Personal Message from our President (Mick Watson)

Almost four years ago, the dream of bringing a leather club back to Sydney began to take shape. The result was Sydney Leather Men, a space that has grown, evolved, and flourished because of your support, attendance and engagement.

I am regularly told by people in this community how SLM and its social events have positively impacted their lives and opened new worlds to explore. You only need to witness the atmosphere and the smiles of happiness on people’s faces as they socialise and bond at our events to see the impact it has had. When we first set out, we thought if we could positively impact 20 people by creating an affinity space where leather men felt welcomed and safe, we would have achieved success. We have far eclipsed this vision with over 130 financial members committing to the vision and purpose of SLM over the last 12 months.

However, with that pride also comes the realisation that my own journey with SLM has taken a personal toll. Over these past few years, I’ve poured so much of my time and energy into SLM and other community initiatives. Sadly, this has come at the expense of prioritising my own health and well-being and relationships.

Balancing a job while dedicating nights and weekends to SLM and community initiatives has been unsustainable for me. However, I acknowledge my own role in this situation. Being so driven by the desire for the success of SLM, I’ve often kept my hands in too many areas rather than empowering our incredible committee members to fully take the reins of their portfolios. To my team, I deeply apologise for not giving you the appropriate space to shine as individuals, especially given you have all been instrumental in SLM’s ongoing success.

Burnout has subsequently taken a toll on me, both physically and mentally, leaving me at a low point where negativity has weighed heavily. Yet, when I ask myself, “Why keep going?” the answer remains: because this community deserves more and better!. To those who seek to create division, I say this: our community is stronger than that. I believe that truth, honesty, and authenticity will rise above negativity, and that positivity and unity will prevail.

That said, I feel it’s time for me to take a step back and put focus on rebuilding my own health. I have made the difficult decision to resign as President of Sydney Leather Men Inc., effective Monday, January 20, 2025.

While I’m stepping down from the Presidency, I am pleased to be remaining part of SLM Inc. as Treasurer and Membership Officer. We have assembled a diverse and dedicated committee, united by a passion to guide SLM into an exciting future. I am confident with strong new leadership that this group will take SLM to even greater heights.

Moving Forward, On Monday, January 20th, the SLM Committee met to discuss and make key appointments ahead of the first official AGM in the coming months.

I’m honoured and excited to announce your new executive team:

• President: Phil Reilly
• Vice President: Peter Rayner
• Treasurer & Membership Officer: Mick Watson
• Secretary: Igor Rudar
• Events Officer: Timo Rissanen
• Social Media Officer: Jon Nguyen
• Merchandise Officer: Jaime Aguilar
• Public Officer: Tony Pike
• General Committee Member: Shane Imbert
• General Committee Member: Vacant

With Phil and Peter at the helm leading with energy and fresh perspectives, supported by a talented and passionate committee, we are all confident SLM will continue to thrive. Congratulations to Phil, Pete and Timo on taking on new roles.

Thank you all for being part of this journey, and here’s to the bright future of SLM Inc. and the Sydney leather community!

Join Us in Shaping the Future of SLM

For SLM to grow and thrive, we need your help. Community-led organisations like SLM Inc. rely on members to drive things forward. If you’re passionate and want to contribute to shaping the future direction of SLM, we’d love to hear from you! We have committee opportunities available and always welcome new ideas and energy. More hands make lighter work, and together, we can create something even greater for our community.

If you’re interested in joining the committee or lending a hand, please reach out, we’d be thrilled to have you on board.

Yours in Leather,

Mick Watson

On Behalf of The SLM Inc. Committee. SLM Committee 

Congratulations to Dylan on being chosen as The Pride of The Hide for 2025! We are confident you’ll represent the community with pride and authenticity, and we can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll accomplish as an ambassador for The Hide.

A heartfelt congratulations also goes out to the other four contestants who courageously put themselves forward. Your bravery and commitment to wanting to represent are inspiring. Please keep your heads held high and continue to be open to supporting the wider community without a title.

A special shoutout to Nick Toff as well, who has officially become a Sash Daddy! After an extended and impactful title term, your efforts have left a lasting mark on the community. Congratulations to you.

Here’s to celebrating those who continue to make our community stronger!

Mick Watson’s incredible efforts for our community are recognised and valued throughout the country and beyond.  We look forward to his ongoing work with Sydney Leather Men (SLM).

