Peter Flowers and Regina King argue that dumping the ‘Glitter Strip’ from the Gold Coast would be a mistake
If losing the Glitter Strip tag is an aim of the current crop of marketing gurus, be careful with changing a global brand that symbolises fun and frivolity, writes Peter Flowers and Regina King.
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If losing the Glitter Strip tag is an aim of the current crop of marketing gurus, be careful with changing a global brand that symbolises fun and frivolity.
By definition glitter means to ‘shine with a bright, shimmering, and reflected light’ and we happy few who call the city home know precisely why we choose to live here.
It has a vibe and vitality about it that is rarely matched.
The Gold Coast rose to prominence as an idyllic destination for a holiday, those who came loved what they experienced in terms of climate, lifestyle and entrepreneurial spirit, and wanted to have that on a permanent basis.
They were living and working in an environment summed up by that classic line by Banjo Paterson from ‘Clancy of the Overflow’ – “Where a stingy ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall” – and wanted a better life.
Some of those who don’t live here may think that it is best known for ‘tits, tats, thugs and drugs’ garnering that opinion from social media and sensational media reports but it is miles away from that four-word poem. From beaches to theme parks and the hinterland, everything is sparkly clean and welcoming which is why more than 12 million visitors visit annually.
Best of all, the boom/bust cycle of visitors during peak times of years gone by is no more because now the city’s economy is underpinned by multiple pillars that are independent of tourism dollars.
The biggest problem we have is that governments of all persuasions have failed to take us seriously as a city.
Last Christmas we had around 1 million on the Gold Coast – locals plus visitors – but money has never been allocated to allow for the continued growth in permanent population that has been steadily rising for 60 years.
In that period around 700,000 people have moved here and by 2040 we will be home to1 million. Prepare for the future growth because nothing is going to stop it.
In summary, ‘Glitter Strip’ as a slang definition is here to stay. Embrace and have fun with it, don’t fight it. As Popeye said, “I yam what I yam” and that’s us.
We are the sum of many parts but the bedrock of our existence is that the Gold Coast a fun place to visit and live because compared to anywhere you choose to look, this is the greatest city on earth.
PETER FLOWERS AND REGINA KING SPENT DECADES CAPTURING THE GOLD COAST SOCIAL SCENE FOR THE BULLETIN
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