Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc.

02/11/2026

🌈 Just a reminder that our next Forever Rainbow Social Group - EAST GIPPSLAND Monthly Afternoon Tea is happening next Friday at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, this will be our last one for the year before our "Where Regions Meet" Combined End of Year Community Lunch!

As always, there'll be a free cuppa, afternoon tea, and plenty of time for relaxed conversation with other LGBTIA+ people aged 50+ in our community.

If you haven't already, please register if you can so we can cater appropriately and keep everyone updated.

📝 Please register here: https://tinyurl.com/4sr28jmr

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

This gathering is part of the ongoing partnership between Gippsland Pride Initiative and Switchboard Victoria Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians supporting opportunities for LGBTIQA+ older people across Gippsland to connect, build community and reduce social isolation

"Forever Rainbows" (East Gippsland) monthly social group for Gippsland's LGBTIQA+ folks over 50+

28/10/2026

Following our AGM on Saturday 24 Oct 2026, we’re delighted to share with you the Gippsland Pride Initiative Committee for 2026–27:

President: Caitlin Grigsby
Vice President: Samantha Jones-Hunter
Treasurer: Steve Tong
Secretary: James Bush
Baw Baw Shire: Julie Ziebe
Bass Coast: Greg Tingate
East Gippsland: Goutham Kumar Reddy Gurreddy
South Gippsland: Trevar Skillicorn Chilvers
Latrobe City: Sarah Hunter
Wellington Shire: pending

We’re absolutely delighted with this growing team. We’ve found a wonderful mix of familiar faces, fresh energy and new perspectives, with people who care deeply about our LGBTQIA+ communities right across Gippsland.

We’re especially delighted to welcome two members we’ve met through our Forever Rainbows group.

Like everyone on our committee, these new representatives are already active LGBTQIA+ volunteers and leaders, in their regions, their local communities and their work. We’re so excited to get to know everyone better as a team, and to be heading towards a full committee for the next 12 months.

To each of these generous people, thank you for giving your time, heart and energy to Gippsland Pride, whether you’re continuing on or joining us for the first time.

We’re really looking forward to you getting to know our growing volunteer group and our new committee over the coming months.

Pictured: New Committee Members; Steve, Julie, Goutham and Trevar

26/10/2026

Interested in getting involved with Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc.?

Our next Volunteer Induction is coming up soon in Bairnsdale on Friday 13 November! 🌈

A special hello to those who joined us at our recent AGM and expressed an interest in volunteering. If you’d like to come along, we’d love to hear from you!

The induction runnig from 9:30am – approximately 2:00pm is a chance to learn more about Gippsland Pride, meet others interested in getting involved and complete the essential training to become an official volunteer.

Our volunteer program is event-based, so you can choose the opportunities that suit you, whether that’s helping at events, welcoming attendees, supporting community programs or lending a hand behind the scenes.

Haven't completed an Expression of Interest (EOI) yet? You can register here:
https://forms.gle/13UQ31nyqb833Hu58

Already submitted an EOI? No need to fill it in again! Sophie will be in touch with those who have previously expressed interest in attending this induction.

We’d love to welcome some new faces into our Gippsland Pride volunteer community. 💜

📧 Questions? Contact Sophie at [email protected]

25/10/2026

Oct 26 2026 celebrates the 30th International Intersex Awareness Day across the world!

Paul from I In Us will be interviewed on JOY Breakfast around 7.45am Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time and again at 4.15pm on JOY drive.

Be sure to tune in folks via the JOY Apps or IHeartRadio, and let's celebrate together.

Oct 26 2026 celebrates the 30th International Intersex Awareness Day across the world and Paul will be interviewed on JOY Breakfast around 7.45am Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time and again at 4.15pm on JOY drive. Be sure to tune in folks via the JOY Apps or IHeartRadio, and let's celebrate together.

24/10/2026

Today was a total vibe.

Our 2025-26 Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. AGM in Trafalgar was, if we're being honest, one of our favourites to date.

It's been a twisty, turny, up-and-down kind of year, and we went in with modest expectations (particularly when the weather couldn't decide if it was winter or summer, so we sweated and got wet all at once). Once again, you blew us away with the way you showed up.

Coming together with our members, community, friends and families over lunch reminded us exactly why we do this. Thank you to everyone who came along and made it such a great AGM and community lunch.

