Emerald Ball to celebrate 20 years of pride

By Kate Walters

May 21, 2025

GV Pride offers a broad range of events, resources, services and wellbeing and advocacy programs. Photo by Megan Fisher

Grab your ruby slippers and get ready to celebrate a major milestone for Goulburn Valley Pride.

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The organisation is celebrating 20 years of supporting and uplifting the LGBTIQA+ community in the Goulburn Valley.

To mark the occasion, GV Pride is inviting ‘friends of Dorothy’, and the entire community, to celebrate at The Emerald Ball on Saturday, May 31.

“GV Pride and this event is for LGBTIQA+ people and our supporters in our region and beyond,” GV Pride treasurer Damien Stevens-Todd said.

“If funds are an issue, then get in touch.

“We don’t want anyone to miss out. Especially our LGBTIQA+ First Nations mob, those living with a disability, culturally and linguistically diverse community.

“Or other vulnerable or marginalised individuals who are challenged by the cost-of-living crisis.”

Mr Stevens-Todd said people could also go to the group’s social media pages and website to enter a lottery for free tickets, sponsored by GV Pride, Carer Gateway and Pride in Ageing.

For those travelling for the occasion, Quest Shepparton Apartment Hotels is also offering a 10 per cent discount to those who mention the event.

GV Pride was established in 2005, hosting committee meetings around kitchen tables and hosting small coffee meet-ups.

Today, the organisation offers a broad range of events, resources, services and wellbeing and advocacy programs.

It was also recently recognised as a finalist in the Victorian Pride Awards for preventing social isolation.

The milestone Emerald Ball event is designed to celebrate all that the organisation has become.

The theme is a nod to the contributions The Wizard of Oz, Wicked and The Wiz have had on the LGBTIQA+ community and culture, including the use of the term ‘friend of Dorothy’ to refer to a gay individual during times when homosexuality was illegal or not accepted.

“There’s a connection to the campery, oppression, finding oneself and magic that these tales bring,” GV Pride vice-president Georgina Poort said.

The theme also acknowledges the experiences of many queer people in regional areas who seek a place, or people, to call home.

Roughly 75 per cent of tickets have already been sold, so interested community members are encouraged to get their tickets soon.

The event will take place from 6pm to midnight on Saturday, May 31 at the GV Hotel Function Centre at 221-223 High St, Shepparton.

Everyone 18 years and older is welcome and encouraged to ‘dress to impress’.

For more information, go to gvpride.org