Country Cousins

QUEENSLAND: Rainbow safaris, pink sheds and country hospitality are all in day's work for Bob Nolan. Andrew Blythe caught up with the current Vice President and Regional Co-ordinator (South-East Queensland) of Australia's Country Network to chat about its past and its future.

Bob Nolan is a busy man. Having just wound up the Country Network's AGM in Coolangatta he is already promoting their next get-together in Tasmania in April.

“There are all sorts of activities our group regularly stages to foster friendship and fun for all our members across Australia. We've been doing this for over 30 years, networking the country with the city, and have seen the benefits that it brings to so many.”

The Country Network celebrates 35 years in 2012 and shows no signs of slowing. Conceived in Dubbo in 1977 to foster contact and friendship among gay and lesbian people living in rural Australia to help overcome their social isolation, membership now numbers in the hundreds and is spread throughout Australia.

“Having the AGM in Queensland was a great chance to promote a recruitment campaign to lift the Network membership in our state. Although we have 20% of the national population this isn't reflected in our membership, most of whom live on the coastal corridor around Townsville and Cairns, Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

“We'd like to connect with and better serve – as well as broaden our relationship with – gay communities in the western districts such as Toowoomba, Warwick, Roma, Charleville, Longreach, Charters Towers and Mt Isa.”

The Network take their rainbow connections seriously; the conference venue at Rainbow Bay looked suitably festive, bedecked in a sea of rainbow balloon clusters, themed to emphasise the patronage of Iris, Greek goddess of the Rainbow. This also carried on into the tour, a "Rainbow Safari" event in the Queensland and New South Wales Border Ranges national parks.

“Country Network is all about inclusion and is proud to be promoted as non-sectarian, non-political, and non-profit. Indeed, only last year founder David Sergeant won an ACON Community Hero Honour Award.”

Membership is open to all Australian residents; both members of our community and its supporters.

“We've survived because courtesy, respect, tolerance and discretion have remained our core values. For instance, we ask that all members respect the extent of each other's openness about and disclosure of their sexuality.

“Over the years the Network has been strengthened by contact and friendship between gay men, particularly those often isolated by living in regional and more remote places. We try to ensure that they too can feel they belong in the broad family of gay communities, providing links to organisations such as Healthy Communities to ensure members are aware of current health and support information.”

Over 80 delegates crowded this year's conference; the highlight for Nolan was hearing Shelley Argent from PFLAG inspire and support the members with her words of encouragement.

“Shelley Argent was our guest speaker at the AGM dinner, and her message resonated with many delegates. She spoke on the isolation many gay and lesbian people living in the country experience and the need to encourage 'pink sheds' (similar to the current men's shed mental health project) and buddy support.

She also spoke of the need for our members to stand-up and be heard and lobby law makers if they want change. However, she also commended us for being great role models for the next generation!

The Network returned that support and presented Argent with a group donation to PFLAG of $500.00.

Nolan remains optimistic about where the future of the group is going.

“Among our older members, advancing age can bring with it illness and, as a consequence, isolation. However, I think this experience makes us better placed than most to provide support for members and companionship for those who have serious health issues.

“Respect and acceptance of diversity remains our greatest strength. For example, previous initiatives have allowed us to be more inclusive of members with a disability or those facing financial constraints.

“Linking with regional health groups, indeed any groups that work with gay people and share similar aims and objectives to us, are where the future is heading. If we see greater camaraderie and friendships among our growing nation-wide membership we know we have succeeded!”

The next Country Network gathering will be our Corroboree at Port Sorell, Tasmania, from 13-15 April 2012. For more information, or to become a member, go to http://www.countrynetwork.com.au/