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Daddy anything? [00:00:30] [00:01:00] My wife. [00:01:30] [00:02:00] You I know, but like, you know [00:02:30] OK, bye kind to me. Hello? Fuck you. My, my The mother had come and and And they [00:03:00] fucking way up to you, though? [00:03:30] Yeah, is [00:04:00] Well, you know how to like Hello. 10, 18. Um, zero. [00:04:30] Thank you for a night. [00:05:00] The car. We are [00:05:30] [00:06:00] very briefly. I'm not going to keep you long, but it it's it's, uh an honour and a privilege that I don't get very often to speak in a place that's not my home. So [00:06:30] greetings, first and foremost to the home people of this area. And I'm only speaking to Mr who is coming today has become unwell and is unable to be here and so in. Instead, I'm, uh, privileged to be able to speak and to welcome you formally to this memorial service. And for And so for those of you who have brought her memory and the memory of [00:07:00] the other that has been brought in here Greetings to you who've come from her home place for her friends and loved ones who've come from from Wellington, from all of you who have gathered from a and especially those who've come especially over from Sydney, to bring her memory back to us. So we can share greetings to you, [00:07:30] [00:08:00] [00:08:30] [00:09:00] [00:09:30] [00:10:00] [00:10:30] but yeah, find it. Ladies and gentlemen, please make some noise. Yeah, [00:11:00] mhm, the like that and [00:11:30] way she look at that. Look at that. Scared people of M of the way [00:12:00] we will. Donna. We used to get it re written. Every had the chair hands to down the would we, David, would [00:12:30] we do it again? Here he like he like heaven and above. But we would go again. That's right. Tonight. Tonight we're celebrating our fabulous girlfriend, Carmen Rupe. Yes. And what do we do to make noise scream? This isn't gonna be repeated. This is it. And what's needed is seeing the young and some of the young ones had no idea that a long time ago, like when I was a little homosexual, we could have gone to prison, had labour. [00:13:00] Life was really hard. If you saw a man and he was up for it, you did it because odds are they were married. They had a respectable job. They were an MP. Some still are MP S. But you gotta be gay to be an MP now, don't you? Really? It's kind of so I have lots of guests and lots of singing and a few surprises. But just relax. If you feel you need to stand and move around, it's a memorial. And I'm so glad [00:13:30] that were here. We met in Sydney at the at the funeral, and we test for the first time. How long have you known each other and never met? Oh, I don't know. 84 months, 40 years. We're glad you're here. Thank you for coming and throughout. Relax. And if there's a mistake, that's a good thing, because it's not rehearsed. Just whatever comes out, comes out. Just keep it honest. And please, if you can't see here but this come to us this evening, [00:14:00] Miss Penny do, ladies and gentlemen. Yeah. Tell me [00:14:30] what we would We like. You Who? Yeah, the And what? At you. We? [00:15:00] The telephone. There was the car. That was the coffee lounge. We went to the coffee lounge. Yeah, I do. I think a few of them in the coffee lounge. And remember the flower fashion accessory in those $2 shops And those earrings Smith and Coe don't have those. I can tell you like Christine. Yes, the way [00:15:30] I know so many stories that I'm gonna say them because everybody else is gonna say them. Um, but I did watch, you know, the musical Carmen, because that was one of the reasons she took the name Carmen [00:16:00] And those of you who don't know our friends in Australia who are here who come who I met at. They will tell you later. But officially, when Carmen was laid to rest, she was laid to rest as a woman. And that's an amazing, beautiful thing for her and her journey. So I was watching car in that musical, but I saw the black one. You know, that thing is Dorothy Dandridge. No, obviously not near over 25. Well, we're lucky this evening because my dear friend, Jackie Clark is going to sing [00:16:30] the song from Thank you. And here you are him to child, [00:17:00] and he won't pay any mind what? See his diamond stuck and I won't give him my cigarettes. Do handle? Yeah, yeah, [00:17:30] you go for me. I bar to get oh, I do. That's the so don And [00:18:00] to I tell you to He is my The decides to fly Mary can [00:18:30] and she can assault from her tail and go, You will get taught. And here is your today you. And if I got you out Yeah, [00:19:00] you go. Hm. But if they are, are you handy you, then you. Yeah. So take a Yorkie. Don't say I didn't [00:19:30] Yeah, I tell you to leave if I am. That's the [00:20:00] Thank you, Jackie. She's fantastic in the machine. Great. OK, now all you speakers who come up here to some of you want the mic stand, some of you won't feel free. We're very lucky because, um, as you know, carbon is the last of that generation. You know, there's a handful of you here now, In fact, there's a whole row of you here now, to be honest, actually, you can tell that row of Queens Look at them. There's six. There's six queens here. Stand up, ladies. Let's have a Come on, stand up. Stand up. [00:20:30] Come on, Donna, you would like to come and join us now. Uh uh uh um What can I say? Oh, my Coxes [00:21:00] Creek. The one tree hill. No tree anymore. But I reside in Wellington now and lived in Australia as well. And it's a great privilege to be here to talk about somebody that was a lady. No matter what Carmen did in life. Carmen was a lady. Carmen never swore. You never heard Carmen raise her voice publicly. I think I only heard it once. Um, privately. Um, [00:21:30] she wasn't one to to, have a vulgar mouth. And she was a very respectful lady. She was a very giving person. A lot of people don't know the Carmen that I knew that was very generous giving, uh, she donated to charities. People didn't know about that. When she had her business, she gave to charities. Um, she wasn't a person to talk about those sort of things. She just did it. Um, I used to go and see her in Sydney after she lived in Sydney, and [00:22:00] I was in Melbourne and it was always come out for lunch and she would shout, and there was no way you could get to pay. And, uh, she also knew that people were ripping her off in lots of ways because