And the Honour goes to …

CAMP founder and community activist Peter Trebilco will be commended for the work he has done, at ACON’s Honour cocktail fundraiser next week.

Trebilco will stand alongside Bruce Pollack at Thursday night’s event to receive commendation for their years of community service while helping raise money for a range of ACON services.

Largely known for his work in establishing the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service -” where he still works -” Trebilco has an extensive CV of community involvement.

As one of the founding members of CAMP in the ’70s, Trebilco went on to assist with the formation of ACON, has worked with Mardi Gras, assists Twenty10 and PFLAG and has spent years campaigning in various arenas, including the Anti-Discrimination Board to protect the rights and promote the health of Australia’s GLBT community.

It is the start of ACON though, that Trebilco remembers as his finest moment.

It was a huge achievement to get the health department of NSW to lurch out of the 19th Century and stop saying that [homosexuality] was disgusting and look at it as a public health issue, he told Sydney Star Observer.

That’s the message I’ve been promoting since 1974, that public health is public health. It isn’t a matter of morals or legislation. It’s a matter of human beings and people and their rights and equality.

He is quick to praise the progress made in this area since his first involvement, but is also adamant that complacency is not an option.

I don’t think we can ever, ever drop our guard, Trebilco said. You only have to look at the right wing of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council to know that they are earnest in their desire to stamp us out and return the Crimes Act to the tradition it used to be.

With this ongoing fight in mind Trebilco urges others to get as involved as they can.

You can always ask people to give a little more, he said. Everyone can make a little extra time for one of the many useful things they can do for the GLBT communities -” there are lots of things that can be done.

It is this message that will resonate on the evening as people come together to enjoy entertainment from Margi de Ferranti, indulge in fine food and wine and help to raise funds by bidding on high-end prizes like a range of fashions from Vivienne Westwood and Akira Isogawa, harbour cruises and a number of beauty packages.

info: The Honour cocktail event will be held on 11 September at the National Art School from 7pm. Tickets: $95. Bookings:www.acon.org.au/honour or call 9206 2000.