Final 30 Icons decided

PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE MAKE THE GOLD COAST HONOURS LIST

The Glitter Strip’s 30 Icons as decided by Gold Coast Bulletin readers reflect the cosmopolitan personality of the Gold Coast with finalists including politicians, sporting heroes, business people, community leaders and celebrities.

As part of the Pacific Fair 30 Icons Art Exhibition, Pacific Fair and the Gold Coast Bulletin invited the community to narrow the list of 60 identities down to 30. Over 1,000 readers took up the challenge and submitted their vote.

The Final 30 ranged from Gold Coast City Choir conductor Ruth Gurner, escape artist Arthur Coghlan, former Griffith University Vice Chancellor Professor Roy Webb to radio host Richard Fowler, nite club entrepreneur Billy Cross and bikini designer Paula Stafford, to name a few.

To commemorate Pacific Fair’s 30th birthday and long history on the Gold Coast, the much loved shopping centre will also be immortalised on canvas.

Pacific Fair Retail Marketing Manager Kate Cox said the Exhibition organisers were thrilled with the community’s selection of Icons.

“The final list of Icons is a true reflection of the diverse community that is the Gold Coast of today, “said Ms Cox.

“The inclusion of cultural and community luminaries alongside tourism and business leaders and celebrities shows how the Gold Coast has come of age. This campaign confirms what we all know - our city is no longer just a tourist destination.

“Although the list of people who have shaped the Gold Coast and best represent our enviable lifestyle really could be endless, the Gold Coast Bulletin readers have done a fantastic job of narrowing it down to only 30.

“Given the great response to the Icon voting lines and the significant interest in the 30 Icons Exhibition overall, it is quite an honour for the 30 individuals to make the final list,” she said.

Ms Cox said the 70 artists from the Royal Queensland Art Society would now be assigned to their Icon for painting.

“The RQAS artists will conduct a portrait sitting with their assigned Icon and then spend the next two months transferring the Icon to canvas.

“The artists are very excited about the portrait sittings because of the opportunity to meet and spend time with some of our city’s most inspiring individuals,” she said.

Once completed the portraits will then be judged by a panel to establish an exhibition of 30 works to go on display at Pacific Fair for the entire month of August. In mid August the 30 Icon portraits plus the Pacific Fair painting will be auctioned off at a public event with proceeds going to the charity organisation, The Create Foundation and the RQAS artists.