YAY NEW WALL !!!

NEW WALL YAY !!!

I remember well the year (not sure which one but iut was very early in the life of Mardi Gras) when someone climbed into the lighting rig above the dance floor in I think the the Manufacturers Pavilion and they had to stop the music and empty the pavilion to put in a cherry picker to get the person down. It was very surreal. Everyone quickly cleared the pavilion and waited patiently while they retrieved the wayward party goer. The party then started again as if nothing had happened. Anybody know who that person was?

Yeah would be fun to know the person if they ever remember doing that ! was around 1988/1989 ? we walked out onside and they told us to go to the other side so we walked across the Hall again and there was the cherry picker heading to the guy although I couldnt see him. Waited for a little while then music started up again and in we went.
Classic moment.

I remember the '89 Mardi Gras for a different reason to the reason as described above.

On that night the final DJ of the party was some guy from Melbourne whose name I simply cant remember.

As it unfolded his last 90 minutes of music was played one song after another from start to finish with a small gap between each song. In other words the tracks were not mixed together.

It seemed as though he was playing one final encore song after another after another after another.

Story has it that this wasn't the case but more due to the fact that his monitor speaker blew up mid set and he wasn't prepared to smash mixes together and decided to milk the crowd by giving the impression the party was just about to finish , but wait , here's another encore song !! An then he'd do that another 15 or so times before the party finally ended.

Ha, How times have changed

Another memory is the last time they ever did the full on snow storm at a Mardi Gras party.

It was late into the party at about 6.30am in the RHI when Dean Essing was the DJ at the time.

I was dancing in the middle of the RHI floor with a mate of mine from Melbourne who was attending his 1st ever dance party.

As "Disco Inferno" came on I was dancing facing the front of the RHI looking at the stage. A number of people commented that they were feeling a coolish breeze on their backs and I also concurred with these comments.

After a minute or so it was starting to annoy me and me and my mate turned around to face the opposite end of the RHI to try to work out was this breeze was all about.

At the EXACT moment I turned around I was hit with a truck load of confetti right in the face as the large industrial fans that were blowing from the back of the hall carried tons of confetti down the length of ther RHI.

For the next few hours we all were covered in the stuff. I still remember picking it out of my clothes and finding stray bits of the stuff on my bedroom floor weeks after the event.

So Funny.

I don't think that you can talk about Mardi Gras without mentioning the politics. In particular some sticky AGMs that happened in the late 90s before Old Margid Gras collapse.

They may have been icky for some, but others like me really enjoyed the discussions that were had at that time.

Indeed. Some AGMs were quite entertaining, in particular Larry Galbraith and Richard Cobden, both stating their opinions quite eloquently as well as playing to the audience to a certain extent. It certainly made for interesting meetings!

I remember Deborah Cox in the centre of the RHI singing "... nobody's supposed to be here ..." surrounded by thousands and thousands of poofs and dykes going wild.

Yes, I remember that well, his name was Craig and he attended the party with a bunch of us from Melbourne. He climbed up to get a better view of the party and when he saw everyone leaving the hall though he'd better climb down and leave as well, not realising he was the cause of the kerfuffle!

I met him once at another party. He tried to do it again and security threw him out. It was at Alexandria Basketball Stadium, don't remember which year. We started talking to him outside while having a break and he was really weird. He tried to get back in with us and security stopped him. I was so glad as I didn't know how to get rid of him!

There was one year that the Mardi Gras launch was to be held in Green Park with a movie projected onto The Wall. The projector melted down. I think the launch was cancelled.

Boy George doing Karma Chameleon; Bev Lange doing the prez welcome-to-party in the RHI wearing a pink tutu; the Hordern Toilets before Fox; Kylie; the Village People doing "You Can't Stop the Music" as the closing show and then one of them turning up in the Laneway afterwards where a totally trashed drag queen shrieked "wuck off ya closet case" before "dying" in a rubbish skip; actually, the Laneway itself....

The waves of drag queens cascading down the RHI stage in 1998's salute to "twenty years of drag;" Jimmy Somerville - fresh from a pre-show sexual encounter (which he later claimed "opened the vocal cords") turning up on stage dressed only in a Pride flag; 28,000 people at the "Twenty Years of Mardi Gras" party in 98 (we won't see that again) and we won't see partygoers having sex in the Centennial Park Equestrian Centre stables again, either.....

I used to keep diaries back in the 90's and sometimes would take the time out to write down a lot of songs I heard on the night. I found this in my 1997 diary the other day - I hope it brings back some good memories for some of you.

Mardi Gras 1997

RHI Pavilion - DJ Dean Essing

10pm to Midnight (not in any particular order)

Aint no man - Dina Carrol
Keep on Jumping - Todd Terry
I Believe - The Absolute
Think About - DJH featuring Steffy
Back to love - Brand New Heavies
Love dont live here anymore - Madonna
If Madonna calls - Junior Vasquez
You Should be dancing - E Sensual
No frills love - Jennifer Holiday
Make it on my own - Alison Limerick
Step by step - Whitney Houston
Unbreak my heart - Toni Braxton
Bright on time 97 - Black Box

MIDNIGHT SHOW - Young Hearts Run Free - Kym Mazelle

RHI Pavilion - DJ Dean Essing (continues)

Midnight to 2am (not in any particular order)

Do ya wanna funk 93 - Sylvester
Hot Shot - Barbara Tucker
Saving Myself - Era Fachin
Bitchin in the kitchen - Fabulousos
On the bible - Deuce
No one can love you more than me - Hannah Jones
Want love - Hysteric Ego
Jellyhead - Crush
Disco La Passione - Shirley bassey
Its a sin - Pet Shop Boys
Never Again - Happy Clappers
Standing Here all alone - Michelle
Pump up the jam 97 - Technotronic
Rhythm of the night - Corona
Lets all chant - Gusto
Male Stripper - Man 2 Man
Macho Man - Village People
Dont Cry for me Argentina - Madonna (Essings final song)

RHI Pavilion - Steve Carley

2am to 2.30am - songs are in playing order

All Night Long - Lionell Ritchie
Hustlers party - hustlers Convention
Disco inferno - The Tramps
Fever - SJ
Tall & Handsome - Outrage
Hot Shot - Barbabra Tucker (Dean essing had played it about 90 mins earlier)

2.30am SHOW - CHAKA KHAN

Float full of drags towed down the centre of the RHI dancefloor to "Im every woman". Then Chaka Khan sang "Aint nobody". RHI is overcrowed. Took me 15 mins to get out after the show.

