2011 saw its fair share of natural disasters, political unrest and economic uncertainty but, for me, it was a pretty good year  (as years go).

I worked closely with the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council which was tasked with recommending to the government how to implement changes identified by the Australian Human Rights Commission.  In early December I saw a confidential draft of the Council’s report to government and can say that I am pleased with the recommendations.  The ball will be in the government’s court now to legislate to protect the human rights of trans people.

At the national level (and quite out of the blue) the Federal Government announced a new policy for the issuing of passports to members of the sex and gender diverse communities.  Apart from no longer requiring a person to undergo surgery in order for their gender to be recognised officially, much of the red tape was done away with.  And I am now the proud possessor of an Australian Passport.

It was the year I decided to finally retire from paid employment.  My last working day was 20 December and at my farewell, our Director has some very nice words to say about me and made it clear that if I should ever change my mind, a job would be available to me at the University.

It was the year I turned 60.  I arranged a big party for family and friends and it was a splendid affair if I do say so myself.  A week before the party, M & I took me to Material Pleasures, an op shop that stocks and sells some pretty classy labels.  I bought a couple of dresses, some linen pants, a top and a long skirt.  On the day of the party I went over to BFF’s house where her daughter did my makeup and she did my hair and nails.  I think I brushed up pretty well.

And it was the year I lost over 14kg.  In August my doctor read me the riot act concerning my weight and lack of exercise.  I have taken to walking like a duck to water and am happy to say I have dropped a couple of dress sizes.  I can wear clothes I thought I would never wear again.  My BMI has gone from “overweight” (approaching “obesity”) to “healthy”.

At the start of the year I saw “Black Swan” at the movies and finished the year by seeing “The Skin I Live In”.  I could watch Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya all day!  Gina over at Skip the Makeup has an excellent review.

I expect 2012 to have more natural disasters, more political unrest and more economic upheaval.

But I’m planning to have a great year and am looking forward to the birth of my 7th grandchild.

G gave a wonderful talk (which should be up on Youtube in a few days) and the Gay and Lesbian Qwire sang beautifully.

As was the case last year, small plants were handed out to be planted in public spaces in honour of the trans men and trans women who lost their lives during the last 12 months because of transphobia.  (There’s one such plant thriving outside the ACT’s Legislative Assembly Building.)

In other news, I have now lost 12 kg and am happy to say I can  now wear clothes that I thought I would never wear again.  A couple more kilos and I’ll stop with the weight loss and concentrate on weight maintenance.

Lots of socialising coming up.The Denouement Dinner with the College of Law, the Legal Workshop’s Xmas party, my work farewell (retiring at age 60 to pursue a life of leisure) and my 60th Birthday Party in 4 weeks time!  Not to mention Xmas Eve dinner here in Canberra and the annual family get-together in Sydney on Xmas day followed by a few days down at Jervis Bay with my sister.

And come next May, grandchild number 7 should make his/her entrance into the world.

UPDATE

Canberra’s TDOR Video now available on Youtube

I travelled to Canberra from Sydney by plane and it was, indeed, my very first plane trip.  It was in a Fokker Friendship and I thoroughly enjoyed the flight.

On arrival in Canberra I bumped into John Gorton (deposed as Prime Minister earlier that year) and his assistant, Ainsley Gotto, as I waited to collect my luggage.  I was then driven in a long black “C” plated car to my new residence, Lawley House.

Lawley House was a Commonwealth Hostel which housed the influx of public servants arriving in Canberra until they could find a house to live in.  It cost me $50 per fortnight to live there (I was earning $80 a fortnight) and that provided me with a room (cleaned daily by a maid), and three meals a day.

After I unpacked on that Sunday afternoon, I sat in my room and thought “Shit, what have I done”.  I was in a strange city, and about to start work in a field I had no knowledge of.   (The Commonwealth Public Service was desperate for programmers and I was selected on the basis of an IQ test.)

I thought I would learn all I could about computers and after a couple of years return to Sydney.  Little did I know that ten years later I would be married with 3 beautiful children and a mortgage and that I would have moved rapidly up the ranks at work to be a project manager.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

I left the public service at the age of 45 and had no financial need to ever work again.  I am now a woman approaching 60 with six delightful young grandchildren and am about to retire from my part-time job at the national university.

I love my life and would never have dared to imagine all those years ago that it would turn out so well.

Postscript:

I still love flying but I detest airlines and airports.

The building that was Lawley House is now the Australian Federal Police’s Training College in Brisbane Avenue.

The High Court found in favour of the transmen.

Until this week, to get a passport with my correct gender on it, I had to get statutory declarations from TWO doctors certifying that I have had gender reassignment surgery. I could then have my birth certificate changed to show I was Female and only then would the Department of Foreign Affairs issue me with a passport showing my gender correctly.

This was an overly bureaucratic process and clearly favoured those like me privileged enough to have the finances and good health to undergo the surgery.  It was bad law which was identified as such by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Well, this week all that changed.  No more is there a need to change a birth certificate.  No more is there a need for statutory declarations from two doctors.

At my next visit to my doctor, I will ask for a letter from her certifying that I have undertaken treatment to change from living as male to living as female.

And then I’ll get my first passport, just in time for my 60th birthday.

Meanwhile, I’m now averaging over 10,000 step per day and the kilos are starting to drop away.  All good.

Well, since then:

• I have bought a pedometer to keep track of steps throughout the day;
•  I’ve started walking to the local shops rather than driving whenever I need to buy a small number of items;
• I go for a 1 hr walk several times a week;
• I have a quick walk during my lunch hour when I’m at work; and
• I’ve acquired a bicycle and am just getting used to riding a bike with gears.

