CLUB HISTORY

First formed as ‘Adelaide Leathermen’, Adelaide Leather & Fetish was created in 2016 by Gerry Ebert, Scott Lambert, Mark Reichert, Michael Stapleton, and Skye Bartlett as a formalised leather social group. Following the demise of Cougar Leather Club in the early 2000s, no formal leather social group had existed in South Australia for many years. The first president of Adelaide Leathermen was long time leather community leader Bryan Thalbourne.

The following year Adelaide Leathermen held the first Mr Adelaide Leather title, which was created by Skye Bartlett and won by Gerry Ebert. Gerry went on to compete at, and win, the inaugural Australian Leatherman title in 2017 and later competed at International Mr Leather in the same year.

GEAR’d, an all inclusive leather and fetish event weekend centred around community connection, title competions and dance parties was the brainchild of Gerry and Scott, and first held in 2017 and has been a highlight of the national kink calendar every year since, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID lockdowns. GEAR’d was devised as an inclusive, embracing space and set the bar for what inclusive leather and fetish events should aim to be. GEAR’d is run by a dedicated committee and group of volunteers and is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the South Australian leather and fetish community.

In 2018 the decision was made to rename Adelaide Leathermen to Adelaide Leather and Fetish to be more inclusive and representative of the Adelaide community. The same year Adelaide Leather and Fetish hosted the inaugural Ms Adelaide Leather title, the first of its kind in South Australia. Another SA first was the creation of the Adelaide Rubber title in 2021, which was also the first non gendered rubber title in Australia. South Australia has a proud history of leather and rubber title holders with especially strong representation in the National titles were Adelaide has consistently won. The club also proudly has a strong history of trans and gender diverse representation within its title holders and also being the first known club nationally to have had both a president and vice president that are transgender serving the club together.

written by Skye Bartlett, Mr Adelaide Leather 2022 (May 2024)

INCLUSION & DISCRIMINATION

Since the committee was formed, Adelaide Leather & Fetish (AL&F) have worked hard to provide a safe and fully inclusive space for all members of the fetish and kink community, from all areas of Australia and the world.

In 2025, Adelaide Leather and Fetish signed on to be part of the ‘We’re Equal’ campaign offered by the South Australian Government, Department of Equal Opportunity. By taking part in this program, unless practically impossible to do so, Adelaide Leather and Fetish make the following commitments:

  • To the best of our ability, we will provide a neutral, safe environment for all persons who wish to attend.
  • Our events will not accept any discrimination based on race, religion, sexual preference, gender, age, body shape, disability, financial means, social standing, or any other form that makes our spaces unsafe.
  • We will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse of any kind toward any person or group.
  • We will not tolerate hate speech of any kind.
  • We will not shame any kink interest as long as it conforms to Australian law.
  • Adelaide Leather and Fetish will show absolutely no leniency to any individual, group or business whom directly or indirectly promote, allow or engage in any breach of the previously mentioned items.

As a committee, Adelaide Leather and Fetish will take swift and definitive action to remove any offending person, group or business and return our physical or online space to be supporting and safe for all participants or attendees.

All premises involved in Adelaide Leather and Fetish events including GEAR’d, UNDERGROUND or Fetish Social, unless clearly advertised, do not have sex on premises licences.

Anyone involved in a sexual act in a non licenced premises will be removed from the event for the entire remaining duration of that event.

Adelaide Leather and Fetish welcomes you to join our wonderful community, be part of our events and work together with us to create an environment where we are all safe, accepted and encouraged to be our natural selves.

We hope to see you at an event soon.

