Keaton Howe has been volunteering in some capacity for most of his life. He has spent a lot of time involved in community theatre and disability work and three years ago he joined the Goldfields Pride committee shortly after arriving in Kalgoorlie and became its Chair just over a year ago. 

When first moving to the Goldfields for work from Perth, Keaton was unsure how welcoming his new home would be or what to expect from the remote regional mining town, particularly how different things might be for a member of the queer community coming from a much larger urban location.

“I think getting involved in volunteering is one of the quickest ways to meet new people and get to know your community… I had a little trepidation moving to the Goldfields… I didn’t know if there was a Pride here. Would I be ‘the only gay in the village’? But there is actually a large community here, doing lots of things all over. I’d barely been in town a month when a friend ‘dragged’ me along to the AGM (Annual General Meeting) for Goldfields Pride. I thought it would be a good way to meet some new local people, so I joined the committee… three years later, and now I’m the Chair.”

Queer people are represented in
regional towns more than some people might think. Pride is really important for that… to connect people and provide that visible representation. .

Goldfields Pride is an LGBTQIA+ and allies volunteer, not-for-profit community group that formed around four years ago and relies solely on sponsorship, donations, and volunteers. Its purpose is to promote health and wellbeing of Goldfields residents who identify as queer and help strengthen a safe and open community where people are free to express themselves and feel supported to do so. It also provides a social catch-up where people can be themselves, connect with others, and relax. Pride volunteers are not only members of the queer community, but also allies, and the group very much would like people to know that everyone is welcome at Goldfields Pride.

  “Volunteering is something that gives a sense of purpose. It also enables organisations like Pride to be able to run. Pride is solely volunteer-based. Without the vollies, we couldn’t do what we want to do, and that’s provide that support. Without volunteers Goldfields Pride wouldn’t exist here, and we wouldn’t have the things that Pride does.”

The group has around 10-15 regular members with no fees, no formal membership database and no paperwork other than a simple online sign up form to share information and promote the group’s social media channels. Through its volunteers (both queer and allies) Pride provides

• LGBTQIA+ training and education to businesses and other organisations
• visibility at local events in the communityPride Festival (scheduled for 2026), and
• a monthly catch up, formerly known as Queers and Beers, recently updated to Q and A (Queers and Allies) to reaffirm their inclusivity and invitation to the broader community .

Pride also works hand in hand with several other groups and service providers doing work in this space.

Like anywhere, there are some still some challenges and stigmas that exist in everyday life in the community, which makes the work Goldfields Pride and its volunteers do even more important, not only for what they do here in the Goldfields, but by being able to connect people across the state.

“It can be a little bit different regionally to Perth, but queer people are represented in regional towns more than some people might think. Pride is really important for that… to connect people and provide that visible representation. People can reach out to us. Contact us online. Let us know if you’d like to be involved. We sometimes get messages from people who are coming to town for the weekend and want to know if there’s anything they can tag along to socially. We’re connected with groups across the state, including with Esperance Pride and Albany Pride… even have friends in Carnarvon.”

For Keaton, volunteering is not only a good way to get involved, meet new people, and make friends in a new community, but to advocate together for equality and inclusiveness for all, and be part of a welcoming and supportive social group as well. Volunteering, whatever form it takes, creates a sense of purpose and can foster a rewarding sense of community and pride.

Goldfields Pride website: https://www.goldfieldspride.org.au/

Interview by Sarah-Jayne Eeles