PORT Fairy could be home to the south-west’s first Mardi Gras.
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A presentation from Port Fairy resident Martin Sullivan to Moyne Shire councillors on Tuesday night has put the concept on the agenda.
Mr Sullivan believes Port Fairy should lay down a welcome mat to the LGBTQI community.
He has suggested to council one way to do this was for the town to host a Mardi Gras.
“The idea of a Mardi Gras has been in my mind for a long time,” Mr Sullivan said.
“I think it is a realistic goal.”
Moyne Shire councillor Ian Smith shares Mr Sullivan’s enthusiasm for bringing a Mardi Gras to town.
He described it as a great initiative for Port Fairy.
“We welcome all people here, we welcome all community groups,” Mr Smith said.
Cr Jim Doukas was less responsive to the idea.
“Why should we go out of our way to promote one group in front of another,” Cr Doukas said.
“If all minority groups come to the shire and want their little bit, we won’t be a shire anymore, we will be Nimbin.”
Mr Sullivan said there was strong public support to take steps to formally welcome the LGBTQI community into Port Fairy.
He posed the question on the Port Fairy community notice board Facebook page and received 148 comments, of which 72 per cent were supportive.
Mr Sullivan said while a Mardi Gras would be a high-profile event that could fast track the LGBTQI community welcome mat, he was also open to other ideas.
“I think we can take some easy steps to get things going, we don’t have to blow a fuse,” he said.
“But at the same time, we don’t want to be dawdling too much.
“When I heard councillor Smith speaking at the meeting, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, it was so refreshing hearing support like that from the council.
“I know it is not something everyone would vote for, we live in a democracy and people are entitled to their opinion, but I would like to think we could get 75 per cent, which my question on Facebook showed can happen.”
At the council meeting, Moyne Shire mayor Mick Wolfe thanked Mr Sullivan for his presentation and indicated a meeting would be set up for all parties to discuss the matter further.