AL&F TITLE HOLDERS

Mr Adelaide Leather

Est. 2016
2025 - Pup Chase
Image courtesy of HDGimage Awroo, meowdy and welcome! I’m Leather Pup Chase – a border terrier with roots in Nauo (Nay-O) country near Coffin Bay, born and raised in Kaurna land. I’ve been described as a pirate, a “teddy-bear coded gym bunny” and a “queer vanilla kinkster”. I love learning about people, adventuring places I haven’t been, getting lost in nature (sometimes quite literally in the Great Barrier Reef), and experiencing when people come together and the air sets ablaze – medieval fairs, farmers markets, or even the Gold Bazaars in Dubai. My first foray into the kink scene began at a wedding, and I haven’t looked back since! I love to travel, so you will likely see me at one an event locally or abroad – heck, maybe even on TV! CanTeen has a special place in my heart, and my history. When mum was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, my world felt like it was falling apart. It was largely thanks to the amazing Folx at CanTeen -their support, advice, guidance, and counselling – that I found the steady ground to move forward. Now, I want to give back: to help children and young adults who are impacted by cancer. Ngana-ngukanna: let’s get going! 🐾
2024 - Cooper Heeler
Hi! Awoo!

I’m Cooper (He/Him/They/Them). I’m a proud leatherman and pup who has always called Adelaide home.

My journey into the kink and fetish community started pre-covid when my best friend and I discussed Pup Play and if it was something we were into. Turns out that was a yes!

My exploration into fetish continued during the 2022 Adelaide Pride March when we found ourselves being greeted by members of AL&F. We were welcomed with open arms and helped shape the person I’ve become.

Since 2022, I have been fully embraced into the leather community, finding my strengths, friends, and even my chosen Family. I’ve learnt more about myself in the last 2 and a bit years than I ever knew before.

My kinky interests include, but aren’t limited to, Leather, Pup Play, Sensory Deprivation, Knife and Electro Play, and Power Dynamics. I am still exploring and constantly growing with each day that passes. Learning and self exploration is something I am passionate about and always encourage others to do too.

It is my intention to be a visible member of both the Leather and Pup communities. I was so thankful for those who embraced and uplifted me, and I want to be that person/pup for others. Uplifting and supporting those who are new to spaces, while connecting and learning for those who
have come before; these are values I care deeply about.

No matter if we are walking a trail already carved for us, or if we are forging a new path, my motto is “Don’t Stop, March On!”
2023 - Storm Klarich
Bisexual, unique, and flagging orange. I’ve been in the Adelaide kink scene since 2017, finding the joy in kink and enjoying all that it has to offer.
Being a part of this community has given me a freedom and a power to be unapologetically myself, like no other group has. I am proud to be a part of AL&F and hope that others resonate with that when they come to our social nights, events and GEAR’d festival in November each year. Always down for a chat about kink, body positivity and destigmatising stereotypes and taboos within the community. I understand how kink and sexuality is a journey that we should all feel confident and supported exploring for our own pleasure and the pleasure of others.”
2022 - Skye Bartlett

Skye Bartlett (he/him), is a photographer, leatherman, post-modern cowboy, sexual health activist, husband, cat lover, fashion historian and curator, tea drinker, lasagna afficionado, and Mr. Adelaide Leather 2022. He has been involved in the Australian leather community for over 26 years, is a founding member of Adelaide Leather and Fetish, and creator of the Mr. Adelaide Leather title in 2016 and Ms. Adelaide Leather title in 2018. For over 20 years, and as a title holder, he has been highly involved in supporting people living with HIV in South Australia, primarily supporting the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation to reduce stigma and decrease social isolation.

As One Last Look he is an award-winning photographer with a body of work celebrating members of the Australian and international leather scene through constructionist portraiture. He is the creator and curator of Provocateur: Fetish Through the Photographer’s Lens, which has raised thousands of dollars for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation SA. His work is in the collection of the Tom of Finland Foundation Museum.

He is a textile and fashion collector and historian, custodian of an important historic family fashion collection, and a benefactor of The Art Gallery of South Australia. With a special interest in AIDS history, in 2020–21 he curated an exhibition of the South Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt with the History Trust of SA, which was revived for the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre in 2022. In 2022 he curated the world first exhibition Silhouettes: Fashion in the Shadow of HIV/AIDS for The David Roche Foundation House Museum and is currently working on the upcoming ground-breaking exhibition Style & Spirit: The Fashionable Life of Chester Weinberg. He is the author of three books, Silhouettes: Fashion in the Shadow of HIV/AIDS, One Last Look and the soon to be published Style & Spirit: The Fashionable Life of Chester Weinberg.
2021 - Tyson Spencer

Tyson is 2021’s Mr. Adelaide Leather. His charity of choice is The Pinnacle Foundation, who provide scholarships for young queer people entering tertiary or vocational study. Tyson’s interests include lifting weights, reading, gaming, camping and fishing.

