Expo raises $22K for charity

The Rotary Club of Coomera River, Sailability Gold Coast, Westpac Surf Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service, and Paradise Kids will share in $22,000 raised at the Gold Coast Marine Expo, which is a 26 per cent increase on last year. Each charity was presented with a cheque at a special ceremony held on December 13.  To date, the Gold Coast International Marine Expo has raised a total of $51,000 for these four charities.

The Rotary Club of Coomera River will use some of the funds to provide Christmas food vouchers to distressed families in the Coomera area, as well as assisting with their numerous other projects.

Rotary Club of Coomera River vice president, Pam Roberts said the support from the Gold Coast International Marine Expo was greatly appreciated.

"Rotary is a global organisation and the thousands of gold coin donations will go a long way in supporting our work in the local community as well as our international projects, such as improving the health and education of children in East Timor and Myanmar, and providing skills to refugee women in Thailand fleeing from political oppression in Burma/Myanmar," she said.

Sailability Gold Coast is a local charity that supports, promotes and encourages sailing among people with disabilities and diminished capabilities.

The funds donated to Sailability Gold Coast were the largest single contribution the not-for-profit organisation has received all year.

The Westpac Surf Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service has welcomed the funds, which will be used to purchase new communication equipment.

State helicopter services advisor for Queensland, Thomas Hughes, said these funds would help them to purchase Down the Wire Communications, allowing rescue crew to talk back to the helicopter through devices built into their helmets rather than relying on hand signals.

"These devices cost $1,200 each but will greatly assist with our rescue operations," he said.

The Westpac Surf Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service had a stand at the Expo and also performed a rescue demonstration each day with the helicopter and crew to better educate people about the vital service they provide patrolling the City’s beaches.

Arundel based charity Paradise Kids relies solely on community funding to maintain its services.

Community relations manager, Mirielle Allan, said the proceeds raised from the Expo would help support local families who are struggling with illness, grief or loss.

"Through our grief and loss programs, outreach program, illness support holiday program, parent education program and individual counselling and play therapy sessions, Paradise Kids provided support to more than 450 children and their families last year," she said.

Gold Coast International Marine Expo spokeswoman, Emma Milne, said attendance and exhibitor numbers had grown from last year and so too was the amount raised for these four local charities and not-for-profit organisations.

"The Expo is a not-for-profit event and we appreciate the community’s generosity in supporting our four local charities,” Ms Milne said.

"This year’s Expo was a huge success with more than 200 exhibitors, over 600 boats on show on both the land and in the water, and an expanded 3km exhibitor display circuit.

"Expo is certainly one of the major boating attractions on the Australian boat show calendar and it is expected to grow again in 2014," she added.