she had a a girl that used to work for her by the name of Shelley. And Shelley bought this car. And this is Carmen's wit. As I said, she never cracked jokes, but she had a very dry wit. And she said to Shelley Oh, I see you bought us a car with my money. Where [00:22:30] are we driving to, dear? It tells, or someone come in with a bus job. Did I pay for those kids there? Did I pay for that sex chain? You know, um, but, you know, people talk about her career and all the things she did. They people forget that she was a very loving, giving person. She could move across boundaries. Uh, she was just at it as a home at, um, city mission up in Sydney. Um, she [00:23:00] was city mission here before she went away. She used to go to the soup kitchen. Um, and she was a legend on both sides, and there was never nasty things come and never did bad things that made us look to be ashamed of who we were. She made us proud to be who we are. And she was a person that wasn't afraid to stand up in the limelight of because she loved it. But, you know, she made them pave the way for us. And for people that probably, um, would never have known what they were or were too frightened [00:23:30] or didn't believe. Because in my day, I first met Carmen when I was 13 or 14 years old and she was maybe 23. 24. She had just come back from Sydney. She was working for Ray and has at the top of street Little Queen Street. It was called opposite the Kara. And I had a friend that worked in the Kara and, um, Carmen came in this beautiful Che on Sam. Long hair looking absolutely amazing. I thought, Oh, I'm sure she's fine like me. So I shot up to the counter to have a look and [00:24:00] I don't know. And then as she left, I said to the girl behind the counter, Is she like me? And she said, How do you know? I said, I don't know. I just feel it, you know? So I followed her to work, and she used to work, as I said in Upper Queen Street, and they used to have a guy on the door, and I used to be watching Every time the door opened, I'd be watching to see if she was on stage. And she felt sorry for me because I'd be there nearly every night. She said to the guy, Oh, let her in. She only wants to watch. She's not gonna do anything. So I was allowed to go in and watch the show. That's the kind of person she was. And she [00:24:30] never knew me from the bar. So, you know, But she knew we were. And um, yes, I think that people have got to remember calm. And the woman the woman that gave to all of us, gave us jobs when people wouldn't give us jobs. I mean, the balcony, the coffee bar, and I mean And also in those days, a lot of people didn't know that we were queens. Uh, it didn't get out until Wally Martin started his dirty rag and sprung Carmen [00:25:00] and all the girls. So then it even made it busier for Carmen because they'd come up to the balcony and and look at all and and and they'd pick all the real girls as being the Queens. That one. So it was you know, we had great times, and it was hard times She changed the I ran away from Auckland because it was so torturous up here. They used to put the dogs onto you and throw you in the lock up every night. And And she changed those back for us in 1966 when she got arrested [00:25:30] and it was brought in court that the There's no law against dressing in the opposite sex as clothes, unless to cause the flow in that example Black in the face. And she wasn't doing that. So that made it so much easier. And that was the first step for us to get along, you know, and Carmen did that. And, um, I'd just like to leave you with a little bit of her wit. Um, as I said, she never allowed us to pay for lunch. She'd go there and she'd tell you where to meet her or go and pick her up. And but she'd already arranged the day [00:26:00] before that the meal was paid for or whatever, you know, well, And if you were leaving, she'd be trying to put money into your and buy a scone and a cup of tea on the way home. She was just like a mother to us all, you know. And this day we got away with it, took her to Fox City in Sydney, and my friend Natalie and Jason, her and, um and I don't know if I can do it in this church. It's a bit risque, but anyway, uh, her nephew, I used to hide down here when I went to Sydney Memorial Technical College. It's [00:26:30] so so gay that it's a gay church Now. I used to hide from the boys down here until they all went home. My bus stopped out the front, you know, anyway, we we fox sitting and, um, she's sitting there and she said to me, We talk. She was talking about something came up about being in jail. And of course, we were always getting picked up and thrown in jail and she said, Oh, girl did did they used to stick their booty through the people at you, and I said, Oh, I used to hit it with my plastic knife, you know? And she said, Oh, I used to say, Oh, how disgusting. I couldn't [00:27:00] go [00:27:30] [00:28:00] cars mhm welcome. When I was asked to put to put a song together, I wasn't quite sure what to do. Um, I've written hundreds of songs over the years, and I kind of remembered that come and possesses qualities that I believe a girl like me would aspire to. [00:28:30] She is graceful, She's beautiful, She's full of fire. She's courageous. And I think, um, any girl would love to grow up and be like her. I don't have my guitar with me this evening. I just have my voice. So I'm going to sing a song called, um Songbird. Mhm. So [00:29:00] then he's no crying so little bit shy Come up we [00:29:30] And I hate it. The song Mhm. I love I never two [00:30:00] You, um, would give Oh, bye. Was this It's so [00:30:30] I don't know. And its kids? No. Yeah, like [00:31:00] and this so thank you. Um, our next speaker goes back. I met him properly When? Um, the late John Draper and I see Tim Co is [00:31:30] here today. We created a show called Carmen's International Coffee Lounge about 94 95 and I met this man. He's New Zealand's gossip columnist of the things he knows that. Well, you know, his lips are healed. Um, but I'd like him to come out and speak now. He is also David Hard is the patron of the Vari Variety Artist Club of New Zealand. A very close colleague, friend of Carmen and always the perfect gentleman. