Pink Triangle Period (1978 – 1990)

ACTIVIST GROUPS:

+ CAMP NSW/Gay Counselling Service/Gay & Lesbian Counselling Service (1979 - 88)

Clubrooms, 33a Glebe Point Road
Gay Centre, 55 Holt Street Surry Hills
Gay Centre, Wellington Street, Chippendale

Executive:

• Director – Terry Goulden

Among the active members were:

• John Greenway

+ Gay Task Force (1979)

This group made six submissions to Government inquiries.

• Elaine Alinta
• Ron Austin
• Emma Evans
• Jan Forrester
• Robyn Kennedy
• Robyn Plaister
• Kym Skinner
• Jim Walker
• Peter de Waal

+ Gay Solidarity Group (1978 – 1988)

The Group organised the First Mardi Gras in conjunction with Camp NSW.

Among the active members were:

• Sandi Banks
• Maitland Bowen
• David Buchanan
• Sallie Colechin
• Peter Collard
• John Cozijn
• Ken Davis
• Jo Eccleston
• David Fagan
• John Foxhall
• Howard Glenn
• Jo Harris
• Paul Harris
• Graeme Head
• Robert Lawrie
• Ken Lovett
• Di Minnis
• Peter Mitchell
• Max Pearce
• Greg Reading
• Paul van Reyk
• Angelo Rosas
• Kate Rowe
• Jeffrey Saynor (deceased)
• Gary Stonehouse
• Gay Walshe
• Helen Whitechurch
• Richard Wilson

+ First Sydney Mardi Gras (The ‘78ers)

The ‘78ers group is made up of those who attended or were arrested at:

• the first Mardi Gras on 2 June 1978
• the demonstration outside Liverpool Street Court House on 4 June 1978
• the demonstration outside Darlinghurst Police Station on 15 July 1978
• the March on the Festival of Light Rally in Hyde Park, August 1978

Pride History Group does not maintain a full listing. Please contact First Mardi Gras and 78er groups or SGLMG for more information.

+ Gay Trade Unions Group (1978 – 1989)

Among the lesbian and gay activists in the trade union movement were:

• Steve Auburn
• Frank Barnes (teachers)
• Bruce Belcher
• Richard Bigg
• Wally Cowin
• Mark C. (ARU)
• Ken Davis
• David Fagan
• Amanda Fazio
• Warren Gardiner
• Lance Gowland
• Richard Jessop
• Tim Kessel
• Bill Leslie (Federal Assistant Secretary of the Australian Teachers’ Federation, first openly gay person in elected in a trade union position)
• David Lowe
• Wayne Lynch
• Tom Mangan
• Brian McGahan
• Di Minnis
• Colin P
• Greg Reading
• Peter Sawrus
• Gary Schliemann
• Chris Toulman
• Lex Watson
• Richard Wilson
• John Witte
• Peter Woof (?)
• Chris Wright

+ Gay Rights Lobby (1980 – 1986)

Executive:

• Lex Watson (Co-Convenor 1980 – 1981)
• Craig Johnston (Co-Convenor 1980 – 1982)
• Robert French (Treasurer)
• David Hare (Chairperson 1982)
• Barry Charles (Co-Convenor 1982; Chairperson 1983)
• Robert French (Co-Convenor 1982 – 1984; Secretary 1984 – 1988)
• John Greenway (Co-Convenor 1983 – 1984; Convenor 1984 – 1985)
• Robert Johnston (Secretary 1981 – 1984)
• Terry Goulden (Treasurer 1982)
• Antony Green (Treasurer 1983 – 1988)
• Bruce Pollard (Returning Officer)

Among the active members were:

• Gerry Davies
• Deitmar Holtmar
• Michael Primrose
• Gary Simes

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

+ Newcastle Gay Rights Lobby

• Kerry Bashford

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

+ Homosexual Law Reform Coalition (1982 – 1984)

• John Marsden
• Phillip Chowan
• John Schwartzkoff
• John Cozijn
• Tim Wilson

+ Signatories to the Statutory Declarations in October 1983

Darlinghurst Police raided Club 80 three times in early 1983 and arrested 27 people.

