Gay and Lesbian Liberation Period (1970 – 1978)

Activist Groups:

+ Summary: CAMP NSW (1970 - 78)

Based at:

• 393 Darling Street, Balmain (1971 – 1972)
• 10 David Street, Forest Lodge (1973)
• 33a Glebe Point Road, Glebe (1973 – 1981)

Among the active members over this period were:

• Dennis Altman
• Gabrielle Antolovich (CAMP Women's Association & CAMP Ink)
• Ron Austin (PAC)
• Anthony Babacci (PaF)
• Jo Beaumont
• Wayne Bennett
• Laurie Bebbington
• Peter Bonsall-Boone (Sec / Cross+Section / PaF)
• Ian Black (Chair 1971 / Law Reform Group)
• Joy Blunt
• Charlie Bowers
• Maurice Butterwotth
• Michael Cass (AC)
• Noreen Clark
• Doug Clayton
• Michael Clohesy
• Tony Crewes
• Jan Davis
• Jeremy Davies
• Mike Delaney
• Gary Denison
• Peter de Waal
• John Donohoe
• Joe Dorian
• Col Eglington
• Roslin Foxcroft
• John Gould
• Terry Goulden (Ex. Director 1978 - )
• Lance Gowland
• Pamala Griffiths
• John Greenway
• Rob Hayward
• Monika Hauber (Cross+Section / Acceptance)
• Debby Heywood
• Richard Hollanby (Acceptance)
• Suzanne Hollis
• Franc Hancock
• Richard Jessop (Gay Liberation group)
• Tony Jones (Business manager/PAC)
• Robyn Kennedy (PAC)
• Malcolm Lambert
• Mim Loftus
• John Lee (Gay Liberation group)
• Bill Lockward (PAC)
• Mim Loftus
• Jeanne Martin
• Elizabeth Maynard
• Margaret McMann
• ? Helen McMann
• Greg Millan
• Zula Nitheim (PAC)
• Peter Parkes
• Helen Pasley
• Frank Paysen
• Yve Repin
• Robert Perry
• Robyn Plaister
• Christabel Poll (Co-Founder)
• Phillip Potter (photographer)
• Garry Pye (Cross+Section / Acceptance)
• Cass Radley
• Jean Rhodes (CAMP Ink)
• David Ritchie (Action Committee)
• Jill Roe (Advisory Committee)
• Bill Lockwood
• Judy Roch
• Danny Sampson (Cross+Section)
• Dorothy Simmons
• Martin Smith
• Deborah Spenser
• Chris Stahl (PaF)
• Pam Stein
• Bill Swindells (HUG)
• Roz Taylor (NSW Editor CAMP Ink 1972)
• Robin Tapp
• Peter Trebilco (PAC / Legal Action Committee)
• Richard Thode
• Lynn Thomas
• Anton Veenstra
• Daina Velde
• John Ware (Co-Founder, HUG & CAMP Ink)
• Lex Watson (Law reform Group & Co-President, 1972 – 74)
• David Widdup (CAMP, candidate Lowe, 1972)
• David Williamson
• Sue Wills (Co-President, 1972 – 74 & CAMP Women)
• Albert Woodhouse
• Brian Woodward
• Garry Wotherspoon

Source: CAMP Ink and the Minutes of CAMP NSW and PAC = Political Action Committee 1974 – 1978

See below as Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service 1979 - 1990.

+ Founders: The Delmont Group (July - November 1970)

At the urging of John Ware and Christabel Poll, who were neighbors in the Delmont apartment block in Cliff Street, Milson’s Point, the following pioneerswere the founders of the Campaign Against Moral Persecution or CAMP Inc:

• John Ware
• Michael Cass
• Christabel Poll
• Jill Roe
• Bill Lockwood
• Berenice Buckley (Council of Civil Liberties)

On 10 September 1970 in the The Australian newspaper, John Ware publicly announced the formation of CAMP Ink and invited people to join. On 19 September, there was a larger interview with John, Michael Cass his partner, and Christabel Poll. John also was interviewed on the ABCTV program This Day Tonight (TDT) on 21 September.