RHI Pavilion - DJ Steve Carley (continues)

2.40am to 6.00am (not in any particular order)

* I spent a few hours out the RHI during this set hence the below list not being too long

Dreamer - Living Joy
Hold that sucker down - OT Quartet
Vogue - Madonna
Professional Widow - Tori Amos
France - THK
Do that to me - Lisa marie Experience
For what you dream of - Bedrock
Jump 97 - Funkatarium
I need a lover (Nagasaki) - Ken Doh
Alright (raise ya hands) - DOP
Heartbreak - Mrs Wood
Souvlaki - Inferno
I Imagine - Mary Kiani (closing song)

6AM SHOW - I cant rememebr !

RHI Pavilion - DJ Warren Gluck

6.00AM to 10.00AM (not in any particular order)

Lay all your love on me - ABBA (opening song)
Make it on my own - Alison Limerick
No regrets 97 - Quartzlock
Pride - Johanna
SOS - Abbacadabra
Waterfall - Atlantic Ocean
Its Alright - Stirling Void
Disco La Passione - Shirley Bassey
Souveniers - Voyage
Dont cry for me Argentina - Prima
When will I see you again - Dream Girls
Looking at you - Sunscreem
Forever and a day - Chivoni
Forever Young - Alphaville
Touch me in the morning - Marlena Shaw
The Key The Secret 96 - Urban Cookie Collective
One Day I'll fly away - Kelly Llorrena
Down to earth - Grace
Show me heaven - Chimira
Smalltown Boy - UK
Heaven - Sarah Washington
Year of decision - Dream Girls
Because you loved me - Suzanna Rye
Dont leave me this way - The Communards
Its all coming back to me now - Natalie Brown
I wouldnt normally do this kind of thing - Pet Shop boys (CLOSING SONG)

A disappointing end to the night was the last three songs where the Village people who were doing the 10am closing show spent that 15 mins leading into the show doing microphone "CHECK CHECK ONE TWO CHECK CHECK CHECK" live over the songs that were playing... sigh

10AM CLOSING SHOW - "You cant stop the music" - Village People

Anyhow folks , thats my diary memories of Mardi Gras 1997

I hope you enjoy them.

I've got a diary story on Mardi Gras 1996 which was the Mardi Gras party i DJ'ed at ... I'll try and dig it up for all you pinkboarders soon.... Keep watching.

Its really disappointing to see Panther put in such a big effort for all of us to create a wall like this and yet so few of you who use the party wall to promote your events or express your whining opinions on what are really quite petty topics seem prepared to give back to pinkboard in the way of a contribution to this particular wall.

1000's on 1000's of people over the years go to MG run parties and just as many of you make your petty little complaints on the party wall yet you havent got the time to spend a few minutes reminicing about the good old days.

Congrats to Stephen for putting in the effort that he did in that last post.

C'mon people show some balls and make a decent contribution to this wall. Or maybe you all toOk so many drugs at these parties that you simply dont have any memories to recall ?

"Its really disappointing to see Panther put in such a big effort for all of us to create a wall like this and yet so few of you who use the party wall to promote your events...."

Yes, and your point is? This is NOT the party wall.

Whilst I, of all people, appreciate Panther's dedication and efforts, phone calls on occasions to sort out issues etc, the comment made here is rather irrelevant to this wall.

This wall is about history and, unfortunately, most who have one have moved on, in one way or another. I'm still debating what memories I'll share here - there are so many.

Let's keep this wall positive from the start. That means no criticism of others at all.

We live in hope ......

Would be good for next years parade to be retrospective and choose the best from each year's parade and recreate them. Starting with the 78'ers at the beginning and following through to 2008's finale. (Perhaps, Barbara singing Memories?)

And finish it all off with a party to end all parties......I think it's gunna be a huge next March!!

Damon has missed the point.

The point is that people use pinkboard as a means to grind their own personal axes but when asked to make a positive contribution they are too lazy to do so. People use take, take, take from pinkboard but give nothing back in return. And thats what the point of the original post was.

Ho hum.... this is the MGM Wall

Ho hum is the perfect description of the 2007 MG party. I wish I had been at the party Stephen described above. It sounded so much more entertaining.

Ho Hum ?

well certainly not by my group. We had an awesome
2007 MG.

No one promoting their parties on this actual wall ?

maybe some didnt go to the parties of old ?

and NEVER assume people took too many drugs . Really its only your negative post so far thats brought this wall
down.

.
My first ever DJ gig for Mardi Gras was the opening spot in the RHI Pavilion in 1996 playing from 10pm to 2am

Prior to being selected for Mardi Gras I had been working the extremely busy Friday night residency at the Flinders Hotel during its heyday with Alex Taylor being the regular Saturday night DJ. I also did Sunday mornings at the Taxi Club from 4am to 9am. It was for my work at these venues that I was selected to play at Mardi Gras 1996. These were the days prior to regular day clubbing so invariably the Taxi Club was the only place to go after 6am on a regular Sunday morning. Its amazing how far clubbing has developed since those days !! My previous experience as a DJ on the gay club circuit took me back as far as 1985 where I worked such venues in my career as the Unicorn Hotel , The Exchange Hotel , Club 45's , The Beresford Hotel , Patchs , & The Midnight Shift

The other DJ's selected in the RHI for that night were Tony Svehla from Melbourne (2am - 6am) and Steve Carley (6am to 10am). This was to be Steves first Mardi Gras party as well. In the Hordern Luke Leal opened up with an English DJ called Guy Delicious in the middle and the legendary Lexie Bradfield closing. In the Dome the lineup was in this order Steve Sonius , Junior B followed by Steve Worthy to close. One other significant thing about that day was that John Howard was voted in as Prime Minister by the Australian people for the very first time. As I write these memories so many years later
the bastard is still hanging on !

