April 18, 2015 - INSPIRING MAX

Last Monday 13th April 2105 saw Surfers Paradise’s Metermaids turn 50. They were introduced to combat a bad image brought to the tourist strip of Surfers Paradise after the introduction of parking meters in December 1964. The original metermaids wearing a gold lame bikini and tiara walked the strip placing coins in nearly expired parking meters to encourage people to return to the area and bring goodwill.

Photo Credit: Google

These bikini clad beauties quickly became an Australian icon—promoting tourism in Surfers Paradise nationally and internationally. Over the decades the metermaids role has changed as well as their uniform. Today they still walk the strip taking photos with tourist and promoting the area in other ways although today their uniform is a gold lycra bikini completed by another Aussie icon—the Akubra hat.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Google

Happy Birthday Metermaids—may you live to be a 100.

What’s the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you a year (or five, or ten…) ago?

I have an innate ability to know who to trust. It’s an instant ability I have to be able to read people. When I interview for new staff I make it clear the person I choose will be the best fit for the team not necessarily the person with the highest scores on graduation. So far my trust has been rewarded by my choices being recognised as great team members by patients as well as other staff.

During the last 5 years however there was one occasion where my trust in a colleague was severely breached. I had to learn quickly not to doubt myself. I was right to originally trust this person however they broke that trust by their actions. I quickly recognised the problem—there was a crocodile in the pond, the pond itself although shaken was solid and full of life.

This realisation during an extremely difficult time helped me to continue believe in myself, build resilience in all concerned and continue to trust others.

Remember, sometimes when things are out of our control it’s not our fault, however we need to do what is necessary to take back control.