| Stars shine at Aurora |
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In a performance reminiscent of the Marlene Dietrich in Morocco, the All Saints star took to the stage dressed in a black tuxedo pantsuit, singing a sultry acoustic rendition of ‘Sweet Tranvestite’, entertaining guests such as Sydney Mayor Clover Moore and popular broadcaster, Ita Buttrose. The event, hosted by registered charity The Aurora Group, raised more than $60,000 through tickets sales, raffles and a series of auctions. A live auction of a dinner for two with Senator Penny Wong, Australia’s first openly-lesbian cabinet minister, fetched $15,000, while a silent auction of a framed photograph of gay diver Matthew Mitcham by SX photographer Myles Formby and a signed pair of his swimmers was sold for $1000. The funds raised will go towards helping organisations such as Twenty10, the NSW Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service, and projects like the Lesbian & Gay Anti-Violence Project and youth support GLYSSN. Alex Sosnov, Aurora Group Chairperson, said she was thrilled at event’s outcome, hailing it “a great celebration and a great fundraiser”. “We raised over $60,000 on the night from the generosity of our supporters, which will allow us to continue supporting important work in our community - a huge thank you to everyone involved,” she said. Also in attendance at the gala dinner, which this year took on the theme ‘Hollywoodland’, was Brendan Thomas, director of the NSW Attorney-General’s Crime Prevention Program; Neil Armfield, Belvoir’s Artistic Director and the evening’s keynote speaker; and actress Maria Venuti. And joining them were as a host of gay Sydney’s leading figures such as ACON President Mark Orr, New Mardi Gras Chair David Imrie, BGF CEO Bev Lange, and the City of Sydney’s gay councillors, Phillip Black and Shayne Mallard. The evening’s program also featured hosts Bob Downe and Nell Schofield; musical theatre performers Peter Cousens and Trisha Crowe; and Jeremy Brennan and Mitchell Butel, whose camp duet of ‘Up Where We Belong’, dressed in full naval dress uniforms, garnered rapturous applause. The annual dinner is part of a series of fundraising events held throughout the year by The Aurora Group. Founded in 1999, the volunteer-run organisation raised over $80,000 in 2007. The next Aurora event will be its annual ‘Plucked’ Dinner featuring renowned author Augusten Burroughs on August 25 at award-winning restaurant, Bilson’s. For details, go to www.auroragroup.com.au. Photo: PetezImagez.com
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Less than six weeks after she was attacked, a radiant Virginia Gay dazzled onstage Saturday night in front of hundreds of
politicians, celebrities, media personalities and socialites at the
annual Aurora Dinner at Paddington Town Hall.
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