I had been actively applying for a DJ job at Mardi Gras for about four years before I got my break and I clearly remember receiving a phone call from party committee member Felix Feist at 10.30pm on January 8 , 1996 which also happened to be my birthday. It was the best gift anyone could have given me.

I had never played a really big space before this party although I had DJ'ed some smaller parties in the previous years such as a few Bacchanalia parties at the infamous Alexandria Basketball stadium as well as a one off event at the Hordern that was called "Dance Indulgence" - That party I played with fellow DJ and good friend (at the time) Paul Goodyear was a total flop only attracting a little more than 1,000 people in a Hordern Pavilion that really needs about 3,000+ to look half decent.

The weeks leading up to the event was frantic and I owe an awful lot to my dear friend James Fraser who helped me out by re-editing quite a few tracks for me to make my mixing on the night flow smoothly. Without his efforts I would have been lost !!

The night itself was brilliant. It probably will go down in my mind as one of the highlights of my DJ career. It will also go down as one of the best nights of my clubbing life. To this day its only one of two Mardi Gras parties Ive ever been to where I lasted all the way to the 10am finish, the other being the Mardi Gras party the following year in 1997

I arrived at the venue at 9pm with a crate full of 12 inch singles and a small box of CD's (at this time in my DJ career I was slowly making the cross transition from vinyl to CD). I spent the first 40 minutes before opening time sitting in the DJ box all alone pretty much shitting myself looking at this HUGE empty hall. By the time Charlie on lights showed up at about 9.45 I was just about ready to puke !!

At 9.50pm party production manager Mark Peterson came up to me , wished me good luck and reminded me not to play a couple of songs that were being used in shows during the night. I was particulary upset that my favourite song at the time "Three is Family" by Dana Dawson had been ruled out of my play list due to it being the midnight show.

I kicked off my set at ten o'clock on the dot and opened up with "Finally" by Ce Ce Peniston. Its was my way of saying to anyone that wanted to listen that I had "FINALLY" made it as a DJ. I know thats a bit corny but hey , who cares !! What pleased me was that there were people in the RHI only minutes after I started work. The very first people in the hall were these four drags queens who all ran straight to the middle of the floor stood underneath the biggest mirror ball and waved at me whilst singing to "Finally" - It was very amusing. I even took a photo of them !!

The RHI filled up really quickly and I found myself with nearly a full hall as early as about 10.45pm. From there it was go go go with some of my favourite and crowd favourite tracks up to midnight being "Happening all over again" by Lonnie Gordon , “Back To Love” by Brand New Heavies , “Its not over” by Grace and “Dreamer” by Living Joy. The biggest song in the first half of my set was "Santa Maria" by Tatjana - the whole place erupted with screams , it was a huge buzz for me. I now listen back to "Santa Maria" all these years later and think to myself what awful taste we all had back then in music. But then again Times change , People change and certainly Music Changes !!

At midnight the RHI was packed to the rafters. I finished a song just a minute after twelve and then it was time for the show. Bev Lange in her first year as Mardi Gras president came on to the stage and made a very nervous sounding speech. This is what Bev said, word for word.....

"Thank you everyone. What can I say. 23,000 at the launch , 650,000 at the parade and 20,000 people here tonight.

I said at the beginning of this month look where we’ve come and what a journey its been. The 1996 Festival has been a triumph for us all. Its given us new experiences , taken us to new heights and touched our hearts. Its made us laugh , Its made us cry and its inspired us all.

Mardi Gras is yours, Mardi Gras is Ours.

I gotta say I’m one very proud dyke living in this town , for me there is no other place to be. Together we’ll keep strong, together we’re a family. Party Hard , Party Safe and Happy Mardi Gras”

The Midnight show was to the Dana Dawson anthem "Three Is Family". It was a huge production number with boys and girls running and dancing all over the huge stage which was placed at the rear end of the RHI. The song was edited up by DJ Luke Leal who I felt a tad sorry for as he was at the time DJ'ing in the Hordern. It was disappointing that Luke couldn’t see the crowd reaction to the show given that he was responsible for the cutting up of the show track. At the end of the song the crowd went mad. At least 30 seconds elapsed before the applause died down and then I was off again for my last 2 hours of work.

Lighting operator Steven Hales cranked up the lazors as I opened up the second half of my set with Royal T's "Baby Dontcha leave me this way" and the place looked fab I must say. Other big tracks in the second half of my set were "In the evening" by Sheryl Lee Ralph which had just only a month before been released with some 1996 remixes , "I Imagine" by Mary Kiani , “Keep Warm” by Jinny & "Jellyhead" by Crush which I had picked up as a new release in an import cd shop only the day before. It feels funny knowing that I was the first person to play that track in Sydney and it was even more amazing watching it go sky rocketing up the Australian pop chart a few months later. My night as a DJ was drawing nearer to its conclusion and approaching 2am Tony Svehla the next DJ was standing behind me sorting through his record box in preparation for taking over.

One interesting highlight during this time was when I played a current Bananarama hit of the time “Every Shade Of Blue”. The guys on lights had asked me earlier if there was any song I was going to play that had a reference to a colour. When I told them about the Bananarama track they were very pleased. As I played the song the lights changed and only blue lights were being scanned around the room. It looked very spectacular (but then again blue is favourite colour in lighting). Everyone in the lighting and DJ box was having a bit of a chuckle , I don’t think anybody on the dance floor caught the connection at all.

