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And from the voices of the Pacific. May I extend their welcome to each and every one of you from the Cook Islands from the Rock of Polynesia otherwise known as to you from the kingdom of Very special. We got our friends up here from Hawaii and finally, of course, [00:00:30] and finally and welcome everybody. Well, you know, there's so many famous people in the audience. Amanda. Honestly, I It's just the words Get out of my head. Revert back to Simon, for God's sake. But welcome to this inaugural. Uh um event of the Rainbow Pride community honours. Please take your seats. Those of you that there's some seats in the front, [00:01:00] Um, And to grab a stool or you can lean on somebody that you don't know or somebody fabulous next to you for the night. I would like to lean on somebody, Carl. Yeah, but you have no problem because you're gorgeous. I'm on the take tonight, Ladies and gentlemen, I'm on the take. I want somebody to lean on. Anyway, my name is, and really it's my honour to be here with my fabulous co-host. Amanda, it is absolutely wonderful to see you again. Of [00:01:30] lover to you. It's good to see you. And like my name is Amanda. We thanks for your clap and acknowledge that. Stop it. Stop it. I'm going to be reading off this little spiel. I got the spiel about two months ago, but I've only just learned to read yesterday. Thanks. Tonight is being hosted by out in the park. It's the lead up to the fair at Waitangi Park. Do we [00:02:00] all know about that on the 14th of February? What is the 14th of February? Other than out in the park, my love. Sorry. What? Thank you so much, Husband. It's Valentine's Day on the 14th just to let you know we are so thrilled to have you here to help us celebrate some wonderful people in our rainbow community. But before we go any further, I would like to invite Moana [00:02:30] Taylor to come and open this with a Would that be OK? Oh, uh, my name is, [00:03:00] and I thought maybe just for the one or two of people who mightn't speak Maori here that I might explain a little bit about what the is about. Too many people say it's a prayer and it can be, if that's what you want it to be. But it's actually about bringing people together. And so the I'm going to do tonight talks about keeping healthy, keeping the body healthy, keeping the bones, the blood, the signs of the body healthy and therefore holding firm to [00:03:30] what you believe be willing to argue with other people or argue the argument, not the person. And the other thing is this. We go back to the beginning of time if you like. When Rangi and Papa were embracing and to show that the warmth that they gave each other and how they cherished each other, how they actually worked with each other, what they did and last of all we say be there be like the rock that shines like the sun and give your [00:04:00] light to others. That's it, sort of in a in a nutshell. So here we go to oh, [00:04:30] garvie [00:05:00] Long life and health to everyone. Yeah, what you want? As I said before, uh, ladies and gentlemen, tonight we've got some very, very famous people. And in the midst of you lot is, of course, the lovely Luisa Wall, the MP for and of course. [00:05:30] So we're gonna look at you the God station and of course, uh uh, following also, uh, uh, a politician here. Where is the lovely Kevin Hague? Kevin? Hank! Beautiful. Now I know there's a lot of also ladies and gentlemen in the midst, Of course we got kings. We've got princesses, We've got Queens. But tonight for this occasion, we have a [00:06:00] real life dame and a great honour to introduce Dame Doctor Margaret Sparrow. Work to do. Thank you. To steer the council for the day. DA. Margaret. Wonderful to see you, Doctor. Thank you. Now, tonight is, uh, it's in. It's divided into three sections. There will be a couple of short breaks [00:06:30] when you can ask that handsome person next to you to go and get you a drink. Or you can get him or her a drink. Uh, we have some yummy nibble things coming out in the break. So look out for those. And, uh, if you get more package, then you can order something hot from the bar. Uh, there's a programme available so you can see the order of the ceremony. And can I also say there is a a commemorative booklet for tonight for sale at the door for $10. And don't miss out on that [00:07:00] because there's only 80 copies available. Manda. Thank you so much, Carl. Thank you, man. The people being honoured tonight have been named by various groups and networks and a response to an invitation recognised by people who have made significant contributions to the Rainbow Communities. We have 40 recipients. That [00:07:30] is right. Ladies and gentlemen, we have 40 recipients being recognised tonight. They But we will be moving through this order like a well lubricated machine. Thanks, Amanda. Look, I know there are a lot of people saying these kind of awards to say, Well, how come he or she got one and I didn't get one or anything else? Well, come on, people get real. This is an inaugural ceremony, uh, event. And, [00:08:00] uh, next year, of course, it's a ceremony to really celebrate because, as we all know, it is the 30th anniversary of the homosexual Law Reform Act. So can we say to each