Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc.

16/06/2026

🌈 Thank You for Joining Us at the PRIDE GALA 2026! 🌈

We know that showing up, dressing up and gathering in community isn't always easy, especially on a cold and rainy Gippsland winter's night. Seeing so many people brave the weather and celebrate Pride together means more to us than words can say.

Gippsland Pride Initiative is a small regional charity led by volunteers from across Gippsland. At our heart, we're a community working to reduce isolation, foster connection and create spaces where LGBTQIA+ Gippslanders can feel safe, celebrated and supported.

Pride Gala is one part of that work and now, while it's still fresh in your mind, we'd love your help.

If you attended Pride Gala, please complete our anonymous feedback survey before it closes at midnight this Saturday.
Whether you loved the event or have ideas on how we can make it even better, your feedback helps us sustain, grow and shape future Pride Galas for years to come.

It only takes a few minutes and it truly makes a difference.
Complete the survey here:
🔗 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PrideGala26

Can you support our work?

As a small regional charity, every contribution helps us continue creating safe, inclusive and connected spaces for LGBTQIA+ Gippslanders. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Support Gippsland Pride Initiative here:
🔗 https://checkout.square.site/.../4VO43QYTMT4Y7ZFODOQBO7BL

Thank you again to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, sponsored and supported Pride Gala.

Community is at the heart of everything we do and we're so grateful to celebrate with you. 💜

With thanks,
Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. Committee

14/06/2026

Hearts full. Feet tired. Voices gone. And we cannot wipe the smiles off our faces or the bliss from our hearts.

Last night, almost 500 people came together under one roof for a night of joy, connection, music, dancing, great food and unforgettable moments.

The energy in the room was bigger than words, the kind of night you feel in your chest, and we're so grateful to everyone who helped make PRIDE GALA 2026 what it was.

Today we're a little exhausted, a lot emotional, and incredibly thankful.

We've got plenty more to share in the days ahead, but for now, here's a small sneak peek from our incredible official photographers, Social Grind Media + Scout Makes It Media Production Services.

More magic from them, along with the wonderful PollyannaR and Pics & Props Photo Booth are coming soon.

The music may fade, the decorations will come down and our voices will eventually return, but the feeling of last night will carry with us into everything we do next.

This community continues to show us what connection, pride and belonging can look like.

From the bottom of our hearts. Thank you, Gippsland. 💜



Pride Gala 2026 Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc Alrighty Production House fans

13/06/2026

THE WAIT IS OVER. PRIDE GALA 2026 IS HERE!

Tonight, a few hundred people join us at Lardner Park for our sold-out Pride Gala and we couldn't be more excited!

❤️ A beautiful 3 course meal by the amazing Alimentos Catering
💙 The very best in audio and visual effects and venue - Diverse Audio Visual Effects and the team at LP have gone ALL OUT!
💜 A jam packed line up of Australian q***r talent - ken shing music, Frock Hudson, Freddie Merkin, and epic drag trio Jemima Handful, Rubi Taböö and Pashion Couture, followed by
🧡 our headliners, the amazing James Ash and Natalie Bassingthwaighte of Rogue Traders who reached #1 on the iTunes Pop Chart in Australia this week!

After another year of planning, preparation and a whole lot of volunteer sweat, we're ready.

A few final reminders before we throw open the doors:

✅️ If you're travelling by bus, please double-check your pick-up time and arrive at least 10 minutes early. Buses will depart at the published times.
✅️ Have your ticket ready on arrival for easy scanning and entry. *This is a secure event, with access limited to ticket holders.
✅️ Doors open at 5.30pm for a 6.30pm sharp start. Please don't arrive before 5.30pm..
✅️ If you're leaving your car overnight, please park outside Gate 4.
✅️ Don't forget to redeem your complimentary drink voucher before 6.30pm.
✅️ Grab some raffle tickets, place a bid in the silent auction and support Gippsland Pride's work across the region.
✅️ If you'd prefer not to be photographed, simply let our team know.
✅️ Most importantly, take the breaks you need, take plenty of photos, connect with old friends, make some new ones, and hit the dance floor if that's your thing.

We'll wrap up at 11.30pm after what promises to be a wonderful night of good times, q***r celebration, connection and community.

To our volunteers, partners, performers, sponsors and every single guest joining us tonight, thank you. This event exists because of you.