During my set it was so encouraging to see all of my close friends dancing in front of me down on the floor. I have fond memories of seeing Dean & Rick , Damon , Tim , David as well as a young not yet established DJ by the name of Jake Kilby dancing away madly looking up in awe of what I was doing. Little did I know that Jake who back then I sort of considered to be my DJ apprentice in waiting would replicate my feats many times over in years to come and become one of the best commercial gay DJ's Sydney has seen. And even more so amazing is that we got the chance to play together in 2004 in City Live at Mardi Gras in the Retro space... but that’s another story for another time.

Back in the RHI its was nearly time for me to finish and I just finished mixing in my second last song which was D:Reams "Shoot me with your love". Yet again the place erupted with cheers. The song was clearly a huge club favourite at that time. My last song was a very deliberate choice. I had for a number of years wanted to close a big DJ set with one of my all time favourite tracks. In a way the choice was all personal but I felt I'd earned the right to play an all time favourite for me and me alone. The song actually went down really well , it was the 1990 Donna Summer classic "Loves about to change my heart". Years later in 2003 DJ and good friend Sean Manley played the same song out at a G.A.Y event at the Midnight Shift when i was totally not expecting it. It gave me goosebumps.

And then it was over. The announcer said "Please thank your first DJ Stephen Blomfield" !! The crowd went wild and then I handed over to Tony Svehla. My first ever Mardi Gras DJ job was now history.

I breathed a big sigh of relief and sat down on the DJ box stool. I was VERY happy with the way it all went. I spent a few minutes packing up and then I decided to get out of Tonys way. I walked down the steps from the DJ box fully expecting to have to wade my way into the dance floor to find all my friends. I didnt have to look hard at all, they were all waiting for me at the bottom of the steps. I got numerous hugs and pats on the back and other compliments. It was nice to know that I was appreciated. I got that warm fuzzy feeling that I know everyone experiences at various times in their lives.

The rest of the night went so quickly - Lots of dancing , lots of chatting to friends and the occassional stranger smiling at me or thanking me for my work earlier in the night. I have vivid recollections of the 5am show when Magadonna got herself up in a set of rings hanging from the RHI ceiling and did a performance to "The Boss" by Diana Ross which everybody who knows Magadonna knows is her signature tune. How she did that performance so far up in the ceiling and not lose the plot still to this day remains a mystery to me.

The closing DJ Steve Carley started at 6am and in my opinion played a great set of music and to this day I felt it was one of his better efforts. As 9am came along I realised that this was the latest I'd ever stayed at a Mardi Gras Party and even though I was quite tired mentally and physically I was determined to last the distance to 10am.

With 15 minutes to go I got back up in the DJ box and waited for the closing show. I remember seeing my friend Lexie Bradfield who had had a bit of a horror night in the Hordern with sound and technical problems and I gave her a big consoling hug and we chatted for a few minutes until the last song finished. Steve Carley summed it up just right by playing M Peoples "Itchycoo Park" as his last song - Theres a line in the song that goes "Its all too beautiful" and that was how the feeling in the hall that night was !! Then the 10am closing show was on and it was a live performance by American diva legend Thelma Houston who came on and belted out a stomping rendition of her 1970's hit "Dont leave me this way" - The song title was rather apt for the occassion in a twisted sort of way

And then it was all over. Mardi Gras 1996 had ended. For many it meant it was time to go home. For others it was the start of a day of recovery parties. For me it was the end of one of the best nights of my life.

Here's my playlist on the night.

DJ Stephen Blomfield - RHI Pavilion - 10pm to 2am

Finally - CeCe Penistone ( 12" vocal )

Spend Some Time - Brand New Heavies ( Ace Remix Vol 4 )

Dont You Wanna Be Mine - Real Deal ( Direct Hit Remix )

Runaway - Janet Jackson ( Hot Trax Re-Edit )

Itchycoo Park - M People ( Direct Hit Vol 17 )

Everybody - Sybille ( 12" Club Mix )

House is our Music - Whycliffe ( 12" Mix )

Love Come Rescue Me - Lovestation ( Direct Hit Vol 13 )

Back To Love - Brand New Heavies ( 12" remix )

Happening All Over Again - Lonnie Gordon ( Original '88 PWL Remix )

I Want The World - Two Thirds ( Ace Remix Vol 3 )

Brilliant Feeling - Full Monty Allstars ( Ace Remix Vol 3 )

Get Into You - Dannii Minogue ( Hustlers Party Remix )

Feel Free - Debbie Cole ( Razormaid Remix )

Union City Blues - Blondie ( Ace Remix Vol 8 )

So Emotional - Whitney Houston ( 12" Remix Bootleg )

Its Not Over - Grace ( Eurotracks/Dancing Divas Mix )

Love Eviction - Quartzlock ( Club Remix )

Santa Maria - Tatjana ( 12" Club Remix )

Dreamer - Living Joy ( Discotech Remix )

Hustlers Party - Hustlers Convention ( "Oh what a world" overlay Remix )


12.00am show: Three Is Family


Baby Dontcha Leave Me This Way - Royal T ( 95 Almighty Remix )

I Imagine - Mary Kiani ( Motiv 8 Remix )

Brighter Day - Kelly Llorenna ( Motiv 8 Remix )

Right On Target - Paul Parker ( Ace Remix Vol 8 )

Let Me Feel It - Samantha Gillies ( Almighty Remix )

Gotta Keep Dancing - Corona ( Extended LP Version Mix )

Sex - Vicki Shepherd ( Eurotracks Remix )

Every Shade of Blue - Bananarama ( Ace Remix Vol 6 )

In The Evening 96 - Sheryl Lee Ralph ( Almighty Remix )

Break The Chain - Motiv 8 ( Ace Remix Vol 7 )

U Found Out - Handbaggers ( Handbaggers Club Remix )

Jellyhead - Crush ( Motiv 8 Club Remix )

He's On The Phone - St Ettienne ( Motiv 8 Club Mix )

Breaking Away - Kim Wilde ( Ace Remix Vol 9 )

Positive Vibration - Black Box ( James Fraser Strike It Up Remix )

Keep Warm - Jinny ( Club Mix )

Heartbreaker - Jill Dresky ( Eurotracks Remix )

Shoot Me With Your Love - D:Ream ( Ace Remix Vol 6 )

Loves About To Change My Heart - Donna Summer ( PWL 12" mix )

I hope this story brings back some happy memories for some of you.

