A big bang, lots of smoke and then a huge amount of heat – this year's Vinegar Hill New Year's Eve bonfire was one to remember. The newly crowned Queen Vinegar Hill is Dion Leslie of Wellington -“I'm pretty bloody ecstatic really, pretty stoked,” he says. “I've been quite motivated over the last three years into doing stuff around the camp. Seeing people enjoying themselves and getting things organised for them is what I really enjoy doing.” Leslie says it's been a very busy year at camp. “It's probably one of the best I've seen over the last six years. “But it's been a bit damp, and we've only had a couple of really decent days. The rest of the time has been showery, then the odd bit of sunshine comes out, then it's showery again.” One highlight was a softball match, with the lesbians versus the gay boys. “Unfortunately the lesbians won,” Dion admits. “They're professionals – and they beat us 22-11. It was a lot of fun, and we didn't have any injuries this year,” he laughs. Dion and his friend Aaron set up a big screen and sound system on the side of a truck for a movie night, playing ‘Finding Nemo' as a starting movie, and then ‘Relax, It's Just Sex' as the adult movie afterwards. But the party on New Year's Eve was the biggest event. “ It was really really cool – myself and Aaron organised the bonfire, and right throughout the week leading up to it we'd done ‘bonfire runs', just to get more wood,” explains Dion. “We lit that at nine o'clock. Aaron's a pyrotechnician, so he did it with fuses and all that sort of stuff – it made a big bang and went up in smoke – it was quite cool. So it was an official ‘lighting of the fire' this year! There were a few concerns over the amount of heat we were putting out – because it was pretty huge. The shows that night were great, and everyone just carried on partying until four in the morning.” Recipients of other awards include: Miss Hospitality: Matt M of Wellington Ms Hospitality: Heidi Best Decorations and Best Use of Tech: Vinegar Hilton Best Lighting: Ewan Paynter Best Campsite: 18 the Place See Dion Leslie in his royal crown on the top link below. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 2nd January 2007 - 12:00pm