Graeme and I enjoyed a terrific afternoon at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum where two of the current exhibitions were right up our street: exhibitions featuring fashions and photographs from Kylie Minogue and about the fiftieth anniversary of television in Australia.
The Kylie exhibition came about through a large donation to the Victorian Arts Centre (I think) of dresses, illustrations, production notes, etc by Kylie herself. The donation has been transformed into an exhibition which features a range of Kylie’s well known clothing including, spectacularly, the 50p gold pants bought at an op-shop and then made famous in “Spinning Around” and the hooded outfit from “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head”.
Although she has been through many “stages” – from the Neighbours days, through Stock Aitken Waterman, through indie-Kylie, through “gay Kylie” – as you wander around the exhibition a “Kylie-style” emerges. I’m not exactly sure, however, how to best describe the Kylie style, but some things do emerge: for example, the clothes are designed to match her tiny size. At one point, an eight year child next to us, honestly said of the denim shorts, “They’re so small, I could wear those”. I think there’s also a multi-layered element to many of the designs and also a “fashion school” ethos in some of the experimentation.
The television exhibition, by its very nature, is far more broad, and thus far more enjoyable. Although emphasising the nostalgia associated with the television programming itself, the exhibition also features some of the technology and seeks to explain how it has also infuenced the output.
Highlights of the exhibition for me included the opportunity to watch some classic moments from favourite childhood programs, including “Number 96”, “The Box” and “Certain Women”. Yeah, I know they’re not children’s program, but they’re certainly strong memories of my childhood that I haven’t been able to relive in recent years, despite the availability of DVD.
On a totally different level, it was just amazing to see how plain some of the television costumes were in real life, including the Aunty Jack costume and a fairly plain house dress from the “Mavis Bramstom” show.
In all, we probably spent about 30 minutes at Kylie and 90 minutes in the television exhibition. Both were good in their own ways, and represented a very good $10 entrance fee investment.
NOTE: This article is under constant revision, as new bits and pieces of information come to light. If you have any further bits and pieces of information to add, please contribute in the comments below.
The first words Colin Anderson ever spoke to me are etched in my memory. Colin, the Head of Drama at Charles Sturt University, had a presence that preceded him. With a career forged in the theaters of Sydney and London, his reputation, particularly at Sydney University, was cemented by his legendary performance of the song about the “Eternity Man,” Arthur Stace.
Eternity Documentary 1994 directed by Lawrence Johnston https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109749/Colin’s life as “Wagga’s Mr Theatre” remembered in The Daily Advertiser (10-07-2014).
Newly arrived in Wagga Wagga, I was still finding my feet – literally. My temporary residence? Romano’s pub. Just a week into my new gig as the Morning Show presenter at ABC Riverina, I found myself at a party at Colin Anderson’s house.
I was a bit out of my element. “Who are you and what are you doing at my party?” he asked me.
Quick as a flash, I replied, “Gavin and Bryce brought me along. They said if I wanted to meet all of the interesting people in Wagga, I should get to know you.” A chuckle rumbled from his chest, and with a twinkle in his eye, he declared, “Good answer, you can stay.”
That chance encounter sparked a friendship that lasted for many years, right up until his passing. It’s a story I even shared at his funeral.
This was long before gay cafes, bars, or the internet. While LGBTQIA+ people certainly existed, social connections were often forged in private spaces, through invitation and word-of-mouth.
Seeking connection, I headed to the Victory Memorial Gardens, a park in the heart of Wagga. Even today, there’s a stigma attached to these kinds of “cruising” spots, often unfairly associated solely with public sex. But back then, they were vital meeting places for gay men in rural towns, spaces to simply chat and connect, especially during the warmer months.
That’s where I met Gavin and Bryce, who, in turn, led me to that fateful party at Colin’s.
1992 – SYDNEY GAY AND LESBIAN CHOIR VISITS WAGGA
What seemed like a typical choral championship became a national media sensation. The appearance of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, a newly formed ensemble still finding its voice, unexpectedly thrust the organizers into the spotlight.
Stephen Schaefer, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir’s founding Music Director, reflected on the 1992 National Choral Championships in Wagga Wagga as a pivotal moment for the choir. “It was a coming of age,” he shared in a 2021 interview. Facing prejudice and controversy, the choir’s decision to compete under their own name, and their subsequent victory, solidified their identity and purpose. It was a defining moment not only for the choir, but for LGBTQ+ visibility in Australia. (Interview 31/03/21)
In a move that underscored the prevailing prejudices of the time, organizers of the 1992 National Choral Championships in Wagga Wagga asked the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir to suppress their identity by changing their name to the more ambiguous “Eastern Suburbs G & L Choir.
Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser, April 30, 1992
Meredith Knight, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir’s former Secretary, vividly remembers the tense negotiations surrounding the choir’s name leading up to the 1992 National Choral Championships in Wagga Wagga. As the person who filed the application, she had a front-row seat to the organizers’ attempts to pressure the choir into suppressing their identity. What compromises were offered? What strategies did the choir employ to resist? Knight’s recollections offer a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in the choir’s history.