Thank you.
.

Meeting Marcus Craig as Marie Antoinette just before going in to see Diana Ross (X10?) doing Macarthur Park followed by chain reaction. Also Queens without number running shrieking as the laser snakes on the wall were out to get them!! (Acid was big that year). Awesome costume parade.

No Mardi Gras stands out in my mind like the the one a few years ago (possibly 2000?) where Vanessa Amorosi did a show and she or her dancers were covered in mirrors and the lasers were bouncing off them as she/they were being suspended from the ceiling. It was the best show I've ever seen at a party. Vanessa is an awesome performer anyway so all together, it was simply magnificent. :D
Best Mardi Gras parade would have to be the one and only one I was in, 2 years ago, as a Tranny Nanny on the TV1 float. I gotta do that again next year I reckon.

this year at mardi- i heard a beyonce song from dreamgirls belt out and said to my mate in a very trashed manner" oh my GOOOD!!! its beyonce!!" for him to tell me " No love- its Pauline singing a Beyonce song" i couldnt tell the diff at that time of the night!! lol too funny

I am currently working on a book on the first Mardi Gras. Part of this will include an appendix listing participants and details about them.

If you took part in the first Mardi Gras - be it at the March, the following Monday outside the Courts or at the Fourth National Conference - would you kindly make contact with me on lslsj@bigblue.net.au.

Thanks.

Joseph Chetcuti

Joseph,

There was an excellent book put together in 1998 as a 20th anniversary issue. It is called "It was a riot! - Sydney' First Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras". I am looking at the copy I have now.

No disrespect to you, but what you suggest has been done covering the night, the police station, the court cases and lists all the names.

Further reading of that 1998 book(let) includes Joseph's name actually, not as arrested, but certainly as a participant. It is noted that Pinkboard was quite involved in promoting the collection of information for the group of 78ers that made that book(let).

Why are we re-inventing the wheel? The 30th anniversary about Mardi Gras should encompass research already produced BUT, way more importantly, needs to address the relevance of Mardi Gras today for gay youth and whether we are all just 'pissing against the wind' in our efforts to keep life in the old dame.

Yes, the relevance for us old buggers is important but we should be addressing what and why we are giving this to the next generation as it crosses into the beginning of the 4th decade of its life.

Pride is going through another death shudder even though the focus of late has been towards youth but Mardi Gras, purely due to it's greater size, has 'slumped' from 28,000 size parties 15 years ago to 14,000 size parties now. Doing the maths makes for a scary monetary income calculation on survival much past 2010.

As we have a 'lazy', to quote a Board member, Mardi Gras membership, with doubts, or difficulties, that a quorum will be reached at the AGM on Saturday morning, the issues about relevance and the future are much more relevant and important than, with all due respect Panther, MGMs.

Stephen is probably one of the few people who has, so wonderfully, documented his time as a player and viewer of MG parties over the last 20 years. Unfortunately the wall has actually risen little more in 'column inches' terms than Stephen’s detailed memories.

Perhaps it should be the MGF wall? (F for Future) Would anyone really care? How many new and different people would write here?

Bit of tongue in cheek here people but my point, none-the-less, as I battle to describe the past, many, wonderful MG experiences, when the future is so uncertain. Sitting in my den in the burbs reminiscing with others on this wall will not address the survival of our gay community, a subject of ‘Pride’ ridicule in this week’s SSO.

The sail lighting rig in Govt Pavillion.

The Duchess and I e'ing as Boy George coming on and couldnt care less and being supported by the fencing wire
they had around the stage then in a flash running onto the dance floor thinking Boy George the the best ever. That was the year he said something about it takes 2 straights to make one of us ! as had been some arguments over straights at parties.

Any of the parties in my beloved Hordern.

Dome when its all full of smoke and the music is hammering away.

Cant wait for Sleaze.

there´s been so many wonderful MGMs.

the buzz being a volunteer, before the parade, then walking up in the last group to finish the parade. we all felt like the Pope!

playing together as a dj there, with my bf, and later on a truck in the parade.

dancing with friends in a sea of people, who all greet each other with the gay christmas greeting "happy mardi gras".

being with the guys, and the girls, together (a rare pleasure we get in syndey, as opposed to other countries where gay and lesbian are separate worlds).

having my straight friends celebrating with us all, welcomed, and happy.

having my straight friend return from the toilets 3 hours later, totally confused because a mystery new friend offered him a line of coke, and then gave him k, and tried to take him for darkroom sex, to the nearest corner, to anywhere... all of which places my friend was confused by and asked the mystery man "why are we stopping" before finally working it out and coming back, still confused.

hopefully more good moments to come... i am sure they will

I'm so disappointed that nobody else has made any significant contribution to this wall. Doesn't anybody have any memories to share regarding the parties of their lives ?

I think they were all too trashed to remember.......I know I was!!!!

After 8 MG's str8 I finally entered the parade. I have fond memories of being ever so slightly numb whilst parading (2006 Egyptians)despite being told no d&a, it added to the whole crowd titillation thing, it was a blast working the crowd with my peacock feather fan.

j

Too Many Walls, Too Little Time Stephen.... it's priorities honey and most people live for the now or future not reminiscing.... Bless you though as you are one of the best in Sydney regarding Retro and history. Love ya work.

Scratch marks in my back from when first Kylie performed in 1994. My boyfriend was standing behind me and got so excited. I am sure the scratch marks are still there.

Sitting around the base of the gondola between Horden and RHI.

Buck Naked DJing in the Horden toilets. It was so hot down there.

