Coast is lucky to have these women

THE Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year awards by Harvey Norman has unearthed and highlight incredible achievements and effort by some of this city’s best and brightest over a number of years.

And every year those women who make the finals of the categories never cease to impress.

The 2022 finalists, who were lauded at Friday night’s gala event at The Star Gold Coast, were no exception, and again highlight the incredible women who call the Gold Coast home.

This is not a reality TV show where the talent pool starts to run thin after a few seasons. The Gold Coast is an abundance of talented hardworking, inspirational women doing inspirational things, some of them behind scenes without much recognition.

The annual awards have demonstrated the incredible breadth of talent this city has to offer. This is a city where dreams can come true and success can come despite humble beginnings.

The stories of our judges and sponsors, including Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page and Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’callaghan, Star Gold Coast chief operating officer Jess Mellor are as compelling as the finalists. Some finalists have overcome incredible odds and the most devastating of circumstances.

Take Ellidy Pullin, among the nominees and whose beloved partner Alex “Chumpy” Pullin died in a freak spearfishing mishap in mid-2020. Ellidy, now bringing up their child as she deals with her grief, is inspiring and a testament to the power of love and overcoming the loss of one’s soulmate.

The Gold Coast is lucky to have so many incredible women here.