Remember when: Former Chamber of Commerce president Brian Shepherd survived ousting attempt

CONTROVERSIAL former Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce president Brian Shepherd survived a bid to expel him after lashing those who launched the “conspiracy” to oust him.

Gold Coast Bulletin, March 14, 1990 front page

Gold Coast Bulletin, Wednesday March 14, 1990

CONTROVERSIAL former Surfers Paradise Chamber of Commerce president Brian Shepherd survived a bid to expel him after lashing those who launched the “conspiracy” to oust him.

And Mr Shepherd’s colourful and flamboyant promotional style was vindicated overwhelmingly when the chamber voted to retain the Surfers Paradise Meter Maids after their nude appearance in Penthouse Magazine.

But the chamber voted to disassociate itself from the appearance of the two girls in the most recent edition of the men’s magazine.

Chamber deputy president Peter Palmer said members could not condone the use of the chamber’s name in the nude photo spread.

Meter Maids manager Steve Stacey urged the chamber to “pull your heads out of the sand” and appreciate “the millions of dollars of free publicity the girls had guaranteed”.

He said the magazine spread would not stop families from coming to the Coast.

“I can’t understand why families would not come here because of the girls’ appearance in the magazine, which isn’t a family magazine anyway,” he said.

“It is one of the greatest marketing coups ever — the girls have got more publicity than Bob Hawke in the past few weeks and there’s an election on.

Mr Shepherd also had the last laugh when his choices for key chamber positions, including the presidency, were elected at the annual general meeting.

A furious Mr Shepherd slammed the exclusion attempt launched by a group of disgruntled chamber members.

Meanwhile, a court was told Melbourne property developer George Herscu told a business association he paid former minister Russ Hinze $100,000 for buying racehorses.