News

Happy Mardi Gras to everyone! On Saturday, we marched!

Last Saturday 28 February, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Clients and staff marched in the forty eighth annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Our 4.3-metre-tall Guide Dog, Gulliver, led the pack, and we followed behind carrying banners and flags with our theme; Guide with Pride. Gulliver wore his famous sparkly rainbow neckerchief and rainbow booties, and the rest of us sported matching T-shirts. We also wore coloured lights, rainbow armbands, hats, wigs, glitter, and more!

It was a spectacular parade full of colour and joy, and everyone in the crowd gave a genuine cheer when they saw our float drive past. Our Mardi Gras ambassador this year was once again, Dolly Diamond, who held our float sign and marched ahead of Gulliver to introduce our float.

Guide Dogs Client, Scott Dixon-Smith, with his Guide Dog, Pretzel also marched in the parade and were interviewed by ABC and SBS for the festivities. It was Scott’s first time marching in the parade with Pretzel, as he said to ABC, “I could never imagine this. The only barrier is the one we set for ourselves, and we are better than that.”

Marching in the parade was incredibly important for Scott, as he says disability representation is becoming more visible in Mardi Gras celebrations. “We all have something to bring to the table that makes it a unique and beautiful experience. Those with disabilities, or different abilities or not, it takes a community. And I’m proud to be part of it.”

Thank you to everyone who organised and participated in the march this year. It was a huge team effort and we look forward to next year!