Bright lights beckon drag act from Kempsey Shire

Dallas ‘Nova Gina’ Webster's paraphrase of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert's deathless words are really quite in character.

He is standing on a Massey Ferguson in full drag. His partner, Tim ‘Lasey Dunaman’ Towns, similarly sequined, is perched in high heels on the roof. Farmer Allan Prior sits resolutely at the wheel staring straight ahead. A chained goat called Nick loiters behind.

Just another day at Bellimbopinni.

Dallas and Tim have day jobs in town but some nights they transmogrify into the drag act, the Dreamtime Divas. And they are on their way to Sydney where they will be the headline act in Koori Gras, an exhibition and series of arts events celebrating First People’s involvement in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

How difficult is it to be a drag act in rural NSW when societal change is often glacial?

"Well, I grew up in Kempsey and it was very hard being gay," Dallas, 42, said. "Don't want to go into it, but I left town at 15."

Thirty-four-year-old Tim's experience echoed that of his partner: "Gunnedah. There were beatings. It was hell. Left as soon as I could."

Dallas returned to Kempsey to work for the local land council. Knowing he had been a hardy perennial in the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, one of his co-workers suggested a drag show to raise money for 2014 International Women's Day.

"It was not without trepidation," he recalls. "In the end we sold out the Kempsey RSL. They loved us. Made a lot of money for IWD too."

The Dreamtime Divas now get regular work around the area.

Diners at Taverna 6 restaurant at Grassy Head recall drag shows were a monthly event at Stuarts' Point.

"Things change but they take a long time," Dallas said.

"They sure do," said Bellimbopinni farmer Allan Prior. "If you'd told me 40 years ago that one day I'd have a couple of blokes in dresses on top of my tractor, I'd have told you to seek medical attention."