ANNUAL REPORT 2008 NNEWEW MMARDIARDI GGRASRAS AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT 22008008 3 CONTENTS 2 14 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER SOL Y LUNA - MARDI GRAS’ 4 HARBOUR PARTY 15 FROM THE CHAIR 6 POOL PARTY 2008 16 MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS FAIR DAY 2008 8 18 SLEAZE BALL 2007 – ZIRKUS PARADE 2008 10 20 MARDI GRAS PARTY 2008 OUR PARTNERS BRAVE NEW WORLDS – A SELL OUT! 21 12 MEMBER SERVICES FESTIVAL 2008 22 VOLUNTEER WORKING GROUP 23 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL REPORT 26 TREASURERS’ REPORT 36 INCOME STATEMENT 29 DIRECTORS’ REPORT 37 BALANCE SHEET 33 AU DITOR’S 38 CASH FLOW STATEMENT INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION 38 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 34 INDEPENDENT AUDIT REPORT 38 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 35 DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2006 4 NNEWEW MMARDIARDI GGRASRAS AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT 22008008 NNEWEW MMARDIARDI GGRASRAS AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT 22008008 5 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN MAKING growing number of strategic partners and a culture of having fun, are great successes of recent years. THIS YEAR’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS. NEW MARDI GRAS IS As New Mardi Gras enters a new era, its challenges continue to be income diversifi cation and ensuring we are not overly A SMALL ORGANIZATION WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. WE CAN ONLY HOPE TO reliant on revenues from the parties, where we face stiff competition. We must also ensure we continue to evolve PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR MARDI GRAS TO TAKE PLACE. creatively, think diff erently, embrace change, remain relevant to our community and continue to be the premier advocacy platform for the many and diverse GLBTQ community What makes the event really come alive is the creativity, by donating to our bucket collectors on the day and by groups. enthusiasm and engagement of the local GLBTQ community. purchasing from our food and beverage stalls. So it was incredibly satisfying to see so many of you turn out The coming year brings a unique challenge for New Mardi We also greatly improved the fi nancial position of the to mark this very special milestone, whether as spectators or Gras. We have come along way in building confi dence and broader arts, cultural and sports festival. Our strategy to participants. creating a more viable fi nancial model. However after a very reduce the festival from a four week to a three week, semi- big year such as this one there is an inevitable feeling of ‘well, I am pleased to report a profi t of $483,650 for 2007-8. curated festival paid off . As did our focus on delivering what next?’ I do not believe Mardi Gras’ best years are behind This is a fantastic achievement on our previous fi nancial higher quality events through forging strategic partnerships it, but to forge into the future we will need to demonstrate year. As a percentage of revenue our profi t grew to 9.9% with key arts institutions and venues, and by investing in a new vision for the festival. We are still operating on the from 6.4% which is a great result. This is in large part due and producing shows such as Margaret Cho in Sydney model inherited from the old Mardi Gras organization in to an increased focus on strategic planning and operational and Melbourne. I am happy to report that we were able to many ways and it is undoubtedly time for us to look at fresh improvements, as well as our community showing their provide ACON with a $28,000 donation from Hats Off which ways to achieve our fundamental goals of promoting GLBTQ support for Mardi Gras and coming to so many of our events. we produced in partnership this year. We look forward to an rights and freedoms both here and further afi eld. Staff , contractors and working groups did an amazing job in ongoing successful relationship on this event. managing expense budgets, delivering savings and ensuring I would like to make a special mention of Gordon Wheatley Despite this broadening of our fi nancial base we continue to that we hit our overall targets. The result provides us with a and the small core team of staff that have returned season have a heavy reliance on revenue from party ticket sales. It is strong fi nancial basis for the coming year. after season, who without their hard work, we would not therefore of great signifi cance that our production capability be the success story we are. Also thanks to our long term As a member-based organization we do not chase profi t for continues to go from strength to strength. Our creative and partners and suppliers who continue to be so supportive its own sake. We exist to ensure the longevity and success technical skills were admirably showcased at the Sleaze and as enthusiastic about Mardi Gras as we are. Also to the of the jewel in our crown – the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Ball – Zirkus party last September. The huge achievement Board and the Working Group volunteers who never stop Gras Parade. This year’s Parade was the biggest, and for in selling out the post-parade Party is a key milestone for volunteering, and help me plan, organise and manage the many, the best in years. Over 150 fl oats and approximately the organization - as was securing Olivia Newton John to organization all year round, thank you for your support. 