“Why is the parade going THAT way?”, my colleague and friend, Sam asked me last night, as we tried to make our way through Surry Hills. We were both a bit discombobulated, after taking part in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. Even though I have lived in the area for almost thirty years, we had both completely lost our sense of direction.… Read the rest “Mardi Gras / World Pride (Part Two)”
Though I thought I knew pretty much everything about Number 96, the Australian television drama/comedy from the 1970s, I learned a lot more on Thursday night.
As part of the Mardi Gras Film Festival, a group of friends and I went to the screening of a documentary about the significance of the television program for its portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters, a Q&A with Joe Hasham who played the groundbreaking character, Don Finlayson, and a special mash-up episode of the program focussing on both LGBTQIA+ themes, and the program’s great comedy.… Read the rest “Mardi Gras / World Pride (Part One)”
“I think she might be Scomo’s biggest mistake”, an “old leftie” whispered into my ear at the Andrew Olle Media Lecture.
There was a perception, rightly or wrongly, that the appointment of Ita Buttrose as ABC Chair was simply another political appointment and that Ita would do the “government’s bidding”. Indeed, the appointment was a “captain’s pick” by the Prime Minister, made outside the process which had been established for ABC and SBS board appointments.… Read the rest “Big Events”