For one woman, the idea of the choir going to Wagga filled her with dread.
The moment arrived. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir took the stage for their Wagga Wagga debut. Suddenly, a figure rose from the audience – Tom Hillis, a prominent local car dealer. He turned his back on the choir in a gesture of blatant disapproval. But then, a voice rang out, clear and defiant, “Sit down, Tom, you silly old fool!” Whether this heckle truly happened or is merely a cherished legend, it perfectly captures the spirit of defiance that permeated the air. And in the end, despite the protest and prejudice, the choir triumphed. They won!
“We got a positive reception from the Wagga people… They were very pleased that we were here; they were very pleased that we won,” a choir member shared on ABC Radio’s “The World Today” on August 31, 1992. This statement, however, presents a somewhat rosy picture compared to the experiences of prejudice and resistance the choir also faced during the Championships. It highlights the complex and often contradictory reactions the choir encountered in Wagga Wagga, a community grappling with changing social attitudes.Months later, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir made a bold statement at the 1993 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Marching proudly, they declared themselves “Too Sexy for Wagga,” turning the controversy into a badge of honor. This playful act of defiance, captured in the film “Something to Sing About,” showcased the choir’s resilience and their ability to find humor in adversity.
The choir came back for the 1993 National Choral Championships to defend their title, and a film about that experience was made, to be released in 1995.
This is a short radio feature I made about the story.
1992 – FORMATION OF THE RGLSSG
The choir’s visit seemed to ignite a spark in the community. While the exact timeline is a bit hazy now, the Riverina Gay & Lesbian Support & Social Group emerged soon after, fueled by the excitement and sense of possibility generated by the Sydney singers.
Interestingly, one of our members, Peter Lloyd, revealed that this wasn’t the first attempt at creating a gay social group in Wagga Wagga. An earlier iteration, called “SWAG” or “South West Association of Gays,” had existed sometime before. Peter, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, would often recount how he once deflected a curious inquiry at the bank about the meaning of “SWAG” with a sly, “South West Amateur Golfers.” His witty evasion speaks volumes about the challenges of being openly gay in those days.
Our inaugural RGLSSG event was held at Chris Jones’s farm, sometime in August, if memory serves. Chris, a Charles Sturt University alumnus and a rising star in the film industry, had generously offered his place. His house, a treasure trove of film props, provided the perfect backdrop for our gathering. But first, we had a farm to tame! Chris, busy with his film commitments (including a stint as the “animal department co-ordinator” on “Babe”!), had left us with a rather overgrown property. A weekend working bee ensued, with much grass-mowing and frantic tidying. As the day of the party approached, anxieties swirled. How many people would dare to show up? Would the police raid us? Those fears were real back then. But in the end, around fifty people arrived, and the atmosphere was electric with relief and joy.
FORMING A GROUP WASN’T EASY THEN
Richard Roberts, one of our early members and a social work professor at Charles Sturt University, captured the essence of our struggle in a powerful article titled “Men Who Have Sex With Men In The Bush – Impediments to the formation of gay communities in some rural areas.” Several of us were interviewed for the piece, sharing our experiences of navigating the challenges of building a community in the face of stigma, prejudice, and the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Richard’s research shed light on the unique difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ people in rural Australia during those tumultuous times.
The Rural Outreach Project under the auspices of the AIDS Council of NSW is making an important contribution to facilitating the formation and consolidation of gay networks and organisations in rural NSW.
“Men Who Have Sex With Men In The Bush – Impediments to the formation of gay communities in some rural areas” by Richard Roberts, Rural Society Volume 2, Number 3, 1992.
THE ONLY GAYS IN THE VILLAGE
During my own initiation to the bush I was confronted by a solicitor (engaged for conveyancing) informing me that a senior manager of my workplace was ‘a practising homosexual’ and that he did not approve of ‘practising homosexuals’.
“Factors Influencing the Formation of Gay and Lesbian Communities in Rural Areas”, Richard Roberts, National AIDS Bulletin April 1993, Volume: 7, Issue: 3
Tony was born in Sydney in 1963 and moved to Wagga Wagga, a small town in regional NSW with his family six years later. After his parents separated in 1970 Tony moved in the public housing with his mother and his two younger siblings. Tony explains that while there was a strong Aboriginal community in Wagga Wagga but he was surrounded by white families and they never talked about being Aboriginal. Tony resented his hometown and endured racism and homophobia from other students “who made my life hell” during high school and concluded “out of Sydney it’s just a nightmare if you’re gay”
Group member, Tony Creighton in “HIV Survivors in Sydney: Memories of the Epidemic” by Cheryl Ware.
Incidentally, Tony who died in 2015, was also interviewed for a collection in the National Library https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6387184 (Recorded on 20 October 2013 in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.) Access closed until 2034. The book by Cheryl Ware also indicates Tony created a documentary, “Black & Out” which documented many of the experiences of Aboriginal men who are gay, which you can watch on SBS on Demand.
I am a 29 year old who wants to come out but doesn’t know how to go about it. My employment while officially recognising gays frowns strongly and prejudices harshly.