+ CAMP Inc (1970 - 71)

Preliminary Meeting on 21 November 1970:

• John Ware
• Michael Cass
• Christabel Poll
• Jill Roe
• Jeanne Martin
• Zula Nitheim
• Joe Beaumont
• Berenice Buckley
• Ian Black
• Peter Trebilco (Law)
• Bill Lockwood (Churches)
• Tony Jones (Business manager)
• Apologies – Lex Watson

First Public Meeting on 6? February 1971:

• Ian Black (Chair)
• John Ware (Co-Foubder)
• Christabel Poll (Co-Founder)
• Michael Cass
• Garry Wotherspoon

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

CAMP Meeting #6 on 15 July 1971:

Facing up to the need for some administrative structure, John Ware appoints the following Advisory Committee:

• John Ware
• Christabel Poll
• David Williamson
• Jill Roe
• Michael Cass
• Roslind Foxcroft
• Jeannie Martin
• Peter Bonsall-Boone
• Bill Lockwood
• Ian Black
• Dorothy Simmons
• Zula Nitheim
• Peter Trebilco
• Tony Jones
• Michael Delaney

CAMP Inc sub-committees:

House Committee

• John Ware
• Jeremy Davies

Publications (CAMP Ink) Group

• John Ware
• Christabel Poll
• David Widdup (‘Minnie Drearer’)

Legal sub-Committee / Law Reform Committee

• Peter Trebilco
• Ian Black
• Jaki Ilbery
• Tony Jones
• Margaret Jones
• Dorothy Simmons (Humanist Society)
• Lex Watson
• Brian Woodward

Cross+Section / Religious Group

• Peter Bonsall-Boone
• Monika Huber
• Garry Pye
• Peter de Waal

Gay Liberation Group (July 1971 – 1972 January)(then see: Sydney Gay Liberation below)

• John Lee
• Tony Crewes
• Garry Schliemann
• John Storey

In mid 1971, after criticism of the way the organization was being managed, the following was established to draft a constitution.

Constitution Committee

• Peter Trebilco

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

First CAMP Dance (March 1971)

The Council of Civil Liberties observers in case of a police raid were:

• Ken Buckley
• Berenice Buckley

+ CAMP NSW (1972 - 74)

Executive:

• Lex Watson (Co-President 1972 - 74)
• Sue Wills (Co-President 1972 - 74)
• Peter Bonsall-Boone (Secretary)
• Frank Paysen (Treasurer)
• Richard Hollanby (Acting Treasurer)

The following pioneers sat on the Executive as representatives of groups:

• Elizabeth Maynard (Women’s Group)
• Gaby Antolovich (Women’s Liberation and as Editor, CAMP Ink)
• Monika Hauber (Gay Women’s Lib)
• Margaret Mc Mann (Camp Women’s Association)
• Helen Pasley
• Jan Davis (Radical Lesbians)
• Danny Sampson (Radical Lesbians)
• John Donohoe
• Jeremy Davies (House Committee)
• Robin Tapp (Editor)
• John Ware (Editor)
• Brian Woodward (Law Reform Group)
• Anton Venstra (Gay Liberation)
• Lance Gowland (Gay Liberation)

House and Social Group:

• Wayne Bennett
• Phil Behl
• Doug Clayton
• Jeremy Davies
• Robert Perry
• Garry Pye
• Deborah Spenser
• Albert Woodhouse
• Roslie [surname unknown]
• Ken [surname unknown]
• Joe [surname unknown]

CAMP Ink Group:

• John Ware (Editor)
• Gabrielle Antolovich
• Christabel Poll
• Greg Millan (Distribution)
• Phillip Potter (Photographer)
• Robin Tapp (Editor)
• Gaby Antolovich

Homosexual Guidance Service (HuGS) (1972 - 73):

• John Ware
• Sue Wills

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Phone a Friend (1973 - ):

• Peter Bonsall-Boone
• Peter de Waal
• Peter Trebilco
• Christer Stahl

CAMP Women's Association (CWA) (1972 - 74):

Among the members were:

• Gabrielle Antolovich
• Sue Wills
• Margaret McMann
• Elizabeth Maynard

+ CAMP NSW (1974 - 78)

Based at 33a Glebe Point Road, Glebe. Annual General Meeting on the 26 April 1974.

Executive:

• Peter Bonsall-Boone (Co-President)
• Margaret MacMahon (Co-President)
• Michael Clohesy (Secretary)
• Vera Bourne (Treasurer)
• Peter Trebilco
• Peter de Waal

Source: Stallion No. 12

CAMP Ink (1974 - 1976):

The journal was revived in August 1974. Among the Editorial Collective were:

• Noreen Clark (NSW Co-Editor)
• Cecily Davies
• Terry Goulden
• John Greenway
• Pamala Griffith
• Robyn Kennedy
• Peter Parkes (NSW Co-Editor)
• Helen Paisley
• Robyn Plaister
• Greg Millan (Distribution)

Source: CAMP Ink, Issue Vol. 4/1 – No. 39 and Stallion No.12.

Political Action Committee PAC (1974 - 1978):

Pioneers who made submissions and oral evidence to the Royal Commission into Human Relationships (1974 – 1977) on 25 February 1976.

