An honour is being bestowed this week upon Helen Marcou, one of the founders of the Save Live Australia’s Music (SLAM) movement that swept across the country seven years back and brought tens of thousands of music fans, industry figures and musicians into the streets to protest changes that may have served to cripple Victoria’s live music scene.

The SLAM rally was a turning point for Melbourne’s music scene, and as one of its co-organisers, Helen is being given recognition for her efforts by being included on the Victorian Honour Roll for Women ahead of International Women’s Day this week.

Started in 2010 with partner and co-owner of Melbourne’s Bakehouse Studios Quincy McLean, SLAM lead a potentially 20,000-strong crowd marched on Parliament House to rally against proposed regulations that would have required all venues to hire additional security – no matter how small the gig – under the assertion that live music bred violence.

Angered by the State Government’s position and fearful of the potential for smaller gigs to be wiped out due to the added costs, Helen and Quincy worked to bring thousands together across petitions and the protests themselves in support of local music in a movement the likes of which we haven’t seen before or since.

The very tangible result of these protests was the introduction of the Live Music Agreement, an acknowledgement by the Government that live music does not in and of itself lead to an increase in violent acts, and new laws the following year recognising live music in the Objects of the Victorian Liquor Licensing Act, among other achievements like helping to establish Music Victoria.

Continuing to consult with the Victorian Government on live music policy and champion community radio, not to mention being directly involved in the creation of a taskforce to prevent the sexual assault of women in venues, SLAM and Helen herself have left an indelible mark on Australia’s music culture, and now those achievements are now receiving further recognition with Helen’s inclusion on the Victorian Honour Roll for Women.

Helen’s in good company too, joining over 20 other inductees this year and over 600 women to have been honoured since 2001, from prominent figures in entertainment to those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

You can read more about this past and present inductees here, and find out more about this year’s International Women’s Day initiatives here ahead of its celebration this Wednesday March 8.

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