The posters that have been appearing in the toilets the last few parties. This year's was "Objects of Trash".

Taking an hour to get from Dome to Horden because of all the friends I kept running into.

Saying hi to friends working in Medical. Taking friends to medical.

The year the closing DJ in the RHI played all the divas who had been rumours - Madonna, Kylie, Janet. Then stopping after each track so you thought it was the start of the show.

Lying on the grass out the back of the RHI on a beautiful sunny morning. (The grass is no longer there.)

Arranging to meet my boyfriend at one of the pillars in the RHI and getting the pillar wrong. We didn't get together until a couple of hours later. Thank goodness for mobile phones.

Being in the parade in the rain and getting soaked. Going home and throwing my clothes in the dryer before going to the party. I looked rather rumpled all night.

The Government Pavilion. The Ford Pavilion with the mens maze. The hall where they used to show the handicrafts next to the Government Pavilion. Sitting on beanbags in the Kensington Pavilion. The fridges in Dome.

Well it's a fairly recent party, but definitely my most memorable. I was selected to play 'trance' in the Up and Coming (when trance was still the only style I played).

It was also when I was volunteering every year as a MG Parade Marshal Team Leader. This year, however, I had bought some new Tommy Hilfiger shoes and thought it'd be a lovely idea to do the parade in those (wearing them for the first time). We started at 4pm and finished at 11.30pm, walking non-stop. My feet didn't feel too bad until we finally stopped walking and were about to sign off. Then it all hit me, and I literally couldn't walk without leaning on a friend for help.

So we all head straight to the party, but I had to make a detour to my car which was parking in the parking complex next to the RHI. Since I didn't start DJing until 4am, I rested my feet til about 2-3am), then ventured to the party - missing most of it. Sat around in Horden bleachers - stone cold sober - while my very 'festive' friends bounce around like idiots (I was just jealous I wasn't where they were hehehe).

The trance set went well, but I miscalculated how hard my first track was: Armin van Buuren's remix of the theme to the hit TV Series "24". Not only is 24 my favourite TV series, but the remix gave me shivers. Having come off from a slightly lighter set, it didn't go as well as expected - so promptly moved to the lighter fluffy vocal trance, and kept the tougher stuff for later.

I still do the Parade Marshaling every year, and next year I'm just as excited to do it again. Although, I'll be using slightly more worn in shoes

Aaww bless you Mr Hood! Cute story.

It was a Gras in the early 90s – can't remember which one (and that has nothing to do with pharmaceutical ingestion and more to do with age. Don't start me on my knee trouble). I could not get my excrement together to purchase a ticket prior, so I decided to join the queue at the gate on the night for a door ticket. Still a good ten meters away from the door, the dreaded 'SOLD OUT' sign came up to a chorus of groans and panicked wails from some who were utterly convinced that this was the year Madonna was going to turn up.

Not to worry, I thought. So I scaled the fence round the back, counting myself lucky that the outfit that year was predominately lycra and therefore accommodating of such Emma Peel-esque moves. No luck. Caught by a security guard, who I must admit was utterly charming and polite as he turfed me back out onto Driver Avenue. I had momentary hopeful images of the whole scenario turning into a Falcon video scene - he looked damned edible in that uniform – but I digress.

Last ditch attempt. I reluctantly decide to utilise the services of the ever-ubiquitous pond scum known as the Scalper. It's clearly obvious that this year Gras was the place to be. Tickets were going for up to $300, and even more amazingly, many poor saps were paying for it. For that price I would expect a ticket, a three course meal and my favourite barman lying naked in a pool of chocolate. I give up, reserve a special ring of hell for the now rolling-in-it bastard scalpers and stomp across the carpark back to Oxford Street in a very poisonous mood.

I promptly run into a chap on his way into the party. He stops me. His friend has decided not to come and he has a spare ticket. Would I like to buy it? I ask contemptuously what the price will be, thinking the exchange rate has probably escalated by now to five hundred bucks and a kidney. “Oh, I don't know,” he says. “$20?”

He was a bit surprised when I hugged him. We made our exchanges, he disappeared into the gates and I went into what turned out to be one of the most fantastic nights ever. Everything worked – the lights, the music, the people. My outfit didn't chafe or ride, a few punters said I had a nice arse and - gasp - all my friends were waiting in our prearranged meeting places at the prearranged times. I even fell in love. Five or six times, I think. Never saw my saviour again, but wherever he is I hope he's aware that one year he made one young queer with an Annie Lennox whiteblonde peroxide job – like I said, it was the early 90s – one very happy young queer.

Best memory since 1995 was this years Mardi Gras party in the Dome. It was 110 degrees - insanely hot! The Presets played live after Paul Mac and Stereogamous. After a few dull years, there was a finally a buzz of excitement about the night at Fox studios. People came, moshed, squealed and sung along. It felt as though Mardi Gras had finally arrived in the 21st century.
Here's to an amazing 30 years! And many more....

After doing 10 MG's and numerous SB et al parties, I finally got into the act in 2006.
Marching with the Egyptians (see the banner top of this page)the screams from the high pitched girls and boys was deafening, sometimes a bit scary, but delightful. Rousing the crowd into a frenzy, just blew me away.

As for the parties theyre all a bit of a blurr really but a nice blurr thats for sure. I seem to enjoy it more if I go with friends more than by myself.

JG

I was well aware of the booklet re the 78-ers. But just because one booklet was written and published, that does not mean the end of the analysis. Surely this needs no elaboration.

I am also aware of a number of inaccuracies in the booklet in so far as the listing of participants is concerned.


As to the comment and the relevance of Mardi Gras to gay youth, I have no objection to someone writing that kind of book. That is not what I am researching and writing. After all, there is other research in the world that does not concern gay youth.

Regards.

Joseph Chetcuti

Oh Jeezus do I remember that event. No one had thought this one fully through and Medical wasn't quite prepared for the number of people who suddenly turned up with eye irritations.

