Lust for Life
My partner’s father is 75 years old, still works full time running his architecture firm and on weekends performs the odd marriage as a marriage celebrant. He is proficient on an iPad, iPhone and iTunes. He knows all there is to know about opera and design and can also often be found at the MCG supporting his team, Collingwood. He has what they call, a lust for life.
The wisdom that has come with his years has only fuelled his insatiable appetite for learning. He is an inspiring man, and as I spend a fair amount of time with him I am keenly aware of my trying to draw as much as I can from him in the hope that, I may too, live life like he does in my later years.
So, why am I talking about this, you may wonder? Well, it’s about our cover.
Performers Chuck Mallett, 86, and John Muirhead, 78, have lived life to its fullest and show no signs of slowing down. They have been together for over half a century, knocked about with the playwright Joe Orton, and worked with, ahem, Sir Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, among others.
However, it is not only the stories they tell which are extraordinary it is also about what can be gained from spending some time with our elders that is invaluable. Both Mallett and Muirhead chatted with our writer Michael Magnusson about their careers and their relationship and how they worked the two together. Among other pearls of wisdom, they say the secret to their lasting relationship is that they “never demanded anything of each other.” Now, that’s some sound advice.
About 13 years ago I first heard the term genderqueer. I remember there being a sense of relief among some of my friends who had adopted the term as for them, here was finally a label they felt comfortable with. The group Genderqueer Australia (GQA) is a great resource and support network for people who are genderqueer and gender questioning. I spoke with Lisa Sinclair from GQA about just what it is they do and what it is to be genderqueer.
A quick head’s up. Scott Brennan’s story on racism on online gay dating sites in last week’s issue garnered a lot of attention. So I thought it might actually be time to hear from the people that these comments are directed at. Stay tuned for next week’s issue when we present part two of this story and find out what people of Asian descent actually think about the culture of racism in the gay community.
Enjoy.
About the Author
Rachel Cook
Rachel Cook has worked in both the queer and mainstream media for over a decade. She wrote the syndicated column, ‘Who’s Afraid of Cheeky Biscuit’, and has written numerous articles and features for the queer press. She has also written for The Age and the ABC. Before becoming editor of Melbourne Community Voice, she was a producer for ABC radio. Between 2008 and 2012, Rachel was the editor of CHERRIE. In 2010 her book, A History of Queer Australia, was published and is currently in use in high schools across Australia.
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Comments (1)
Excuse me Rachel? The "culture of racism in the gay community"? That's rather presumptuous as long as reform rabbis decree queer Jews only marry other queer Jews and no one questions that.