Feast Festival 2022's history walk by Gertrude Glossip takes in Port Adelaide

She has a PhD (Formal Drapery) from Curtain University and her mottos are 'Decorate while you educate. Paint the lily. Add another hue unto the rainbow'.

Gertrude has been hosting walking tours of Adelaide's queer history as part of Feast Festival since its inception in 1997. This year's Feast history walk 'Hello Sailor: Queering the Port' will feature Port Adelaide.

Her dress sense is mature but with a touch of eccentricity, taking inspiration from the Queen Mother and Dame Edna Everage. She always spots a hat and gloves, and a parasol - rain or shine. A lover of opportunity shopping, her wardrobe has been enhanced by the likes of Dr Jane Lomax-Smith and at least one of Adelaide's leading society matrons.

Gertrude is not a drag queen - she is simply a character played by Will Sergeant. Gertrude was created from The Uranian Society, an Adelaide forum for gay men's culture that started in 1989, of which Will was a founding member. Uranian is an old term for men who are attracted to men. The group took a field trip to Urania on the Yorke Peninsula in 1993 and conducted a walking tour that revealed its 'secret' gay history.

"The committee, headed by the late, great Ian Purcell, decided that we needed a character to lead the walk so we created Mrs Gertrude Glossip OBE, farmer's wife and local historian. I was chosen for the role of Gertrude," Will said.

"It was all fantasy of course but the 40 gay men who made the journey really appreciated it."

For the first Feast Festival in 1997, then artistic director Margie Fischer approached the society to conduct a history walk. Ian and Will worked together to create 'Sex, Crimes, Shocks and Scandals. The John Lee Memorial Adelaide Gay History Walk'. It was named after and used material from gay activist and historian, the late John Lee - who conducted the first Adelaide Gay History Walk in 1990 and had recorded stories of older gay men, some of which went back to 1910 - plus their own research.

While the walks each year have tweaks, there are some places and stories that are frequently visited. For the city tour, the River Torrens - where Dr George Duncan drowned on May 10, 1972 in a suspected anti-gay attack - is often visited. Meanwhile, the Port Adelaide tour includes stories of encounters between locals and seamen.

"Gertrude always strives to be nice while being naughty," Will said.

Stories of police surveillance and prosecution of homosexual men, for example the 1950 trial, conviction and imprisonment of young men who attended Bert Hines' Lampshade Shop in Rundle Street, and the conviction of prominent citizen Bert Edwards JP MP for 'unnatural offences' in 1931, incite outrage and fascination.

Gertrude also released a book in 2021, aptly titled Queen of the Walk: Gertrude's guide to gay Adelaide History.

"John Lee had hoped to publish his oral histories in book form. When I was approached by publisher Alex Dunkin of Buon-Cattivi Press to write up 25 seasons of Feast history walks, it seemed too good an opportunity and fitting tribute to John and also to Ian Purcell," Will said.

Will (and Gertrude) are fans of Feast Festival.

"I love the public manifestation. Gertrude loves doing her walks and is always thrilled to see her loyal 'rusted-on Gertrude groupies' and newcomers whom she calls her 'Gertrude virgins'. She is delighted that young folk attend," he said.

"From 2003 until COVID, the Pride March has been the opening event. It is wonderful to see that it will be back this year. It is such a joyous public manifestation, as is Picnic in the Park. I always enjoy the diversity of the program, that it is not just about entertainment, but incorporates events about literature, writing and ideas."

Will has seen queer life go from a criminal offence to marriage equality in Australia. He was a 78er in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and was also in Adelaide's first Pride March in 1973.

"By and large I think we are a reasonably tolerant, peaceful and accepting society. I am proud that we (South Australia) were the first Australian jurisdiction to achieve gay law reform. It delights me that Gertrude is embraced by the Rainbow community and the mainstream," he said.

This year, Will is celebrating his own anniversary - 50 years since coming out as gay.

"I remember what it felt like coming out in 1972. I'm sure it is easier for young folk now. I am proud to have assisted in making it easier and more accepting."

Feast Festival is on November 5-27. Visit feast.org.au for more information.