The annual Honour Awards have revealed a community bursting with businesses and individuals waving the LGBTGI flags.

Longstanding community contributors and regional NSW were the big winners at this year’s Honour Awards with seven people and organisations from across NSW being recognised for their service to the GLBT community at a gala awards ceremony in Sydney last night.

Fundraiser for Acon

Now in their fifth 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 and Australia’s largest GLBT health and HIV/AIDS organisation.

The winners were selected from a diverse field of 24 finalists and were presented with their awards at a ceremony last night at the Sun Room at the Ivy in Sydney. The event, which kicked off Sydney’s first ever Big Gay Weekend, was attended by over 200 people and raised over $30,000 for ACON’s vital work in the community.

Dubbo-based Dave Sergeant won the Community Hero Award for over 35 years of service to the GLBT community as founder and director of Country Network, Australia’s oldest association for GLBT people living in regional and rural Australia.

The other winners were:

• The Bookshop Darlinghurst (Business Award). Through this iconic Sydney business, proprietor Les MacDonald has delivered over 30 years of service to the GLBT community as well as supporting countless GLBT charities and events.
• Gail Hewison and Libby Silva (Business Award). Through their work at The Feminist Bookshop, Gail and Libby have been a pioneering force in the lesbian and same-sex attracted women’s community for over 30 years.
• Bernie Green (Health and Wellbeing Award). Tamworth-based Bernie is a dedicated health promoter, mentor, carer, fundraiser, volunteer and community leader in New England and North West NSW with over 30 years of service to GLBT communities in regional NSW.
• Tropical Fruits (Community Organisation Award). This Lismore-based group has provided over 20 years of outstanding social and cultural development for the Northern Rivers GLBT community.
• Mark Alsop (Media/Arts/Entertainment Award). Mark is an award-winning DJ with over 25 years of community service to 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 Marcia Hines and Peter Morrissey.

“I’d also to thank our event partners 360 Management Group, Foxtel, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association, Sydney Star Observer, GLYDE Health, Merivale and Heineken as well as all the people, businesses and organisations which donated items for our silent auction. Their generosity and support is greatly appreciated.”