Gold Coast

When tragedy strikes, some people try to do something to make the situation better. Others choose to point the finger of blame. Neither path is necessarily better than the other, but an effective solution requires both.

We need to use this frame when we consider the tragic case of Matthew Barclay, the 14 year old surf lifesaver who has been found dead this morning, following his involvement in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at the Gold Coast yesterday.

Sydney QC Christopher Branson has already pointed the finger of blame at Surf Life Saving Australia. Even before Barclay’s body was found, Branson had called for a royal commission into the conduct of the organisation.

Continue reading "We expect safety from our surf lifesavers" »

The FFA has just terminated the A-League license of struggling Gold Coast United. This comes after a massive war of words between Franky Lowy and Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer, the latest instalment of which came today when Palmer tweeted: We intend to fight this ludicrous decision by incompetent FFA in the courts. Frank Lowy is an institution who now belongs in an institution.

As the battle rages on, here’s a nice wider perspective on the battle of the billionaires from first time Puncher and soccer nut Stewart Prins.

A-League football had one of its more mysterious moments on the weekend when colourful franchise owner Clive Palmer sent his Gold Coast United (GCU) team out onto the field with the message “Freedom of Speech” plastered across the front of their playing strip.

Neither Mr Palmer nor his Gold Coast United CEO Clive Messink offered an explanation for the late change to the playing strip, or for the advertising billboards quoting the same slogan.

Continue reading "While the billionaires battle, the code becomes poorer" »

First came the holidaymakers. Then came the high-rises. Then came the property spivs and assorted shonks. Then came the meter maids and the blue-rinsers from down south.

Then came more holiday makers. Then came schoolies. Then came the theme parks, more families and more blue-rinsers.

Then came the football stars. Then came nightclubs that were bigger and louder than the original Cavill Avenue lot, and then, inevitably, came the drug lords and violence.

Continue reading "The Gold Coast is in danger of losing its lustre" »

Cross-code recruiting of footballers seems to be the new fad in Australian sport.

If sought-after players can run, leap, mark a ball, evade opponents and draw big crowds, they are hot property on the footy code market.If these players show a wiff of interest in switching codes to earn the big bucks, they could be snapped up by emerging teams.

With the Aussie sporting landscape changing, thanks to new AFL teams Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney (GWS) plus rugby union team Melbourne Rebels, it seems anything goes.

Continue reading "Injuries likely to hurt cross-code recruits" »

Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer has decided to save his club $100,000 every home game by capping the crowds at Skilled Park at 5000.

For mining billionaire Palmer, this makes perfect business sense. For anyone interested in furthering the football cause in Australia, it doesn’t even reach common sense.

Personally, I have two reactions to this story: first is the emotional fan who says this is an outrageous move that disregards the whole point of what Football Federation Australia were trying to achieve when they granted Palmer’s bid an A-League licence.

Continue reading "Gold Coast crowd cap means bad business for everyone" »