HUGE CROWDS CHEER ON REVITALISED MARDI GRAS PARADE

An estimated 450,000 people watched a shorter Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night.
A fine night and party atmosphere led to a huge bounce-back in crowd numbers, which fell during last year’s rained out event.
Highlights included Charles and Camilla’s wedding (featuring the ghost of Princess Diana), the Mardi Gras Adam and Steve marching group complete with giant John Howard-headed snake and a huge contingent of dykes on bikes.
The parade featured a strong family theme, with lesbian Playschool mums Vicki Harding and Jackie Braw leading the night’s events with daughter Brenna.
Oz Showbiz Cares paid tribute to Freddy Mercury, while TV1 highlighted The Nanny’s Fran Drescher. Police reported the large crowd was generally well-behaved.