18th January, 1999
I decided today that I wouldn't be in the parade, but instead would volunteer to help out at the BGF seating. A big decision for me as in the last 10 years I have been in the parade 7 times, often as a float organiser. |
19th January, 1999
Heard back from BGF. I will be an assistant stage manager with a fabulous view of the parade, but lots of work to do.
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28th January, 1999
Today the Terrorgraph had a number of articles about Mardi Gras, one of which was an editorial about the Order of Perpetual Indulgence doing tours through the Sydney Opera House. In response to complaints the Opera House chief executive cancelled
the tours claiming that "we must be tolerant of people's differences
and have respect for people's beliefs". The launch will be in the Opera House forecourt again!
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29th January, 1999
Banners go up on both ends of Oxford St.
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29th January, 1999
First bits of my party outfit arrived in the mail today. Hint: I'll be wearing personal lighting this year, inspired by the poster. |
31st January, 1999 (Blue Moon)
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4th February, 1999
I was down at the Opera House to see an Opera (Carmen). On the way out they had started
setting up the stage for the Launch |
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8th February, 1999
The biggest queen of all is in town! All 290 meters. The QE2.
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5th February, 1999 - The Launch - Gallery
"What are you doing this weekend?" the normal question at work was answered
with "Going to the Launch". It's great being out at work. Rushed home and changed then off to the Opera House. The bus from Oxford Street was full of gay men and lesbians all of us off to the same place. The steps were already full, but we spotted our friends and joined them. Ate. Drank. Chatted. Perved. Socialised. The launch was just about to start so I went right down the front so I could get decent photos for the gallery. They aren't as good as I hoped cause of the light shining right at me. Next year I must try to get a media pass. Great speeches, great shows, great effects. Kerryn Phelps was very inspiring (standing ovation), while the Prez David McLachlan showed his passion for Mardi Gras. The flying nun was great. A ffffffffabulous night. Thanks MG.
Happy Mardi Gras everyone.
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11th February, 1999
Inaugural meeting of Australian Technology Park Gay (and Lesbian?) group.
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 13th February, 1999 - OPI History Walk
Finally another MG event. It has been a long week
between events. Gathered at El Alamein Fountain in Kings Cross to meet the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and their chief historian Cardinal French. Though this has been running for a number of years it is the first time I have been. Gay life (then called camp) started in the Cross in the 1950s when the bars were allowed to open till 10pm and the bohemians made Kings Cross the place to be. The Rex Hotel (demolished) and the Bottoms Up Bar right next to the fountain were the best known of the places here. Then onto the actual cross(roads), originally knows as Queens Cross. It was changed to Kings Cross to save confusion with Queens Square. This is where the police trapped, attacked and arrested the people in the first (1978) Mardi Gras parade.
Then on to Green Park. Camp life changed again when night clubs were allowed to open until 2am in the 1970s. Green Park was on the trek from the Cross to Darlinghurst/Paddington where all the night clubs were. It was also the site of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence's Shrine of Love (demolished early 1980s).
Gilligans Island (Oxford St, Bourke St and Flinders St) has many significances: it is opposite the former Darlinghurst Police Station where the people arrested in that first parade were taken, and where Captain Midnight was hanged; it was also the start of the parade; and it is on Oxford St, which became known as the Golden Mile. There were many night clubs around here, the main ones being Capriccios (now NV and The Banta Room) and Patches (now DCM). Also in the area were many "private" clubs, Club 80 being one of the most famous and subject of a few police raids.
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We then wandered down
Oxford St past all the closed night clubs and the few remaining ones - Flo's Palace (now The Den), Tropicana (then Midnight Shift, now The Shift), Pete's Beat, Ruby Red's (dyke bar on Crown St), etc, etc.
Thanks to the sisters for the great morning, the facts and the fun!
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14th February, 1999 - Fair Day - Gallery
"Have we got everything? Sunscreen? Cameras? Money? Blanket? Champagne?"
So we set off for route 69 from Oxford St to Victoria Park, the Fair Day express. It was a sunny day, but already hot.
You could see the activity in the park from halfway down Cleveland St.
There were already lots of people there at 11am. We wandered round a bit looking at the stalls and saying hi to people we know.
Time to sit down, so we spread our blanket in front of the main stage just in time to catch the 2nd half of the commitment ceremony. The 2 guys (can't remember their names) had both mothers and lots of friends and family. Their ceremony was touching and lots better than some weddings I have been to.