• Barry Checcinni - was arrested when he later entered to confront the Police
• Tim Wilson (Solicitor) - waited outside and offered legal support, then
• Robert French (Gay Rights Lobby) - arrived to offer support

After the first raid, activists gathered at Club 80 and invited the Police to come and arrest them. The Police declined the invitation but later raided twice more.

At a later community meeting a petition was drawn up calling for charges to be dropped, and an illegal march on Darlinghurst Police Station set off taking the Police by surprise. Robert French from Gay Rights Lobby was delegated to present the petition.

With no response coming from NSW Government or the Police a meeting at the Gay Centre agreed to Lex Watson’s proposal that a group of people sign Statutory Declarations declaring that they had committed sexual acts similar to those arrested at Club 80 and calling on police to arrest them.

Bob Hay JP witnessed declarations from 28 people:

• Lex Watson
• Robert French
• Terry Goulden
• John Greenway
• Greg Reading

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

The first two Declarations were presented to Ernie Shepard Head of the Vice-Squad by Lex Watson and Robert French. After a weeks’ deliberation Police again declined to act.

+ Others involved in Homosexual Law Reform

Community members:

• Denis Altman
• Ross Aubrey
• Terry Batterham
• David Lowe
• Garry Wotherspoon
• Barry Checcinni (Beresford Hotel owner and Club 80 arrestee)
• Terry Paterson (Midnight Shift)
• Jim [surname unknown] (Midnight Shift)
• Stuart [surname unknown] (Midnight Shift)

Parliament & Government in support of Reform:

Australian Labor Party

• Hon Neville Wran
• Hon Barrie Unsworth
• Hon Jack Ferguson (deceased)
• Charlie Bowers (Jack F’s office)
• Hon Mike Egan
• Hon Frank Walker (former AG)
• Greg Woods (AG’s office – unsung hero)
• Michael Knight

Liberal Party

• Hon Nick Greiner
• Rosemary Foote
• Terry Metherell

Others

• John Lewis (Parliamentary Counsel – unsung hero)
• Chris Sidoti (Catholic Commission for Justice & Peace)
• Jill Wran (unsung hero)

+ Politics and Government

• Max Pearce (ALP Candidate for Federal Seat of Wentworth (1982 – 83) and then Woollahra Council, ALP (1983 – ?)
• Marg Lyons (Leichhardt Council, ALP, 1984 – 7)
• Craig Johnston (Sydney City Council, ALP, 1984 – 7)
• Bill Hunt (Sydney City Council, Independent, 1984 – 7)
• Brian MacGahen (Sydney Council, Independent, 1984 – 7)
• Fred Miller, member for Bligh (1981 – 84)
• Ross Aubrey (ALP candidate for Bligh, 1988)
• Paul O’Grady MLC (1988 – 1996)

+ Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (1988 – )

Following threats to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act by the incoming Liberal Government GLRL was established in April 1988 at a public meeting chaired by Robert French.

At the first General Meeting on 20 July the following pioneers were elected to the Committee:

• Jane Clements (Co-convenor)
• Garry Cox (Co-Convenor, 1988 - 1989)
• Simon Donohoe (Secretary)
• Antony Green (Treasurer)
• Adrian Culey
• David Engelbrect
• Sean Harris
• Anne Harrison
• Leigh McLaughlan
• Karen Maxwell
• Maureen Nash
• Suin ni Chrochuir
• Ben Rathbone
• Sian Wheeler
• Tony Westmore

By the 1989 Annual General Meeting (AGM) the following replacements had occurred:

• Sonia Wright (Treasurer, replacing Antony Green)
• Jennifer Smythe (replacing Leigh McLaughlin)
• Carole Ruthchild (replacing Maureen Nash)
• Glenn Palmer (replacing Ben Rathbone)

Other active members were:

• Paul Costello
• Bruce Grant
• Lex Watson (advisor)

StreetWatch / Anti-Violence Project:

Established in November 1988.

