Social & Support Report

by Jai

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

We are creating a record this edition, having everything ready so early. Katherine has been pestering me (hey!) since the last edition went to press to get my report ready for this edition.

This year the Ball will be on Thursday October 14 at @Newtown, which is the old Newtown R.S.L. that has been renovated by Petersham R.S.L. and is called @Newtown (although it is actually in Enmore). If anyone has been to this venue before the renovations they would not recognise it now, it is very classy and swish. Last year we held a very successful ball at the Moulin Rouge despite the high bar prices and holding the ball on a Tuesday night so we expect this year's ball will be even bigger. I think a lot of the success of last year's ball was due to excellent entertainers and the variety of people.

This year we are hoping to get some of the same performers and maybe a few new ones. There will be a return of the monster raffle, with heaps of prizes that are donated by supporting businesses.

While I tried to get a Friday or Saturday night the reality is to get a top venue such as @Newtown we had to go for a Thursday night. I hope everyone will mark the date on their calendars and plan for a day off on the Friday if they are planning on having a big night.

The next big announcement is the addition of Yoga classes to our programs. We are running a trial program for six weeks at a yoga school in Newtown. The course is open to transgender people who would like to take part in the class and is for all levels of fitness. Numbers are limited and interested people need to email or call me so that they can be put on the list. The class will be held in Newtown on Tuesday mornings from around 11:30am and we may be able to offer transport from the Gender Centre. The six-week course is free for trans people and is taught in the Lyengar method by qualified and very experienced teachers and is only available through the Gender Centre.

Coming up this month we have a shopping trip on July 14, the Community Bus will pick people up from the Gender Centre and Grace and I will lead a tour of some of the best and cheapest places to find clothes in the Sydney area. We will be going to outlet places and large second hand stores.

Nici Clayhills and David Toolan will speak at a legal workshop on August 11 at the Gender Centre. The talk will cover many questions relating to transgender people and the law and N.S.W. police. Nici is an experienced solicitor and David is the coordinator of the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (G.L.L.O.) program.

Makeup classes will start up again during September this year. The classes will cover all basics such as colour, application and techniques. If you would like to come along please email or call Grace and me. The course goes over three weeks and each class follows on from the last.

The Spring Barbecue is scheduled for Sunday 19 September. Those who came to the winter barbecue will know that we have a huge new "Beefmaster" barbecue device which is far superior to the old one.

Also a reminder of our next parents, partners, family and friends afternoon in August. A number of people came to the last p,p,f and f afternoon and it was very rewarding for everyone involved.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.