Margie Fischer

Margaret Charlotte Fisher, known as Margie Fischer, is a Jewish Australian artist and LGBTIQA+ advocate based in Adelaide, South Australia. She was a co-founder and artistic director of Vitalstatistix and Feast Festival, and received an order of Australia for "significant service to the festival sector, and to the LGBTIQ community". [1]

Early life

Fischers parents were Austrian Jewish refugees who survived the Holocaust, lived in Shanghai and migrated to Australia in 1950's. Some of her family had died in concentration camps. Fischer was born in Sydney, Australia.[2] She describes herself and her family as "progressive" Jews, and spoke Yiddish and Austrian at home.[3] Her brother died at 27 years old when Fisher was 27. Fisher moved in Adelaide in the early 1980s where she met her partner Ros Bent.[2]

Vitalstatistix

Fischer was also co-founder of National Women's Theatre Company, Vitalstatistix, with Roxxy Bent, Ollie Black. The organization is based in the heritage listed Waterside Workers Hall, and creates work from a feminist perspective and supporting women artists.[4]

Feast Festival

Fischer was co-founder of Feast Festival, with Helen Bock, Damien Carey, Luke Cutler in 1997.[5] Originally known as Adelaide's lesbian and gay cultural festival[6][7] Feast Festival now describes itself as Adelaide's LGBTIQA+ Arts and Cultural Festival.[8] According to Fischer, Adelaide at the time did not have a queer arts festival because since Don Dunstan had decriminalized homosexuality there was "nothing to rebel against" as was the case with the protest origins of Sydney Mardi Gras.[9] Many community events which had been previously organised by the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service were taken over by Feast.[10]

Awards and honors

Fischer has received multiple awards and honors for her work in arts, community development and LGBTIQA+ advocacy, including:[7]

  • Sustained Contribution by an Individual, Ruby Award, Arts South Australia, 2017
  • Citizen of the Year, Adelaide City Council, 2012
  • Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award, Ruby Awards, Arts South Australia
  • Australia Medal for "significant service to the festival sector, and to the LGBTIQ community."[11]

References

  1. ^ "Australian Idols: All the SA honours recipients". adelaidenow. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  2. ^ a b "Margie Fischer's welcome home Feast – The Adelaide Review". www.adelaidereview.com.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-21. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  3. ^ Staff, J.-Wire (2019-06-09). "Queen's Birthday Honours - the Jewish list". J-Wire. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  4. ^ "30 Years of Vitalstatistix". www.stagewhispers.com.au. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  5. ^ Pacella, Jessica; Richards, Stuart (2025-01-02). "A queer feast of memories: using archives in festival research". Continuum. 39 (1): 117–133. doi:10.1080/10304312.2024.2385660. ISSN 1030-4312.
  6. ^ Adelaide, Glam (2022-11-18). "Queer History Walks taking Feast Festival-goers on a journey of discovery". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  7. ^ a b "Queen's Birthday Honours - the Jewish list". J-Wire. 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  8. ^ "About Us". Feast Festival. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  9. ^ Grbich, Sasha (June 10, 2023). "On The Move" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Gay Rights Page 3". www.samemory.sa.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  11. ^ "Australian Idols: All the SA honours recipients". adelaidenow. Archived from the original on 2022-12-08. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
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