💍 Australia's first Pawn Expo comes to Gold Coast
Volume 176: Planned burn underway at Nerang Park | Stray SpaceX rocket stage likely hit the moon | GC Airport records 25% overseas growth | Man used live Civil War shell as paperweight and heaps more
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly edition. It’s August 6.
🇦🇺🥇 Australia has done it again, finishing on top of the Commonwealth Games medal table!
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Australia’s first Pawn Expo comes to Gold Coast
Gold Coast Airport marks: Strong overseas growth
Gold Coast e-mobility checks: Lead to 49 seizures
Around the web: Neyland wins gold and breaks world record, US bans Chinese humanoid robots, Gold Coast road operation nets 119 fines and more
Trending: Moonrise over Surfers Paradise 🌑
Upcoming events
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1. One Big Thing: Australia’s first Pawn Expo comes to Gold Coast
What’s Happening: Pawn Stars businessman Rick Harrison will headline Australia’s first national pawnbroking trade event at Southport Sharks on Friday, 18 September. The programme includes a keynote, audience Q&A and trade exhibition.
Why It Matters: Pawn Expo Australia brings pawnbrokers, gold buyers, resellers and suppliers together as pre-owned shopping becomes a bigger part of Australian retail.
By The Numbers:
Australia’s resale market reached $34.6 billion in 2025.
More than 80% of Australian shoppers buy second-hand goods.
The global resale market could exceed US$360 billion by 2030
Local Impact: Gold Coast operators can meet national specialists locally, while interstate delegates bring business to Southport’s venues and hospitality sector.
A Deal With Staying Power: Strong support could make the Gold Coast a repeat host for a sector growing by nearly 10% annually.
What The People Say:
“Pawnbrokers and second-hand dealers play a significant role in the circular economy by extending the life of quality pre-owned goods and with the industry booming, an event like this is now essential,” National Pawnbrokers Association of Australia President Leanne Coneybear said
“Rick Harrison is much more than a television personality. He’s built one of the world’s most recognised pawn businesses and understands negotiation, branding, customer experience and entrepreneurship at the highest level.”
What To Look For Next: Tickets can be purchased through the Pawn Expo Australia website.
2. Gold Coast Airport marks strong overseas growth
What’s Happening: Gold Coast Airport served 6.5 million passengers during 2025-26, with international traffic rising 25%.
Why It Matters: More direct flights give Gold Coast and Northern NSW travellers greater choice when flying to New Zealand, Bali and Fiji. The results also show that demand remains strong across major domestic routes.
By The Numbers:
International passenger numbers rose 25% year on year, supported by new services and added capacity.
Domestic traffic reached 5.7 million passengers, up 5.6% from 2024-25.
January was the airport’s busiest month, with 637,000 travellers and a monthly record for New Zealand traffic.
Local Impact: Jetstar’s Hamilton and Dunedin services performed strongly enough for the airline to add capacity within six months. Qantas also returned to international operations from the Gold Coast in July 2026 with its Auckland service.
Demand Is Outrunning the Runway: Passenger growth continues to exceed added capacity on the Sydney and Melbourne routes. A new connection to Western Sydney International Airport from October 2026 will add more seats and provide another option for travellers.
What The People Say:
“Jetstar services to Hamilton and Dunedin launched in June 2025 exceeded expectations, with the airline increasing capacity on both routes just six months into operations,” Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said.
“Passengers on other international routes grew by more than 53%, boosted by the introduction of new services including Jetstar’s Bali route and Fiji Airways’ direct service to Nadi,” Ms Evans said.
What To Look For Next: Gold Coast Airport will receive Western Sydney International Airport’s first commercial flight in October 2026.
3. Gold Coast E-Mobility Checks Lead to 49 Seizures
What’s Happening: Gold Coast police seized non-compliant e-mobility devices during the first month of Operation Yankee Surety. The statewide campaign began on 1 July, with officers checking rider behaviour, speed, alcohol use and device compliance.
Why It Matters: E-scooters and similar devices are becoming more common, but illegal modifications and unsafe riding can place riders, pedestrians and motorists at risk. The operation gives police a coordinated way to address these concerns across Queensland.
