The city’s long-running bear social group, VicBears, marked its 30th anniversary in a lively gathering at The Laird, where the beer garden brimmed with flannel shirts, beards and unmistakable camaraderie. Organisers filled the venue with archival photos, videos and memorabilia that charted the club’s journey from modest beginnings to a well-known corner of the wider LGBTQI+ scene. In comments from the night, the group’s president, Neil Harvey, described himself as moved by the turnout, emphasising how important it was to see both long-standing members and newcomers sharing memories under one roof.
The atmosphere combined celebration with reflection: music and laughter mixed with personal recollections of how the club created space for men who hadn’t always found welcome elsewhere. The event highlighted the role of volunteers and past committees in building the organisation’s profile and impact. Displays around the room reminded guests that Melbourne Oz Bears and early email list gatherings were the first threads in what became a broader network, while the current committee used the night to toast the club’s sustained community work.
Celebration at a familiar venue
The Laird has become synonymous with the group, and the venue’s atmosphere suited both the nostalgic and the festive elements of the evening. The organisers arranged photographs and home videos so attendees could trace the visual history of the club, and a programme of short speeches punctuated the night. As people mingled in the beer garden, conversations ranged from the earliest Den night meetups to recent fundraising efforts for LGBTQI+ charities. The evening made clear that routines like regular Den nights and socials are more than tradition; they are the glue that keeps the bear community connected across generations.
Members travelling from regional areas and beyond described how easy it is to find a sense of belonging at these gatherings. The event also showcased the tangible ways the group has given back: across its history, VicBears has donated thousands to organisations supporting the broader queer community, an achievement attendees acknowledged during toasts and tributes. Co-owner of the venue, Brett Lashum, praised the club’s visible presence and paid tribute to all who have volunteered, saying the community’s longevity is built on that steady willingness to help.
From an email list to an enduring identity
The story the founders told that night focused on evolution and intention. One of the original organisers, Roy Byrnes, recounted how the organisation began as Melbourne Oz Bears, an informal group that used an email list to arrange meetups. Those first gatherings were small and centred on a regular pub get-together; within months the group outgrew its initial room and relocated Den nights to a larger bar to accommodate growing attendance. That shift also opened the door to visitors from interstate and regional towns, transforming the meetups into a broader social hub.
Byrnes explained why the club later adopted the VicBears name while still recognising the earlier years as part of the story: the identity changed to reflect a wider ambition, but the founding period remained central to the group’s heritage. He spoke of serving as president and contributing on committees for many years, and of watching successive organisers expand the club’s reach. Those memories were framed not only by logistics and growth but by personal accounts from members who say the group offered a lifeline—a place where belonging was found and friendships began.
Legacy, remembrance and future events
Speakers took a moment to remember members no longer with the community, acknowledging their lasting influence on the club’s culture. The evening also pointed to upcoming activities, with Southern Hibernation noted as a major highlight on the regional calendar; organisers promoted the festival’s return, scheduled for June 6 – 14, and encouraged members to get involved. The anniversary was thus part ceremony, part springboard: it celebrated what has been built while energising the group for another era of events, outreach and volunteer-led programmes.
Community voices and gratitude
Throughout the night, a recurring theme was gratitude: to past committees, to volunteers who asked “What can I do?” and to the many members who have made the club their social home. The event’s hosts and speakers asked attendees to keep supporting the networks that sustain the group, underlining that VicBears is more than a set of events—it is an enduring social lifeline for men who sometimes struggle to find community elsewhere. For those seeking further coverage of local LGBTIQA+ community news and events, publications such as qnews.com.au continue to carry stories about groups like VicBears and their ongoing work.