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The Gold Coast Directory introduced this blog to provide a platform for Gold Coast businesses to update the local business community with recent industry developments, networking events, company achievements and the latest about doing business on the Gold Coast.

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Gold Coast Sources Blogging Conference

Posted on January 22, 2013 by admin

More than 250 of the nation’s leading bloggers, with a combined audience of millions, are expected to attend an influential blogging conference on the Gold Coast this September.

One of Australia’s leading bloggers Darren Rowse has announced that the “ProBlogger Conference” will be staged on the Gold Coast for the first time. The conference provides an opportunity to showcase Gold Coast tourism experiences and attractions to hundreds of influential bloggers, who have an audience of millions.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to see Queensland’s world-class tourism experiences first-hand, before and after the conference, inspiring them to share their impressions of Queensland. To read more, click here.

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Gold Coast to host tourism industry’s next DestinationQ Forum

Posted on January 22, 2013 by admin

Queensland’s tourism industry will converge on the Gold Coast later this year for the second annual DestinationQ Forum to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Premier Campbell Newman and Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey, made the announcement today, reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to the tourism industry.

The Premier said the inaugural DestinationQ Forum held in Cairns in June last year was a landmark event, bringing the industry together for the first time in more than a quarter of a century.

“The first DestinationQ Forum was about creating a partnership agreement and a strategy to get tourism back on track,” Mr Newman said.

“Queensland is a great state with great opportunity and when we come together again in August we will be working towards establishing a 20 year plan to build a vision for the industry that reflects that.

“Tourism is one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy and we will continue to deliver a whole of government approach as part of our commitment to double annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion.”

Ms Stuckey said the 2013 forum on the Gold Coast would allow delegates to reflect on the results of the 12 month key action plan and consider a long-term agenda for the industry.

“The plan outlined more than 30 action items including red tape reduction, encouraging private sector investment, marketing and eco-tourism opportunities and I am pleased to say we are on track to meet all of these,” Ms Stuckey said.

“We have also delivered on our commitment to create a coordinated and strategic approach to attracting visitors through the creation of Tourism and Events Queensland.

“More than 300 delegates attended the inaugural forum and as a proud Gold Coast resident, I am thrilled to bring the 2013 DestinationQ Forum to the region.”

The 2013 DestinationQ Forum will be held from 27 – 28 August 2013. To register for updates, visit www.destq.com.au

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Surf World offers Southern Gold Coasters FREE entry on weekends

Posted on January 22, 2013 by admin

Surf World Gold Coast offers Southern Gold Coasters FREE entry on weekends from Australia Day to February 17th

Gold Coast SurferTo bring in the New Year and celebrate going back to school, the team at Surf World Gold Coast have a special treat for Southern Gold Coast locals. If you live between Currumbin in the North, Currumbin Valley to the West and Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay to the South, then you’re in for a treat this back to school season.

Starting on Australia Day weekend, Surf World will be offering local residents free entry to its surf history museum each weekend until Sunday February 17th.

Surf World Gold Coast boast’s one of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive historical surf displays including memorabilia, surfboards from throughout the ages, videos, art and surf photography from some of the world’s finest surf photographers.

Come down this back to school season for a local treat. Surf World President Jak Carroll says “The local community has been so supportive of the Surf World not-for-profit organisation over the last three years. This season of free entries is our way of saying thank-you for keeping surfing history alive on the Gold Coast.”

Surf World History:

Surf World Gold Coast originated as an idea among local Gold Coast surfers, photographers, board makers and collectors in the mid 1990s. Daryl Barnet who owned Retrogroove, a vintage surf shop in Coolangatta, was one of the prime movers for the museum. He asked Mal Sutherland, a local surfing photographer, for some historical photo’s and this conversation was the catalyst for Mal to get involved.

Others soon followed including collector Carl Tanner, owner of Finch Swimwear, and Darryl “Von Weirdo” Miller, artist, collector, dealer and character. Daryl, Carl and Von Weirdo all had significant collections of boards and surfing memorabilia and were looking for somewhere to showcase the display.

