In 1962, Laurie Deane, known as Dame Sybil, co-founded the Queen's Birthday Ball with Ron Sheard. What began as a discreet gathering at a Mt Tamborine house was an act of quiet defiance, when being openly queer risked livelihood, safety, and freedom.

By day a schoolteacher, by night "outrageous, but in a ladylike way," Dame Sybil built more than an event: she built a culture. The Ball became a rare space where people could gather without apology, be visible without fear, and imagine a different future together.

From fewer than thirty people, it grew into the world's longest continuously running LGBTQIA+ celebration.

Since 2009, Brisbane Pride has carried this legacy forward. The 65th Queens Ball was the first held following Dame Sybil's passing, a celebration of the tradition her vision created and the community it continues to bring together. We honour her legacy by continuing to create spaces where people can gather, celebrate, and belong.