The AVP wants people to express an interest to join the Domestic Violence Working Group. Future plans include a Community Forum on Domestic Violence. The event will also include DV Workshops in which strategies for the GLBT communities will be further developed. Bookmark this page and find out the date, venue, news on guest speakers when they are published in the AVP web-site in the near future (don't forget to drop in and say Hello! during the DV Forum - a perfect opportunity to become a member and register your support.
 

Previous events: 'Launching the Anti-Violence Project: A Forum on Violence'
 

What a great start to the year: the (then) newly incorporated AVP was successfully launched in conjunction with our first major event... 

A Forum on Violence was held at the Brunswick Town Hall on 18th January, 2001.

Forum speakers were Kenton Miller (former Co-Convenor of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby), an expert in mobilising GLBT communities; Melinda Edwards (Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer) - a dynamic speaker who explored the levels of homophobic violence in Melbourne together with her experiences as the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer for the Victoria Police.

STOP PRESS! Melinda Edwards now has a team of Gay & Lesbian Liaison Officers (GLLOs) supporting the glbt communities across the state. Congratulations Victoria Police!!.

The speakers were followed by a panel discussion. Members of the panel include Jamie Gardiner (Commissioner, Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria), Paula Gerber (Amnesty International), Geoff L a m b l e (Minus 18 - group for young gays and lesbians), Deb Dempsey (academic and author of the ‘Enough is Enough’ report on discrimination against the GLBT community), Lauren Christopher (Seahorse), Melinda Edwards and Kenton Miller. The panel discussion was designed to encourage members of the audience to voice their opinions on the issue and consider what strategies can be incorporated into the AVP’s campaigns. 

Judy Small kept us all entertained with a great performance during intermission. Jeffrey Conoghan kindly donated his time to MC our first event.

Thank You to Hares & Hyenas Bookshop for selling our Tickets for us.
 

Profiles - Guest Speakers
 

Kenton Miller has been involved with the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (VGLRL) for two years now, about eighteen months of which he 'served time' as the male co-convenor. Prior to being involved with the VGLRL Kenton had a long history of being involved in community activism, including being media spokesperson for five years for Lesbian and Gay Community Action (LGCA) in SA. His diverse involvements include everything from anti-nuclear groups through to prisoners' rights and supporting single parents.

Kenton currently works as the Peer Education Officer at the VAC/GMHC. His other work has included being a Campaigns Officer; a Script Development Officer (working with a group of young gays and lesbians to develop a community theatre piece about gay bashing); and developing and delivering national 'Challenging Homophobia/Affirming Diversity' training. While he has been the cartoonist for 'Outrage', 'Adelaide GT', 'Capital Q' and 'Melbourne Star Observer' he is currently only doing cartoons for his own sanity.

Melinda Edwards was selected as the first Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (GLLO) for Victoria Police. Her background is very much the operational police officer. She has been a member of Victoria Police since 1988. She has served at a variety of Metropolitan police stations and units, including St Kilda, Footscray and Broadmeadows. She has also served in the Crime Department at both the Drug Squad and the Surveillance Unit. She is qualified in the duties of the Community Policing Squad and performed nearly 12 months at Broadmeadows CPS. She has spent the last 4 of 5 years at the St Kilda Police Station where she established a community liaison portfolio.

The mission statement of the GLLO is to contribute to the creation of mutual trust between Police Lesbians and Gay men so that they have increasing confidence in police throughout the provision of fair and equitable policing service. The GLLO is to liaise with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community to provide a direct line of contact between the GLBT community and Victoria Police.

Melinda works closely with other Victoria Police units, such as Crime Prevention and Neighbourhood Watch to develop crime prevention strategies, and awareness of GLBT issues. This also occurs regularly with GLBT organisations to identify policing issues and use of their resources and contacts to assist Victoria Police in the establishment of crime prevention strategies.
 

Previous activites: AVP & Pride March
 

AVP marched in Pride March behind the AVP banner. Stand up and be counted - say NO to homophobia and hate speech! 
 

AVP Fundraiser
 

The AVP held its first fundraiser at The Builder's Arms, Q&A on Thursday 7 December, 2000. The night was a great success raising $709.20 through gold coin donation at the door and a raffle on the night. The lucky raffle winners were:

1st Prize: Adrian Marshall [One Night's Accommodation at California Motel in Hawthorn ~ kindly donated by California Motel valued at $150]

2nd Prize: John McLachlan [Dinner for Two at Sukhothai ~ kindly donated by Sukhothai Restaurant valued at $48]

3rd Prize: Paul Rees ["Survivor" Book ~ kindly donated by Hares & Hyenas Bookshop valued at $39.95]

A very special Thank You to California Motel, Hawthorn; Sukhothai Restaurant; and Hares & Hyenas Bookshop.