Good morning, Robina.
Good week in Robina. The Gold Coast finally gets its proper Hollywood moment, with new action thriller Runner filmed right here on local streets and in cinemas now. LSKD is opening at Robina Town Centre this Saturday with free gear for the first 500 through the door, so set that alarm. Betty Gregory turned 95 last week and celebrated by jumping out of a plane for the sixth time, which is exactly the kind of story that puts your own week in perspective. And footpath works near Robina State School have a detour in place through to October.
A cracking week for the suburb. Let's get into it.
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THIS WEEK IN ROBINA
That Road Closure Finally Makes Sense
Remember those suburban streets that got shut down for what felt like no good reason? Turns out there was a very good reason. Runner - the action thriller starring Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson - is now in cinemas, and Robina's streets are in it.
The film follows a former soldier with three hours to get a transplant organ from Brisbane to the Gold Coast. The Gold Coast is not a stand-in for somewhere else this time. It is actually the Gold Coast, on screen, doing its thing.
Ritchson plays the courier. Wilson plays the bloke who did not sign up for any of this. It is exactly the kind of film you watch to spot your own suburb getting chased through.
Screening now at HOYTS and Event Cinemas. Worth seeing just to recognise the roads.
Two weeknights. Two very good reasons to book dinner.
At Fornello Pizza & Bar, Tuesdays mean 15% off all pasta, plus $8 glasses of wine. Wednesdays mean 15% off all pizzas, again with $8 glasses of wine.
With hand-stretched pizzas, Italian-inspired dishes and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s an easy excuse to turn a regular weeknight into dinner you’ll actually look forward to.
Don’t wait for the weekend. Pick your night, book your table and make the most of 15% off before the week gets away from you.
Tuesday = pasta. Wednesday = pizza. Which one are you booking?
Fornello Pizza & Bar
Shop A1/201 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes
Book your table and check the menu at fornellopizza.com.au
The Audacity Is Free, Apparently
IMAGE: Gold Coast Bulletin
Someone on the Gold Coast started a GoFundMe for burnout tyres. Someone else went for jetski fines. Another had McDonald's on the list. A few of them actually got donations.
The Gold Coast Bulletin ran the story this week, and the range of requests is genuinely something. Plastic surgery, Academy Award film budgets, everyday fast food - all pitched to strangers on the internet with a straight face.
To be fair, crowdfunding started as a tool for genuine emergencies. It still is, for a lot of people. But there is clearly a subsection of the Gold Coast that has looked at the platform and thought: worth a shot.
The part that is hard to argue with? Some of them worked. Apparently the secret to funding your lifestyle is just asking loudly enough.
Have you tried the Goldy everyone’s been raving about?
Spring has sprung, and we’ve heard plenty of good things about the Goldy at LilyPad Cottage.
If you haven’t tried it yet, this could be your sign. It’s become a drink locals are talking about, and we’ve heard it’s now $6, down from $9.50 this spring.
It’s a simple little way to enjoy something fresh, get out for a catch-up and support a local spot at the same time.
Give the Goldy a try and let us know… is it really the local favourite everyone says it is?
LillyPad Cottage
34–36 Glenferrie Drive, Robina
Instagram: lillypadcottage
Facebook: LillyPad Cottage
She Started at 80. She Is Not Stopping Now.
Betty Gregory airborne for her 95th birthday. IMAGE: Gold Coast Skydive
Betty Gregory turned 95 last week and celebrated the way she always does. She jumped out of a plane.
This was her sixth birthday skydive. She started the tradition at 80, and has not missed one since. The Gold Coast Skydive team took her up to 12,000 feet over the shoreline, and she touched down on Kirra Beach completely unfazed.
The backstory makes it better. Betty was an aerial photographer with the Women's Royal Air Force in the 1940s but was banned from parachuting at the time. She has spent the past 15 years making up for it.
She left her aged care facility for the jump and was already talking about the next one before she landed.
Ninety-five years old. Six jumps. Zero hesitation. Good on ya, Betty.
Could you protect yourself if the situation ever called for it?
For teens and adults around the Gold Coast, Goshukan Karate Academy offers training that goes beyond traditional martial arts.
Alongside traditional Goju-Ryu Karate, students can develop practical self-defence and safety awareness, with training that includes throwing, restraints, joint-locking techniques and controlled grappling.
The academy encourages men and women to learn skills that can help build confidence, awareness and a greater understanding of how to protect themselves and others.
With classes for teens and adults at Clear Island Waters and Pimpama, it's a local option worth knowing about.
We all want to feel a little more confident and prepared when it matters. If practical self-defence is something you’ve been thinking about, take a look at Goshukan and see if it could be right for you.