• Mike Clohesy
• Robyn Kennedy
• Dennis Altman

Tribunal on Homosexuals and Discrimination (1976)

• Peter de Waal

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Delegation to Premier Wran (1977)

• Mike Clohesy
• Robyn Kennedy
• Ron Austin

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ Sydney Gay Liberation (1972 – 74)

Sydney Gay Liberation (SGL) was previously the Gay Liberation Group within CAMP NSW.

Among the active members were:

• Sandra Banks
• Rodrick Byatt
• Terry Bell
• Terry Batterham
• Gregg Blachford
• Quentin Buckle
• Tony Crewes
• Kevin Conroy
• Mark Douglass
• Ken Davis
• Dennis Freney
• Jeremy Fisher
• Paul Foss
• John Gould
• Lance Gowland
• Franc Hancock
• Rob Hayward
• Susanne Hollis
• Joanne Homeman
• Theresa A Jack
• Richard Jessop
• John Lee
• Min Loftus
• Alison Lyssa
• David Manton
• Judy Marchant
• David McDiarmid
• Brian McGahen
• Katy O’Rourke
• Terry Rolfe
• Garry Schliemann
• Penny Short
• Sascha Soldatow
• Josefa Sobski
• Pam Stein
• John Storey
• Frank Taylor
• Rodney Thorpe
• Peter Treacy
• Robert Tucker
• Graeme Tubbenhauer
• Anton Veenstra
• Jim Wafer
• Richard Wilson
• Trevor Wilson

SGL Newsletter, No. 1 (1972) – No. 3 (1973):

• John Lee
• Paul Foss

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Gay Liberation Press (1974 – 1975):

• Terry Batterham
• Terry Bell
• Paul Foss
• Megan Morris
• Katy O’Rourke
• Robert Painter (graphics)
• Terry Rolfe
• Graeme Tubbenhauer

Working Papers in Sex, Science and Culture (1975 – 1977):

• Paul Foss

+ Homosexual Rights Group (1975 - 76)

Formed by Lex Watson and other Sydney University academics to survey politicians prior to the 1976 election.

+ Radicalesbians (197?)

• Di Minnis
• Penny Gulliver

+ Socialist Lesbians and Male Homosexuals (1976 - c.78)

Among the members were:

• Susan Ardill
• Kim Back
• Ken Davis
• Neal Fitzgerald
• Lance Gowland
• Vaughan Hinton
• Betty Hounslow
• Craig Johnston
• Geoff Knight
• Brian McGahen
• Peter Murphy
• Annie Parkinson
• Angelo Rosas
• Gay Walsh
• R Weatherstone
• John Witte
• Richard Wilson

+ Gay Liberation, Sydney (1977 - 78)

Formed by Lex Watson to work on homosexual law reform.

Among the members were:

• Lex Watson
• John Witte (together with other some Socialist Homosexuals see above)

+ Gay Teachers Group (c.1976 - 19??)

Among the members were:

• Edd Ashmore (Convenor)
• Frank Barnes
• Wayne Bradley
• Don Dudgeon
• Michael Glass
• Debra Graham
• Terry McClafferty
• Ian MacNeill
• Murray McLachlan
• Geoff Ostling
• Brian Ralph
• Bill Simon
• Ian Tait
• John Ulrich
• Steve Vella
• John Young

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ University Groups (1971 - 78)

University of Sydney

Sydney University CampUS CAMP (1971)

The Administration at Sydney University at first refused to register the group. Some ‘office bearers’, initially, had to resort to pseudonyms.

• [name unspecified] (‘Alan Vasary‘) (President)
• Lesley Nettleship (‘Miss Lexi Daniels’) (Treasurer) (Deceased)
• Miss Danny Sampson (Research)
• Miss Louie MacCulloch (Librarian)
• Robert ‘Bob’ Pryde (Social)
• Lex Watson
• Garry Wotherspoon

The Administration at Sydney University sought a legal opinion to prevent recognition but this was successfully countered by a legal opinion from Barrister:

• Michael Kirby

Source: CampUS CAMP newsletter, Alexander Lex Watson Archives

SU Gay Liberation (1972 – 1975)

• Richard Wilson
• Michael Hurley
• Colin Smith
• Brian McGahen
• Craig Johnston
• John Witte
• Gary Schliemann
• Terry Rolfe
• Katy O'Rourke
• Terry Bell

Active Defence of Homosexuals on Campus ADHOC (1976? - 79?)