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr David hard. [00:32:00] I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know any Maori. I only know two languages, English and rubbish, that I've made my life writing rubbish. But, you know, I've got to say that if life has taught me one thing, it's happy. Endings only happen in the movies. Carmen told me that about 20 or 30 years ago. You know, she may be very well right now. I spent time as a celebrity gossip columnist working and interviewing [00:32:30] stars and celebrities from all walks of life. And let me tell you, there are some people who no matter what will be a star. And Carmen was one of them. I used to pick the phone up at home and she'd say, Darling, tell me all the gossip and I'd start No, no, no, no. She'd say, Start off like the gossips. And I had to say welcome. And I'm not one to gossip, but And she used to laugh. She said, That's what I want. I want all the gossip And she loved the gossip. She loved movies. It was extraordinary. [00:33:00] The vocabulary that she had on all movies, which was quite astounding. You know, she was a dealer. She was a style icon, an artist and a very generous soul over her lifetime. As you said, people ripped Carmen off, exploited her and her uniqueness. Did Carmen ever complain? Never. Did she hold a grudge? Never. She just got on with doing what we love about her being calm. [00:33:30] At this point, I'd publicly like to thank two gentlemen that I met at my house through, uh, Carmen. And that's Jurgen and Robin, who are here today from Australia. And I'd like to personally thank you for looking after Carmen right up until her last breath from the bottom of my heart. I thank you both. I first met Carlin back in the 19 sixties. Even then, she was a person who did what she did out of passion simply because she wanted to, not because she had to, and I so admired [00:34:00] her for that she was blessed with a wonderful dry wit. As you said, it was just extraordinary. She should have been a stand up comedian. She had a unique fashion style, as as, uh, my friend said, They're now on the $2 shop and I think of car and every time I see those clips and those flowers. She was a Trailblazer for New Zealand, uh, gay community. She certainly opened floodgates for transgender people and for drag queens. But you know what matters [00:34:30] most to me. It's not the dry wit. It's not the way she dressed. It's the dash line that will go on a headstone between the year of her birth 1936 and the year of her death, 211. You see that dash line represents all the time that Carmen spent a life with us here on Earth. But then only family and close friends will know what that dash line was really worth. I'm so very [00:35:00] proud to say that Carmen was a dear friend of mine, an extraordinary friend during that dash line. Now there's nothing more than an entertainer likes than a standing ovation. I'm going to ask you all now if you wouldn't mind standing because this is a final curtain call for So would you mind standing? And let's give her the ovation that she deserves as an entertainer. Let's hear it for Carmen the entertainer. [00:35:30] I think that would be about three curtain calls. Thank you for doing that. And I'm certain that she's heard that rousing applause. And it brought a smile to those blood red [00:36:00] lipstick covered lips that we all love so dearly. Thank you for allowing me to speak on this day about my friend Carmen. We celebrate her life and her times. There was only one Carmen. There will only be one Carmen, and my lips will not be sealed when it comes to talking about this wonderful lady. Thank you. My name. I won't help [00:36:30] before I know. But, um, I knew since I was 15 and she was a wonderful person. She always said to me, You can join the gypsy tramps and beats people that Jesus really liked. Always do it to the max. Don't do it half hard it, she says. The meat made healthier but never be in it. And she always said to me, Do it to the absolute best to come. Come consider the of the field how they grow. [00:37:00] Neither that they to nor that they we it, Solomon and orders glory was not a arrange, one of which think about it. There's still seven countries in the world that murder legally homosexuals. [00:37:30] And we live in this amazing country. We are in a church celebrating this most amazing woman, Carmen and I know. And I think they may have gone, but they were very close friends of cars. Are they there? They gone. They've gone. They've gone. Don't you girls want to say anything? They've gone. There's a queen. Um, Ladies and gentlemen, now we have Richard Kingsley from the Human Rights Commission. Thank you for coming today, [00:38:00] Richard. Uh um, I've already done some greetings, but, uh, I'm now putting on my formal hat for the Human Rights Commission. I'm a commissioner with the Human Rights Commission. And, um, the human rights of, uh, people of, uh, sexual orient with different sexual orientations and gender identities is one of the areas that I cover. Um, I'm a cisgender gay man. There we go. Just in case [00:38:30] you were wondering, uh, and uh, it's been a great privilege to be working, uh, for the commission and, uh, in that role, I want to pay tribute, particularly, and our previous speakers have mentioned made mention of this particularly you David, of the amazing contribution that Carmen made over her life. To human rights, for trans people, for gay people, [00:39:00] for lesbian people, for bisexual people, for intersex people because she actually stuck up for all of us. I've got some notes, and if I don't use them, I'll stand here for hours in random rate. So I am going to refer to them. It's really important to know that human rights are internationally agreed. And in 1948 New Zealand was one of the signing, drafting and signing parties to the Universal Declaration [00:39:30] of Human Rights. And one of the first statements that that declaration makes is that all people are born free and equal in dignity and human rights, and that applies to all of us, not just people that we like, not just people that we approve of, but all of us, because we're human and for me is two things I'm getting. I'll stand [00:40:00] back a little bit, Carmen has been in this regard and in fact, for our whole let me say Rainbow Community and those of us who belong, know what that means. She's been in Maori terms. She's been a leader and a prophet everywhere that we have gone in terms of human rights for [00:40:30] sexual, for sexual and gender minorities. Carmen was there, sticking up the flag before