GLBT Heroes Honoured At Awards Ceremony

Youth and experience were the major themes at this year’s Honour Awards with six people and organisations from across NSW being recognised for their service to the GLBT community at a gala awards ceremony in Sydney last night.

Now in their sixth year, the Honour Awards is an annual event which recognises outstanding achievements within or contributions to NSW's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. The awards are also a gala fundraising event for ACON, NSW's leading HIV and GLBT health organisation.

The winners were selected from a diverse field of 20 finalists and were presented with their awards at a ceremony last night at the Sun Room at the Ivy in Sydney. The event was attended by over 200 people and raised over $30,000 for ACON’s vital work in the community.

Susan Brooks won the Community Hero Award for service to the GLBT community as a member and supporter of several key GLBT community organisations and most recently as a founding and key member of The Pinnacle Foundation which provides scholarships and mentorships to marginalised and/or disadvantaged GLBT young people.

Gay and HIV activist Bill Whittaker was honoured with the inaugural ACON President’s Award in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

The other winners were:

• Gen Q/Regional Youth Support Services (Community Organisation Award): Gen Q is a peer-run support group for young GLBT people that has been operating in the Central Coast region for 15 years with the support of RYSS.
• John O’Dea (Health & Wellbeing Award): has provided over 20 years of volunteer service to the GLBT community as a key member of both the Mature Age Gays support group and the ACON condom packing team.
• Tommy Murphy (Media/Arts/Entertainment Award): internationally recognised playwright whose work has helped offer readers and audiences a valuable insight into gay lives and culture.
• Stonewall Hotel (Business Award): leading Oxford St entertainment venue with 15 years of service to the GLBT community and significant supporter of GLBT charities and community organisations.

ACON President Mark Orr congratulated the winners and all the finalists on their achievements and community service.

“Last’s night’s event was a truly inspirational and thoroughly entertaining evening and a great celebration of the dynamic spirit of our community,” Mr Orr says.

“I’d like to thank all the people who submitted nominations as well as all our guests for coming along last night and supporting ACON, especially our guests of Honour NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner, NSW Legislative Council Don Harwin, Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and writer/director Stephan Elliot.

“I’d also to thank our event partners Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association, SX Magazine, Glyde Health, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Merivale, South African Tourism, Vinaceous Wines, Pink Media, Evans Media and Points of Difference Events as well as all the people, businesses and organisations which donated items for our silent auction.”

NB! – Brief bios of the winners are below. Photos of the winners are available on request.

2012 Honour Awards - Winners

Community Hero Award – Susan Brooks

Susan has provided many years of service to the GLBT community as a member and supporter of several key GLBT community organisations and most recently as a founding and key member of The Pinnacle Foundation which provides scholarships and mentorships to marginalised and/or disadvantaged GLBTIQ young people. Since its establishment just over three years ago, the Foundation has supported 25 young people and mentors. The Foundation’s reach now extends to most state capitals and there are also regional committees to take on local tasks. Susan is one of the driving forces behind the Foundation and through her work she is helping to transform the lives of Pinnacle’s inspirational alumni.

Community Organisation Award – GenQ/Regional Youth Support Services

GenQ is a network of young people, youth workers, services and health professionals who work collectively to provide young GLBTIQ people in the Central Coast region with support, social interaction and sexual health information but most importantly a fun and safe place to be themselves. GenQ has been supported by Regional Youth Support Services for 15 years and the organisation continues to thrive as a provider of vital social connections for GLBTIQ young people, as well as running workshops on issues such as self-esteem, confidence building, cyber safety, identity, dealing with homophobia and transphobia, and coming out to friends, family and at school.

Health and Wellbeing Award – John O’Dea

For most of its 21 years, John has been one of the driving forces of Mature Age Gays, a support and social group for gay men aged 40 years and over. He was treasurer of the group for over 13 years and continues to offer sterling support as ongoing catering supervisor. He has also been involved for many years with MAG’s fundraising activities and has ensured MAG has a strong presence in each year’s Mardi Gras parade, believing that it’s important for older gay men to remain active and visible in the community. As well as all this, for over 15 years John has been the leader of the ACON Packers, a group of dedicated volunteers who put together over 140,000 safe sex packs every year for distribution throughout NSW.

Business Award – Stonewall Hotel

For over 15 years, Stonewall Hotel has been a leading supporter of the GLBT community and regularly participates in fundraising events for various GLBT charities. Stonewall has a long association with the Sydney Mardi Gras and the Sydney Pride Festival, with Promotions and Marketing Manager Glenn Hanson coordinating the latter for the last four years. Stonewall prides itself on providing a safe, fun, gay and supportive environment which is complimented by professional friendly GLBTQ staff.  Stonewall’s motto is: “The history is remembered, the future is here!”

Media/Arts/Entertainment Award – Tommy Murphy

Tommy Murphy has excelled as both a gay writer and writer of gay stories. While he has written about many subjects, same sex relationships feature in much of his work, offering audiences and readers a valuable insight into gay lives and culture as well as demonstrating the universality of the human experience. His 2006 adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s Holding The Man has been performed throughout Australia and overseas and has become a classic piece of theatre about same-sex attraction, love and loss. He has won numerous awards for his work including Strangers in Between and Gwen in Purgatory. He has become one of Australia’s most celebrated and sought after writers for both the stage and the screen.

President’s Award (recognising lifetime service) – Bill Whittaker AO

Bill Whittaker is one of the architects of Australia’s response to HIV/AIDS and he has worked nationally and internationally in HIV policy and strategy for more than 25 years. He is also a prominent, passionate and pioneering gay activist who has worked for over 30 years to promote the health and human rights of GLBT communities. His work at local, national and international levels has been extraordinary not only in relation to HIV prevention but also with respect to the provision of treatment, support and advocacy for people living with, at risk of and affected by HIV/AIDS. His work has improved the lives of tens of thousands of people here in Australia and millions around the world.