• Garrett Prestage (then Gary Bennett, also later of Twenty Ten)
• Leslie Podesta

University of NSW (UNSW)

UNSW CAMPUS Camp (1971)

Among the members were:

• Phillip Ryan (President)
• Terry McClafferty
• Barry Charles (Secretary)
• Robert French
• Richard [surname unknown]
• Heather [surname unknown]

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Gay Liberation UNSW (1972 - 1974)

• Terry Batterham
• Maurice Blackman
• David Canny
• Barry Charles (Secretary)
• Robert French
• Stephen Harris
• Trevor Johnson
• Craig Johnston
• Robert Johnston
• Dennis McManus
• John Pierce
• John Storey

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

UNSW Gay Society (1975 - ?)

• K O'Conner

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Macquarie University:

Macquarie University Gay Liberation (1973 - 1976)

• Lindsay Allen
• Wendy Aitkenhead
• Mike Clohesy
• Jeff Hayler
• David Lowe
• Peter Murphy
• Craig Sahlin
• Penny Short
• Jeremy Fisher
• Tim Wilson
• Lance [surname unknown]

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Macquarie University Gay Group (1977 - 1980)

• Michael Crozier
• Paul Drury
• Vaughan Hinton OAM
• John Hobson
• Frank Howarth
• Robin Hunter
• David Lowe
• Anne Rauch
• Di Sligar
• Terry Stokes
• Stephen Tomsen
• Paul Young

+ The First Political Actions (1971 - 77)

Liberal Party Headquarters (October 1971):

Organised by Lex Watson as a CAMP demonstration.

• Greg Millan
• Garry Donaldson
• Dennis Altman
• Reinhardt Hassert
• David Hare
• Peter de Waal
• Peter Bonsall-Boone

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Womens’s Right March (11 March 1972):

With support from SGL.

ABC Headquarters (1972):

Organised by SGL/CAMP organised.

• David McDiarmid (arrested)
• John Lee
• Lex Watson

British Sexual Offences Act 5th Anniversary march (27 July 1972):
Organised by CAMP.

St Clement’s Anglican Church, Mosman (1972):

Organised by CAMP/SGL organized.

• Ian Black
• Stephen Harris
• Dennis McManus
• Lex Watson

Federal Election – Seat of Lowe – CAMP candidate:

The election campaign was held between November and December 1972. Not supported by Sydney Gay Liberation.

• David Widdup

Gay Pride Week (1973):

Organised by SGL. There were 12 arrests.

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

State Election – Seat of Waverley – Sydney Gay Liberation candidate (1973)

The election campaign was held between October and November 1973.

• Martin Smith
• Richard Wilson (Campaign Secretary)

Federal Election – Seat of Bligh – Independent Gay Christian (1976)

• Graeme Donkin

State Election – Seat of Earlwood – Gay Independent (1978)

• Peter Blazey

Community Groups

+ Religious Groups

Formerly the Crossways Section, CAMP NSW.

Acceptance (Roman Catholic) (1974 – ):

• A Barbie
• Joseph Chetcuti
• R Edmonds
• David Ell
• J Foster
• P Gannon
• L Harris
• Monika Huber
• John Kennedy
• M Piking
• Gary Pye
• David Ritchie
• Colin Smith
• M Sullivan
• M Williams

Chutzpah (Jewish) (c. 1974 – 197?):

• Col Eglington
• Martin Smith
• David Weiner

AngGays (Anglican) (1977 – 1990):

• Peter Bonsall-Boone
• Prudence Borthwick
• David Engelbrecht (deceased)
• Fabian LoSchiavo
• David Purchase (deceased)
• Geoff Scott
• Hugh Scott

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Cross+Section (Uniting Church) (1982 – ):

• Meredith Knight

Uniting Church National Committee on Homosexuality -

• Meredith Knight
• Don Dugeon

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Metropolitan Community Church (1974 – ):
Quakers Hall, Surry Hills 1975
Village Church Paddington, 1975 – 2001
In 2001, the MCC moved to it’s own premises on Crystal Street, Petersham

• Rev Troy Perry (Founder)
• Ray Griffin (Worship Coordinator, 1974)
• Rev Lee J Carlton (Pastor, 1975)
• Rev Peter Alexander Smith (Associate Pastor, 1975 – 77)
• Rev Cliff Connors (Worship Coordinator, 1977, Pastor 1977 – 78)
• Rev Ronald D Burcham (Pastor, 1977)
• Don Rankin (Worship Coordinator, 1978 – 79)
• Rev Donaald Johnson (Pastor 1979 – 83)
• Barry Heller (Worship Coordinator, 1983 – 84)
• Rev Jim Dykes (Pastor 1983 – 88)
• Rev Garry Walker (Pastor, 1988 – 93)
• Rev Greg Smith (Pastor, 1993 – 2005 and 2010 – 16)
• Rev Shelagh Zinke (Assistant Pastor)

Among the congregation were:

• Colin Smith

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ Social Groups

Cronulla Gay Group (1976 – ):

• Murray McLachlan
• Eric Sinfield
• John Wall

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

Clover Women’s Group:

Based in Drummoyne.