us. Before Stonewall, Dana told us about the court case where there was a landmark ruling that said, It's not going to be illegal in this country for people to wear clothes of the other. Sex Before Stonewall and Stonewall is seen as the genesis of the modern queer rights movement. [00:41:00] And before stonewall in New Zealand there was before the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform Act. There was running for the mayoralty in Wellington before the inclusion of sexual orientation of the Prohibited Discrimination grounds and the Human Rights Act. In 1993 there was Carmen [00:41:30] before prostitution law reform In 2004, there was again Well, it is a me and in 2006, and a number of you here that I know were party to this was the publication of a report by the Human Rights Commission to be Who I Am, [00:42:00] which was a report, the final report of an national inquiry into the rights of transgender people that was initiated by the Human Rights Commission in conjunction with the Trans Communities of New Zealand and be, well, well, well before that, there was those words that are used at the start in Maori. He had done a [00:42:30] means, a chief, and it doesn't just mean achieved, but it means comes from we the people and the chief lines is about the ability of a person to weave the people around a around a cause around a reason. And that was Carmen and the other word. It's a transliteration [00:43:00] of the English word prophet and of hold in any tradition, the prophets are the people that stand up and call the people to where they need to be. And so for me, when she died, somebody asked me what what did I remember Carmen most as, and for me, Carmen was a prophet because she had the guts to stand up and be counted while other people [00:43:30] were saying, Oh, no, it's gonna be OK. We'll sort of get by? Well, actually, some of our people didn't get by and she stuck up for them. And so for me, she was fabulous as well. That's the I was. I was lucky to be alongside Kevin here and a number of others. A participant in the Gay Games in 2002 in Sydney and those of you in Sydney. I'm probably telling a bit of your story. But there was a group that was [00:44:00] set up by the Maori and Pacific people called Pacific, which was there to support the Aboriginal people and the Games people in the hosting of the games. And Carmen was right in the middle of that. Absolutely. And so, Dana, when you're talking about the loving mother and all that sort of support that experience, she was right in there in the middle of everything in Sydney, supporting the local people, supporting the queer community. And we had the first ever indigenous peoples, [00:44:30] um, queer Indigenous People's Conference in the world there, and some of us were there, and she was right in the middle of that, supporting it all the way. She didn't take the front row. She was in the back, making it go. And I agree with you, Dana. She was always a lady, and I remember we left the venue and we went back into I was going. I was staying in Surrey Hills. I was billeted in Surrey Hills and we got off at the bus at the same time and I walked her all the way up Riley Street because the lady shouldn't be [00:45:00] left alone in Surrey hills by themselves, even if she is the queen of Surrey Hills. And so I remember her fondly for all those things. But from a human rights perspective, particularly a chief and a prophet calling us to where we need to be and where we need to continue to be in our lives. [00:45:30] And now see, So I, state [00:46:00] of which I did it can [00:46:30] shadow cool for I love And [00:47:00] next [00:47:30] I believe my you. Oh, [00:48:00] may the [00:48:30] [00:49:00] February 70 of some. And Cindy has kindly invited you up to DNA on K Road after this event, as has our next speaker to their club at family. So it's only 100 metre walk [00:49:30] between each one. So what you do is you start at one and go, Oh, there's no one here. Go to the other one. There's no that's what we do there all night. It's kind of an annual sort of gay ritual, isn't it? Every Friday night, we do that up and down to each other's clubs. But we're all gonna be there, and it's gonna be really friendly. And come on down. Uh, we have to thank a few people. Um uh, all the volunteers today, uh, we have been ja over here, and the Carl Mos are on sound and all of Jordan's crew from the New Zealand Age Foundation. In fact, Jordan at the back, waving [00:50:00] over the air. Yes, he's a bit that one. As soon as Carmen passed away, he was the first one to ring. We went up to Sydney and saw you all. And it was because of Jordan that Jordan and I created this event. But this young man is brilliant, and I'd like you all to give him a round of applause. He's so fucking up, Jordan, I put it on a mostly because I did Melbourne shopping last week. That was real. Right, Moving on. Here we go. [00:50:30] Oh, yes. Now. Um, Unfortunately, Gareth Farr couldn't be here this evening. Um, as some of you know, um, his friend Lloyd Morrison passed away, and he was a patron of Gareth. So his apologies. We do, however, have Charles our MP. He is the I love this shadow Attorney General representing the Labour Party. Do your titles get any shorter? Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Charles Chaval and members of the Labour Party [00:51:00] and the I, uh, am not in the programme. I'm a ringing. Uh, I wasn't originally going to speak, but, uh, my colleagues and I wanted just to come along and sit here and [00:51:30] be part of a tribute to, uh As it happens, Jordan asked us if, uh, I would say a few words on behalf of, uh, the Labour Party and on behalf of the New Zealand Parliament. And it's a real honour to be able to do that as a tribute to come. Uh, Louisa Wall is here. She's my parliamentary colleague, the member of parliament for, [00:52:00] and Judith Tizard, the former member of Parliament for Auckland Central. Uh, and also the former associate Minister for arts, Culture and Heritage is here and really what we wanted to do was bring the respectful greetings of all our colleagues here tonight, Uh, and of course, also to bring greetings from our first transsexual MP, Georgina Baer, who, [00:52:30] uh, I know is thinking of us all and is with us in spirit tonight. My partner, Dave and I were having lunch earlier with the and her partner, Prue, and they had a copy of the