Rainbow Visions - Hunter Inc. is a coalition of individuals and groups who initiate
and support actions that contribute to making the Hunter region a healthier, more
enjoyable, rewarding and culturally rich place for GLBTIQ people.
You are welcome to explore our website and get to know our community.
Newcastle Gay & Lesbian Choir
The only choir of its kind in Newcastle!
The Newcastle Gay & Lesbian Choir is looking for members. The idea was recently discussed that there were no choirs of this type in the region. The philosophy of the group is to be inclusive regardless of ear or musical talent, to have a lot of fun in rehearsal, and to meet a lot of new people.
The choir has a team of very experienced and talented young graduates from The University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music lending their skills (so members have the best education possible). A large variety of music is sung, with requests from the members regularly received, and cater towards all musical tastes, with an emphasis on quality only.
An information meeting to discuss all aspects regarding the group will be held at The Gateway Hotel on Tuesday February 9 from 6.30pm. Please come to show your interest!
For more information contact: Catherine (Director)- 0418 972 645 or
email Catherine.
Cirque De So Gay Ball: A Triumph
Guests were greeted by a motley group of performers from Lovelorn Living Party including a whip wielding beauty (which excited many of the guests) before being welcomed into the anteroom for pre dinner drinks and showing off of extraordinary costumes and outfits. There was also much admiring, kissing, and hugging as friends from near and far met and caught up.
As usual, the Ball Committee made sure that the ballroom looked spectacular. Each table had its own candelabra and was beautifully decorated. Every guest was given a show bag full of goodies including vouchers, bookmarks, safe sex packs, useful things from Newcastle City Council and cute pens from one of our major sponsors, Catherine Henry Partners, which lit up when tapped and made a fine display when everyone in the room tapped at the same time!
The inimitable Bubbles was the Mistress of Ceremonies and kept the evening flowing as only she can with a mixture of charm and tough love!
The three course dinner was delicious and with each course guests were entertained by an eclectic range of performers. With the entree was Chanel De Troit, performer extraordinaire, fabulously gowned and consummately professional. She was followed by the very funny and very talented stand-up comic, Julia Morris. The Lady Julia kept her audience in stitches as she told stories ranging from domestic anecdotes from the Central Coast to tales about less than enthusiastic but more exotic audiences in Singapore, and random events and jokes from everywhere in between. After her set she graciously agreed to pose for photos with audience members: an offer too good to pass up for most of the guests judging by the sudden emptying of the hall and the length of the queue! I am sure the professional photographer Tristan Murphy thought all his Xmases had come at once! (To see and order your Julia and ball photos go to www.tmurphy.com.au)
The dessert was accompanied by an unusual and entertaining cabaret performance by Lovelorn Living Party which whirled the audience back in time to pre-war Germany with silkily clad women, sultry singers and a 3 foot balloon swallowing "freak"! (The balloon was 3 foot long not the swallower and I am not sure that Berlin had balloon swallowing freaks but some members of the audience were very excited about the act and were heard to invite the performer to a post ball party or to any other party come to that given his talent for swallowing large objects of a certain shape!)
After dinner the raffle was drawn with great prizes donated by Rock Salt Restaurant, Pet Shop Boyz, The Smelly Cheese Company, Awaba House Cafe & Restaurant, Indigo books, Jesmond Beauty Plus, Vibe Hairdressers and Beauty and Bottlo on Beaumont before couples took to the floor for dancing till they glided home on a sea of happy memories and alcohol after midnight.
Rainbow Visions would like to acknowledge the amazing Lee-Anne McDougall and her crew of volunteers (Robert, Judy, Suzie, Terry, Ivan, Jeffrey, Lee, Nell, Nicole, Andrew, Bill, Jason, Glenn, Jennifer, Elissa, Karen and Kris) who made this night such a spectacular success. We would also like to thank our major sponsors, Catherine Henry Partners, ACON, Newcastle City Council and Hunter New England Health.
Thanks also to SCION Light and Sound, Rusty Vault Design, DJ Jacquelyn Power, Bubbles, Chanel De Troit, members of Lovelorn Living Party Performers and, of course, the amazing and talented Lady Julia Morris.
Next years extravaganza will have a Studio 54 seventies disco theme so start sewing! To get in early for the 2010 Studio 54 Ball book a table now with Lee at
janefondle@pacific.net.au
The University of Newcastle's ALLY Network and Cultural Collections
in conjunction with the Rainbow Vision Festival will provide a major exhibition and seminar (to be held in mid-October 2009), celebrating the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer staff and students (past and present) of The University of Newcastle.The project is seeking student / staff contributions examining the local queer history of The University of Newcastle from the 1950s to the present day. For more details please visit the exhibition's facebook page.