SOLID GOLD STAR
Sorry Sydney — our Darling’s better than your Darling thanks to rooftop showpiece Nineteen.
WHAT do Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her party’s arch nemesis, former premier Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen have in common?
They’ve both officially opened groundbreaking buildings on the Broadbeach Island where the company now known as The Star Entertainment Group operates under its own act of Parliament.
Ms Palaszczuk oozed Star power on Thursday when she joined board chairman John O’Neill, State MD Geoff Hogg and more than 250 ‘players’ – TV and radio presenters, sports stars and administrators, biz bigwigs, elected reps, tourism leaders and actors – to celebrate the new jewel in the group’s crown, six-star luxury suite hotel The Darling.
After champers and speeches in the ballroom-sized foyer, guests hit the rooftop to explore The Darling’s incomparable restaurant and bar Nineteen with restaurateur Simon Gloftis and partners Billy and Jackie Cross (joined by the eldest of their two sons Joshua – younger brother Nicholas isn’t 18 yet).
Ms Palaszczuk topped the list of elected reps (Games and Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Federal counterpart Steve Ciobo, Mayor Tom and Deputy Donna, Shadow Minister for heaps John-Paul Langbroek, Shadow Tourism spokesman David Crisafulli, Cr Paul Taylor and Cr Cameron Caldwell) who enjoyed good (lengthy) innings.
The pollies mixed and mingled with cool kids Pia Miller, Kris Smith, Ian Thorpe, Lincoln Lewis, Rodger Corser, Laura Csortan, Lauren Phillips, Jackson Heywood, Orpheus Pledger, Yan Yan Chan and Nathan Jolliffe, Li Chi Pan, Giaan Rooney and Brooke Hansen.
Local high flyers Graham Miles, Terry and Jodie Jackman, Adrienne Readings, Jan McCormick, Tony Hickey, Dale Dickson and Tony and Thea Cochrane were all there. The Titans sent a squad lead by Brett and Rebecca Frizelle, Daryl Kelly, Dennis (recovering Bronco) Watt, Graham Annesley, Garth Brennan, Ryan James and Jarrod Wallace.
Notable absents included gold medal photo bomber Peter Beattie (NRL business in Sydney – the corporate equivalent of cheating?), Games boss Mark Peters (tapering?), Wayne Moran (holidays), Paul Donovan (overseas) and State MP Ray Stevens (hope you’re OK Ray?).
Group managing director and CEO Matt Bekier knew the event was a winner based on how many ‘corporates’ phoned him wanting to know why they weren’t invited.
See you and raise you Sydney!