Welcome to our first newsletter blog since reopening in February this year after the 2019 floods! They totally destroyed Sweethearts, Townsville’s very first adult shop established in 1986. Nearly 35 years later, after a total rebuild, the store is BIGGER, BETTER & SEXIER.

Then, who would have expected that in March 2020 the world went into lockdown as Covid-19 hit? Of course we feared the worst! But everyone had the same idea...what is there to do when you can’t leave the house? Let’s explore sex! And many of you did on so many different levels… You go Townsville!

Every few months we will be sending our VIPS special e-newsletters to share industry news, new arrivals and of course competitions! We’d love to hear your stories of products: the good, the bad and the downright interesting so we can share these in our next e-newsletter!

We encourage you to tell your friends and follow us on our social pages for regular updates when new stock arrives and, of course our Friday funnies!

Until next time you visit our store to explore and enjoy, stay safe!

Love from the Sweethearts Team!

General practitioners and not-for-profits are being urged to remember that help is available for flood victims as the region slowly emerges from COVID-19 restrictions.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service has this week written to more than 70 health partners and 100 community organisations reminding them about the Disaster Recovery Team. The team is funded until June 2021 under the Community Health and Wellbeing program established following the devastating effects of the North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough in early 2019.

Team leader of the disaster recovery team Lorelle Benson said it was important that people remained vigilant of the deep hurt and anguish that lingers throughout North Queensland following the floods.

“I think there is a very real risk that victims of the floods feel as though they’ve been forgotten in the wake of COVID-19,” she said.

“In February and March, we were getting one new referral every day to our team and our case load had almost maxed out at 75.

“Once COVID-19 really bit our referrals dropped away, which we expected, to about one a week.

“Now that life is beginning to return to some semblance of normalcy, we wanted to remind our community that we are still here and that we still believe there is a large demand for our services.”

The disaster recovery team provides trauma-focussed therapy, brief interventions and community development and will be available for training for any agencies involved in supporting people during the recovery.

The Community Health and Wellbeing Program is jointly funded through the Commonwealth and Queensland governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The disaster recovery team takes referrals from all agencies as well as directly from members of the public. The service can be contacted by calling 4433 8378 or emailing TSV-MH-Disaster-Recovery@health.qld.gov.au.

Source: Townsville Hospital and Health Service

The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (formally the Queensland AIDS Council) presented their new name and look, with a focus on where they've come from and community owned incredible work being done with LGBTI, Sistergirl and Brotherboy folk.

Queensland Council for LGBTI Health, or QC for short, aims to continue to be a home for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Brotherboy and Sistergirl Queenslanders.

CEO Rebecca Reynolds says “we are proud to be a community owned, and community led health and wellbeing service, representing the diversity of our communities, walking with you, to find the support you need, evolving to meet our diverse communities’ needs.”

President of QC, Peter Black, welcomed all LGBTI Sistergirl and Brotherboy Queenslanders to the virtual launch of QC, at the IDAHOBIT event and shared the origin of the new name, which reflects our diversities.

“As our CEO travelling across Queensland talking to communities, talking to individuals, talking to organisations, we wanted to ensure the new name reflected that diversity, so this is what we’ve come up with” he said.

QC will continue to promote their new name over the coming months.

In keeping with the spirit of reconciliation, QC acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we exist, and the important role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our diverse communities.

QC CEO, Rebecca Reynolds says “we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we live, meet, work and play, as the first people of this country.”

Via: https://online.anyflip.com/zwdp/imis/

The war waged against bottoms continues and, in the latest siege of cruelty, Australian authorities are vowing to regulate the sale of poppers.

Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration shelled plans to restrict the purchase of poppers, typically sold in adult sex shops, to pharmacies.

However, plans to continue with this have been brought back, officials confirmed to The Star Observer. Meaning that adult entertainment shops and suppliers will be unable to stock poppers from February 1.

Poppers are a type of nitrate, an alkyl nitrate screwed inside colourful bottles – sometimes signed by Charli XCX – that, when inhaled, give users a euphoric head rush.

Instead, poppers will only be attainable from a qualified health practitioner, with a medical prescription needed for therapeutic use.

Officials say LGBT+ were consulted during the amendment proposals.

The amendments, part of the February 2020 Poisons Standard, will restrict products that contain alkyl nitrate

“The February 2020 Poison Standard, including all of the proposed changes to alkyl nitrites, has been published and will take effect from February 1 2020,” they said.

Agency officials added that LGBT+ people were involved in discussions around the amendments. Companies will also have the opportunity to create “home made” nitrates.

“Prior to making the decision, the TGA held two workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as seeking public submissions, to better understand the views of the LGBTIQ community,” the spokesperson said.

“The move of amyl nitrite to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicine) will allow for easier access to products containing the substance, as a prescription will no longer be required.

“This may also encourage companies to consider supplying products into Australia.”

Move to limit poppers is ‘homophobic’, says activist.

Steve Spencer, a HIV activist, branded the the move “homophobic” and compared the amendment as declaring a “war on bottoms”.

“It’s not a drug of dependence, nor is it addictive, and it has played a very important role as an enabler of affection, love, and exploration of one’s self and others,” he told the Star Observer.

“It’s also always been there for moments of queer celebration.

“When gay men, bottoms, women, and young people need something to assist their pleasure and sexual enjoyment like poppers, they’re simply told tough luck.

“Their access to these things are denied and pushed underground, and any health consequences are blamed on the individual rather than any accountability being taken by the authorities that pushed us to this point.

“This is what stinks about this whole thing, it’s not the amyl – it’s the discriminatory nature of this move; it’s homophobic, it’s misogynistic, and it’s ageist.”

Via: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/30/australia-ban-poppers-sex-shops-therapeutic-goods-administrati...

Charters Towers artist Trevor Hughes works at the mines by day, but by night, is a nude artist creating artwork to celebrate the unique form of the human body. Hughes, a self taught artist, says that drawing and painting have always been a passion of his.

"Art and drawing has always been a passion and a way to unwind after work," Says Hughes.

The local artist's work highlights the unique beauty of the male and female form, through the medium of acrylic on canvas.

"Although my topics are varied I specialise in the male and female form showcasing the uniqueness of our bodies regardless of shape or size," Says Hughes

Hughes' art is on showcase at Sweethearts, and customers can support the local artist through purchasing in-store.

Hughes is also open to commissioned pieces, and often creates gifts or unique conversation pieces to help style any home.

"All I require is a photo of the subject," says Hughes.

To get in contact with Trevor Hughes, call Sweethearts on (07) 4725 1431.