10,000 participants made their way up Oxford Street to the perform Xanadu! Another fi rst for New Mardi Gras was screaming throng of people lining the streets. This event producing the harbour party under the title Sol y Luna (sun continues to be a signifi cant expense to the organization and and moon). This is an event with a diffi cult recent history our goal is to work with government to help defray these and reduced numbers meant this event was unprofi table. costs and also look at other income generating strategies However, we believe that the high quality of the event from this event. provides a great basis for making this a successful event in Anna McInerney the future. We are very proud to be able to support the Gay Our other key event, which is an expense to New Mardi General Manager & Lesbian Rights Lobby with a donation of $15,000 from this Gras is Fair Day. However, this year we got considerably event. closer to achieving breakeven. A number of key decisions made this possible: outsourcing the bars to a professional In the last three years since joining Mardi Gras, I have seen bar operator, reducing some of the costs through earlier the organisation really come into its own. It has defi nitely got planning with suppliers, tweaking the layout of the park and its mojo back. Careful planning, listening to our members improved risk management. Fair Day is a key event and one and the community and doing our best to balance their which we do not want to lose from the calendar so we will desires with fi nancial reality, the growth in creativity and continue to work hard to ensure that it becomes fi nancially attracting amazing artists, performers and professionals into self-sustaining. To do this, we need the community’s support the organisation, stronger fi nancial and risk management, a 6 NNEWEW MMARDIARDI GGRASRAS AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT 22008008 NNEWEW MMARDIARDI GGRASRAS AANNUALNNUAL RREPORTEPORT 22008008 7 FROM THE FROM THE PREVIOUS CHAIR CURRENT CHAIR MARDI GRAS IS AN AMAZING THING. EACH YEAR SINCE 1978 MARDI GRAS HAS WOVEN IT SEEMS TO BE LOVED AND LOATHED IN EQUAL MEASURES. ITSELF INTO OUR LIVES AND MEMORIES. Dismissed by some as an embarrassing irrelevance, while But while the Parade might be the event that draws From its beginnings as a march which resulted in 53 arrests, We anticipated success entering this 30th year, themed supported by others who enjoy the camaraderie of volunteering international focus to Sydney it is the Festival which as the to the vibrant Festival of colour, energy, glamour, passion and “Brave New Worlds” and we have fi nished the season with a or simply the sense of excitement of ‘gay Christmas’ as we potential to prolong that focus on Sydney and to drive new diversity that it is today, Mardi Gras has always been about feeling of pride and accomplishment. But it is with caution hurtle towards the fi rst weekend in March and to the Parade, streams of revenue into the organisation. Over the last pride, defi ance, freedom and equality. that we now head towards the 31st. Now more than ever where, each year, we march for our own pride and visibility. couple of years, we’ve taken some small steps in producing our focus remains on prudent risk management and careful The sustainability and growth of Mardi Gras has however not our own festival events, the most successful being this planning for the next generation of Mardi Gras. As you can read in this year’s Annual Report, the 30th been constant. There have been some tough times over the year’s Mardi Gras funded world premiere of Margaret Cho’s anniversary has been a very successful year. The fi gures last 30 years, and it is testimony to the strength, determination, Among the many challenges in navigating any community new show ‘Beautiful’. The success of this event, plus the speak for themselves. For the last three years we’ve been cohesiveness and sheer hard work of the GLBTQ community organisation is the very delicate balance of fi scal relationships that Mardi Gras has developed with Sydney able to declare a healthy, and more importantly, growing that has led to the stability the Mardi Gras enjoys today, and the management, corporate and government involvement, Theatre and the Riverside Theatres in Parramatta bodes profi t.