Skool Daze – Prominent Gold Coasters talk about school days

Melissa Gilbert

Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Both schools are in Brisbane - Albany Hills Primary School and Aspley State High School. Favourite subject? Mathematics and Art. Favourite teacher? Mrs McInnerney. Best memory at school? Being with my friends. Academic or sporting achievement? Academic – I received awards for art and maths. What did you want to be when you grew up? Lawyer but I switched to banking. Is your life now what you expected it to be? Yes, but I didn’t expect the hardships along the way. Life has been great mainly and has given me trips overseas, met some amazing people and been able to attend some amazing events. I am very fortunate to be able to have these opportunities. Most of all though the amazing friendships I have made and my beautiful family. I am incredibly grateful and thankful.

Jacqui Latimer

Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Timbumburi Public School and Tamworth High School Favourite subject and why? English. I loved reading and writing and the how the written word can describe something so vividly. Favourite teacher? Mrs Vyner, my senior English teacher, was incredibly supportive and nurturing in her teaching and she taught my favourite subject. Best memory at school? My friendships particularly with my beautiful friend Karen. Despite living in different states and not seeing each other as much as we’d like, we’re still as close today as we were then. Academic or sporting achievement? I competed in

Emma Bain

Where did you go to school? Faulconbridge Primary School (Blue Mts, NSW. Yrs K-6), Springwood High School (Blue Mts, NSW. Grade 7), Alfred Deakin High School (Canberra, Yrs 8-10), Lake Tuggeranong College (Canberra, Yrs 11-12) . Favourite subject and why? I had better say English as I’ve made a career out of words! But I was definitely partial to Drama….what 16 year old isn’t?!. Favourite teacher and why? I had a fantastic English teacher in Year 11, Mr Gannon. He treated all his students with an abundance of respect and allowed us to ask questions and really created a fun atmosphere for learning. Best memory at school? Addressing the graduating Year 12 class as Student Representative President. It’s a great age for optimism and possibilities, and the crowd was pumped. Academic or sporting achievement? I was awarded the Caltex Medal in Year 12, recognising all-round academic and sporting achievement. I played water polo all through school, representing at state and national level, culminating in being selected in the Australian School Girls and University teams. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a news reader, just like Sandra Sully, (who is still professionally aspirational today). Is your life now what you expected it to be? It’s funny, as you grow older you realise that all the dreams of your younger self really just add up to wanting to be happy. And if that is the measure, then I am grateful to report that life is turning out as hoped.

dressage throughout my childhood and teenage years. We travelled to competitions nearly every weekend and mostly to Sydney which was a 5-6 hour drive from Tamworth in those days. At 14, I won NSW dressage champion which as a country kid, was unheard of as typically a city kid would win. What did you want to be when you left school? A journalist which I became up until I had children. Juggling children and journalism was hard as news never stops and neither do children. Is life how you thought it would be or better? I would have to say no. Growing up in country NSW, I never expected to be living on the Gold Coast. It was always a vacation spot so I’m thrilled this I where I ended up. As much as I had planned to continue with journalism, it wasn’t meant to be. I love marketing and communications, and I have an amazing job with a great company. Most importantly my two beautiful children are my world and I could never have expected to have such amazing children - I’m truly blessed.

SNAPhappy

Karen Smith

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.

Cassandra Stephens

Karen Smith and Bill Paxton – This was taken by Regina King at the premiere of ‘Twister’ at BCC Robina Cinemas in 1997. Bill was a real professional and so easy to work with but my main memory was the after party at Shooters. It was so good. Sadly Bill died in 2017 of a stroke after heart surgery.

Liz Clift and Stephanie Powers – One of those magical things that happen occasionally. I was attending the World Cup Polo in Palm Springs and ended up having dinner with Stephanie Powers. She was famous for her role in ‘Hart to Hart’ which she starred in with Robert Wagner. It was a fun night. Cassandra Stephens and Dylan Alcott – This was a bit of luck because I just happened to be at the Emporium Melbourne and saw Dylan Alcott, the current Australian of the Year, doing an interview outside the Nike store nearby. I am a huge fan and couldn’t resist asking him for a selfie and he kindly obliged.

Sonya Driver

Celeste Barber and Sonya Driver – I am the founder of Eco Tan and became friends with Celeste through Instagram. She is amazing how she can get things going and we teamed up to raise money for Rafiki, a charity that supports traumatised children. We managed to raise over $100,000 in three days which was amazing. We are still friends today. Liz Clift

Jeanette Lee and Peter Jakubenko with Lionel Richie - We had a back stage pass for the Lionel Richie concert featuring John Farnham. We loved dancing to all the songs. Especially “All Night Long”! Fabulous night and Lionel was one amazing human as we ended up partying with the whole family into the night.

Kristy Mehrtens

Felicity Cohen Harry Hamlin and Sandy Shields Bell - This picture was taken whilst filming a television movie “Silent Predators” in Oxenford. I was cast as a lady who had moved into a new housing development which was infested with snakes. Harry Hamlin played the Sheriff and Jack Scalia was a property developer and they were the lead actors. Both were incredibly nice and approachable. I had a great conversation with Harry as he had just married Lisa Rinna from Housewives of Beverly Hills. I had always had a crush on Jack Scalia, he was a former Jordache jeans model, and he actually invited me back to the Marriott to have a drink, but I told him “No, that I was happily married!

Alfie Langer and Kristy Mehrtens – We went to Caloundra many years ago on a holiday and ate at Alfie's restaurant on the waterfront there. We were with another family, a friend from university and were having the best time. Alfie was lovely and spent a fair bit of time coming over and hanging with us and joining in. My friend has a wicked sense of humour so it was a fantastic night. I lived in Brisbane when the Broncos won their first premiership and the many finals/ premiership that followed so my mum is a massive Alfie supporter. I asked if I could have a photo taken to give to her and he was happy to do it. Tanya Driscoll

Felicity Cohen and Janine Allis – I met Janine, the founder of the Boost Juice franchise juggernaut, at a digital marketing conference in Sydney. She was a beautiful and inspiring speaker. There were some key “gold nuggets” that I took away after listening to her share her own business challenges and successes. What struck me also was that it was shared with a smile and authentic kindness. Tanya Driscoll and Deborah Hutton – This was taken when we had our place at Magenta Shores, a Mirvac Development, in 2011. They would hold dinners and the the owners on site would attend. Deborah was the ambassador for the Gourmet Travellers Dinner with Mirvac that’s how we meet her. She was a genuine and lovely lady.