We can't wait to welcome you through the doors.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc.

Proudly supported by Uniting Gippsland Aussie Broadband Interworks Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians Switchboard Victoria Thorne Harbour Health Full Circle HR & Business Services Anglicare Vic, Positive Minds Gippsland and Gippsland PHN

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11/06/2026

🎉1 MORE SLEEP. The countdown is almost over🎉

Tomorrow night, Saturday 13th June, Gippsland PRIDE GALA 2026 comes to life.

Sold out. Packed with joy. Built by community. Powered by love.

12 months of huge effort by our small volunteer team and supporters, and it's the wait is almost over.

Please take this moment to check out these final FAQs before you arrive at Lardner Park tomorrow, so we can welcome everyone in smoothly and get straight to celebrating.

Dress up, show up, look after each other, and get ready for something pretty special.

We can't wait to share this with you Gippsland - with love from the Gippy Pride Crew

Our heartfelt thanks to our Partners Uniting Gippsland (Uniting Vic Tas), with support from Aussie Broadband, Interworks, Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians and Switchboard Victoria, Full Circle HR & Business Services, Thorne Harbour Health, Anglicare Victoria and the many small businesses and community groups who empower us.

fans Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc.

11/06/2026

09/06/2026

🚌 PRIDE GALA 2026 BUS TRANSPORT REMINDER

Just 4 sleeps to go!

If you've booked bus transport to Pride Gala 2026, now is the time to double-check your arrangements.

✅ Review the full bus schedule on our page
✅ Check your email for your bus confirmation, confirmed schedule and full transport details (check your spam!)
✅ Make note of your exact pick-up location and departure time
✅ Arrive at least 10 minutes early, as buses will depart promptly and cannot wait for late arrivals

***Please note that all listed times are departure times, not arrival times.***

Bass Coast and South Gippsland folks will have received confirmation of their pick-up times and locations today.

The Pride Gala is now sold out and bus transport is fully booked. Please do not purchase tickets from comments or DMs. Scammers are active, and any legitimate ticket releases will occur only through our official Humanitix waiting lists.

Bus transport waiting list:
https://events.humanitix.com/pride-gala-bus-transport-2026

Pride Gala ticket waiting list:
https://events.humanitix.com/pride-gala-2026

Bus tickets are not transferable, not for sale, and can only be amended via the Humanitix link issued with your booking.

These buses have been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Uniting Gippsland (Vic Tas.)

See you at Lardner Park on Saturday! 🌈

06/06/2026

✨ PRIDE GALA 2026 HEADLINE ACT ANNOUNCEMENT ✨

GIPPSLAND… this one is HUGE!

We are beyond thrilled to confirm that we will be welcoming ROGUE TRADERS duo James Ash and Natalie Bassingthwaighte to Lardner Park on Saturday 13 June for a very special PRIDE GALA 2026 headline appearance.

We feel incredibly lucky to be welcoming this kind of dancefloor energy to Gippsland, and to share it with a sold-out room full of pride, joy and community celebration.

We know this is going to be one of those Pride Gala moments people talk about long after the night is over.

Rogue Traders duo featuring Natalie Bassingthwaighte and James Ash, are one of Australia’s most iconic dance-pop acts, with chart-topping success across Australia and internationally, more than 1 million records sold worldwide, and a catalogue that has well and truly earned its place on the dancefloor.

With huge hits including Voodoo Child, Way To Go!, Watching You, One of My Kind, We’re Coming Home and Don’t You Wanna Feel, this is going to be a headline set packed with nostalgia, energy and the absolute bangers we know everyone is going to love.

As Rogue Traders celebrate 21 years and launches their new album this week, we are so excited to welcome them to our region for a night that honours their legacy, their music and the joy of a packed dancefloor.

Saturday 13 June.

Lardner Park.

A sold-out room.

A full dancefloor.

And ROGUE TRADERS bringing it home. 🌈✨

🎟️ Pride Gala 2026 is now SOLD OUT.

Tickets are not available via any platform other than Humanitix. Please do not purchase tickets through comments, DMs or third-party sellers.

We are seeing significant scam activity from accounts claiming to have “real tickets” for sale. These tickets will not be recognised.

If you missed out and would like to attend, please join the official Humanitix waitlist. If any tickets are released, they will be made available through the waitlist only.