Some highlights of Tyson’s title year included speaking on one of SAMESH’s sexual health panels, travelling interstate to attend events run by AL&F’s sponsors and organising a charity auction as part of the ‘22 GEAR’d.
2020 - Dan
Dan, a once-shy individual, found the courage to step into the limelight and compete for the title of Mr. Adelaide Leather 2020. Despite his initial hesitations, Dan’s passion for inclusivity, diversity, and self-expression within the leather community propelled him forward. Through perseverance and determination, he overcame his reservations to become a powerful advocate for change. Offstage, Dan finds solace in simple pleasures like enjoying coffee in bed and spending time with his beloved cats alongside his fiancé, Luke. Alongside his advocacy work, Dan undertook the challenge of raising funds for the non-profit organization Bfriend, demonstrating his commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals in need. His journey from shy guy to titleholder exemplifies the transformative power of self-discovery and community involvement. As Mr. Adelaide Leather 2020, Dan continues to inspire others to embrace their true selves, find joy in the little things, and make a positive impact on the world around them.
2019 - Zac Cannell (Pup Thad)

Zac (he/they) is a proud bisexual trans man, LGBTQIA+ educator and speaker, therapist, and human rights advocate living and working on Kaurna Land.

With over 15 years working in mental health, sexual health, and human rights advocacy, Zac is committed to fostering inclusive social change and community well-being. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours, a Master’s in Mental Health Practice, and is a Master Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor—all of which form the foundation of his ethics and actions, personally and professionally.

In the Adelaide Leather and Fetish (AL&F) community, Zac has become a friendly familiar face. He joined the leather scene in 2018, bringing a passion for leather care, bootblacking, and kink education.

Recognised for his contributions, he became the first trans man to hold the titles of Mr. Adelaide Leather and Mr. Australian Leather in 2019 and 2022 respectively through their respective title competitions. In early 2022, Zac was elected as President of AL&F, a role he held, and made significant contributions towards, until stepping down in July 2025. Zac is also the co-creator of the ‘trans leather pup pride flag’.

Outside his professional roles, Zac is a published photographer and writer, devoted cat dad, proud uncle, Batman fan, and gyoza enthusiast.
2018 - Patrick Reid
Patrick has been a member of Adelaide Leather & Fetish since 2018 and has been elected as Adelaide Leather & Fetish’s Membership Co-ordinator for the second year running. Patrick was introduced to leather and kink around the time he came out at 18 and discovered a love and leather and all things kinky. Apart from being a proud Leatherman, he is also a pup handler and into pup play.
Patrick was proud to be selected at Mr Adelaide Leather 2018. During his title year his focus was on promoting body positivity and introducing new folx to the leather and kink community. Having always struggled with his body image and anxiety, Patrick knows how difficult it can be to pluck up the courage to come to your first leather or kink event. As such, Patrick has endeavoured to make AL&F and its events a safe and welcoming space for everyone.
When not helping out at AL&F events he is a mad aviation, space and science geek.
2017 - Michael Stapleton (1st Runner Up)
Presented with the Mr Adelaide Leather title as per contest rules following James Davidson’s award of the Australian Leatherman 2018 title.
2017 - Handler James

Mr Adelaide Leather 2017 and Australian Leatherman 2018  (he/him)

James has been around the leather and Pup and Handler scenes for over 10 years and is one of the founding members of South Australian Pups and Handlers as well as serving on the current committee.
He is handler and partner to three amazing pups: Cobalt, Sparky and Dodger plus a mentor and community handler to many others.
James believes in creating and fostering safe and inclusive spaces for all pups, has a keen passion for mentoring developing handlers in the community as well as running regular introductory flogging workshops.
He has also had the privilege of producing the 2019 Australian Pup and Handler competition as well as being part of the production team for the 2022 and 2023 Competitions.
James is always a friendly face at moshes and munches and is always happy to chat and answer any questions anyone has.
2016 - Gerry Ebert

It is safe to say that Gerry is not afraid of blazing a trail. In 2015, along with a bunch of dedicated leather folk, he helped create Adelaide Leather & Fetish which single handedly revitalised the leather and fetish community in South Australia. In 2016 he won the first Mr Adelaide Leather title and helped form the Adelaide Leather and Fetish Committee. He then went on to win the inaugural Australian Leatherman title in 2017, with a platform of putting South Australia back on the fetish map, and bringing all of the leather communities of Australia together.

