Mardi Gras 2008 Photos

To keep the momentum of the Dairy campaign going this year's Mardi Gras float was called "Don't Be A Dairy Devil - Be a Soybean Queen."

Our lifesize/life-like cow Christine was the centrepiece for the float and she was secured on a flat top truck emblazoned with huge, colourful banners (thanks Greg White and Corporate Theatre!) saying: "Dairy Damages - Animals, the Environment, Animals and Human Health."

Atop Christine was international model Annalise Braakensiek as our Dairy Devil Queen and she was surrounded by hot, horned, red leotard wearing deviant devils sucking from Christine and waving pitchforks about. Behind the truck was a Fairy Bambino open top car with chauffer carrying Miss Soybean Queen aka Miss Summersalt aka Adam Hannaford replete with crown and sash, carrying a sceptre proclaiming Soy Milk. INXS "Devil Inside" pulsed and thrummed and kept everyone boogieing to stave off the cold.

And taking it in turns to carry the front piece Animal Liberation banner were 35 sparkly, shiny, beautiful soybean queens with tiaras, wings and tutus all skating, running, dancing, twirling and being fantastic advocates for a vegan lifestyle.

Heaven Leigh, whom many of you will know from the Bodhi Restaurant, gave her film making skills to document the occasion from interviews in the office pre float, throughout the entire parade to its weary but satisfying conclusion.

This year was Mardi Gras's 30th Anniversary and its largest ever parade with over 10,000 participants. It was great to be received by an estimated half a million people...many of whom were puzzled by humans suckling from a cow - possibly they thought milk came from a milk tree or that cows are treated well and have an idyllic life.

It will take some time to undo the propaganda machine of the dairy industry but our devils and queens certainly helped get the message out with a little humour and a whole lot of sparkle.