By The Numbers:
49 devices were seized across the Gold Coast, the second-highest district total in Queensland.
74 traffic notices were issued locally, while Logan recorded another 31.
Two riders tested positive for alcohol on the Gold Coast, including an 18-year-old who allegedly returned a reading of 0.171 per cent near Surfers Paradise.
Local Impact: Incidents were recorded near Surfers Paradise and in Yatala, including alleged drink riding and a teenager using a non-compliant e-motorcycle. The Gold Coast accounted for 49 of the South Eastern Region’s 57 device seizures.
Rules of the Ride: Operation Yankee Surety will continue through high-visibility patrols and community engagement. Local checks are expected to keep focusing on speeding, alcohol use, dangerous riding and illegally modified devices.
What To Look For Next: The full article below 👇🏼
5. Around the web
A stray SpaceX rocket stage likely crashed into: The moon leaving a crater around 18 metres wide and four metres deep.
A Texas man used a Civil War artefact as a: Paperweight for years before learning it was a live artillery shell.
Astronomers may have spotted a supermassive black hole: More than 30,000 light-years from its galaxy’s centre while feeding on a star.
New Chinese humanoid robots have been banned from the US market over fears they could: Gather sensitive data, spy on Americans or be controlled remotely.
Australia’s Tara Neyland raced to: Gold and broke her own world record in the Women’s C4-C5 1,000m Time Trial.
OpenAI and Anthropic models went beyond their hacking tests by: Creating fake identities, targeting real people and trying to plant harmful code.
6. Trending
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇🏼
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7. Upcoming events
🎨 4 ASD Kids Art Exhibition and Auction: Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August 2026, 7 am-2 pm; Monday 10 August, 8 am-3 pm; Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 August, 7 am-2 pm; Australian children’s-book illustrators exhibit at Gallery 8, 8 Ferry Road, Southport, with auction proceeds supporting 4ASDKids.
🏐 Volleyball QLD Senior Schools Cup: Friday 7 August, 9 am to Sunday 9 August 2026, 9 pm; more than 2,500 senior students from over 70 schools compete at Carrara, Coomera and Runaway Bay indoor venues; entry is free.
🤖 Storyfest Business Lunch with Dr Catherine Ball: Friday 7 August 2026, 12-3.30 pm; Dr Ball discusses AI, robotics and the future of human-machine work over a two-course lunch in Bond University’s Princeton Room, 14 University Drive, Robina.
🛍️ Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: Friday 7, Saturday 8 and Wednesday 12 August 2026, 4-9 pm; browse handmade fashion, art, food and more than 100 beachfront stalls alongside live music on the Surfers Paradise foreshore.
🎸 SCARFE - Debut Show: Friday 7 August 2026, 7-11.30 pm; Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, 6/36 Central Drive, Burleigh Heads, hosts the local five-piece indie-rock band with Gilli and the Fishies and The Granniesmyths; 18+, $13.
🎭 Big Fish: A New Broadway Musical: Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August, 7.30-10 pm; Sunday 9 August, 2-4.30 pm; Thursday 13 August 2026, 7.30-10 pm; Spotlight Theatre presents the first Gold Coast staging of the musical at 185-187 Ashmore Road, Benowa; tickets start at $35.
🖤 Heathers The Musical: Friday 7 August, 7.30 pm; Saturday 8 August, 2.30 pm and 7.30 pm; Sunday 9 August 2026, 1 pm; the dark comic musical based on the cult film plays in HOTA Theatre 1, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise; recommended for ages 14+.
🎶 Broadbeach Beats: Saturday 8 August 2026, 11 am-5 pm; emerging musicians, community performers, local makers, artists and free children’s activities fill Broadbeach Mall on Victoria Avenue; entry is free.
👗 Gold Coast Fashion Show: Saturday 8 August 2026, 2-4 pm; KIRIAKI and Wesson present European collections during an afternoon runway show with champagne at Imperial Hotel Gold Coast, 94 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach.
