This year meant the thirtieth anniversary for Mardi Gras, but it was also the end of the road for its high profile chairperson of the last few years, Marcus Bourget.
Mr Bourget told OUTinPerth that although he would be leaving New Mardi Gras, ‘I’ll still volunteer…but I have a full-time job… I’ve been so blessed to be the chair for the last few years, but I need my life back. I need a break and this is a great way to finish. You have to let go at some point, and I don’t want to be in a situation where people are wanting me to go. I’ve done what I wanted to achieve.’
Although he felt that Mardi Gras was a bit tired and run down when he stepped into the role, he now feels that ‘everybody’s proud of it, everyone’s stepped up, and the celebration is back again and you can’t go wrong.’
‘My biggest success is not the financial success of Mardi Gras,’ he continued, ‘which is important, but it’s the sense of pride that Sydney has again in Mardi Gras – that’s the biggest. To see people coming to our event, selling out the party, wanting Mardi Gras to succeed, it’s just a fantastic feeling – it’s such a celebration of community.’
Marcus Bourget is not the only high profile leader to step down, with Midsumma’s General Manager Jarrod Hughes also announcing his resignation in March.