That’s so unlike me.

And I’ve further improved my diet.  I now have fruit and nuts for snacks rather than cheese biscuits and I have been using more fresh vegetables in my cooking.

I know it’s pathetic – this deep craving of mine for approval.

But do you know what.  I actually enjoy my walks.

Last weekend I had a couple of nights out where I found myself pretty much surrounded by strangers.  On Friday night I went to a local club where I had gone before with an old friend from the Democrats, expecting to meet her again.  Only when I got there, another of her friends told me that she wouldn’t be able to get to the club that night because of carer’s duties.  So I found myself with friends of a friend.  And I had quite a good time.

On Saturday night, another friend from my Dem days was in town and had invited a number of her friends to celebrate a significant birthday with her.  Again, I found myself surrounded by strangers as the other people attending were connected with her work or family.  And once more I had a really good time.

On Sunday I visited BFF and we caught up on all the gossip, cooked some dinner and watched a bit of telly.

And now for the poke.

Every 12 weeks I need to see a doctor in order to get a new prescription for my little blue pills.  I’ve been going to the same medical practice for close to 20 years now and it has changed quite a lot.  My original doctor there was murdered back in 2006.  Then a wonderful doctor there saw me through my transition to GRS and beyond before she went on a sabbatical.  Since then, I just ask for an appointment with whichever doctor is available.

So on Wednesday morning I went to see a doctor.  It’s bad enough when I have to pay over a large chunk of my hard-earned cash to spend a few minutes with a doctor who just pushes a few keys on her computer, prints out a prescription and then signs it.  But when she leans over and pokes my jelly belly and gives me a lecture on losing weight, it’s a bit much.  And then she made me stand on the dreaded scales! UGH

On Wednesday night I went to a talk at the University where the recent “Slutwalk” event was discussed and its role with respect to the annual “Reclaim the Night” rallies was questioned.  A really interesting discussion was had.  Many, myself included, found the use of the term “slut” to be problematic but the consensus was that both events are a response to men telling women how to behave to avoid  being raped.  There is room for both events (and more) with perhaps men telling men to stop raping.

I was invited to sit in on the first part of  the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council’s meeting last Thursday to consider its response to the ACT Government’s request for advice on implementing trans law reform.  I can’t comment on what happened at the meeting but I can  say that I’m optimistic that the views of Canberra’s trans community will be passed on to the government.  And I have to say that I am impressed with the number of powerful, non-trans people in this city who support our rights.

On Friday I got a text message from one of my daughters saying that she was meeting her sister for a chocolate fix at the Mall and inviting me to attend.  So at lunchtime I found myself with 2 of my daughters and 4 of my grandkids having a chocolate overdose.  While there, my youngest daughter said that she and her other sister had been discussing ways in which they could help the trans community and thought perhaps they could help by talking to people who are having trouble coming to terms with having a trans parent.  Have I said how proud I am of my daughters lately.  They are the best!

I joined a political party.

A party which believed that we live in a society not in an economy.

A party that believed in the dignity of all humans.

A party which opposed the use of violence.

A party which saw the dangers of global warming and had policies to do something about it.

Sadly, the party is all but defunct now.

When I joined, we had 9 senators in the Federal Parliament. Eight years later there were none.

During my time in the party, I did volunteer work in the National Office, did letterboxing, handed out how-to-vote cards at numerous elections, was policy co-ordinator for our branch of the party, was National Membership Officer, was a Senate Candidate, was on staff to a couple of Senators and was a part-time employee of the party.

Of course I was extremely sad when the last of our senators left the Parliament and our office in Canberra closed.

But joining the party was one of the best things I have ever done.  During my time there I have formed lasting friendships.  I never had close friendships before.  I was guarded and built walls around me to ensure no-one got close.

I have friends now with whom I can discuss anything.  And that is a beautiful gift.

Yesterday’s speaker was Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens.  The place was packed to the rafters but I got there early enough to get a good seat.

I vote Green at the moment although I don’t agree with all their policies.  They are currently the only party willing to act in a meaningful way to address the issue of climate change.  As a grandmother this is extremely important to me – I want my grandkids to have a reasonable future.  They are the only party willing to advance social justice issues.  They are the only party who wants to see democracy work.

BBF was not able to come because she was out doing her charity work (she’s a saint) and M was on a work junket in Canada so I went alone.  I found myself sitting next to a woman about my age. We chatted.  She came to Canberra around the same time as me (forty years ago),  raised her family here (hers are now interstate while mine are still close), is not happy with the rampant development which is destroying the “bush capital” (amen to that).  Of course, at an event like this it is most likely that you’ll find yourself among kindred spirits.

One question put to Senator Brown concerned how to stay optimistic.  He gave a beautiful response, pointing out that we need to treat ourselves kindly,  help others who appear to be struggling and accept that change will not happen overnight.  We also have to exercise our choice.  Optimisim or pessimism is a choice.  Always choose optimism.

The Gender Reassignment Board turned down their request.

The two men then appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal which upheld their appeal and ordered that the recognition certificates be issued recognising them as males.

The Western Australian Government then appealed to the Supreme Court of WA.  There, two of the three judges upheld the appeal which meant that the original refusal by the Gender Reassignment Board was valid.

Our two intrepid men then appealed to the High Court of Australia.

The High Court heard the appeal yesterday.  The decision has been reserved.

(Background Documents)

Meanwhile, submissions to the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council on transgender law reform have closed.

I am hopeful that the government of the ACT will be advised to drop the requirement for surgery in order to have a birth certificate changed and that the government will actually change the law.