The acquisition of a new van to Newcastle Pride has become a beacon of visibility for the organisation, signalling the start of some big things to come.
Newcastle Pride unveiled their new Pride Van on January 29, which will be used to transport equipment between local events and pride festivals around Australia and for general community advocacy.
“We intend to travel to different locations across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter where people can come meet the team and collect general information about Newcastle Pride and also LGBTIQA+ Resources from leading organisations and businesses such as ACON and Headspace,” said Newcastle Pride Founder and President Lee-Anne McDougall.
“The van is a massive step for us, and it’s something I never thought we’d even achieve when I started Newcastle Pride in 2018… I had no idea it would become this big.”
The not-for-profit said the van wouldn’t have been possible without the help of State Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp, who was responsible for awarding the Community Building Partnership grant to the deserving organisation.
“We’re so grateful to have received this grant funding,” McDougall said.
“It’s now going to allow us to inject so many additional funds into other events for the community because we’re not going to have to pay to hire vehicles… we can’t say how grateful we are.”
McDougall said the new van would make the job easier for everyone involved in the organisation, including the volunteers.
“I don’t think people see what goes on behind the scenes, [previously] we had to go to the storage shed in the early morning or night before the event and load a rental van,” McDougall said.
“Usually, the group would have to return the van to hire companies before the hire period ended.
“So, this new van is a big benefit for us.”
Crakanthorp said it was a pleasure to give to an organisation that did so much good in the local community.
“A van may not seem like a big deal, but it will actually make a huge difference for Newcastle Pride and will allow them to direct money that had previously been spent on transporting gear back into outreach and advocacy,” Crakanthorp said.
“[The van is] so visible, it’s out there, and it’s a lot of fun too.”
McDougall said the van was a much-needed beacon of visibility, as the organisation hadn’t been able to promote its cause recently due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Over the last two years we have not been able to host the Newcastle Pride festival, it’s been pretty quiet and a bit depressing because we’d start to put the festival together, and of course, the time would come, and we’d have to make the heart-wrenching decision to cancel due to COVID-19,” McDougall said.
“So in terms of visibility, we haven’t been out there as much, so this is great for people to see us.
“Our big gay van is a beacon that we’re still here, and we’re driving around, so give us a wave and come say hello!”
The van is just the start of some exciting progress for the organisation, with McDougall sharing that Newcastle Pride had already initiated plans to secure a permanent premise.
After gaining inspiration from a recently built hub in Victoria called the Victorian Pride Centre, McDougall said Newcastle Pride had ambitions for a similar site locally.
“We’ve recently submitted a snapshot of a proposal to council… and we’re still putting together a full proposal at the moment to build a similar hub in Newcastle.”
McDougall said the organisation hoped to secure a vacant building in Newcastle or build one entirely from scratch.
“It’ll have to be funded through government grants, sponsorship and of course, down the track, organisations will pay rent to have a space in the building to keep it afloat,” McDougall said.
“It would be amazing- there would be an information centre, café, free WiFi with terminals where people can do work if they need to, and maybe a little bar area.”
McDougall said the Hunter currently lacked a venue that specifically catered to the LGBTIQA+ community and said the lacking provision contributed to the conception of Newcastle Pride.
“That was my aim when I started Newcastle pride; it was to one day get our community a hub, a place, a home,” McDougall said.
“While we can go to any club and be welcomed, you still experience harassment, and it’s quite uncomfortable.
“Whereas generally when you’ve got a dedicated venue, you’re safe in that space, and you’re less likely to be harassed.”
While the newest project would take time, McDougall said they had their sights set on a more achievable goal to facilitate further community support.
“In the meantime, Newcastle Pride itself is putting together a smaller proposal as we need a space for ourselves,” McDougall said.
“Newcastle Pride’s office has been my kitchen table for four years, and we’re growing so quickly, so it’s really time for us to try to get our own space and make a small hub for people to go to.”
McDougall described the organisation’s next goal as a “stepping stone” in achieving a more permanent role in the local area and further helping the community.
In another recent win for the organisation, McDougall revealed Newcastle Pride had just been granted registered charity status.
“This status takes us up another level. There’s so much more [opportunity] now for sponsors, grants and other things.”
The organisation’s newly granted charity status, paired with its new van and 2022 vision, will prove to be a formidable combination for the future of Newcastle Pride.
McDougall said the van couldn’t have come at a better time for Newcastle Pride, as they had an action-packed few months planned.
“We’ve got an interactive Rocky Horror show in April at Maitland Gaol, including drag queens and DJ’s… as well as a Pride Golf Tournament at Merewether Golf Course in September,” McDougall said.
“We believe it’s the first-ever pride golf tournament in Newcastle, and it’ll be a day for everyone to come along, join teams and ride golf carts that will be done up in pride flags… it’s a fun social event for the professional golfer or not.”
McDougall said Newcastle Pride had also begun preparing for Pride Month, which takes place from October 7 to November 6.
“This year, we’re excited [for Pride Month] because it’s the first year that Newcastle City Council has given us permission to raise the Pride Progress Flag in Civic Park.”
The free event will include a raising of the flag celebration, a slideshow alley carnival, and performances.
In the meantime, McDougall welcomed locals along to Newcastle Pride’s monthly ‘Yass at the Lass’ event, which takes place on Friday afternoons and includes drag raffles and other colourful events.
“For us, that Friday afternoon is for people to come after work, have some drinks, have a raffle, have a laugh and start your weekend in a fun way,” McDougall said.
“We are trying to bring everything to the community, give them different events, different people and be really inclusive.”
More information on Newcastle Pride Inc and its planned events can be found via their Facebook page or website.
Maia O’Connor