Southern comfort

We’ve had a big start to the Mardi Gras season with the first Southern Region Gay Men’s HIV+ Retreat held last weekend. We had a great turn-out with participants from all over southern NSW coming to learn about complementary therapies, holistic health approaches and to make new connections.

That’s only the beginning with lots more in store for the rest of the Mardi Gras season.

On Saturday 21 February we have a workshop at the Albury Community Health Centre from 9am-4.30pm. All community members from the greater southern area who are interested in learning some of the ins and outs of health promotion are welcome to attend. We will also look at a great new project for the area for attendees to try out what they learn in this workshop. Please RSVP to ACON on 4226 1163.

As part of ACON’s strategic planning, we are hosting community consultation sessions about where we should focus our work until 2012. The southern region consultation is on Tuesday 24 February from 4pm-“6pm at the ACON office at 47 Kenny St, Wollongong. Come and have your say so that ACON’s work is as relevant as possible. RSVP to 4226 1163.

Various groups from across ACON’s southern region are heading up to Fair Day and the Mardi Gras parade. If you would like to march, or just meet up with a friendly group of locals during the festival, give the Illawarra office a call to find out the details for connecting with our local groups at these events.

I’ll be volunteering at the Academy Twin for the Mardi Gras Film Festival again this year. If you have any questions about the work we do down south, come up and have a chat.

That’s it from me for this month; have a happy and safe Mardi Gras!

info: For more information about groups, services or organisations in the Southern Region contact ACON on 4226 1163 or email [email protected]

Trevor Slattery is the Education and Community Development Officer at ACON’s Illawarra Branch.