27 November 2025
WOMEN OF THE YEAR WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Congratulations Erica Eurell, Traditional Owner, Yugambeh Language Region & Founder, Dreamtime Artistry, for taking out the Champions of the Arts award at the 2025 Gold Coast Bulletin Women of the Year Awards overnight! From connecting people to place through storytelling and creating cultural experiences that inspire audiences of all ages, Erica’s contributions to the Gold Coast’s creative landscape continue to enrich the visitor experience and strengthen our cultural identity.
We’d also like to acknowledge the incredible finalists in this category Anna Stoddart, Founder & Artistic Director, Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra and Jodi Ferrari, Curator, HOTA Children’s Gallery, who embody the creativity, innovation and passion that make the Gold Coast a destination where culture and creativity thrive.
Congratulations also to:
- Dr Robyn Cameron PhD GAICD FCPA, Senior Lecturer at Griffith University, named overall Gold Coast Woman of the Year and Angels Umong Us.
- Charlotte Stent, Actress & EGC Ambassador, named Young Woman of the Year.
- Llewella McNabb, Head of Operations at Village Roadshow Theme Parks, who received the Stars of Tourism award.
- Joanne Sheehy, Principal & CEO at A.B. Patterson College, who received the Champions of Education award.
- Councillor Donna Gates, who received the inaugural Trailblazer award.
At EGC, we’re proud to celebrate the extraordinary women across our visitor economy and community whose leadership, innovation and dedication continue to make the Gold Coast a world-class destination.
See the full list of winners here: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/special-features/women-of-the-year
DUCK POND TAKES FLIGHT
Feathers will fly in Circa's exuberant take on Swan Lake.
The world's most romantic ballet is re-imagined as a circus spectacular, full of Circa’s signature physicality and shot through with cheeky humour and a thoroughly contemporary energy.
Be swept away by this tale of swans and hapless princes sparkling with quirky touches like the sequinned flipper-wearing duck army and a burlesque black swan. There are sumptuous aerials, jaw-dropping acrobatics and of course feathers! Touching, funny and utterly entertaining, Duck Pond is a tale of identity and finding your true self.
Duck Pond is co-commissioned by QPAC and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, The Art House Wyong, Frankston Arts Centre, HOTA - Home of the Arts, Merrigong Theatre Company and Orange Civic Theatre.
Tickets are essential.
STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL PUTS LOCAL CREATIONS ON THE BIG SCREEN
REELZ, HOTA’s inaugural Student Film Festival, celebrates the creativity and storytelling talent of secondary students across the Gold Coast. Developed by our to showcase the top emerging talent in Media Arts, Film, and New Television, the festival received 34 submissions from 27 students across seven schools, with 18 finalist films screened on the big stage.
In the Year 10 Storytellers section, joint winners were Roseanne Redpath (Agent Kowalski & the Great Southern Land) and Sophie Schleimer-Newman (Lady of the Night). In the Masters sections, the Year 11 winner was Honora Rowan-Clarke for Esca, while in Year 12, three films were selected for the 2026 Gold Coast Film Festival Emerge event: Elwood Eve’s Heatwave: Refrigerated, Isabella Pagliaccio’s ‘boys.’, and Kentaro Ward’s winning film, Fun Friday.
The festival was guided by a distinguished review panel: Jo San Martin (Shorts Programmer, Gold Coast Film Festival - 2025), Ivan Vukusic (AACTA), Scott Piper (Officeworks and sound operator), and Brie Jurss and Jack Kelly (Imperfect Creatives).
REELZ was proudly supported and sponsored by HOTA, Experience Gold Coast, Gold Coast Film Festival, AACTA, Officeworks, and Imperfect Creatives.
VIEW THE 13 NOV 2025 ARTS & CULTURE UPDATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.