Behind the scenes with two Mardi Gras staffers, Dusty & Bel
As Sydney begins her skin routine and stretches to prepare for the big parade, we chat with a couple of the forces behind the scenes of one of the world’s biggest gay parties. Mardi Gras’ very own Dusty Hartland (Head of Engagement) and Bel West (Workforce and Operations Manager).
When was your first Mardi Gras?
Dusty: I think it was, maybe, around 1997 or 1998, when I was 16, with some of my soccer teammates (gay). I vividly remember when I understood the importance of Mardi Gras - I was working as the client services coordinator at the LGBTQIA+ youth organisation Twenty10, and experiencing the joy, connection and excitement through those young people was an “aha” moment about the importance of visibility and seeing yourself reflected in others for the first time. It has stayed with me since, and I still get a little misty-eyed when I see young people marching proudly and fiercely in the Parade, stepping into their identities and power for the first time.
Bel: My first Mardi Gras was back in the early 2000s when I was just 16. Some older lesbians took me under their wings and brought me to see the parade. We drove to a dodgy motel in Glebe and found a spot near Taylor Square on Flinders Street. I remember being mesmerised, seeing all these people who looked like me or were wonderfully different from anyone I’d ever encountered back where I grew up. It was peak dyke fashion: studded belts, chains, tight singlets, baggy pants, bad-coloured sunglasses, and spiky hair, an absolute haven. I found my people: the oddballs who didn’t fit into society’s mould and didn’t take themselves too seriously. That night, I realised everything was going to be okay. I wasn’t alone, and there was a whole world out there where I belonged. I loved every second of it.
Any tips for people who might be attending their first Mardi Gras this year? Any sneaky steers for viewing the parade?
Bel: If it’s your first Mardi Gras and you want a great view of the parade, I’d honestly recommend getting a ticket to one of the viewing areas like Taylor Square Takeover or the Sideshow. You’re guaranteed a spot, plus access to toilets, bars, and food. Trust me, as someone who isn't into scrapping through crowds, that convenience is everything! If you’re not keen on paying, Oxford Street tends to fill up quickly, so head to Flinders Street if you’re running late!
Dusty: It’s a long Parade, so make sure you stay hydrated. Look after your friends – the crowds are sometimes huge, and losing people is easy. Have a group chat or meeting place in case you lose track of each other! Above all else, have a fun time. It’s a beautiful celebration of diversity and visibility!
Can you tell us a little bit about your role for MG?
Bel: My role for Mardi Gras is basically a bit of everything. I’m responsible for workforce and operations, managing around 2200 volunteers over 2.5 weeks, including 1000 just for the Parade. Volunteers at Mardi Gras do so much more than just standard event roles. We have control room operators, backstage talent liaisons, fundraisers, bump-in crews for scenic elements, wayfinders, ticket scanners, and even workshop teams making costumes for the Party dancers and painting sets for Fair Day. Then there’s medical, which I also oversee—I manage the entire Mardi Gras medical committee and teams. These incredible angels have been at every event since the early ’90s, long before harm minimisation and party safety groups became the norm. The LGBTQIA+ community has always been brilliant at looking after each other. So yeah, it’s a bit of chaos, a lot of logistics, and an enormous amount of heart, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Dusty: I am the Head of Engagement at Mardi Gras. This, in a nutshell, means that I look after implementing and monitoring strategies and plans to help shape and promote inclusion and engagement initiatives with and for LGBTQIA+ communities engaging with Mardi Gras. I am also the producer of one of our events called Hot Trans Summer, which is an event by, for and featuring talent from trans and gender-diverse communities.
And what does the actual day look like for you?
Dusty: No day is ever the same, which is actually pretty great, it keeps me on my toes. I run community consultations, talk to LGBTQIA+ organisations about what Mardi Gras can do to support them, help the 78ers with their Fair Day stall and Parade float, write diversity and inclusion training, meet with our internal teams about how their events can showcase diversity and make everyone feel seen and included.
On Parade day, I usually start at about midday. I will visit our community partners in the Parade marshalling area with our CEO and then head up the Parade route to Taylor Square. From there, I will be on the ground to respond to things that come up and assist the Parade team in keeping things moving.
Bel: During Mardi Gras season, every day is an adventure you never really know what you’re walking into! Since I’m always prepared like a good lesbian, I usually pre-pack everything I need from the workshop the day before so I can head straight to site. When I get to the site, the madness begins. I grab my radio, but by then I’ve already got 182 texts, 1,682 missed calls, and about 71,819 emails asking things I’ve already explained. Six people are usually in my face with questions while I’m still trying to attach my radio, and I’ve already spotted four things that need fixing or will cause future problems. Anything can happen: someone might get hit by a car outside the event footprint, a storm might rip through the site overnight, sending stalls down the street, or the entire site might lose power just as 2000+ people are about to walk in. You plan for everything, but reality always throws surprises at you. What makes it all worth it is the community. Our volunteers are incredible—they give their time not for personal gain but because they genuinely care and want to keep MG that beacon of hope for people, just like it was for me at 16, standing at the parade and realising I was going to be okay. These volunteers are the heart and soul of the festival. I get to work with the most diverse, interesting people from all walks of life. It’s the recipe for a rich, fulfilling lifestyle, and I’m never bored and never without purpose.
What are some of your best memories of working at Mardi Gras?
Bel: There are so many amazing memories—it’s hard to pick just a few! This is my eighth year, and honestly, Mardi Gras is like a chaotic, beautiful, dysfunctional family (in the best way possible). There’s something about working events, dealing with challenges, and trauma bonding that creates lifelong friendships—not just with staff but with the incredible volunteers, too. One unforgettable moment was when Cher did her rehearsals to an audience of literally eight of us. It was like our own private concert from Cher! Another highlight was during Sydney WorldPride 2023. After the crowds had cleared, my team and I walked across the Harbour Bridge by ourselves—it was surreal and so special. That same year, after working 19 events across 17 days, our team celebrated by sipping on some Archie Rose, of course, and dancing our arses off—it was such a release after all the hard work. And one of my favourite rituals is at the end of Fair Day when the sun’s gone down, most people have left, and there’s just one DJ left on stage, likely banging out an ABBA remix. After the most hectic day, it’s this magical moment to dance and let it all sink in. Oh, and seeing Romy and Honey Dijon on the lineup this year? Absolute highlight! Can’t wait for that!
Dusty: There are so many! A definite highlight was watching Cher’s private rehearsal for her Mardi Gras Party show in 2018. I have loved Cher since I was a baby gay and seeing her a few meters in front of me was surreal. I was also lucky enough to meet Lucy Lawless (Xena), and that blew my mind!
Those two memories are obviously so cool, but I think the best thing about working at Mardi Gras is the friends that I have made. I have made lifelong friends working here, and that is a really beautiful thing. Coming to work every day, working with our LGBTQIA+ communities, trying to make a difference, and being able to do that work with your friends is really special.