one of you to get moving? And if you missed out to make sure that the people that you would like to see giving an award gets to that next year, please. So please raise the rule. Your applause tonight for the people we are celebrating. [00:08:30] Our communities are better for each and every one of them. Amanda, Yay you. This is our way community of acknowledging people that have made significant contributions to our community to our Wellington society. But for just now, I feel like my breasts are cascading over the top of the trees. Sorry about that, husband. But I'm going to hand this part [00:09:00] the section of the evening, over to jacks and car in my ab, and I will see you in just a moment. Thanks. So, yes, our communities lost some very dear friends last year. Among them were Pauline Simmons and Pat Rosia. We are privileged to have their partners Michelle, Jana [00:09:30] and Prue Hyman with us tonight. As we pay tribute to those wonderful women, I invite Marie North from Lilac Lesbian Library and Valda Elder from the Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians to the stage. Uh, good evening. [00:10:00] I'd just like to say a few words about the the Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for lesbians. This was founded in 2001 by the late B Arthur to mark a 57 year relationship with her partner, Bet Armstrong. But it was also to acknowledge the support from the Wellington lesbian community in their later years. Can everybody hear me? [00:10:30] The Arthur and Armstrong? Um, trust funds, uh, lesbian community activities and projects in several areas. Education, health research, social development and a wide range of cultural activities. And we have two funding rounds a year, and you can read more about it on our new website at WWW dot armstrong. Dash [00:11:00] Arthur dash trust dot NZ The two are quite, um, important, um, ongoing funding activities, Uh, from the trust, uh, to the lesbian radio programme in Wellington and, uh, the lesbian library, of which the late Pauline Simmons was a very significant member. [00:11:30] Now, I, I think, um, I'd like to talk about our nomination of Pauline now. Um, the community is very community focused, so it's very fitting that, um, we nominated Pauline for this award and very fitting that, um, it's an inaugural community award. [00:12:00] Pauline was a for the whole of her life. She was, um, as an out person. She was a committed lesbian feminist and pioneer. She put a lot of activity and and a lot of energy working tirelessly for the lesbian communities, but not only for um, for the gay and Queer Communities, too. Now, there's quite a bit of, um, information about Pauline now on the [00:12:30] on the Web. And there's someone in the programme tonight, but I'd just like to summarise some of the the highlights. She was, um, for many years an active member of um, she and Circle and worked on Circle magazine. She was a founder of Club 41 the first lesbian club in Wellington. She was a player and administrator of the Amazon Softball Club. Elizabeth, I can see over there, and, um, [00:13:00] she founded the Women's with Pleasant Heads and the Women's Bookshop in Cuba Street and later, uh, an active member of Lilac, which Maori will talk about. She was an active campaigner for homosexual law reform in the mid seventies and again in the mid eighties, and this time we were more successful. And later she, uh, campaigned [00:13:30] for amendment to the human rights legislation. Finally, that, um, as an out person, Pauline was a very important contact person for, uh, lesbians coming out or same as, um, sex attracted women who thought they might like to meet other women or lesbians. Um, moving [00:14:00] cities and coming to live in Wellington. And this, as I say, went on for years and years. It's my very great sorrow tonight to not to be able to recognise um, Pauline, um, in person, I'm glad Michelle's here. And just to say, finally, Pauline, we're very proud of you. [00:14:30] I just like to invite Michelle to come out to stage Michelle like to join us. Hi, Michelle. How are you? I would like to, um, just say a moment here just to tell you who what lilac is. Lila is firstly, a very happy recipient of the large of the A N a trust, um, from which we get our funding and so that we can [00:15:00] buy books and pay our rent because Lila is Wellington's lesbian library, and I've done a little research to show. And the, uh, the only true thing I can say is that we are the only lesbian library in the Southern Hemisphere. There's a distinct possibility that we are the only lesbian library in the world. But you know, Ellen won't let you say that. So she's a stickler for the truth. [00:15:30] So that's that's who we are. We, quite frankly, we use books as an excuse. The books are there, and we invite you the lesbians only the cute lesbians to come and borrow books and check out the books. And otherwise, There [00:16:00] you go. There you go. But we also, uh, this is we are we have a place for lesbians to meet. We've been keeping this going for 20 years. That's all right. So Pauline was there at the beginning of Lilac. She joined Lilac on the first day Lila opened and for 20 years, imagine doing something. For 20 years, she was a tireless worker for lilac, and so we've [00:16:30] been keeping our doors open. Generally, it was a huge success. I I My say so myself. We we've been keeping our doors open for women to come and borrow books, but also for women to come and meet other women and to share our experiences and just to validate ourselves and have our own place in this world. So Pauline was a large part of that. Had to turn my page. Um, Pauline Pauline [00:17:00] was always politically active as has been described. And, um, well, she was politically active for 40 years, as far as I know, but she was certainly, um, continuously politically active and always had a finger on the pulse of the lesbian community. Um, she was an original thinker and not afraid of new ideas and clearly expressed her opinions. She was a true lesbian. So we'll miss her greatly [00:17:30] at Lilac. And we'd like to honour our Amazon. Our Pauline, our very, very proud lesbian. Thank you. I don't wanna say too much. Um, I just want to, um, [00:18:00] thank you all for honouring Pauline in this way. I'm so very proud of her And, um, everything that she's done. And I admired her, her strength and her courage. And I miss her very, very much so, thank you all. Let's give them a very big hand for our first global award for tonight. [00:18:30] Pat Rosia was, uh, known to many of us, and her sudden death was a great shock. And I'd like to invite her Allen I, head of the Lilac Lesbian Library, to speak to their nomination of pat for this particular honour. Can I ask, uh, you uh, I kick the mic off. It does. Following her sudden death in June last year, Pat Rosier was celebrated across [00:19:00] New Zealand for the significant role she played in the second wave women's movement for her activism, her editorship of broadsheet and her generous in involvement in the lesbian and feminist communities, Pat made a significant contribution to the Wellington lesbian community. In the 15 years that she lived at, she was a literary voice on Wellington Lesbian Radio, [00:19:30] hosted Coaster's potlucks with her partner, Prue Hyman, at their home in, and also this potlucks for visiting lesbian authors from overseas and also contributed in a big way to hands in particular, we would like to acknowledge that she was a great supporter of this, has included being an active collective member for a number of years involved in operating the library, organising [00:20:00] membership records, all the boring stuff, ensuring that a wide range of titles were considered for inclusion in the in the library's collections. More recently, Pat was an anchor of the book club. Her passion for lesbian literature guided the group, and her knowledge was vast and shared freely. A successful author of numerous non-fiction books, as [00:20:30] well as four novels that explore lesbian and family relationships. Pat volunteered her time and wisdom to teach creative writing at classes at Pat was approachable, warmhearted, sharp thinking and supportive. She had an incredible influence on the lives of lesbian women who were inspired by her courage, generosity and creativity. [00:21:00] That was a among us. A and A. I'd like to invite Prue. Many thanks to the organisers of this I should have started. And Shalom [00:21:30] to you all, Um, many. Thanks to the organisers of this event, I think it's a wonderful thing that is being done. Um, tonight and in ongoing years and good to see the march starting again. Uh, we haven't had one for years at the weekend. And, uh, looking forward to being under the lesbian radio banner in that and then it out in the, uh, in the park. Um, I'm so glad that [00:22:00] that, uh yeah, we can hold it up. I'm so glad that you, um um honoured both Pauline and Pat. Um, it's just so sad that two such strong lesbian feminist activists died within such a short period. Michelle and I have been trying to support each other because it's it's been very hard for both of us. And Pat's death was completely sudden. We've had 17 wonderful [00:22:30] years as partners known each other for 30 years, but, uh, never lived in the same city until I managed to invade her up from Christchurch. And, uh and yeah, well, Ackland, Masterton live in Auckland, Nelson Christchurch, and then was or her hunting ground. And, uh, not that she not that she hunted at all in the last 17 years, [00:23:00] as far as I know. Yeah, and, uh, well, Ellen summarised some of the contributions she made most to the feminist and lesbian communities. She was in the middle of her fifth novel when so and so decided to drop dead. Having written in her blog, there is still a huge amount of her writing on the Web and you can you can find it in all sorts of places if you Google [00:23:30] her. Her blog is wonderful and is still there for the last four years or so weekly a month, no weekly literary and and what she'd been reading and writing blog. And the very last week before she died, she wrote about the fact that her um, in context of some something literary, but that her mother and grandmother had both dropped dead of heart attacks, and she was going to break the mould. She wrote that just one week before, just amazing. And, uh, anyway, she, um [00:24:00] she was in the middle of this fifth novel, which was going to be the best. I'm happy to say that her wonderful write lesbian writing group that