Gentlemen, It is my pleasure to submit a brief account of the activities of MAG for the past 12 months, and it is my 2nd report as Secretary. Our AGM has been changed from being held just after the Mardi Gras to a date in May 2003. I trust that members have enjoyed the meetings that were arranged, our guest speakers, and our social functions. Thank you to all the guys who came along in their colourful outfits at our social evenings. You most certainly added to the success of those evening. I was very pleased and proud of all who helped to make our 11th birthday celebration, last year real fun evening.
GREETERS — Thanks to our greeters (Kent, Lionel, Luke and Neil) for making our members and guests welcome in the foyer, for writing out name tags for all and recording the numbers of attendees to our meetings.
2003 MARDI GRAS – Our 2003 Fair Day effort was really fantastic. Without the help of guys like John, Harry, Ted, Eric, Doug, Kent, Lionel, Alex, Ronnie, Noel, Erroll, Neil, the day would not have been the success that it was. Over $3,500 was made from the white elephant stall, the wine raffle and the plant and jams stall. Thanks to Richard K. for adding to the outfits that Rex and myself wore. Thank you to Rex for joining me, as a spruker for the raffle and for assisting me look ‘beautiful’. We both had a lot of fun in ‘scaring away the punters’ from purchasing raffle tickets. Special thanks to Ted, John and Harry for your amazing efforts with all those lovely plants and delicious jams.
A smaller audience than last year cheered and applauded our entry in the 2003 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, with the theme of “Celebrate in Silver and Vote 1 Gay Rights”. The people in the BGF stands gave us standing ovations, which was great and certainly added to the evening. My sincere thanks to Noel for organising the event, despite the problems and obstacles he had to contend with. Thanks to all the guys who participated, I hope you have great memories of the evening. I did, especially hearing the screams from Damian, when he saw his face that Richard had just completed. It was absolutely fabulous. The cost of our entry was just over $2,500. Thanks to Richard King for the magnificent tiaras and headdresses, and making up the faces of the girls.
EXECUTIVE MEETINGS – During the past 12 months there were eleven (11) Executive Meeting held. One Meeting was cancelled, as most Executive Members attended the Closing Ceremony of the VI Gay Games. Thank you to all the Committee Members for your input to the many lively discussions that we had. To the outgoing Committee Members who have indicated that they will not be seeking re-election, I thank you for most sincerely for your contribution to MAG.
It is well known that we are blessed with some wonderful guys who toil, with lots of love and kindness, behind the scenes at MAG, ‘to make it happen’. They set up the chairs in our meeting room; prepare all those mouth-watering food platters for the supper tables, and clean up and wash up at the conclusion of the evenings. Guys like Eric, John, Doug, Ronnie, Gill, Gordon, Lionel, together with a few others are ‘the little doers’, as the advert says. My sincere thanks to you all, on behalf of all at MAG, members and non-members. We are always on the lookout for more guys to help out, to lighten the load.
MAGIC – MAG in the Community. Is a project of MAG for guys who are ill, in hospital, or need help. It is in the capable hands of Noel Hunter and he can be contacted on 9699 1317.
PLWHA’S LUNCHEONS – During the year MAG regrettably decided to cease assisting with the lunches, at Heffron Hall, Darlinghurst.
LIBRARY – Our Library is kept running ‘out the back of the meeting rooms’ by Alex and he is able assistant, Wayne. To you guys thanks for maintaining our collection of interesting books. If you have never seen our Library, go down there some time during supper at one of our meetings, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
MAGnet – Our social venture at the Gingers Bar, second floor, of the Oxford Hotel, Taylor Square, has now been moved to Gilligan’s Bar, on the first floor of the Oxford Hotel. This alternate venue is where guys can meet others, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, on any Wednesday evening. All are most welcome and certainly encouraged to pop in and say ‘Hi’.
ACON – Thanks to ACON for their support of MAG. As one of their projects, we are able to use the building for our meetings, which is a great venue for meetings. ACON also supports us with the cost of our Newsletter, with its printing. The President of ACON, Adrian Lovney is a great supporter of MAG and we thank him for his support. To Steve Ostrow, the founder of MAG and the ACON’s Project Officer for MAG, thank you for your advice and guidance to me, as Secretary. A Summary of Meetings that were held during the past 12 months can be obtained from me.
THANK YOU – Thank you to all our guest speakers for giving up their valuable time, to come along on a Saturday evening, to speak to us at MAG. Thank you to all the financial members of MAG. Your financial commitment to MAG financially is greatly appreciated by the Executive. It is a real shame that more guys who attend our meetings, either every, or every so often, do not commit financially to MAG. It is only $10.00 per year. Our venue is just great, our speakers interesting, the social activities fun, and the supper is sumptuous.
I, as the Secretary, like our dear Treasurer, would love to see more guys become financial members of Mature Age Gays. Also, another ‘bug bear’ of mine is that if you do not bring along a plate of goodies for the supper table, then a donation of at least $2.00 coin should be placed in the Red Buckets. A number of guys place a $5.00 note into the Red Buckets, which is most generous and very much appreciated by the Executive — thank you to those kind gentlemen.
I wish and hope that MAG continues to be successful and goes on forever and ever, but some home truths that need to be told, and as your Secretary I feel it my duty to tell it as it is, even if it hurts to say so. There are certain expenses that we have to meet, such as the purchase of items like tea, coffee, paper plates, napkins, tomato sauce, salt and pepper, paper table cloths, washing up detergent, and so on. Who pays for these items ?? If we spend more than we receive in the Red Buckets, then our funds will commence to decline. It will, I am sorry to say that ‘all users will have to pay’. This is what the government is always on about.
GAY GAMES VI, SYDNEY – The VI Gay Games held 2 – 9 November 2002 were a great success, although not financially. A number of MAG members went to the Opening Ceremony and also attended other Games events. MAG sponsored a Gay Games Banner, which flew outside St. Marys Cathedral, on the Hyde Park side of College Street, Sydney, whilst the Games were on.
OUR NEW MAG LOGO – Geoff Ostling suggested a Logo to the Executive Committee, which approved it as MAG’s Logo. Please see the front of the Newsletter. There were a number of suggestions from members, and the Executive Committee expresses its gratitude to all who submitted a suggestion for consideration. We are certainly blessed with some really talented guys in MAG.
VALE – During the past year we lost some dear MAG members, as well as members losing close friends and family members. We offer our sincere condolences to all who grieve. We do share your loss. It has been my privilege to be your Secretary.
My sincere thanks to John O'Dea and Erroll Higson for the behind the scene hard work they both do to make it all work.
Best wishes.