Spring Migration praises positives
Organsiers are hailing a successful Spring Migration despite lower than expected numbers.
The economic downturn and extended length of the event have been blamed for the turnout, however, numbers are still up on last year’s event.
Around 3200 revellers turned out for the nine-day regional gay and lesbian festival. Spring Migration organiser Gary Hayward told Sydney Star Observer he was pleased with the event, but ruled out an extended format for next year.
“Because of the success of the festival last year, the gay community said it wanted more to do, but they didn’t come out and support that. We won’t be doing a nine-day festival again,” he said.
“But we all had a really great time, our numbers are well up on last year, so we’re happy.”
The festival received widespread coverage in Southern Star and Sydney Star Observer, JOY94.9, The Age, and regional television station Prime, among others.
Hayward said the Beechworth and Yackandandah legs of the tour proved most successful, with highest numbers attending the La Luna dance party and more than 1000 people at the farmers market.
A night at Albury’s Zed Bar was a surprise success with hundreds turning up to meet the local gay and lesbian group, Hume Phoenix.
La Luna dance party in Beechworth attracted around 400 people which Hayward said was about half the anticipated number. He said the unexpected success of the Albury night — which shared Vanessa Wagner as the headline act — may have swallowed the dance party crowds.
Some legs of the festival — including Lake Hume and Falls Creek — registered little interest .
The festival is supported by local business sponsors. Hayward said although the financial count has not been completed, last year’s leftover profit would stave off any debts.
Country Awareness Network executive officer Adam Wright said he was pleased with CAN’s festival trivia event which raised hundreds of dollars for the WayOut rural youth program and marked the launch of a three-year program to improve gay men’s health in rural areas.
The small gang from GV Pride (Shepparton) who travelled across for the 2nd w/e of the festival had an absolute ball!
Friday night’s welcome dinner, drinks & drag shows were simply fabulous!
As was scrumptious brunch with my partner the next morning @ the Beechworth Bakery, before wonderfully fun (& educational!) CAN / WayOut / OutThere Trivia & lunch with the beautiful Vanessa Wagner @ the Nicholas Hotel!
A quiet afternoon tour of the ever-pleasant Beechworth (and a [much needed!] rest @ our superbly furnished La Trobe Hotel!) prepared us for a dazzling La Lunar (all-age, 18+) dance party Saturday night, starring the ever-professional and classy Vanessa W, the stunning & talented Aida & her girls and the hilarious (& talented) Drags Aloud!
A late check-out Sunday morning, followed by a short drive to Yackandandah for the CFA Father’s Day Market (retail therapy!) concluded with a HUGE, yummy lunch (& a free glass of Champers!) @ Gapsted Winery, Myrtleford!
Such a pleasant, relaxing, fun, engaging, “special” weekend in the country!
HUGE kudos and gratitude (& admiration) to Gaz, Andy and ALL other amazing people involved in organising a SUPER event!
We’ll be there next year, AND most importantly, we’ll bring someone (or 2 or 3 or 4 others) with us!
Rural/Regional (& city) events are only as successful as we make them – and “word of mouth” is the BEST way to advertise!
If you all had fun like I did, tell your friends and BRING THEM WITH YOU NEXT YEAR! :) Thanks again :) xx
To Gary & Andy,
Congratulations on your latest Spring Migration Festival. The event was conducted very professionally again, and deserves the support & encouragement of everyone. It has become the only ‘stand-out’ event for the GLBT community in the north-east. Well done also for inviting Zed Bar and Hume Phoenix to become involved for the first time.
Unfortunately the ‘tall poppy’ syndrome is alive and well in our ‘gay’ community as well as in our wider, Australian society. No matter how successful you become, there will always be criticism from somewhere. Please don’t focus or waste your energy defending yourself from all of these criticsms.
To all the detractors criticising the event, ease off. Unless you attended the events, you have no reasonable argument nor reason to make comment. By bringing up events that occured at Spring Migration in 2008, it makes your criticisms redundant. It is in the past.
Lets embrace Gary and Andy for having the guts to continue with their festival and cop the criticism from people every single year. My friends Cathy,Jarryd,Carolyn,Anthony and Toni have already shown their support on this forum, and this is mine.
