A crowd of colourfully-dressed characters are gathering at the Winsome Hotel in Lismore this morning to celebrate Ray Parry’s birthday, and promote diversity.
Mr Parry is a well known figure around Lismore, always seen sporting various outfits that resemble his own colourful personality.
But when he was attacked without warning recently, his friends decided to do something a little different to support him.
Mr Parry had copped a coward’s punch, followed by a number of other blows as he lay on the ground defenceless at the Winsome soup kitchen.
The attack left him shaken, and his friends wanted to show they cared.
The result … Dress Like Ray Day.
Mr Parry told Echonetdaily that the show of support was ‘really good’.
‘It makes me happy, especially after the last couple of weeks and what happened,’ he said.
‘I’ve always enjoyed dressing up, even as a kid. I like to be a little bit out there.’
Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell said Ray’s birthday was enough of a reason to celebrate, but it was also important to celebrate differences.
‘It’s good to all come together in our colourful diversity and concentrate on the positives rather than the negative thing that happened,’ she said.
Dress Like Ray Day is expected to become an annual event.
