🥳 The GC Minute turns 1 | Introducing two local contributors | 2024 GC property to soar | Sora text-to-video AI | Leap year facts| GC Aussie of the year award nominations | Floating rugby and more!
🥳 The GC Minute turns 1 | Introducing two local contributors | 2024 GC property to soar | Sora text-to-video AI | Leap year facts| GC Aussie of the year award nominations | Floating rugby and more!
Volume 52 - Today’s newsletter is 1,497 words, a 6 minute read.
Welcome to Thursday, February 29 (and happy first birthday to us 🥳!)
Did you know: People born on a Leap Day are sometimes called leaplings - currently, more than 4 million on Earth..
And, without a Leap Day, our calendar would be off by about 24 days every century!
See you on this day in 2028 🗓️
In today’s email
Introducing: Two distinguished local content contributors to The GC Minute
Local manufacturing powerhouse: Outshining tourism sparkle
The Titan’s new: Jersey partners announced
Trending: Parking in front of your own house
Around The Web (Snippets): AI text-to-video by OpenAI, a tired Mum’s guide to GC playgrounds, local property set to soar in 2024, Gold Coast elections candidates and more!
Councillor’s Corner PLUS a Councillor Candidate for 2024
Upcoming Events
Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Gold Coast Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Welcoming two new local contributors to The GC Minute
What’s Happening
The Gold Coast Minute is super excited to introduce two distinguished local talents, Marshall Hall and Courtney Mulder, who will be joining The GC Minute team in covering business, tech, hyper-local news and critical city insights, in addition to a range of new content.
Why It Matters
On a day that just happens to be The GC Minute’s first birthday (our 52nd edition and January 29, lucky!) Marshall and Courtney’s addition marks an exciting step in our journey towards building The GC Minute, The Gold Coast’s premier newsletter and on-paywalled website covering business, tech, local news and critical insights.
By the Numbers
52 editions, marking one year of The GC Minute today 🥳
2 distinguished local talents on our team with decades of experience
Introducing Courtney
Courtney Mulder, deeply rooted in the Gold Coast hinterland, is a fourth-generation Gold Coaster who is raising the fifth generation – two delightful and mischievous little girls called Ada and Mabel.
With a wealth of Gold Coast knowledge and professional working experience, Courtney will bring a unique perspective on local life, community engagement, and the joys of raising the next generation on the Gold Coast.
Holding a law degree and a communications degree from the Queensland University of Technology, she has worked in communications roles throughout her career with employers such as the City of Gold Coast.
Courtney will be providing you with the best hyper-local content throughout the Gold Coast Hinterland area, in particular, among some other passion pieces.
Introducing Marshall
With over 20 years in the media and journalism industry, Marshall’s experience spans metropolitan and regional newspapers, including positions at The Courier Mail, the Herald Sun, the Sunday Telegraph, the Gold Coast Bulletin and the Townsville Bulletin.
In 2005 Marshall won the prestigious Business Journalist of the Year award in the News Awards.
In addition to all his other work, Marshall has been successfully running the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards held at The Star Gold Coast for the last nine years, a credit to himself and the City.
In addition to covering business and the local start-up ecosystem here on the Gold Coast, Marshall will also be bringing you hyper-local news from the northern Gold Coast areas around Coomera and Helensvale.
What the people say
The Editor and GC Minute team: "We're super excited to have Marshall and Courtney coming on board to go a bit deeper into some of the local stories and great content the Gold Coast has to offer.
Their unique local voices and dedication to the industry and City will undoubtedly help to enrich The GC Minute's connection with local communities.”
What to look for next
As The GC Minute continues to grow its readership and engagement quickly, keep your eye out for a few hyper-local special editions, broader freely accessible content and articles through our non-walled website and, of course, our epic weekly newsletter as good as ever.
Welcome, Marshall and Courtney!
2. Manufacturers stealing tourism’s limelight
What’s Happening
Areas of the glitter strip are fast emerging as a manufacturing powerhouse.
Why It Matters
While Australia’s domestic tourism capital is “famous for fun” for its theme parks and its golden beaches, the Gold Coast’s growing manufacturing sector is close to surpassing tourism as the bigger contributor to the region’s economy.
By the Numbers
Manufacturing now contributes $2.7 billion to the Gold Coast economy.