one hasn't been wasn't mentioned. Um, which put out her first, uh, group book out to lunch. Um, and, um, they're in the middle of producing the second book, and they're going to try and put together some of this, uh um, fifth novel. She was writing it in a rather odd fashion in bits and pieces that it was going to be very interesting and futuristic. First time she'd done that, but very [00:24:30] environmental and green. And, um, she we both shared very strong interests in all the, um, all the social justice issues. There's been a gay queer generally, of course, but also, um, sex, race, class, colonialism, what we're doing to the planet and the whole works. And, um, the biggest, um, thing I can do in her memory. And I hope that we all can is to try and carry on the work of social justice on all those [00:25:00] planes, not only for our own community. And it's wonderful to see the younger generation, um, younger generations. Now, um, carrying it on in their own ways. And I hope that will will continue. Um, she and I had a wonderful life together. Um, we fought mostly about commerce. We edited each other's work, and we had brisk disagreements there. We didn't [00:25:30] fight about very much else. Uh, if you've got hold of the booklet that got the picture of her launching her last book at Lila because and there's a picture of her own there I've got here. Um uh, the third, her third novel. That's the one of which I've got most copies left. Take it easy, Which is fantastic. The first person who rushes me at the first interval will get it for nothing. Thank you all again. I miss her every day, [00:26:00] right? If if anyone wants to catch up on more tributes to Pat and and Pauline, there are links to both of their funerals on the light from the LA website dot lesbian dot net dot NZ. And they were amazing funerals with amazing tributes. Thank you. [00:26:30] Let's give them another big hand. Thank you. Uh, once again, Michelle, and thank you for joining us tonight. And it's, uh goes without saying that we will continue to honour those who will have passed at these events in the future. So now let us move on to celebrating those people who are making a difference in our communities. Lesbian, gay, bi queer intersect. Uh, Jack will call the people [00:27:00] to the stage. They will speak briefly about the group, then talk to the contribution of the people they have named for the honour. Jack. Hello, Jack. You haven't said a thing. So can I just Can I just ask you people? Jack put all this thing together and you know, she can follow me. And I, Jack, as we all know, is one of those kind of people you don't say no to And she will forever change you. She got me right in Auckland. And so let's give her a big hint, because she really has [00:27:30] II. I do the the pretty things, like giving out the certificate and you read out the name, isn't it? What I'm doing is going to call up the, um, the speakers from the groups. And then they will speak briefly about their group and then we'll move into honouring the people that they'd like to name today. Can I just say you all look beautiful? Pretty good, Thanks. [00:28:00] Can I call up Tama from box events? Yeah. Don't make me come out and get you fit too. I can see you. How about the Yeah, I prepared something because I knew that if I got something in my eye, I wouldn't be able to finish what I wanted to say. [00:28:30] I am humbled to be here among you. All in particular, uh, whose work and style I've always admired. My name is Fena and tonight I'm speaking on behalf of box. In 2012, books was established by a group of new friends scheming in a new town flat. We mostly met in a gay club gravitating [00:29:00] towards one another Is the only browns around some of us down and some of us out kind of. At the time, we felt there was no space for us in a rainbow community that treated women's events like one of favours and people of colour, like exotic flavours to be marketed, sexualized, consumed, dehumanised and discarded. We didn't really know anyone. We weren't really the cool thing kids and [00:29:30] we had no money. But finding one another gave us the courage enough to try and make a difference. We began creating inclusive events for everyone centering women of colour. They were more curly than straight and at the same time raise funds for non-profit organisations in our communities. We aim to provide a platform that affirm people of colour and oceanic [00:30:00] gender and sexualities and did not treat them as mutually exclusive identities. We were and still are dying to find our place and be represented. We were and still are working to survive in a capitalist nation of colonisation. We were and still are fighting to be heard, seen and believed. Yeah, we are a group of women and non binary identifying people that descend from Ma, Maori, [00:30:30] Pacifica, Filipino Langi and African roots. And we are proud my fellow box sisters Trixie and send their love from cool nation Melbourne, where they are now running inclusive events focused on building queer spaces for people of colour that are not centred on the club and alcohol scene, I asked. I asked them last night what loving pills of wisdom they wish to share tonight. [00:31:00] So it's not my fault what they said, Beck says. Get past