Order of Service from Carmen's service in Sydney last month. And it's a wonderful document if you get the chance to see it, because it reminds us of so many aspects of Carmen's life. There's a fantastic [00:53:00] photo of her on that notorious mobility scooter in King's Cross, and she's wearing this fantastic, flamboyant red outfit. There's bags attached to the handlebars, and there's a flowing scarf. But on one page of the order of service, there's something a bit more poignant. There's a list that Carmen wrote, uh, back in November when she realised that she was approaching the end, and [00:53:30] it said, When I die, please make sure that my hair is tidy, that my lipstick is well applied, that I've got my black dress on and that I'm wearing my mother's Greenstone necklace and ring my sister in time of to let her know. For those of us who remember how well organised Carmen was, uh, here is proof that that's a trait that just continued right [00:54:00] until the end. Earlier, Judith was telling me, uh, a story about the famous occasion when Carmen was hauled before the privileges Committee of the New Zealand Parliament. Uh, and here's an ironic twist for you. I chair that committee today, but the reason she was called before the committee is that she was standing for the Wellington Marty and she made a public comment to the [00:54:30] effect that there were, uh, as we heard earlier, MP S who were gay. Well, of course, uh, in the seventies, that was, uh, implying that there were members of parliament who were engaged in illegal activity. And so poor old Carmen was dragged before this, uh, committee of the parliament just got the power to imprison and fine and do all sorts of, uh, drastic things if the privileges of the Parliament are infringed. Anyway, as [00:55:00] Judith was telling me, all the members of the committee were men. There were exactly two women's toilets in the entire parliament buildings at the time. And at one point during the proceedings, in a very loud voice, Carmen asked if she could please use the ladies. And if somebody would show her where it was, Well, there was a stunned silence. Nobody got up to help her until, uh, Judith did. And Judith tells me that, uh, once they finally [00:55:30] got to the ladies, there was much shrieking and laughter because Carmen showed Judith how to apply her makeup properly again. For those of us who know Carmen, Uh, here she was in the middle of a hearing with all the drama and pan plea that Parliament can deploy before a committee that could have fined her or put her in jail. [00:56:00] But she insisted on her dignity and her rights. No one was going to stop her from using the ladies. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a celebration of Carmen's 75 years on our planet, and we should celebrate all the wonderful joy that she brought into our lives. But as we do so, let's also renew our commitment to make [00:56:30] sure that the things that Carmen stood for dignity and equality and also a bit of glamour are things that we all continue to strive for [00:57:00] course. Thank you, You both of the Labour Party and Judith Tizard for the makeup. Even [00:57:30] I never knew that. I'll get you that one on road one day. Now I like to bring up one of our many queens of road, A dear friend of Carmen's who I know, like many of us, supported Carmen in many ways over the years. She needs no introduction because she's the brightest Leon spot in the entire room. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Raina. [00:58:00] Oh, my goodness me. I just want to say, um, it's it's a journey, It's a parade and it's a Mardi Gras, everybody. And, um, I just wanna give a special tribute over here to Carmen's fabulous family and all of you in the room this evening in the church, from to Auckland to Wellington to Sydney, Australia, 310 22 Riley Street. That was Carmen's [00:58:30] fabulous fabulous place she lived in. I knew Carmen from 1996 and she was always that auntie you always wanted and I got her. I would ring him, and every Sunday, once a month at 8 30 on the dot And over the years she would always answer the phone and she would say hello. [00:59:00] And now I'd go Who? Yeah, and I'd go. How are your cow? And she'd go, Go. How are you? I The next step was always the same. Everybody. I'd say Carmen, get a pen and paper so she'll get the pen and paper. And I'd say because I go to Sydney 4 to 5 times a year and I'd say I'm flying in on this date time. Hang on. And she'd write it [00:59:30] down and she'd repeat it back to me. The same procedure she knew what to do. And over the years, when I went to her house in Riley Street, there was the bit of paper with the time, the date and our party. So before I'd always go to Sydney, I'd ring her the night before and I'd say, Carmen, are you ready? And she'd go make sure you're here at six o'clock, Miss Raina, I'd say we're gonna be there [01:00:00] at six o'clock and we'd do the same procedure on the Sunday night. The cab would pull up at 322 Riley Street. Every cab driver knew that address. It didn't matter where they were from. They all knew we were going to Carmen's house for some reason, and I'd get her out of her out of her house and she'd be in the most fabulous, colourful a ray flowers birds. Her favourite colour was [01:00:30] red, black and white. And at her funeral in Sydney, that was the colours that most of us wore. And over the years, it was a wonderful parade she led when we'd go see her. I've been to 15 gay and lesbian Mardi grass. This is my 16th year, and Carmen was the one of the only people in the parade. Everyone that was actually announced. There were thousands on the parade, and they announced [01:01:00] her Sydney's icon, Carmen Rue, and the crowd would applaud her. And last year I went to Sydney six times to see her, and I'd bring her and she'd say, Ray Bena, can you please get me two prawns and two oysters? And over the last [01:01:30] year, last year last year, her health declined, as we all know, and the visits then went from Riley Street and Stonewall Hotel, where we'd go on a Sunday night and it ended up at, of course, Saint Vincent's Hospital and Saint Vincent's Hospice. But we had fainter parties. She was a diabetic, but we still had our fan parties, [01:02:00] and I take her of oysters and her two prawns and last year was the only Mardi Gras car and never went on. And then her health got slowly, worse