The late Gold Coast City Councillor Sue Robbins became aware of these conversations and began working in conjunction with Daryl Barnett to find a suitable venue. On her passing, her sister-in-law, Councillor Chris Robbins continued in the quest and the reason we now have a surf museum on the Southern Gold Coast is largely due to her efforts.

Mal Sutherland became the museum’s inaugural Chairman and, with the interest and support of the Gold Coast City Council and many others, Surf World Gold Coast opened its doors in June 2009.

Visit the Surf World Gold Coast website for more information

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Commonwealth Games Progress Report

Posted on January 18, 2013 by admin

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) representatives have been told the Gold Coast is on track to deliver a fantastic event, during a briefing on the progress being made to finalise the master plan for the 2018 Games.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey, joined Chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC), Mr Nigel Chamier, President of the CGF, HRH Prince Imran, CGF Chief Executive Officer, Mike Hooper and Chair of the CGF Coordination Commission Bruce Robertson and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to provide a Games progress report.

Minister Stuckey led an informal tour of the GOLDOC offices before they moved onto the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre where upgrade work was due to start soon.

“It is important for us to have a close working relationship with the CGF and I am sure they will continue to be impressed with our current planning and progress,” Ms Stuckey said.

“We had a very busy and productive 2012, achieving several key milestones including the establishment of the Games Corporation and its move to new premises.

“There was also the appointment of a Board and several committees to assist in the delivery of the Games, as well as the development of crucial foundation plans.”

During the routine visit, CGF representatives were updated on the overall Games delivery program and associated planning arrangements ahead of the first official CGF Coordination Commission visit later this year.

“There is much to do but we are well and truly on track,” she said.

“The Newman Government is determined to deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever, which will transform the Gold Coast and create tens of thousands of jobs, efficiently and effectively for all Queenslanders.”

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Bleach* Festival’s Longest Wave Launches

Posted on January 18, 2013 by admin

Central to the 2013 festival is The Longest Wave, a conceptual theme based on a real life local story. The Longest Wave refers to a wave ridden by surfer Damon Harvey from Snapper Rocks to North Kirra – a distance of just under 2 kms – back in 2002. At the time the feat was lauded by surf media around the world as one of the longest continual ocean waves ever ridden, but the remarkable ride had slipped into dusty realms of surfing folk law until surf author Tim Baker and Bleach* Festival Director Louise Bezzina decided the story begged a revisit.

The Longest Wave Photographic Exhibition will examine the history of the area Damon’s wave covered through a community exhibition curated by Michael Aird and Tim Baker. From stunning modern images by some of the nation’s most respected surf photographers to family photos taken at the turn of the century, this exhibition serves as a photographic journey into the rich beach culture of southern beaches. The exhibition will also feature video interviews with local surfing identities including Damon, current world champions Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore and a host of colourful residents as they share stories and recollections of the region.

The Longest Wave Coastal Walk will fuse elements of street theatre to a guided tour of the area spanned by Damon’s ride, while The Longest Wave Installation will interpret Damon’s ride artistically, with celebrated local artists responding to the theme and their own understanding and engagement with the immediate environment, local history and folk law.

Wrapping up the festival will be the Bleach* Last Wave featuring Mat. McHugh & The Seperatista Sound System and a debut preview of exciting new film project Spirit of Akasha, a 40th anniversary celebration of seminal surf movie Morning Of The Earth. Featuring local surf stars like Stephanie Gilmore and Mick Fanning, the film harks back to a time when single fins ruled supreme, and will be accompanied by a live soundtrack by filmmaker Andrew Kidman and his band The Windy Hills. This event heralds the end of Bleach* Festival and the opening weekend of the Quicksilver Pro on the exclusive Surfer’s Deck directly on the sand at Snapper.

Music fans can also enjoy Bleach* After Parties at Neverland, the Sunday Session at Currumbin Elephant Rock Cafe featuring Nat Dunn, and a wave of musical happenings at the Gold Coast Bulletin Bleach* Hub.

Art enthusiasts can take in the captivating work of famed surf artist Potts at Cafe D’Bar, ponder the connection between art and sport at the Basil Seller’s Art Prize 3 at The Art Centre Gold Coast, marvel at the Surfboards Dreaming display by shaper Ralph Riddel, and celebrate the feminine side of surf art at Surfsister Kaleidoscope at Coolangatta’s Kallalu gallery.

