I’m not really sure when I started looking closely at “Development Applications” but it must have been sometime between 2005 and 2010. I was the Program Director at ABC Radio Sydney (then named 702 ABC Sydney), and I knew local council activities were a good source of news stories.
Previously, I’d worked at the ABC in Wagga and at the ABC in Renmark and I would regularly read local government papers. At Renmark we have about five local councils, and at Wagga we had about twenty local councils, so it kept me fairly busy. In the midst of each local council paper there was always at least “one good story”.
As I walked along Crown Street today, I noticed there was a development sign outside the old Post Office Building, most recently an ANZ Bank. It’s been empty for a while now, since the branch closed a few months ago, and, as a local resident, I’ve been keen to know what might replace the wonderful old building.
After reading the development application on the City of Sydney website, I’m none the wiser. All I can determine is that over the next four months, they’re doing $87,000 worth of development works, removing some interior walls and so on. I can only assume they’re preparing it for a possible new tenant.
There’s a lot going on in my part of Surry Hills right now with the redevelopment of the Surry Hills Shopping Village.
“That’s where the old Greek men used to hang out and solve the world’s problems… I wonder where they meet now”, a friend wrote, in response to the photograph I sent to him and some others.Both the Medical Centre and Noodle Star (as well as the computer store) have all moved to Crown Street“Just one woman?”, I was asked on Twitter, about the new shop opening on Crown Street. The vibe I’m getting is this might be a “good old fashioned frock shop”.
Though I’ve joined the Facebook group, and some friends have become passionately involved, I haven’t really engaged yet with the planned traffic changes on Cleveland Street.
This arrived in the mail a few days ago.
At the heart of the matter is a plan to reduce the traffic speed to 40km/h on Cleveland Street, and remove the capacity for people to turn off the road.
Cleveland Street is a very busy thoroughfare, and so this isn’t just an issue for people in Surry Hills. Though traffic can sometimes travel at a “glacial pace” (when there’s cricket or footy happening at one of the nearby stadiums), 40km/h does seem a little slow, in my opinion.
And the argument people have put to me is that many of the quieter streets of our neighbourhood will become busier, as people try to find shortcuts or speedier ways of travelling through the neighbourhood.
With empty shops downstairs, and an ageing set of apartments upstairs, surely it can’t be too long before we see a “Development Application” sign appear on this building on Crown Street?
In my office sweep for the World Cup I drew Paraguay. Or maybe it was Uruguay. I’m sorry, I can’t remember. My interest in the World Cup is purely tokenistic and probably relates more to an interest in the world in general, more than in interest in sport.
My interest in the Eurovision Song Contest, of course, is much greater. And so generally speaking, I use that as a guide to which country I should support.
Sweden, of course, failed to make the final of either contest this year, which is a source of national shame, I am sure.
And so when a Swede asked me which country he/she thought they should support, I suggested they support Australia, because, generally speaking, Australia (well, me), supports Sweden in Eurovision.
It would have been too much for Germany to have won both Eurovision and the World Cup, and so I’m glad they failed to make the final. Also, because they whipped our arses.
As to whether I should support Spain or Netherlands in the final, I’ve been a little confused. I had a great time in Amsterdam a couple of years ago, but I’ve never been to Spain so I’ve been struggling to choose a team without a point of comparison.
Where would I like to be if either team wins? I think the party in Madrid would be lots of fun. Lots of sex and dancing in the streets I’d imagine. But it would also be fun in Amsterdam. With sly reference to both the strength of Dutch beer and the legalisation/decriminalisation (I can never recall which) of marijuana in Holland, a listener on 702 ABC Sydney joked yesterday morning, “can you imagine the party in Amsterdam if they win…?”.
Unable to choose, I’ve come back to Eurovision and asked when was the last time either country came first in the more important international competition.
Spain is a little tough. In 1969, “Vivo cantando” (“I Live Singing”) was one of four songs which tied for first place in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Unfortunately, it’s a crap song, especially compared with the song they previously won with.
Though of course, Spain gets a special mention for their song which failed to make the top position in 1973, Eres tú by Mocedades. Great song!
The more recent winner from the two countries was the Netherlands in 1975 with “Ding-A-Dong” (Dutch: “Dinge-Dong”), sung by Teach-In.