and then in no. In October, we went to his 75th birthday, and what a celebration that was, everyone. The city came alive. And then I went over in November to see her, [01:02:30] and we sat at the rest home and she had her fish and chips and quiche Lorraine and her cup of tea with five sugars. That was, she said, one more rain or one more. And then that afternoon, I just want to share something. I wheeled her to her room and I put her into into [01:03:00] her bed and I lowered the curtains in her rest home and she said, Rabia, there's one wish I've always wanted that they change the Mardi Gras name to the Maori Gra and I sat there for an hour and she dozed off and she woke up again. She said, Are you Are you there still, Kevin? That's my boy name. I said, Yeah, I'm still here. Come And And [01:03:30] I took out her little, um, butterfly head thing she has on for her hair. And I gave her a drink of Fanta without the nurses knowing. And that was the last time I saw her. And her final words to me was Come and I'm gonna go And she goes, Rana, keep being gay. Yeah, Thanks. [01:04:00] In three weeks time does the game lives in Mardi Gras and she has a float going to Oxford Street with 100 people. And we're gonna be on that float. And before I finish what I'm gonna say, thank you for the years. Thank you for the years. For all of her friends that know Thank you for the years come. And it's a famous song by Shirley Basie. I haven't [01:04:30] in the last 12 months, I'd like these three men to stand up Robin Egan and Diego from Sydney, Australia. There is also, and Nicky, that could have made it. But these three gentlemen over here are the three that went to her rest home every day and helped her [01:05:00] and please give them one more big Pia and welcome. Thank you, boys. So thank you for the years, Carmen. And on the fourth of March, come on. Your journey and parade from the bottom of Hyde Park up Oxford Street into Taylor Square Down Flinder. Your wish will come true. Your Maori graft float will be erected. [01:05:30] So please, you know, pretend it's the 95 fruits. It's just that rang. Three other people that rang me today was the, uh, the management of Stonewall Hotel on Oxford Street. They sing their love, Ben and of course, the divine. Miss Kay couldn't make it today. So be some wishes to all of your family. [01:06:00] Thank you for me, Miss Robina. God bless you. And happy, happy Maori, everybody. Well, on that note, um, I met you three gentlemen last year as well Who have been looking after Carmen. So we would actually like you to come up, please, and say something. These are three men who looked after Carmen every day for a year. They didn't miss a day and they made sure her wishes [01:06:30] were carried out. The funeral as they requested. So, ladies and gentlemen, Diego Robin and Gan, [01:07:00] [01:07:30] Uh, [01:08:00] not either, Uh [01:08:30] uh or, uh, my gay name. But anyhow, it's always been Don Diego. Everybody used to say to me, Oh, what's your real name? And and Carmen used to say, I just keep it as your stage name. But [01:09:00] II, I couldn't lie because that's my name, Don Diego. But it has been a privilege, and I know that the ones from Sydney would love to be here. Uh, we are the face for them. We send their love to one of all of you and to, [01:09:30] um it's so easy to speak Maori because I I know I won't get nervous, But Carly said always be a show girl girl. But, you know, she always said to me, Look, whenever you meet someone always say hello and to me, you know, it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, it's just give a a lovely smile and say hello. So with with further and I just like to [01:10:00] say thank you, Diego, my name is, um, Jurgen Hoffman. And, [01:10:30] uh, I'm a part. I'm Robin's, um, partner. Uh, before I get started, I'd actually like to say, um, thank you to Dana and to, um, Richard for actually, um, commenting on, um on Carmen and, uh, of course, uh, Carmen as the, um, lady. And as we all know in this room, Carmen was the absolute lady. So, um, thank you very much for that. I was one of four, guardians of Carmen. Um, Robin [01:11:00] Kelly and her niece Shanette were guardians, and they looked after Carmen's caring more. They just dragged me in to look after her finances. OK, so I did my best on that regard. I was fascinated by Carmen. I mean, we met only 11 years ago, so it hasn't been that long at all. And, um and she was fascinated because she had some great [01:11:30] stories to tell. OK, and that's what really enthralled me and brought me in. And, uh, it's just magic to be able to sit down and, uh, and listen to Carmen and share those stories with us. Because, as we all know, um, Carmen had a, uh, remarkable life. And, uh, we heard today some of the things that she, um, actually achieved, so we must not er we must not forget. And I don't think, um, we will forget There's a small group in, um, in Sydney, a small group of us and we, uh we're trying really hard [01:12:00] to put together the, um Carmen Roy Memorial Trust. OK, it's a charitable. It's going to be a charitable trust. We're going to have a trust deed drawn up a little bit of a delay there. But it's going to happen, OK, because Carmen's legacy, you know, needs to be honoured. And, uh, it needs to be protected. We're also working on on the memorial, um, trust website. So that's coming your way as well Come in. [01:12:30] It will be a memorial trust dot org. It's going to be it. So you'll find some interesting information on that in the coming months. So we're looking for support. Obviously, it can't just be us over in Aussie. We're looking for your support as well in relation to the, um, in relation to the trust. So we we we'd welcome all of your ideas. And, um, you can send those to us via the, um, the Web page or the, um, Facebook page. [01:13:00] A couple of weeks ago, we were asked, um by, um, Karen and Perry, Thank you very much to pen A few words about Carmen and, um and I'd just like to share those with you now. So Robin and I put this together For Carmen, it was all about maintaining a strong sense of belonging, [01:13:30] not only with those linked through blood, but also with those thousands she touched over the decades through association and friendship. Carmen did not discriminate. Carmen was for community. Carmen is forever. Thanks for the opportunity. Karen Perry. It's amazing the amount