DRIVER
SPACE
DESPATCHES
V8 ute racing superstar Ryal Harris reviews the Mercedes-AMG A 45
Step inside a stunning Hope Island mansion by interior designer Cris Edwards
Travel writer Mike Grenby glamps on the edge of the Kalahari Desert
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nd to undings.
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TEAM EDITED AND PRODUCED BY Zakazukha 7/99 West Burleigh Road Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 (07) 5607 0899 www.zakazukha.com WRITERS Sam Cleveland, Bruce Nelson, Mike Grenby PHOTOGRAPHY Lincoln Williams, Johnny Abegg, Mike Grenby, Lucas Munro, Murray Waite DESIGN AND LAYOUT Elaine Fang SUBJECTS Ryal Harris, Rick Shores, Spell & Gypsy, Lisa de Boer, Cris Edwards DEALERSHIP
In everything that Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast does,
Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast
we strive to honour the legacy of innovation and
11 Scottsdale Drive Robina QLD 4226 (07) 5558 6555 www.mbgoldcoast.com.au Dealer Principal Robin Mainali Marketing Manager Jodie Mariner ADVERTISING For all advertising enquiries contact Zakazukha Bruce Nelson 0423 403 449 bruce@zakazukha.com MBGC is published quarterly.
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WELCOME
W
elcome to the Autumn 2016
showcasing some stunning Gold Coast
gorgeous S Class Coupe while he was on the
edition of MBGC — the Mercedes-
design work.
Gold Coast for a gig.
Further upping the style stakes for our
The S Class and Billy looked fabulous on page
In this edition of MBGC steps on the gas to
Autumn edition is Byron Bay label Spell & The
one of the paper! Check OPERATIONS on page
launch the Mercedes-AMG A 45 in fine style.
Gypsy Collective, who show off an exclusive
59 to go behind the scenes of the photo shoot.
two-look collection in LABEL.
And on the MBGC cover – gorgeous custom
compact car and the motoring press have
For DESPATCHES we recruited travel writer
artwork inspired by the speed and power of
fallen over themselves to praise it.
Mike Grenby for a special two-part report from
the A 45.
In Ryal Harris, we’ve found one of the country’s
Africa, which commences here and concludes
Please enjoy our sixth edition of MBGC, share
best drivers to review the car.
in our forthcoming winter edition.
it with your friends, and if you’d like to view
Gold Coast-born Harris is a three-time V8
Mike’s adventure takes him through Botswana
Ute Series champion and spent the day
and Namibia for a five-star safari experience
testing the A 45 with the MBGC team for this
that takes in the Kalahari Desert and some of
edition’s DRIVER story.
Africa’s most amazing wildlife.
The magazine may start in top gear, but we’ve
For PLATE we visit Rick Shores, the
also found time to gather some more leisurely
beachfront Burleigh Heads restaurant that’s
editorial for your consumption.
buzzing right now.
In SPACE, our brand ambassador Shelley Craft
Locally, Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast found
explores a stunning Hope Island mansion from
ourselves very much in the news – all over
interior designer Cris Edwards.
the front page of the Gold Coast Bulletin
Benz Gold Coast Magazine.
The new A 45 is the world’s most powerful
Our editorial team was so taken with imagery
newspaper in fact.
from the job they expanded SPACE to run
In February we loaned Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of
over seven pages – a complete photo essay
Famer and ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons a
the range of Mercedes-Benz autos please call into our showroom in Robina or boutique at Sanctuary Cove.
Robin Mainali Dealer Principal
Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast 7
CO N T E N T S
THE HOMEPAGE
CONTENTS 10 DRIVER
Ryal Harris takes the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG A 45 17 HIGHNETT
End of year doesn’t mean end of story 52 PLATE
New dining attraction — Rick Shores 52 LABEL
Spell & The Gypsy Collective’s Autumn collection 27 CATALOGUE
Your next Mercedes-Benz 57 MBGC STYLE
MBGC autumn collection 22 DESPATCHES
Mike Grenby’s glamping experience in the Kalahari Desert 22 SPACE
Shelly Craft talks interiors with designer Cris Edwards 48 CONCEPT
Lisa de Boer’s ornate glass sculptures 58 OPERATIONS
The busy social calendar at MBGC 62 PROPAGANDA
A monochrome 1964 press ad for the 230 SL 9
MB GC
RUBBER MEETS ROAD One of the country’s best drivers takes the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG A 45, nothing less than the world’s most powerful compact performance car WRITER Sam Cleveland PHOTOGRAPHY Lincoln Williams
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D R I V E R
R
BEHIND THE WHEEL
yal Harris, the most dominant force
“I stalled on the grid because I’d never done
He was less than 20 laps in and making good
in the history of Australia’s V8 Ute
a race start before; I’d never even done a
ground when his legs started going numb.
Racing Series, was in an unlikely
practice start,” he laughs. “By the time I
position – dead last on the grid. He was about to race a 40-lap enduro in the
came around turn one I couldn’t even see the second-last car.”
2014 V8 Supercars Development Series at
This wasn’t how the day was supposed to play
Bathurst, his first professional drive in a V8
out. Harris’s raw racecraft and competitive
Supercar and a chance to show what he could
nerve are unquestioned; he’s statistically one
do in the higher-performing vehicle. Ahead of him on the Mount Panorama grid were 27 sets of brake lights. He’d qualified last after spinning off the track when his steering bound up. The qualifying mishap, which also damaged the car’s rear wing, was just one of a nighcosmic series of misfortunes that dogged Harris on his high-stakes Supercars debut. “Bathurst was the ultimate track to debut on,” says Harris. “But we weren’t prepared as well
V8 Supercars are such a physical drive that racers need their seat individually resin-molded to support their back and bones. Harris only had a generic foam seat and every time he braked the force piled straight on his lower back.
of the best drivers in the country.
