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Community mourns its loss

p3_news_pic_giles-250.jpgMelbourne’s LGBT community this week mourned the loss of Neville Graham Giles (pictured in 2007), who passed away on Wednesday August 13, aged 65.

Giles, who was raised in the state’s care and later worked as a labourer, was best known in the community as a bouncer at the St Kilda venue Mandate during the 1980s.

“I was there from the beginning. It was great; a real men’s cruising bar,” he said in an interview with now defunct gay men’s magazine Campaign.

In the same interview, he described how proud he was to be a gay man working the door of a gay venue.

“A lot of bouncers don’t like gays. Who needs it? Gay bouncers for gay venues, there’s enough of us out here. When I was at Mandate I never roughed anyone up. I like looking after people.”

A service in his memory was held at Le Pine Funerals, St Kilda, on Monday August 18.

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written by boom boom..... , August 22, 2008

r.i.p.......you big dag....
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written by Trevor , August 22, 2008

Well Nev, rest in peace mate you have your wings for your journey into the heaven.

I remember going to Mandate. I walked to the door on my first night, Neville standing there. We looked each other in the eyes and I said to Neville you're a gentle giant. He gave me a grin and this funny look, we spoke out the front for a while and in the conversation about wards he went quiet after 10 minutes or so he said you will be alright mate and on each of the times I went there he saw me standing in line, came up, said follow me. In I went, Neville came up and we had a talk - I still remember.

Have a good rest, Nev - your freind ex wardie and fellow Forgotten Australians (wingsforsurvivors). Safe journey.
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written by Garry Needham , August 21, 2008

I met Neville at Mandate and knew him slightly. While working at Mandate one night, I was asked to by management to separate and escort him and a patron that he was trying escort himself, when he threw a punch in defence at the patron, who he missed and got me instead. He graciously then apologized and continued to escort the patron out of the venue, he then returned and apologized again. Will be missed by many and not by some. Good travels Nev.

Garry Needham

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written by anonymous , August 21, 2008

I'm told by my spies at the Prince of Wales that Neville, that savage Trojan
and stalwart of gay disco security of the 70's and 80's, is expected to die
tonight in Melbourne. I, like many, was terrified of him and his mighty,
rum-fueled roars that would launch like a Whitman-esque "YAWP" into the
Melbourne night sky. When he found out that I was with bug, his attitude
changed from indifference to a monstrous sort of gentleness and concern, all
ham-fisted and embarrassing, but lovely at the same time, as was his way
with all we who fell between the cracks as he saw it. I loved him, in a
way, and would like nothing more than to be with him on this, his most
dreadful of all nights, and will miss him and remember him always.

I can remember my first tentative, timid footfalls up the stairs of Mandate
in 1982 when Neville was the door bitch, but back in those days he had to
deal with wogs from St. Albans arriving after midnight in a bitched-up
Falcon Charger, armed to the teeth with 4x2's intent upon causing serious
damage to the pooftas. More than once, he had the shit beaten out of him,
but none ever passed, and we little poofs danced the night away oblivious to
his bravery, his courage, and his sense of duty. I wish above all I had the
chance to tell him, tonight of all nights, how much I admire and appreciate
his service to we who probably didn't deserve him. If, by some miracle, he
survives tonight, would you find him for me and pass him the sentiment?
It's an odd thing to ask, but I know no other I would trust with the task,
and certainly no other who's capable of delivering it in the manner I would
approve of.
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