+ Cultural Groups

Sylvia and the Synthetics:

• Doris Fish
• Danny Abbood

The Planet Sluts:

• Cindy Pastel (Ritchie Finger)
• Miss 3D (Glenn Lewis)
• Pat Gently (David [surname unknown])

Gay Film Fund (1975 – 1980):

Established in 1975 to provide funding for community films, including raising money through film screenings and dances. The first Gay Film Festival was held at the Paris theatre in Liverpool Street, Sydney during May 1978.

• Digby Duncan
• Kate McLean
• Meg Flynn

The Gay Media

+ William and John (1972 - 1973)

• John Baker (Editor)
• William Easton (Editor)
• Diane O’Flaherty (Assistant Editor)
• William Delaney (Assistant Editor)

+ Stallion (1973 - 1974)

• Martin Smith (Editor)

+ Gayzette (1974 – 1975)

• Martin Smith (Editor)
• Ian Hartley (layout)
• Sally Webb (Graphics)
• Rodney Grundy (Subscriptions)
• Martin Bots (Circulation)
• Jim Brennan (Advertising)

+ Campaign (1975 - )

• Rod Stringer
• Clinton Kramer
• Peter Langford
• Rod Needham
• Frank Wells

NATIONAL HOMOSEXUAL CONFERENCES (1975 - 1986)

+ 1st National Homosexual Conference, Melbourne (1975)

The Conferences were initially sponsored / supported by the Australian Union of Students.

Australian Union of Students (1975 - ):

• Gabrielle Antolovitch
• Craig Johnston, then
• Gay Walsh
• Peter O’Connor

+ 2nd National Homosexual Conference, Sydney (1976)

The Conference Collective were:

• Maurice Blackman
• Bill Good
• Lance Gowland
• Warren Harrison
• Chris Jones
• Peter Spencer
• Lex Watson
• Tony Wheeler
• John Witte
• Garry Wotherspoon

+ 3rd National Homosexual Conference, Adelaide (1977)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 4th National Homosexual Conference, Sydney (1978)

The Conference Collective were:

• Denis Altman
• Terry Batterham
• Terry Bell
• Susan Brumby
• Sally Colechin
• Digby Duncan
• Michael Fenaughty
• John Gould
• Virginnia Illif
• Trevor Johnston
• Robert Lawrie
• John Lee
• Brian McGahen
• Collette Parr
• Jean Rhodes
• Fiori [surname unknown]

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 5th National Homosexual Conference, Melbourne (1979)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 6th National Homosexual Conference, Sydney (1980)

The Conference Collective were:

• Ken Lovett (Chair)
• ? Ken Davis
• ? Diane Minnis
• ? Paul Young

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 7th National Homosexual Conference, Adelaide (1981)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 8th National Homosexual Conference, Canberra (1982)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 9th National Homosexual Conference, Melbourne (1983)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 10th National Homosexual Conference, Brisbane (1984)

Do you know other pioneers to list here? Contact us.

+ 11th National Homosexual Conference, Sydney (1986)

  The Conference Collective were:

• Matthew Blackmore (General Conference Workshops)
• Roger Aitkens (Youth)
• Robert Oliver (Youth)
• Antony Green (Youth)
• Garry Wotherspoon (History)
• Robert French (History)
• Ken Davis (Links)
• Helen Whitechurch (Women)
• Ross Duffin (AIDS)

Inquiries

+ Royal Commission on Human Relationships (1974 - 77)

The Commissioners were:

• Justice Elizabeth Evatt
• Rev Felix Arnott
• Anne Deveson

They were assisted by:

• Jane Mathews

+ Victimless Crimes Seminar (197?)

• Lex Watson
• Peter Coleman (Liberal Party)
• Frank Walker (ALP)

+ Tribunal on Homosexuals & Discrimination (28 - 29 November 1976)

The Tribunal heard of 46 cases of Discrimination.

Tribunal Members were:

• Jim Cairns
• Briget Gilling
• Barry Egan
• Arthur Gietzelt

They were assisted by:

• Helen Coonan
• Jane Mathews

Source: CAMP Ink No.39, Dec 1976

+ NSW Anti-Discrimination Board (1976 - )

Inquiry into Homosexual Discrimination 1977 - 1982.

• Carmel Niland
• Denise Thompson