🌏 GC surf story heads worldwide
Volume 171: Sony stops making CDs | The GC's best school holiday activities | Antarctic dinosaur bone found | Spao Ottobock opens in Robina and heaps more!
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly edition. It’s July 2.
And here we go!
Pencil in a sleepy Saturday after our do-or-die early morning clash with Egypt in the Round of 32.
A win would see the Socceroos into the Round of 16, up against either Africa’s Cape Verde 🇨🇻 or Lionel Messi’s Argentina 🇦🇷.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Gold Coast surf story heads worldwide
The best Gold Coast activities these: Winter school holidays
These local projects just: Won State architecual recognition
Around The Web: Sony stops making CDs, Spao Ottobock opens in Robina, Antarctica’s oldest dinosaur bone discovered, North Straddie’s award winning building and heaps more
Trending: The GC’s big and famous 3/4 light rail transport trauma project..
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1. Gold Coast surf story heads worldwide
What’s Happening: ECAT (The East Coast Activation Tour), a short feature film about the surfing conservation movement down our incredible east coast, has been officially selected for the Save The Waves Film Festival 2026 World Tour.
Why It Matters: The selection gives the Gold Coast’s surf protection story a global audience and also ties the Australian surf scene to a wider movement protecting surf ecosystems, coastal culture and community identity.
By the Numbers:
The ECAT journey ran for 5 days, travelling from the Gold Coast to Sydney after WSCC 2026.
The convoy featured 22 surfers from Peru, Costa Rica, Rapa Nui, Chile, Mexico, Spain, the USA, Bali and Australia.
The road trip packed 3 vans, 1 car and more than 30 surfboards, including a Peruvian Caballito de Totora reed board.
Local Impact: The Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve and Gold Coast Surfrider Foundation are now co-hosting a one-night-only screening of the annual Save The Waves Film Festival at the Tom Atkin Hall, Tugun, on Saturday, 11th July from 7 pm – 10 pm, which includes the GC production of ECAT, the feature documentary.
Zoom In: ECAT captures the first time ever a South American Team (San Bartolo from Peru) has competed in the World Club Championships/Usher Cup at Snapper Rocks on the eve of the WSCC.
While the rambling road trip incurred a flat spell chasing surf, it was blessed by perfect sunny weather and the natural beauty of the locations. Scoring a pumping post swell at Snapper Rocks, and a bonus segment on the Caballito de Totora reed board from Huanchaco, Peru.
The ECAT documentary was produced by cameraman/ editor Josh Hamilton (The Edit Suite), tracing an Australian/Peruvian tour from Bondi to Noosa in 2016 when GCWSR was endorsed, but in 2026, the road trip was reversed, driving south from the Gold Coast to Sydney 10 years later.
What To Look For Next: Locals can see the short feature at Tom Atkin Hall, Tugun, on Saturday, 11 July, from 7 pm to 10pm, where you can get a first look before ECAT travels worldwide.
2.
🎉 Gold Coast school holiday activities 2026
School holidays are here, and so is the familiar chorus of “I’m bored.” So we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.
Whether you’re chasing winter waves, theme park thrills, family-friendly festivals or a few low-cost ways to get everyone out of the house, there’s..
3. Gold Coast projects gain State recognition
What’s Happening: Gold Coast projects have been recognised in the 2026 Queensland Architecture Awards, with local buildings named across public, residential, interior and apartment categories.
Why It Matters: The results show a city being shaped beyond its beautiful beaches, with recognised projects that include places where locals swim, meet, live, and move through, making architecture part of everyday Gold Coast life.
By the Numbers:
Five local projects won awards across the city
Palm Beach appeared in two categories, the public and residential categories, giving the suburb a strong result.
Dolphin Court House received 2 honours, winning in Residential Architecture (Houses New) and Interior Architecture.
Local Impact: Palm Beach in particular had a standout result, with both a major public facility and a residential project recognised.
Burleigh Heads also featured, with Florence at 42 The Esplanade earning a commendation for multiple housing.
Not Just Picture Perfect beach shots: The awards point to a smarter Gold Coast design story, one built around usefulness, care and local fit.
What To Look For Next: The full list of winners and links to each project and the link below 👇
5. Around the web
Sony has announced that from: 2028 that it will entirely stop making physical discs for news PlayStation Games
Dino drawer discovery: A fossil left sitting in storage for 40 years has now been identified as Antarctica’s first dinosaur bone, and it belonged to a giant titanosaur.
The NRL is throwing the ‘biggest party’ to: Kick of Jai July celebrations
North Stradbroke Island’s cultural centre has: Won State Honours for one of the best public buildings
A Maroons star has escaped a ban which: Will free him up to play in the Origin decider
The USA goal scorer’s: Red card tackle against Bosnia and Herzegovina
There will be a Guinness World Record attempted at this year’s: Gold Coast Marathon for the fastest marathon run in a kilt👇
6. Trending
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇🏼
Weekly dream gig
This week - If getting paid big dollars to make snacks and drinks famous sounds like your kind of grocery run, this one’s for you.
A growing food and beverage business in Helensvale is chasing a Marketing Manager to lead brand strategy, product launches, campaigns, grocery channel growth and portfolio planning across retail, foodservice and international markets.
The package is tasty too, at $180,000.00 to $200,000.00 plus super and bonus. You’ll need serious FMCG experience, major grocery retailer know-how and the kind of commercial brain that can turn shopper insights into shelf space.
Big brands, big influence, big lunchbox energy.
7. Upcoming events
🎨 SURFACE Festival 2026: Wednesday 1 July to Sunday 19 July 2026, various times; Miami’s streets fill with murals, outdoor art and live music, including the Fenceline Exhibition and Record Fair during this date range.
🤖 Gold Coast Tech Mixer and Social (Tech / AI / Data / IT): Friday 3 July 2026, 6 pm; local tech, AI, data and IT people meet at Goldie’s in Surfers Paradise.
🛍️ Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: Friday 3, Saturday 4, Wednesday 8, Friday 10, Saturday 11, Wednesday 15, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July 2026, 4-9 pm; beachside stalls, gifts and food line The Esplanade.
🌙 Dreamworld Night Market: Friday 3, Saturday 4, Friday 10, Saturday 11, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July 2026, 5-9 pm; food stalls and live music take over Dreamworld Parkway.
🏃 ASICS Gold Coast Marathon: Saturday 4 July and Sunday 5 July 2026, race times from early morning; runners take on the Gold Coast course, with start times listed on the race weekend schedule.
🧘 Northern Gold Coast Wellbeing Expo: Saturday 4 July 2026, 9 am-1 pm; meet legal, financial, health, Indigenous wellbeing, aged-care, veteran and community support groups at Upper Coomera Centre.
🌿 Gold Coast Bonsai Show: Saturday 4 July 2026, 10 am-5 pm and Sunday 5 July 2026, 9 am-4 pm; more than 80 bonsai trees, demos, raffles and sales are on show at Carrara Community Centre.
☕ BRUNCH LIKE A BOSS Female Founders Event - July 2026: Tuesday 7 July 2026, 10 am-noon; Meghan Jarvis leads a mindset and business brunch for female founders, leaders, creatives and students at Southern Cross University Gold Coast Campus.
💼 July 2026 Female Founders Forum - Gold Coast Branch: Tuesday 7 July 2026, 1.45-3.30 pm; the corporate governance session connects Gold Coast women in business at Kurrawa Surf Club.
🎙️ Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox: Tuesday 7 July 2026, 7.30 pm; The Future Is Vintage Tour brings its jazz-pop stage show to HOTA Theatre 1.