and not and do our community proud and actually listen to one another, Trixie adds. Always remember, we are on stolen land and continue working together to decolonize our communities. Many have inspired us and illuminated the way for Pacifica and Maori people in our communities. [00:31:30] I know we were told to pick a select one or two, but with utmost respect to our organisers. I'm going to be a little bit cheeky and make the most of being allowed to stand up here and speak. We believe in we believe in free with we believe in freedom for Oceania and all its peoples [00:32:00] and what, and we'll take our sisters and brothers along with us. I can surmise from this event so far that we are all family with all the love and dysfunction and as freaky and beautiful and fierce as some of us are. We are not of thin air. We are an ocean of connections and our successes and struggles must always be shared. So in no particular order. And this is not exhaustive. Our honourable quick fire mentions [00:32:30] include Sorry, Jane, Felicia Brown, Acton, Gay Wellington Fan tales Coco Solid bad energy. Jack Lynch Shan, Torrington DJ She and Moni Grey Breaking Hearts, also known as Amberger Lydia Die! Anika Boli Lucas Alicia Suwa Anna Pure Van Melody Wdef and Nori DJ Lela Me, [00:33:00] Herbert Barley Rena and Tamara Anderson and Solomon Son Than and Lee I la Melting Pot Massacre the doves Big Rick Anna Madelin Inside out Queer Avengers D a Amanda Tara Magenta DJ Oh, my gosh! MC Masala. Also known as Alena Martinez [00:33:30] Cakes by Marin McLeod Big picture Ananta Aroha Virginia Parker Penny Dreadful Nicki Mirage Queen Latifa Male and TLC So hi for all these groups and people we are thanked for. Thank you. Now for our official nominations. [00:34:00] Thank you. Could Ian Anderson please come to the stage now? When we first got together as a group, we decided that we were only gonna nominate Brown people. That [00:34:30] so? But then we thought, Well, we actually have a favourite among us too. Spent one of our favourite respect respectfully and selfishly and intelligently contributes to LGBT Q I plus sign POC activity and discussion respectfully while men this fight back [00:35:00] soldier has organised events such as Queer Got Talent and Other Queer Avengers who he voluntarily and in our experience has made meaningful efforts to include us. Ian Anderson makes an understated effort to understand the intricacies of navigating male privilege while promoting people of colour voices in our Wellington communities. For Ian Anderson, we are thankful. Thank you. [00:35:30] Could we have the members of a come to this stage? I hope you're here. They too, flash. They have to be kind to be here. Well, you need to take their four certificates, but if you want to speak to about a who, um, were at out [00:36:00] in the square last year and have been rocking out in town since then. But I think you've got other words to say about them when I say you say, volunteer service to alphabet communities. By representing fierce Maori excellence in performing arts, these artists have selfishly and freely shared their art and talents with us all promoting Maori and Pacifica visibility in a most space and have acted as real role models to younger Maori and Pacifica peoples [00:36:30] in our alphabet communities. As a and solo artists, they have served us by taking part in youth and given memorable high calibre performances at various events. Including Out in the square has got talent and Miss Queer Wellington for K Bar. Wait and Maria McDonald We are thankful. Thank you. [00:37:00] Thanks. I'm just gonna ask to stay on stage for, um, for the next nomination and, um, ask from schools out for Kathleen Winter to come up or Carl Greenwood. Oh, are you on your way? Oh, thank God for that. Everyone schools out is a queer support, [00:37:30] um group for teens based in Wellington and the Hut Valley. Um, offering safe, supportive, inclusive social space for young people. Schools out is about young people coming together, having a good time and supporting each other. It's for youth by youth. Um, they get together once a week after school during the school term for discussions, guest speakers, fun games, social stuff, movie [00:38:00] days and and free food. They also have, um, holiday activities, film evenings, games, afternoons and field trips. Originally, schools out was set up around 2000, Um, and under the Wellington gay welfare group Umbrella. And it was originally set up in Wellington. Um, but we did expand out into cavity for a while, and now we have a really solid group in the Hutt Valley as well. Um, [00:38:30] we have a number of volunteer roles within schools, out from facilitating youth groups to, um, volunteer coordinators, educators, um and, um, training Treasury positions all play a part. Educators going to schools and talk to school assemblies promoting schools out. And recently we've been able to, um, have health talks in schools as well. The organisation is run mainly by volunteers, but we've [00:39:00] been lucky to receive small amounts of funding over the years through the Wellington City Council and um, Wellington Gay Welfare Group, and from wonderful members of this community who have supported and pledged money for schools out over the last few years