Becoming Presidents of SLM is an enormous privilege for us both. We will work closely with Mick & the other SLM committee members (Igor, Shane, Jon, Jaime, Timo, Tony) on behalf of all our members.  

All of us are busy and life is full of challenges.  As a community organisation, our mission continues to create affinity spaces for gay male and male identifying Leather Men. The support of our membership is so inspiring to us.

In Sydney we are fortunate that the different institutions, as well as leaders, within our community are established and strong. New groups have emerged that we will support. We can all draw strength from one another. And to overcome problems we can, through listening, learn to respect differences. We look forward to talking to you all about how we can maintain our community on its upward trajectory.

Phil Reilly & Pete Rayner

We’re excited to share that UNITY is coming back in 2025, with a slight twist!

Introducing UNITY: The Leather & Fetish Social.

This all-inclusive social event will continue to celebrate everyone in our community, welcoming all gender expressions, pronouns, and fetishes. It’s all about creating a safe, welcoming space where the entire leather and fetish community can come together, connect, and celebrate what makes us unique.

Get ready to unite in 2025, we can’t wait to see you there!

2012: Sydney Mr & Ms Leather step out together

Each month we’re publishing a photo from our community’s history – from bygone leather bars to parties from our past times – feel free to send us yours, and help build our archive!

Here we see Mistress Tokyo and Dick Savvy – Mr and Ms Leather Sydney 2012 – looking resplendent in their sashes as they lead the leather pride float up Oxford Street between downpours during a rainy Mardi Gras parade. Did you spot the matching socks, jocks and cuffs on the flagbearers? Nice work, boys.

Photographer: C.Moore Hardy, via the C.Moore Hardy Photography Collection at the City of Sydney archives, March 2012.

https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1973278

Get ready. INQUISITION is returning on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025, and trust us, you won’t want to miss this wild ride! Bought to you by HAUS of SAVVY.

SLM Financial Members Get $10 Off Tickets. Use The Code in Members Area  on Our Website. Over 500+ tickets have already sold, don’t delay. Get yours NOW.

COAT CHECK VOLUNTEERS

Exciting News! Sydney Leather Men Inc. are honoured to have been invited as a community-run organisation to operate the coat check for HCB Underbear XXX on 26th February 2025, as part of Bear Essentials!

This is an incredible opportunity for SLM to raise funds for our community and our initiatives while supporting this amazing event for the bears.

However, we need your help to make this a success! We’re looking for volunteers to help with coat check shifts. As a thank you, volunteers will receive an entry ticket to the event in exchange for their time and effort.

If you’re interested in this volunteering opportunity, please reach out to us on our ‘Contact Us’ form on here or on Facebook.

JANUARY SOCIAL PHOTOS

2025 Membership Price: $37 annually (1st Jan – 31st Dec)

As an SLM member, you’ll enjoy the benefit of FREE monthly social events, designed to bring our community together. Beyond our monthly socials, we are dedicated to creating as many opportunities as possible for members and the wider community to connect, bond, and build lasting relationships. With an exciting calendar planned for 2025, we aim to host over 20+ events (many of them FREE) throughout the year, offering a variety of ways to engage, celebrate, and strengthen our leather and fetish community.

2025 Member Benefits:

• • Discounts & Reduced Ticket Offers: Enjoy perks from our valued MBP’s (membership benefit partners) throughout the year. We are contunually looking for more benefits and offers for members.
  • 10% Off Merchandise: Members save on all SLM merchandise.
  • Monthly Members-Only Door Prize: Each month, members will automatically receive 5 free chances for hundreds of dollars in prizes from amazing sponsors like Sax Fetish, Naughty Boy Australia, and more.
  • Monthly Members-Only Cash Draw: A guaranteed cash prize of at least $50! It jackpots the following month if not won. The potential to win your membership costs back in cash!
  • Member drink specials and venue offers (More TBC)
  • Ad Hoc Perks: Expect surprise treats like free drinks, exclusive events and access, and more to keep things exciting.

Raffle tickets will only be sold for special occasions, such as fundraising, ensuring these efforts feel meaningful and focused and are done with purpose.

This revamped program means members will receive chances to win hundreds of dollars in prizes each month for an annual $37 membership fee, attend free events and support the ongoing evolution of Sydney Leather Men Inc.