Later that year he competed at International Mr Leather 39, and created GEAR’D, Adelaide’s first dedicated leather and fetish weekend, all while also helping create and run Dorothy’s Dungeon, a monthly camp fetish night for the Adelaide community, while also taking out Most Popular Male in South Australia at the Oscars.

After his step down as Mr Adelaide Leather 2016, he was nominated to be the president of Adelaide Leather and Fetish, and with other pillars of the Australian Leather Community helped create the first national leather float for Mardi Gras 40 and was nominated for the Hero Award at the Australian LGBTI Awards held in Sydney in March 2019.

He can be seen regularly at interstate fetish events, recently judging at Corium in Brisbane and APHC in Melbourne, all while promoting the South Australian fetish scene. He has supported and raised funds such charities as Beyond Blue, especially focussing on mental health issues in the LGBTI community, using his own experiences to mentor.

Ms Adelaide Leather

Est. 2018
2022/2023 - Delinda Naylor
My name is Delinda (she/her) and I’m a married mum of 2 kids plus 2 cats and many chickens.
I started exploring kink alongside my hubby a few years ago now, during which I found some of my favourite kinks including leather and sensation play. I also stumbled across GEAR’d and after attending in 2021 and I decided to compete the following year (best decision ever) because I wanted to show how accepting this community is.
I chose SHINE SA as my charity because they offer primary care services and education on sexual and relationship wellbeing which is important for everybody.
2020/2021 - Morgan Rogers

Morgan (they/them) is a vibrant, non-binary peer educator who proudly champions the health, rights, and well-being of LGBTQIA+ Australians.

As the Ms Adelaide Leather 2020/21 titleholder, Morgan brings a decade of lived experience from both the adult industry and the BDSM community, fueling their passion for raising awareness and advocating for marginalized communities while embracing intersectionality. Their efforts have led to some remarkable achievements, like raising nearly $3000 for Access2Arts and being crowned the inaugural Ms Australian Leather in 2022. Truly, Morgan wears many hats… and sashes!
2019 - Alexis Clark
Lexy is a Pansexual, polygamous, kinky Leather Femme.
She juggles her role as mother to two young children and her community roles.
Lexy has been in the Kink scene since a young teen and identifies as a Switch. 
Lexy loves Leather, Tea drinking, protocol, BDSM history, bootblacking, pet play and torturing people with karaoke.
She always flags red.
Lexy holds the title of ‘Ms Adelaide Leather 2019’ and was previously on the ALF committee.
Lexy has co-facilitated the monthly munch ” Queer as Folx” with ‘Ms Adelaide Leather 2018’ Jody, For the last 7 years. 
Lexy also runs the monthly ‘Northern Kink Munch’ which is a social munch aimed at people located north of the CBD. 
Lexy is also a  proud committee member of SA-PAH, and helps facilitate a “littles group” and is a regular DM and photographer for SwitchSA. 
Lexy is also excited to be part of organising the ‘Risqgay’ social nights.
Previously when living in QLD Lexy   led a protest group against the Australian Christian Lobby, who continued to attempt to shut down gay sexual health advertising and other pride events.
Lexy has a strong belief that our community should be diverse and inclusive, particularly in a Socioeconomics sense. One of her goals moving forward is to ensure that events in her community are accessible for all and that people are never judged by the amount or brand of gear they own. 
Lexy does lots of online background work for events, parties, websites and creates lots of kinky designs/art that can be found on either her Redbubble or Etsy shops. She also does lots of non kink related photography, art and sculpture. 
Lexy is always approachable and happy to chat, she is easily found by her eccentric outfits and hair.
Lexy has a great love of welcoming new people to the scene and helping them find the best place in the community for them to be their most authentic selves.  She is always happy to answer kink related questions or direct you to the right source of information if she doesn’t know enough about the topic. 
2018 - Jody Anderson

Jody (they/them) is a non binary, transmasc, butch, leatherboi and they were the inaugural Ms Adelaide Leather in 2018.

