The annual Melbourne Green Left Comedy Debate held in Brunswick Town Hall on June 16 started off on a sad note with a tribute in words and song to Eurydice Dixon, a young woman comedian who was murdered on her way home from a gig on June 12.
Fellow comedian, and friend of Dixon, Sharon Andrews gave a moving memorial and another friend Pradeepa Timmermans performed a song. A strong sense of solidarity rippled through the hall.
Then comedians Rod Qantock, Gabe Hogan, Sean Bedlam, Morven Smith, Pauine Fartson (Helchild), Frank Hampster and Duff, took on the challenge of changing the tone and making the crowd laugh.
They had an abundance of material to work with from the Twitter-trigger happy Donald Trump and they went to town with a debate around the question: Will Trump tweet us into oblivion?This was the 18th Melbourne Green Left Comedy Debate and it was ably moderated by veteran comedian Quantock, who helped kick off what has become a Melbourne comedy tradition. Numerous comedians have volunteered their talents in this annual fund raiser for Green Left Weekly. Another performer was Omar Pervaiz, a musician formerly from Pakistan, also entertained the crowd.
Karen Fletcher, the MC, told Green Left Weekly: "Eurydice's murder left us numb with sadness and anger. But it is also another painful spur to action to change the world and banish misogyny and this cruel system that perpetuates hate. We will continue to fight, to sing, to laugh and to stand together in solidarity."