RGLSSG correspondence 1995
One night I was walking across the bridge over Wollundry Lagoon. Two drunk guys were on the other side of the road, and one yelled out look, there’s a faggot let’s go bash him up. They didn’t, but the fear was always there.
Allan, Wagga born, quoted in an exhibition about queer history at the Riverina Museum in 2017
MOMENTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS
The following years were a whirlwind of activity. We hosted a vibrant mix of events, from formal gatherings and lively parties to casual coffee meet-ups and thought-provoking discussions. Our community expanded beyond Wagga Wagga, forging connections with LGBTQ+ groups in neighboring towns like Griffith and Albury. For a time, a separate women’s group, “Women Out & About In Wagga,” flourished alongside ours. But we soon realized that unity brought strength and even more fun! In 1994, we officially merged, creating a more inclusive and dynamic community.
Some examples of newsletters of the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support & Social Group
In July 1993, the renowned poet, Dorothy Porter began a six-weeks residency at the Wagga Writers Centre at Charles Sturt University. As a fairly well known lesbian at the time, there was a lot of interest around her residency, and she was involved in a number of events.
Sandy is attempting to organise a function so Dorothy is able to meet members of the region’s lesbian community. It will probably be in the form of a pot luck dinner.
RGLSSG Newsletter July 1993
In the Western Riverina people have been getting into the spirit of things by celebrating Christmas in June. A number of people made the long distance trek from Griffith to Ardlethan to attend a dinner early in June. In the Eastern Riverina, the mystery car rally found its way to another equally wintery spot, Adelong in the mountains. It was a wonderful afternoon culminating at lunch at The Old Pharmacy.
RGLSSG Newsletter July 1993
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIV/AIDS
In the early 1990s, AIDS was still a very big issue for our community.
Two members of the group have participated in the Aids Council’s Rural Outreach Training Project for Gay Men. Issues covered over the two day workshop, Covered, for example safer sex, listening skills, gay identity, beats and discrim ination. An informal gathering and much socialising over the weekend contributed to a sense of camaradare and helped to break down barriers. A highlight of Day 1 was an explanation of the mechanics of HIV, explained in a manner that was both detailed, yet understandable. The trainer also explained how drugs like AZT and ddI help combat the virus. A highlight of Day 2 was a frank discussion of beats in the country, their social and sexual roles. (It wasn’t long, however, before the trainer soon realised he was dealing with experts in the field !!) Another highlight of Day 2 was the opportunity to hear and share the experiences of three men living in the country who are HIV+. Only two days together, but a true sense of belonginess developed from share experience.
Glen Andersson in the RGLSSG Newsletter, December 1992
At the end of 1992, the AIDS Quilt came to Wagga and was hosted at the local office of ABC Radio.
PAULA DENHAM, has recently commenced work as the region’s Sexual Health Nurse. Paula, a registered nurse with six years experience, has been working in Sydney in HIV with gay men and intravenous drug users. She has also worked as a carer for people with HIV and has a personal interest in HIV/AIDS issues. “I have a couple of close friends with AIDS.” she says. She believes “informed choice” is the most important part of her job, giving people information, so they can make choices for themselves.
RGLSSG Newsletter, May 1993
Amidst the growing concern about HIV/AIDS, the local Health Department took a proactive step by establishing a community-based AIDS Task Force. I remember attending a forum chaired by Deputy Mayor John Harding in May 1993. A newsletter from that time paints a stark picture: 50 people in the South West Health Region had either fallen ill or died from AIDS in just three years. The forum, featuring keynote speaker Bill Bowtell, then National President of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, drew a crowd of over 170 people, demonstrating the community’s deep concern and its willingness to confront the crisis head-on
One of the members of the group, Andrew Bishop from Cootamundra, had been living with HIV/AIDS for a number of years. After several years living in Sydney, he returned to his hometown. He wrote a piece about his experiences in the HIV/AIDS journal, “Talkabout”.
Most of the people that I came in contact with believed that the sun was setting, so to speak. I did not have much time left. Well I fooled them. I then joined the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Social and Support Group which has its headquarters in beautiful downtown Wagga Wagga. Just the name brings terror to ones heart. Wagga Wagga. I then attended their social event of the year. The Christmas party. That was fun. That was where I met the lovely Glen who was to become my friend and love. This opened me to the endless social events on the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support Groups calendar. (These events being private and public). I quickly formed a group of friends. They are a good lot of fellas and girls, as we say here in the outback. But the support and help for someone positive like myself is minimal. I have been very lucky. But I have spoken to some boys in the area that feel lonely and isolated. We don’t have the support groups as Sydney has. Sure, you have family, friends and nursing support, but nobody knows how you feel until you’re there yourself. To be able to talk about your anxieties, fears and doubts to someone who knows.
Bishop, A. (1994), ‘A Wagga Boy’s Own Story’, Talk About, July, 30 – 31 (full article here)
Andrew Bishop, a member of the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support and Social Group, proudly marching in the 1994 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
It was so nice to be reminded of those days and the amazing work you and the others did as well to support the development of the group down in Wagga Wagga. I think it is so great you are writing this piece and ensuring all the time, effort and good work associated with the group is recorded for history. It is important to validate gay history and especially so in rural and regional areas.