It’s always been a favourite of mine, and so on the basis of preferring the Dutch Eurovision winner over the Spanish Eurovision winners, I’m going for Holland this time around.
Checking the Sydney Festival website, they’re saying “Symphony In The Domain” will go ahead despite the wet weather. Damo and I were going to attend, and I’m sure it would have been terrific, but he’s a bit sick at the moment, and I have a bit of an aversion to sustained wet weather. Don’t get me wrong, I really love the rain, and I went out this afternoon to purposely “get wet” but I just don’t like spending several hours in a muddy paddock.
I was reminded this week of the two occasions where I’ve lived in places where it hasn’t rained for quite some time. The first occasion was when I lived at Bourke in Western NSW. The first time I saw rain was four or five months after I arrived there. The absolute delight in walking out of the house and getting soaking wet was something I shared with a fair percentage of the town on that day. We were all beginning to get a little strung-out, to say the least.
The most recent time I remember having gone without rain for several months was when I lived in Perth. After three months or so of living in the town I vividly remember the distinctive smell of rain on bitumen on a Sunday afternoon. Once again, I was out there in the rain getting soaking wet. In fact, I sat on the balcony of my apartment for over half an hour or so just enjoying the rain.
But tonight, I won’t be venturing out. I’ve been beavering away at planning for my trip and some family history research throughout the day. And despite the bathroom needing a good clean, I think I’ll stay here, get myself some take-away, have a glass of wine, and dream about travelling overseas later this year.
I read the other day that, although Swedish and Norwegian are quite different languages, native speakers can mostly, easily understand what the other is saying. Although “Kitchen Stories” (Salmer fra kjøkkenet), which I’ve just finished watching on the World Movies channel on Foxtel, is spoken in both Swedish and Norwegian, it wouldn’t really matter, however, if you spoke neither language, since the great communicative strength of this film is the body language.
Although the basic premise for the film sounds odd, it also sounds “very Scandinavian”. We’re led to believe that in the post-war period, an institute was set up to improve the efficiency of kitchens through better design, based on observing the movement patterns of housewives. As a follow-up, a group of researchers are then sent to Norway to observe the movements of single men.
Perched on a high chair in the corner of a kitchen, Folke (played by Tomas Norström) has the job of observing, never interacting with Isak (played by Joachim Calmeyer), a man living by himself on the outskirts of a small Norwegian town. Set in the run up to Christmas, there’s abundant snow and the nights are long.
Kitchen Stories
Just the type of weather that leads Scandinavia to have a major problem with depression, Isak’s only friend appears to be his horse (whose health worsens throughout the film, leading to its death). He’s also fairly set in his ways. He’s also fairly eccentric by modern standards. “I must have a bath next week”, he declares at one point. We also discover the fillings in his teeth allow him to pick up radio stations, including “foreign ones, when I hold on to the drain pipe”. And his answer for a small case of the flu is a feral cat fur around the neck, whilst sleeping on the back of a horse. Yeah, that kind of eccentric. And although he signed up to be part of the study, at first, he won’t, for example even answer the door.
But he does eventually open the door, although at first, the invasion of his privacy is almost too much. At one point, whilst eating chocolate, Isak gets up and turns off the light for just a moment by himself. Hilariously, their response of Folke is to adopt one of those miners’ lights which he flashes in Isak’s face. After a while, though, Isak begins to relax, going about his life setting mouse traps, cutting the hair of friends and so on.
Meanwhile, back in his caravan, Folke eats chocolate, throws the papers on the floor and listens to music on his portable radio. The music, by the way, is just wonderful, with lush jazz orchestrations, often based simply on bass and saxophone. There are also some wonderful old variety-style numbers sung in Swedish or Norwegian, I’m not sure.
Inevitably, the men begin to interact, although it’s the non-verbal communication that tells you more about their friendship than anything else. For example, as Folke falls asleep in his high chair, Isak places a blanket on his knees. Their friendship becomes such that, when Folke is asked to leave, to take on the observation of another participant (as the observer has started drinking heavily with the participant there, breaking the rules), he asks to stay, assuring his supervisor that “things are just starting to get interesting”.
Crossing the boundaries, however, interferes with the experiment. And as one by one, other observers disappear, the success of the experiment becomes more and more dependent on Folke, with increasing surveillance by his supervisor. Will their friendship be identified? Will he lose his job?