That was Launch 1992. As a board member at the time I was hideously embarrassed because it made the organisation look like it couldn't get a Sunday Tea Party to work. I can't remember whether it was the projector or the film which melted.

Oh - age shall weary them and the years condemn........

A certain original Pinkboader sitting on another members shoulders as they removed the fluro tubes from all the lights in the dunnies underneath the RHI, and very carefully placing all of those lights into a garbage bin so that none of the tubes would be damaged. Can't be too conscious of OHS!

Julian Clary and the SGLChoir singing Somewhere over the Rainbow in 1993. One of the very few times I've ever been moved to tears (and not on pain either) Oh yes. And Julian appearing on stage with his arm in a plaster cast (having fallen over a couple nights previously) only to declare: "Next time your fisting someone, make sure they don't get up to answer the phone".

The work of the Mardi Gras Medical Unit over the past (at least) 20 years and of Dick Liddy (R.I.P.) in having the foresight to set the unit up, although in a form, I doubt even he would concieve of it today.

I'm not sure it's totally on topic but anyone remember Mardi Gras' Summer parties at Alexandria B'Ball stadium??

RHI: It's about 4 in the morning there are people starting to disintegrate quietly into whatever spaces there were around the perimeters of the RHI when Movin' On Up came on. I have never seen everybody just pick themselves up and hit that dance floor. All of a sudden just no-one was lying down. Incredible moment for me.

Hey Panther!!,

Do you remember 1991 and 1992 when we did Pinkboard floats?? The days when we were young, idealistic and just plain crazy!
The 1992 float with that generator that was 1/8 the size of the truck bed we had;
The Shift(?) complaining that we were the only float to drown their music out as we passed them;
Gloria and the plumbing factory that we used on the weekend to build and store the float;
Our papier maché man and his nipples;
The PINKLINK theme (There is still a Master tape!)

Stephen Blomfield - Sat 30 Jun 2007 22:26:54
The 6am show was People Hold On by Lisa Stansfield, with a drag queen and some boys dressed in gold. I think the drag performer was Mogadonna. It wasn't a great show but I remember it because it followed that epic version of I Imagine. Thanks for reminding me of a great party. So much drama there was on Pinkboard over Warren Gluck, it makes me laugh to think about it now. I can't believe it was 10 years ago.

Oh my God, 1993, Philip, Kathy, the rest of you wonderful people who made Parade a statement. Kill het off? I doubt it! Make her relevant? Let's get started....

Im so hot for you Noisy Gypsy - come and give me to yourself this christmas.

I actually saved all my party tickets for MG and Sleaze.
Looking at each one is like reflecting on a mile stone in my life.
So much change over the years.
I loved Boy George back in 95 singing Hare Hare Krishna. I think he was painted in blue with a large Buddha image as the backdrop. I recall pointing out to someone that Buddha related to Buddhism and Krishna was actually Hindu.
At the time I didn't mean to be a smart fart.
They were golden times that I will always treasure and always be thankful for.
Is it my imagination or were people more thankful and appreciative back then as opposed to now?
Thats why I don't and won't give up on NMG. I want to keep it alive for those of us who aren't physically with us anymore.
Happy Mardi Gras 2008!

**Can't remember the year, but I think it was our First Lady of House in RHI playing "Let the Sunshine" just as that dredded ligh was streaming in the doors reminding us how quick the night had gone - yet again!

** Trying to meet friends under the gondola from the showground days

**The laneway - of course!

**Marshalling for the 20th Anniv

Aside from the first MG parade i ever saw (where some fantastic types did the 'opera house' thing with flowing garments every 100 metres or so!) - the best was the year I marched with MG as a "Xena". There had been rumours Lucy Lawless was going to come and lead us, and as such we waited until very late into the parade to begin (it was the 20th anniversary - 100's of floats/groups!). By the time we took off, we were over excited, the parade was all but over and the crowd were all pissed!. Mooching Xenas, rather than marching Xenas at that stage! The best fun I've ever had though, and not only did we not have to think about a costume for the night, we got congrats and love all night from people who like the routine in the parade. Brilliant. Lucy Lawless turned up - the next year! (lucky we didn't wait!)

Yes I remember Taylor Sq in 1978, when I was kind of str8.
I was 21 and I drove up from Melbourne to see what all the fuss was about after the affray. It was like a ghost town of sorts, raw and intriguing in its infancy. I cant remember faces, but I can still remember that bloody great block of flats on the left hand side as I drove up Flinders St. I thought maybe I can get lucky if I hang around the entry to those flats, you never no your luck in a big city. But alas I wasn't sure what to do in those days and you had to be carefull in case you asked someone the wrong question, so I came away empty handed. This year is also my 30th anniversary of that special time in my life.

PS; After all the partying over the years, I finally marched for the first time in 2006 with the 'Egyptians' see the banner above.

Buggered if I can remember the year – 2000 or 2001 - but it was when I was marching with the Community Support Network, wearing a tasteful little hat and weskit and carrying a sign supplied by the marvellous people at CSN. I preferred the feather duster and headscarf combination of the previous year, but I'm going off-topic...

Anyway, we had reached Taylor Square and the crowd was going mental., Lips and arms were starting to hurt from all that waving and blowing of airkisses, and I was starting to sound like Demi Moore on steroids from all the shouting. I was busy doing my usual thing of thanking the route marshals along the way (very important you do that, people – they perform admirably under the most extreme circumstances and get paid diddly-squat for it), when I noticed a tall, rather elegant middle-aged gent outside the broadcast booth where Bob Downe / Mark Trevorrow was commentating. I say 'elegant' because while the rest of the crowd were carrying on like washing machines stuck on spin, this chap was reclining casually in a deckchair, satorially respendent in white and sporting a floral lei in the rainbow colours. That's elegant.

Despite his laid-backedness, it was easy to see from the expression on his face that as I walked past himthat he was enjoying himself immensely at our little annual knees-up, applauding and smiling like so many others. But I was overcome with a strong sense of familiarity. He looked like Sir Ian McKellen.

