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- Tuesday, 26 May 2009
New Mardi Gras wants member feedback on a new parade night party after being burnt by criticism it failed to consult widely enough on booking the parade and party over two separate weekends.
The additional -˜surprise’ Mardi Gras event scheduled for parade night on 27 February has been in planning for months, NMG chair David Imrie said, and could be members-only. An email was sent to members on Monday.
Some of our members felt we hadn’t consulted with them enough on the matter. This is a good opportunity for members to give us their feedback on this particular event, he said.
Imrie claimed the changes were market-tested on 1500 volunteers and 46 parade organisers.
But the announcement last week came as a surprise to a lot of NMG members and the community, generating more than 100 responses on Sydney Star Observer’s website and dozens of letters.
Every now and then we get smacked in the face that Mardi Gras is no longer relevant and people don’t care. I think the healthy debate and discussion about this change shows people do care, Imrie said.
We’ll never know how successful this format will be until we try it, and this isn’t forever more.
Some of the conspiracy theories and myths running around are quite bizarre. There are a whole lot of factors to consider and we’ve planned a great season.
A more compact two-week arts festival was one of those decisions. Those involved last season cited the cramped schedule as reason for concern.
We’re not trying to limit people to two weeks, they can put events on whenever they like, Imrie said, adding the new format wasn’t set in stone.
He denied suggestions the decision to move the parade forward was financially motivated to resurrect the Harbour Party from two successive years of losses. Ticket sales for both the official and Harbour parties would likely be helped by the shift, he admitted, as only a quarter of volunteers were buying discounted tickets at present.
Local parade participants from floats such as Twenty10 and the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service cited energy levels and their desire to attend the official party as a reason to support the changes.
A spokesman from the award-winning Lifesavers With Pride float said the post-parade event would be crucial to the success of the altered festival.
I think its a great idea as it means that people who go to the parade can go to the party as well, he said.
The downside is the scene would have to make sure a similar (but smaller) event is on to cater for the crowds after the parade, otherwise … the city will be full of people with nowhere to go.
Twenty10 managing director Rebecca Reynolds said the changes were positive.
“On a personal perspective, having worked across parade and party, I feel a sense of relief with the change. It certainly is going to be a more managable work load.
“From the perspective of young people, the change brings with it more chance to engage with the different aspects of the Festival, while not losing their attention. In the past, those who have not been able to afford to go onto the party, have felt their night has been diminished, so we hope the change will prevent this.”
But interstate visitors told SSO they couldn’t afford to stay for two weekends and would have to choose.
Long-time Canberra float organiser Richard Allen wondered what NMG was thinking.
People in Canberra can’t afford to have two weekends in a row to celebrate Mardi Gras -” I wish they’d leave it alone, he said. I will be there for the parade but not the party.
California resident Mark Bruce intends to stay the extra week but he had booked flights on advice from NMG sponsor Atlantis Events.
We will make some air adjustments here and hope the changes won’t cost too much, he said.
Passengers booked on February’s Atlantis cruise from New Zealand to Sydney were not told of the split events, even though the company was consulted about the decision more than a month ago. Several customers claimed to have been told the cruise operator had successfully convinced NMG to move the parade forward to match the advertised cruise date.
NMG was unable to move the official party forward from 6 March as the venue in the Entertainment Quarter was already booked and the venue was not available on 27 February.
Imrie denied there had been an organising mistake and said he was unaware the NMG sponsor had been telling customers all the key events were on the 27 February weekend.
I wasn’t aware of that. Atlantis have been aware of what our programming was and the dates we booked the venue for the party. So I’m not sure how that’s occurred.
Imrie also advised that the NSW Premier’s department had advised NMG against holding the parade on 6 March to avoid major sporting events.
Imrie said he still wants to hear more suggestions on the changes and the parade night event. He claimed they had already received more than 40 responses, mostly positive.
info: You can let Mard Gras know your throughts on the festival change by emailing feedback@mardigras.org.au
Film festival will alter
Queer Screen admits the shortened festival will impact on them, and would have liked more consultation.
Obviously, having parade day in the middle of the cultural festival has an enormous impact on the way Queer Screen presents the Mardi Gras Film Festival, Queer Screen manager Lex Lindsay said.
Traditionally that is our biggest screening weekend.
