Pride March on song for success

This year’s Pride March will feature a world-first — a  march-specific theme song.

Pride March Victoria president Brett Hayhoe announced the song, Proudly Walking, penned by local maestros Will Conyers and David Peake, at the official Pride March launch at St Kilda Town Hall last week.

Traditionally, Pride has adopted a commercial hit as each year’s theme song, but Hayhoe told the crowd he “wanted something that was specifically about Pride and what it meant to our community”.

The song will have its on-air debut on JOY 94.9 on January 21, and will be available to purchase at Pride March.

In his speech to the crowd, which included Port Phillip Mayor Frank O’Connor, Hayhoe acknowledged the year’s international Pride March message of ‘One Heart, One World, One Pride’, and touched on the political origins and future of the march.

Hayhoe also announced a number of changes to this year’s event, which he said were aimed at keeping the march fresh and relevant. These included moving the march’s start time to 2pm, with assembly from noon; a larger bar area for the post-march party; and the addition of a Community Village in the Catani Gardens, to be organised by Gasworks Arts Park, featuring an expanded number of marquees from patrons and community groups.

There will also be a main stage featuring performances from Katie Underwood, Tracy Bartram and others.

The march closes the Midsumma Festival on February 7. Those intending to march as a specific group must register by January 16 on the Pride March website (www.pridemarch.com.au). Those wishing to march or spectate informally can do so without registration.

Pride March Victoria President Brett Hayhoe (left) with Port Phillip Mayor Frank O’Connor.