Explorations Night
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Panel - Unearthing the Sapphic Archive
7pm
17th July
Kensington Town Hall
Australian women who lived and loved.
Join host Sita Sargeant, with Sylvia Martin and Danielle Scrimshaw as they unearth hidden sapphic histories. From women shaping Australian cities to queer love across time, discover how these writers bring our ancestors into the light and share their stories to todays readers.
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8:45pm
17th July
Kensington Town Hall
Researching Our Culture
Queer life through the lens of academics.
Relax into the evening as academics share insights into LGBTQIA+ storytelling, activism, and identity. Whether you're a scholar or a curious mind, this night offers a thought-provoking deep dive into the research shaping our understanding of queer experiences
Hosted by Damien O'Meara, with Dr Ebony Muller, Sam Stiegler, Geraldine Fela, and Meghan Aponte.
Meet the presenters
Amy Middleton
Host
Amy Middleton is a Melbourne-based journalist and writer, who founded Archer Magazine, Australia’s first journal of sexual diversity, in 2013.
Mon Schafter
Mon Schafter is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, presenter and producer, and the founding editor of ABCQueer. Mon created the ABC's cross-generational series OK Boomer, OK Zoomer, and in 2020 was named one of Australia's Outstanding 50 LGBTQI+ Leaders in the Out50 report.
Dean Arcuri
Dean Arcuri is an entertainer, publisher, photographer, community darling and all-around busy homosexual. He has performed around the country as a cabaret comedian and the fabulously furry Frock Hudson. He is also the owner of QNews.
Patrick Lenton
Patrick Lenton is a writer, journalist, and author of In Spite of You and Sexy Tales of Paleontology. The digital editor at Star Observer and founder of Nonsense, his award-finalist work spans fiction, comedy, and queer culture media commentary.
Sita Sargeant
Host
Sita Sargeant is a tour guide, feminist, and history nerd promoting gender equality through tourism. She founded She Shapes History, a social enterprise offering entertaining and engaging historical walking tours in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Sylvia Martin
Sylvia Martin is a queer biographer who has written five books about Australian women who today might be considered queer. They include artists, poets, political activists and librarians.
Danielle Scrimshaw
Danielle Scrimshaw is a writer and amateur bird watcher from the western suburbs of Melbourne. Her nonfiction debut, She and Her Pretty Friend, was published by Ultimo Press in 2023.
Damien O'Meara
Host
Damien O’Meara (he/him) is a Lecturer at RMIT focusing on communication, brand and visibility in creative industries. He examines how creative workers and media institutions include underrepresented communities onscreen.
Dr Ebony Muller
Dr Ebony Muller is an artist-academic of Sri Lankan, Greek and Albanian descent investigating dance improvisation, feminist care ethics, and critical disability embodiments from a queer, trans and racialised lens.
Sam Stiegler
Sam Stiegler is a writer and research currently living in Naarm. His work explore the ways queer and trans communities learn about sexuality and gender and the ethics of doing research within our communities.
Geraldine Fela
Geraldine Fela is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University. Her research and teaching traverses histories of gender and sexuality, labour, social movements and medicine.
Meghan Aponte
Meghan Aponte is a writer and researcher whose work explores queer history, literature, and identity. A contributor to the Queer Goldfields project, examining overlooked LGBTQ+ stories within regional Victoria.
Event details
Evening schedule
5:15pm - Come on in!
5:45pm - Panel - Queer Media
6:45pm - Bar break
7:00pm - Panel - Unearthing the Sapphic Archive
8:00pm - Bar & snack break
8:45pm - Researching Our Culture
9:45pm - Formalities end
10:15pm - See you tomorrow!
Food & Drink
This event will have a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (card only). Light snacks will be available at the bar and the surrounding area has a wonderful range of dinner options.
Tickets
All tickets are equal and we encourage you to pay-as-you-can. Free tickets are available to anyone from the community, no questions asked - email hello@q-lit.com.au to secure a free ticket.
Access
The Auslan ticket is available to anyone who requires Auslan interpretation - selecting this ticket will alert our team to the need for an interpreter and this service will be arranged for the event.
This venue is wheelchair accessible, has gender neutral bathrooms, and a quiet space will be available throughout the event.
There will be friendly Q-Lit volunteers throughout the event who can guide you, be someone to chat to, or introduce you to others in the community.
Travel
Nearest train station - Newmarket
Nearest tram stop - Stop 26 Newmarket Plaza/Racecourse Rd
Nearest parking - Newmarket Plaza
Video & Photography
Photos and video of the event may be used on socials and in advertising, if you do not wish for your image to be used please let someone from our team know.