We will be announcing our festival dates soon and hope our loyal audience understands we will have to run with a different schedule of screenings than they may be familiar with. Needless to say, the quality of the content won’t be affected.
Cultural cut a cruel move
Former NMG board sponsor for the festival and ‘78er Diane Minnis was concerned the overall festival had been cut in half from two years ago.
I think its counter-productive for everyone concerned, Minnis said. I don’t think it is possible to fit everything in and not be crammed.
The festival catered to a diverse range of the community, she said. This would be made harder with a shorter timetable.
More women participate in Fair Day and the arts festival than the party for instance, and a broader range of the community participates in Fair Day and the festival events, Minnis said.
Festival-like events, such as a film night, had been part of Mardi Gras since 1978, she added, whereas the party didn’t come for several years.
Split -˜makes sense’ for parade volunteers
Splitting the party and parade makes common sense, a long-term Mardi Gras volunteer says.
Suzanne Freestone, who has given more than 15 years service to Mardi Gras, said the split weekend would allow volunteer parade officials to enjoy both events without feeling tired and stressed.
It is really going to take the pressure off the parade volunteers, she told Sydney Star Observer. More than 50 percent of volunteers don’t go to the party because they are too tired and exhausted.
It will also be good for the parade though. There are a lot of people who don’t go to the parade because they are at home getting ready for the party. Now they can go to both.
Freestone said she hoped splitting the event would make it easier for volunteers at the end of the parade.
As a group, the parade volunteers latch on to the end of the parade to follow it back into the finale area. We get hundreds of people following us up the route on their way to the party. It can be downright dangerous. We’ve been pelted with bottles, spat on and attacked.
This year was better because we had some police support, but in previous years I’ve been hit over the head, attacked, pushed and shoved. If there is no party to attend, one would think this should ease off.
Additional reporting by Scott Abrahams
Story updated to reflect actual parade date is 27 February.
Tags: Atlantis Events, David Imrie, Diane Minnis, Harbour Party, lex lindsay, Livesavers With Pride, Mardi Gras parade, New Mardi Gras, Queer Screen, Rebecca Reynolds, Twenty10
May 27th, 2009 @ 1:16 pm
Richard Cobden posted this on last week’s story. When’s the AGM?
Richard Cobden said,
May 26th, 2009 @ 8:31 pm I received credible information some 6 weeks ago that this change was driven by an agreement with the Atlantis people which obliged NMG to move the Parade to the last Saturday in February, while the standing booking for the RHI/Hordern is the first Saturday in March. Apparently an attempt was made by NMG to move the Party date to the Parade date but Playbill (who control the Showground/Fox venues) rejected it on the basis that the venue was booked for the Gift Fair. In other words, the separated dates were the result of a combination of an undisclosed commercial obligation and a plain and simple oversight. Any suggestion that it is by design is an ex post facto attempt to cover up.
May 27th, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
The best thing about all this is all the conspirecy theories:
1. The Government made them do it.
2. An American cruise company made them do it.
3. They did it to make Harbour Party profitible.
4. They couldn’t get the RHI on the date they wanted.
5. They are greedy and wanted to run an extra party.
6. This is the first step before moving parade to Homebush.
7. They did it because they don’t like lesbians.
What a sinister group they are at New Mardi Gras!
May 27th, 2009 @ 3:40 pm
This “new” party idea just goes to show the original idea of splitting the parade and party events was poorly conceived, thought through insufficiently, undertaken without the proper appropriate level of consultation, and indeed should never have happened.
How can anyone sensibly suggest (and maintain a straight face) that it was a good and necessary idea to split the parade fromn the party – because people are too tired etc etc blah blah blah – and then suddenly a week later turn around and announce that a new party event is now needed to spring up at the end of the parade where the original party used to be? like some kind of mythical hydra.
If there’s to be a party at the end of the parade, then hold the parade on March 6, the same day as the planned party and have done with it. All that’s likely to be achieved by this is two loss making parties and a significant drop in attendence at the parade. Grow a pair NMG, admit you made a mistake and fix it.
- Phil
May 27th, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
Richard Cobden is the sort of person who doesn’t post things unless he is sure of his facts. I imagine that a lot of questions have been asked at New Mardi Gras and even more interesting ones will be asked at the AGM. I can see a sword waiting for someone to fall on it…
May 27th, 2009 @ 4:07 pm
New Mardi Gras is so sad now -“ They have lost the meaning of what Mardi Gras is actually about.
