Sunday, March 7, 2010

Chill Out Parade!


I feel so proud to live in a town like Daylesford.

A town that is country one minute and the next minute is playing host to Australia's second largest gay and lesbian festival, Chillout.

I feel so proud to live in a town that celebrates diversity.

As I stood in the main street of our town this morning watching the parade go by I felt overwhelmed with emotion and I cried.

Whilst doing everything I could to stop my girls running on to the road to be part of the parade, I felt so happy with our decision to move here nine years ago. I feel that a town that has a festival every year to celebrate people that are given a hard time in other towns, is the place for us.

I love a celebration and a parade and this one had it all with its crazy characters, drag queens and kings, motor bikes, bands, parents, kids, cloggers and fire engines.

This regal couple were my highlight.

After the parade they stayed in character and posed for many photos.

Their costumes were made entirely of bubble wrap and were just fabulous.



But the thing I love most about where I live is that a four minutes drive from town takes us home and from here we could be in the middle of nowhere.

So Happy Chillout to you all!!

I hope you are having a wonderful, colourful weekend too. XX

33 comments:

  1. WHOA, that bubble-wrap gown is amazing!

    Way to make me want to move again... and that is no easy feat with the bloody pain that moving has been so far!

    Enjoy the rest of your weekend in your wonderful town!

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  2. Loving that bubble wrap couple.
    But I think my favourite is the copper with the fishnets!! Clashic.

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  3. Actually, my favourite might be the one with the pretty blue dress and the boots in the last shot!

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  4. What a lovely post Kate. I didn't know there was such a festival in Daylesford. You learn something new everyday! Looks like a lot of fun.

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  5. It's such a busy weekend this one isn't it, chill out, begonia, moomba? I just love the party atmosphere on weekends like this, glad the rain was yesterday and it's not as bad today. Enjoy the rest of your day.
    lizzie
    xxx

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  6. It would be nice to live in a world where everyone was treated with kindness, no matter what color skin, what religion, what lifestyle, how fat, or how much $ they made.

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  7. Living in a town with such diverse personalities must be so great. The parade looks like lots of fun and the bubble wrap couple look amazing. Hope your having a nice weekend Kate.

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  8. Oh yes, the 'lil chunky monkey in the last shot is my fave!

    Did you weather the storm ok? My garden was shredded but house and car unscathed. Hope you and yours are too.

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  9. Yaaaaaaaaaaaay Daylesford!!it sounds so similar to Bellingen in lots of ways... I know exactly what you mean about being proud of your town. A few years ago during all the antiwar protests around the world our little town had a march and protest that actually turned out to be the biggest march in the world- per capita- 3000 people marched in a town with a population of 2000. We made news worldwide and an article in a massive newspaper in London. tears in my eyes and like you, so glad I moved here.

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  10. I was in Daylesford this morning, but unfortunately I didn't get there in time for the parade :( But there were plenty of people around and a really fun festival atmosphere in the town - what a good day we picked to come up for a visit!

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  11. It sounds like an idealic spot to live. Great pics Kate, my favourite is the last too.

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  12. The bubble wrap outfits are fascinating!

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  13. Sounds and looks like a lovely even.

    I first visited Daylesford about 10 years ago ad fell in lov with the place too. We stayed at the Pendower House BandB and have been back a few times for different occasions and the wedding of my BIL:)

    I love your little piece of paradise - the more years we are in the defenceforce the more we want to excape back to the country (DH is a sheep farmers son!)

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  14. Yes, the frocks were fabulous. What brought tears to my eyes was watching my adolescent neighbour walking with his mothers support in his first parade. No matter how open and welcoming this weekend has been, it was still a very couragous act to out himself in his home town. He, and others like him is who chillout is for.

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  15. Amazing! Yea for taking your girls! And my one disappointment in not being born a boy... I would have made a fabulous drag queen!

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  16. That's one colourful looking show! Looks like it was very good fun. It must be a wonderful feeling to feel so much a part of a lovely town like you do. And I love the idea of your bit of country being so close to the centre of town. That's my sort of living in the country!

    Loved the 'pop paper' dress as my girls call it. Very creative people.

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  17. How fantastic! All looks like heaps of fun, glad you have had a great weekend.

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  18. What fun, wish I could visit....

    I too am a fan of the last...So cute!

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  19. Thanks for this post.. looks like a truely remarkable event & town.
    Daylesfords got it together let's know work on the rest of this great country. Important to celebrate diversity!!

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  20. Up there with Sydney's Mardi Gras by the looks of it! The bubble wrap dress was awesome, I love popping the bubbles so it would have been a perfect dress for me.
    I have thought of writing a shorter version of my blog in English, as I have lots of friends wanting to read it too. I haven't quite gotten there yet though....

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  21. Ace post Kate! Fantastic photo's and I so agree with you, what a wonderful place to live. See you later alligator xo

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  22. Being in the middle of nowhere in that blue dress sounds divine to me.

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  23. Wow, so much to check out, that's so cool they pose for snaps too!! Love Posie

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  24. Hey!!
    Thank you for the kind words on my blog. You have a lovely blog I will follow in the future:)
    Love your trees on the vintage fabric.
    Have a nice day !
    Cecilie

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  25. I'm with you on the pride!!! You live in a magic spot!!

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  26. I'm soooo coming to Daylesford when I can!!!!

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  27. Change the concept of pride for that of delight, and see your life change

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  28. Yay Daylesford! I lived in Creswick for years and years and years, but I love Daylesford too!
    Parade looks great. We came up for the Roller Derby on Sat :P

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  29. wow fabulous! fabulous!

    love the last pic of your country princess she does bush elegance really well hehehe

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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