21 October 2014

DIVA 2014 - Celebrating the past - looking to the future



It’s time for the annual meeting of the tribe, high on glamour, back slapping and celebration of community. Yep it’s the 24th annual Drag Industry Variety Awards, DIVA.  It’s amazing to think when we first met at DCM nightclub in 1991 that today we would have a record to evoke the best of a drag industry that tells a wonderful and colourful story of Sydney’s gay life.

Enormous credit belongs to David Wilkins, Penny Clifford and Ian Jopson, who wanted to organise an event to celebrate Sydney's amazing drag queens, their work, and the many talents of the people who made up the local gay entertainment industry. They kicked off a community organisation that has existed because of the effort of many volunteer board members over the years, with support from numerous community venues, media and small business.
Ian Jopson    Penny Clifford    David Wilkins

 
Penny recently told me “I am very proud of being a part of a small group of hard working people that started DIVA in 1991 and that its legacy continues today. If there is one achievement in this community I’ve had in my life that I am proud of, it would be the DIVA Awards”.
As a community organisation DIVA has had its business highs and lows over the years; I was proud to be part of it all as a board member in the 00s, but prefer to recall DIVA history through the fabulous performers whose wonderful talent we’ve celebrated.