Newtown's drag queens reveal less light is more
21 Mar 2007
Newtown's DreamGurlz will celebrate Earth Hour at Newtown Hotel
© Tim Georgeson
The Newtown Hotel's licensee Roger Z had a feeling Earth Hour would be a hit before he signed up Australia's oldest gay pub to the campaign.
Earth Hour, an environmental initiative which will see businesses and residents turn their lights off for one hour at 7.30pm on March 31 to reduce Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions, has galvanised a whole city.
From Bondi Beach to the Blue Mountains, Sydney-siders are keen to show the world Australians are willing to do something about climate change. The campaign's aim is to reduce Sydney's C02 emissions by 5% by March 2008.
Among the advocates for 'an hour of no power' are Sydney's top 20 restaurateurs, up to 1000 businesses including more than half of the ASX, footy players from both NRL and AFL, surf life savers, fashion designers Ksubi, musos like Wolfmother, Missy Higgins and the Cat Empire, the icons of Sydney including the Opera House, Luna Park and the Harbour Bridge, McDonald's (which will switch off its golden arches), militant mothers groups from Penrith to Bellevue Hill, up to 3000 schools, and now Newtown's environmentally-aware drag queens and publicans.
The last time the Newtown Hotel was plunged into darkness, due to an unfortunate nearby tree-meets-powerline incident, the loyal patrons decided that grog and good company were the real requirements of a great night out.
"We thought they'd leave in droves without lights and music, but we ran around grabbing as many candles as we could and everyone stayed and had a very good time," says Z.
"We do expect blackouts here - the Newtown power substation is a little fickle - so when my partner mentioned Earth Hour I thought this could really work.
"I thought the Inconvenient Truth was brilliant, it makes you want to do what you can about climate change - and it goes to show that entertainment makes people take notice about really important things like saving the planet.
"What is more entertaining than a drag, really?", says Z.
Loosely based on the Hollywood hit of the same name, DreamGurlz, starring Kitty Glitter, Minnie Cooper and Tess Tickle, the special Earth Hour drag show will be lit entirely by hundreds of mini-torches held by the crowd.
Owners of the Newtown Hotel are also encouraging their other watering holes to flick the switch for Earth Hour with Kinsellas, The Columbian, Manly's Steyne Hotel and the Shore Club now joining in.
Another Earth Hour advocate Vanessa Wagner, who will MC the Newtown Hotel's big show on March 31, says:
"In my career sometimes less light is more. When it comes to Earth Hour, if it's off, you're right on.
"I like to avoid fossil-fuel burning lighting as much as I can, I sure we can all have a go at it," says Wagner.
To find out more about Earth Hour, Sydney residents and businesses can visit the official website www.earthhour.org. Visitors to the site can pledge their support and sign up to receive a free Earth Hour information pack which, in addition to providing further information on the campaign, gives them hints and tips on how to cut their household and office electricity bills and emissions.
Find out more
Jacqueline McArthur, Media Communications Manager, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 9281 5515
Mobile: 0408 626 780
Email: jmcarthur@wwf.org.au
Note: Award winning agency, Leo Burnett Sydney, is WWF's partner in the Earth Hour initiative. The agency, in collaboration with WWF, has created the Earth Hour identity and logo and a (forthcoming) dedicated holistic communications campaign, designed to harness the power of TV, radio, print and interactive.
