Community Support Report

by Sean Taylor

(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.)

Greetings from Sean, hope you have all settled into the year 2006. I would like to introduce a valuable new staff member, Chantel, who comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and new ideas. Chantel's main role is Support Housing Officer. To kick off the New Year I have been busy organising the Transgender Support Group and the Youth Support Group. Chantel and I participated in the groups and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and also meeting young transgendered people.

Social Activities

The Meditation Classes have been a great success with many people from the transgender community attending. The meditation classes run on Wednesday evening during drop-in so feel free to have dinner beforehand. The class starts at 7:00pm and runs until 7:30pm.

Events

The staff at the Gender Centre would like to invite you to an Easter barbecue on 8 April, 12:00 noon until 4:00pm, so come along, celebrate and meet new people and enjoy the yummy barbecue lunch. For all you chocoholics the Easter Bunny will be handing out Easter eggs.

I would like to organise two steering committees this year with the transgender community for the 2007 Gender Centre Mardi Gras float and the 2006 Tranny Pride Ball. These two events take a lot of energy and time to organise and I would be grateful for people to volunteer their time and ideas.

If anyone is interested please contact Dan or me on 9569 2366 for more information. I welcome any suggestions from the transgendered community regarding any ideas for up and coming social activities, support groups, workshops or social events. For any correspondence please call or email me.

Social Activities, Outings, Support Groups, Workshops

Meditation Classes:

First and third Wednesday of every month, 7:00pm to 7:30pm at Gender Centre.

Opportunity Shop Extravaganza:

The Gender Centre would like to take a small number of people opportunity shopping. A reservation list will be made with a limit of four people a week (on a suitable day). Are you in early transition and afraid to go shopping? Put on your comfortable shoes and bring along some money for clothes you will buy on the day. Phone Sean on 9569 2366.

Picnics, Cruises, Movies:

(Dates to be announced)

Transgender Youth Support Group (ages 16 to 25)

First Tuesday of every month, 5:00pm to 6:00pm at the Gender Centre, Petersham.

Transgender Support Group (25 and over)

Facilitated by Sean, Dan or Chantel.

Makeup Classes

(facilitated by Sathya). Dates to be announced.

2007 Mardi Gras Float & 2006 Tranny Pride Ball

(name will change to Gender Centre Frolic)

2006 Easter Barbecue

23 April 2006. 12:00 noon until 4:00pm

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.