Renewals and new memberships open 1st January 2025. Existing members will need to log in to their account on our website to renew their membership and retain member numbers. Member cards will be issued and available in person at each monthly social. *not all cards will be available for January due to expected high volume.

We want to remind you that SLM Inc is a registered community run association and its members have an opportunity to guide its future direction, we are not a private business and as such community support through membership is vital to our future.

We’re grateful for your continued support and attendance and can’t wait to share another incredible year with you!

REMINDER – PLEASE LOG IN TO CHECK YOUR ‘AUTO RENEWAL’ STATUS.

After two incredible years of hosting our events at Kinsela’s, we’re thrilled to announce the next step in the evolution of our Monthly Leather and BLUF Socials. The SLM Inc Committee has been presented with an opportunity that we believe is in the best interest of everyone involved and will help set us up for a successful future.

From our Social on Friday February 14th, 2025, SLM Inc. will be moving our Monthly Socials to the Polo Lounge (Level 2) at The Oxford Hotel !

This exciting move positions us alongside two iconic brands in the Sydney scene: Harbour City Bears (HCB) and The Oxford Hotel, as well as legendary parties like Trash Daddy. The Oxford not only recognises what we bring to the table but also offers SLM the perfect platform for our socials to grow, evolve, and enhances entertainment opportunities for our community in the future.

Here’s what you can look forward to at our new home:

• • A dedicated cigar balcony for leather and BLUF enthusiasts.
  • A bootblack space to celebrate and support our bootblack community.
  • Member drink discounts and benefits from The Oxford (details TBC).
  • The opportunity to collaborate with Harbour City Bears (HCB) and The Oxford on exciting future ideas and events.

But before we kick off this exciting new chapter, let’s give Kinsela’s a proper send-off! Join us on Friday January 17th, 2025, for our Summer Leather Social upstairs at Kinsela’s from 7pm with one last hurrah before heading down to Trash Daddy also on that evening.

We’re incredibly grateful to Kinsela’s for hosting us over the past two years and look forward to celebrating this transition with all of you. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see you at The Oxford Hotel in February!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Celebrating Our Titleholders

2024 marked a remarkable year for our titleholders. Coach Jura, Sydney Mr Leather 2023, achieved global recognition by placing 4th at International Mr Leather (IML), elevating Sydney’s visibility in the international leather community. Timo, Sydney Mr Leather 2024, has already begun his own journey with strength and vision, and we’re thrilled to support him as he heads to IML in May 2025. Alongside the amazing Lani De Viate, Sydney Ms Leather 2023 and Pride of The Hide 2023 Pendragon Nick, our local titleholders continue to inspire and unify our community. We also want to extend our gratitude and admiration to everyone who stepped forward to compete for the Mr& Ms titles this year, even if they didn’t walk away with the sash. Their ongoing dedication and contributions to the community, title or not, are truly inspiring. It’s these acts of selfless commitment and community spirit that highlight the incredible strength and progress of our community.

Supporting Our Community

This year, SLM Inc donated approx. $2,700 in support of our local titleholders and organisations like Qtopia Sydney, ensuring we stay true to our mission of giving back. We remain committed to further supporting Timo and other community initiatives in 2025.

A Changing of the Guard

2024 saw changes to our committee, with valued members like Raymond, Ian, and Stephen stepping down but continuing as active supporters. We welcomed new committee members: Jaime, Phil, Shane, Jon, and Tony, who’ve brought fresh energy and ideas to SLM. We’re grateful to everyone who’s contributed and look forward to working together in the new year. We are also looking forward to our first AGM to be held in early 2025 and look forward to sharing and discussing our progress with members.

Looking Ahead to 2025

The new year promises exciting things, including our Mardi Gras float collaboration with Sydney Leather Queers and Women, supported by Studio Kink, under the theme “Liberated in Leather.” EOIs close on December 29th, so don’t miss your chance to join!

We’re also gearing up for Friday, January 17th, when we kick off the year with our first Monthly Social. With over 20 events planned for 2025, we’re committed to creating spaces for connection, celebration, and visibility.

Thank You for Believing in SLM, Your support drives everything we do, and we’re humbled by the belief you’ve shown in 2024. Let’s keep building, supporting, and lifting each other up as we step into 2025. From all of us at SLM Incorporated, Thank you and have a safe and wonderful festive season, we can’t wait to see you in the new year!

Leather & Love,
Mick ‘Darkroom Daddy’ Watson
President, SLM Inc.