If anyone feels the need to make ‘constructive’ suggestions about improving their event, talk to them. They are very approachable, & I am sure they will be more than willing to listen to your comments. Posting negative reviews on forums resolves nothing.
I look forward to the next Spring Migration and the one after that. So do my friends that come from Sydney and Brisbane to be here for it.
Keep up the good work boys…the community is behind you!
Steve Onley
Ok, so i think we have established that everyone has a different opinion, Great! we are one step closer to what human rights are all about. But lets stop the back and forth he said she said, you did, you didnt, as this does not do us or OUR community any good. We have to deal with enough discrimination and negativity from the non accepting parts of the broader community, we do not need to get it from within the gay and lesbain community.
We are after all, ALL HUMAM.
We will all experience things differently, its human nature, we do not all have to like the same thing, as we would not be a diverse community if that was the case.
At the end of the day i can say i am who i am and i love Spring Migration and everything it is trying to achieve for OUR community. Others will say “they are who they are and do not like Spring Migration and prefer to go somewhere else”, you know what – thats just fine, its your choice. All i ask is that you dont slam me and others like me, but most of all Gary and Andy for loveing, enjoying and tyring to make Spring Migration the best Gay and Lesbian event in Rural Australia.
So to all – go and enjoy the life you have! your lcuky to have it, and i hope to see you all Migrate next year, but if not – your choice.
Well, I just flew in from Overseas, drove up with friends for the weekend from Melbourne & we had a fantastic time. Thankyou Gary & Andy.
p.s If u didn’t have a good time (there or anywhere), – blame yourself, we’re adults and all responsible for our own feelings.
HEY PETER you must be BILL who left that letter last year,Dave has already triped himself up twice in this Forum and now we know its dave from wodonga not melbourne,guys you have missed the point this festival is about the GLBTI Communities in the north east of Victoria,its about education for mens and womens issues,health,and to try and corb the sucide rate of the same sex attracted Youth,SORRY you missed all that and are using the Syd Star as a platform to keep tripping eachother up for what reason i have no idea.Do something for your community instead of trying to distroy spring migration for the last 2 years,if a drag show does something to upset you talk to the drag queen,if you think someone was villified by a drag queen talk to that drag queen”’Wilma fingerdoo wasnt it”’If you guys can do better as you have never organised a festival,yet so quick to slam this one,YOU organsise the festival next year
Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for all the letters of support, not just in this forum but emails, phonecalls, in person and one via Australia Post.
Obviously you enjoyed your Spring Migration 2009 experience. We thank you all for coming and supporting the event from the bottom of our hearts.
Unfortunately there will always be knockers to any and every event, drag show, newspaper, television show and all the other things that exist in our world.
I’ve been working for myself for the last 35 years and no matter what you do or what idea you have there’s always someone waiting in the wings to weild the axe on you.
Gaz and I started Spring Migration 5 years ago and it started off smallish (with plenty of knockers standing in a circle around us) but we percervered and with our supporters and festival attendees help, received an Achievement Award in 2008,
This year 2009 was a huge success due to everyone that attended.
Yes you can go to Zed bar in Albury any night of the week, we all know that.(Peter S) Spring Migration offers a safe place where loving affection can be openly displayed and everyone can just be them “gay old selves” dance and get together – as was seen throughout the festival.
People who want to come – will come – people who don’t want to come – won’t come.
Once again… thank you all.
Andy Stevens
Sorry guys I have to agree with Dave.
I went before also and was horrified by a show that I thought vilified people who were muslims. I was also upset that the local policemam was called homophobic when he is not. I know as I live in the area.
Further the Hume Phoenix has events all the time without this sort of stuff. Every fortnight you can have a dance at the Zbar or go to the Lounge Cafe. It is great and I recommend it!
As a community that has suffered persecution by others we must be careful not to dish it out to other people. We can all have fun but at the expense of others.
I have complained to Gary in Private but found his response to be similar to Dave here.
I am glad to hear this years event ran well and did not vilify anyone. Dave is just making a comment about a story that is all. He is allowed to that! He was not the only one who did not go again.
Spring Migration,,, THANKYOU! You were a breathe of fresh air that I had been looking forward to all year and you didn’t let me down, again! How lucky are we to have such an event that lets us feel so comfortable, were we can have an absolute ball and not worry worry about being judged as we, for once, are the majority.
