In this January edition of the First Mardi Gras Inc. Newsletter, we have:
- Diane Minnis and Rebbell Barnes on 78ers Cocktail Party – Thursday 23 February
- Sue Fletcher and Karl Zlotkowski on Mardi Gras Parade and Harbour Bridge Pride March!
- City of Sydney invitation to the Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony – Friday 17 February
- Information on The Coming Back Out Salon – Saturday 18 February
- How to register for the InterPride Reception – Monday 27 February
- Garry Wotherspoon on the City of Sydney Oxford Street Art Panels
- Robyn Kennedy on the CAMP play, Seymour Centre –15 February to 4 March
- Rebbell Barnes and Bill Ashton on How to get your 78ers badges.
- Calendar of Events.
First Mardi Gras Inc. Pre Mardi Gras Lunch is on at 12pm, Sunday 5 February 2023, Terminus Hotel, Pyrmont, downstairs room, RSVP info@78ers.org.au.
Diane Minnis
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The Sydney Kings would like to invite two 78ers to attend the NBL Champion Pride Round on Sunday 29 January at Qudos Bank Arena.
- 1.30pm Sydney Flames V Townsville Fire (WNBL)
- 4:00pm Sydney Kings V SE Melbourne Phoenix (NBL)
The Champion Pride Round will promote, celebrate and give thanks to the LGBTQ community, while showcasing basketball as a sport striving to provide a safe, healthy and accessible environment for all.
Email info@78ers.org.au and we will put you in touch with the Sydney Kings.
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We know you have kept this date free, and you can now get your tickets to the 78ers Cocktail Party on Thursday 23 February from 6.30-9pm.
Diageo Australia, a leading premium spirits company, are kindly hosting us in their function centre at 99 Macquarie Street, Sydney and providing most of the drinks. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is supplying the beer and Sydney WorldPride is contributing to the cost of food catering.
First Mardi Gras Inc. is grateful to these sponsors for enabling us to put on this event – a gathering of the clan to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Last year, we costed venue hire and in-house catering and the prices were exorbitant and out of reach for us.
Please note that we have less capacity than in 2018, only 130 spaces. So book your ticket as soon as you get this newsletter.
Booking requests for this event are limited to 78ers and their partners (who may or may not be 78ers themselves). Due to capacity limitations at the venue, bookings cannot exceed two per party. Multiple bookings will not be accepted.
Booking requests will be confirmed by email from Eventbrite on a first-come first-served basis, up to the capacity limit of the venue. Thereafter booking requests will be placed on a wait list for cancellations.
Final confirmation of each booking will be sent by email from First Mardi Gras Inc.
The entrance to the 78ers Cocktail Party will be in the laneway next to 99 Macquarie Street, Sydney – look for the Satchi logo and a 78ers Cocktail Party sign.
Looking forward to celebrating with you on Thursday 23 February!
Diane Minnis and Rebbell Barnes
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Co-Chair and Committee Member
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Are you a 78er or do you know someone who is a 78er and wants to march in the Mardi Gras Parade with other 78ers? If you are, you need to register with Mardi Gras and the cut-off for registrations is the 30 January.
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 78ers Committee is coordinating 78ers marching in the 2023 Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, 25 February 2023.
SGLMG sent an email to 78ers asking you to register. The email has a link so 78ers can nominate to march with 78ers and advise if 78ers are interested in the reserved 78er seating at the end of the parade in the Side Show area, located on the corner of Albion and Flinders streets.
The allocation of seating is limited as is the number of people who can march with 78ers. We will have more in the 78ers contingent than there are seats available, due to restrictions on available space. If you do NOT need a seat to watch the end of the parade please let us know NOW so we can secure it for someone who does.
The cut-off for registrations is 30 January. If you have already registered, you don’t need to re-register, as this email is a reminder to everyone who hasn’t registered. Places are being snapped up, so this will be the last reminder.
T-shirts
Mardi Gras will again supply t-shirts for 78ers who do not already have one. T-shirts are available for all 78ers, not just those who join us in the Parade in Sydney. If you want a t-shirt, in the email SGLMG sent, enter your name, nominate your size (based on standard men's sizes) and we will get the t-shirt to you.
Hats
To add a bit more colour and movement to our float, SGLMG will be providing sparkling pink hats….we will be handing hats out to those who want them when we assemble next to the bus.
Placards
This year we will be carrying placards continuing our theme of 50 Years of Visibility – 15 placards will salute events from 1973, such as Law Reform in South Australia. In addition, the 78ers bus will display two large banners addressing issues of concern to our community in 2023: Unsolved Hate Murders – WHY? and Indigenous Voice – VOTE YES!
Harbour Bridge Pride March on Sunday 5 March
At the time of writing, WorldPride is yet to provide an update on the logistics, but we can advise that you have been sent an email asking you to register.
We can also confirm 78ers will march as a group across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The walk is from North Sydney train station to the Domain. We will gather near North Sydney station at 6:30am sharp, ready to lead off after 7am. The march will end at approximately 8:30am in the Domain.