and done great work, Jack. And particularly in doing fundraising for schools out which has helped us, uh, incredibly, it's been a real privilege for me to be supporting schools out and acting as a liaison [00:39:30] between schools out and WG. Um, presently we're employing, employing Kathleen for a few hours a week as a volunteer coordinator, and she will speak to you about our nominees for the community awards. Cassie Harp in the house. I think we can keep it up, actually. [00:40:00] Hi, everyone. Um, OK, like a well lubricated machine. I'm gonna speak really quickly. Um, about Cassie. Um, I don't want to just list all the things that she's done or all the roles that she's fulfilled. Um, but I'm going to because I think that's really important, but I'll do it real fast. Um, she's done a whole lot of stuff for schools out. It's almost hard to explain what she does. Um, she [00:40:30] kind of started as a She's been a facilitator. Facilitating the youth groups that we run. Um, she What hasn't she done? Um, nothing. Um, no. She was our volunteer coordinator. She was coordinating our own training programmes. She'd been on on the management team, I think, by default, I don't think she was ever actually asked if she wanted to be on the management team, but we just put her on it. Um, yeah. So she's done a lot of stuff. She does a lot of stuff. Um, but the reason [00:41:00] that we nominated her isn't just the quantity of her work, but the quality of her character. Um, it's a professional relationship. Um, because, um anyway, because Cassie works real hard, um, in, like, an intimidating way, Like she works so hard, you feel real bad about yourself, but in, like, a good way, like in a good way. Um, [00:41:30] where was I going with that? Yeah, but the vast majority and often the entirety of the work that she does is voluntary. And I think that shows that, like, the reason she does it is right. Um, like, she really cares about the community. She does it because she cares about young people in the community and giving them a voice. Um, and I'm just really glad that we have the opportunity to give her recognition. I think she's someone who doesn't like recognition, maybe even secretly hates it. So I'm gonna stop now. Um, but thank you for giving us the opportunity to actually recognise her [00:42:00] and thank her for all the work that she does volunteer service to alphabet communities By adorning the spaces in between our ever intersecting relationships, Cassie seems to encapsulate the idea of and care. Naturally, she cares for the spaces in between different groups of people in our communities, with love and respect. Cassie is an excellent facilitator and mediator [00:42:30] with wisdom beyond her years. She has a knack for delivering a point gracefully, without punching people in the face, even if they need it. And we are proud to say that she continues to promote positive relationships between Balan and Maori and Pacifica and everyone peoples in our rainbow communities, for we are thankful. [00:43:00] I, um I'm really, really humbled to be here. Like I'm just like shaking because there's so many really beautiful amazing people in just looking around and seeing all of you. It's just really inspiring. So, as you know, I'm not usually like tearing up like this. So take photos if you want. You know, I don't have a 21st anymore, but, you know, I bring them out one day. Um, I guess I just really wanna [00:43:30] say, um I wanna say And what that Lucy is gonna mean tonight for me is that, um I don't think any of these successes or any of this recognition can be placed on me as an individual it is everyone here? Is it? It is everyone that I've worked with who are being recognised [00:44:00] tonight. I'm gonna shout out some more names. Um, but just because I think that it's very easy for names to not get recognised, and I can easily say thank you to everyone that I know. But actually, those names are really important because history forgets about them. So I guess that I just want to say thank you to people that I've worked with, such as cable Cable. Can you please wave out right now? She's just You would have seen her [00:44:30] getting shit done as she does. So thank you so much. Other people like Alan ain, um, Kathleen Hannah, Um, Connor, who I've worked with as well as well as people such as, um, Herbie Lalai. Um, Sandra Dixon, can you please wave out as well season as well? And I just wanna say that, um, it's really inspiring to get to work with you. And yeah, I just There's so many people. There's so many more people. And hopefully I will see you tonight at [00:45:00] some point and give you a big hug. So thank you so much to the organisers. Your mom is here in the audience. And she? Yes. Is your mom here? There she is. Let's give her a big hand to Kay's mom, OK? Cassie is one of my favourite people in town. You all are, [00:45:30] but she's up there. Connor, one of my other favourite people. Conor Mickle John. So Connor's pretty cool. Um, Connor's been with schools out for a good three years. A real legit three years. Um, Conor was the first person who introduced me to schools out. So I'm like, um, personally [00:46:00] very in awe of his work. Um, yeah. I mean, again, I don't want to list the roles, but I will. Um, Connor has