Ocean lovers can connect with the historical roots of local surfing with the exhibition Surfing In The 50’s and 60’s at Currumbin’s Surf World Museum, delve into the complexities of current state of the surf industry at the public forum Salts And Suits hosted by author Phil Jarratt, experience the forefront of ideas from surf tourism and industry experts from around the world at the Global Surf Cities Conference, and rub shoulders with surf coaching elite at Surfing Australia’s Green Room Conference.

And for cultural cravers, Bleachside Flicks will bring a range of free outdoor movies by the beach from 7pm for five big nights beginning the 27th of February presented by FuelTV and Patagonia.

Festival goers can can also expand their horizons by taking part in new experiences at events like Sandpanthers Slam, a night of open mic poetry for poets of all genres, or explore meditation at The Moving Place and its fusion with music at (Be) Coming Home, or visit the East Coast Whale Watch to discover more about the movements of the humpback whale. The Gold Coast Bulletin Bleach* Hub will also feature a variety of workshops and the ability to work remotely from the festival at Coworking by the Beach, a free WIFI enabled work space overlooking the ultimate office at Coolangatta beach. In the vein of TED and South by South West, Coworking by the Beach will also host The Rethink Conference featuring leading thinkers, performers and innovators from all walks of life exploring themes around innovation and inspiration. Rethink will be held from 9am-4pm on Saturday 23 February with keynote speakers including Lyndon Terracini, Director of Opera Australia, Alex Hillman, Founder of Indy Hall in Philadelphia, Tony Bacigalupo, CEO of New Work City, New York and futurist Craig Rispin and a host of other great minds in a space designed by one of the companies behind Google’s new offices in London.

Festival Director Louise Bezzina said the addition of these events to the festival’s already burgeoning program would ensure Bleach* 2013 offered something for everyone. “Our previous announcements covered everything for family-friendly children’s events to rock concerts with some of Australia’s best alternative acts. I think this final round of event announcements broadens the festival’s appeal even further, offering ocean lovers from all walks of life a way to engage with coastal culture through creative expression in a variety of forms.”

For a full list of Bleach Festival events, times and ticketing information visit:
http://www.bleachfestival.com.au/events/

A downloadable festival guide is also available on the Bleach* website events page.
Catch the wave at: http://www.bleachfestival.com.au

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‘Park n Ride’ to the 2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

Posted on January 15, 2013 by admin

 

WARNER Bros. Movie World will once again be the free ‘Park n Ride’ option for visitors to the 2013 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS).

The partnership between SCIBS and Movie World means visitors will be able to park their vehicles at the nearby theme park free of charge and travel the short distance to Sanctuary Cove via luxury coach.

Mulpha Sanctuary Cove general manager for marketing and events Sue Thomson said the door-to-gate service will deliver visitors to the popular Boat Show in less than 10 minutes and means no extra walking or waiting around once at the venue.

She said the Movie World Park n Ride option was the best and closest parking option available to visitors since 1999 when parking onsite at Boat Show became unavailable.

“Logistically it’s the best option due to the fact Movie World’s location is easily accessible from both northbound and southbound lanes of the M1 and the fact that it’s completely free,” she said.

“As well as being the most convenient parking option for SCIBS visitors, it allows our guests to limit the time they spend getting to and from the show and lets them make the most of their time enjoying all of the attractions SCIBS has to offer.”

Ms Thomson said Park n Ride would allow ease of access to and from Sanctuary Cove for the large crowd numbers expected at this year’s show.

“Going by the positive response to early ticket sales, we are expecting big crowds at this year’s Show and this parking option will add to the convenience and enjoyment of SCIBS for visitors.”

Warner Bros. Movie World is located adjacent to the M1 a short distance from Sanctuary Cove.

Visitors can access parking at Warner Bros. Movie World by exiting the M1 at exit 60 from both northbound and southbound lanes.

The service will operate across the four days of SCIBS from May 23 to 26. The cost of parking and transfers is included in the SCIBS ticket price.

