Life Education Centre: Inside Gold Coast Coast landmark’s multimillion-dollar redevelopment

A Gold Coast landmark which was a childhood favourite of generations of children will reopen after a multimillion-dollar revamp.

A GOLD Coast charity and education institution will mark a new chapter in its history with a multimillion-dollar return to its original home.

Broadbeach’s Life Education Centre will reopen in November to mark the organisation’s 35th anniversary after a major revamp.

The complex, which, along with its famous mascot Healthy Harold, has had a dramatic facelift as part of the Gold Coast City Council’s $8.3m redevelopment of the Broadbeach cultural precinct project.

Life Ed Queensland CEO Michael Fawsitt said the charity had been temporarily operating from Nerang while the work was completed.

Natalie Lacey, Life Ed Queensland CEO Michael Fawsitt, mascot Healthy Harold, Penelope Batchelor & Thomas Lacey excited about the return to Life Ed's Broadbeach HQ on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

“There’s so much nostalgia associated with the Broadbeach Life Education Centre, ”he said.

“Many Gold Coast residents can remember visiting the centre for Life Ed sessions during primary school and seeing Harold the giraffe emerge in the old amphitheatre class spaces, so moving forward, the centre will become part of a cultural hub, and we’re excited to be sharing the space with other community and cultural groups who are making a positive difference for the city.”

“The great news is that the redeveloped building will enable us to welcome Gold Coast students back to the centre, with modern new spaces where we can deliver a range of programs to students, teachers and parents.”

The building before its revamp.

New features including a state-of-the-art video and sound studio which will allow

The centre was founded in 1987 by developers Ron McMasters and the late Brian Ray who raised $1.8m to built the complex.

Mr Ray died in a plane crash in 2005 but his son Jack Ray now sits on the Life Ed board as its deputy chairman.

He said it was important to continue his father’s legacy.

“I’ve always believed in the power of the Life Ed program with its focus on preventive education and teaching kids about drugs, alcohol and smoking, but I’m so excited to see how the organisation has evolved to deal with the issues schools and young people are dealing with today,” he said.

Jack Ray with his late father Brian Ray.

“In recent years, the program has grown to include an increased focus on mental health, puberty, respectful relationships and consent, and the feedback we’ve been receiving from schools, parents and children is phenomenal.”

The redevelopment of the Broadbeach cultural precinct has centred around the revamp of the ageing Albert Waterways Community Centre to include a number of meeting rooms and spaces for hire, rehearsal rooms, an improved foyer and new toilet facilities.

The Albert Waterways Hall was built in 1983 and has been used heavily by community events such as pet and orchid shows, as well as a performance venue for the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and the Wiggles.

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