17c起草社区

MIDSUMMA Festival director Tennille Moisel has stepped down from the helm after heading her first festival in the role earlier this year.

According to the organisation, Moisel communicated her intention to leave the festival 鈥� regarded as Australia’s second-largest LGBTI pride festival after Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 鈥� as a means to pursue other opportunities.

She said while she planned to undertake more corporate work, she loved working with Melbourne and Victoria’s聽LGBTI communityl.

鈥淢idsumma is an amazing event and festival, I鈥檝e always been passionate about it,鈥� she told the 17c起草社区.

鈥淚鈥檝e absolutely loved working with the community and getting to know everyone, it鈥檚 been amazing understanding the diverse community and working with so many different groups.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also been educational from a political and personal perspective.鈥�

https://twitter.com/midsumma/status/689970640904949764

This year鈥檚 Midsumma Festival was one of the most successful yet, with over聽100,000 people attending Carnival in Melbourne’s Alexandra Park聽鈥� where advocates called for .

Its聽Pride March event even saw Australia鈥檚 federal Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten,聽 in its 21-year-history.

Moisel said she still planned to do work in the local LGBTI sector.

鈥淚鈥檒l still be around, I鈥檓 talking to a couple of organisations about doing some stuff with them,鈥� she said.

鈥淏ut Midsumma鈥檚 still such an important event 鈥� I think it鈥檚 one of the most important things you can do as a member of the LGBTI community, going along to support a Midsumma event.

鈥淸It] does such a great job of bringing people together, and both Carnival and Pride march are the biggest gatherings of queer people in Melbourne.鈥�

Moisel has been involved in Midsumma for more than 10聽years in various roles such as an event producer, stall holder, and board member.

She became acting festival director in 2014, before being appointed as Midsumma鈥檚 festival director proper in the lead up to this year鈥檚 festival.

Midsumma chair John Caldwell said Moisel played a significant part in Midsumma鈥檚 journey.

鈥淧ersonally and on behalf of the board, I would like to acknowledge Tennille鈥檚 passion for the community and for Midsumma, her engagement and considerable achievements,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he festival has gone from strength to strength in recent years and Tennille has played a significant part in this journey, firstly on the board and then as festival director.

鈥淭ennille leaves us with our thanks and best wishes.鈥