Nigel Carrington, former Rural Outreach Officer, ACON in an email, February 2021.
1993 WAGGA WAGGA GETS A GAY AND LESBIAN POLICE LIAISON OFFICER
Wagga is the latest in a growing number of towns to have its own gay and lesbian police liaison officer. The appointment of Kevin Nisbett (his name is not for general public consumption, but for the gay and lesbian community alone… we’re not sure at this stage why, though) was made last week by Chief Inspector, Kevin Wales. A consultant to the NSW Police Force on Gay and Lesbian issues, Sue Thompson, says the appointment recognises the growing and more visible community now found in Wagga. She says it is not in response to any specific concern raised by either the community or the police force. There are many officers now throughout NSW (including a female detective in Albury). Only once, says Sue Thompson, has an appointment “failed”. Although not knowing the officer personally she says, in general terms, the job goes to “a high ranking community-minded officer”.
The appointment of the officer was announced on Prime TV by Kevin Wales in terms of “a need to clean up Collins Park”. Sue Thompson has confided that she is disappointed with such comments and would be willing to raise the issue if comments like these continue. Within two days of the appointment, a “raid” was conducted on Collins Park. There was, apparently, only two people in the park (typical!!!) and they fled quickly.
RGLSSG Newsletter, May 1993
Sgt Nisbett reports the “in house discussions” were often heated, especially amongst the younger police officers. “The older police officers have been around, they are more understanding”, he said. There was, from sections, a lot of resistance to the appointment of a gay and lesbian liaison officer.
Kevin Nisbett was the first Gay & Lesbian Liaison Officer appointed to Wagga Police. RGLSSG Newsletter, June 1993
Over the next couple of years, the importance of gay and lesbian liaison officers increased, including the appointment of one officer who was actually the sister of av group member.
“I wanted to attend the forum to learn more about the community and to make myself known to gays and lesbians in the area. Because I was on annual leave, I decided not to go in uniform, – that was probably my biggest mistake”, says Constable Genevieve Graham. When the media gathered in the main street later that afternoon, one announcer happened to mention the words gay and lesbian as the TV camera panned across Graham’s face. Although the announcer went on to say “liaison officer”, apparently hundreds of Wagga residents had already gone into shock. Shock – that such a high profile person, a police officer and a former “Miss Wagga” might actually be a lesbian. For the next few months the young police woman had to endure speculation that she was “one of them”.“Pink Politics & Blue Uniforms” by Jo Clark, Lesbians on the Loose Volume: 6 , Issue: 3 (March 1995)
1993 – THE GAY AND LESBIAN CHOIR RETURNS
In August 1993, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir came back to Wagga Wagga to defend their title
When this scene appeared in the 1995 film, “Something To Sing About”, I blushed. I was the radio presenter he was talking about!. (Used with permission of the film’s producer, Marguerite Grey) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6573608/
Stephen Schafer reflects on the importance of the championships, to have fun, and on the ongoing interest in the choir in Wagga Wagga. (Used with permission of the film’s producer, Marguerite Grey)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6573608/National Choral Championships, Wagga WaggaA still from the film, “Something To Sing About”, about the return to Wagga of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6573608/
Sadly, this time around they didn’t win, they came third. But there was still a lot of joy in seeing them compete. The choir invited members of the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support & Social Group back to a local restaurant to join with them in a joyous celebration of food and song.
Dinner at The Old Wagga Inn. As shared by Gary Procter on Lost Gay Sydney, celebrations in Wagga for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. That’s me, centre back, in the black pullover. And from Marguerite Grey, the producer of “Something To Sing About” (the documentary which screened on ABC-TV), “I am on the right hand side in the t-shirt with the name of the film on it next to the boom mic operator. The director of the film Martin Daley is in the left hand side of the picture next to Jo Parker on camera I think.” Thanks to David from the SGLC: “The documentary film on the Choir, Something to Sing About, was premiered at a special screening at the Academy Twin Cinema in Paddington on 19 February 1995. It was broadcast on ABC-TV on 1 March 1995 and went on to win the Rouben Mammoulian Award at the Sydney Film Festival in June that year.” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6573608/
1994 – WAGGA’S FLOAT IN MARDI GRAS
Organising the Wagga Wagga float for Mardi GrasWith the ABC recording the Mardi Gras festivities for national broadcast, we faced a dilemma: how to protect the identities of those who weren’t ready to come out on television. Bandanas and low hats were considered, but then Michael McCormack, unwittingly provided a more creative solution. Ian ingeniously enlarged McCormack’s photo from the newspaper and fashioned them into masks, Mardi Gras style! While the intention was to provide anonymity, the excitement of the moment proved too much. Instead of hiding behind the masks, people gleefully waved them at the ABC cameras. Thankfully, as Glen Andersson recounts in his 1994 report for the RGLSSG, no unintended “outings” occurred on the evening news.