-œNew Mardi Gras wants member feedback on a new parade night party?
Here is my feedback: The parade is more important than the party -“ so who cares. And can members of NMG please not vote David back in .
May 27th, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
Richard was willing to put his name to the facts, which I am sure he has right. After all, it makes a lot more sense now doesn’t it?
I wish Mardi Gras had just told the truth. Much of the public criticism has come from people of goodwill who believed it was too big a change to happen without consultation and who were understandably annoyed that MG claimed to have consulted widely when it obviously had not done so. If, as seems to be the case, the splitting of Parade and Party has been forced on NMG by a genuine mistake on its part which can’t be fixed now, we should get behind them and try and make it work for next year.
May 27th, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
I have been involved with Mardi Gras both as a volunteer and more recently a member for many years. I was there when the organisation went bust last time. Furthermore I helped by volunteering and raising it from the ashes again.
As a member, decisions of this calibre really need to be voted on at an AGM or extraordinary meeting before being announced to the public!
The latest member email from NMG states that the board are asking for our feedback on what should happen post parade rather than overturning this decision or calling for a vote. This is negligent behaviour and fails to understand major gravity of the situation.
When Mardi Gras did go bankrupt last time there were many paid employee positions therefore creating a form of hierarchal management within our community organisation.
It seems that this is happening again.
After viewing the NMG website recruiting for a Head of Events, Head of Marketing & Publicity and Festival Coordinator is occurring. I can’t help but think that these positions will only lead to a further flow on of other paid jobs within the organisation therefore further increasing its commercialisation.
Further to this New Mardi Gras have announced big bold plans that they are moving to a new office in Oxford Street whereas I believe the current property in Petersham is sufficient if some minor renovations occurred. The questions remains and prime concern being is there enough money for all of this if the party, one of their biggest fundraising events fails due to this decision?
It was not so long ago that the Gay Games in Sydney which had a similar event structure lost many millions of dollars due to mismanagement. These recent financial events of the former Mardi Gras and Sydney Gay Games cannot simply be ignored. More importantly our world is experiencing an economic downturn therefore in these tough economic times the decision to increase spending and risk is questionable.
Further negligent behaviour is the previously advertised dates of Mardi Gras 2010 having been published on their website for quite some time now!
There is a way to change this and it’s not too late for the NMG board to change their decision.
Further to this as members we have voting rights and can change the decision ourselves at the 2009 AGM! There are several ways that this can occur, one being an agenda item or another as voting for a new board however there would need to be a sufficient amount of nominations for these positions when announced. As members we need to jam pack the AGM this year, not unlike those similar times that happened under the Koala Oxford Hotel in the 90’s.
Come on Members, this year is the time to show up and vote!!!
May 27th, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
I was a team leader in this years parade and I think the volunteers party should be advised well in advance. It could be a lunch at a park on a Saturday with some money put into it from NMG and the rest could be BYO.
I would prefer that then a hastily “there’s a party tomorrow” sms, with one free drink and the rest you pay (expensively).
I’m thinking about setting up a picnic for my team on a weekend with a BYO lunch and drinks anyway.
May 27th, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
The Chair of NMG has claimed that 1,500 volunteers were ‘market tested’ to move the party.
As someone who is a senior volunteer for Parade, I was very interested to read this. I certainly was not ‘market tested’ and I’m not aware of any volunteer that was.
May 27th, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
The following if a quote from the promotional material for the Atlantis Cruise emailed to Mardi Gras members on 26 March this year:
“We then head north to Sydney where we’ll be docked for 2 days at Circular Quay in the heart of the city…Our first cruise to Australia had to be grand, so we’ve worked closely with Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to perfectly coordinate our schedules. We’ll arrive in Sydney the same day as the famous Mardi Gras Parade and Party, (27 February)disembarking late on Sunday to allow you time to truly experience the world’s largest gay and lesbian celebration.”
Its time the Mardi Gras Board, and the CEO we pay, came clean and were honest with members.
May 28th, 2009 @ 10:31 am
So they asked volunteers and “some” party organisers about the Party and forget about the other 15,000 or so ?
Of course give the volunteers and those in the Parade a party. Why not open the Hordern on Sunday and do a day Party for them ? its all set up.