“Braking pressure in the ute is nothing compared
So like any born racer with a point to prove and
to a Supercar,” he says. “In a Supercar you’re
27 cars to beat, he raced.
putting so much pressure on the brake peddle it
“We just sucked it up and started picking our
pushes you back hard into the seat.”
way through,” he says. “In the utes you’ve
Harris ‘just put up with it’ and drove on to finish
got to hustle people, but in the Development
eighth out of the field of 28.
Series they’re not as aggressive, so I had no dramas coming back through. “I was actually surprised at how easy it was to
Racing up a class for the first time in an unfamiliar vehicle, he’d come back from a grid stall to beat 20 cars – most of them in better
as we could have been and I wasn’t in a very
pass some of the guys.”
good car but we did the best we could.”
But Harris had more to overcome than a field
Harris had secured the drive of a spare Matt
of human competitors and their machinery.
Stone team V8 – an old bitza that he drove for
He’d signed on for a 40-lap enduro without a
the first time at practice that weekend.
teammate to share the driving.
The starting flag waved and Harris – who
While other racers in the field were swapping
has won a record three V8 Utes Series
out after 20 laps, the Gold Coast-born Harris
In Australian motorsports it’s money – not
championships – stalled his V8 Supercar and
was buckled in for 40 punishing Bathurst
always talent – that determines who gets the title
watched the field vanish before him.
circuits on his own.
shot and who stays punching on the undercard.
mechanical nick – while stomping pedals for 40 laps with numb legs. Despite the phenomenal underdog result, that 2014 Bathurst enduro remains Harris’s only professional drive in a V8 Supercar.
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ABOVE: Harris’s favourite from the Exotic Track Days fleet: a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Coupé. “The look, the feel of it, how it goes on the track,” he says. “To me there’s no better looking car in the world.”
Even with Harris’s record three V8 Ute Series championships (2012,
The Heart Foundation, RSPCA, Movember, Camp Quality, and four
2013 and 2015), he says networking and chasing sponsors remains ‘a
dubbed #ridewithryal.
other major charities have already signed up to Harris’s concept,
never-ending battle’. He’s twice been without a major sponsor just days before the start of a race season (an angel investment from Gold Coast entrepreneur Scott Hookey got him racing in 2015) and has watched well-funded drivers
“I’ve never been so excited about a racing season as I have been this year,” says Harris. “This new concept, I’m so pumped about it – charities getting airtime and the chance to get creative with a new wrap each round.
he’s beaten on the track move up classes.
“Chasing sponsors, I was doing more work off the track than on and I wanted
“Sometimes I wish dad had just put a tennis racket or golf club in my
to do something that would make working in between the races fun.”
hands, instead of taking me go-karting,” laughs Harris.
Harris is proudly not a car nut or race culture obsessive, just a driver
“If you don’t have family money or a rich backer and can’t bring money to a team, you’re not going to progress. It’s as simple as that.” Despite the off-track frustrations, the racing itself keeps Harris motivated. “The moment I drive out the gate and I’m on the track, that’s what I love
with competitive instincts who knows how to win. He’s happy to keep his life away from racing neatly partitioned from his sport. Most of his close friends are from outside motorsports and his day job is running Five Star Signs in Southport.
about the sport the most, the purity of just driving,” he says. “The day I race against a guy and I’m like ‘wow, he’s quicker than me!’, I’ll stop racing.” For his 2016 title defense, Harris has managed to fund his racing through a unique sponsorship structure – thought to be a world first – where major
In September last year he married wife Casey after a five-year courtship and they’ve started work on a fashion label. She’s 100% behind his racing and is trackside for all his big races. Harris does allow his professional and racing lives to cross over in his
national charities each sponsor a single round of the V8 Utes series.
role as AMG instructor at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy.
Each charity gets to ‘wrap’ Harris’s ute with their logo and branding and
Throughout the year, he fronts a calendar of Driving Academy track
raise awareness and donations over the race weekend as their cause is
days where he trains guests behind the wheel of high-performance
broadcast on Channel 10 and Fox Sports, and to the audience trackside.
AMG Mercedes-Benz.
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STORY CONTINUES PAGE 14
D R I V E R
BEHIND THE WHEEL
3 X V8 UTE SERIES CHAMPION RYAL HARRIS ON THE AMG A 45
Whoever’s doing the exhausts at AMG is doing the best job in the whole factory!
I drove hot laps at the A 45 launch event at
The A 45’s top speed is about 250kph that is
It’s a distinguished sound, I can hear one
Eastern Creek, so I knew what it could do on a
phenomenal for a hatch, and it’s got a front
of these things coming and know what it is
track, but now taking it through town and on the
diff so it drives really well. The AWD makes it a
before I see it.
highway it’s as much fun as I thought it would be.
fun car to drive on the track.
Whoever’s doing the exhausts at AMG is doing
But this is more than just your A-to-B car, so
I love the shorter gear ratios too. You’re on
the best job in the whole factory!
our destination was Queensland Raceways at
the gas quicker and it’s much more direct, the
Amberley – a great test track with plenty of room.
I love the whole aesthetic of the A 45,
gear changes are more instant.
everything they’ve done: the racing wheel, the
Short version is after a day’s driving I love how
Second, third, fourth – you just clip through
this car sounds and how it feels on the road. Mechanically, the best new function is the race start – you just pinch both gear paddles to engage it and you’re ready. On a race start you keep a foot on the brake and a foot flat on
them; it’s great out of the low-speed corners and back on the power.
racing seats, even the red seatbelts. It’s got a great race feel. There’s definitely a lot of hype around the A 45 as the most powerful compact in production,
But nothing beats the sound of that exhaust crackle, it’s got that AMG note.
and it lives up to it. Special thanks to Gareth Ball at Queensland
the accelerator– but the car sits on a certain
Mercedes-Benz is the best in the business at
Raceways for his help co-ordinating this
amount of revs until you let go.
getting the right note out of an exhaust.
MBGC exclusive. 13
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The moment I drive out the gate and I’m on the track, that’s what I love about the sport the most, the purity of just driving
RIGHT: Harris, the defending V8 Ute Series champion, won the series in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and with more than 35 race wins, 11 pole positions and numerous lap records throughout his career, is the most successful ute racer in history.
The courses cover vehicle handling and cornering, simulated
GTs are faster than the V8s – a McLaren just set the new racing lap
emergencies and reflex tests, ‘drivers basically get to be in their own
record at Bathurst in a GT event – and raceday ticket sales are brisk.
Top Gear episode,’ says Harris. “The sessions are a lot of fun and I do get a real feeling of pride in working with the drivers and seeing their skills develop.” He also runs Exotic Track Days with Scott Hookey, where Harris and guests take Hookey’s eye-popping collection of premium European
“In Australia you’ve had the V8s and that’s it; they’re very protective,” says Harris of the motorsport status quo. “But now there’s a whole generation that grew up playing Gran Turismo – they don’t like Ford or Holden, they like Ferrari and Lamborghini.”
autos for high-speed spins around Queensland Raceway at Amberley.
The larrikin spirit and physicality of ute racing, says Harris, has been the
“Scott was taking his mates out to the track to race his exotic cars and
perfect crucible for the racecraft he’ll apply to GTs.
I was giving him driver training, then we decided we should just start a business out of it,” says Harris.
Although most fans tip Harris to move up into V8 Supercars from the utes, his eye is instead firmly on the fast-emerging GT racing series, a globally dominant category now making inroads in Australia. GT features production supercars from marques such as Lamborghini,
“Some of the GT or V8 drivers might look down on the ute series because they see it as a rough sort of racing, but we have to learn how to get those big heavy cars around the track with finesse,” he laughs. “Utes haven’t got the best tires on them, they move around, they’re hard to pull up, the brakes fade, the tires go off – they’re an absolute
Ferrari and – naturally – Mercedes-Benz, the team Harris wants to drive for.
nightmare to drive.
“Just an opportunity to prove myself in a GT car, that’s all I need,” he
“But I hop in a GT car now and with that grip and downforce, to me it’s
says, “a good crack at a good car to show people what I can really do.”
like driving a Playstation!”
To take a drive with Ryal at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy, visit mercedes-amg.com/driving-academy For an Exotic Track Days experience, visit exotictrackdays.com.au
14
H I G H N E T T
MATTERS FINANCIAL
END OF YEAR DOESN'T MEAN END OF STORY
W
hile the end of the financial year is still a way off, MWM
“It’s important to learn what your key numbers mean and how you can use
Advisory director Melanie Wear says it’s never too late to
them to manage, control and improve your profits and cash flow,” she says.
start planning for a fresh start.
“The end of year tax reminders will shortly start to filter out from accountants everywhere and they’re the same every year,” she says. “We all know the rules: look at the timing of your income and expenses, write off any outstanding debts, review your superannuation contributions and of course talk to your accountant.”
“As a business owner, finding the time to spend reviewing and understanding your numbers is hard, but necessary if you want to grow. “Numbers are the language of business, they show what’s working and what’s not, so if you don’t understand your numbers how are you supposed to tell if what you’re doing is working?”
But Ms Wear says the smart EOFY conversation should also be around
Ms Wear says as a business owner you don’t have to be an expert on the
forward planning and budgets – taking time to assess your broader
numbers, but it is important that you understand the basic principles so
financial future and growth strategies.
you can tell if your business is going in the right direction.
“What you really should be using 30 June for is another type of
“Basically there are six key steps to manage, control and improve your
conversation on planning issues such as budgeting, capital expenditure,
financials,” she says.
working capital and any funding requirements,” she says. MWM Advisory’s recommended EOFY mindset also extends to reviewing structural and asset protection strategies. “As the financial year rolls over, it’s a perfect chance to review any change in circumstances or new plans on the horizon,” she says. Ms Wear says many business owners can become confused by their
“For example, one is to look at capital expenditure over an extended period, but also your working capital and funding requirements, especially if you’re growing or want to grow. “Your budget is also important but there’s more to consider, so do you send it to your accountant and sit with them to go through it?
financials, and the end of the financial year is the opportune time to get
“Unless you consider these issues you’ll never start the journey towards
to understand them.
sustained growth.”
MWM ADVISORY’S SIX-STEP GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR FINANCIALS: •
Appreciating why your numbers are so important
•
Understanding your break-even - is your business financially viable?
•
Understanding your financial reports and how to use them to improve your results
•
Using budgets and forecasts to control and improve your results
•
Learning ways to improve your gross profit
•
Implementing strategies for improving your net profit.
MWM Advisory is holding a series of business seminars on the six steps. Book your seat through the contact details in the footer. For more information, contact MWM Advisory Commercial Advisors and Accountants at mwmadvisory.com.au or call 5596 9070.
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18
P L AT E
WHO’S COOKING
SHORE THING How a Brisbane hospitality team cracked the winning formula at their debut Gold Coast offering W R I T E R Sam Cleveland
T
he team behind one of Brisbane’s most distinctive hospitality
“The space itself had been on our radar, so when the opportunity
experiences has planted their flag at one of the Gold Coast’s
presented itself last year, we decided it was something we thought we
most storied coastal locations.
could execute well and did everything we could to make it happened,” says partner David Flynn.
Their new attraction is Rick Shores and it’s taken pride of place downstairs in the Burleigh Beach Pavilion, the space once occupied by
“We had a great vision for what we could do with a variation on our LONgTIME menu in such a beautiful location, and how we would treat
Meesh’s and, before it, Mermaids.
the space as a venue,” he says.
Despite the glorious views (over golden sands and Burleigh waves north
“We took a holistic approach from the get-go, asking questions like:
towards the Surfers Paradise skyline) and iconic coastal perch, those
‘what is the product?’, ‘what are we trying to make people feel?’, even
two previous tenants fell by the wayside.
‘what do we want them to say about the place afterwards?’.” Judging on the big early response from locals, their plan’s worked. Rick
But the forward-facing team of five responsible for Brisbane ‘modern
Shores’ specific mix of food, location and atmosphere has proved the
Thai’ hit LONgTIME strode in knowing they had the goods.
right formula in the right place and time.
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20
P L AT E
WHO’S COOKING
We set out to create something very comfortable, but also a little bit minimal Preparation for the January 1 opening day included Rick Shores
Flynn says that while LONgTIME’s opulent fitout was designed to
Executive Chef Ben Bertei (from LONgTIME) and Head Chef Jake
immerse diners in an interior experience, Rick Shores inverted that
Pregnell eating their way around Thailand for menu inspiration.
principle and brought the outside in.
The result is a mix of traditional South-East Asian dishes with a
Every table shares in the outlook north, while the British East India
predominance of Thai flavours and subtler influences from Chinese,
Company-inspired décor makes its statement from the corner of your eye.
Japanese and Indian cuisines. The menu opens with a series of ‘bar snacks’, artful little tastings that work as starters or – before you know it – a full meal. Plenty of raw and seafood options, and a selection of left-of-centre
“We set out to create something very comfortable, but also a little bit minimal,” explains Flynn. “A lot of thought went into the detail, but we kept the dressing a bit sparse to keep focus on what was outside the confines of the restaurant.”
curries, form the backbone of the menu. The partners themselves developed the property’s look and feel and “It’s just very nice to have a cold seafood menu when you’re sitting in front of the ocean,” says Flynn of the menu’s fresh coastal bent. Complementing the meals is a wide-ranging selection of matched wines and boutique spirits (including Australian vodka, gin, bourbon, scotch and even tequila), and custom soft-serve ice creams in menuappropriate flavours such as smoked banana and miso.
sourced specific décor from throughout South East Asia, including custom glassware, cutlery and ceramic plates from Thailand, and mostly imported furniture. “We wanted to evoke a feeling of relaxed luxury in a rustic style – the right furniture and feel for a hot climate, in a traditional British look,” says Flynn.
The view north from Rick Shores, one of the city’s finest sea-level
“That led us to the golden age of sail – Colonial Britain in South East
vistas, naturally dictated thinking around the layout.
Asia, when the East India Company was the dominant trading force.”
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Flynn says the varied business expertise of the Rick Shores partners – advertising, hospitality, food & beverage consultancy, operations and management – are channeled into a shared passion for their properties.
The team, says Flynn, is proud to see Rick Shores so well received and take its place among Burleigh Heads’ thriving dining cluster. “I grew up travelling down to the beach at Burleigh and I’ve seen the progression in the past five or so years; it’s really evolved into a special
“Restaurants are a tough game with tight margins, but we all have
place,” he says.
a passion for what we’re doing and appreciate great food and great
“We all have a creative side and that comes out in our work, so it’s great
wine,” he says.
for us to now see people engage with this thing we’ve created.”
Rick Shores | 43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD | To book call 5630 6611 or visit www.rickshores.com.au 22
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SPELLCHECK PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny Abegg | MODEL Maggie Laine
24
L A B E L
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Eclectic Byron Bay label Spell & The Gypsy
celebration’, Folk Town employs trans-
boutiques throughout Australia, Europe, the
Collective is out for Autumn with a range so
seasonal fabrics to jointly satisfy the label’s
US, Japan and New Zealand.
exclusive it covers only two looks!
domestic and international devotees.
Co-designer Elizabeth Abegg (along with sister
“It’s going into spring for our US and European
Isabella ‘Spelly’ Pennefather) says Byron Bay’s
customers, and it’s never really that cold
rootsy vibe and casual natives directly inspired
here in Byron Bay so we never feel like truly
their new Folk Town collection.
embracing the colder seasons,” she says.
“It’s folky and colourful and very quintessentially
Abegg and Pennefather, both Melbourne-
“We believe our customers are women who
Spell,” she says.
born, came to fashion in a roundabout way
want to feel beautiful and feminine, effortlessly
“We really love this collection and have been
– creating handmade jewelry and accessories
sexy and stand out in a crowd”.
dying for it to come out so we can start
to sell at the Byron Bay Markets before moving
wearing and snapping all the samples we’ve
into garments as their distinctive aesthetic
been hoarding!”
connected with the public.
Based around a signature print Abegg
Today the label is sold online, through their
gleefully tags ‘the ultimate 70s floral
own store at Byron Bay and in more than 100
“From the very beginning of our label we’ve always just designed things that we love to wear ourselves, so our target market is really us,” says Abegg.
“We have customers in their teens who love our intimates and easy-wear basics and also have customers who are older. “Our Mum wears almost exclusively Spell!”
For more, call 02 6685 6116 or visit spelldesigns.com.au or the label’s ‘collective boutique’ at the corner of Marvell and Fletcher Street, Byron Bay.
THIS PAGE: Boho bella blouse in white Folk town button down skirt in turquoise OPPOSITE PAGE: Folk town boho maxi dress in blossom
25
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$100,000 - AND OVER $129,900.00 Drive Away
2011 Mercedes-Benz S500
Km 76,599. Four door and four seat Long Wheelbase Sedan is finished in Diamond White Metallic with Sahara Beige Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
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7Comand Navigation w/ Voice Activation Glass Tilting & Sliding Sunroof Adjustable rear seating w/ rear air conditioning 4.7L Twin Turbocharged V8
• 20” Multi-Spoke Alloy Wheels • 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty • 116-Point Inspection by our factory trained technicians Many more features to list.
$100,000 - AND OVER $114,900.00 Drive Away
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Km 46,220. Two door and four seat AMG Coupé is finished in Obsidian Black with Black Nappa Leather Interior.
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• Panoramic Sunroof
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2014 Mercedes-Benz A 45
Km 6,051. Four door and four seat AMG Hatchback is finished in Cosmos Black with Red Cut Leather Interior.
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• Aero Package including Rear Wing and front Canards
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• 19” AMG Black Wheels
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Km 2,036. Four door and four seat Bluetec Sedan is finished in Palladium Silver with Sahara Beige Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
Garmin Navigation
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
Seat Comfort Package including MEMORY heated front seats
• 116-point inspection by our factory trained technicians
19” Machined Wheels Reverse Camera, Front and Rear Sensors
Many more features to list.
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$50,000 - $100,000
$74,900.00 Drive Away
2015 Mercedes-Benz C 250
$50,000 - $100,000
$72,900.00 Drive Away
2015 Mercedes-Benz C 250
Km 10,802. Four door and four seat Bluetec Sedan is finished in Polar White with Black Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
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Garmin Navigation
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
Seat Comfort Package including Memory heated front seats
• 116-point inspection by our factory trained technicians
19” Machined Wheels Reverse Camera, Front and Rear Sensors
Many more features to list.
Km 26,709. Four door and four seat Hatchback AMG is finished in Cirrus White with Red Cut Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
Garmin Navigation
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
Seat Comfort Package including Memory heated front seats
• 116-point inspection by our factory trained technicians
19” Machined Wheels Reverse Camera, Front and Rear Sensors
Many more features to list.
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$50,000 - $100,000
$69,900.00 Drive Away
2014 Mercedes-Benz A 45
$50,000 - $100,000
$64,900.00 Drive Away
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 200
Km 10,726. Four door and four seat Coupé is finished in Cirrus White with Black Artico Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE
• Panoramic Sunroof
• 1 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty • 116-Point inspection by our factory trained technicians
• Harman/Kardon Sound System
Many more features to list.
• Comand Navigation
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Km 2,415. Four door and four seat Sport Shooting Brake is finished in Polar Silver with Red Cut Leather.
FEATURES INCLUDE
• 18” Alloy Wheels
• 6 Speaker Stereo • 116-Point inspection by our factory trained technicians
• Panoramic Sunroof
Many more features to list.
• Comand Navigation
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$50,000 - $100,000
$64,900.00 Drive Away
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250
$50,000 - $100,000
$59,900.00 Drive Away
2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 250
Km 40,909. Four door and four seat BlueTec Wagon is finished in Obsidian Black with Black Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
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Comand Navigation w/ Voice Activation
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
19” 5-Spoke Alloy Wheels
• 116-Point Inspection by our factory trained technicians
Economical Turbo Diesel Engine Reverse Camera
Many more features to list.
Km 15,967. Four door and four seat CDI Shooting Brake is finished in Polar Silver with Black Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
Panoramic Sunroof w/ Electric Blind
• 19” Gloss Black Machined Wheels
Navigation
• Reverse Camera, Front and Rear Sensors
Electric, heated Memory seats Night Package including black exterior trims
Many more features to list.
37
$50,000 - $100,000
$56,900.00 Drive Away
2015 Mercedes-Benz CLA 200
$50,000 - $100,000
$52,900.00 Drive Away
2013 Mercedes-Benz A 250
Km 44,857. Four door and four seat Sport Hatchback is finished in Cirrus White with Black Suede/Artico Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
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Comand Navigation w/ Voice Activation
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
Tilting and Sliding Panoramic Sunroof
• 116-Point Inspection by our factory trained technicians
2.0L Turbo 4 Cylinder 18” 5-Spoke AMG Alloy Wheels
Many more features to list.
$39,900.00 Drive Away
2013 Mercedes-Benz A 200
$25,000 $25,000-$50,000 $50,000
Km 15,208. Four door and four seat CDI Hatchback is finished in Cirrus White with Black Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
Seat Comfort Package including heated front seats
• Exclusive Package including genuine leather interior
18” Gloss Black Wheels
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty
Reverse Camera Front and Rear Sensors
Many more features to list.
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$39,900.00 Drive Away
2010 Mercedes-Benz C 250 Km 38,481. Four door and four seat CGI Avantgarde Sedan is finished in Black with Beige Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • •
Electric Sunroof,
• 2 Year Mercedes-Benz APPROVED Pre-Owned Warranty
Harman/Kardon Sound System
• 116-point Inspection by our factory trained Technicians
Bi-Xenon Headlights Comand Navigation
Many more features to list.
$25,000 - $50,000
$35,900.00 Drive Away
2014 Mercedes-Benz A 180 Km 23,990. Four door and four seat Hatchback is finished in Cirrus White with Black Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE • • • • 40
Harman/Kardon Sound System
• Rear camera
17” Alloy Wheels
• 116-point Inspection by our factory trained Technicians
Comand Navigation Power Steering
Many more features to list.
$29,900.00 Drive Away
2005 Mercedes-Benz Viano 639 Km 97,888. Four door and seven seat Viano 3.5 Ambiente Wagon is finished in Brilliant Silver with Grey Leather Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE
• 17” Alloy Wheels
• Powerful 3.5L V6 engine • Sliding Windows and door
• Electric Sunroof
Many more features to list.
• E 7 Grey leather seats
Km 62,311. Two door and four seat Sedan is finished in Black with Black Artico Interior.
FEATURES INCLUDE
• Sporty two-door Coupé body
• 2 Year Approved Pre-Owned Warranty • 116-Point Inspection by our factory trained technicians
• Powerful Supercharged Engine
Many more features to list.
• E17” Alloy Wheels
41
$25,000 - $50,000
$26,900.00 Drive Away
2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC 200
MB GC
the home of
classics...
Conveniently located on the Coomera River, a stones throw from Pacific Motorway Exit 54 76-84 Waterway Dr, Coomera 4209, QLD Tel: 07 5502 5888 | info@gccm.com.au | www.gccm.com.au 42
Shipyard
Refit & Repair
Dry Storage
Marina Berths
150T & 50T Li�ts
Fuel Dock
M B G C
MBGC STYLE
ST Y L E
AUTUMN COLLECTION
05
AUTUMN COLLECTION Enjoy Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast’s range of Mercedes-Benz-branded apparel and lifestyle products, available exclusively at our Robina Showroom and Sanctuary Cove boutique.
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03
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01. THREE-HAND ELEGANT BASIC WATCH | B6 695 0816 Stainless steel case. Dial with superimposed hour markers. Hardened mineral crystal with anti-reflective coating. Leather strap. Water resistant to 5ATM. Diameter 39mm. Miyota 2315 quartz movements. Made in Germany.
04. CLASSIC WEEKEND BAG | B6 604 3052
07. AMG GT S, C190 MODEL CAR | B6 696 0342
Brown. Leather and cotton/viscose blend. Large main compartment. Sturdy carry handles. Detachable shoulder strap. Size approx. 50x28x28cm.
AMG solorbeam
02. MEN’S TRUCKER LEATHER BELT| B6 787 0825
05. KEY COVER | B6 695 2641
Brown. Italian bullhide. Adjustable length. 130 x 4cm.
Leather. Tailored to Mercedes-Benz vehicle key. Press-stud fastening.
03. MEN’S 2-IN-1 CABRIOULET JACKET | B6 604 1498
06. BALANCE BIKE | B6 799 5198
Brown. Outer material 100% cotton, taffeta lining 100% polyester. Wind and water-repellant coating. Zip-out gilet and detachable faux fur collar. 2-way front zip fastening. Sizes S-XXL.
Silver/Petronas green/anthracite. Birch plywood. Rubber handlebar grips for a better hold. 12 inch plastic rims with rubber tyres. Adjustable seat height (approx 32 - 36 cm) for children approx. 88cm tall. Age 3+. Weight approx 4.1kg. Limited edition of 1000.
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MB GC
H OW ’ S T H E S E R( E N I T Y ? 1 2) pa r t
of
In this special two-part edition of DESPATCHES, esteemed travel writer Mike Grenby takes MBGC readers with him on a tour of Botswana and Namibia. Here in part one he indulges in some glamping on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, before trekking out on a classic safari adventure for part two in the Winter 2016 edition of MBGC.
WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHER Mike Grenby
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D E S PATCH E S
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
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MB GC
E
xpect the unexpected in Africa. You won’t be disappointed. Fly into the comfortably tiny airport at Maun, in Botswana.
camp, you spot them, standing up tall with paws together to spot you – the classic pose most will recognise from documentaries or Disney.
Transfer via a one-hour small plane flight to an almost surreal
Because of regular visits from camp guests, the meerkats are
sight on the edge of the Kalahari Desert: a line of white tents under
accustomed to interacting with people and accepting them into their
palm trees along the horizon. You have arrived at San Camp and are
routine, which in winter includes their kittens frolicking together making
about to enjoy an absolutely premium safari experience.
small “chrrr” sounds, mimicking their elders’ standup poses and
It’s either the flight or a three-hour drive from Maun, but at journey’s end
clinging tightly together around mum.
you feel – and indeed you are – completely removed from civilisation.
You sit on the ground on a mound near entrances to their burrows. If
The lodge, a series of giant vaulted tents standing eight metres high
you are lucky, a meerkat might climb on to your lap to gain some height
on a rug-covered wooden platform, features gathered curtains of
for that famous pose or for a quick nap. If you are very lucky, one might
heavy white fabric.
climb on to your head to take advantage of even higher lookout visibility.
The lodge washroom is out back with walls made of branches, a flush toilet and a copper wash basin – complete with liquid soap and body lotion.
Just when you think it can’t get any better than the meerkat experience,
“There is a safari for every budget, but sometimes it’s worth the extra
indigenous hunter-gatherers of southern Africa staying temporarily in the
money to stay at the smaller, more exclusive camps, where fewer guests
area as part of a program to support their tribe in the western Kalahari.
mean more personalised attention and activities,” says Monika Korn, of The Safari Source agency. This is how royalty went on safari, with heavy wooden campaign trunks
you set off the next morning to engage with a group of San Bushmen,
You meet them huddled around a campfire to keep warm in the chilly morning; although they wear fairly scant clothing made of animal skins, their milk chocolate brown skin is warm to the touch.
and hurricane lamps to illuminate the 200-year-old four-poster canopy bed – although in 2016 the toilet in the en suite back “room” of the tent
You set off on a bushwalk with them. They chatter away happily in their
flushes and solar power provides, if not electricity, at least hot water for
click language, squatting every so often to examine a track on the
a rain-head shower.
ground or to identify what looks like a random twig, but turns out to be
Colonial royalty had its servants; San Camp has staff that cater to every request in a willing yet non-subservient manner. “Could I have a plain hardboiled egg to take back to my friend in our tent?” one guest asks – and before he knows it, Tumelo has prepared
a clue to a large onion-like tuber root full of rare and valuable moisture which they dig up to show us. We examine a small – live – scorpion; several members demonstrate how to twirl a stick to start a fire, or set a ground trap to catch a bird.
a full breakfast tray with all the trimmings and is carrying it the five-
You don’t need to speak the same language: it just feels natural to be
minute walk back to the tent.
with them, to show them the photos we take of them, to laugh with
“We like to make things special,” says James Stenner, San Camp’s
them. They accept our group unreservedly.
expeditions manager.
Most visitors to Africa expect big animal safaris, but don’t limit your
Peak season is July, when the winter nights and early mornings often
expectations – Africa offers so much more.
take temperatures down close to zero – making you very grateful for
Mike Grenby teaches travel writing, journalism and public speaking at
the hot water bottle (or three) you find in your bed, as the tent canvas
Bond University. He has been writing travel articles and taking travel
doesn’t provide much protection from the outside cold.
photos since he was 24.
One morning you bundle up to visit the meerkats (officially “suricates”,
The adventure recounted here was co-ordinated by The Safari Source, a
one of the most sociable mammals on earth). A short drive from the
safari agency specialising in Southern Africa. www.thesafarisource.com
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D E S PATCH E S
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
Most visitors to Africa expect big animal safaris, but don't limit your expectations — Africa offers so much more. 47
MB GC
GROWING PANES How Lisa de Boer commercialised her passion for glass to become the Gold Coast’s most prolific artist.
W
hen the glass kilns run over summer, the temperature in Lisa
“People just don’t consider glass art like wall art or conventional
de Boer’s Molendinar studio routinely hits 50 degrees.
sculpture, they think of vases or plates,” she says.
Inside the kiln, de Boer’s artworks – ornate glass sculptures of myriad
“The gallery opens their eyes to the possibilities; someone can visit and
dimensions and hues – bake under coils at 800 degrees while inches of
see in three dimensions what can be achieved in glass.”
puffy insulation work vainly to trap the incredible heat. “The works are in the kilns for about 12 or 13 hours, then they have to cool for a day and a half before we can open up,” she says. The long wait for her art to cool was once suspenseful – would de Boer open the kiln to find her works as she envisaged them? Or spoiled in the intense process? – but after 30 years working in glass she’s
In the gallery, glass sculpture and classic wall pieces sit alongside sample showerwalls and even kitchen splashbacks stained and textured for dramatic effect. “We like useful art,” says de Boer, “where something is boring in your home, instead you can have something artistic and beautiful and original.”
mastered the process.
Adelaide-born, de Boer discovered glass as a medium when 30 years
“But I am self-taught,” she laughs, “so I did used to take trailer loads of
ago she undertook a class in leadlight window design.
mistakes to the tip!”
As founder and lead designer at Glass Xpressions, de Boer creates
“That’s the only training I had, all my kilnwork and painting and
art pieces in glass specific to the needs of residential and commercial
means I don’t look at boundaries.”
mouldmaking is self-taught,” she says. “But not being formally trained
clients, a process she refers to as ‘custom-made art’. A year ago, she opened a gallery upstairs from her studio to show off the potential of her medium and illustrate to clients the aesthetic results she could achieve. 48
De Boer lets slip a trade secret: to get a satisfactory pop in the colours, she paints on glass with car inks and car paints. “Really gutsy paints in metallic colours,” she says.
CO NC E P T
GOLD COAST ART, CREATIVE & DESIGN
The gallery opens their eye to the possibilities; someone can visit and see in three dimensions what can be achieved
Her first kiln was smaller than a tabletop and limited the scope of her
Xpressions’ corporate work covers everything from water features to
works, but de Boer’s imagination was given freer reign when she – along
glass partitions embossed with logos or brands.
with partner Darren Caesar – built her own kiln in a 120sqm space under their Gold Coast home. Ten years ago she opened her Molendinar ‘factory’ and added a 5.2m kiln – the biggest glass kiln in Australia – that allows her to work with large sheets and produce glass doors and oversized wall art. “I started out doing residential jobs, but from the factory we can do much bigger commercial and corporate work,” says de Boer, who works with artists Sean McIntosh and Georgina Sepa. Each job starts with a meeting and inspection of the space for the artwork, with de Boer coming back to clients with site reference photography overlaid with a pre-visualisation of the proposed work in situ. The artworks are sometimes based on client concepts, while other times de Boer is given freedom to create. “People inspire me with their ideas for their spaces – that’s what keeps this from ever feeling like a real job,” she laughs. Homeowners often opt for luxurious finishes such as bar fronts and
In her decade working from the factory, de Boer has produced more than 7,000 original pieces and shipped them to every state in Australia. She makes no ‘prints’ or mass-produced works. She also has time to make one-off gallery pieces, such as a steampunkinspired glass dress that hangs from a wireframe mannequin.
Upstairs in the Glass Xpressions gallery, De Boer holds regular VIP exhibitions and auctions a custom piece at each event in support of animal or environmental charities. A passionate conservationist, the influence of the natural world is obvious across the breadth of her work. Coastal vistas in sheeted glass artfully fill wall niches, while animal prints swirl like lava lamp freeze-frames in glass sheets hung like paintings. “There are probably three pieces in the whole gallery that don’t involve animals or the environment in some way,” laughs de Boer. To see more of Lisa’s work, visit glassxpressions.com.au
glasstop island benches with unusual lighting effects, while Glass 49
MB GC
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Travel Package 01 Basic carrier bars* Offers the perfect 2 piece basis for a range of Mercedes-Benz transport accessories: ski and snowboard rack, bicycle rack or roof boxes. Crash-tested. Lockable. A205 890 0093
$492.30
02 Mercedes-Benz roof box 400* Capacity approx. 400 litres. Black. Also available in matt silver. A000 840 0000
04 New Alustyle bicycle rack* Designed to be attached to the basic carrier bars. Suitable for bicycles with a max. frame diameter of 98 mm (circular frame tubes) or 110 x 70 mm (oval frame tubes). Up to 4 bicycle racks can be fitted. A000 890 0293
$284.00 ea. Distance adapter for bicycle rack (required) A 002 990 03 99
$80.55 ea.
$1,193.55
03 Coil locks for bicycle rack Set of 2 coil locks, 6mm cable. A000 583 1995
$72.55
05 New Alustyle ski and snowboard rack “Standard�* For up to 4 pairs of skis or 2 snowboards. Lockable. A000 890 0493
$228.20 ea.
Speak to our Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast Par ts Consultant to find out more. 50
*Maximum roof load for C-Class Sedan is 75kg. This 75kg is to include the weight of carrier bars, carrier bar attachments and cargo.
S PAC E
DESIGNED INTERIORS
L I V E A B L E L U X U RY PHOTOGRAPHY Lucas Munro In this edition of MBGC’s SPACE, interior designer Cris Edwards of Mannigan Edwards Interiors walks Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast brand ambassador Shelley Craft through her latest work within a stunning Hope Island mansion.
CRIS: For this project, the clients were a family moving up from rural Victoria to make the Gold Coast their new home. The couple has two teenage boys, so from the outset the brief was that their house had to be as livable, comfortable and practical as it was beautiful. The family had recently taken a trip to Bali and was inspired by the resorts there, so we settled on a modern Balinese feel without taking it too literally. We focused on interesting textures, masculine shapes, lots of timber and a natural colour palette with pops of copper and burnt sienna.
To see more of Cris Edwards’ work visit www.manniganedwards.com.au
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MB GC
ENTRY HALL The soaring double-height ceiling gave us ample scope for drama, we warmed it up and improved the acoustics with a hand-knotted rug in custom colours. We selected a large original painting for the wall with grass cloth wallpaper. The owner has a great collection of tribal artifacts from their travels, so we added a showcase sideboard and a few mismatched chairs for character. The finishing touch was the copper-forged pendant lights, which the owner loved so much that they lay on the floor when they first saw them to just stare up at them. 52
S PAC E
DESIGNED INTERIORS
KIDS RETREAT This area was to be a fun and casual destination for the boys to hang out with their friends, but it still had to look great as you walk by it on the way to the front door. We opted for a vintage camel leather sofa and a chunky wood block coffee table. The overscaled chair swivels and the zebra rug was just a touch of whimsy. 53
MB GC
MEDIA ROOM A large modular King sofa was the perfect solution to maximise use of space and for the whole family to stretch out and watch movies. In case there were a few extra people, we made up some beanbags in a custom fabric. The back of the sofa provided display space for beautiful decor from Eco Chic and kept the room interesting when walking in (it is never nice to walk in on the back of a sofa!). The two framed pieces of African Kuba cloth give the space its wow factor. 54
S PAC E
DESIGNED INTERIORS
LIVING ROOM This large space has a stunning view of the canal, but the owner wanted it to feel intimate and inviting, not showy. To define the space we ordered a large custom rug inspired by a Navajo Indian pattern. The sofas were done in a beautiful weave that had flecks of charcoal and copper and featherwrapped cushions for maximum comfort. The coffee table had to be big, so we did it in glass to ensure the space didn’t feel to heavy. Two mahogany lounge chairs were hand-carved in Bali and sit next to a fossilised timber log table. The fireplace was just an ugly mirror when the owners first saw the house so we clad it in copper sheeting to add texture and drama. 55
MB GC
DINING ROOM The owners love to entertain so we not only had to fit eight chairs, but they had to be comfortable‌ a 1.8sqm table was the perfect solution. It was custom-made on the Gold Coast in a beautiful crown oak stained dark walnut. The armchairs are upholstered in a subtle tribal tone-on-tone pattern and the setting is finished off by a woven disc pendant light that adds texture without blocking the view. 56
S PAC E
DESIGNED INTERIORS
MASTER BEDROOM While this room was large and spectacular, it was also a difficult shape. We started with gorgeous ikat wallpaper on the double-height side and added a four-poster bed to help fill the lofty space. The niche off to one side provided the perfect space for a sofa, chair and some bronze rain drums as tables. The colour scheme is softer than the rest of the house: charcoal, linen, ivory and touches of citron. 57
MB GC
Never underestimate the of a well-made decision
power
Portfolio and SMSF Administration Service If you have had enough of chasing paperwork relating to your investments or simply do not want to administer your portfolio or SMSF, talk to your Morgans Gold Coast adviser about our managed portfolio and SMSF solutions.
Morgans Gold Coast make investing easy. 07 5581 5777 | www.morgans.com.au/goldcoast Morgans Financial Limited ABN 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410 A Participant of ASX Group A Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia Morgans and CIMB – Please visit www.morgans.com.au to understand the products and services within our alliance.
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O P E R AT I O N S
BEHIND THE MBGC SCENES
NEW S-CLASS COUPÉ THE ZZ TOPS When rock legend Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top rolls into town, he prefers to get around in a Mercedes-Benz rather than his usual trademark Eliminator (the 1933 Ford coupe which features in a number of ZZ Top’s music videos). Billy was kind enough to pose for a promotional shoot for Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast on his latest tour in February featuring the mighty S-Class Coupé. 59
MB GC
SMOOTH SAILING Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast joined with Southport Yacht Club in January to celebrate the 2016 Bartercard Coffs to Paradise Yacht Race and the Club’s signature regatta for the summer season, the Bartercard Sail Paradise. The Coffs to Paradise race is a 150 nautical mile extension to Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s Pittwater to Coffs race, while the Sail Paradise, which is open to monohulls and multihulls as well as off-thebeach catamarans and dinghies, is contested annually on the waters off the Gold Coast’s beaches and on the Broadwater.
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O P E R AT I O N S
BEHIND THE MBGC SCENES
ART OF GLASS Bespoke ornate glass sculptures are the trademark of Lisa de Boer’s Glass Xpression studio, and a perfect partnership for Mercedes-Benz Gold Coast. We joined with the artists to view her new range at an invite-only unveiling at her Molendiner studio.
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P RO PAGA N DA
MERCEDES-BENZ MESSAGING
A glimpse into Mercedes-Benz marketing of yesteryear, an era of long copy, masterful commercial artistry and press advertising with panache. Curated by the team at MBGC.
T
he overtones of duality in the look and message of this classy 1964 fullpager for the 230 SL make its black and white treatment fit like a glove.
‘Success in rallies and on the boulevard’ promises the understated headline, a two-pronged claim backed up by the fact-heavy body copy.
The racing flag-inspired chequerboard on the helmet (which looks to be a vintage Cromwell) gains serious pop in monochrome and the top image’s black field provides gorgeous contrast to the white space below.
The text specifies two significant wins from the 230 SL’s debut production year of 1963: first prize at the Heidelberg Concours d’ élégance (establishing the car’s style credentials) and a grueling international rally win (proving it drives as good as it looks).
The bowler hat, meanwhile, denotes a touch of class to counterpoint the racing headgear. 62
In short, the best of both worlds.