Date

1983

Description

The Queen’s Birthday weekend has been an important weekend for social events in the LGBTI+ community for decades. In Melbourne during the 1960s into the early 1980s, the most prominent event was the Queen’s Birthday picnic. Established in the early 1960s by Ray Dodds and friends, it was relaunched by Mac Ronan and his partner Geoff Allingham in 1967, at Kangaroo Ground near Yarra Glen. Over the following decade these picnics, which were eventually managed by The Organisers group, became a highlight on Melbourne’s gay social calendar, with hundreds of people enjoying camp contests, food, entertainment, and the ‘Royal party’ delivering ceremonial Queen’s Birthday Honours. The competition winners won medals, including this set won in 1983, which includes gold and silver medals for 1^st and 2^nd places in the Sack Race and Champagne Leg Opener.