They can have a good nights sleep/rest and then have their own Party.
The majority will want to do the Party after the Parade but where are they going to put it on if its true Fox is booked out for a Gift Fair ? Dont even think of Homebush. What Halls has the Gift Fair taken over ? If its just RHI then suppose we could do with out it but it would be sorely missed. Questions, questions.
May 28th, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Your right Alphonse! David needs to go…
May 28th, 2009 @ 2:18 pm
the comments about about Queer Screen not be consulted.
or from the volunteer who thinks it would be great for the volunteers/parade people to have the party a week later and her comment that at then about following the parade out to wherever it finishes may mean less people will attack them because there is no party ??? makes no sense ! will be the same crowd watching it my dear.
I think NMG should try and bribe the people who have booked Fox for 27 Feb with some large $’s to move their fair to a week earlier or later instead. Hopefully they havent been advertising it too heavily and the large bribe will pay for any advertising that needs to be altered.
Otherwise goodbye NMG board.
May 28th, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
Dear David Imrie
I have organised and planned my MardiGras time for next in regards of booking a hotel room, arranging leave time with work etc etc and the list goes on.
Can you please provide me money that totals the amount of the accommodation and the tour programs I have booked and payed? as I will not be using these anymore, also, can you also please contact my boss to reschedule all my meetings and responsibilities for the duration of late Feb to mid March next year at you’re convenience?
Oh and lastly, can you please cancel my MG membership oh and another thing (I almost forgot) can you please look in the mirror and slap your face.
Much Appreciated.
- Ripped Off.
Editor’s note: Bexter, David Imrie has asked for you to contact him direct with details of your expenses. You can email him at david.imrie@mardigras.org.au.
May 28th, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
well explained.
dunno what to think!
May 28th, 2009 @ 3:38 pm
A ’senior volunteer’ for parade, Brad. That is just too funny. I’ve also volunteered for a numbeer of years and its you ’senior volunteers’ that really need to let go of what has been really great in the past, but now may need a bit of sprucing up.
I say well done NMG for having the balls to make changes. The parade and party are great, fun, exciting…all of that. But it is also a bit the same each year.
I, for one, am looking forward to it!
May 28th, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
Simply amazing ! Mardi Gras has market researched this new timetable ? I find that hard to believe.
The last time Mardi Gras went bankrupt a major contributor was a fall off in party/event ticket sales when international visitor numbers dropped. Visitors are a major contributor to this event’s significance on the calendar and the organisation’s bottom line. It doesn’t seem that these people have been “market researched”. The extra effort and expense of staying around another week for the event’s big fundraising party is something that a lot of visitors won’t be willing or financially able to do.
All respect to the volunteers and members for this much loved event (and quite a few are saying they weren’t consulted)but consultation needed to occur more
widely amongst all the other stakeholders for the chances of success of these changes to be accurately assessed.
What about the momentum and energy of Parade night? Will that not gradually dissipate over the following week? Why not a build up to the parade rather than a build down after the parade going towards the final party? Won’t any dissipation in focus reduce the party’s numbers, even amongst the locals.
An event on the scale of Mardi Gras is properly the climax of mounting energies rather than a starting point. An alternative option that should have been considered in any consultation would have been to hold smaller street events in the week leading up to the big parade adding to the sense of excitement and anticipation.
What will happen to all those people on Mardi Gras night who had attended the party as part of the festivities but can’t get tickets to a smaller event. Which enterprising entrepreneur will rent the Entertainment quarter site instead of Mardi Gras? Will it even be a gay party? How will the larger number of gay people on Oxford street deal with the straighter parade audience? Isn’t there a
potential security problem there?
Why is the festival being cut in half when we were told that it was where the future focus of Mardi Gras would be?
It’s one thing to argue for change for the event but another to introduce these particular changes…and without adequate consultation. Give us a proper debate about the possible options for change if this is to be more than a mere Mickey Mouse consultation. The changed timetable should not be a fait-accompli. Bring on the real consultation now!
May 28th, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
Thanks to Richard Cobden the truth has now come out. Shame on you Board and CEO! The Board has sold out to crass commercial sponsership, and pretended to dress it up as “consultation” with 1500 people. I know no one who was consulted. I agree that we need to vote to cheange this stupid decision as soon as possible. Lets bring on a meeting!
