Champions
of BOLD FUTURE

Warren Young Chief Lifeguard

Warren Young was employed by Gold Coast City Council as a professional lifeguard in 1973 and was stationed at Burleigh Heads. In 1975 he was promoted to Chief Lifeguard and has held the position for 32 years. He is one of Council's longest serving employees and is responsible for facilitating beach safety along a 60 kilometre coastal strip from Couran Cove to Rainbow Bay. He manages a budget of $6 million and employs 37 permanent staff and 120 seasonal staff - the largest professional lifeguard service in Australia.

Andrew Stone Gold Coast Ambassador 07-08

Andrew Stone was elected a Gold Coast Ambassador 2007-2008 even though he was not present at the awards as he was away on business at the time. As Operations Manager for V8 Supercar Events he travels frequently and where ever he goes he spreads the word on how fabulous his home city is and he always looks forward to the flight back into Coolangatta.

Pam Ellis Gold Coast Ambassador 07-08

Pam Ellis is Gold Coast Ambassador 2007-2008 Pam has travelled the world and still finds the Gold Coast the best place to live. She has established a successful business here and adores the Gold Coast, her family and pet dog and is already making her name as being a fantastic ambassador for the region.

Regina King Photographer

Regina King, society scribe and photographer extraordinaire, is almost as well-known on the Gold Coast as the celebrities who grace her weekly newspaper columns.

Daphne Pirie Fmr Sports Champion

Daphne Pirie is one of a number of QAS Board members who is a former elite athlete. During her sporting career Daphne was Vice Captain of the Australian Hockey Team, an Australian ranked track and field athlete, Captain of the Queensland Hockey and Athletics Teams and a Queensland Country Golf Champion.

Scott Sattler Mngr Gold Coast Titans

Scott, a former NRL and Queensland representative rugby league player, is now currently the Football Manager for the Gold Coast Titans. The son of former great, John Sattler, Scott played his junior rugby league for the Runaway Bay Seagulls and the Gold Coast Chargers.

Karla Gilbert Fmr Ironwoman

Born in Southport in 1975, Karla’s dominance in the sport of surf life saving has seen her win 'back to back' World Ironwoman Championships, 7 consecutive Ironwoman series wins ,15 Australian Championships, 8 Queensland Ironwoman titles and numerous state and Australian nipper titles.

Joel Parkinson Professional Surfer

At 13 Joel moved to the Gold Coast where he surfed with the likes of Mick Fanning. Joel resides in Coolangatta with his wife Monica and daughter Evie. The gregarious Aussie with the contagious grin has talent to burn and now hosts some of surfing’s most prestigious trophies in his living room.

Natalie Gruzlewski TV Presenter

Natalie grew up on the Gold Coast and studied journalism at Griffith University after finishing school. She began her TV career on the Gold Coast as host of Prime Television's Surf TV, a beach and surf conditions program. Natalie is currently a full-time presenter on Nine's holiday and travel program Getaway.