SMALL TALK

A little bit of history is walking around on the decks at the Southport Yacht Club. For the first time in the annals of the iconic club they have a real live woman in charge of sailing. The delightful Kerry Noyes has the official title of Vice Commodore Sail which gives her control over all things sail related to the yacht club and unlike the famous Admiral in HMS Pinafore, she really does know a thing or two about going to sea.

It is always the way. You work hard all year, grab a few weeks of vacation and then it is ‘Hello sickbed!’ Rémi Baron, owner of Le Café Gourmand in Mermaid Beach and, may we say, the baker of the best baguettes this side of the Seine, recently headed back home to visit family and friends in France. How was it we asked? “I had been there two days and came down with some form of virus and spent about five days in bed,” he grinned. He eventually struggled out from the covers to spend time relaxing before heading back to work. As Ned Kelly would have said if he was French, “C’est la vie.”

It is time to start thinking about one of the more intriguing local fundraisers. The Audi Red Boot Rally is scheduled to run September 23-26. It raised more than $300,000 for Ronald McDonald House South-East Queensland last year, with celebrity and business groups sponsoring various cars in the super-fun roadie. Participants drive to some of the best spots across Queensland doing challenges and staying at top-flight digs. As one rallygoer notes: “You are given a top-of-the-line Audi worth upwards of $300,000, spend the first half of the day driving to your destination, have lunch, and then spend the afternoon, well, being social.” With local characters Gorden Tallis, Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt and Billy Cross behind the wheel last year, it promises to be a, er, gas.

There’s something about Queenslanders. Before you pesky southerners start the jokes about banjos, let us explain. Via Facebook we saw a notice from ex-Queensland TV presenter Annette Allison re her job for the Royal Flying Doctor Service where she has worked for 10 years. It took us back to the golden age of television and how many women from here rose to national prominence. Annette, Kerri-Ann-Kennerley and Jacki MacDonald were just some of those with an infectious sense of humour, not taking themselves too seriously, and good looks which translated into Australia wide fame. There is something about Queenslanders.

Do you have any Gold Coast gossip? Email coastweekend@news.com.au