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PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING BY HANNAH BROOKS AND ANA VAZ
The Mardi Grass festival happens every year in the one street town of Nimbin. At one end of the street is the police station and at the other the Hemp Bar, which sells pot as freely as it does coffee. Usually Nimbin has a population of 400 but during Mardi Grass over 10,000 congregate there to smoke marijuana and protest its prohibition. We went this year and these are some of the people we befriended.
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ELSPETH
AGE: 53 |
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How long have you lived in Nimbin?
21 years.
So you’ve been to most Mardi Grasses?
All of them.
Has it changed a lot?
Mardi Grass has become huge. It’s the 15th year and there are kids in town that know nothing else. They say ‘Happy Mardi Grass’ like ‘Happy Christmas’. |
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Material Boy longest johns from Fat
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THE GODDESS
AGE: 53 |
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What’s your story?
I run the Church of the Holy Smoke and perform baptisms, weddings and exorcisms. I currently occupy the husk of a middle-aged man.
What do you think of your polaroid?
That’s how I felt last night. That looks exactly how I felt last night. That’s a beautiful shot, that’s lovely. |
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Karen Walker top from Fat
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STORM
AGE: 13 |
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Do you work at the Rainbow Café?
No, I just come here to help sometimes. I normally just eat from here but today they’re going to pay me.
Have you been to many Mardi Grasses?
I’ve been to three.
Does it get pretty crazy?
Yeah, tomorrow during the parade there’s a million people.
What do kids your age get up to around here?
I don’t know. Not much. Just running around. |
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Karen Walker parka from Fat
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EMILY
AGE: 18 |
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Have you been to Mardi Grass before?
Uh… yeah.
What do you get up to?
Oh, nothing.
What are your interests?
Nothing really.
What are you looking forward to at Mardi Grass?
I want to go to the markets and have a look around and just explore the town. |
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Karen Walker parka from Fat
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CAROLYNE
AGE: Undisclosed |
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What do you do?
I’m a retired interior designer. I once designed the interior of the Lodge, where the Prime Minister lives. Now I run a café in Nimbin with my husband.
Have you modelled before?
I was once on the cover of Woman’s Weekly.
Do you always have green hair?
I did it just for the festival. |
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Roadkill scarf from TV
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JOHN
AGE: 75 |
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How long have you lived in Nimbin?
I’ve lived here a long time. I wake up every morning surrounded by rain forest and think it’s as close to paradise as I could get.
Why do you think people like to live here?
Nimbin is a place where people, who don’t feel they belong anywhere else, can come and have a good life. Most who live here have an amazing story which keeps it contantly interesting. |
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