A lycra-clad Shellharbour group will celebrate 10 years of performing in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival with an upbeat '80s aerobics-themed routine.
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The salaciously named Shellharbour Shag-harders have taken part in every parade since 2012, when Sally Oerleman formed the group as a 'coming out' party of sorts for a relative.
"All of us got together because my cousin, he was coming out at the time, so we really wanted to support him, and we thought Mardi Gras was the best way to do that," Sally said.
"When I first started the parade, I was surprised there wasn't a group in the area, and people are so proud that we are presenting such a small part of the Illawarra.
"I feel privileged to represent a beautiful area."
The theme for their 10-year anniversary performance is "Don't stop moving", which will have a retro workout focus.
"For the costumes, we will be doing '80s lycra outfits, and we are going to be incorporating light-up skipping ropes, and baton lights.
"Because we can't have a float, we really have to focus on the group and the dances."
The overall theme of this year's Mardi Gras is 'Rise', which is about the community coming together and emerging stronger.
Each group is allowed to have 40 group members marching in the Sydney Cricket Ground parade on March 6.
For Illawarra drag queen Roxee Horro, the Rise theme represents the courageous and joyful spirit of the LGBTQI community.
"No matter what, we are a resilient bunch of people and we will still rise to the occasion and do what we do best, and that is look fabulous, and bring happiness to everybody," Roxee said.
Roxee is another regular who will be making an appearance this year, but this time not in the parade.
Instead, she will be hosting a pirate party with other queens at Darling Harbour.
"We are all going to go as different pirates, so we are going to be pirate wenches, we're all performing on there, we're playing games with everybody and it's going be one big old gay pirate ship party," she said.
Like Sally, Roxee said she feels privileged to represent her adopted hometown.
"I wouldn't be Roxee Horror if it wasn't for where I live in Wollongong.
"I would have never started this growing up where I grew up, I feel that Wollongong is very accepting as a whole.
"There are sub-communities within our community, so you haven't just got your gays and lesbians, you have your intersex people, gender fluid.
"We're everywhere, and it's now that we are standing up to talk, and it's amazing to have a community that has just looked after us."
Mardi Gras will be taking place from February 19-March 7. The parade will be televised on Saturday, March 6.
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