Gippsland, get ready. This is going to be something very special.

Proudly presented by Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. and our major partners Uniting Gippsland (Vic Tas), supported by Interworks, Full Circle HR & Business Services, Thorne Harbour Health, Anglicare Victoria, Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians and Aussie Broadband.

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30/05/2026

✨ PRIDE GALA 2026 PERFORMANCE ANNOUNCEMENT ✨
Saturday 13 June | Lardner Park

This time in 2 weeks, we'll be preparing to open the doors on this years EPIC Annual Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. Gala event!

Following our announcement of Latrobe Valley’s own ken shing music, we are beyond excited to share our next major performance announcement for PRIDE GALA 2026

After the main meal, get your best singing voices ready and your dancing shoes on, because we are bringing you a jam-packed hour of drag excellence, q***r anthems and multi-decade classics designed to get the whole room moving, singing, clapping and celebrating together.

This showcase has been created for our beautifully diverse community, from the classic bangers that shaped earlier decades of q***r joy, right through to current dance floor favourites for people of all ages, abilities and identities.

Because Pride Gala has always been about more than one night out.

It is about community.
It is about visibility.
It is about joy, especially when joy feels like something we have to protect.

And for one glorious hour in the middle of the night, we want the whole room to remember that joy is still everywhere.

We are thrilled to welcome three incredible performers to the Pride Gala stage:

💫 Jemima Handful
Jemima Handful is a Melbourne-based drag artist, dancer and choreographer with more than 15 years of performance experience. Her work has taken her across Australia and internationally, including with the Melbourne Ballet Company, Projection Dance Company and Opera Australia, as well as q***r stages including Milkshake Festival in Amsterdam, Sydney Gay & Le***an Mardi Gras, Drag’d Out in Beechworth and Vau d’vile Drag Cabaret. A Melbourne Drag Awards Choreographer of the Year winner, Jemima brings precision, polish and pure performance power.

💫 Rubi Taböö
Rubi Taböö is Melbourne’s very own Robin Williams of drag: high-energy, high-camp, hilarious and completely unforgettable. From her beginnings at The 86’s world record-breaking drag-a-thon to regular performances across Victoria, Rubi is known for polished performances, big laughs, fabulous chaos and just the right amount of naughtiness.

💫 Pashion Couture
With a 17-year drag career and a reputation for drama, fashion and stage presence, Pashion Couture has performed across Melbourne and beyond, created frocks for some of the biggest names in entertainment, and taken out major drag honours including the Queen of the Galaxy Pageant and Bitch of the Year at the Melbourne Drag Awards. Unofficially known as the world’s tallest drag queen, Pashion brings height, glamour, wit and full-stage spectacle every time she performs.

Together, Jemima Handful, Rubi Taböö and Pashion Couture will deliver a high-calibre drag showcase created especially for Pride Gala 2026.

Expect big energy.
Expect q***r classics.
Expect current bangers.
Expect a room full of people singing along, moving in whatever way feels good, and celebrating the joy of being together.

And yes, our headline act is still to come. 👀

🎟️ Pride Gala 2026 is currently SOLD OUT.

If you missed out, you can still join the waiting list. Tickets do occasionally become available, and the waiting list is the only safe way to access any released tickets.

Join the waiting list here: https://events.humanitix.com/pride-gala-2026

A very important ticket reminder:

Please be aware that scammers are actively appearing in event comments and social media threads pretending to have tickets for sale.

Tickets are not transferable.

If you need to make a change to your order, you must do this only through the official Humanitix order link you received when purchasing your ticket. Please do not buy tickets from anyone in the comments or via direct message.

Dietary requirements are now locked in. Any dietary requests not already submitted may not be able to be guaranteed on the night and cannot be requested at the event.

We cannot wait to share this night with you.

Pride Gala 2026 is going to be something very special. 🌈

Frock Hudson Freddie Merkin Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians Uniting Gippsland

30/05/2026

📣PRIDE GALA BUS SCHEDULE 📣

Thanks to the generous partnership of Uniting Vic Tas, we are pleased to confirm bus transport options for our PRIDE GALA 2026 guests travelling to and from Lardner Park on Saturday 13 June 2026.

This transport is reserved for Pride Gala guests with a valid event ticket and confirmed bus registration. Please have both your bus Humanitix ticket and Gala ticket available, as we may ask to sight these for security and confirmation purposes.