I planned ahead this year and took a week off to make the most of it, so glad I did as the atmosphere was just amazing and I didn’t want it to end! The performances from the Drag Queens all round were just fantastic, witty, funny and confusingly hot!
Something different this year that I also enjoyed was the Trivia / lunch at the Pub. Again it was funny, very entertaining yet showed the serious side with some educational questions about safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases that we all either need to know or need to be reminded of, so well done for the mixture there, a great balance.
A week and a half later and I still havn’t stopped thinking about all the great things that happened. The amature Drag At Zed bar, how entertaining was that! The professional Drag Thurs, Fri and Sat and the dance itself just brilliant!
People talk about Mardi Gras, how great it is (and it is),I’d just like to think that one day people will be talking about this event everywhere also as it is just as deserving.
For anyone who hasn’t been before, seriously,consider it, as I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed! Can’t wait till next years and thanks to all involved again.
Caz
Well said, Cathy.
This was my first Spring Migration and, wherever I am in subsequent years, I’ll do my best to return to NE Vic, come Migration time.
Sure, I hoped for more people at La Luna, but an event is what you make it–and we made it a blast.
Beautiful countryside; delicious, fine produce; good times with genuine, kind-hearted people.
Thank you Gaz & Andy.
there is not much more i can add to the positivity that my above friends havent already. Spring migration is an all round fun event. for example I meet so many new people from melbourne, gipsland and shepparton just to name a few. There arent alot of gay/lesbian events in regional Australia where it would have been possible to meet so many wonderful people from different parts of the county. Gary and andy do a wonderful job organising this event.It wasnt all just about he partying over spring migration, andy and gaz promoted issues involving gay people in the community. Sexual health stalls were set up at the dance party. The sexual trivia was a great idea as i know personally i learnt so many facts about sexual health i didnt know about. i have nothing but respect for andy and gaz. they are great models for youth and for me personally they have been an inspiration!
so all in all i dont think its fair that you are “bagging” the event. i think it ran very smoothley and i have absoloutley no complaints about it at all!
I did not see a lack of numbers from any of the events I was at. Sure, there may have been a higher expectation of people to attend some of the events, but there is no telling how many people will turn up to any one location, with out conducting a highly informative census prior. Thats why estimates are made. Sometimes they fall short. Either way there was still an increase from last years attendance.
In regards to the Spring migrations sucess… From what I could see at the Thursday night Zed bar in Albury, the Friday night Meet and greet in Beechworth, the Saturday trivia and then followed by the Saturday night La Luna dance party there were plenty of people present to make each event a success. I could not pick any fault with the way things had been organised at all. I am very much looking forward to what is installed for next years celebration.
Dave, I am unsure of whether you have attended a Spring migration festival before or not as your two posts on this forum condridict each other a bit. Either way I would like to see you at next years Spring migration. Only to show you how much fun it can be regardless of where you come from, or where your going. If you do require customer service as you mentioned please contact Gary or Andy through the Spring migration web site privatly and not by posting on a forum like this. I believe dispite all that has been said so far they will be more than willing to help you attend next years events.
Also i want people to have a better understanding of what the Spring migration means to the communities in rural areas such as Albury/Wodonga (where I am from). In most cases there isnt adequate information or social events hosted in rural areas. This once a year celebration is a good chance for those who are part of the gay and lesbian life style or are interested in partaking, to get involved and meet new people. In the city there are clubs, bars, and other venues that support gay and lesbian life styles and are always welcoming new people into the scene. Out in the country sometimes there is no one to talk to or no organisation for you to get help or understanding from. That why events hosted by the Spring migration or other organisations like the Hume phoenix in Albury/Wodonga benefit the surrounding communities and give people a place to feel welcome. Im am very proud of people like Gary and Andy from the Spring migration and the members of the Hume Phoenix, to be able to stand up and fight for our rights to be united and have the strength to organise such events.
Thank you to everyone who assisted in making 2009 Spring Migration a wonderful success and lets hope that it continues to grow every year.
