A Feast Festival Event
Last month, the Don Dunstan Foundation proudly partnered with the Feast Festival to present “The Valley Called Hope,” a reflective and moving event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of male homosexuality in South Australia.
A Night of Reflection and Music
The evening focused on the long, hard-won road to this landmark human rights reform, a legacy deeply aligned with Don Dunstan’s own progressive work.
Conversation: Our Executive Director, David Washington, hosted a powerful panel discussion. It featured the witty and daring activist and historian, Will Sergeant, one of Adelaide’s go-to knowledge sources for all things Queer history, respected local journalist Simon Royal, and a formidable woman with experience to share, former Minister and MLC Anne Levy. They all offered valuable insight into the stories and tribulations that led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in South Australia.
Performance: The reflection was beautifully underscored by an ensemble from the Adelaide Chamber Singers (ACS), who performed striking excerpts from the oratorio Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan (composed by Joe Twist, featuring soloist Mark Oates). This rare performance was a poignant reminder of the personal cost of the fight for equality.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, making it a meaningful contribution to the ongoing conversation around community, culture, and civil society.
Images from the event are available now on our social channels! (Courtesy of Feast Festival, photographer: @itsmissysnaps)