of paper I have here [01:14:00] shuffling away. I'd like to end. Um, I'd like to, uh, finally, um, tell you a little bit about Carmen's Christmas present. I couldn't actually give it to her, and it links him to Carmen as the lady. Carmen's actually the proud owner now of some real estate. I'm not sure if you knew that. Um, but she does own [01:14:30] some real estate now, not in Australia, but she actually owns it in Scotland. And when Carla and I talked about it, I said her presence actually coming over from Scotland. She said, Oh, I'd love a man in a kilt. OK, so the present arrived car never knew what it was going to be, but Actually, it is a section of land in Scotland and, um, I. I bought that for her. And, um, why [01:15:00] I did that is because Scotland has this ancient law that if you own property in Scotland, you can actually give yourself the proper title that comes with owning some land, OK? And that title is lady. OK, so forever. If you're ever sort of hesitant in calling our Carmen lady Carmen do no longer OK. It's now official. Carmen does have the legal title. [01:15:30] Um, she was my friend, and I will always love her Lady Carmen. Thank you. Uh, everybody, um, my name is I was actually born in, and when he come and found out that I was born in and, um, she said, [01:16:00] Oh, this was about 11 years ago. She said, Oh, you born And do you know, I was born in That makes us with our sisters. So we've actually been with our sisters for about the last 18 years. So, um, that's my friendship with Carmen, Unfortunately, um, in the last 12 months and most of you, you do know, uh, Miss went on about the hospital, [01:16:30] and I won't go too deep into everything for Carmen's the last 12 months. But I do want to share something very special with all the lovely people here. Uh, this evening, cars passing, Yes, a beautiful passing. She died very peacefully. I I was I had the opportunity to spend the night with her on her last night. [01:17:00] And can I say, when she passed, the rule was lovely and quiet. It was just her and I, the brother sisters and I realised my my sister had passed. My little sister had actually passed. But can I also say the sun came through her window and the ray [01:17:30] of colours that came into that bedroom into Carmen's room before she was taken? It was a rainbow of colours that came into the room. And that's something I will never forget. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here today. It's just been a wonderful overwhelming with all the lovely stories. So can I say calm and passed beautifully [01:18:00] and peacefully. I was one of my favourite song that she used to always get us to sing when we were at her bedside. So yeah, are two. [01:18:30] My mhm. OK, the yeah, the [01:19:00] a the in He was he? Yeah. Yeah. [01:19:30] [01:20:00] And delegates from Australia, ladies and gentlemen. And now I'd like to introduce another sister, Carmen, the one and only black Pearl. [01:20:30] Um, I just wanted to say a few acknowledgements and acknowledge the family, Um, Carmen's family, [01:21:00] they do come from, and Carmen used to talk quite a lot about, um I think her greatest love was, um, her mother and the love that her mother gave to her, and therefore she was able to share her love with us. Um, in many different ways, I would like to say that Car's love was enduring in many ways that, um it was as big as the the river from right [01:21:30] down to the city of. So I'm I'm one of those pears from, um I am one of the river sisters. So, um, um, one of the things that carmen used to, um acknowledge in many ways was, um, when she was coming out, [01:22:00] she was one of the She always used to say she was the first Maori drag queen, and, um, in many ways, she she led a path for us. Um, and one of those ultimate things used to say I was able to invite, um, Carmen to come to Auckland for her last visit, and she came to be the judge and queen of the whole universe. Um during that show, she said, Look [01:22:30] what my legacy is not only the queen of the whole universe, but the many flowers that are in the garden of what we call, whether it's gay man, transgender people, lesbians, cross dresses. We're all part of that wonderful garden. And how true to say that in a the performance that I'm going to do and it's it's I was invited to do the song by Jordan. It's [01:23:00] a song that I didn't know very well, but hopefully it'll be OK. Um, it's one of cars Signa signature tunes to begin the beginning. It was bloody hard to get that first song, but I would like to, um, one of the you may look at Carmen and you and she did have a wonderful life. But along that way she did have her struggles, and she did say to me that not everyone loved her. Not everyone was nice to Carmen, [01:23:30] and from time to time, people used to say not so nice things to her on the street. And she always used to say in response, I'll say a little prayer for you And I'm sure is up in heaven saying a little prayer for all of us and also radiating [01:24:00] when they do. [01:24:30] Ladies and gentlemen with S favourite show song. And now, um, we have the family here and I'd like to ask Francis to come and say a few words on behalf of your sister [01:25:00] Glory to God in those times and, uh, peace and goodwill on Earth. But the main thing is, Carmen always said, Let's be good to everybody out there. If you have something and and somebody [01:25:30] wants it, no matter how precious it is to give it, give it And that's how she's always been. It's the way she's brought up being brought up at home, all of us. We were given the same message as, well, One thing I'd like to say this what's and happened over there has been predicted. Now the two Maori name [01:26:00] is uh, uh, I'll come back to that later on, but I really wanted to do that first. Oh, here it is now in the in Maori are means of the future. Two is how you stand within the community. Everything that all [01:26:30] of you had said tonight and means somebody of principle, somebody that's been said from all of you today at how she was, how she is. And even with her passing, we still class her as being alive. You know, there was like and what we call. In other words, it's a person that can see the future. And this woman said that she will be growing [01:27:00] up with all this refinery that you can see that she has been wearing. And, uh, the lady that she