Tears, smiles, hellos, goodbyes: Take a peek into human dramas of Gold Coast Airport

JUBILANT reunions. Teary farewells. Endless stories. Step inside Gold Coast Airport and meet a handful of the 6 million people whose personal dramas will unfold inside its walls this year.

Mark and Susan Fitt with their children Khya, Balin and Hunta-Lily at the airport gates. Photo: Steve Holland

THE Fitt family has a golden rule when it comes to saying goodbye to Nana — thou shalt not venture beyond the security gates.

“We always wave goodbye from here,” Susan Fitt explains moments after catching one final, painful glimpse of her children’s beloved grandmother at Gold Coast Airport.

“If we went through to the other side it would be so much worse. We’ve learned that over the years. We’re better to stay here and let Mum compose herself on the other side.

“She’ll be in the bathroom in tears now. I guarantee it.”

And who could blame her?

The Gold Coast Airport.

For two glorious weeks, Nana June has been part of the furniture at the Terranora home of her daughter, son-in-law and three young grandchildren.

Now she’s on the other side of the security scanners as she waits to return to Victoria and a world void of morning cuddles and goodnight kisses.

“The goodbyes get harder as the kids get older,” Susan says before nodding towards six-year-old Khya, a little girl with big tears welling in her eyes.

“It’s hard watching her. She sets me off more than Mum does … she’s been Velcroed to Nana for the last two weeks.”

Khya’s nana is one of more than six million people who will fly in and out of Gold Coast Airport this year, each and every one of them with a story to tell.

Holidays to enjoy. Business meetings to endure. Weddings to party at. Funerals to weep at.

And, for a lucky few, brand spanking new hubbies to embrace.

Danica and Dennis Penberthy. Photo: Steve Holland

“He moved to Malaysia for work three months ago and I’ve been sitting back here waiting,” Danica Penberthy says of the lucky man she’s just planted a kiss on.

“We only got married a few weeks before he left and this is the first time we’ve seen each other in 10 weeks … then I’ve had to wait another hour and 10 minutes for him to get through Customs.”

Dennis Penberthy isn’t complaining. The love of his life is finally in his arms. Better still, the next time he walks through Customs she’ll be by his side.

“In two weeks I’m moving over there with him,” Danica beams.

A short distance away, Elanora’s Jo Coker is patiently waiting for her 22-year-old daughter to clear Customs.

“There are a lot of emotions at an airport but this is the best bit,” she says. “At least for me it is. She’s probably wishing she was still over there but I’m excited she’s home.”

Mollie has flown in to the Gold Coast after a nine-day Thai holiday with her boyfriend. It was her first overseas trip without Mum.

Mollie Coker’s welcomed home by brother Rex. Photo: Steve Holland

“I was really proud of her,” Jo says. “She saved up herself and I knew her boyfriend was going to look after her.”

Mollie finally appears but Jo is still forced to wait for her hug. Why? Because nine-year-old Rex was never going to miss out on being the first to welcome his big sister home.

“I love it when you see the little ones sprint towards their grandparents,” says Ida Johnston, one of the airport’s newly minted ambassadors who donate their time to point visitors in the right direction.

“It’s just beautiful … although it can be hard for the people saying goodbye.”

Proof of that can be found in the Departures food court where several parents waiting to farewell adult children politely decline to share their stories, one mother’s voice cracking with emotion as she does so.

“We know that feeling and it can be distressing,” ambassador Ida says. “We waited three years to see our son and it wasn’t even a week and he was gone again.”

Amid the tears in Departures though emerges a story to warm the soul.

DJ Blair, 9, with pop Garry Blair and nan Gay Blair. Photo: Steve Holland

Garry and Gay Blair are returning to Sydney after a two-week break at Coolangatta. He’s 82, she’s 79 and their nine-year-old grandson is with them.

This was no special holiday with Nan and Pop though.

“DJ lives with us,” explains Garry. “We’ve got custody of him.”

His young grandson takes up the story: “When I was two days old, my mum left me in the hospital because she was on hard medication and couldn’t do it … I don’t see her now.”

DJ’s father is Garry and Gay’s son. He phones his boy every day and sees him on weekends, but it’s been decided that it’s for the best that his elderly parents are his fulltime carers.

“There’s nobody to back us up so we just do what we can,” Garry says.

“He does swimming. He does judo. He’s done music and we have a tutor come in to help him with his schoolwork.”

They also give him what so many kids want — a holiday on the Gold Coast.

“Well, we have to do what we can before we fall off the perch.”

And with that said, you shake his 82-year-old hand, high-five that of his grandson and leave them to catch their flight.