The 2013 Boat Show will showcase a raft of international boating brands, products and technologies on display alongside the superb backdrop of the award-winning Sanctuary Cove marina and The Marine Village.

Offering something for the whole family, SCIBS will also feature a full program of live entertainment, fashion parades, cooking demonstrations, seminars and safety talks as well as a fantastic kids marine zone and Women on Water program throughout the four-day event.

Tickets for SCIBS are available online from www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com or through Ticketmaster. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.au

 

 

 

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Kites, Mermaids, Theatre, Food & Festivities added to Bleach* Festival Lineup!

Posted on January 7, 2013 by admin

Gold Coast, Australia, 7th January 2012 ~ Annual Gold Coast arts and music celebration inspired by coastal culture, Bleach* Festival, has added another handful of exciting events to the lineup ahead of another major program launch announcement on January 17th.

Bleach* Festival will roll down the coastline like a wave from 22nd February – 3rd March, with a teaser Pre Bleach* Weekend on the 15th – 17th February, 2013.

This Festival, Bleach* has collaborated with Kirra Kite Festival to present a pop up version of the popular kite celebration at a new event, Flying High At Bleach*. See spectacular giant kites take to the skies on Kirra Beach, along with aerial artistic stunt displays on Sunday 24th February.

Flying High At Bleach* is a free outdoor event celebrating the art of kite flying, featuring the Queensland Kite Flyers, legendary Kite Artist Tony Rice, and dazzling display by performance artists Strange Fruit.  Kite workshops, live music and beach care activities make this a perfect Sunday on the beach. There will also be markets to browse including the Suitcase Rummage where patrons can register to bring a suitcase (or three!) filled to the brim with goods and treats to buy, sell, swap or haggle. The event will also launch the Kirra Beach Bazaar, a new sustainable enterprise market giving local traders a chance to showcase and sell their unique products. Patrons can register at www.bleachfestival.com.au to participate in the bazaar or rummage.

The Bleach* Festival wave of events rolls into Tugun with a new event, Eat Street, bringing colour, music and food together for a fun community experience. Bleach* invites locals and visitors to order up their fave Tugun takeaways and follow the music and to the beach end of Toolona Street where the Bleach* Eat Street communal table takes centre stage. Diners can eat under the stars at the long communal table centred beneath Tugun’s most famous resident, the lantern lit Moreton Bay Fig tree. Relax, eat and wander into the evening with a twilight arts & crafts market, street entertainment with Ginger Spin Ninja, personal poetry readings by Louise Moriarty, Tugun’s own ‘singing barista’ James Park, the cool sounds of local band The Living Room accompanied by Kacey Patrick, a screening of short film ‘4224’ by Jeff Licence, plus more excitement in the surrounding cafes and businesses.

Team Mess will take over Rabbit and Cocoon for two performances of the riotous This Is It on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March.

Mimicking a premiere press conference for a fictitious new movie, This Is It is a theatre experience by Team Mess allowing patrons to step into the role of hard-hitting reporter or salacious gossip columnist. As the three stars take questions, audiences can slowly unravel the film’s speculative plot. This is fun, improvised theatre that both interrogates and celebrates the pretenses of performance, and pokes fun at the cult of celebrity.

The sell-out family favourite of 2012, The Surfer And The Mermaid, returns to Bleach* following a critically acclaimed two-week season at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney. The Arts Centre Gold Coast in partnership with Bleach* will present the return season of The Surfer and the Mermaid. This enchanting children’s theatre piece delivers a powerful environmental message that will delight and inspire. Directed by Melinda Collie-Holmes and starring Luke Townson, The Surfer and the Mermaid was written and adapted for the stage by surf writer Tim Baker with images by surf photographer Ted Grambeau.

Stay tuned for an extensive festival event announcement on January 17th, 2013.

Catch the wave at www.bleachfestival.com.au

Kite workshop $5.50 p.p.