Memories of the absolute thrill of marching along Oxford Street and Flinders Street are with me still.
Our Mardi Gras float, proudly representing the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support and Social Group, made its television debut on ABC’s coverage of the event. Chris Jones, our designated spokesperson, bravely stepped up to the microphone. However, unbeknownst to the viewers at home, Chris was facing an unexpected challenge: the booming bass! “He ended up standing too close to the bass drivers on the float and couldn’t hear the questions being asked of him,” Glenn recounted in his final report. “While it was great for a bit of ambience, it meant that Chris seemed like he was totally out of it during the interview. In fact, he couldn’t hear himself think!” Despite the audio assault, Chris persevered, giving the illusion of composure while battling a sonic maelstrom.Wagga Wagga float in Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 1994, as featured in The Daily Advertiwer 07/03/1994
“Was that you in the paper today, James?” The question came as a surprise, casually tossed out by a talkback caller on my morning radio show in early 1994. I was the host of ABC Riverina, the local station, and while my sexuality was no secret in Wagga Wagga, I’d never explicitly addressed it on air. For a split second, my mind raced. How should I respond, especially knowing the caller was an older, conservative farmer—a man whose daughter I’d once lived with! Taking a deep breath, I simply said, “Yeah, it was. I had a great weekend.” His reply? “Good onya, James. Good to hear.” A small exchange, perhaps, but one that signaled a subtle shift in the landscape of acceptance.
And I didn’t wear a mask. In fact, I hardly dressed in costume, as a blue check shirt, moleskins and blunnies were pretty much my day to day “costume”. Pic: Thanks to Glen Andersson
THE DAILY ADVERTISER
Under the previous editor, Graham Gorrell, the “Daily Advertiser” had a track record for anti-homosexual articles. But when Michael McCormack (in 2021, the Deputy Prime Minister) took over, the anti-gay editorials and articles increased both in sheer volume and in the severity of their tone.
These articles came to national attention thanks to the ABC-TV program, “Media Watch”. The program reported that on May 1, 1993, Michael McCormack had published a column ‘from the editor’s desk’ demonising homosexuality.
The Daily Advertiser, as featured on Media Watch 10/5/1993
A week never goes by anymore that homosexuals and their sordid behaviour don’t become further entrenched in society.
Daily Advertiser, Wagga Wagga, May 1, 1993
The Federal Minister for Health, Senator Graham Richardson, along with AIDS organisations and gay groups, attacked the Editor of a Wagga Wagga newspaper this week over an editorial accusing gay men of being responsible for AIDS.,Richardson described the Daily Advertiser 1 May Editorial as being demonstrative of ignorance “beneath contempt”.
Capital Q Weekly Friday, May 7, 1993 p. 3
Daily Advertiser, May 7, 1993
The Australian Press Council has dismised complaints by Dr Richard Roberts (of Charles Sturt University/University of NSW) against “The Daily Advertiser” involving Michael McCormack’s famed “Sordid Homosexuality – it’s becoming more entrenched” editorial. In dismissing the complaint, the Press Council ruled the article was clearly labelled “comment” and said that many of the alleged inaccuracies in the columns are the gist of considerable public debate and the newspaper would have been at fault had it stifled opposing views. The Press Council said the Daily Advertiser deserves commendation for the enormous amount of space it devoted to readers’ views on the issue – some 50 letters published in the following three weeks, most of them vigorously critical of the columns. Dr Roberts, who was recently in Wagga Wagga, commented that he did not even attend the hearing into the case; it was scheduled at a time when the Press Council knew that he was overseas.
RGLSSG Newsletter, November 1993.
The campaign by the local newspaper against the gay and lesbian communities of Wagga Wagga was relentless.
Daily Advertiser, March 4, 1994Sydney Star Observer 19/10/95
In 1995, RGLSSG member, Chris Jones took action against the newspaper in the NSW Antidiscrimination Board and won, with an undisclosed settlement. I have tried to obtain details of the settlement, without luck, as all correspondence to the board is confidential to the parties involved.
The distinction between the newspaper’s editorial and the advertising departments was evident most days. Seemingly, every day’s paper had advertisements for both male and female escorts, including one called “Dallas”. (Monday 23/05/1994)
1994 – THE “SECRET BALL”
I remember seeing the front page of “The Daily Advertiser” on Thursday, May 26, 1994 and thinking “Oh my God”. The phones ran hot amongst group members, as we saw news of our “secret ball” as the main story on the front page of the paper.
“Waggas gay and lesbian community is planning a large ball in July, but the exact date and venue are being kept secret because they fear a backlash from the general public”, the article of May 26, 1994 said.
The article, a sensationalized piece about a “secret gay ball,” had attributed its information to a supposed male sex worker named “Dallas.” None of us in the RGLSSG knew this “Dallas,” nor had he ever attended our events. It turned out he was my neighbor! I confronted the journalist, Ken Grimson, about the lack of fact-checking, especially given my own visible role in the community. “We had a float in Mardi Gras, and I was on page three of the paper!” I exclaimed.