They continue to create space in the kink and Fetish community by co- facilitating a queer women,trans and non binary munch with Lexy Ms Adelaide Leather 2019 over the last 7 years. Together they both co-ordinate Risqgay a queer kink and fetish social, and a bootblack and cigar circle community skillshare. Jody has co- delivered public workshop for kinksters involving Consent and Kink Education C.A.K.E for 5 years. All events are run on a not for profit basis. Profits are donated to community led ventures mostly queer and kink organisations or used to fund free activities such as the Bootblack circle.

They are also a committee member for the SA pup and handler group putting together moshes and munches for pupa,handlers and assorted pets.

They’ve been fortunate to judge a number of competitions including the Ms and Mr Adelaide leather competition, Queensland pup and handler competition, Australian pup and handler competition, Ms Melbourne Rubber comp and most recently Mr Fetish Spain in Barcelona and the European Bootblack title at Darklands.

Leather is their fetish and they identify as a top heavy switch with a dash of daddy, and they flag red and hunter green on the left.

Adelaide Rubber

Est. 2021
2024 - Carter Sole
Carter is a gymnast, student nurse, and passionate Mental Health Warrior. He joined the Adelaide fetish community in 2023, with GEAR’d 2023 marking his first kink event and embraced the experience wholeheartedly. In 2024, he marched with Fetish Australia in the Mardi Gras Parade and supported the Brisbane community during Brisbane Leather Week 2024.
As a Mental Health Warrior, Carter is dedicated to raising awareness within the community and aims to eliminate stigma and kink shaming, both inside and outside the scene.
2023 - Miss Behavin'
Sharon – AKA Miss Behavin’ is a mother, a grandmother and a lifelong “mouthy activist” in various arenas.
Sharon’s love of all things latex has been evident for over two decades. She has a switchy,
hedonistic mindset that sees her interest in kink span across many areas, as well as a deep
appreciation for learning and growth through new experiences.
Now donning a kinky leadership position through her Adelaide Rubber 2023 title, Sharon is on a
mission to further hold space for diversity and the promotion of inclusivity within her local
communities, as well as to raise awareness for causes close to her heart.
2022 - Tank

After watching the 2021 Melbourne Rubberman competition via livestream, the seed was planted in running for a rubber title.
Summoning up enough courage and dusting of his dancing shoes, Josh ran for Adelaide Rubber 2022. Dancing up a storm in the fantasy round followed by a heartfelt speech, he took out the title of Adelaide Rubber 2022.
Josh takes pride in sharing his struggles with anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. He hopes to bring light to topics about mental health from his own perspective, and let everyone know it’s ok to not be ok.
In partnership with BATRY, an Australian youth mental health foundation, Josh hopes to raise funds and awareness so that we can all show support for our younger community in need. Something Josh wishes was accessible to himself growing up.
He has found his place within the kink community and will continue to uplift others one dad joke at a time!
2021 - Pup Levi

Levi (they/them) is a rubber pup from Adelaide. Entering the kink scene moments before the pandemic started, they quickly became obsessed and spent a significant portion of their jobkeeper income on a variety of shiny outfits. With a wardrobe to suit, Levi took out the inaugural Adelaide Rubber competition in 2021 and continues to be honoured to represent the Adelaide rubberists, and their non-binary family in the first gender neutral title in Australia. Levi has had the privilege to Judge for the Melbourne Rubberman Competition and Tally Mistress for the Adelaide Competitions and the Australian Pup and Handler Competition.

Hampered by COVID in their title year, they have continued to serve on the AL&F committee in the Executive Leadership facilitating the Social Media and Marketing for the club. Levi has also taken on the Producing role for the Adelaide Rubber Competition since 2022.