Skool Daze – Prominent Gold Coasters talk about school days

Liz Kinchin

What school did you attend for primary and senior? I grew up in Africa and went to school with my twin sister – were two little blondies! I attended St Mary’s until it closed down, it was the happiest time of my life. I even had a pet Zebra. For high school we were sent to boarding school St Michaels Anglican school for girls. Favourite subject? Art but a close second was drama and music. Yes I loved the choir too, I was a nerd. Least favourite subject? Latin – We chanted before each exam. Latin is a dead language, as dead as dead can be, it killed off all the Romans and now it is killing me. Favourite teacher? Sister Aloysius, a charismatic German nun who was an incredible musician, loved drama but she was also an avid humanitarian. She not only opened my eyes to the fabulous world of music, but also the injustices of the apartheid era and how people of colour were badly treated. Sister Aloysius taught me from the age of 7 to believe in people. She is a major catalyst for me being so interested in helping marginalised souls and helping to change the injustices of the world. Best memory at school? I grew up in apartheid South Africa all children went to segregated schools depending on their race. This angered me even from a young age. My mother was Scottish and my father was German, so we were bundled off to SMS so we would have an unbiased upbringing. We boarded with diplomats children of all races. African, Chinese, we even had a class mate from Saudi Arabia. I learnt so much from my fabulous friends about different cultures, aspirations, and dreams. What did you want to be when you left school? I had my heart set on becoming a Hotel Manager. I love business, people and public relations. However my super strict caring, conservative German father forbid me to go to hotel school as he had spoken to a hotelier who said most women in the hotel industry become promiscuous. “Seriously!” Luckily years later I ended up working for the Hospitality Industries Training Board and helping many hoteliers so I lived out my dream through other hoteliers in a way. Is life how you thought it would be or better? Life is definitely not how I imagined it at all. I am so blessed to call Australia home. Especially the Gold Coast. I have met the most incredible people, magical, special people, and helped so many of them and their families through the years have a better healthier life. We have cried together, laughed together and cheered each other on. I am so privileged to have had the opportunity of living all over the world and finally calling Australia home. It is the BEST spot on the planet and we are even more privileged to call the Gold Coast home.

Nicola Buchanan

What school did you attend for primary and senior? Holy Cross Primary School, St Dominic’s College in New Zealand and Merrimac State High School. Favourite subject? I loved art class and of course lunchtime. Favourite teacher? I don’t remember a particular but I do recall that I hated Sister Leonie with a passion. Best memory at school? I was lucky enough to be a Rotary Exchange Student for 3 months when I was in Grade 10. It was the best fun ever. Academic or sporting achievements? 400m running was something I was very good at and ended up winning at the Regional Championships. I also won an Accounting Prize in Grade 12 as well as my time as a Rotary Exchange Sudent. Did you love school and why? I loved most aspects of school – friends, art, anything that was creative. Maths was something I really hated though. What did you want to be when you left school? I wanted to work in advertising using my creative side. Is life how you thought it would be or better? Way better.

SNAPhappy

You’re out and about. Suddenly you are in the presence of a superstar and you ask politely to get a selfie. These are the stories behind some of them.

Bella Frizza

Sonia Stradiotto

Ali Simpson and Bella Frizza – “This was taken when 90.9 Sea FM held their annual ‘SO GC Party’ on the YOT Club. We cruised around the Broadwater and as Gold Coast gal Ali Simpson, sister of Cody Simpson and a popular singer, actress, dancer, and model in her own right was on board, I couldn’t resist and just had to get a pic with her. She was very sweet to everyone.”

Toni Ferguson – “Here I am with Usain Bolt in the Mumm Marquee inside The Birdcage on Oaks Day 2017 at Flemington. I was quietly given the heads up that he was going to be coming into the marquee and next minute I turned around and there he was. We chatted for ages and I challenged him to a race to the bar. As a girlfriend said, ‘I bet you could still beat him to the bar.’ He was super lovely and as you can see, so very tall.”

Vanilla Ice and Michelle Massey – “It all happened so quickly. One minute I’m in an audience of 4000 at a JT Foxx conference and the next I’m up on stage singing and dancing to ‘Ice Ice Baby’ with the one and only Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle). It truly was a pinch myself moment, I mean, who has this happen to them? Shortly after this we were reminiscing at a VIP dinner and in walks JT Foxx with Vanilla Ice to join us. He was so lovely, down to earth, very business savvy and an incredible family man. Definitely someone my kids should look up to now.” Michelle Massey

Sonia Stradiotto – This selfie was taken with the Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk when I was lucky enough to prepare her for the 2019 Logies which were held at The Star Gold Coast. She is a hardworking woman, dedicated to the state, and with very little time for herself. I was so proud that I could help her because she deserves a night of glamour every now and again. The best part of the night was hearing someone say, “Wow! Is that the Premier?’ It was the best compliment. Toni Ferguson

Peta-Jayne Habner

Robin Williams and Peta-Jayne Habner - “This was taken backstage at The Star Gold Coast with Robin Williams when I worked there and before he went on to do a show. He was super lovely to deal with and brightened up the lives of so many people with his movies, story-telling and comedy. His death was such a great loss and it made me sad that his personal life wasn’t as bright as the happiness he created for us.”

Rachel Hancock

Susie Porter and Rachel Hancock - “I’m not normally a fan girl but I’m a massive fan of ‘Wentworth’. This pic with Susie Porter was taken at the Logies in 2019, at the after party in the Garden Bar. We were standing near the Foxtel stars and I went up and introduced myself, figured we were all part of the same News Corp family! She was so lovely and down to earth. I started talking story plots with her which was probably the last thing she felt like talking about but she very kindly indulged my love of ‘Wentworth’.”

Bridget Daley

Olivia Newton-John OAM and Karen Phillips – “For more than two decades, I have hosted the Early Risers, Gold Coast Women in Business club with some of the world’s biggest celebrities. This was an extraordinary moment with Olivia Newton-John OAM at a fundraising luncheon at Palazzo Versace. To the delight of the audience, as Olivia was welcomed to the stage with her hit song ‘You’re the one that I want’ playing, she started to sing along. She then beckoned to me to join in, with me taking on the John Travolta part. She was here to raise funds for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness Centre.” Karen Phillips

Dave Hughes and Bridget Daley – “Firstly I’m always uncomfortable getting photos with celebs but this one is special. It was taken when I revived my stand up career at Miami Marketta as a fund-raiser for the farmers going through that horrendous drought in 2018. I was nervous and excited – performing with comedy greats Akmal Saleh, Rob Brown and Dave plus it was the first time my husband Jamie had seen me on stage. This photo means so much because Dave was so lovely and calmed my nerves. We all had a great night with a packed crowd ready to have a good belly laugh for a great cause.” Lou McGregor

Lou McGregor and Dr Chris Brown – “This was taken the first year that The Star hosted the Logies. My dear friend Donny Galella had the job of styling 17 celebrities so we pulled together a Gold Coast crew to assist. He put Dr Chris Brown into my capable hands! It was a hard gig. Seriously though Dr Chris was so lovely, easy to talk to (which was just as well because it was in his hotel room) and definitely did not need much assistance looking good.”