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A shiver of sharks. A pod of dolphins. A school of fish. So what is it called when mermaids from around NSW get together in Shellharbour for a weekend of glamorous fantasy make up, ocean swims, stunning photo shoots and a good dose of gossip and catching up? A MerMeet, of course!
The three-day event was hosted by The Aussie Mers, Shellharbour’s Bonnie Harris and her sister Rochelle. They specialise in creating otherworldly crowns and bras for mermaids and have customers around the world. They also know how to throw a great meetup.
Bonnie said, “I think we had around 10 different mers plus their various partners over the course of the 3 days. From Southern Highlands, Newcastle, Sydney, Nowra, Penrith and local.
"Overall it was a lot of fun even with the weather being crazy hot then stormy and overcast and everything.
"People had a fun time with lots of laughs. We definitely surprised many families when we did the rainforest shoot at Macquarie Pass!"
Soph, a professional mermaid who goes by Siren Sepha, travelled down from Sydney to take part. She’s been mermaiding for a few years now.
“I first found out that professional mermaiding existed through social media in around 2016," she said.
“It was the perfect combination of performance, trying to emulate the movements and characteristics of a mermaid for realism – which I already loved, and swimming, so I knew I had to try it!”
Nowadays, the art form has seen her travel throughout the state, working in aquariums, festivals and even appearing on TV.
She said, “Mermaiding is such a diverse hobby … On the one side it's this foundation for performing art, creative expression, expression of self… And on the other side it's this extreme sport where we dive and perform in the open ocean, borrowing breath-holding and stroke techniques from freediving, it's exercise and a challenge and a way to explore the world that many never experience.”
Corinne Ashleigh Lomas from Campbelltown, otherwise known as Glitter Siren, has been mermaiding for about 10 years. “I got a random little tail for Christmas and then it just snowballed," she said.
“I love dressing up but then also in the water it just feels free. I hate human legs now.
“My main favourite part is being in the water [with the other mermaids] and looking at all the ocean life. It’s just really relaxing. They’re my pod.”
But it's more than that. Channelling as a 'dark siren' has helped Corinne to become more confident. "It brings out the 'bad-ass," she said.
Originally from the Illawarra but now living further north, Charmaine Low describes herself as a “very diverse person with a lived mental health experience and also a rainbow community ally”.
MerSharma, decked out in her rainbow-bright mer-sona, is a relatively new mer but is already reaping the benefits.
“I’ve always liked being near the ocean but never found a way to get in there. I like getting in the ocean for a human swim, between the flags, but then when you get on the mermaid tail, you can find more creative ways to get in the water,” she said.
“You find coves to swim in and then friends to swim with and it becomes a social real fun experience and you don’t have to do it on your own between the flags, alone.”
“For me, it’s escapism. Being away from reality for a while. Releasing and letting go and relaxing. It’s time out."
For Bonnie, the days after the mermeets are spent resting and recovering and in this case scrubbing some very stubborn rainforest stains out of her elaborate costumes, before getting ready to do it all again.
"It’s always sad when it’s over and I have to start planning for next spring."
Read more about Mermaid Bonnie and her business in Siren Song
