Our big queer success

Big Queer Nation has been hailed as a great success by ACON, with the Queen’s Birthday weekend dance party raising more than $32,500.

ACON president Adrian Lovney said the party at Fox Studios attracted around 6,000 people, with ticket sales generating more than $30,000 and the official recovery at Midnight Shift raising a further $2,540.

We are incredibly grateful for this fundraising support and to see the return of the traditional ACON winter party, Lovney said. I’m sure everyone who travelled in Saturday night’s tunnels felt the same way about welcoming back the Hand In Hand tradition.

Queer Nation pulled off a great party and ACON was more than happy to support the event with our large team of volunteers working throughout the night to ensure everyone had a great time. We hope to repeat this success again next year.

Lovney particularly wanted to thank the team of 26 volunteer ACON Drug Rovers who kept an eye on partygoers throughout the night for anyone in need of medical assistance. A number of people were escorted to the Mardi Gras Medical but only two people required ambulances to be taken to hospital.

ACON first introduced a large team of Drug Rovers at the 2003 Sleaze Ball and again at the 2004 Mardi Gras Party. The public response to the Rover presence continues to be overwhelmingly positive with many people happy that we are looking out for them and their friends, said Lovney.

Overall it seemed to be a remarkably well-behaved crowd, and there were no reported incidents involving police despite a very strong uniformed and undercover police presence. The boys and girls in blue were visible in all of the venues throughout the party and most seemed to be having a good time.