Smith, Ron

 

Ron Smith

Ron was born in Sydney and went to art school and was involved with the student politics and the alternative art community in Darlinghurst in the early 70s. In 1983 he volunteered to work at the first Mardi Gras workshop in Bourke Street with Peter Tully and helped create some of the parade’s most memorable entries. He gives an account of the philosophy of early parades, the working conditions and the politics of the organisation, the work creating the dance parties, the increasing numbers of roles women took on in the 80s and the contributions of people like David McDiarmid, Bill Whittaker, Doris Fish and Cath Phillips.

Photo: Palani Mohan

 

Oral history recordings

Automated transcripts of our oral history interviews are available to researchers on request. For access, please contact us, stating the name of the interviewee, date of interview, and your purpose of use.

SPride History GroupLSD, Paddington, Gosbel Street, Burt Flugelmann, Bob Gould, 3rd World Bookshop, East Sydney Tech, Arts Students Union, Ken Reinhardt, Bonython Gallery, Oyster Bay, Black Box, David Humphries, Christo, Little Bay, Kim Hilder, St George Tech, Liverpool Street, Gurinji Aboriginal Land Rights, Rosalie Cawthorne, Maria Hishon, Adam Plater, Ros Dent, Marie Cottier, Watters Gallery, Savat, Bill Trangitello, Mort Fist, Williams Brothers, Land Rights, Moratorium, Jenny Hooper, Riley Street, LSD Fogg, Tony Goodwin, Roxy, Ourimbah Festival, Johnny Allen, Surry Hills Arts Factory, Epidiascope, Yellow House, Martin Sharpe, Richard Neville, Sylvia and the Synthetics, Andrew Sharpe, Randy Neuman, Kandy Johnson, Kristal Pistol, Purple Onion, Cloudland, Elands, Glenmore Road, Bill Dwyer, Gladney Oakley, Taree, Glebe, Mitchell Street, Hereford Street, Mark Fletcher, Linda Cawthorne, Mardi Gras, Peter Tully, Bill Henson, Boomerangs, Cronulla Gay Group, David McDiarmid, Linda Jackson, Jenny Kee, Gay Liberation, Ros Bower, Australia Council, Bill Whittaker, Murray McLachlan, Bruce Pollack, Tony Crewes, Gary Whitelaw, David Ryan, Cath Phillips, Robert Lake, Unicorn Hotel, Greg Howard, Divine, Imelda Marcos, misogyny, Dennis Lennox, Mardi Gras Committee, Heather Grey, financial irregularities, Cayte Latte, Martina Navratilova, HIV/AIDS, ACON, Fred Nile, Sleaze Ball, Peter MacDonald, Peter Wherret, Channel 10, Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Wherret