been a facilitator. Um, he's been an educator going into schools and has also coordinated our entire education programme. Um, also dragged into the management team. Um, also dragged in as an advisor. I just keep inviting him to meetings that he doesn't really need to go to. But he does, and he's always incredibly helpful. Like he's just a fantastic, um, advisory [00:46:30] support for person. Um, yeah. I mean, I really I don't want to repeat words like hardworking, um reliable, honest, and brave, but they're all true. Um, no, but yeah, he's just a really calm force. I think is a great way to put it. He's consistent and fantastic. And I think he's really been kind of a backbone in a heart to schools out and is one of the reasons that it continues to do so well today. Um, so [00:47:00] thank you for your ongoing work. Can can we just give schools out another big round? Cos they're They're pretty fantastic, actually. And it's it's pretty cool for them to come up here and, um, endure the the the what They're being put through up here [00:47:30] because I know they're fairly shy a lot, really and pretty humble about the work that they're doing. And they're, um, one of my favourite causes. I mean, you all are, but they're up there. Can I ask Joseph heb from inside out to come up? Hi, Joseph. I leave Joseph to talk about inside out, but it's a new name for QS. [00:48:00] A network aotearoa. So my name is Joseph, and I'm from inside out. Which, um, is what the name that, um QS a is now using, um We're a national organisation that's based in Wellington, and our aim is to make schools safer for queer and trans youth. And we're one of a few queer youth groups in Wellington, um, that have that purpose. And we often collaborate with schools out, um, on regional projects and supporting, uh, local schools and QS a groups. We found that on a pretty clear [00:48:30] principle that safety in schools should not be a radical thing. And it shouldn't be something that we're striving for in 2015. But somehow we still are. Um, so a lot of us of the the organising group and the the Founding Group, we're from Nelson and, um, in our high school and college. We had not a perfect system, but a decent support network for people. And we had this moment of realisation that, hey, you know, our our school is doing great. And then we sort of had this counter realisation that if this is the benchmark for what's good? Whoa. You know, [00:49:00] um, we have some work to do, So that's that's the idea that we brought to the table. And that's basically who we are. So I'd like to move on to my nominations. Thank you, Joseph. Um, can I ask Tey Bisley? And can I ask Tanya Billingsley to come? As as well, please. [00:49:30] Ok, so I'll speak to Tabby first. Tabby has a driving passion for improving health and well being outcomes for queer youth all over New Zealand and helping people make positive changes in their lives and in their own communities. And this passion shines through in literally everything she does. And this makes it like such a spectacularly inspirational, dedicated and effective leader. [00:50:00] Well, she established inside out, uh, in, um, 2012 at the age of 19, and since then has been personally behind every project that we've put forward. She's given countless volunteer hours to make New Zealand schools a safer place to be. And this includes coordinating, uh, many, including the In July of 2013, she coordinated the National Day of Silence, which has had a lot of really positive media response, and [00:50:30] she's facilitated countless gender and sexual diversity workshops around New Zealand. She's given intensive one on one support to queer youth all across the country and help them establish Q SAS in their own schools, where that's something that they've wanted to do, Um, she's collaborated with schools out a lot, Um, on such events, like out in the Park and out in the Square and beyond. Inside out her efforts and her achievements are no less impressive. She coordinates the annual appeal for the Wellington rape crisis, raising over $40,000 and [00:51:00] managing and directing up to like 200 plus volunteers, which is a pretty epic effort. Really, Um, she's been a coordinator at the Newtown Community Centre. She hopes to run Pink Shirt Day every year, and she was the co-chair person of legalised love, which was a group involved in the Marriage Equality campaign. Um, more recently, she's been commissioned to collect interviews, um, by private New Zealand for the purpose of ensuring that stories [00:51:30] which historically haven't been told and need to be told, are recorded and safeguarded for future generations to ensure that they're not lost. And in June of this year, she's going to be presented with the Queen's Young Leader Award. Now, this is quite a big deal. It goes to 60 people all around the Commonwealth, and she's the only New Zealander to receive it. So you know this is massive. [00:52:00] Now, as is evident, um, you know, just from the list of achievements let alone actually knowing her tabby has levels of energy and dedication that, you know, with the greatest respect and affection are frankly terrifying. So I've I've worked with her. Yeah. So I've worked beside her, um, since 2009, Um, when her job was sort of helping breathe new