I was the volunteer Membership Secretary at The ALSO Foundation, Australia's largest and oldest Gay & Lesbian Community Development organisation. I am also a former member of the ALSO Board of Management. I started at ALSO on 8th August 1994 as Receptionist (Mr Monday and Mr Tuesday) and enjoyed my volunteer work immensely. On 20th September 2007, after 13 years, 1 month, 1 week, 3 days and 25 minutes, I was unceremonously forced to leave ALSO. I felt that I contributed to Melbourne's Gay & Lesbian community in a constructive way during that time. I have also worked as Production Assistant on 3 editions of the annual ALSO Directory (1996-1998). On 8th August, 2004, I completed 10 years volunteer service at ALSO - the longest serving office volunteer. On 25/9/2004, at a private ALSO function I was awarded the first Meritorious Service Award from The ALSO Foundation "in grateful recognition of 10 years of dedicated outstanding voluntary service to the Gay, Lesbian and Allied Communities of Victoria". On 5th December 2006 (International Volunteers Day), I was awarded ALSO's Volunteer Of the Year 2006 award.
Outside of ALSO, I enjoyed video-taping many of Melbournes Gay & Lesbian events (Midsumma), mainly as a personal record. Some footage has been shown on Bent TV. I count a number of Melbourne's Drag Queens as my friends and have video footage of most of them performing, especially Dulcie Du Jour. I have also videotaped the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade for a number of years. I no longer videotape events/shows.
Apart from video, I was involved to a small extent with shows compered by Dulcie Du Jour. I contributed by writing short comedy segments for her when required. I enjoyed this work because I have a good sense of humour and it makes me happy to hear people laugh at something I have written. I no longer write comedy.
In 1998, I came up with a fundraising idea for PFLAG Victoria (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). I have often thought that nothing was being done for the underage Gay & Lesbian youth of Melbourne in a social sense. I suggested that PFLAG run an under 18 "Pink Light Disco" (renamed Minus18 prior to the first event) and the first one was held at 3 Faces nightclub on 1/7/98. A lot of hard work went into this and subsequent events (Minus18) by a number of people and its success has allowed others to be planned for each school holidays. Visit the minus18 site for details of the next event. If you are in Melbourne, under 18 and reading this, please come along and support them.
I retired as Convenor of Minus18 on 18th July, 2001 after 3 years and 20 events. I made many friends during my time at minus18. I am very proud of my achievements, especially when Minus18 won the inaugural PRIDE AWARD for "Most Outstanding Community Achievement (Group)" in June 2001.
I intend keeping this page updated, so feel free to visit again.
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