– Anthony
dave well if you didnt go to this years festival why did you say you did above,and most events were cancelled.Mate ive called all venues and you didnt purchase any tickets to any events.So how can you complian about an event that you never came to.You said above and let me refresh your memory”’My partner and I came up from Melbourne to find most events were canceled with no explanation. It was also very expensive”’YET YOUR SAYING IN YOUR LETTER ABOVE”’you did not go to this years..so dave,you never came to the event yet you are complaining about it,and saying its to expensive yet you never came.YOU NEVER CAME TO THIS YEARS SPRING MIGRATION,you have nothing to moan about
Dave as Jeff, Cathy an Gary have said, this year at the Spring Migration was fantastic, I have been going for the last 3 years also and would near miss it. It has the Best Entertainment, Thursday night Hume Phoenix organised a night at Alburys Zed Bar it was a fantastic night, great compair and music, with our local boys having a go singing and dancing.We all danced till early moring.
Friday night was meet an great at the Nicholas Hotel with a show & Dj, we met people from all over Australia and dance all night again.
Saturday at Beechworth the Nicholas Hotel held a lunch time Rainbow Rodeo Sexy Trivia, by Country Awarness Netword. Was such fun an we all learnt heeps.
Saturday night was the big La Luna Full Moon Dance Party at Beechworth, was again a fantastic night, the Entertainment, music an Djs was of high standard.
Sunday everyone cruised back to Yackandandah for a bit of recovery to the “Who’s Your Daddy Market”
Gary an Andy do a wonderful job of organising this event and I would love to say a Big Thankyou!
It is the best Gay an Lesbian event in my opinion, friendly safe an FUN!
Gary,
Have a Bex and lie down. You are way to evangelical about all this. I did not go to this years. If this is the customer service you as the organizer are giving then I guess it speaks for itself. I have not complained before. Dave is a very common name. Go Google it! Dare anyone complain about the event. I guess the lack of numbers speaks for itself.
Cheers,
Dave
Dave its funny how each year you complain about everything we do,and you say your from melbourne but your not.You use different names why did you post this in SYD STAR,When your meant to be in melb.You keep posting negative comments in all press,about spring migration.Saying most events were cancelled is just beyond a joke,and why SSO prints your rubbish is beyond us.Last year you went under a different name Bill saying the policeman invited you in for a cuppa tea.I spoke to the policeman and he said nothing like that happened,you just get off on your crap
I have been to Spring migration for the past 3 years, and i will be going for the next 50! It is always an amazing weekend, full of great entertainment and great people! I have ALWAYS found it to be very well organised and run smoothly, despite a few hick ups from the homophobic parts of our community. NO events were cancelled this year, their were low numbers at some events prior to the main weekend, but NO events were cancelled. The festival finished on a high note of the La Luna Dance Party where the Lovely ladies from Drags aloud were amazing. Our group that attends Spring Migration each year continues to grow as we all go back and rav about how fantastic it is and how it is a must! I have nothing but parise for Gaz and Andy who off their own back out of their own pockect do their very best to provide the gay and lesbian community with a safe place to express themselves, to meet people, to have a Blast! and for me who lives in rural Victoria it is the highlight of my year, ther is no need to hide who i am , there is an opportunity to meet up and have a ball with friends. to Gaz and Andy i say a big and heartfelt thankyou, you are just the BEST!
To those who have negative comments about Spring Migration, If you can do better – the do it, but i very much doubt that you can build such a supportive and safe atmosphere with the same following that Gaz and Andy have acheieved with Spring Migration. I have been before and i will go again!
Dave, There’s no pleasing everybody and you indicated in your comments that you diddn’t come this year. I came up from Melbourne as did many other people who all looked very happy to me enjoying the many events on offer. So no mention of the fantastic performers and sound and lighting. I saw your complaint last year and it was the same old drab stuff… what festival or event do you run? None I suppose. If you have any constructive advice then why not share that with everyone instead of just bitching and winging.
I for one was pleasantly surprised at the organisation and range of events to go to.
Jeff
Dave we never heard from you heaps of people had a ball,what events did you go to that had been cancelled.If you read our website each part of the event was run by those organisations,it was a fantastic success but there is always one person thats got to complain about something.You didnt contact us,you never came up to us and said anything.Look at the highlights on the video on springmigration.com.au on our website and let people decide.
I went before but would not go again. My partner and I came up from Melbourne to find most events were canceled with no explanation. It was also very expensive. I do not think the economic downturn has effected things that much, just poor co-ordination of the event.