CITY DEFINED BY OUR BEST

A COMMON theme echoed from the Gold Coast heroes recognised in the Australia Day honours list yesterday.

Each recipient the Bulletin spoke to either deflected the spotlight of their achievements and work to those around them, or dedicated their awards to people who sparked or shared their journey many years earlier.

In some instances, it was both. Judith Ferber acknowledged the countless people who helped her turn the Gold Coast Eisteddfod from 600 performers to almost 70,000 over 39 years.

“I couldn’t do it without the people around me,” she said. “The helpers, the volunteers – I share this award with them. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

A typically modest John Witheriff said: “What I am most proud of is – I was born on the Gold Coast and I have seen the Gold Coast grow and change and I have had the privilege of being able to do my small part in that.”

The comments from Mrs Ferber and Mr Witheriff depict a selfless, humble trait the Gold Coast has respected and admired over many decades.

This city owes those people a great debt.

In many instances, people are drawn to provide essential community help on the back of personal triggers such as the involvement of children and family.

It is a vital, treasured cog of society. However, personal magnets for the city leaders honoured over the weekend expired decades ago. The work they have done, and continue to do, for the Gold Coast is inspired by love, passion, skill and decency.

An exciting component for the Gold Coast is that they are not done yet. As evidenced by their comments today, their torch of city aspirations and hope burns as bright today as it did yesterday.

Towns and cities are measured by their best and worst people.

Like any maturing city strong enough to look itself in the mirror, the Gold Coast has social issues to digest and solve.

What cannot be denied, however, is the beacon its most respected people are carrying at the top. For that, we are blessed.