💪 Bring on 2032
Volume 108: Teens charged with car thefts | Whale protects surfer from bloodthirsty shark | Fire ant threat grows | An 'owldorable' mystery and more
📬 Welcome back, it’s Thursday again - March 27.
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In today's email
A Note From: The Editor
One Big Thing: Gold Coast scores Olympic gold
Epic walk for: Domestic violence in Burleigh
Court losses rain down on: Sunshine Loans
Entries open for the: Doyles Art Awards
Trending: Yank tanks taking up two car parks…
Around The Web (Snippets): Teens charged on car thefts, Whale protects surfer from bloodthirsty shark, Fire ant threat grows, Bowlapalooza is back in Tugun and more
Upcoming Events
A note from the editor: 2032, bring it on!
What a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity the next seven years are for us.
With the Brisbane 2032 venues officially confirmed this week, it became real.
Honestly, it’s a little hard to fathom.
Whoever honestly thought in our lifetime that Queenslanders would get an Olympic Games?
Maybe Australia would get a football World Cup in a few decades…
Maybe the country would get another Olympics in Sydney or Melbourne…
But nobody really thought it’d be us.
Born and bred in Queensland, growing up through the 1990s and into my teens in the early 2000s, I have the fondest memories of major sporting events and the nation coming together and getting around what felt like as 'one'.
Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games..
It was the best.
The nostalgia of watching those events on TV and feeling a sense of unity with friends, family and across the country was real.
It was like everyone stopped what they were doing to celebrate something bigger than themselves with the Sydney 2000 Olympics, especially having a certain magic, and it’s wild to think we’re about to experience something similar but even more personal.
The Road To Sydney 2000
Back in 2000, I was lucky to be there after my parents’ group of friends coordinated going to stay with the only Sydney family we all knew to get amongst the action.
Packed to the brim in the Ford Falcon station wagon, for young kids, it felt like the longest drive in the world getting from the Sunshine State down to the big smoke.
(There weren’t as many bypasses back then…)
At Mum and Dad’s friends’ house, I think we’d crammed about 30 people into the place for the 10-day party (they had a big place).
Each day, the families would make plans and travel out with snacks packed to watch events, kids in tow, and songs on the buses to and from the game.
The city was so busy, crowded, and exciting for the parents just as much as the kids.
By night, I recall families getting together to cook big barbecues and watch Roy and HG, which I didn’t really get, but that all the parents loved.
I remember thinking for the first time, the Sydney weather was too cold compared to Queensland’s, but the kids played in the background and outside, full of energy, knowing something fun, exciting, and worth celebrating was happening.
Now, I don’t know if all my parents’ friends were in the same circle—working and middle-class Aussies all the way through—but they worked hard, went on holidays together, and gathered to watch sport whenever something big like this was on.
It’s what we did.
I recall my parents and whoever we were with cheering wildly at the TV, seeing Aussies rip through the pool, breaking world records on many occasions.
The nostalgia of watching those events and feeling a sense of unity across Australia was real.
Queensland’s time
Now, times are tough, we know it and feel it, and not everyone’s on board, just like with all things, but global events like this are there to help celebrate and look for the good in humanity amongst all the other stuff going on.
All eyes are on Queensland for the next seven years, and we’re 100% on the 2032 party bus until we get there.
After all, it’s the Olympics, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and it’s our time to celebrate.
We’re excited, ready and say bring it on!
Aussie Aussie Aussie 🇦🇺💪
Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Gold Coast Scores Olympic Gold
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: The Gold Coast has won Olympic gold by securing hosting rights for 14 sports during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with thousands of athletes set to stay at a mini Olympic Village in Robina.
Why It Matters: This is a game-changer for the Gold Coast’s infrastructure and tourism, with new venues, transport upgrades, and a $250 million grassroots sports funding program promising long-term benefits now in scope to be delivered.
By the Numbers
$200 million - Will be invested into a new arena in Southport.
2,600 athletes - Are to be housed at Robina Olympic Village.
11,000 seats - Will be the become the capacity of the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre for volleyball and wheelchair rugby, with temporary seating overlay
Local Impact: Following Commonwealth Games city upgrades undoubtedly helped us get the call up for 2032, and upgrades to venues like the Gold Coast Convention Centre and CBUS Super Stadium will further boost tourism and local business, while enhanced rail links and road projects promise better connectivity.
