Community Bank Paradise Point celebrated its 25th birthday on October 1 – a milestone that provides an opportunity to look back at where its story began and just how far the local community-owned company has come.

Back in 2000, Paradise Point was a community determined to bring banking services back to the local area. What followed was 18 months of hard work, persistence and an extraordinary display of community spirit.

More than 200 local shareholders came together to raise over $500,000, turning an ambitious community idea into reality. On October 1, 2001, Community Bank Paradise Point officially opened its doors, becoming the very first Community Bank in Queensland.

There was tremendous pride in what the community had achieved, but few could have imagined just how significant that beginning would become.

What started with a group of locals wanting to restore an essential service to Paradise Point has grown into an organisation that has now invested more than $4.7 million back into the region.

Over the past 25 years, that funding has supported countless local organisations, projects and initiatives across education, health and wellbeing, sport, research, the arts and community development. It has helped strengthen grassroots organisations, create new opportunities and support initiatives whose impact will continue to be felt for generations.

Pimpama-Ormeau

The organisation itself has grown too. From one branch in Paradise Point, it now has Community Bank branches at Paradise Point and Pimpama-Ormeau. In June 2026, it also opened a new office space at Griffith University, which is home to the newly established Paradise Point Community Foundation.

Paradise Point Financial Services is also now a certified social enterprise – formal recognition of the community-first purpose that has been at the heart of the organisation since its earliest days.

While plenty has changed since 2001, the concept behind the Community Bank remains remarkably simple: locals choose to bank locally, the business grows, and more funding can be invested back into the communities it serves.

Behind the milestone are the hundreds of people who have contributed to the story – from the original shareholders and steering committee members who backed an idea 25 years ago, to generations of directors and staff, community partners and, importantly, the customers who continue to support the Community Bank today.

Twenty-five years on, Community Bank Paradise Point remains a powerful example of what can happen when a community backs itself. Clockwise from top, the original steering committee, board and staff members

Labrador Memorial Hall, circa 1930s. Photographer George A. Jackman During the 1940s and 1950s the Labrador Memorial Hall was used as a venue for meetings, functions, receptions, roller skating, dances and movies.

The Labrador Reserve for Recreation was originally selected by the Queensland Government Lands Department as a wharf reserve around 1870.

The reserve consisted of over five and a half acres of land opposite Harley Park on Marine Parade (formerly known as Brisbane Road) with the southern boundary located at Broad Street and the western boundary located at Bath Street.

In the 1920s, local residents united to improve the reserve and, in 1928, the Lands Department accepted the proposal from the newly formed Labrador Progress Association to build tennis courts and a hall for community use.

Two parts

The Lands Department divided the original wharf reserve into two parts. One part (portion 85) was set aside for the Labrador Recreation Reserve and the second part was set aside for the Labrador Memorial Hall (portion 86).

Mrs Emma Proctor and the women from the ladies’ committee of the association raised funds for the community hall through social dances held in private homes and the nearby Grand Hotel.

The hall was intended to be a memorial to fallen soldiers of World War I and, when sufficient funds were raised, it was built under the supervision of Mr Thomas Ramsay Hall (Brisbane) by Mr A. Ledbury (Southport).

Official opening

The hall was officially opened on Friday, October 4, 1929 with a floor space of 2400 square feet and at a cost of £650. Many social and community events took place in the hall with one of the first celebrations being the annual end of year dance for the Labrador State School held in December 1929.

During the 1940s and 1950s the hall was used as a venue for meetings, functions, receptions, roller skating, dances and movies. It came to be known as the Grand Theatre, not only because the movies shown on Saturday nights, but possibly due to its proximity to the Grand Hotel.

Smokin’…

The hall was also home to the Labrador Sunday School which was affiliated with St. Peters who provided the texts. Mrs Watts and Mrs Thrift were two of the Sunday School teachers during the 1950s and one of the challenges of using the multi-purpose hall included the Sunday School reeking of cigarette smoke following the popular movies shown on Saturday nights prior to Sunday School.

After a couple of years Canon Lindsay suggested the Sunday School become separate from St Peters. The newly independent Sunday School ended its association with the Labrador Memorial Hall and bought the old Gospel Hall on North Street and relocated the building to land they had purchased.

Progress

During the 1950s, the North Southport and Labrador Progress associations were anxious to modernise the hall and increase its capacity to accommodate greater numbers of people and host larger functions.

It was proposed to extend the main building to a depth of 84 feet and to add an annex on the northern side to provide stage and dressing room accommodation. While some improvements were made to the hall, no extensions took place.

In October 1972, Alderman Denis O’Connell made an application to Alderman Ern Harley, trustee of the Labrador Memorial Hall, to remove the timber hall from its Labrador site and relocate it.

Brick building

A new brick building was erected in its place and renamed the Labrador Memorial Senior Citizens Centre. The original timber hall was transported to Owen Park, Southport where it became the home of the Southport Gymnastics Club and was subsequently extended. As of 2017, the former Labrador Memorial Hall was still is use as a gymnastics venue at Owen Park.

The recreation reserve adjoining the original hall experienced its own changes over the years. It was put to numerous uses including a cricket pitch, tennis court and camping site.

The Depression

During the Depression of the 1930s, temporary huts were constructed by the Southport Town Council on the recreation reserve to house families in financial distress involved in the Intermittent Work Relief Scheme.

The first group of 10 workers and their families arrived in July 1931 and included 27 children, ranging from about six months old to 14 years in age. The men were engaged to work in the local area clearing and building roads, working on the Labrador drainage works and improvements on The Esplanade and seawall.

