Bleach* 2013 is taking shape and by the looks of it, we think you will be blown away come February on the Southern Gold Coast!

Lock in the Dates

Make sure you have the dates in your diary!

22nd Feb – 3rd Mar 2013

You may also want to earmark the weekend prior – say the 16th Feb, we’ll tell you more as things develop!

Big Ideas

We have had a lot of great publicity for Bleach in the last few weeks. Big ideas require big vision and big support networks to pull it all off. We become so inspired by the possibilities for the Southern Gold Coast and our city as a whole when people ‘get’ the vision and get behind it! If you were inspired by the articles in the Gold Coast Bulletin and want to ensure some of these big ticket items become a reality, we look forward to hearing from you.

We are looking forward to working with the many Southern Gold Coast businesses that are keen to be involved 2013, if you have any idea’s, now is the time to share them with us!

As reported in the Bulletin on Wednesday 27th June “General manager of travel.com.au Renee Welsh said a study of flight booking information for families with children set to depart in the school holiday period had confirmed Coolangatta as the top holiday spot.”

While the data publised in the Bulletin was based solely on flights, no information was stated around accommodation. And considering that Coolangatta airport is the sole inbound entry point for interstate visitors to the Gold Coast, we can safely say that while the survey might have lacked a little detail, Coolangatta certainly gained some very positive attention as a result.

We may be a little biased, though I think most of you will agree that it’s a title we are willing to accept graciously!

Locals know the Southern Gold Coast is simply a slice of heaven on earth, after all, that’s why we choose to live/work/play here isn’t it?!

Swell Sculpture Festival will return for it’s 10th celebration of ‘Getting art out there’.

Over 10 days, visitors can experience the sculptures, enjoy twilight walks, informative artist talks, discover new perspectives at the Public Art Forum, wander through the Swell Smalls Gallery and participate in artist master classes and childrens’ workshops.

If you missed 2011’s festival, you can see some fabulous images of the sculptures here, which will certainly wet your appetite in anticipation for 2012’s showcase of 50 large scale sculptures exhibited outdoors, on the beautiful beach and foreshore of Currumbin Beach.

So book the dates into that diary now! 14th – 23rd September 2012, grab your flights, accommodation and prepare for a cultural experience Southern Gold Coast style!

Development opportunities for the Gold Coast’s non-profit boards
Following Board Connect’s successful residency on the Gold Coast in 2010, they are back on the coast! BoardConnect invites board members and senior staff of Gold Coast arts and other non-profit organisations to come together on Friday 20 April and discuss important issues for non-profit boards, including

• What are the key ingredients for good governance?
• How should board members equip themselves to handle the entrepreneurial challenges associated with organisational growth?
• How can induction and succession planning help a board reach its potential?

Also, you’ll need to be quick to take advantage of the Board Clinics: just you and your board working with David Fishel for an hour and a half on your organisation’s particular questions and issues. There are only two of these sessions available.

WORKSHOPS – Friday 20 April
7.30-9.00am       Workshop 1: Essential principles of governance
12.30-2:00pm Workshop 2: Developing Entrepreneurial Skills on the Board
4:30-6:00pm Workshop 3: Board Induction and Succession Planning

All sessions are held at Bond University.  Workshop sessions are $55 (incl. GST) each including refreshments, or register for all three and pay only $150 (incl GST).

BOARD CLINICS – Friday 20 April
10.00-11.30am                 Board Clinic 1
2.30-4.00pm                      Board Clinic 2
Board Clinics are $275 (incl. GST).
Click here for more information about the Residency and to register.

For all other enquiries, please contact Sara at BoardConnect:
Ph. 07 3891 2599
Email:  admin@boardconnect.com.au
Web:  www.boardconnect.com.au

Proudly sponsored by Bond University’s Faculty of Business and Office of Development & External Relations.

We found this post on Business GC’s website and wanted to ensure our design and manufacturing businesses are aware of this new website…

An exciting new initiative supported by Business Gold Coast is the website www.goldcoastproducts.com.au

The purpose of the site is to showcase products that are manufactured or designed in our region. The project is in association with Stuart Kerr, who has been working with manufacturing companies on the Gold Coast for the last four years.

The site has already attracted almost 100 companies, with numbers expected to exceed 300 by early next year. There are plans to instigate a range of promotions, events, media coverage and initiatives during 2012 to ensure manufacturers gain maximum local, national and international exposure.

Innovation plays a major role, with many of our local companies developing world renowned products ranging from cosmetics to software. There are almost 3,000 manufacturers on the Gold Coast, generating an estimated $3b annually. The range of products is enormous, and can be generally classified into the following categories:

• Food & Beverages
• Clothing & Textiles
• Engineering & Mining
• Metals & Plastics
• Health & Medical
• Sports & Fitness
• IT & Communications
• Creative Arts & Design
• Automotive & Transport
• Marine & Water Sports
• Energy & Environment

We encourage you to visit www.goldcoastproducts.com.au for more information.