Importantly, you should nominate your intention to join the march at 7am on the day if you wish to join the 78er group. You are free to nominate another time later in the morning if you wish, but you will not be part of the 78er group.
The logistics of this event are difficult, and the physical task of walking from North Sydney Station all the way to the Domain may be challenging for some.
If you’d like to join the Harbour Bridge Pride March complete the first part of the form. If you need some help, please let us know at info@78ers.org.au as soon as possible. Likewise, if you’re from out of town and feel you may need help with the trip to Sydney for any WorldPride events; let us know as soon as you can.
We look forward to being back on the street in 2023 and hope to see you there!
Sue Fletcher and Karl Zlotkowski
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Member and Secretary
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As we prepare for Mardi Gras and WorldPride, the City of Sydney would like to invite all 78ers to attend the Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at the Town Hall at 5pm on Friday, 17 February.
This is the start of Mardi Gras 2023 and the first of the Mardi Gras/World Pride events. The Lord Mayor will make a special presentation on the evening.
To register you (and partner) for the Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony, complete the third part of the form. The City of Sydney will then email you an invitation to which you will need to RSVP. |
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Tickets are now on sale for The Coming Back Out Salon, a spectacular celebration of LGBTIQ+ older people and elders.
An afternoon concert and tea dance celebration in which the LGBTIQ+ broader community can gather alongside our LGBTIQ+ elders to eat, drink, dance, reminisce and dream together into the future.
Featuring The Sydney Youth Orchestra, Robyn Archer, Deborah Cheetham, Paul Capsis, Nana Miss Koori, Tina Del Twist, Nefertiti LaNegra, The Huxleys, with more performers to be announced.
This looks like a great event for 78ers with a cocktail hour, concert (with seats for all) and then dancing for those whose knees can take it!
Saturday 18 February 2023, 2pm - 6pm
Sydney Town Hall
Dress: Fabulous!
Tickets: $50 Full / $40 Concession + Booking fees
Tickets are affordable to ensure everyone can attend. If ticket prices are too much for older folk, please get in touch.
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This is InterPride’s invite-only event to welcome travellers to Sydney for WorldPride and all 78ers and their partners are invited!
You can mix and mingle with InterPride invited guests, the festival team, Human Rights Conference scholars, city officials and talent at the Town Hall. It's the perfect way to say gidday to all our friends from across the world.
The Reception starts at 6pm, Monday 27 February 2023, Sydney Town Hall and is a free, invite-only event. To attend, enter your name, and the name of your partner/guest, on the second part of the form. |
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The City of Sydney has recently erected artwork panels, by artist Amy Blue, on Oxford and nearby streets that celebrate the LGBTIQ+ history of the area.
The panels are great and they go all the way around from Foley Street to Oxford Street and up to Palmer Street. They are very colourful, and conducive to "ah, remember that'! The 78ers get two mentions – see the photos above and below.
Garry Wotherspoon
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Member
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78er badges are $5 each and postage is $3.09 (total $8.09). Postage is still $3.09 for up to five badges. To order badges, email your name, postal address and the number of badges required to info@78ers.org.au. Then make your payment by funds transfer. You can also post a cheque.
Rebbell Barnes and Bill Ashton
78ers and First Mardi Gras Inc. Committee Members
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Calendar of Events
- First Mardi Gras Inc. Pre Mardi Gras Lunch – 12pm, Sunday 5 February 2023, Terminus Hotel, Pyrmont, downstairs room, RSVP by email
- The Coming Back Out Salon – 2-6pm, Saturday 18 February 2023, Sydney Town Hall, https://moshtix.com.au/.../the-coming-back-out-salon/143631
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day – 10am-9pm, Sunday 19 February 2023, Victoria Park
- First Mardi Gras Inc. 78ers 45th Anniversary Cocktail Party – 6.30-9pm, Thursday 23 February 2023, Diageo, 99 Macquarie Street Sydney
- Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade – Saturday 25 February 2023
- Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference – Wednesday to Friday 2-4 March 2023, https://sydneyworldpride.com/
- Pride History Group Conference Reception – 6.30-9pm, Friday 3 March 2023, Pride History Conference — PRIDE HISTORY GROUP
- Pride History Group Conference – 9am-5.30pm, Saturday 4 March 2023, Marrickville Library Pavilion, Pride History Conference — PRIDE HISTORY GROUP
- Sydney WorldPride Harbour Bridge Pride March – Sunday 5 March 2023
- Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras Parade and After Party – Saturday 11 March 2023, Wagga Mardi Gras | The biggest party Wagga's ever seen!
- Tropical Fruits (Lismore) Easter Party – April TBC 2023, Events - Tropical Fruits
- Broken Heel Festival, Broken Hill – September TBC 2023
- Sapphire Coast Pride, Bega Valley, www.Facebook.com/groups/sapphirecoastpride
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