Heaven on Wheels

The denizens of the Gold Coast roller rink may be getting on in years. But they still let the good times roll.

A A A Comments By Emma Trelles Thursday, Feb 17 2000

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She calls out to Darnaby to shadow her in a skate dance. "Bev, Bev! Let's do the City Blues," she says, and Darnaby sails to her side, the ends of her blunt-cut hair flying out past her shoulders. A purple-skirted woman joins them, and the three hold hands in a chain as they roll by the camera, laughing, chins up and legs striding in time. During a group picture shoot, Burghardt saunters over and nestles herself in the center.

"I'm getting in this one," she cracks. The skaters she's welcomed for more than two decades push in around her, and those beside her in the front row point the rounded tips of their skates toward the camera's lens. Maybe out of habit, Burghardt does the same with her shoe. When she's done she wiggles from the fold and scurries over to the DJ booth for one last song before Mildred's cake gets cut. "Laughter in the Rain" lilts over the rink, and the gathering floats over the maple wood's expanse as if enchanted, cameras and outsiders otherwise forgotten.

Melissa Jones

Mary Burghardt (left) shows Emily Gomez and Jim Gillespie how to stand tall during competition

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That's the extra bonus about Gold Coast's bubble: Unlike Glinda's, it doesn't burst when feet hit the floor. Truth be told, it expands.

Contact Emma Trelles at her e-mail address: emma.trelles@newtimesbpb.com