What The People Say
“These Games are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver an infrastructure, tourism and grassroots sports legacy.” — Premier David Crisafulli
What To Look For Next: More about the other locations on the Gold Coast that will be benefitting from upgrades and playing host to 2032 Olympic sports below 👇
2. Epic walk for domestic violence
By Courtney Mulder
What’s Happening: This Sunday, March 30, from 6:30 am, the potential rain won’t stop hundreds of Gold Coasters from walking the length of Burleigh beach to raise awareness and funds for Women’s Legal Service Qld (WLSQ).
Why It Matters: The walk aims to help WLSQ raise funds to answer more calls to their state-wide helpline and provide more free legal appointments to women experiencing domestic violence.
By the Numbers
$25 - Is the cost to answers a woman’s call to the helpline at present.
$60 - Covers the cost to provide face-to-face legal advice.
$415 - Provide integrated lawyer, social worker, and financial counsellor case work support to protect a woman and her children.
Local Impact: With up to 80% of local police shifts dealing with domestic violence-related matters, every dollar raised helps WLSQ tackle this crisis.
Step Up for Safety: The goal?
Raise $300,000 to provide essential legal support and keep the WLSQ doing its incredible work.
What To Look For Next: If you’re keen to get on board, go the full article below where there is a link for you to sign up or donate.
Register as an individual or team for $24—kids and pooches walk for free.
🆓 Dig the dig? We’ve got rewards for sharing!
We’ve updated our referral program to make it easier to get a few little freebies.
Check it out here 👇
3. Sunshine Loans Caught in a Storm
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Gold Coast lender Sunshine Loans has lost its Federal Court appeal against findings that it charged unlawful fees in violation of the National Credit Code.
Why It Matters: ASIC’s win highlights the importance of protecting financially vulnerable consumers from unfair lending practices, with Sunshine Loans potentially facing hefty penalties.
By the Numbers
• 670,000 contracts - Had been entred into by Sunshine Loans that included unlawful fees
• 12,000 times - Consumers were required to pay these fees that were illegal.
• $300,000 - Was illegally collected by Sunshine Loands from customers.
Local Impact: As one of Australia’s largest small-loan providers, Sunshine Loans’ practices affected thousands of customers, many of them financially vulnerable.
Shady Deals Uncovered: ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court praised the decision, reinforcing ASIC’s commitment to protecting consumers from harmful financial practices.
What To Look For Next: The case returning to Justice Derrington to determine the penalty Sunshine Loans will face, and more detail at the link below👇
4.
Entries are now open for the Doyles Art Award
From 1 March to 16 May 2025, artists from across Australia are encouraged to submit their entries into the prestigious Doyles Art Award, a 10-day exhibition on the Gold Coast with a prize pool of over $33,000.
5. Trending
🕰️ Last week’s newsletter:
6. Around The Web (Snippets)
Check out this whale that protected a surfer from a: Bloodthirsty shark
The auction for xbt.com, (the ultimate Bitcoin domain name) just: Started with bids already in the millions
One of the largest and most powerful healthcare companies in the world: UnitedHealth Group, just scrubbed divisive ‘DEI’ (diversity, equity and inclusions) content from its website
Nick Kyrgios helped Disney+ launch: ESPN streaming through its platform for all Aussies and Kiwis this week
An unusual Snowy Owl with: Orange feathers is an ‘Owldorable’ mystery
The 2025 Betty Diamond BOWLAPALOOZA is back for: BMX Riders & Skateboarders at Tugun in early April
A leaked dataset has exposed a: Chinese AI censorship machine and some of 133,000 examples it has processed
7. Upcoming events
🏐 Gold Coast VolleySlam: March 27–30; ten days of intense beach volleyball competitions on Coolangatta Beach
🏉 Gold Coast Titans vs. Sydney City Roosters: March 28; Kick off at 5 pm down south of the wall.. at Allianz Stadium
📽️ Movies Under the Stars: 🌊The Blind Sea 🏄♀️, Burleigh Heads - Free: March 29: What better way to spend an evening than outdoors watching a movie under the stars!
🚘 MOPARS ON THE COAST: March 30, Once again we will be the base for MOPARS on the coast this year. Kicking off at 730am through till midday. To register for your vehicle to be on display, contact the Gold Coast Tweed Chrysler Club.
🐶 GC Dog Co @ Dogs on the Green Gold Coast Dog Markets: March 30, Join for a fun-filled day with your furry friends! We'll have a stall set up with free nail clipping services, enrichment tasks, and toys available.
🌿 Nature Playgroup for 18 mths - 3 yrs: April 1, Our nature playgroup is about connecting families with nature through outdoor self-directed play and exploration of the beautiful Currumbin Creek. Creating a supportive community of like-minded families where nature is our playground!
😋 Street Feast - Pimpama: April 4, Join for a night of food trucks, dessert stalls, boutique retail stalls & music.
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