May 29th, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Love you David!
May 29th, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
So, NMGs line is that; the changes were market-tested on 1500 volunteers and 46 parade organisers. What a load of crap. You cant tell a one gay person something without it getting out let alone one thousand, five hundred and forty six of us.
NMG has become as trustworthy as a Real Estate Agent!!
May 29th, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
How on earth would Richard Cobden know anything? Turns out he’s not even a member of New Mardi Gras and he’s never been involved in any of their planning meetings.
May 29th, 2009 @ 2:31 pm
Why do gays still need a parade though, come on guys, we are in an age of acceptance now you all have law’s that look after you – isnt this enough?
May 29th, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
If Mardi Gras completely called it a day then Gay Marriage would be immediately happening. Its an old Outdated Parade which has died long time ago. Mardi Gras has done nothing but contributed to Homophobia and the growth of Christian congregations.
May 29th, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
Why do olympic athletes need a parade. Come on guys, we are in the age of acceptance (and big buck$$$$) – isn’t it enough?
May 29th, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
MG lost its relevance a long time ago, and now is just another excuse to dress up and party – nothing wrong with that, but you do that on Oxford st any weekend.
This is a great opportunity to encourage the more apathetic queens to focus on the political relevance and history of MG, and to celebrate how lucky we are to be living in country where homosexuality is not illegal.
Let’s go even further, ditch the drag queen/ tits and arse/ exhibitionist 70’s approach which we’ve all seen too many bloody times, and get a new float selection committee who can give us a parade with passion, humour, politics and 21st century relevance to gay and lesbian identity.
May 29th, 2009 @ 4:37 pm
The quote “Our first cruise to Australia had to be grand, so we’ve worked closely with Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to perfectly coordinate our schedules. We’ll arrive in Sydney the same day as the famous Mardi Gras Parade and Party,” certainly doesn’t suggest a conspiracy between Atlantis and NMG… Actually it appears pretty obvious Atlantis were not aware of the decision prior as they referred to the Party as well on Feb 27th. Bloody drama queens.
May 29th, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Who cares what “drug fucked” Queens do!!!
NEXT ….I WANT REAL NEWS, NOT TRASH ABOUT “NEW MARDI GRAS”
May 29th, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
The DA lodged with Sydney City Council available on their web site clearly shows that NMG intended parade to be 27th February at least as early as beginning of Feb this year.
http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/DAsOnExhibition/DASearch/AssocDocs.aspx?uri=1638535
May 29th, 2009 @ 10:07 pm
I really don’t understand. If the real issue is the parade volunteers… honestly the real issue, then why not hold a separate smaller party for them a week later? To move 20,000 party goers instead is crazy.
Then all of a sudden we have this new “after party” in this article- well there better not be any volunteers go to that… otherwise why couldn’t they just go to the normal party when it was on the same night?????????
Something just does not add up.
May 30th, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
JM
I agree with you!!! Ditch the dicks, bin the boobs….
Lets go head to head with Rio and the ‘carnivale’ exhibitions of the world….
Time to illiminate the ‘freak show’ look at me Parade..
Lets have some Pride in Mardi Gras and celebrate the successes of being Gay in the world today!!!
As for the party… if Pill poppers and alike need a place to go then… resurrect a parade after party…. after good consultation from not only Members of Mardi Gras but the wider community at large….
It’s an international event, and consequently a wider / broader opinion than the concentration of members (without wishing to offend) would give a refreshing insight into what we really really want…
June 2nd, 2009 @ 1:26 am
The NMG Board’s decision to hold the Parade and Party a week apart is a decision which changes a fundamental element of Mardi Gras.
The Parade and Party have been held on the same night since 1982, and have provided a twin climax, the grand finale of the Mardi Gras Festival since 1985. This combination defines Mardi Gras for many people. Moreover, our community’s ability to successfully stage the two events on the one night, at the end of a diverse Festival, which also includes Fair Day, the largest daytime gay and lesbian event in Australia, for over 20 years is a matter of pride for many lesbians and gay men.
This doesn’t mean it has to stay this way forever. All events evolve, and there are often sound reasons for making changes. Any change to the fundamental nature should however recognise the GLBT community’s ownership and investment in Mardi Gras. This means it should only be made after widespread and informed community debate. It should not be made in secret, behind closed doors, without prior public discussion, by a Board elected, if my memory serves me right, unopposed at a poorly attended AGM.
