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KINGSCLIFF’S NEW AMBULANCE STATIONBUILDER APPOINTED

By JEFFREY GIBBS

Australia’s largest nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On, returns to Coolangatta on the Gold Coast from 7-11 June to celebrate the motors, music and lifestyle of yesteryear and organisers are gearing up for it to be bigger and better than ever.

From today all ticketed shows at the award-winning festival will go on sale as well as the Cooly Rocks On Moonlight Swing Dance, and for car enthusiasts the highly anticipated Show ‘N’ Shine tickets are now available.

“Record crowds of more than 136,000 people made the annual pilgrimage to Cooly Rocks On last year, to enjoy what we’re famous for - a combination of music, dancing, motors and fashion from the rockabilly, rock ‘n’ roll and swing eras,” said Major Events Gold Coast Director of Festivals and Events Mark Duckworth.

“This year we’ve also secured a very special show for our Elvis fans with the artist widelyconsidered the best Elvis Tribute Artist in the world performing on our stage, Shawn Klush, along with a host of other unique performances.”

The five-day festival is free to attend with bespoke ticketed offerings available for those who wish to elevate their Cooly

Rocks On experience. Among the experiences, car owners can secure tickets for one of the country’s biggest showcases of classic cars, the Show ‘N’ Shine, open to vehicles manufactured prior to and including 1979. The now renowned display will take place on 10-11 June spanning seven zones showcasing more than 900 cars throughout the Coolangatta precinct. For those eager to start their engines early, the Early Bird Show ‘N’ Shine will be held on Thursday 8 June and Friday 9 June.

Car enthusiasts can also gear up for an unforgettable experience and purchase tickets for the annual car runs across the Gold Coast which will roll out of Coolangatta on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 June.

Dancers can look forward to a favourite sell-out event, the Cooly Rocks On Moonlight Swing Dance to be hosted in the Elvis Marquee on the Coolangatta beachfront on Thursday 8 June.

For Elvis fans, be prepared to be taken through arguably the greatest era of Elvis’ live performances as Jimmy Holmes and Mark Andrew present: The King Returns to Stage ‘68-’72 on

Wednesday 7 June.

Tickets are also on sale for all three rounds of the Cooly Rocks On Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist (UETA) Contest. Attracting entrants from Ireland and New Zealand in 2023 this renowned annual contest is sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises with the winner going on to represent Cooly Rocks On in Memphis later this year.

Performing for the first time at Cooly Rocks On, the man dubbed ‘The closest thing to The King in concert’, Shawn Klush will take to the stage on Friday 9 June and is not to be missed.

Festival fans can secure their ticket to take a ride back in time for The Australian Beach Boys Show, paying tribute to the pure genius of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys on Saturday 10 June.

The festival’s exclusive VIP Legends Passes went on sale in December, providing fans with the ultimate Elvis inspired experience including premium seating, VIP drink service, an exclusive performance and meet and greet with Shawn Klush and fellow Elvis Tribute Artist Jimmy Holmes, VIP Legends goodie bags and much more. With over $1,000 in value, pass holders can get the ultimate VIP Elvis experience for just $449. But be quick, limited tickets remain.

Applications are also now open for the Cooly Rocks On Pin-Up Pageant, proudly presented by Celebrity Ink, bringing together the classic and rockabilly styles in one place.

The 2022 Pin-up Pageant attracted entrants from as far afield as the USA and New Zealand and is a highlight of the festival. “There really is something for everyone at this year’s Cooly Rocks On festival and if last year’s record crowd is anything to go by, we are all looking forward to another not-to-be-missed festival this June,” said Mark Duckworth. Produced by Major Events Gold Coast, the festival was recently awarded Gold in the Major Festivals and Events category at the Queensland Tourism Awards and is a finalist in the upcoming Australian Tourism Awards held in March.

Cooly Rocks On is supported by the Queensland Government, Pick up next weeks edition of The Northern Rivers Times for the Cooly Rock feature

The announcement of the contractor to build the state-of-the-art ambulance station in Kingscliff, New South Wales, is a welcome addition to the community. The new facility will be built at the same site as the new $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital and will replace the Marine Parade ambulance station which has been serving the community for 65 years.

The Executive Director of Rural and Regional Health Infrastructure, Amanda Bock, said that the contract to build the station was awarded to FK Gardner & Sons (FKG) following a competitive tender process. Preparations are soon to begin on the site, showing the commitment the NSW Government has to investing in rural and regional health infrastructure to improve outcomes for local communities.

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan said that the new ambulance station in Kingscliff will have the most up-to-date facilities and equipment to support local paramedics and meet the demands of emergency care in the area. The two-level station will feature internal parking for up to eight vehicles, including a wash bay, staff parking, administration and office areas, gym, relief accommodation and storage areas.

Construction is expected to be completed in early 2024. The new ambulance station is part of the $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program, the largest investment in regional NSW Ambulance’s 127-year history, with 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations being delivered.

The construction of the Tweed Valley Hospital is progressing well, with the main building nearing completion and landscaping underway across the campus. The final finishes of the internal roads will soon be applied.

The new ambulance station in Kingscliff is a significant step towards improved health outcomes for the local community.

With the construction of the station expected to be completed in early 2024, the community can look forward to better access to medical services and improved safety.

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