A walking path up the grassy hill overlooking Rainbow Bay leads to Point Danger, named by Captain Cook as he sailed north along the coastline in May 1770. This steep rocky headland has spectacular views and marks the Queensland/New South Wales border. It is also the site of a historical landmark, the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse, which was the first lighthouse in the world to experiment with laser technology in the ‘70s.

This amazing location is a favourite of locals and visitors alike and overlooks one of the best surfing spots on the coast – Duranbah Beach, affectionately known as D’Bah.

Most days, you will find the car park upon the point nearly full and lots of people milling about, taking in the views, exploring the lighthouse and enjoying some Fish n Chips on the grassed area.

This is a great vantage point to spot whales and dolphins from the sure footing of land, with great elevation on the most eastern point of Queensland!

Click the link below to see this month’s short, simple and sweet but very important tip from Resident Business guru, Graham Lock!!

Ready for the ‘bers’

This unique site was initially the home of the Coolangatta State School which was established in 1919. Considerable community action led to the Queensland Government handing the custodianship of this site over to the GCCC in 2008 for the purpose of creating a facility for community purposes.

Extensive community and stakeholder engagement derived the priorities for the site which included, preservation and celebration of heritage of the site and the area, appropriate space to nurture, develop and celebrate artistic talent in the southern Gold Coast, flexible and affordable meeting spaces for small interest groups, increased accessibility to services to enhance health and well being and space for community celebration events.

Key elements of the facility include flexible meeting and activity spaces, internal and external arts spaces, small consulting rooms, a heritage display room, art gallery and external events space. Grant funding from Arts Queensland was used to contribute to the creation of the arts spaces within the site.

The site has already won an Urban Design Award due to the process involving multiple layers of Government, strong community participation, and the sensitive restoration of the building to create a multifunctional community facility.

Recently the two working groups connected and became incorporated as the Friends of Kirra Hill Inc. and are pro actively working towards creating displays for the heritage Room and organising Arts workshops, Gallery Displays and exciting cultural events for the site.

The site is due to open fully in July 2011 and there has already been a wide variety interest with booked activities including, yoga, quilt making, children’s art expo, a wedding, a heritage conference, playgroups, cross border services meetings and will be a venue for the Queensland music festival in July.

The site will be managed through a full management contract which is currently in the process of being finalised. On-going governance will be through the governance structure allowing open and transparent decision making involving local residents, user groups and other local stakeholders to assist in operational decisions, promotion of the venue, community engagement and ensuring that the facility is being utilised for maximum community benefit.
For further information please contact : KirraHill@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

This is great promotion for DMS Shapes in Currumbin! Congrats guys!

Getting excited about Cooly Rocks On?  We are! Head to www.coolyrockson.com to book tickets to the shows of your choice now! Tickets for all shows are selling fast, CRO will NOT over sell any of the shows, once the venue limit has been reached, the website will automatically close down ticket sales. Don’t take any chances rock n rollers, book now!

Team Cooly Rocks On

The ‘Team Cooly Rocks On’ program was launched last week as a way for the traders to show their support for the festival.

CRO management would like to thank the businesses who attended the traders meeting held in April, the festival is getting loads of support and they appreciate the local businesses getting on board.

Cooly Rocks On sponsors’ the Daily News, ran an ad to promote the meeting and letters and flyers were distributed throughout the businesses.

Festival Operations Manager, Mr Bob Newman also delivered an exciting Cooly Rocks On presentation at the combined Tweed and Coolangatta Chambers of Commerce breakfast last week. The CRO team continue to spread the word with Kellie visiting traders individually as we speak.

Cooly Rocks On will promote the traders in multiple ways including competitions for ‘best service’ and ‘best themed shop’. The winners will be awarded at the Traders Ball on the 8th June.

If you are a local business, haven’t heard from CRO yet and would like to join Team Cooly Rocks On please send an email to admin@coolyrockson.com and they will drop in.

The Daily News Street Parade

Saturday the 11th will see the CRO inaugural street parade hitting the tarmac. It’s going to be big, bright and colourful!

We invite you to be a part of this amazing event and show off your talents at the gathering of the year.

Prizes will be awarded to the Rock ‘n’ roll revellers who go all out and decorate themselves and their vehicles with the most sensational style.
This year is all about colour and we want as much of it as possible. Be aware – props will be looked upon VERY kindly! So get out your old guitars, your old quiff wigs, your skates and your pink poodle and join in the party.

For all clubs, groups and businesses this is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure and recruit new members or customers.

Enter your car, float, caravan, boat, walkers, dancers, skaters or poodles right now as we have limited places available and Expressions of Interest are coming in every day.

Entries close May 16th and will only be confirmed once payment has been received. CLICK HERE to enter and secure your position in the Daily News Street Parade!

The Great South East

The Great South East team visited Coolangatta and the CRO team on the 21st April to film a segment for the show that will air on the 22nd May. Make sure you tune in to Channel Seven to watch the segment!