Dawn, we’re the hipsters taking over Southport

DEAR Cr Dawn Crichlow

I am writing to you in response to your article published in the Gold Coast Bulletin on June 29 regarding the Next Generation of Southport.

My name is Ariana Margetts and I am a founding member of Southport Place Collective.

I was born in 1992 - a year after you were first elected to the old Gold Coast council in 1991.

The fact that you have been committed to local council, countless Gold Coast organisations and your immediate community for longer than my lifetime (a record breaking nine terms), is an unbelievable achievement.

Southport Place Collective is a not-for-profit organisation founded by seven young individuals who share a genuine passion for the revitalisation and activation of the Gold Coast’s CBD.

The founding members of the association boast an array of interpersonal and business experience within the city of Southport. We are comprised of local professionals who work within micro, small, and medium businesses as well as large size enterprises and charity organisations based in the CBD.

We are made up of business owners, residential and commercial property owners. leading creatives, legal and financial specialists and share a passion for reinforcing the changing reputation for Southport that you have led.

We aim to grow the culture of corporate partnerships, governing bodies and millennial consultation within the Gold Coasts CBD to develop and foster a vibrant, community culture in which residents and community groups stay engaged by the creative activation of space, events and placemaking activities.

Or, as you may put it, we’re the young trendies that are absolutely coming to control Southport.

We’re intelligent, mostly modest, extremely driven, and similar to the way that you describe your life, we’re varied, funny and fun.

We’re attracting ‘well-dressed young people’, a compliment in which my close friends are going to take VERY well too. We’re the hipsters taking over.

But not yet, and not without you.

You have been the face of Southport for over a quarter of a century, and anyone who has met you can tell that you sure as hell aren’t done yet.

Upon our last round of committee consultation, I am currently finalising our 2019 strategy which outlines the vision and direction for our organisation as well as it’s response to the strategic framework that your council team has outlined in their Gold Coast CBD 2025 program.

It identifies key opportunities within the CBD and outlines the alignment with the CBD 2025 objectives. The strategy primarily focuses on millennial engagement for 2018-19.

I want to commend your team for their commitment in this 2025 program to deliver a diversity of events that reflect and support the evolving nature of the CBD and the interests of the community.

We can’t wait to share this strategy with you to help bring to life your CBD plan for new events such as pop-up bars, live music, multicultural celebrations and street parties.

It’s our passion project and I’m calling on your support to help us make it happen.

As you have said in your article - you have put in the groundwork - and now we will bring in our light and entertainment.

Are you as excited as we are? ARIANA MARGETTS SOUTHPORT