life [00:52:30] into what we called good. Good. Um, she was breathing new life into nags, which was the, um, QS a group and and college where we were at and since then, Um, every single year, she's done something further to push the boundaries of impossibility and make the people around us just achieve insane feats. So thank you so much, Tay. And you're amazing. [00:53:00] Thank you. Um, I won't so much cos i'll cry And I hate crying about people. Um, that's gonna come. Um, but I just wanna say, um, thank you so much for all this recognition and thank you to all of the other volunteers. Um, put inside out to Joseph Tan, who is? I'm excited to hear what you're gonna say about her. Um, because she's my right hand woman. She's supported everything throughout this journey. Um, Maggie, one of our other volunteers is out here tonight, [00:53:30] Um, and to the others who aren't here to move. Are you here? Yes. Thank you so much to me. Um, for the support you've given us this last year as an executive advisor on our board, that's meant so much. And we really said, um, to see you moving on, but, um, know that your support has been really, really huge for us, Um, and to schools out and to transform and to all the other organisations that have, um, supported us and that we're working with, um and I, um Sandra, [00:54:00] so so many of you. Um, just thank you. It really means a lot. Um, a very privileged to work in this community and to get to represent us, um, in England as well. Thank you. So I'll speak to Tan Now. Tan is a dedicated board member for inside out and has been throughout [00:54:30] some of the most horrible personal circumstances. Um, she she was the victim of the Malaysian diplomat assault case. That was all over the media. Um, last year. She is a staunch advocate for addressing our culture of sexual and domestic violence, and that was exemplified by the way that she dealt with that media attention. [00:55:00] She made a choice that you know, the courage that's needed to make it. I can't even fathom which was to waive her right to name suppression and instead speak out on behalf of all victims of sexual abuse and endure all of the subsequent bile from, um, online SoCal journalists to give the give a voice to the voiceless. Tam is, there's no other way I can put it. Tam is the bravest person that I know, and she's gone through more than anyone should have to. [00:55:30] But despite all this, um, she's never missed a board meeting ever. And in her role as secretary and soon to be co-chair person, she's given so much to inside arts work despite having so much else to deal with. She's volunteered on most of our projects since our inception. Um, she helped out with the Wellington patchwork heavy um in July of 2013 helped to coordinate it. She helped to coordinate the day of silence in June 2014 and attended meetings throughout high schools as part [00:56:00] of the outreach programme that we ran in last October. And in addition, as part of that project, she gave part of a professional development workshop on gender and sexual diversity for the very first time and received quite a lot of awesome feedback. She's also been key in building positive relationships with and supporting and collaborating with schools, out attending regular meetings between our two groups and even before inside out to worked alongside Tabby to run Q youth, which was a regional hub in Nelson, which supports [00:56:30] Q, SAS and run regional and national. Now I've met people who've been to been to these, and they call it life changing, and from these they drag they. They get the courage and strength to take that back to their own schools and, you know, start their own projects, start their own groups, do their own thing and make their own schools a better place. And they say that you know that courage and strength is something that they draw straight from it, and all I can say is with role models like it's not hard to see why she's amazing. [00:57:00] Tom is an incredible volunteer and truly deserves recognition for her bravery. and strength, particularly recently speaking out about rape culture at a time when her personal life was all over the media while continuing to give her time and skills to make Wellington and New Zealand a safer place for queer and trans youth. So, Tom, thank you so much. [00:57:30] Thank you, everyone. Um, I just want to echo what Tabby said and thank um, all those people, um, and also just want to acknowledge everyone who's gone before us and the work that, um, everyone here has done. And, um, everyone who's not with us because, like, we know that, um, without them and the work they've done that we wouldn't be able to do, um, any of what we're doing today. So thank you to everyone and to to all those. Yeah, let's [00:58:00] give them a very big hand. Oh, I think I just want to help you off the stage. That's OK. Health and safety. That's no. Listen, um, I know those chairs are awful, so I'm gonna call for a break for five minutes so [00:58:30] that you can replenish your glass. And also the, uh the toilets are that way. Uh, people, for those of us who haven't been here before. So, ladies and gents, just to stand up for a five minute break, uh, fresh air, the bars open.
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