Community unites for third Rainbow Coffs Harbour Pride Walk

RAINBOW Coffs Harbour (RCH) have announced their popular Rainbow Pride Walk event is going ahead this year, with another local organisation stepping in to host them.

Robyn Dever, Director and one of the original co-founders of RCH, spoke with News Of The Area about the updates.

“As an unincorporated community group, we lack the resources to cover all the legal requirements of holding a large outdoor event such as the Rainbow Pride Walk,” she said.

“As it has grown, so too has the need to obtain permits and insurance to allow it to go ahead in a public area.

“We are delighted that Live Theatre Inc. approached us and confirmed they are willing to host the event so the Walk can go ahead.”

In its third year, the Walk is one of the main events on the RCH calendar.

Participants grew from around 90 people in the first year to 120 in the second year and Robyn’s dream for the event is that it will continue to grow in attendee numbers, and awareness and reach.

Describing her motivation for co-founding RCH in 2014 she said: “When we first moved to the area we looked into the LGBTQIA+ scene and what was happening.

“There were a bunch of small groups doing things but there wasn’t really a central organiser or group bringing everyone together.”

So, she joined forces with three others to get a regional group off the ground.

“In a regional area, visibility really matters.

“RCH is about showing people they’re not alone, building community, and creating a space where everyone feels safe and accepted.

“We started off by having some dinners and then lost some momentum during COVID, and three of the founding members left, but now it’s picking back up again.”

While she is proud of how far things have come, she knows there is still a lot of work ahead to keep a regional LGBTQIA+ community group strong, supported, and visible.

This includes getting the group incorporated so they can host their own events and apply for grant funding.

For Robyn, it’s also about the legacy of acting now to help future generations.

“There are still some staggering mental health stats in regional areas. If we can make that a little easier for the next generation, I want to do that.”

This year they are planning to get the word out to people from across the Coffs, Bellingen and Nambucca regions, and further north.

“We want it to be a big regional event that people are drawn to, akin to our very own Mardi Gras Parade.”

Emma Watson, President of the not-for-profit production company Live Theatre, attended the first two Walks.

“The first walk, being the inaugural year, you did have that feeling of being part of a change,” she said.

“The second walk was bigger, and we saw so many new faces as it had expanded to attract people from further afield.

“It really is a unique event.”

Ms Watson has only recently finalised her own organisation’s incorporation and understands the amount of work that goes into the administration of community groups and the hosting of large events.

“I am just lucky to be in a position where we can help out.

“Robyn works so hard and does an amazing job of staying true to the purpose of diversity and inclusion, which is something we should all be doing.”

The event will be held at the Jetty Foreshore on Saturday 27 June from 11am, with the exact location currently being finalised.

A picnic will be held after the walk for those wishing to socialise and enjoy the atmosphere.

People are encouraged to dress up in rainbow colours, or simply wear whatever they feel comfortable in.

“Everyone is welcome to walk with us, including friends, family, allies and the general public,” said Robyn.

Anyone interested in being kept up to date on the Rainbow Pride Walk and other RCH events can join their Facebook group Rainbow Coffs Harbour or email rainbowcoffsharbour@yahoo.com.

By Jessica MILLER