Bears to get new president

Sydney’s Harbour City Bears (HCB) committee will choose a new president this weekend after Jonny Bastin announced he would resign and step down from the committee to take more personal time.

“I joined the committee in July 2008 and I’ve been president for the past three years,” Bastin told the Star Observer.

“It is a job I’ve loved doing and I will miss it, but I’m also looking forward to a change. I have a few different things planned — a bit more me time and I’m studying at UTS, so I’ll have more time for that.

“I’d like to thank all the guys I’ve worked with on the committee. Over the last four years there have been quite a few of them, and also all the support of the members of the Harbour City Bears.

“I’d also like to thank the various community groups we’ve worked with over the last three or four years.”

Bastin said he had great satisfaction in seeing the bear community strengthen its links with other sections of the LGBTI community in recent years.

“When I was first interviewed by the Star Observer back in 2008, I said I wanted to connect the bears with the rest of the community and I think we’ve been really successful in that. All the guys on the committee during that time did more work than I could ever imagine, so I’d like to thank all of them for that.”

HCB vice-president Marcus Pastorelli thanked Bastin for his service on behalf of the committee.

“The committee and the bear community at large owe a great deal of gratitude to Jonny,” Pastorelli said.

“He’s worked very hard and he’s poured a lot of his energy and skills into his role as president.

“There has been a great deal of growth in the Harbour City Bears while Jonny has been president and that is in no small way thanks to his leadership as president.

“He has done a great job and has put a lot of work into getting the Harbour City Bears where it is today.”