Social & Support Report

by Grace Abrams & 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.)

Hi All, the Christmas season is upon us again and so is the warmer weather. This season we have outdoor activities planned to take advantage of the weather. After a busy October with Frolic we are marking the International Day of Remembrance on 20 November with a picnic in Victoria Park on Broadway. Finger food provided.

December is also a big month with International World AIDS Day and the Christmas barbecue. The observance of World AIDS Day is an opportunity to take stock of the global and local H.I.V./ AIDS epidemic and how it affects us as a community. It is also a time to remember those who have been lost to the virus. For World AIDS Day 2004 the theme is Women, Girls and H.I.V./ AIDS.

The Gender Centre will be joining the main activities for World AIDS Day.

This year's Christmas barbecue is on Sunday 19 December. We hope there will be plenty of sun, but not too much. At the last barbecue we had another huge turnout with over fifty people attending.

Also in December Grace will be running cooking classes on the first three Saturdays in December (4, 11, 18) from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. The classes will cover basics and beyond and help participants learn how to cook up a storm for themselves and guests.

Numbers in this workshop are limited to ensure we have enough room and ingredients so if you would like to take part please let Grace know by booking beforehand (see phone and email contacts in the box at the end of this column).

The Counsellor's Men's Group has started up again and is meeting once a month. If you would like to join this group or the twice-monthly women's group please contact the counsellor Elizabeth Anne on Monday or Tuesday on 9569 2366.

On a final note, this is my last entry for Polare. I have enjoyed my time at the Gender Centre meeting many new people and have had the pleasure of working with such knowledgeable, wise and supportive staff. I am hoping that my successor will enjoy the position as much as I have. If you require any further information about the activities please contact Grace at the Gender Centre.

Cheers & Merry Christmas

Jai

Well, this year's Frolic was, in a word, fantastic!

About seventy people came to the not-smoky, un-squishy upstairs room at the @Newtown, with expectations of a great night and were not disappointed. Loyal to the theme, we saw some appropriate outfits (especially the electro-pop twins!) Our D.J. Sveta had free reign to play what she liked, and had a great time with some retro classics and unusual tunes.

Miranda Fair is just the best hostess we could have had. With her wit and style she kept things moving smoothly and wowed us with a couple of songs to boot.

Jai's idea of sushi platters turned out to be an excellent one, and lasted us all night. The bar staff were friendly and considerate, and we thank the venue for their hospitality. But the entertainment! The performers really shone, performing as if to a crammed Opera House. Such was the standard of the acts I think we'd have had great value at a hundred dollars a head (but of course, we'd never charge that). Big thank you to Michael Fox, Vanity Faire, Minnie Cooper, Hugo Retro, Christa Hughes, Something Wong and J'vante Swing, and of course Sexy Galexy. In what is now fast becoming a tradition, the all-night prize draw provided opportunities for comic relief, not to mention some much-coveted prizes from generous local sponsors. Check out who they are on our sponsors page in this issue.

Thank you too, to all who came along and made it happen. I can't wait till next time!

Regards, Grace.

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.