[citation needed] In 1969, Tully, accompanied by the fashion designer Linda Jackson and her partner, the photographer Fran Moore, went to live in Lae in Papua New Guinea.
After a year living in Lae the three set out on the hippy trail to Europe, spending much of 1970 and 1971 travelling through South East Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Bali, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
After their move to Sydney with Tully and McDiarmid were soon involved with Kee's fashion store Flamingo Park in Strand Arcade, hand-painting fabrics for Jackson’s dresses.
[2] His experience of traditional tribal cultures through many years of travel in New Guinea, Africa and India - along with the vibrant and creative urban sub-cultural 'tribes' he saw New York - stimulated the development of his 'urban tribalwear'.
[3] Tully was undoubtedly the most influential designer involved with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, through his role as artistic director from 1982-1986[4] and through the establishment and management of the Workshop.