The decision has however been made, and as arrangements for next year’s Parade and Party (venue bookings, liaison with government agencies etc) are already underway, if not set in stone, it may be difficult to reverse it. Moreover, overturning board decisions once they have been made may not be good corporate governance.
What is needed is a mechanism that ensures there is consultation and debate before such decisions are made in future. One way to achieve this would be to amend the NMG constitution to require the NMG Board to consult the NMG membership before any change to the fundamental nature or any of the fundamental elements of Mardi Gras is made.
The constitutional amendment would spell out what these fundamental elements are.
This could be achieved by inserting a new Division IV in the NMG Constitution entitled “Consultation with Members” which could read:
6.18 The Board must convene a General Meeting before adopting a resolution to:
(a) alter the primary focus of any of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, Mardi Gras Party, Mardi Gras Festival or Mardi Gras Fair Day as gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual events;
(b) change the nature of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade as a street event;
(c) not hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade;
(d) hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at a location other than Oxford and Flinders Street, Darlinghurst;
(c) not hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at night;
(d) hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at any time other than on the last Saturday in February or the first Saturday in March;
(e) other than in 2010, hold the Mardi Gras Parade and Mardi Gras Party on separate nights;
(f) not hold a Mardi Gras Festival prior to the Mardi Gras Parade; or
(g) not hold a Mardi Gras Fair Day within in the four weeks prior to the Mardi Gras Parade.
6.19 The notice for such general meeting shall include a statement setting out the proposed resolution or resolutions and the reasons for the proposed resolution or resolutions.
6.20 The principal business of the general meeting shall be consideration of a motion in the form:
“This general meeting endorses the resolution or resolutions set out in the notice of this meeting, as required by Paragraph 6.19 of the Constitution of New Mardi Gras Limited.”
This amendment would ensure that community discussion and consultation will occur before any change to the fundamental element of Mardi Gras is made – 6.18 (a)-(g) effectively lists these fundamental elements of Mardi Gras.
This is because 21 days notice must be given of any general meeting in writing to the members, and by advertisement in the Star Observer or other such similar publication that circulates within the gay, lesbian, transgender,
bisexual and queer communities.
Immediately this happens, the proposed change is made public, and can be reported, discussed and debated in bars, on websites, in the GLBT media etc.
When the general meeting is held, the members can show their support for the change by voting for the motion to endorse it, or show their opposition by voting against it.
The board could still go ahead with the change, even if the resolution to endorse it was lost. Its loss would not prevent the board from going ahead with the change if it believed it was justified. What is important is that the community debate will have taken place before the decision was made, and not afterwards.
Nor should the board fear this process. The most significant change to Mardi Gras – moving it from the end of June to the end of Summer – was made using a similar process.
The Mardi Gras Task Group (as it was then) convened three community meetings to discuss this and other changes to Mardi Gras – rather than believing it had the power to make the decisions itself. And while those meetings were robust, their outcome ensured that Mardi Gras never looked back.
Editor’s Note: Sam, New Mardi Gras president David Imrie has asked you contact him direct about this matter. You can email him at david.imrie@mardigras.org.au
June 2nd, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
I am wondering if Bexter, and others with strong opinions here, have emailed David Imrie (after being given the opportunity to)?
If not one wonders what credibility can be given to rants and raves regarding personal hardship through the changes that are, after all, effective in more than 8 months from now?
How much more notice do you really, honestly, need?
This issue really has become rather boring. The decision has been made. The majority of main stakeholders have given a reserved ‘thumbs up’ to the concept. Let’s embrace it and move on…
June 3rd, 2009 @ 1:00 am
“The majority of the main stakeholders have given a reserved -˜thumbs up’ to the concept”? What Damon says is very much in dispute here. Just look at how many stakeholders have had their ability to participate in Mardi Gras downgraded:
*visitors who must now arrange much more leave from work to attend and pay for a far longer stay,
*the participants in the Arts festival which is halved to two weeks, half of which must now compete with the new events between parade and party and where the central weekend (until now the busiest time of the festival)is in conflict with the Parade weekend
*the thousands who love to party after the parade while they are still on a high from the festive atmosphere.These people buying tickets have kept Mardi Gras financially afloat over the decades. Yet it is a minority saying they are unable to attend the party that is leading to this dramatic change of course which leaves most without the ability to get into an official Mardi Gras party on Parade night after years of loyal support.