Well of course, he does lose his job. But for them both, that doesn’t matter as they’ve become good friends, evident clearly when spring arrives and Folke has found a new home living with Isak. The contrast between the seasons could only be found in Scandinavia, though I suspect you might find similar characters and situations in the Australian outback.
Nonetheless, this is a very Scandinavian film with some very Scandinavian references. For example, the film touches on the Swedish transition to left-hand driving and on the imprisonment in Norway of Jews during the Second World War. Drawing upon history to explain the circumstance of the two men, Isak declares “You Swedes don’t understand that. You were observers only during the war too”.
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.
Tonight at the pub with friends, I mentioned how I’d seen KB for sale in cans at the Strawberry Hills Hotel last night.
I had no idea KB was still manufactured and sold. There was a time in the early 80s, however, when it was probably the most popular beer in New South Wales, especially with its association with sport. I’ve never tasted a KB in my life, as it was popular mostly before I began to drink (in my late teens), so I don’t know if it was a good beer or not. So for a moment last night I was tempted to buy a can just to give it a try.
When I mentioned it to my mates at the pub tonight there was a welcome fondness for the beer and the brand. We then got involved in a discussion about other no-longer-popular drinks from our youth and began to compile a bit of a mental list.
Long before alco-pops, there were West Coast Coolers. They were very popular in the mid 80s during my time in Brisbane as I recall. As university students we all thought we were very cool, very with it.
Midori and Lemonade – again, this was from the mid 80s during my time in Brisbane. In hindsight, I can’t think of how I didn’t end up in a diabetic coma after every drink.
Carlton Cold – that was a massively popular beer for a while in the early to late 90s as I recall. Graeme theorised it went out of popularity because of a label change.
Sub Zeros – they were also a 90s thing, as I recall.
Graeme also mentioned a combination of Coopers Stout and Lemonade that was popular in South Australia for a while, though I can’t recall the exact name they gave to it.
And that’s about when we ran out of steam in the conversation. I thought by posting it here, it might inspire a few other people to record memories of drinks which were popular for a while, but which are now largely forgotten.
My friend, The Best Judge and I went to see comedian, Joel Creasey at the Enmore Theatre tonight. He’s one of the “young gay comedians” that includes the likes of Tom Ballard, Josh Thomas, Hannah Gadsby and Rhys Nicholson to name but a few.
I think it’s fascinating to have this group of young comedians for whom their sexuality is “not an issue” (as for many young people these days), but also an essential part of their act. Not so long ago, it wasn’t like there were too many options for people who were gay or lesbian to be a comedian, unless of course you wanted to be “Mr Humphries” or perhaps a drag queen. But times have obviously changed.
And there’s a bunch of comedians who will happily tell you their “coming out” stories. Notably, I saw both Josh Thomas and Tom Ballard who based whole shows around their coming out. Joel Creasey is a bit different though. His sexuality is apparent, but there’s a lot more to his show than a “coming out” story. At one point in tonight’s show he said, “I won’t tell you my coming out story because it’s so incredibly boring” (or words to that effect).
I thought tonight’s show was pretty well crafted and it gave me a few laughs. It had a real sense of purpose, I thought. And while “being gay” was apparent throughout the entire show, this was a lot more than a “gay show”. The only “coming out” aspect of the show was his “admission” he was a former Young Liberal, at which point he presented a photograph of himself with John Howard. I’m not entirely sure it wasn’t photo-shopped, as there’s a lot about his show which is exaggeration – in particular, his monologue about his mother being an alcoholic, and his story about the Channel 7 Perth telethon. Even if we was a Young Liberal, it’s pretty evident from tonight’s show that all sides of politics are worthy of ridicule.
The show went for about 75 minutes and I never lost interest. His pacing is 100 miles an hour (which I’m sure will slow with age and maturity), and he comes across as well-read (meaning some of the jokes were pretty obvious, while others were more subtle and required a backlog of cultural knowledge). With a good narrative, use of props, and lots of intelligent humour evident in tonight’s show, I came away thinking he has great potential. I hope he does well. The only downer was the mis-spelling of his name on the sign outside the theatre. Hello?
Aside from that, it was another good day at work. Before the show I ran into a friend with some exciting news, and after the show The Best Judge and I caught up for a few drinks at The Sly Fox.
