Just over $16,000 was raised this year for the Expo charities and local community organisations, please click here to read more on how the Gold Coast International Marine Expo is helping make a difference.

For 2013, through the gold coin donation at the entry and the funds raised at the Artists Quarter art auction, the Expo endeavors to increase upon the amount raised.

Paradise Kids was founded on the Gold Coast in 1996 and provides counselling services to young children and their families who are experiencing a traumatic situation. Whatever the situation Paradise Kids aims to help heal the heartache. Paradise Kids take a holistic approach to address all aspects of a child – body, mind and spirit.

This year representatives from the Rotary Club of Coomera River will volunteer their time to assist the Gold Coast International Marine Expo. They will assist with car parking, marshalling and the distribution of the Expo official programs.

Sailability is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organisation which, through the activity of sailing, enriches the lives of people with any type of disability, the elderly, the financially and socially disadvantaged. Peter Board, President of Sailability Gold Coast summarised the 2011 Expo “Last year was a great opportunity for Sailability in so many ways; we spoke to quite a number of prospective volunteers, and received a healthy donation from the art auction for which we are most grateful for”.

Representatives from the Wasp Creek Rural Fire Service volunteer their time to help with the driving of our mini buses that aid the car parks and assist any disabled visitors to the entrance of the Expo. In return for their great work the Gold Coast City Marina will donate an antifoul for their fireboat valued at over $2,000.

Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service is one of the oldest community-based helicopter rescue services in the world, operating across South East Queensland for the past 35 years. With a highly trained team of skilled men and women, the service exists for one purpose – to save lives. It is our eyes in the sky and allows Surf Life Saving Queensland to patrol a vast area of Queensland’s coastline. They offer a nation-wide aviation emergency rescue service that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.