THE INSIDE WORD

ALMOST $400,000 RAISED FOR SALVOS

THE Salvos Red Shield Appeal is usually launched with a donated breakfast by Crowne Plaza, but this year as a Covid quarantine hotel it was unable to help.

Up stepped Somerset College to generously host the Wednesday morning event and help get the appeal up and running.

There were many highlights. Rob Bennett (pictured above with Tom Tate and Tony Hickey) gave a testimonial telling how the Salvos helped to turn his life around. Mayor Tom Tate spoke about the power of prayer in his life and had the line of the morning. “Mayors come and go but the Salvos will always be there to help.”

Close to $390,000 was raised from the guests, with special mention to Adco Constructions, which donated $50,000, Reuben Pelerman Benevolent Foundation ($30,000) and Dankav Pty Ltd ($25,000).

We should be called the Giving Coast.

HOLLYWOOD A-LISTER’S UTE INCOGNITO

WHICH Hollywood superstar has “utilised” a novel way to get around town without being spotted by paparazzi or attracting unwanted attention?

The trick is the mode of transport, so not for this star a head-turning Italian sports car or something super sleek and shiny. Nope, the car du jour is a battered, 20-year-old ute of the kind much favoured by tradies and surfies.

With hat and sunglasses on nobody gives this lauded celebrity even a second glance allowing life in town to be lived as normally as possible. Clever.

REMEMBER WHEN: HATS NOT ALL FROM

A COAST ICON

OVER the years we have been blessed with many exuberantly colourful social dames.

One of the brightest and best was Therese Glennon, who never failed to delight with her outfits and, more particularly, her hats.

This photo was taken at Sheraton Mirage around 1990 at a preMagic Millions breakfast. One very impressive feature of her outfits was to have her shoes covered in the same material as her hat.

Her husband John developed large swathes of Nerang and they lived in Boonaroo, a rambling old homestead high on a hill overlooking the Gold Coast. One of the centre pieces of their home was a magnificent 19th-century, mahogany pedestal extension dining table with 18 matching chairs.

When Queen Elizabeth II came for the opening of the Sydney Opera House, John and Therese kindly had the table and chairs shipped down for a special dinner with Her Majesty.

Therese passed away in 2009 and her hats were aucing tioned off for charity at a special high tea.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE ... FOR THE SLEEPOUT AWARDS

TAKE many of the city’s leadto CEOs, put them under the stands at Cbus Super Stadium at Robina for a charity sleepout and what do you get?

Firstly, a record sum of $625,000 and counting raised for Vinnies, but, secondly, a chance for a bunch of awards. The envelopes please.

Best snorer – Kris Martin from Vinnies was the earshattering winner. It was so loud his own crew had him moved to his own space away from the crowd.

The Insomniac Award went Matt Schneider from Urbis – apparently he never sleeps.

Best Team Outfit went to the Village Roadshow team which all dressed as Batman.

Best Team Name goes to Gold Coast Airports for the imaginative moniker of Rough Landing. Even Brett Frizelle (pictured with Tania Meli) scored with a Best Video Award – we didn’t like to delve too deeply into that one.

Finally, the Energizer Bunny gong went to Wazza Bray who stayed up most of the night, attended a looong lunch the next day and backed up on Saturday playing drums for Casey Barnes at a gig in Brisbane.

Legends all.

SMALL BIZ SECURITY SAVIOUR

RUTLAND Smith (below) is on a mission. Nothing to do with The Blues Brothers, but a desire to help small businesses around Australia.

When he is not giving freely of his time as chairperson of the Gold Coast

Community Fund, his paying job is as the director for Harvey Norman technology for business.

“The No.1 technology issue facing small business owners today is internet security,” said Rutland.

“The Gold Coast is the small business capital of Australia and to put it crudely, small business is the low-hanging fruit for cyber criminals. Small businesses are easy to target because their defences are relatively poor compared with large businesses and because there’s lots to target – 2.2 million in Australia alone.”

Having worked with and for small business most of his life he is now on a mission to educate and advise.

“There are some simple steps to protect yourself, but they need to take the time to talk to a professional about securing themselves against the rapidly growing scourge of cyber-crime.”