Chinewrde Carnival Collective Profiles: Sara

Sara, The Blue Danube, 1995

20 years ago, having just met my new family via my partner, I wandered down to Redfern Avenue where an excited posse of people were dressing a huge lorry, having make up applied and laughing hysterically each time someone stepped out in their costume. It was my baptism into the Harris fraternity. The float was Glenn Miller 1992! What a strange and wonderful world.

Somehow, and I can't ever remember saying yes but, 3 years later I had grown moustache, got myself into a dress coat and was learning to waltz for The Blue Danube 1995.

I suppose now is the time to admit that I really enjoyed myself but don't tell anyone. As well as the procession I enjoyed going to the fair afterwards still in costume much!

In 2010 I was recruited into the newly formed Chinewrde Carnival Collective and debuted as a zombie page boy, not quite as refined as an 18th century aristocrat dancing to Viennese waltzes. The Zombie Carnival Queens.

The fun bit is the skills we have to learn, and with dancing the waltz under my belt, I now had to learn how to play the snare drum for the Chinewrde Marching Band in 2011. Apart from winning, the most memorable feat was actually walking the carnival that year instead of slumming on a lorry.

But my most vital role is cooking and supplying 20 bacon rolls to the collective, really early on the morning of the carnival as the team dress the lorry and then themselves. I love it, thank you for letting me be part of the family.