🤠 Casey Barnes - Made For This Tour: Saturday 8 August 2026, 6-10 pm; the Australian country singer performs album tracks and established hits at Miami Marketta, 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami; this is an 18+ show.
💫 Viva la Carnival - Gold Coast Gala 2026: Saturday 8 August 2026, pre-drinks from 6 pm and main event from 7 pm; three-course dining and live entertainment at The Star Gold Coast raise funds for Make-A-Wish programs supporting children with critical illnesses.
🔬 PRICM12 - 12th Pacific Rim International Conference on Advanced Materials and Processing: Sunday 9 to Thursday 13 August 2026, 9 am-6 pm daily; scientists, technologists and engineers meet at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for the international materials conference.
🌳 Robert Dalley Park Planning Party: Sunday 9 August 2026, 9 am-12 pm; residents can review proposed park upgrades, offer feedback and enjoy free coffee, ice cream, music, children’s activities and a tree giveaway at Robert Dalley Park, Helensvale.
🎡 Nerang Family Funanza: Sunday 9 August 2026, 10 am-2 pm; families get free rides, entertainment and activities alongside more than 120 stalls at Country Paradise Parklands, 231 Beaudesert Nerang Road, Nerang.
🎻 Ensemble Q with Ed le Brocq: Sunday 9 August 2026, 2 pm and 5 pm; Mozart, Puccini and Australian compositions feature in two 80-minute chamber-music performances at HOTA’s Black Box Theatre, Surfers Paradise.
🎼 Gold Coast Eisteddfod GCE 2026: Monday 10 August, 12 pm, 2.30 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm; Tuesday 11 August, 9.30 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 3.15 pm and 5.30 pm; Wednesday 12 August, 9.30 am, 11.15 am, 1.30 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm; Thursday 13 August 2026, 9.30 am, 11.30 am, 1.15 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm; school orchestras perform throughout the week in HOTA Studio 1; the individual sessions cost $10-$15.
🎓 iGEM Study & Migration Expo 2026: Tuesday 11 August 2026, 1-5 pm; visitors can meet education and migration advisers at Southport Central Commercial Tower 3, Level 6, 30601/9 Lawson Street, Southport.
👢 Line Dancing at Pacific Pines Tavern: Tuesday 11 August 2026, 6.30-8.30 pm; the free beginner-friendly session welcomes families and children at 8 Hotham Drive, Pacific Pines.
💻 BGL REGTECH 2026: Gold Coast: Wednesday 12 August 2026, 8 am-2 pm; free registration is open for this accounting, regulation and technology program at QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise.
🏫 The BUSY School Coolangatta Open Day: Wednesday 12 August 2026, 8.30-10 am; families considering Years 11 and 12 can tour the 5 Scott Street campus and speak with staff about its alternative senior-school program.
♿ Gold Coast Community Disability Expo: Thursday 13 August 2026, 10 am-1 pm; attendees can meet local disability providers, see assistive technologies and obtain NDIS information at SOPO, 36 Scarborough Street, Southport; admission is free.
🖼️ Celebrating YOUth Through Art: Thursday 13 August 2026, 5-8 pm; Dust Temple hosts youth art, live music, creative activities and a silent auction supporting free youth mental-health programs at 54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters; entry is $15.
💅 Drag Queen Bingo: Thursday 13 August 2026, 6.30-9 pm; Dixie Wrecked and Ivyy Monroe host bingo, drag performances and music from DJ Vices in Studio 56 at Miami Marketta; the venue lists this as 18+ with no children or babies.
🚛 Truck Driver: Thursday 13 August 2026, 7 pm, running time 1 hour 10 minutes; this one-person Australian play combines comedy, tragedy and social realism in HOTA’s Black Box Theatre; adult themes and coarse language apply.
🏉 MIGHTY BRONCOS: Thursday 13 August 2026, doors 7 pm, photographs 7.30 pm and show 8 pm; Carrigan, Billy Walters and Kotoni Staggs appear for a rugby league talk and meet-and-greet at Burleigh Town Hotel; all ages are admitted when minors attend with a guardian.