Live entertainment, performances, art stalls and free-hugs were just some of the highlights at this year's It's OK on the Macleay event.
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Families, friends, locals and travellers from as far as Brisbane gathered at the Kempsey Riverside Park on Sunday to celebrate diversity and unity.
Speaking to the Argus, Kempsey resident and founder of youth charity Baylin’s Gift, Hayley Hoskins said she felt blessed to be part of the celebration and a community of loving, generous people.
“The atmosphere on the day was amazing and we felt so blessed to be a part of it. There was so much acceptance and everyone was there for the same purpose of having a great time.”
“One gentlemen drove all the way from Brisbane to perform live on the day and then drove home – and there was nothing in it for him – that sums up the feeling of the day - everyone really wanted to be there and make a contribution to this which is really beautiful,” Ms Hoskins said.
One of the event’s organisers, Jennifer Clarke took to social media to praise the event as “the best day of my life.”
This is the best day of my life.
Crowd members were treated to performances from the Vogue Performing Arts Academy, Indigenous drag performers the Dreamtime Divas, and musicians Georgia Marsters, Amos Morris and Brisbane-based singer Tyrone Austin.
Kempsey’s favourite pie and cake shop the Tumblegum Bakehouse donated 70 cupcakes while the Domestic Violence Committee kept everyone fed with a BBQ on the day.
Ms Hoskins said the Vogue Performing Arts Academy felt it was important to be involved in the event to show support for the boys who have felt pressured to leave the Academy after being treated poorly for wanting to sing and dance.
“The response from the day was overwhelmingly positive,” Ms Hoskins said.
“Everyone wants the event to continue to occur at least every 12 months. This first event was really difficult for a lot of people because there was a lot of question marks around it and the timing of it was important as well – but it has been a huge success so I think we will look to do another one next year.”
Recently Ms Hoskins has spoken out for marriage equality. Ms Hoskins lost her son Baylin, who was battling depression and struggling for acceptance over his sexual orientation, to suicide last year and started the charity Baylin’s Gift in his honour.
The photographs taken over this weekend’s event are for sale with 25 per cent of the proceeds going to the Baylin’s Gift charity.