That is a very large number of stakeholders indeed. The overwhelming majority of stakholders were not “market tested” at all,something that was only done with a select number of NMG members. That the new arrangements have slashed their participation has not been acknowledged by David Imrie and the NMG board. When making what are the largest changes to Mardi Gras since it became a summer night event the NMG board should not be meeting in private to decide what to do before a full public debate/consultation has happened.
I add my voice to the call by other stakeholders for NMG to call a Special General Meeting with 21 days notice to allow for adequate consultation and debate about the changes. Plainly what a great number of stakeholders need for them to continue to participate as they have done for years has not been taken into proper consideration and their voices should be heard.
June 3rd, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
It’s quite clear that “Pinkboard” are backing these changes rather than allowing comments that speak against the changes and how to change them to be posted!
Thanks Star Observer for allowing us to freely voice our opinions on this important issue!!!
June 4th, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
Interesting comment from Damian… I too posted a mildy negative comment to Pinkboard and it did not make the cut. Is the debate being censored?
SX also seems to be full of praise – the list of support from NMG notables read like a scripted advert.
June 4th, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Given the above accusations, it is interesting that, in the last two issues of The Star Observer, ALL the published letters have been totally negative, even vitriolic.
Does this mean The Star Observer has not received one positive letter over the last two weeks? I know of at least two letter writers who indeed sent positive feedback to The Star Observer and neither was published. Or is there perhaps a bias at The Star Observer as some would accuse Pinkboard and SX?
We are used to owner or editorial bias in our mainstream media -“ compare The Daily Terror to SMH, for example.
If so, in this case, that’s fine. It should just be declared so that readers are not under the impression that there is ONLY negative reaction in the community. Quite simply, there isn’t. You just have to read everything to get balanced information and views.
Editor’s Note: We have to date published every letter received in the office about the Mardi Gras decision. We have no interest stymieing debate on this issue. More letters have been received since the last deadline and will be published in the next issue.
June 4th, 2009 @ 10:25 pm
I love comments like Scott’s -
“I say well done NMG for having the balls to make changes. The parade and party are great, fun, exciting-¦all of that. But it is also a bit the same each year”
So tell us Scott what will make the Party better by holding it a week after the Parade ????????????????????????
Can you guarantee that people will be walking around in their Parade costumes for all to see ? still have that proud look on their faces that they did it ? still have the Vibe ? still have that adrenaline high ? or will it simply just be another party no different than Sleaze Ball ?
Tell us how it will be better ?
Oh and as for Pinkboard…….well years ago Panther said he had to censor the postings as some got quite vile. They did and its his call. I dont understand why now in these current times. Back then Forums where being sued but didnt those cases get thrown out ? and the Forums could not be held for peoples comments ?
Pinkboard has certainly not published some of my posts. Sure was having a go at someone but the post I was commenting on was pretty vile. Bias ? not sure on that score. Could be just a bad server as well so they may just lose posts but it does seem to happen often and seems I am not the only one.
So Scott and all…………. explain how the Part will be better ?
June 5th, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
So what hall/s has the gift fair booked ?
Usually these things have the RHI or the Hordern.
If it is only 1 Hall then we can still have a reasonable sized party around them ?
Would be good to know please David Imrie ?
June 17th, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
its a shame that they forgot to book the hall for the 27th and lied to everyone….there are 15 of us that had tickets to come to OZ from the states and we had to pay 400$$ to change the tickets EACH ..Im so mad at whoever was stupid enough not to book the venue..
But Im also mad as hell..that they LIED to us when we called to tell them they screwed up..and all they could tell us was…..oh well dont come…what a mess …thanks to the mardi gras commettiee for screwing up our vacation
August 16th, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
Parade night will cause a lot of trouble on oxford street with all the bars being full from 9pm. And police will have to sort this out.
February 22nd, 2010 @ 12:55 pm
Oh the Passion and the Fury!
Where were all these whining bitches when Rudd made his anti- Gay Marriage comments? Where were their scornful letters to the editor? their personal protestations to their elected politicians? Fuck, you queens are as vaccuous as your lyrca undies.