Guess who’s coming to dinner? Western Sydney aged care home welcomes drag queen duo

The Abel Tasman Village in Chester Hill invited The Motel Sisters Tacky (Liam Benson) and Paris (Naomi Oliver) to live among residents as part of a three-week artist-in-residence program – and the results have been fabulous.

The Sisters say they were initially cautious about the move into the facility.

“We understand that popping a couple of drag queens into your everyday environment for some people can be a little bit discombobulating,” Tacky told the ABC.

But within days, the pair say they’d been welcomed into the community – and they’ve been a breath of fresh air according to residents.

“It adds a new dimension to living,” resident Colin Fenwick said.

Big benefits for residents

The residency, which was organised through the not-for-profit art and community organisation Information and Cultural Exchange, has included a luxury day spa, room makeovers, a high tea and Zumba classes – and the home has seen benefits for residents’ health too.

“We usually have our geriatrician or GP come in and do regular medical changes or monitoring, but we haven’t had to have that many medication reviews,” the village’s clinical manager, Sophia Markwell, said.

Despite the age gap, the Sisters say they still fit right in with the residents.

“We are a little older now,” Paris said. “It takes longer to get over a hangover, we’re more than happy to have a cup of tea, so it’s actually been quite comfortable for us.”

Not a drag then.