On the day of their arrival, the families were welcomed with an afternoon tea in the hall hosted by the Mayoress of Southport, Mrs C. H. Steadman, Mrs J. White and ladies of the Labrador Progress Association.

QCWA

In the 1930s, the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) of Southport, having applied to the trustees of the Labrador Reserve, received land in Broad Street to build a seaside holiday cottage to be used by members of the association.

The District Land Commissioner approved a special lease and two cottages on Stradbroke Island were purchased, transported and re-erected as one building on the land. The building was officially opened in January 1938 and, during World War II was used by the Army Light Horse Regiment.

Today

In 1964 a builder’s report condemned the cottage and tenders were called to demolish the building and erect a new brick building on the land. The new building incorporated a three-bedroom flat upstairs and a one-bedroom flat downstairs. It is still listed as QCWA holiday accommodation today – with an extra studio apartment also available.

Courtesy of Gold Coast Stories | Link: www.goldcoaststories.com.au Foundation stone of the Labrador Memorial Senior Citizens Centre, 1971. Photographer Bob Avery

Spring has arrived on the Gold Coast, and there has been plenty happening across the Broadwater.

Over recent months, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has continued its work to make the waterways safer, maintain navigational access and care for some of the community’s favourite places.

From improved anchoring compliance and dredging in the Seaway entrance, to a new speed limit trial and a spring clean at Wave Break Island, it has been a busy start to the season.

Broadwater compliance continues to improve

GCWA has continued monitoring anchored vessels following Operation Clearwater.

The latest results show encouraging signs of improvement. Anchoring compliance across the Broadwater increased from 51 per cent to 64 per cent, while the total number of anchored vessels fell by 17 per cent.

During July and August, GCWA officers monitored 214 anchored vessels, issued 63 marine infringement notices and served 22 removal notices. Twenty-one abandoned vessels were also destroyed.

Importantly, the need for enforcement action reduced significantly during August. This suggests more vessel owners are understanding and following the rules.

Abandoned and unlawfully anchored vessels can create navigational and environmental risks, restrict fair access to the waterways and affect nearby communities.

GCWA will continue monitoring priority locations and working with other agencies to encourage responsible behaviour and address vessels that may present a risk to the community or the environment.

Dredging improves access through the Seaway

Dredging has also continued in the Gold Coast Seaway entrance, helping to provide safer and more reliable access to the ocean.

As at the end of September, the Trud R had removed approximately 45,000 cubic metres of sand from the Seaway entrance. That’s equivalent to around 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Recent hydrographic surveys have shown a substantial improvement across the southern lead, an important navigation route used by recreational and commercial vessels.

Most of the dredged sand has been transported offshore to Main Beach. This keeps the sand within the Gold Coast’s coastal sand system, where it can continue moving naturally along the coastline.

Conditions within the Seaway can change as sand moves through the coastal system, so regular surveys and targeted dredging are important for maintaining navigational access.

Boaties should continue to plan their journeys carefully, check current conditions and consult the latest official navigational information before travelling through the Seaway.

Six-knot speed limit trial underway

A new 12-month speed limit trial began on September 14, introducing a consistent six-knot limit for all vessels and jet skis travelling through Paradise Point Channel, north of the Sovereign Islands Bridge.

The trial aims to simplify the speed rules and support safer use of this busy section of the waterway.

The area is used by a wide range of recreational vessels and personal watercraft. Applying one consistent speed limit should make the requirements easier for waterway users to understand and follow.

During the trial, GCWA will monitor compliance, incidents and feedback from the community. Maritime Safety Queensland and the Queensland Water Police will undertake enforcement activities.

The trial will be reviewed after six months and fully evaluated before any decision is made about introducing a permanent speed limit.

Waterway users are encouraged to look out for the new signage, follow the six-knot limit and be considerate of other people on the water and those living nearby.

Wave Break Island gets a spring clean

Wave Break Island received some extra care during September, with GCWA crews completing a spring clean across the northern end of the island.

Crews cut back overgrown vegetation, removed weeds and collected rubbish and marine debris. Waste management and compliance activities were also increased throughout the week.

The clean-up is part of GCWA’s ongoing work to manage and maintain this popular Broadwater destination.

It focused on practical improvements ahead of the warmer months, when more boaties and day visitors are expected.

Visitors can help by taking their rubbish with them, using the island responsibly and leaving it tidy for others.

With more people heading onto the water this spring, GCWA is encouraging everyone to plan ahead, follow the rules and play their part in making the Broadwater safer and more enjoyable.

For the latest information about Gold Coast waterways, projects and boating notices, visit gcwa.qld.gov.au

Serves: 6 | Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 8 hrs slow cooker + 40 minutes stovetop 1 serve per portion Ingredients

1kg lamb shoulder 2 sprigs rosemary ½ teaspoon cumin ½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon turmeric ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 packet taco shells 1 cup cheddar cheese, reduced fat, grated 1 cup sour cream, reduced fat Salsa:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 eggplant, cut into small cubes 1 red capsicum, diced 1 red chilli, finely diced ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ cup fresh coriander, finely chopped 400g can crushed tomatoes Method

Place lamb into a slow cooker on low heat, sprinkle rosemary, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, turmeric and pepper over lamb. Add 1 cm of water to slow cooker, place lid on and cook for 8 hours.

Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, and cook onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add eggplant, capsicum, chilli, cumin and coriander and cook for 6-8 minutes, until eggplant starts to soften. Add tomatoes and gently simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove lamb from slow cooker and gently pull apart then place on a serving dish. Serve lamb with tacos, salsa, cheese and reduced-fat sour cream. Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team Th e Local appreciates the QCWA for its recipes & images!