Southern comfort

It’s that time again when our senses are bedazzled by a gamut of fun, frivolous festivities and fantabulous frocks. In the Illawarra, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to get up to Sydney and catch the highlights of the festival before wrapping up the month with the big march. Local groups will be marching again this year, so anyone from the Illawarra who wants to join in the fun, call 4226 1163 to register with us.

For anyone who wants to say hello to me and ask about what’s happening in the Illawarra this year, I’ll be volunteering most nights for the film festival at the Academy Twin. Come and buy a raffle ticket to support Queer Screen and catch one (or more) of the excellent films lined up for the 2008 festival running from 14 to 28 February. Grab a copy of the guide today.

As part of the Mardi Gras campaign, ACON Illawarra, as well as other ACON branches, will be running a Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Risk Forum on Tuesday 19 February, held at the ACON Illawarra Community Space from 6.30pm to 8pm. Call Trevor on 4226 1163 to register and for more information.

If you’re driving round Wollongong, or have a free hour on a Thursday night, you also might like to tune in to Pink Nation, a GLBT radio program broadcasting from 5pm to 6pm every week on community radio VOX FM 106.9.

With Wollongong University soon to be back in session, new students to the Wollongong area, as well as checking out Rainbow ConneXions on a Friday night, might like to look up the local campus queer collective, Allsorts. A fun, active group for GLBTIQ students, they’re sure to make your university experience an interesting one. They meet every Thursday at 12.30pm in building 19, room 19.G039, and their first meeting for the year will be held on 28 February. Look out for them running activities during O-week. There’s further information at http://uowallsorts.org or call the WUSA office on (02) 4221 4201.

If you require any additional information about groups, services, organisations in the Illawarra you can contact ACON Illawarra on 4226 1163.

Trevor Slattery is the Youth Peer Education/Education and Community Development Officer for ACON’s Illawarra Branch.

E: [email protected]