His response was unsatisfactory, to say the least. The fallout was immediate. Our original venue canceled, though thankfully another restaurant stepped up. But the article had ignited a firestorm. City Councillor Jim Eldridge launched into a homophobic tirade at the next council meeting, and the newspaper continued to fan the flames with inflammatory articles and letters, seemingly determined to bully us into submission. They even claimed Jim Eldridge received “death threats,” adding fuel to the fire.
Though I don’t recall the exact detail, I have been reminded the front page article had one effect: the venue we had planned pulled out. Another restaurant contacted the group, sympathetic to our situation, and offered their venue as a replacement.
The “secret ball” article ignited a firestorm of bigotry. Wagga Wagga City Councillor Jim Eldridge, seizing on the opportunity, launched into a homophobic tirade at the May 30th City Council meeting. His hateful remarks, predictably plastered across the front page of the local newspaper, were just the beginning. Over the next few weeks, The Daily Advertiser became a platform for prejudice, publishing inflammatory articles and letters to the editor aimed at bullying us into canceling our event. They even published claims that Jim Eldridge had received “death threats,” a tactic seemingly designed to paint us as aggressors and further stoke public fear.
Daily Advertiser, June 20, 1994. The homophobia in the headline needs no further comment.The much discussed “secret ball” went ahead in July, and the party tickets were dedicated to Jim Eldridge.
The “Black and White” dance party was ’ blessed with many of those touches of country hospitality that are, sadly, missing from your run of the mill Sleaze Balls and Mardi Gras dance parties., I sneakily suspect that the “Black and White” ball was the kind of show that even the most cynical of PanDA readers from country stock would havé wanted their Yr 12 formal or sisters’ 21st to be really like.,In the face of formidable and less than supportive rhetoric from local politicians and the editor of the Wagga Daily Advertiser – the organisation is a real credit to. the spirit of the local community. All power to them.
Paul Lehman in PANDA (Canberra) Vol 3, Iss 5
SYDNEY SUPPORT
A forum was held a week later (July 11, 1994) at the Riverina Playhouse. Though the title seems a little old fashioned now – “Sexual Orientation: Does It Inhibit A Positive Contribution To The Community” – it was perfect for the time. The guest speaker was Stevie Clayton from the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby. A few weeks later on July 23, there was another “forum” held, involving people from the AIDS Council and the Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby.
We thought that everybody in Sydney was too comfortable within their own ghetto, and didn’t really care about anyone or anything living beyond the Great Dividing Range, or even know that gays and lesbians existed in the country.
Allan Briggs, Letter in Capital Q, Friday, Feb. 10, 1995
Media Release following the meeting with ACON and the GLRL
Many years later, at ANZAC Day in Turkey of all places, I ran into Stevie Clayton and spent some time with her over a couple of days. As I recall, her partner was a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald, and I was there for the ABC. She smiled with surprise when I mentioned our meeting in Wagga Wagga all those years earlier. I hope I was able to convey the appreciation we all felt for the support she and others had provided to us.
Whilst i have always remembered with fondness my visit to Wagga in 1994 with Stevie and Susan your article jogged my memory about some of the detail. Up until then we hadn’t been out of the inner city very often on behalf of GLRL but that visit prompted a number of other outreach visits to suburban and regional areas
David Maclachlan, who was Co-convenor GLRL commenting in “Lost Gay Sydney”, Facebook 2021.
I think, like David, I have fond but not detailed memories of visiting Wagga Wagga. I guess 26 years does make the memories fade a bit, but your blog post helped me to remember a bit.
Stevie Clayton, former Co-convenor, GRL in an email 2021.
1994 – PRISCILLA NIGHT
Thursday, the 27th of November will go down in local history as the evening that the local community celebrated in style, with a very public display of taffeta, sequins, lyrca, stilettos and fishnets as the RGLSSG premiered, “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert” to a packed house in the Plaza Twin Cinema, with part proceeds going to special olympics (being held in Perth).
RGLSSG Newsletter, November 1994
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert Premiere in Wagga WaggaRGLSSG President, Wayne Ditchfield at Priscilla, Queen of The Desert premiere in Wagga WaggaAllanah Blush – Priscilla Queen Of The Desert Premiere in Wagga WaggaAn after-party was held at local wine bar, Number 96. Yes, it really was called that! Though the bar is long-gone, the Number 96 sign remains at 96 Fitzmaurice Street. Throughout 1994, Thursday Night Drinks were held regularly in the upstairs, outdoor lounge.
LOTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS
By the end of 1994, and only two years after the formation of the Riverina Gay and Lesbian Support & Social Group, we had achieved a lot, as documented above in a group newsletter.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
My time in Wagga and my active involvement with the RGLSSG ended in early 1995. Though I participated in the 1995 Mardi Gras float and returned for occasional events, including Chris Jones’s funeral in 2002, my contributions faded. The story from that point on belongs to those who remained. Recently, while exploring the archives at Charles Sturt University, I was astounded by the group’s accomplishments. The collection, donated by Wayne Ditchfield, revealed a thriving organization with a phone support line, substantial funding, and a polished newsletter (a far cry from my humble dot matrix creations!). It’s inspiring to see how the seeds we planted blossomed into something truly remarkable.
