september 16 - 22 | 2015
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inside page 7
circulating in wangaratta, myrtleford, bright, mt beauty, beechworth, yackandandah, rutherglen, chiltern and districts
Promoting equality By KYLIE WILSON
MOVING FORWARD:
Gary Hayward has helped guide the Spring Migration Festival into the large community event it is today. PHOTO: Wendy Stephens
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FROM his front row seat as an organiser of Yackandandah’s Spring Migration Festival, local resident Gary Hayward has seen both society and the event itself evolve over the years. The festival was first floated after the success of the movie Strange Bedfellows, much of which was filmed in Yackandandah. “This movie was a great advertisement for Yack,” Gary said. “It was fun and also had a message of tolerance and acceptance.” Featuring a host of events, from markets to dance parties and drag performances, the festival has attracted thousands of people from across Australia and the world. Gary said the event has been well supported by the local community. And now, on the eve of its 11th year, he said that equality, particularly marriage equality, is a bigger focus than ever. Gary has been present at council votes on the border that have given their blessing to marriage equality, saying it was evidence that the tide of equality was turning in favour of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. “It also gives the younger generation hope,” he said, adding that while the festival has not been without opposition or hiccups, organisers have never given up. “Eleven years ago we made a festival out of a movie that was filmed here… many people have changed their view and now all Australians should be equal. “We were hoping the Abbott government would have followed the rest of the English speaking world and given his members a free vote after Ireland and America passed equality, but to our sadness, we still have to wait.” continued page |
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