Local legends, window washer Ian Gal, Princess, the Running Man and the Nerang Gatekeeper make our city what it is
How many local legends can we possibly have? Ian Gal, Princess, the Mermaid Beach Running Man and the Nerang Gatekeeper – and we love them all.
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Good on you, Gold Coast.
In this city that is always changing, always growing and almost always arguing, there is still that feeling that we are family.
Even when we fight among ourselves, it’s just the price of the passion that residents feel for the Coast.
But we are at our best when we are looking out for each other.
And I can see that so clearly in the way we recognise and celebrate some of our city’s most colourful characters.
No, I’m not talking about Mayor Tom Tate.
I’m talking about Princess. I’m talking about Ian the window-washer from Burleigh. And I’m talking about the Nerang Gatekeeper.
The outpouring of care and concern when Princess – the bikini-clad, Glitter Strip identity David Buncombe – was missing from their usual haunts was truly heartwarming.
Known for living on the bustling streets of Surfers, the community became worried when Princess was not seen in public for several weeks throughout March and April.
In an interview with the Bulletin this week, Princess said he had been living at a caravan park while recovering from a foot infection.
“It’s nice to know that I’m missed,” Princess said.
“I’m being taken good care of.”
And readers rejoiced.
Good on you, Gold Coast.
Our community heart was on display too after the sudden and tragic death of Burleigh Heads window washer Ian Gal.
Ian was known for cleaning cars on the streets of Burleigh for many years, riding his push bike to the Burleigh Waters and Bermuda St intersection every day from his home.
In September last year, the community banded together to find him a new bike after his was stolen. And when he passed away suddenly in his Carrara home in March, our city left hundreds of tributes to this local legend – whether online or at his famous intersection.
Whether you knew him or not, the display of grief and last respects was truly moving.
There’s something about these characters, who somehow have become iconic even in such a big city as ours, that capture our imagination and our hearts.
As a resident of this city for more than 30 years, I’ve had the pleasure of multiple interactions with both of these beloved characters – not to mention a personal obsession with the Mermaid Beach Running Man.
But this week I learned of a new local legend.
The Nerang Gatekeeper.
How have I missed this?
Apparently he’s legendary for sitting at the intersection of Hinkler Drive and Alexander Drive at the entry to Highland Park, sometimes smoking a ciggie and sometimes just watching passing traffic.
And he’s been doing it for well over a decade.
The residents love him so that they have dubbed him the ‘Gatekeeper’ and humorously credit him for keeping their suburb safe.
For a brief, shining moment in time, he even had his own shoutout on Nerang’s Wikipedia page.
“Nerang … is kept safe rain, hail or shine by the Nerang Gatekeeper.”
While that accolade has sadly disappeared, its screenshot lives on through the Nerang Gatekeeper’s Facebook page … which is going strong with more than 2000 followers.
According to posts, the Gatekeeper’s real name is Jesse, he has family here on the Gold Coast and he’s a local resident who mows lawns.
Although much of the page’s activity is lighthearted, there have been times when residents have rallied together to help him, like when the Gatekeeper was allegedly attacked one night and his phone stolen.
Even on a routine basis, locals keep tabs on him, making sure their Gatekeeper is safe, healthy … and keeping watch over the streets of Nerang.
Because while we may be Australia’s sixth biggest city, we definitely have the biggest heart.
So good on you, Gold Coast.
And good on you, Nerang Gatekeeper.
Nasty property surprise lurking in Southport, May 2
This must be a mistake.
A four-bedroom, two-bathroom, one-year-old duplex in the heart of Southport just sold for almost $2m.
It’s a nice place in a handy position and no doubt can be rented out for $1500 per week … but surely the $1.9m sold sticker for half-a-house just isn’t right. But, according to realestate.com.au, that’s precisely what someone paid for 2/8 Margaret Street on Friday.
Now, I have my suspicions that this price covers the whole block – aka both duplexes – but I’ve yet to receive confirmation.
And no matter what, that’s a helluva lot of money for a little piece of 4215. Especially a property that, while neat and tidy and new, is not exactly on the luxe-end of finishes.
To think they said that Sopo would never happen …
Actually, that was me who said that. I wasn’t being mean, just frustrated as a previous Southport owner who watched and waited for her investment to pay off.
Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
But it seems all this suburb needed was a little southern loving.
At least that’s what my fellow Gold Coast Redditors believe, and I have to say I suspect they’re on the money.
As the online community shared their disbelief in this Sopo sale, with the discussion titled “how the f*** is this worth $1.9mil?”, one theme was constant: because no local would ever pay that price.
“Because southerners sold their home for $3m, and they thought Southport is our CBD … (it’s our slum actually),” said one user.
“Because dips***s from NSW; VIC come up and pay that much,” said another.
But my favourite comment was this suggestion:
“Let’s all make a pact.
“From now on whenever you see a thread on Reddit, ‘Moving from Melbourne/Sydney to the Gold Coast, which is the best suburb to live in?’… we say Southport.”
And this crazy plan just might work, too. Because when you think about it, on paper (and on a map), Sopo looks great.
It fronts the beautiful Broadwater, has fantastic access to public transportation, is home to major employment opportunities and its cafe culture is steadily growing.
In terms of its geographic location, the fact that it’s neighbours with some of our most expensive suburbs in Main Beach and Paradise Waters should surely see its star start to shine.
Yet on the ground compared to on paper, this suburb doesn’t quite live up to its potential.
In fact, just a few months ago the Bulletin reported that Southport business owners were fed up with the social problems plaguing the area, with some shutting up shop, saying despite meetings with the council and police, they were no closer to a solution.
Scarborough St business owners especially were fed up with urination, defecation, drug use and violence on their doorsteps. It’s been a hopeless situation for businesses, authorities and those on the streets as well.
But maybe these cashed-up and “clueless” southerners will be the change that Sopo needs. If they’re investing a couple of million in a pretty average Southport street – whether that’s for one duplex or two – perhaps they will become invested in the community as well.
And maybe through their (trans)actions, we can start to see our CBD through fresh eyes.
Or maybe this will simply be another case of locals losing one of their last “affordable” suburbs.
And that would be an awful mistake.
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