Goshukan Karate Academy QLD
Clear Island Waters & Pimpama
Starter Pack: $40 | 4 Classes + FREE Karate Uniform | $120 Value
Free Gear at Robina Town Centre This Saturday
IMAGE: robinatowncentre.qicre.com
LSKD is opening its new Robina Town Centre store on Saturday October 3, and the first 500 people through the door are walking out with free kit. The first 400 women can swap any old pair of leggings for a brand-new LSKD pair. The first 100 men swap any old athletic shorts for a new set. No catch beyond getting there early.
Doors open at 8am. The brand runs these grand openings with a full event feel - DJ, prize giveaways, limited gift bags, exclusive product drops on the day.
LSKD is an Australian activewear label that has built a serious following, and their store launches tend to draw a crowd. If you are planning to go, plan to queue.
Bring your old leggings or shorts. Leave with new ones.
Before you replace that broken appliance, check if it can be fixed first.
A washing machine, fridge or oven suddenly stopping can make you think you need a new one. TFS Appliance Repairs may be able to get it working again, servicing the Gold Coast from Upper Coomera to Palm Beach.
Their standard domestic callout is $150 + GST and includes up to 15 minutes for an initial diagnosis, so you can find out what’s wrong before deciding whether to go ahead with the repair.
They repair washing machines, dryers, fridges, dishwashers, ovens, cooktops and more. They also carry common parts in their vehicles and can often complete repairs on the spot.
Call before noon and they may be able to arrange same-day service, depending on availability.
Footpath works near Robina State School, detour in place until October
IMAGE: goldcoast.qld.gov.au
If you usually cut through the path between Bothwell Street and Glen Eagles Drive alongside the bowls club, it's closed for now. Council's running a temporary footpath detour via Ron Penhaligon Way while crews build a new concrete path and bollard lighting connecting the two streets.
It's all part of a bigger active transport upgrade around Robina State School, running through to October, weather permitting. Beyond the new path, expect an upgraded school crossing, a new bus stop with shelter at Ron Penhaligon Way and Kentwood Drive, plus a new pedestrian refuge crossing and kerb ramp upgrades.
Crews are scheduling work outside peak drop off and pick up times where they can, but expect some noise, dust and the odd lane closure along the way. Worth planning an extra few minutes if you're walking the school run through that stretch.
| 1 Dandenong Terrace | $1,255,000 |
| 924 Medinah Avenue | $1,100,000 |
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What's on this week
A free library Storytime for the little ones on Sunday morning, and a Bollywood night out for everyone else.
No community markets or board game sessions are running locally this Saturday, but the weekly Burleigh Heads Farmers Market is a solid alternative if you are looking for a morning out — farm-fresh produce, artisan goods, and live music on the oval.
An interactive early literacy session structured for toddlers, preschoolers, and their families. No pre-booking is required — just show up.
A King's Birthday long weekend return to The Den (formerly Asylum Nightclub), featuring headline sets from DJ Kautuk Parkar across heavy Bollywood bangers, remixes, and desi anthems. Tickets available via Eventbrite.
Where to play something social within 20 minutes of Robina Town Centre.
Real deals at Robina venues right now.
$25 Steak and Ribs Night
Club Robina
263 Ron Penhaligon Way
Wednesday 2-for-1 Parmigiana night, Thursday Steak & Rib night with a 200g rump steak and juicy ribs topper for $25, Friday from 7:30 PM the $20,000 Blooming Bucks cash draw where lucky members can find the hidden flower and share $2,500 cash weekly.
Court, Cafe and Bar Packages
Racquet Club
Robina Town Centre
The Gold Coast's newest home of padel and pickleball is officially open, boasting 13 high-performance courts, a fully equipped pro-shop, a licensed bar, and an outdoor terrace. Court allocations fill up quickly, so download the Playtomic App to book your match.
Quiz Night
Robina Pavilion
229 Ron Penhaligon Way
Tuesday night Quiz Meisters trivia kicks off at 6:30 PM. Enjoy a rotating selection of local pub classics, dining specials, and craft beer deals while competing for prizes.
Services Robina Locals Recommend:
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DEBATE OF THE WEEK
If intruders are on your property, do you confront them - or stay back and let the cameras do the work?
Following the assault of a Robina resident who confronted masked vehicle thieves this week, local community groups are split. Some say homeowners have every right to defend their property. Others say the risk to personal safety is never worth it.
Hit reply and tell us where you stand.
LEGEND OF THE WEEK:
Know someone in Robina quietly doing something worth recognising? Hit reply and tell us about them. We'd love to feature them in a future edition.
Grow your business with Robina Locals
To keep this newsletter going and the coverage improving, we are opening a small number of paid features to local businesses. If you offer something genuinely useful to Robina residents, we would like to hear from you.
Reply to this email to find out more.
That is a wrap for this week, Robina. Get amongst the debate, have your say in the community corner, and we will catch you next Thursday with more of what is happening around the traps.
Thanks for reading. See you next week.
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