GemLife Gold Coast Beach Parade to save koalas and set new world record

QUEENSLAND celebs and sporting stars will join forces with everyday Queenslanders to raise money for koalas and attempt a new world record.

SAMANTHA SCOTT

May 15, 2021

QUEENSLAND celebs and sporting stars will join forces with everyday Queenslanders to raise money for koalas and attempt a new world record.

Well-known Queenslanders including Lincoln Lewis and Joel Parkinson will join in a parade of Burleigh Beach, wearing koala ears.

All registration fees for the GemLife Gold Coast Beach Parade will go to the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

Participants, anticipated to be in the hundreds or even thousands, will try to create the record for most people walking the beach in koala ears.

Event Director at GemLife, Leanne St George, said she hoped a world record would shine a spotlight on one of Australia’s best beaches and also highlight the enormous impact that the 2019/20 bushfires had on koalas.

“After working in the fire grounds, I remember flying back to the Gold Coast and thinking what have we done to our country and our animals, then COVID-19 came through and affected all of our lives, particularly in a tourism state like QLD,” she said.

Ms George reasoned that although she was surprised by the willingness of influencers to jump on board, koalas have always generated a lot of attention and conversation within the local community due to their prevalence.

“The Gold Coast is one of the very few urban cities where koala numbers are significant and on Sunday we will have a 6-metre tall baby koala blimp called Burleigh to demonstrate just how iconic this animal really is,” she said.

“72% of people who come to our country want to see a koala which I think very much played out during the time of the bushfires … in New York City people would put little koalas on lamp posts because there is something about them that captures the heart of people wanting to make a difference.”

Australian Actress and TV Host, Lynn Gilmartin will be one of many to take part in the 3km loop, despite being eight months pregnant with her first child.

“Our actions as humans have had such a detrimental impact on the environment and we now need to do everything we can to ensure that future generations can enjoy these iconic animals as well,” she said.

The GemLife Gold Coast Beach Parade will be held Sunday May 16 at Burleigh, check-in will open at 8am and the parade will start at 11am.