They were followed by a wonderful puppeteer who with Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Elvis, the Queen and lots more.
 By this time our bottoms were getting a bit wet, even through the blanket, so we wandered around a bit more, down to the other stage where we say the Wollongong Gay and Lesbian Choir and the childrens parade. Then to find some food and some shade.
Back to the main stage, there was no shade to be had, so we sat back in the sun and watched the dog show finals with Pam Ann. They must have had Miss Fair Day while we weren't looking. Chelsea Buns was winner of the best dog for cruising with a pram full of puppies. The look alike contest was won by a chicken.
The day finished with a crowd dancing to the Mavises who played at least 10 songs.
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14th February, 1999 Evening
My boyfriend has been a fan of Boo Boo and Mace (formerly Itch-e and Scratch-e) for a long time, so La Di Da at the Festival Club was a must see. It was described as electro groove, synth-classic fusion and South African funk.
The first performers were Pavo Christatus. This was the best music I have heard maybe forever. They were a cellist and a singer with tonnes of reverb and an amazing sound. They put so much passion into the music. One of the lesbians sitting next to me said she would be scared to have sex with the cellist.
I would have been satisfied with this, but that was only the start. Thami and another singer from South Africa did some fabulous numbers from all over African and the world.
Kiva
with Sheriff Lindo sang some beautiful songs. He has a beautiful and versatile voice.
The evening was completed with Boo Boo and Mace
playing some of their fabulous music. This is when everybody got up and danced.
A truly memorable evening
and my vote for best of Mardi Gras (even though I haven't seen anything else yet).
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16th February, 1999
Flags go up on Oxford St.
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16th February, 1999 - Chinese New Year Party
Arriving about 7pm, during the partial solar eclipse, there was already a good crowd and still plenty of food left. We sat down and had a bit of Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian and Japanese for dinner. Sitting below the waterfall with dinner was the perfect way to relax after a hard day's work. The Chinese opera singer
was excellent.
After dinner we socialised with lots of people we knew and a few we didn't. During the evening we wandered around these beautiful gardens chatting and watching the entertainment.
Wendy Brady (MG board member and aboriginal) thanked the local tribes for letting us use their land. It was the first time she had used her native tongue
outside of her tribe. Then a few stories about coming out Asian and gay from the organising committee: Happy Ho, Paul Cordeiro, Matthew Hua and William Yang.
The highlight of the evening was the dragon dance. It started with millions of fire crackers then the dragons wended their way through the gardens with their dancing. One had a bite at my head (I still have it).
Sveta played a great mix of music during the night, then really got the dance floor pumping.
Happy New Year of the Rabbit. See you there next year!
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19th February, 1999 - Bush Dance
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| Don't have time to put in lots of details at the moment. Watch this space ... |
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20th February, 1999
- Buying bits for costume
- Shop Yourself Stupid
- Razor Baby - fabulous show - this is modern dance with some acrobatics thrown in
- Festival Club with Pam Ann - hilarious
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21st February, 1999
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22nd February, 1999
- bump in - letter drop, black plastic in Dome
- wait for the curtain in the RHI!
- making costume
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23rd February, 1999
- bump in - more black plastic, screwing, help making Dome scenic, help with Horden scenic
- making costume
- popped out to Oxford St - queue to Stonewall and the Shift
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24th February, 1999
- shopping - 74HC27, shorts, Chuppa Chupps
- bump in - dressing the stage - I was climbing all over the scaffolding, tying, cutting, holding
- Taboo Parlour - blue - great acts - my favourite was the Preacher
- this is still fringe!
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25th February, 1999
- bump in - black plastic, shade cloth, towers in Horden
- finish off speech
- Internet Forum - my topic Community or Commerce - both are essential to the Internet - met some people I should have met years ago
- work on outfit
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26th February, 1999 - Mardi Gras Eve
- bump in - shopping, cleaning paint rollers, tables and chairs, erect Horden centrepiece, clear plastic, black plastic, watched a couple of rehersals on the stage
- work on outfit - isn't this always done last minute?
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27th February, 1999 - Mardi Gras Day
- try to finish off outfit
- bump in - tables and chairs, collect complimentary party ticket
- finish outfit, pack for the night with a change of clothers in case of rain
- BGF Stands - volunteer Assistant Stage Manager with Miss 3D, Simon Burke and Wyness
- PARTY
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| Recover! |
Panther's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 1999 Diary 
panther@pinkboard.com.au