THE 2017 MARDI GRAS AWARDS
Best Choreography: Glamcocks
Best Parade Individual or Small Group: Wonder Mama and Friends
Each year Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras recognises excellence across our huge season of events, honouring those individuals and groups among us who go above and beyond to make the festival extra special.
We have three award categories – Fair Day, Parade, and Our people/Workforce – but everyone involved with Mardi Gras 2017 is a winner and we’re so grateful for the expertise, effort and passion you all put in. We’re a community-led organisation, and couldn’t do all the splendid things we do without the incredible energy of a multitude of volunteers each year. Thank you to all the people that put on the Festival behind the scenes – from the volunteers, to staff, to contractors, to suppliers… the list goes on, each doing their essential part to help make Mardi Gras magic.
This year’s award winners are listed below. Congratulations to all of you!
Best Fair Day Stall: University of Sydney
Volunteer of the Year: Danile Lester
MARDI GRAS AWARDS 2017:
FAIR DAY AWARDS
Best Commercial Food Stall: Berlin Bangers
Best Commercial Stall: University of Sydney
Best Community Stall: The Gender Centre
Special Commendations:
Pink Mountains
Rainbow Store
Rainbow Families
Fair Day Stall of the Year: Uniting
Best Parade Float Design: Poof Doof
Parade Special Commendation: Sydney Rangers
PARADE AWARDS
Best Choreography: Glamcocks
Ron Muncaster Award for Best Costume:
Nominees: Taboo
Freedom Angels
Poof Doof
Winner: The Force of Love
Best Float Design:
Nominees: Sydney Queer Irish
Sydney Rangers
Dr Mark’s Marching Academy
Winner: Poof Doof
Best Individual or Small Group:
Nominees: Miss Wagga Wagaa
Teresa Kompara
Winner: Wonder Mama and Friends
Special Commendations:
Northern Territory Hepititis and AIDS Council/Departure Lounge
Sydney Rangers
Sydney Queer Irish
Sydney Trans Pride
The Ron Austin Award for Fabulous Parade Entry: Oceania Rainbow Network
Ron Muncaster Award for Best Costume: The Force of Love
Award for Excellence in Teamwork: Louis Hudson
WORKFORCE AWARDS
Award for Excellence in Innovation: This award goes to the person whose innovative thinking solved problems and provided new ways of working that contributed to the overall success of an event. This year’s Award for Excellence in Innovation goes to Alan O’Riordan and Rick Stone.
Award for Excellence in Leadership. This award goes to the person whose behavior, attitude and performance demonstrated the qualities of teamwork, initiative and professionalism. This year’s Award for Excellence in Leadership goes to Kim Williams.
Award for Excellence in Service: This award goes to the person whose work throughout the season was diligent, reliable and selfless – someone that has gone above and beyond. This year’s Award for Excellence in Service goes to Adrian Hinder.
Award for Excellence in Teamwork: This award goes to the person who displayed a high level of cooperation, collaboration and team spirit in order to achieve excellent outcomes for everyone. This year’s Award for Excellence in Teamwork goes to Louis Hudson.
ICARE award: This award goes to the person whose conduct and attitude embody the organisation values of integrity, creativity, accountability, respect and equity. This year’s ICARE award goes to Laura Fazzolari.
Volunteer of the Year: This award is given to the most outstanding volunteer of the season. He’s been volunteering for 17 years, and has been the registrations manager for the last 10 years. The recipient of this award has shown leadership, teamwork and innovation, embodying every one of the organisation’s values. In the nominations he was described as an all-in-caps ‘SUPERSTAR’! 2017’s Mardi Gras Volunteer of the Year is Daniel Lester.
Parade Special Commendation: Sydney Queer Irish
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ann-Marie Calilhanna
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual or individuals who have provided outstanding service over many years to SGLMG and the community. They may have served on a Board, volunteered or worked for or have been engaged by Mardi Gras and provided consistent service and made a significant contribution over many years. They are always ready and willing to support the organisation and have demonstrated our values, leadership and have been a role model and fine example to others.
This year we honour one recipient who is worthy of this recognition and Award. Her stunning photography across every Mardi Gras season for 15 years has truly captured the diversity, fabulousity, pride and passion of our festival. The scale of what she achieves in documenting our communities – our highs and lows, triumphs and disasters – is immense. A simple Google search of her name + Mardi Gras provides links to 13,200 search results!
Our Lifetime Achievement Award for 2017 is awarded to Ann-Marie Calilhanna.
See Ann-Marie’s galleries of photos from the awards here and here.
