METER MAIDS BATTLING
Big Bash cricket promotions, a Japanese freeto-air TV documentary episode. Meter Maids are still in demand but are they liked at home?
IT seems just about everyone loves the Meter Maids, except the authorities.
That is how the Meter Maids long-serving brand owner
Roberta Aitchison (inset, above) is feeling after fielding multiple requests of late to have her golden bikini-wearing girls strut their stuff.
They were invited to a Big Bash cricket promotion with a team at the beach in the lead-up to one of the recent matches at Metricon Stadium.
This week, an infotainment show director from Tokyo booked two hours with the Meter Maids in Surfers Paradise to film a segment about unique casual jobs overseas.
The director Mika Ogomori expressed surprise the city didn’t universally embrace the concept.
Meanwhile, Aitchison, who feels like she’s doing her bit for promoting the city and its formerly “famous for fun” slogan, isn’t feeling the love from her home town.
She has alleged constant harassment from Gold Coast City Council officials pulling up her staff for breaching bylaws when selling merchandise and accepting donations for photos while on their beat.
Council has consistently denied any suggestion of wrongdoing towards Meter Maids. Meanwhile, Aitchison tells ATG: “We still get a lot of overseas attention.”
Two Palm Beach teenagers Max Banditt and Toby Patrick in Surfers Paradise this week enthusiastically grabbed a photo with the Meter Maids, wondering what all the fuss was about.
“I reckon it’s something to see, a bit of beach culture. That’s what you see at the beach,” Banditt tells ATG.
“The bikini is all part of it. I mean, we’re in budgie smugglers.”
His pal Patrick adds: “They’re just helping people out — and girls in bikinis is what you see at the beach.”
The bikini is all part of it. We’re in budgie smugglers