Rainbow babies need new parents

After a decade at the helm of Rainbow Babies, Kerry Hunt and Wendy Machin will step aside.
Hunt and Machin have called for group members to take up a range of coordination positions, and to bring the organisation into the online realm.
Started out of a desire to find “like-minded women and a peer group for our kids”, Hunt said being part of the group had provided much more in return for the work they did.
“It’s been great being a part of it. A lot of work, but so exciting. We’ve done this without any sort of funding, but you get back tenfold what you put in,” Hunt told Sydney Star Observer.
“We’d like to see our original philosophy continue, that is to focus on the children rather than what is necessary for the parents. We’ve found that if you focus on the kids then really good things develop from that.
“Our group has a bit of a social connection role, rather than an advocacy role, but [the gay and lesbian community] knowing we’re there helps as well, because it shows the groundswell and the evidence of a whole group of women and gay guys who are doing exactly what the legislation is trying to answer.”
The group celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a picnic last year, a rewarding experience that gave the pair their real reward.
“It was fantastic because we had people who had been involved from right back 10 years ago. There were our ‘elder statesmen and women’ who are our 10- and 12-year-olds, and they are the most amazing bunch of wonderful, gorgeous kids,” Hunt said.
“They recognised each other as peers so well, and it was so affirming to watch these kids re-connect. It’s like old friends — they don’t see each other for a while, but they know they have a connection that comes from a solid place.”
Replacements are expected to come from within the group, with hopes that new leaders can give Rainbow Babies an online presence.

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