Live Music Co-Presented by Southern Gold Coast Music Hub:
10am – 11am Tari Peterson
11am – 12pm DJ Think
12pm – 1pm Jason McGregor (of The Lampights)
1pm – 2pm Freddy Flyfingaz
2pm – 3pm Mick McHugh
3pm – 4pm City Over Sand
4pm – 5pm Dan Hannaford

What: Team Mess
Where: Studio 5 & 6, Rabbit and Cocoon, Miami
When: Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March, 8pm
Cost: $10 pre sale, $15 on the door. Available online at www.bleachfestival.com.au

What: Eat Street
Where: Toolona Street, Tugun
When: Saturday 23rd February, 5pm – 9pm
Cost: Free, food can be purchased directly from participating cafes and restaurants

What: The Surfer And The Mermaid
Where: The Arts Centre Gold Coast
When: Tuesday 26th Feb – Saturday March 2nd 10am and 12.30pm, except Friday March 1st 12.30pm and 6pm
Cost: Adult/Child $15.00 p.p, Family of Four $48.00, Group (6+) $10 p.p. Tickets available the artscentregc.com.au or call 07 55884000

Beachology workshops are available FREE to all The Surfer And The Mermaid attendees on presentation of their show ticket lakeside at Evandale Lake, Tue – Thurs 1.15pm

Bleach* Festival will boast more than 55 events, stay tuned for another major program launch announcement on January 17th.

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Bleach* Festival’s Cultural Wave Gathers Momentum

Posted on December 18, 2012 by admin

Gold Coast, Australia, 18th December 2012 ~ Bleach* Festival, the Gold Coast’s annual beach culture-inspired arts and music gathering, will announce several key events on the Bleach* festival website today including the exciting addition of the Pre Bleach* Weekend on 15th, 16th and 17th February, 2013.

Extending the Bleach* Festival footprint further across the coast for 2013, the Pre Bleach* Weekend will commence with a family evening of theatre, markets and music at Paradise Point, followed by a free outdoor music concert at Burleigh before migrating south for an experimental orchestral event at Palm Beach. As the name suggests, these three events that make up the Pre Bleach* Weekend will precede the official festival program, which runs from 22nd February – 3rd March.

Bleach* Treasure Trove will kick start proceedings on Friday 15th February at Paradise Point with Queensland’s Theatre Company’s acclaimed rendition of family classic Treasure Island for its only outdoor production in Australia. Trade Winds, an outdoor installation piece by Brisbane-based musical theatre group Polytoxic will add a spectacular fusion of performance and art over the water, while a special twilight edition of The Village Markets (TVM) will bring an explosion of fashion, arts and creative market stalls.

Bleach* At Burleigh on Saturday 16th February will see a free outdoor concert on the beach in front of Burleigh’s Justin Park featuring an incredible lineup of contemporary live music. Leading the charge is Busby Marou, riding high on the phenomenal success of their self-titled debut album. Band of Frequencies will be unleashing their own brand of surf-infused funk and roots, taking audiences on the sort of soaring sonic journey that won them the QMA Blues/Roots Award in 2012. They’ll be joined by Brisbane-based singer/songwriter Thelma Plum, who delivers haunting and soulful acoustic folk, Laneway who combine a love of harmony with a touch of psychedelica and pop, and Lyon Apprentice, the latest musical project from the multi-talented David Lyon of Fairchild Republic. Free children’s activities will also be on offer.

Day three of the Pre Bleach* Weekend will see Orchestral Maneuvers in the Park touch down at Palm Beach Parklands. Combining orchestral music and choral choirs with bold animated projections, stunning costumes and physical performance, this innovative multi-media concert is set to dazzle audiences. The 60-member Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Conductor Mark Turpin and Concert Master Margaret McAteer, will provide a soaring soundtrack to the evening, joined by vocal ensembles, the Voice Weavers Acapella choir and the Imbari Vocal ensemble. Based around songs of the sea, the musical program will build to the spectacular crescendo provided by Polytoxic performing Tradewinds after dark over the waters of Currumbin Lagoon. Featuring Polytoxic artists Leah Shelton and Lisa Fa’alafi, and Cairns visual artist San Tupou, the performance celebrates the stories and history of the Pacific Ocean as two women navigate their way across a vast watery surface.