The Pride Gala is now sold out and buses are booked to maximum capacity. Entry to either the event or bus transport is not possible without prior registration, unless further tickets are released to you directly via our official Humanitix links. Please be mindful not to purchase tickets from comments on our posts or DMs — scammers are persistent right now!

JOIN THE WAITING LIST HERE:

Bus transport waiting list: https://events.humanitix.com/pride-gala-bus-transport-2026
Pride Gala ticket waiting list: https://events.humanitix.com/pride-gala-2026

Guests registered from Bass Coast and South Gippsland locations will be contacted directly with transport details. Folks seeking accessible transport will also be contacted individually to ensure our offerings meet your needs wherever possible.

Please note that the times listed below are departure times. This means these are the times buses will leave each location, so it is critical that guests arrive at least 10 minutes prior to their listed departure time. Buses will leave promptly and cannot wait for late arrivals.

Please take care to note the specific location of your pick-up point, in case details have changed from previous years. Please note that locations with no prior registrations do not form part of our confirmed bus schedule.

# # Bus 1: Sale, Latrobe Valley and Trafalgar

**Travelling to Lardner Park**

3:30pm - Sale Railway Station, Pettit Drive, Sale
4:10pm - Traralgon Railway Station, Princes Highway
4:40pm - Australia Post Morwell, 209 Princes Drive, Morwell
5:15pm - Old Courthouse, 2 High Street, Moe
5:30pm - Criterion Hotel Trafalgar, 85 Princes Highway, Trafalgar
6:00pm - Arrive at Lardner Park, Burnt Store Road, Lardner

**Return journey**

11:45pm - Depart Lardner Park
12:15am - Criterion Hotel Trafalgar, 85 Princes Highway, Trafalgar
12:30am - Old Courthouse, 2 High Street, Moe
1:05am - Australia Post Morwell, 209 Princes Drive, Morwell
1:35am - Traralgon Railway Station, Princes Highway
2:15am - Sale Railway Station, Pettit Drive, Sale

# # Bus 2: Warragul and Drouin

**Travelling to Lardner Park**

4:50pm - Warragul Views Hotel, 50 Rulemount Road, Warragul
5:00pm - Warragul Gardens Caravan Park, 44 Burke Street, Warragul
5:10pm - Warragul Railway Station, Alfred Street Car Park, 3 Alfred Street, Warragul
5:25pm - Comfort Inn & Suites Warragul, 1845 Princes Way, Warragul
5:35pm - Edinburgh Hotel, 61 Princes Way, Warragul
5:45pm - Drouin Station, Princes Way and Hope Street, Drouin
6:00pm - Arrive at Lardner Park, Burnt Store Road, Lardner

**Return journey**

11:45pm - Depart Lardner Park
12:00am - Drouin Station, Princes Way and Hope Street, Drouin
12:10am - Edinburgh Hotel, 61 Princes Way, Warragul
12:20am - Comfort Inn & Suites Warragul, 1845 Princes Way, Warragul
12:35am - Warragul Railway Station, Alfred Street Car Park, 3 Alfred Street, Warragul
12:45am - Warragul Gardens Caravan Park, 44 Burke Street, Warragul
12:55am - Warragul Views Hotel, 50 Rulemount Road, Warragul

# # Bus 3: Mercure Warragul

**Travelling to Lardner Park**

5:30pm - Mercure Warragul, 25 Mason Street, Warragul
5:50pm - Arrive at Lardner Park, Burnt Store Road, Lardner

**Return journey**

11:45pm - Depart Lardner Park
12:05am - Mercure Warragul, 25 Mason Street, Warragul

# # Important transport information

Guests must make their own arrangements for transport beyond the listed drop-off and pick-up points. Gippsland Pride Initiative is not responsible for individual travel arrangements outside the provided bus transport. Please make prior arrangements to ensure you get home safely.

Abusive or poor behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in refusal of travel, cancellation of your seat, or ejection from the bus. Guests are asked to consider the safety and comfort of others at all times.

Bus tickets are not transferable, not for sale, and can only be changed via the Humanitix link issued with your bus ticket. Details will also be emailed to registered bus guests.

These buses have been made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of Uniting Vic Tas. our major partner for Pride Gala 2026