took after her was what they call Carmen Miranda. I don't know whether there's some of you know of it, but she was born. She was a Brazilian lady. Yeah, in the 1950 19 forties, 19 fifties, she did all that. [01:27:30] Carmen followed in her footsteps, and in 19 in the 19 forties and fifties, she is. She is the highest paid entertainer and actress in the world. So everything, even at home, you know, she turn around and she wear her nun's clothing, her jewellery go out and make daisy change and wear flowers. All those sorts of things. We have roed inventory out, and she used to, uh, paint them inside, put it on her clothes, [01:28:00] put it in her ears, put it in the hair. And that was what she was like because she was infatuated with this car. And Moran until eventually this is what happened. What you see here is what her dream was. Uh, I can only thank thank you all for all the lads that you've fished out upon her. And, uh, I haven't got much to say, but I thought I'd just say those two things about how her future [01:28:30] was predestined. Uh, the heavenly heavenly wins that wind us from here to to the spiritual world and the heavenly vines that come down from the spirit now. [01:29:00] And so we come in farewell, we return to that spiritual place and dedicated for you of the spiritual world. Uh, there's only one conclusion here. Uh, we all believe that we come back and, uh, are invested again into a human body. So what's this space? It's gonna be interesting to see what she comes back as [01:29:30] cool. Other thing, too. I like to say Say thank you to I remember that he came to and a couple of nice things he was teaching us would be having this tears tears up. And I see this show up on the stage. But he kept on looking at me and I thought, uh, I am in trouble and I looked around and I wondered what the hell it was. You know, that was that. He was interested [01:30:00] in me what it was. But I found that I had looked around the room and I noticed that I was the only one that was doing the press ups on my fingers. Yeah, that's it. Thank you, everybody. Fiona. Well, what a night. And it's hot with weight and a good weight. [01:30:30] And we've come to the end and we've met some new people and found new things. Um, there's a couple of things. Um, it's great that we have the car memorial trust. We also have others. Of course we have. We have who do fantastic work over the years. We, of course, have Chrissy Chrissy down in Wellington. Um, we're also there's a few workers here. I mean, when I say sorry in the have to be careful with that word, don't you. [01:31:00] There are some people here who worked in the original coffee lounge and balcony. Could you put your hands up or stand up? Even better, Lola could stand. This is no loner with the most glamorous, glamorous, beautiful creature You would wear sequin gowns and rubber gloves while doing your dishes. It's really good you girls came, you know, [01:31:30] because as time goes on, we sort of forget things. Do you want to say something wrong? Yes. Come on. Come on. You. Yeah. Deal and come. And Carmen would send me a birthday card like tea. I've got all these birthday cards. [01:32:00] But could the names Meka she had to put a surname on and she'd go to Mr Meka? Gus. And it was really sweet because she couldn't imagine someone not having a surname. And that's and you remember she took you somewhere to eat. It was a cup of tea and a sandwich. And in her mind, there was always a Hilton this imagination, this life, that we can imagine the most beautiful things without having the materialistic values behind it. And some of us here helped raise money for her scooter, didn't we? [01:32:30] Who's here? I know Julian is here, here from the foundation and Wayne and a whole bunch. We raised money for her last scooter, and we thought we'd do this because she needed a scooter. And I did the Mardi Gras with you, wasn't it? A couple of years ago. And there's a shot of Carmen. She gets on the scooter. I thought she'd go slowly. I'm running down, you know, chasing this woman going, Come on. And then she was bored and she tried to go over the barrier and the police went to stop her. But then they thought it was calm and And what did they do? [01:33:00] Open the barrier and moved 100 people apart. And so I'm walking through going, Yeah, that's how you do it. Oh, I love that. And she she always said to me, I know she loved you know, all these singers. But she said to me years ago, she said the song she wanted me to sing for her, and I never actually got to when we did the musical or the Barbara Streisand songs. That's why I've done Barbra Streisand. So to finish the night before, how would come up? And [01:33:30] I would like for Carmen. Thank you, Peter. Think is change is [01:34:00] down. [01:34:30] If you know it, sing along [01:35:00] will make each other first every day of the beginning. They [01:35:30] [01:36:00] as [01:36:30] in thank you all for coming. We're now gonna close and we're gonna be going up to Cairo. Please join Cindy and Robina and all the team up at DNA. [01:37:00] Uh, the will be around. Do you want to say something? No, you moved. That was OK. You are her sister. You can do whatever you like even press up. So we would like to close down on the stage please. This one There's gonna be a TV special tonight on at 10 o'clock about this. Is that right? Or Come on, come one. Sorry, Just so you know 10 o'clock tonight Tonight? [01:37:30] I don't know The Channel 19 on the Valley and time. Ok? Oh, [01:38:00] now it's on. And later, Uh, come here. Here, Come here. [01:38:30] Uh, I have [01:39:00] you have to run your hooky. He did [01:39:30] or or come here, catch it and more. [01:40:00] And they would either hurt it or hurt it or cow quickly. What? Ok, ma be And [01:40:30] a form will share wealth to come in And your nephew that are here. Given that we've called them into our gathering, we need to send them away with dignity and respect. And so the final hymn will be the, um, the full stop to our [01:41:00] at the end of that hymn. There will be one final, very brief. Uh, that will set us ready to enjoy the rest of our night. The have, um, asked that everyone be outstanding and join in the singing of the him and their moment to [01:41:30] [01:42:00] [01:42:30] [01:43:00] [01:43:30] [01:44:00] Yeah. What? Yeah, [01:44:30] I would.
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