We're busily packing up to head to the fantastic Meeniyan Marty Gras shortly, so we'll share a full update tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at our 2025-26 annual report in the images below. A readable link and PDF version will be available shortly.

22/10/2026

Join the community-wide conversation discussing issues impacting LGBTIQA+ communities in East Gippsland and surrounds.

With Joe Ball, Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities and a panel of local and sector leaders working to strengthen communities.

This forum is for all LGBTIQA+ people, allies and local organisations that support LGBTIQA+ communities.

Co-designed by the East Gippsland HEY Project, Neighbourhood Watch East Gippsland, Switchboard Pride in Ageing, Victoria Police, and East Gippsland Shire Council.

Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026
Time: 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Location: Bairnsdale (venue details provided on the day).

Register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/lgbtiqa-community-safety-forum-tickets-2000218553538?aff=oddtdtcreator

21/10/2026

We're proud to share that Forever Rainbows has been Highly Commended at the inaugural Healthy Gippsland Awards.

Forever Rainbows began nearly two years ago with community members who wanted to see older LGBTQIA+ people across Gippsland feel safe, seen and connected. What started as their idea has grown into a joint initiative between Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. and Pride in Ageing shaped at every step by the people it's for.

Daniel Bryen - Pride in Ageing Coordinator Gippsland, said:

"I was incredibly proud to nominate Gippsland Pride for our joint partnership on the Forever Rainbows initiative. There is something deeply special about having our work recognised by our regional peers in the community health space, it shows that inclusive, community-led health promotion is valued across the sector.

The absolute highlight of the day was getting to share this milestone with GPI committee representatives, Samantha and Sarah and our wonderful Forever Rainbows members, Tia and Julie. This award truly belongs to the community who built it."

Daniel's right. Forever Rainbows was built by the community. Our monthly gatherings in Trafalgar and East Gippsland average more than 30 contact points a month, alongside more than 115 face-to-face conversations Daniel has held at events across the region. Then there are the cups of tea, the shared stories and the peer-authored safety agreement we co-designed together, not to mention the events, activations, Christmas celebrations and other activities that have grown from this monthly social connection.

Daniel, in his role with Pride in Ageing, and the amazing team at Switchboard Victoria have been formative and critical to the continuation and growth of Forever Rainbows. We're beyond grateful for their support.

Thank you to Tia and Julie for bringing your voices and lived experience, to Sam and Sarah for representing our committee, and to our Projects & Community Manager Sophie for everything she pours into this work. And to Daniel, thank you for nominating us.

Congratulations also to GippSport whose Girls Can campaign took out the overall award. It's wonderful to see community-centred work celebrated here in regional Vic. Thanks to Gippsland Region Public Health Unit - GRPHU for making that happen.

Here's to more safe, inclusive and thriving spaces for LGBTQIA+ people of all ages across Gippsland.

20/10/2026

Our Over 50's LGBTQIA+ Group - Forever Rainbows meets again in TRAFALGAR this Friday! Make sure to register your attendance via the Humanitix Link - https://events.humanitix.com/forever-rainbow-social-group-afternoon-tea

Hope to see you there!

Made possible thanks to the support of Pride in Ageing - Connecting older LGBTI Victorians

20/10/2026

Meeniyan’s Marty Gras JAM-PACKED weekend is THIS week, and it’s four days of fabulous drag, activity and fun in South Gippsland!

🟣 Thu 22 Oct: Drag Bingo at The Meeniyan Hotel, 7.30pm with Magnolia Starr

🟣 Fri 23 Oct: Drag Trivia at The Meeniyan Hotel, 7.30pm with Magnolia Starr

🟣 Sat 24 Oct: Meeniyan Marty Gras Main Event at the Town Hall, 7pm

🟣 Sun 25 Oct: Drag Me to the Dog Show at Trulli Outdoors, 11am with Magnolia Starr

Don’t leave it to the last minute!

Bingo and trivia are $10 on the night, but you’ll need to book dinner at the hotel.

Marty Gras tickets are $55 through TryBooking, with supper included.

The dog show is free to come along to, and it’s $5 to register your pet.

Details and booking links for all four are on gatherlocal.com.au

Gippsland Pride Initiative Inc. extend our heartfelt appreciation to the organisers for their support of our efforts year on year with your magnificent events!

Meeniyan Marty Gras