Vic Presence Announces 2009 March Theme

Local News, By Travis de Jonk, 5th February, 2009

There’s nothing quite like participating in the colour, excitement and the spectacle of Mardi Gras. And no other Victorian marching group knows it better than Vic Presence.

Vic Presence, Victoria’s longest running Mardi Gras marching group has just recently announced their 2009 theme will be Uniting the Nations – Hollywood Gay Icons.

“Film, Movies and Entertainment are such an important and popular part of our lives. The whole idea behind our 2009 theme is to pay homage to those significant high profile entertainment queers who inspired us, broke down barriers and dared to be themselves around the world”, explains Vic Presence representative Felicity Brinschwitz, “In many respects, Hollywood has been traditionally homophobic, and we wanted to highlight the significant role that queers play in the entertainment industry and the influence they have in affecting change within the industry as well as wider society.”

Vic Presence has won several awards in it’s long history since being founded in 1998. In 2004 Mardi Gras awarded the group the award for “Best Out Of Town Float”, and in 2006 the group’s Egyptian theme won them “Best Costume”. It almost seems that Vic Presence has a bigger reputation in Sydney than they do in Melbourne. Images of the popular marching group have been selected to represent the Mardi Gras Parade for the past few years because of it’s colour and diversity. The group is not just for gays and lesbians, but the whole spectrum of the community including bisexual, transgender and yes even queer friendly straights. There is no restriction on age or nationality either. In fact, you don’t even have to be from Victoria to participate.

“Over the years we’ve had a number of participants from interstate and overseas who wanted to march with us” explains founder and former Vic Presence president Peter Wells. “We’re more than happy with that and we welcome it in the spirit of participation and creating something bigger than ourselves.”

“We send a DVD of the recorded choreography, out to those interstate or overseas members who can’t be present at our Victorian rehearsals, so that they can learn it and be ready for the march. Then when we are all in Sydney, we run through it together and do the fine tuning. It works very well.”

The good news continues for the group who was just recently awarded a substantial $2000 community grant from New Mardi Gras to ensure that the group could participate in the 2009 march. Vic Presence were also lucky enough to receive a financial grant from queer community broadcaster JOY 94.9 FM. JOY also sponsors them by airing our adverts daily.

“Most people don’t realize exactly how much it cost to put a group like ours together and to participate in Mardi Gras” explains Felicity, “Our members registration fee only really covers the basics like costume and parade registration. There are still costs like truck vehicle hire for the float, design and decoration, and money for music rights and the necessary kick ass sound system. We also have to pay our brilliant choreographer Chris Bakis. Costs add up.”

“We’ve been so lucky this year to secure financial support from JOY FM and Mardi Gras that will not only ensure our presence at Mardi Gras, but that we do a really amazing job. We are going to make sure that Victoria shines along that golden mile.”

Vic Presence will be marching with JOY FM this year for the second time. It is a very fitting collaboration for the two organizations who share a bit of history. Back in 1998 when Vic Presence was founded, the group helped gain signatures as a way of assisting JOY FM to get a full time radio licence. And JOY FM covered the group’s first performance at Midsumma’s Swim Carnival at Prahran Pool.

If you want to get involved with the popular group, you’ve only got days left. If marching is not your thing, you can still join them as a flag bearer or water person. There are also a variety of costume options to suit how much skin you’re willing to show off.

Being a Vic Presence member automatically makes you a member of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras members get discount to over 50 Mardi Gras events, including the post-march Mardi Gras Party and Sleaze Ball.

Vic Presence takes it’s members from rehearsal to marching in just 8 rehearsals, each lasting about 2 hours. Rehearsals are concentrated over a 2 week period in the middle of February, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening from 7:30pm. First rehearsal is Mon 16 Feb and the final dress rehearsal, which the public is invited to attend, will be on Thu 26 Feb. Stay tuned to Same Same for those exact details.

For more information or if you would like to participate in Mardi Gras as part of Vic Presence you can log onto their website www.vicpresence.com.au or you can call Felicity on 0402 103 700 or Peter on 0434 217 526