The sector employs almost 20,000 people.
It closely trails tourism and professional services, each adding $2.9 billion in gross value added.
Local Impact
This growth propels the Gold Coast beyond its tourism identity, promising new employment opportunities and industrial development, especially in areas like the Coomera Marine Precinct and Yatala Enterprise Area.
Manufacturing's Golden Hour
Investments in robotics and AI signal a future-focused industrial evolution, marking the Gold Coast as a serious contender on the global manufacturing stage.
What To Look For Next
The full article by Marshall Hall, here.
The City of Gold Coast wants you to nominate some local legends:
that are changing our community for the better.
whose challenges and triumphs are manifested in their life achievements.
who go above and beyond in their career.
who are simply champions in one way or another and have an impact on those around them.
Nominate someone doing something good for the City here.
3. Titans' Jersey Partner Announced
What’s Happening
The Gold Coast Titans join forces with The Lottery Office to announce the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation as a jersey partner for 2024.
Why It Matters
This collaboration highlights the synergy between sports, business, and healthcare, aiming to make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing medical hardships locally.
By the Numbers
Round 8 is when you will see the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation featured on the jerseys when the Titans go up against the Warriors in April.
Two young little fighters having a rough trot were celebrated as the first recipients of the jerseys on the day, surprised by Gold Coast players Kieran Foran and Tanah Boyd, who joined Titans mascot Blade and Gold Coast Hospital Foundation mascot Betty Get Better.
Local Impact
The partnership aims to raise awareness and support for healthcare needs on the Gold Coast, demonstrating the community's collective effort in backing vital local health programs.
A Winning Combination for Health
Aligning values and resources, the Hospital Foundation set a positive benchmark here for impactful community support through sport.
What The People Say
Jaclyn Wood, CEO, The Lottery Office - "Supporting local charities like the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and helping young people achieve their full potential totally aligned with their values."
Steve Mitchell, Titans CEO - “We’re really excited to be working with the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and our wonderful principal partner in The Lottery Office with this initiative.
They are two amazing institutions on the Gold Coast, and it’s a nice three-way relationship where we can extend the work we’ve done to date and help this great foundation some more.”
What To Look For Next
Footy season to kick off on March 9 and the epic new jersey design throughout the year.
4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
A tired Mum’s guide to Gold Coast playgrounds in: The hinterland
The Australian Jewellery Fair is coming: To the Gold Coast, but already sold out
GC property prices are set to: Soar all the way into 2024
The complete list of Gold Coast local election candidates has been released: And you can see them all here
Text-to-video AI Released by OpenAI called: Sora, and is wildly capable (and kinda scary..) 👇
6. Councillors’ Corner
Div 1 | Ormeau, Pimpama, Yatala | Cr Mark Hammel
Div 2 | Helensvale, Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove | Cr William Owen-Jones
Local Elections CANDIDATES’ Corner
Introducing Div 8 Councillor Candidate | Monique Jeremiah
8. Upcoming Events
📢 Customer Contact Week Australia and New Zealand 2024: February 28-March 1; collaboration and exploration into the latest tools and strategies to deliver customer contact excellence at The Star
🔬The Annual Scientific Meeting: February 29-March 2; for the first time on the Gold Coast at the GC Convention and Exhibition Centre
📣 Volunteering Collective Forum: March 1 from 7 am to 9:30 am; a forum for local groups and organisations involving volunteers at Robina Auditorium
🎨 Holi Festival of Colours: March 2 from 9 am onwards; colour fun activities, a fun run, dance performances, music and food trucks at The Great Lawn
🎶 Stavroz & Tijuana Cartel: March 2 from 6 pm onwards; live music at Miami Marketta - Studio 56
🧹 Varsity Lakes Community Clean Up: March 3 from 7 am to 9 am; free breakfast served by the Robina Lions Club after the clean up at the Varsity Lakes Community Resource Centre
🎼 Morning Melodies: March 5 from 10:30 am to 11:59 am; a morning of music and morning tea for the seniors in our community at Currumbin RSL
🧘♀️ Mood, Food and Mindfulness Workshop: March 5 from 6 pm onwards; presented by Mark (Holistic counsellor, hypnosis therapist) and Maya (Naturopathic Nutritionist, Yoga and Meditation teacher) at Upper Coomera Community Centre