Commencing from the official beginning of the festival on 22nd February 2013, the Festival will boast a central arts precinct called the Gold Coast Bulletin Bleach* Hub which will run for the duration of the festival in Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta. The Gold Coast Bulletin Bleach* Hub will host pop up galleries in the form of commissioned artworks housed in shipping containers, live music, outdoor film nights, talks and workshops and even a beachside co-working space and think tank so festival patrons can enjoy a temporary work space by the sea.

Sway On Sunset is set to return to Coolangatta’s Komune on Saturday 2nd March with a poolside soiree featuring a wave of tantalising entertainment. There’ll be cocktails on sunset, a synchronized swimset by the visually stunning WaterGrace, playful beach themed entertainment with The Bathing Beauties and a fashion showcase of the ever evolving maxi dress, and the alluring sounds of Ginger and The Ghost.

Acclaimed children’s songwriter and entertainer Nadia Sunde presents the whimsical and heart-warming children’s theatre production, Nadia and The Blue Flamingo, is set to delight families with a string of performances at Currumbin’s Surf World Museum.

The most popular event of Bleach* 2012, Bleach* Street, returns in a new expanded format for 2013 as Bleach* Boulevard. A festival within itself, expect live music from some of the coast’s hottest acts, theatre, workshops, the return of The Village Markets and the infamous retro surfboard design swap meet, The Alley Fish-Fry.

Centered around the leafy thoroughfare of Tomewin St, Currumbin, and extending around to Currumbin beachfront, Bleach* Boulevard offers a smorgasbord of free entertainment over one jam-packed day and six locations. Highlights include Strange Fruit, a Melbourne-based performing arts company fusing theatre, dance and circus using a unique elevated medium. On Currumbin beachfront and high atop five metre poles, performers will bow and sway to impossible angles, creating a hypnotic dance that has to be experienced to be believed.

Children’s programming for the day includes a plethora of options include Linsey Pollack’s Live and Loopy, Lucas Proudfoot’s Circular Rhythm, Samba Blisstas Brazilian Percussion workshops, Beacholgy workshops and children’s play Nadia And The Blue Flamingo.

For ticketing, catch the wave at www.bleachfestival.com.au

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Sanctuary Cove Reels in Boat Show Early Birds

Posted on December 18, 2012 by admin

BOATING enthusiasts have been quick to hook the first available tickets to the 25th anniversary Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS) with hundreds of one-day passes snapped up within days of the ticket release.

Purchasers jumped at the chance to secure presale tickets ahead of the public release which commenced on Friday November 30.

The event’s family-friendly activities and the presence of some of the world’s leading marine brands have enticed the early birds who are taking advantage of discounted ticket prices and also have the chance to win a luxury escape to the Whitsundays.

Those making their ticket purchase online before March 31 2013 automatically go in the draw to win a three-night luxury escape to spectacular Hayman Island Resort including breakfast daily, transfers and return economy airfares valued at $5500.

Mulpha Sanctuary Cove sales, sponsorship and events manager Johan Hasser said early ticket sales were cementing expectations for bigger crowds for the 25th anniversary of the event.

“We have put a lot of effort in to diversifying the show which is sure to attract more visitors next year,” he said.

“Given the enthusiastic early response we are expecting crowd numbers to exceed the 37,000 visitors who attended in 2012.”

Running from May 23 to 26, next year’s event will showcase a raft of international boating brands, products and technologies on display alongside the superb backdrop of the award-winning Sanctuary Cove marina and The Marine Village.

Offering something for the whole family, SCIBS will also feature a full program of live entertainment, fashion parades, cooking demonstrations, seminars and safety talks as well as a fantastic kids marine zone and Women on Water program throughout the four-day event.

Early bird tickets featuring 25 per cent off are available throughout December and January, with 1 Day Adult passes available from $19 and 1 Day Concession passes from $15.

Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more. Children under the age of 18 are free with a paying adult (up to four children, per paying adult).

Tickets are available online from www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com or through Ticketmaster. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.au

Affordable holiday packages are now available featuring on-site and off-site options. For more details contact Cove Travel www.covetravel.com.au

For more information on SCIBS, visit www.sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au

The $A2 billion Sanctuary Cove, located on the northern Gold Coast, is Australia’s leading and most successful master-planned community.

