Honour finalists announced
A judging panel has selected a diverse range of people and organisations to be finalists for the 2010 ACON Honour Awards.
Now in their fourth year, the Honour Awards are an annual event recognising outstanding achievements within, or contributions to, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in NSW.
Members of the public nominated more than 70 people and organisations across five categories in a process lasting a month, from which a judging panel selected the 22 finalists.
Winners from last month’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association Business Awards have become finalists in the Honour Business Award category.
The five categories cover the business and industry, media and entertainment, health and wellbeing, and community sectors, and also include a Community Hero Award presented by ACON.
Winners will be presented with gifts and prizes at a gala ceremony and cocktail party at The Ivy superclub on George St, Sydney on Thursday, September 30.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill told Sydney Star Observer the judges had been impressed with both the quality and variety of nominations.
“The judging panel noted selecting the finalists was a difficult process because the achievements and contributions of all the nominees were remarkable in their own way,” Parkhill said.
“However, the judges agreed that the finalists they selected exhibited a truly outstanding commitment to supporting the GLBT community and deserved to be recognised for their efforts.
“I congratulate all the finalists and look forward to them and other members of our community coming together to celebrate their achievements at the Honour awards ceremony at The Ivy on September 30.”
Parkhill said money raised through tickets sales and a silent auction on the night would help fund ACON’s vital work improving health for people across the GLBT community.
“While ACON gets a significant amount of funding from NSW Health, that money can only be spent on work we do in relation to HIV/AIDS,” he said.
“Our broader work in relation to GLBT health and wellbeing — such as alcohol and other drugs, lesbian health, anti-violence, mental health, ageing, community care and advocacy — is financed by one-off grants, fundraising activities and donations.
“To keep this important work going, we rely on the generosity of people and organisations in our community. By coming to the Honour Awards, community members, their friends and associates can celebrate the dynamic spirit of our community and, at the same time, raise money to help ACON build our community’s health and wellbeing.”
The Awards are being held in The Ivy’s Sun Room bar from 7pm. Tickets are $85 and include drinks and canapés.
info: Visit www.honourawards.com.au
AND THE NOMINEES ARE…
Business Award
Mike Gordon
Reece Farmilo
Vicki Harding and Jackie Braw
Dr Cody Hanish
James Forbes
Media/Arts/Entertainment Award
Trevor Ashley
Mark Alsop
Sydney Star Observer
This is Oz
Health and Wellbeing Award
David Allan
Robert Lee
Kate Munro
Team Sydney
Community Organisation Award
Bit Bent
The Red Rattler
Queer Screen
Harbour City Bears
Community Hero Award
Stuart O’Brien
Lex Watson and Sue Wills
Sekneh Hammoud-Beckett
Laurell Honey