I kept on walking and waving my sign, but it stayed in the back of my head. Was it Sir Ian McKellen? I'd always loved the guy, not just his acting but his politics, being an unashamedly out and vocal champion of gay rights, especially at a time when it wasn't the done thing (ie. Thatcherism and Section 28). On top of that, I thought him bloody sexy. But surely he couldn't be here?

By the time we reached the Taxi Club, it was driving my crazy. I had to find out. Offloading my sign onto one of my fellow marchers, I raced back through the parade to the broadcast booth where the gent was still reclining and still elegant. Couldn't possibly be him, I thought...

“I'm sorry,” I panted, now sounding like Demi Moore after a hundred-yards dash. “It is Sir Ian, isn't it?”

He looked a little surprised, maybe at the fact he had been recognised or at this total lunatic in a silly hat barrelling towards him at a rate of knots. Or maybe he'd misheard me and thought I called him 'Serena'. But he smiled warmly and nodded. “Yes, it is.”

Said lunatic could only stand there for several seconds totally dumbstruck before managing to speak. “It's so great to see you here!” I finally came up with. “Happy Mardi Gras!!”

“Thank you,” he said, in that Shakespearian-trained voice who left no doubt as to who he was. “Happy Mardi Gras to you as well.” And I gave him a hug. I GAVE HIM A HUG!!

I raced back to my group, practically doing cartwheels on the way. “I just met Sir Ian McKellen!” I raved to my colleague on who I had dumped my sign. “Sir Ian McKellen's at Mardi Gras!”

“Of course,” my fellow marcher smiled as she handed it back to me. “What better place to be?”

That's a gorgeous story! I love it. I can imagine how amazing that would have felt.

Here are a few of mine....Celebrating my 21st birthday (1989) on a Mardi Gras party night, what more could a boy ask for?The Snowstorm to Viola Wills - Stormy WeatherD:Ream performing "Things Can Only Get Better" with the microphones fucking up (twice), but never fear, we knew the words and seeing Peter Cunnah on stage just bewilded by the entire hall singing the song for him, was and is still a huge highlight for me.A troop of us bears following the mobile scaffolding carrying Deborah Cox to the other end of the hall and standing in front of her while she performed. Nothing beats front row like this...she touched my hand The Presets in the Dome last year...OMG.And many more that will live with me for ever!Congrats to all who have Performed/Voluntered/Donated, whatever, your time, dedication and efforts have made the many years of attending Mardi Gras the best party of the year!To all this year Happy 30th Mardi Gras.Remember, Party HARD & Play SAFE...see you under the mirror balls and lasers!

yup I remember the closing down of the Govt pavilion in 1990 (my first party) I remember leaving the hall as they shut off that stunning sail light show to find my friend Helen sitting on a wall brushing her hair (where she got that brush from I'll never know) like a siren from an old Black & White movie, calling people over and whispering in their ear "Don't tell anybody but it's a bomb" then watching the ensuing panic.

But this is my fav and it's from the same year, does anyone else remember the dude who had passed out on the small grass area, who was the center of the impromptu can mural? 3 of us sat spellbound watching it form around him, everyone walking past places a piece of litter around him until a large circular pattern emerged.

3 words....."Miss New Zealand"

The arrival of Queen Victoria in Sydney this morning and the anticipation of the two queens passing tomorrow has reminded me of an earlier visit of the QE2.

I can't remember the year, but it was the launch of the Mardi Gras Festival and the steps of the Opera House were covered with queens waiting for the proceedings to start. Suddenly the QE2, which was berthed at the International Terminal, started blasting its horn. This was greeted by an enormous cheer as the queens wished the Queen bon voyage.

Thanks for putting up all the past Mardi Gras posters Panther. Just looking at them brings back so many memories of fabulous times had watching many of the parades and attending so many of the parties. Can't believe 30 years has flown by just like that.

Used to luv the early years when we made a night of watching the parades - getting in early for best spot on Flinders Street with our deck chairs, esky full of food and drink. Was such a buzz just being down there on the street.

Can anyone else remember the early years when the cops used to come along on horseback and charge the crowds to disperse them after the parade? And now we have them marching alongside us - times have changed.

In the year 2000, we at ethel yarwood enterprises staged the Happy Little SODOMITES. But this is not about ME, this is about US and what WE can do.

The parade had already started, we were about in the middle of the parade order and just practicing our last minute choreography about 10 minutes before leaving the
start area. A rather agitated friend Steven, who had produced the Gay Games float of that year came up to me and asked,

"Kabi, what size is your generator?".

"4kVA", I replied suspiciously.

"That's a bit undersized but it might do", I was surprised to hear.

"The sound generator in our float is stuffed. We're the very last float in the parade. Can I have yours when you're finished with it?", he pleaded. "We'll get it at End Area from you."

We had to leave the start area at that point. Now you all know the chaos that engulfs Oxford Street during the parade, not to mention Start and End Areas. So not believing this was even remotely possible, I obligingly stuffed a business card into my frantic friend's hand and told him to leave a message on my phone if he still needed the generator and had someone to collect it.

At End Area there was no message on my mobile, so after a short break in Strip Joint we assembled to leave for home. At that very moment a ute came hurtling through the out gate, nearly flattening a few marshals on the way. "Where's Kabi, where's Kabi.", the driver was screaming. "I need that generator."

So we dismantled the structure on rear of the ute surrounding the generator and audio equipment, removed the generator, placed it on his vehicle and sent him on his way.

I don't know how he got to End Area, how he got back to Start Area or how they installed in their float in time, but the Gay Games float of the 2000 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (as it was known then) got up Oxford Street without anyone knowing what went on behind
the scenes... until now.

This must occur hundreds of times every Mardi Gras. We overcome these obstacles and hurdles placed in our way to represent our lives, fight for our causes, highlight our issues, tell our stories and laugh at the world.


Good luck everyone.