagan Lawson from COTA who marched with our contingent to photograph 78ers during the night. Photo Jeffrey Feng. Video of 78ers at Taylor Square William Brougham Daylesford, Wagga & Hay Mardi Gras – Saturday 7, 14 & 28 March 2020 Help carry this banner with other 78ers in the upcoming Daylesford ChillOut Festival and the Wagga Wagga and Hay Mardi Gras Parades. To join us, please contact Helen Gollan on 0427 042 810 (text only) or Barry Charles on 0404 241 308. 78ers also have plans to attend the Newcastle and Tamworth Prides and the Broken Heel Festival later in the year. A Lavender Menace? Forum – Saturday 15 February About 70 women and a number of men enjoyed the forum. Dr Sophie Robinson, Dr Sue Wills and Robyn Plaister spoke on the pivotal role of lesbians in early lesbian and gay movements.  Also marked was the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Australasian Lesbian Movement. Many fine contributions were made during the Q&A. The forum – hosted jointly by First Mardi Gras Inc. and Pride History Group – is the first in a series: 50 Fabulous Years of Liberation. Photo William Brougham. Video of Forum William Brougham Fair Day – Sunday 16 February 2020 At Fair Day, the 78ers tent was one of the coolest and breeziest places to visit. We had a steady stream of people asking about our history as well as 78ers visiting. A raffle was popular and raised funds for the pre-Parade social gathering for all 78ers. SGLMG 78ers Committee members Rae Giffen and Lance Mumby spoke from the main stage. 78er Peter de Waal also spoke on the 50th anniversary of the formation of CAMP Inc. – the Campaign Against Moral Persecution. Below: Rae Giffen and Lance Mumby speaking at Fair Day on behalf of 78ers. Photo Diane Minnis History Walks: Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 February  Robert French led two history walks during the 2020 Mardi Gras season: Saturday 22 February – 10th Anniversary ACON Spark Youth Group Walk, King’s Cross and Oxford Street. Sunday 23 February 2020 – 30th Anniversary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Walk: The Colony of Sydney and its Gay History. Pictured above is the large crowd who attended the SPI Walk, where Robert was canonised as Saint Robert of the Rainbow Chronicles. Reunion42: Friday 28 February, Colombian Hotel First Mardi Gras Inc. again hosted our pre-Parade social gathering for 78ers, their partners and friends at the Columbian Hotel. We had a great roll-up with a lot of catching up with old friends and interest in the raffle and lucky door prize. 78ers also collected t-shirts again provided by SGLMG. Photo below William Brougham Mardi Gras Parade 2020 Photos Photo William Brougham. Video of whole Mardi Gras Parade William Brougham Two photos above Meagan Lawson. Photo below Gordana Drakulic  Photos below Meagan Lawson, except for photo of Robert with flag, Jeffrey Feng  Calendar of Events Saturday 7 March 2020 – Daylesford ChillOut Festival Parade Saturday 14 March 2020 – Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade  Saturday 21 March 2020 - First Mardi Gras Inc. General Meeting, Macleay Room, Rex Centre, 58A Macleay St (entrance near Baroda St), Potts Point Saturday 28 March 2020 – Hay Mardi Gras Parade Participation Grants FMG Inc. members can apply for small grants to assist with projects that reflect FMG Inc. objectives. Grants may be used to help with: Part travel costs Part conference registration fees Administrative costs (postage, photocopying) Purchase of materials and resources. For further details email us at info@78ers.org.au.