• Pru Bothwick
• Bruce Grant
• Kevin Gardner (of the G&LCS)
• Nellie Hall

Source: Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby Annual Report 1988 - 1989

Following the AGM in July 1990 the Executive was:

• Carole Ruthchild (Co-Convenor)
• Bruce Grant (Co-Convenor)
• Paul Costello (Co-Convenor, replacing Bruce Grant)
• Martin Bangs (Treasurer)
• Dean Andrews (Secretary)
• Jane Clements (Secretary, replacing Dean Andrews)

The Committee members were:

• Katherine Bean
• Peter Binns (replacing Dean Andrews)
• Kerrie Cheers
• Adrian Curley
• Jennifer Glass (replaced Lynette Kirk)
• Greg Gray
• Victoria Hunt
• Lynetter Kirk (later resigned)
• Tullly McGann
• Craig Osmond (replaced Greg Gray)
• Anne Scahill (replaced Sonia Wright)
• Derek Williams
• Sylvia Winters
• Sonia Wright

Source: GLRL Annual Report 1991

+ Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (1981 – )

Among the early Sisters (i.e. Founders) were:

• Fabian LoSchiavo (Mother Inferior aka Sister Porca Madonna)
• Peter Collard
• Ken Davis
• Gary Dowsett (Sister Mary-Tyler-Moore, Star of Stage and Screen)
• David Edwards
• David Fagan (Sister Miriam Beth-lay’em)
• Ian Grey
• Graeme Head
• Peter Mitchell (Sister Mary Sit on my Face also Mistress of Novices)
• Richard Murphy
• Colin Peat
• Glenn Palmer
• Leigh Raymond
• Gary Schliemann (Sr Mae Call of the Wilde)
• Paul Strawson
• Scott Treacey

Declared Saints of the Order are:

• Ken Davis
• Julie Bates (St Julie of the Red Thread)
• Kendall Lovett
• Margaret Duckett
• Roberta Perkins
• David Buchanan

Cardinals of the Order:

Declared following the first History Walk in 1989.

• Garry Wotherspoon
• Bob Hay
• Robert French

+ Gay Liberation Quire (1981 – 88)

• David Abello (then Finch)
• Maitland Bowen
• Gary Dowsett
• Neal Fitzgerald
• Carmel Flaskas
• Howard Glenn
• Neil Harris
• Graeme Head
• Ron Heather
• Betty Hounslow
• Fabian LoSchiavo
• Anthea Lowe
• Diane Minnis
• Peter Mitchell
• Paul O’Grady, NSW MLC (1988 - 96)
• Philip Oldfield
• Annie Parkinson
• Leigh Raymond
• Gary Schliemann
• John Schwartzkoff
• David Urquhart (then James)
• Paul van Reyk
• Paul Young
• Uma [surname unknown]
• Chrissie [surname unknown]

+ Lesbian Feminist Collective (Women’s House)

• Chris Burke
• Mystery Carnage
• Sally Colechin
• Suzanne Keys
• Ludo McFerron
• Anne Rauch
• Sabina Wynn

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

+ Gay Immigration Task Force

• Betty Hounslow
• Graeme Bray
• Ken Davis

Parliamentary Liaison with Immigration Minister:

• Chris Puplick

Occasional consultant:

• Robert French (Gay Rights Lobby)

+ Gay Union of Tertiary Staff

• Garry Wotherspoon
• Maurice Blackman
• Kate Harrison
• ? Lex Watson
• ? Ernie Chaples

+ Police-Gay Liaison Group (1985 – 88)

• Fred Miller (Civilian Gay Liaison Officer)
• Sgt Alan [surname unknown]
• Greg Tillett (Anti-Discrimination Board)
• Barry Charles (GRL, 1984)
• Robert French (GRL, 1984 – 1988)
• Terry Goulden (GLCS, 1984 – 1988)
• Max Pearce (GSG)
• Brian Hobday (SMG, 1984)
• Murray McLachlan (SMG, 1984 – 1988)

Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers:

• Sue Thompson, Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (1988 – )

From 1990, each area command had a Police Gay & Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO).