Gold Coast International Marine Expo gives back to 2014 boat show volunteers

Gold Coast International Marine Expo has donated $17,000 to four beneficiary charities that helped to make this year’s boat show such a huge success.

The show, now in it’s fifth year, is dubbed as Australia’s only ‘working boat show’, offering a comprehensive programme of events, attractions, tours and live technical demonstrations with something taking place every 15 minutes for four days.

The four 2014 beneficiary charities; Rotary Club of Coomera River, Sailability Gold Coast, Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service, and Sea World Research & Rescue Foundation, were presented with a total of $17,000 in donations at a special ceremony where the dates for the 2015 Expo were also confirmed as 21^st to 24^th May.

Patrick Gay, chairman of the expo said, “I’m delighted that we are able to give something back to the people who put so much time and effort into staging such an important event for the wider marine industry.” “Without them, we would not be able to hold the not-for-profit expo.” 

In it’s four years, Marine Expo has helped to raise $68,000 for these volunteer-run charities.

Mr Gay commented that the 2015 dates, which are shared with Sanctuary Cover International Boat Show and the Riviera Festival of Boating, is exciting news for the wider marine industry and the expo’s beneficiary charities.

He said, “It creates enormous potential for a truly international-scale marine showcase – one which shares the dates of three major and separate boating events and has the very real potential to be the No.1 marine attraction in Australia, No.1 in the Southern Hemisphere and comparable to the best in the world.“The not-for-profit Expo remains committed to assisting charities and the local community, and the evolution of this concept will ensure we can do that on an even larger scale for many years to come.” 

The donated money will contribute to a wealth of worthwhile projects and causes amongst the beneficiaries of the marine industry, including funding the support of voluntary-run projects and services, upgrading safety equipment and protecting the marine environment.

For more information, visit Gold Coast Marine Expo.