Wagga Wagga 2650 The Closet Years There was another float in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1996.In beautiful recognition of one of the group members from the early 1990s, Andrew Bishop who died from AIDS, they also established an award in his memory.
WAGGA WAGGA NOW
It’s wonderful to see there’s still a local group called “Rainbow Riverina”, and they’re still doing awesome things, like holding their own “Mardi Gras”.
This article is my own personal story, as I’m remembering it almost thirty years later. In hindsight, there’s not enough in the story about the involvement of women (even though there were lots of lesbians involved in the group) and nothing about the trans community. That’s both a reflection of the times, and of my own experiences as a gay man not being able to fully reflect on that story. If you can contribute, please do, to make this a more fully rounded story.
If you’re reading this, and think I have gotten something wrong, or have missed something, please drop me a note, and I’ll make the correction. Also, if you have some photographs/stories to contribute, I’d really love to see them too. You can write to me at james @ jamesobrien.id.au, or leave a comment below.
This will be an article that is updated as new information comes to hand.
MANY THANKS
Glen Andersson and Allan Briggs for their contributions, both photographic and in memories.
Wayne Ditchfield for donating the collection to Charles Sturt University, and many thanks to the CSU Archives (esp Jillian Kohlhagen) for allowing me to take a look through the collection.
David Laidley from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir, for his assistance in helping organise interviews with current and former members of the choir who visited Wagga Wagga in 1992/1993, including Nat Crane, Meredith Night and Tonina Harvey.
PS
While researching this article, I stumbled across this from The Daily Advertiser in 1953.
Conscious that I sometimes share material on other platforms that never makes “the cut” here on my blog, here’s a few tweets, posts, and observations that still seem relevant from August. Lots of ephemera, but hopefully still quite entertaining.
August 3 : Oh no. 5g on Four Corners. I have a family member will see this is part of the preparation for the NWO etc. “They’re just preparing us…” (I can hear it now).
August 5 :As early as 1981, there were women called Karen asking the tough questions.August 5 : Bless. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen that often recycled “radio” headline. Someone hasn’t looked at history.August 8 : Visited the Bradman Museum today and it was great to see a major tribute to Lismore’s Adam Gilchrist with lots of local caps. Yes, I know Deni and Junee claim him too, but he’s from Lismore :) #settledAugust 10 : First, this isn’t me. (Though it could be). Looking at the website for 2WEB (Bourke) and I note they still have the same panel I used in 1988-1989!! “Modern panels” last 7-10 years only. #goodolddays Visiting Bourke shortly for the first time since 2000! Can’t wait.August 10 : For a long time I had the word “Network” (as in radio network) in my job title, and I still regularly receive phone calls from people wanting to sell me routers. Now I have “Planning” in my job title, and LinkedIn thinks I could be interested in development applications!August 11 : Terrific tribute in The West Australian today for Geoff Duncan. Geoff, as ABC WA State Director provided me (as a rookie manager) with lots of great advice/wisdom during my time in Perth. Lots of great chats about art, too. Best wishes to Pamela and family.August 11 : One of the things about the pandemic that makes me sad.August 11 : The Guru is back with wise advice. August 11 : The power of YouTube. Oxford Street Sydney tonight.August 13 : Lovely clear morning at Sydney’s Circular Quay.August 21 : The impact of The Masked Singer on Sydney buskers. George Street right now.
August 25 : I do a language course every Tuesday night via Zoom. Five months since the start of lockdown, I’ve noticed the participants have now replaced their coffee cups with wine glasses.
One of the first things I did when I got to work today was organise to do my Swedish homework.
As mentioned previously, it was homework right up my alley: conduct an interview with a Swedish person living in Sydney about their life.
It didn’t need to be a lengthy analysis of their lives and motivations, just a brief chat about how they came to be in Sydney, what they missed about life in Sweden, and whether or not they had plans to return.
As a colleague is half-Swedish, half-Australian, the challenge was easy to organise. And as it was in a medium which I have spent most of my life involved in, it was something which I felt comfortable with.
Nonetheless, I still felt a little bit nervous as we conducted the interview late this afternoon.
“Speak slowly, won’t you?”, I asked her. “Treat me as if I’m a three year old”, I suggested.
She didn’t speak down to me, but she did speak slowly, which really helped.
And I was quite excited that I was able to understand and ask follow up questions.
So overall, it was an exciting process. The next step is to transcribe the conversation and send it off.
Otherwise, it was a reasonably ordinary Wednesday.
I’m a bit tired tonight. I guess it’s because the weekend was so busy. And because I’ve had a non-stop social life since about last Tuesday.
It’s the “hump day”, and I’m anxiously awaiting the weekend as a time just to relax. I might do the odd thing here or there, but basically I’m looking forward to a bit of an afternoon nap come Saturday, I reckon.
On most nights before I go to bed, I look at my calendar for the following day. Often I’ll add a few items to the “to do” list, and maybe tenatively organise a brief meeting or two to finalise or start something.