Featuring two 18 hole championship golf courses, a 300 berth marina, five-star InterContinental Hotel, Country Club including full fitness centre, tennis courts and 25m swimming pool, Sanctuary Cove is also home to some of the most diverse waterfront, golf course fronting or hilltop residential house and land options on the Gold Coast.

At the heart of the community is the Marine Village – Sanctuary Cove’s very own waterfront commercial, retail and dining precinct, with more than 80 tenancies.

Sanctuary Cove was acquired by current owners Mulpha Sanctuary Cove (Developments) Pty Limited in 2002. MSCD is an arm of Mulpha Australia Limited, which is a subsidiary of Malaysian listed Mulpha International BHD.

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Surf Art Photography Book ‘Bluesphere’ Set For Launch

Posted on November 30, 2012 by admin

Photographer Shelli Bankier is set to release her first photographic book, a collection of wave forms and ocean moments that beautifully illustrate the essence of the sea. Launching on the 6th of December 2012 to coincide with the first of a series of exhibitions by the Gold Coast-based photographer, this book is the best of Shelli’s work, the sum total of her unique ocean images spanning the last ten years.

This hard cover 204 page art book is a singular publication unlike anything before it. Independently published, it is printed on environmentally responsible PEFC matt paper with soy inks by the highly regarded print house behind publications such as White Horses, Visions and numerous magazines.

The book features the ocean in all its vibrant beauty and power, and is the ultimate gift for ocean lovers. Speaking of moments in time, the photography in ‘Bluesphere’ is a compilation of breathtaking images from the best wave spots around the world; Australia, Hawaii, Tahiti and more, all shown at their best, when the wind is offshore and the waves are peaking.

Aside from being her life’s work, ‘Bluesphere’ is the culmination of Shelli’s personal journey as well. Shelli began surfing at age 13, but when a car accident left her with severe spinal injuries at the age of 16, doctors told her there was no hope she would walk or surf again.

Having spent her formative years aboard a yacht with her family sailing the world’s oceans had left an indelible mark on Shelli’s soul – one of water and waves, and a deep connection with the ocean. She felt the pull of the tides in her blood and the pulse of the waves in her heart, as do many who live a life bordered and influenced by the ocean. It was this love that drew her to photographing the ocean during her recovery from her ‘permanent’ paralysis. Determined to walk again and get back in the water, Shelli defied the odds and slowly but surely regained her ability to do both.

Overcoming that monumental challenge, Shelli quit school, studied professional photography, and jumped on a plane with camera in hand, learning along the way from some the best surf photographers in the world.

Since that time Shelli has amassed a collection of images from both near and far that are soulful reflections of the sublime moments that the sea offers.

Shelli is now one of the few women in the male-dominated surf photography field, and has had her work published and exhibited widely over the years. She also offers exclusive prints from her website bluespherephotography.com

“I like to let my photography speak for itself, to create a free sense of space, and bring the Ocean in through the windows of my images, a window to another place, a page of water dreams. And also to awaken eyes to the great Ocean that supports all life, to the care we must now give in appreciation and to the change we must make to alter our negative effects on the planet,” Shelli says of her work.

“I like to capture in my images the form and texture of waves and ocean, the feel, the connection, the balance of movement and the space in-between, a space of stillness and power, of an in-breath and an out-breath,” she said.

Shelli has dedicated countless hours to watching the many moods of the sea with her film and digital cameras, and the results celebrate the feel of surfing, the beauty of the ocean, and the importance of ocean conservation. Threaded with art elements and prose, ‘Bluesphere’ is a journal of Shelli’s work, a reminder of an ongoing oceanic journey as seen through the camera lens.

‘Bluesphere’ by Shelli Bankier will be officially on sale on December 5 at select retailers and newsagents, and online at bluespherephotography.com. The book will be launched with the first exhibition on Thursday December 6th 2012 from 5-9 pm at Rabbit & Cocoon art space, 23 Hillcrest Parade Miami Gold Coast.

Priced at $79.95, this debut run is limited edition first press.

You can view a selection of some of the images that will appear in the book.

For more information, contact Shelli:
[email protected]
ph: 0422 799 988

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