Gold Coast Woman of the Year winner Louise Bezzina
The winner of the Gold Coast Woman of the Year award admits the trophy was ‘bittersweet’. Here’s why.
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THE overall winner of the inaugural Gold Coast Women of the Year awards has admitted the win was “bittersweet”.
Bleach* CEO and artistic director Louise Bezzina broke down as she accepted the award at The Star Gold Coast today.
“It couldn’t be further from expected, I’m completely overwhelmed and gobsmacked,” she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
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Ms Bezzina will soon depart the Coast for Brisbane to take up a role as the artistic director of Brisbane Festival and said the outpouring of love and support made it hard to say goodbye.
“When you come on a journey like what I’ve been through in the last eight years, it’s not just about putting on an event, this festival is for the Gold Coast, it’s about the Gold Coast, it’s not something that you just manufacture,” she said.
GALLERY OF GC WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
“So you can’t just divorce yourself from that when you move on. It’s not like a job, it’s become my life.”
Ms Bezzina said she feels inspired by a range of mentors, colleagues, artists and even her own children, Connor, 5 and Isabella, 3.
“I look up to so many people, I find inspiration often from largely women, but also my children inspire me, they make me want to do a better job and make the world a better place and I believe that can happen through the arts,” she said.
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“I’m inspired by my mum, and I’ve had incredible mentors my whole career, and I get to work with some of the most inspiring artists in the world- we’ve got a pretty amazing community of female artists on the Gold Coast, look at Amy Shark and all these other amazing women doing remarkable things for the city.”
“At the end of the day it’s about working hard, being passionate, being really great at what you do and finding a platform to get that out there.”
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