Capturing the times

The Rainbow Network Victoria is donning its party hat to celebrate its 10th birthday this Tuesday and, looking to the future, will create a time capsule as part of the festivities. Rainbow Network coordinator Roz Ward said the idea came from members who wanted to mark the day with something to make people think about where the community was at and where it’s heading in the next 10 years.Called the Big Rainbow Time Capsule, Ward said she hopes people will think creatively about what to put in it to define the times, and expects flyers, articles, objects, photos, pictures and creative writing.A prize will also be awarded for the most creative contribution.Ward said she is thinking of recording some musings on audio to put in the capsule. -œAn iPod might be outdated then and we’ll all sit back and laugh, she said.The Rainbow Network provides support to those working with same-sex attracted and transgender young people across Victoria and is supported by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria.The Network has grown in the last ten years from an informal discussion group to a membership of over 110.Ward said the life and growth of the Network is due to the dedication of those involved and support from the community.-œThere’s a lot of peer support, especially for those in rural and regional areas.-œIt can be hard to find people to speak to on a professional basis so the Network is good for supporting and sharing ideas with like-minded people.-œOften we still face problems with homophobia in what we do. It has got better, but we’ve still got a long way to go, she said.The 10th birthday celebrations will be held Tuesday December 2 from 4-6pm on the rooftop, level 9, 225 Bourke Street.info: www.rainbownetwork.net.au Anyone interested in providing items for the time capsule or joining the celebration should email Roz at [email protected].