COAST ALL EARS FOR PARADE
CELEBRITIES, television personalities, politicians and sports stars will be among a group of Gold Coasters attempting to create a world record held at Burleigh Beach this weekend.
The GemLife Gold Coast Beach Parade will on Sunday set the benchmark for the most people wearing koala ear visors in a beach parade.
The world record attempt is the first of its kind and will also double as a charity event and tourism campaign to showcase the city’s envious beach lifestyle.
All entrants’ fees will go to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation to support the region’s koalas.
Currumbin Wildlife Hospital senior veterinarian Michael Pyne said the hospital treated almost 600 koalas every year and sadly they were continuing to struggle in increasing numbers.
“We can’t do without community support and I am delighted that people will be
highlighting the plight of our koalas by wearing koala ear visors in the Gold Coast Beach Parade,” he said.
Event director Leanne St George said among the about 700 people already registered for the event was a long list of celebrities, television personalities, politicians and sports stars such as former rugby league player Michael Crocker,
7 News Gold Coast presenter Amanda Abate and actor Lincoln Lewis.
Ms St George said she was thrilled with the response to the beach parade so far with entrants coming from as far south as Sydney and Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast in the north.
“The Gold Coast Beach Parade has sent a ripple through the community and beyond that events are back and they need support,” Ms St George said.
“I think people are genuinely excited and see this as a catalyst for a business and city revival.
“And this is something fun, quirky, healthy and socially responsible and it’s not every day you get to be a part of setting a world record while saving koalas.”
The parade will be led by the event’s mascot, a 6m high baby koala called Burleigh, which will fly 10m into the air, Ms St George says.
“Burleigh the baby blimp koala will feature in vision and images that are beamed all over the world showcasing the city, its beaches and our iconic coastal lifestyle.
“With tourism to the region taking a big hit from COVID-19 the beach parade, with its iconic ambassador, will help save koalas and the imagery will be a timely reminder to potential travellers to the city of the beauty they can expect when they get here.”