I’m not one for blocking out hour-long meetings and discussions. My view is that if you do your homework, and have a clear agenda, most meetings can be brief, and are sometimes just a formality. Nonetheless, I usually have one or two meetings – usually half an hour, sometimes an hour – scheduled in for most days.
I didn’t do that preparation last night, as I went to bed within minutes of arriving home from the pub.
So you can imagine my surprise as I checked my calendar on the way to work this morning when I discovered I had absolutely no meetings booked in at all. There were a few items on the “to do” list, but no actual meetings.
In contrast to the last few months which have been extraordinarily busy, it was nice to have a clean run. I managed to knock off everything on the “to do” list for today, and even managed to get ahead.
“I think she might be Scomo’s biggest mistake”, an “old leftie” whispered into my ear at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture.
There was a perception, rightly or wrongly, that the appointment of Ita Buttrose as ABC Chair was simply another political appointment and that Ita would do the “government’s bidding”. Indeed, the appointment was a “captain’s pick” by the Prime Minister, made outside the process which had been established for ABC and SBS board appointments.
From my own perspective, I was pleased to see someone with CONSIDERABLE media experience had been appointed, instead of someone who was there as an obvious “political appointment”.
During her speech, reflecting on her career, Ita spoke about a range of experiences, including her career as a journalist and editor, and strongly defended public broadcasting. She got a standing ovation, and clearly the support of my former ABC colleague who might otherwise have been sceptical about some of the more recent ABC board appointments.
It’s been a few years now since I attended the Andrew Olle Media Lecture. Thanks, COVID! But it was wonderful to get dressed up again, catch the bus to The Ivy, hang out with some previous and current colleagues, and meet some new people.
The other big event I attended yesterday was the launch at the Sydney Opera House of World Pride. As the ABC is the Media Partner for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (and World Pride) for three years, we were asked to send a group of people to the launch, and contribute to the creation of a human version of the progress flag.
Pic : Harriet Tatham, ABC News. ABC Pride at the World Pride launch at Sydney Opera House. Along with ground-breaking activist, Peter de Waal. He appeared in the first “same sex kiss” on Australian TV, on Chequerboard. Pic : Harriet Tatham, ABC News.
Post Script
With thanks to Karran, here’s South Lismore Public School (1971-1977 for me) at tonight’s Lantern Parade in Lismore. Still attending Goonellbah, as the school is still closed, but still strong and proud. Go Southies!!
There’s something very odd and unsettling about Tuesday night. It’s the kind of night they do road-works because they know no one will complain all that much. It’s the kind of night when they put their second best shows on television. It’s the kind of night where you might have left-overs from last night’s dinner or buy something fatty and over-processed on the way home. It’s the kind of night where you might go on a blind date (or an internet date) with someone you’re not all that serious about. There’s something about a Tuesday night which says “I don’t care all that much….”
I noticed it tonight in the Crown Street restaurants of Surry Hills. Lots of couples, but not all that much intimacy. Maybe they were couples who no longer felt the need for those public displays of affection. I reckon though, they were “internet dates”, just not very serious ones. I think to choose a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night to meet up means you’re serious about the possibility of a relationship. You’re hopeful the Friday night date will turn into a Saturday lunch or a walk in the park, or maybe a movie, and then brunch on Sunday. There’s something about a Tuesday night internet date though, which means you’re saying to the other person you’re not really serious, unwilling to commit yourself to meeting them on one of the “more important” nights of the week.
I also felt the “who cares” factor as I wandered around the supermarket tonight. First and foremost, I noticed the quality of fruit and veg was very poor, leading me to believe it was probably left-overs from the weekends, ahead of tomorrow’s big delivery. Yes, I’m sure that’s how it was when I worked for Coles New World all those years ago. Gazing into shopping baskets of those beside me in the queue, there was no evidence of “the weeks big shop” that you would associate with the weekend. There was also no evidence of the “fresh is best” approach you would associate with a Monday night, a fresh start, a detox. No the shopping baskets were full of lots of processed food, high in fat, comfort food. Two women in the queue next to me had about half a dozen “chick flick” DVDs in their basket, leading to a minor debate about whether or not they were a good purchase. It was resolved pretty quickly. “Hang the expense” I heard one of them say.
As I got closer to home I overheard another conversation, between a young woman and I assume her parents. “Well that’s another birthday over and done with”, I heard mum say. “Yep, you’re right there”, the daughter replied.
Even now, as I begin to watch “Big Brother Up Late” they’re all just sitting around, bored senseless. Mind you, with BB, that could be any night of the week.
But you see what I mean? The weekend is over, and Tuesday night is now about as far away as it could possibly be from another weekend. I mean, I know Wednesday is officially half way between Sunday and Saturday, but it’s made easier because it’s “hump day”, the day that you need to get over, and once you do, you’re on the roller-coaster again.
Tuesday night. Meh.
Audio
Brief excerpt of Peter Joback singing “I Don’t Care Much” from the CD “Storybook”
My favorite entertainer is Kylie Minogue. She is cool. Im glad to hear she’s healthy. Stay sweet and gorgeous kylie.