Last month OUTinPerth got to meet one of our communities most senior members, the lovely Velma, who was celebrating her 90th birthday with friends.
On her 90th birthday, Velma celebrated in the company of good friends. A newly welcomed member of GRAI, an LGBTIQ community group for older persons, Velma held her nonagenarian birthday at the Gosnells Hotel, sharing tales of a life lived out and proud in a time that many could not even imagine.
Beaming and warm, Velma told of her numerous caravan journeys around Australia – having driven from coast to coast many times over the years. She quietly remembers old travelling companions and how the sights have changed as Australia has grown and evolved into the 21st century.
Born and raised in Subiaco, Velma is a West Aussie girl through and through. Once considered an outer suburb, Subiaco now rests comfortably on the rim of greater Perth. At the head of the table, Velma is prompted by her companions to tell stories of her old rumpus room and her very special bar.
Once positioned In front of Perth’s Goldsbrough Mort & Company Stock & Station Agents, the Western Australian Jarrah bar has been around approximately as long as Velma. Once in the possession of Mr Richard Goldsborough, the bar found its way to Perth in the early 1900’s, where it lived a long and useful life as the front counter at Mr Goldsborough’s Perth offices on the corner of St Georges Terrace and William Street.
As the result of a merger in 1962, the building was sold and the bar put up for auction as a fixture.
After careful restoration, the bar found a new home with Velma. Replete with foot-rails and a fridge – the bar became the highlight of Velma’s rumpus room, a hub for gay and lesbian parties in the ‘60s.
Back when there were no openly gay pubs, bars or clubs, Velma’s home hosted many a wild party back in the swinging sixties.
Over 50 years later, Velma continues to celebrate heartily with her community – her sisters and brothers in the LGBTIQ community. Velma was visibly touched by the compassion of those who had come to celebrate her birthday, just as her guests spoke of the great joy Velma had brought to GRAI since she joined just a few short months ago.
GRAI is a Western Australian community-based group with a mission to create a responsive and inclusive mature age environment that promotes and supports a quality life for older and ageing people of diverse sexualities and gender identities. For further information visit grai.org.au
