Southern comfort
The big march is over for another year and with the heads of partygoers beginning to clear it’s time to get back to the daily grind of just being generally fabulous.
In the past few weeks the Illawarra Branch has had a visit from our friends on the Southern border (Albury), Hume Phoenix, as well as getting a friendly welcome from the passionate group of students that make up the on-campus queer collective at the University of Wollongong, Allsorts. It’s been great to see lots of fresh and eager faces, as well as some old ones, and it promises to be a big year.
We had a great response during O-week, where we partnered with the area health service’s HIV and Related Projects Unit to run an information stall.
I had the honour of running around campus dressed as a giant condom, again (old habits die hard). Lots of safe-sex packs and information was handed out to new students, with details of local testing centres and facts on STIs.
The next UNITY dance is coming up on 29 March. The theme is BLAQ, which should be lots of fun for those getting into the spirit.
UNITY dances are now held three times a year and are a great way to catch up, have fun and meet members of the wider GLBT community in the Illawarra.
For more info, check out their website: www.unity-wollongong.org or contact ACON Illawarra.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Michelle and Andre to the staff of the Illawarra branch.
They are bringing lots of enthusiasm and ideas to the Sex Workers Outreach Project and the Youth Peer Education Project so I’m sure there will be loads of great developments and upcoming events to report on soon.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy Mardi Gras, lets extend it to a safe and happy year.
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 Education and Community Development Officer for ACON’s Illawarra Branch.
