Maids made the world sit up

By Jeff Sommerfeld

THEY were a national and international sensation when they took their first steps down Gold Coast streets in 1965 and 36 years on Meter Maids are still a feature of the Gold Coast.

Clad in nothing more than a small golden bikini and a smile, Meter Maids still patrol the streets putting coins into expired parking meters to save shoppers from a potential fine.

The local Progress Association launched the scheme in April 1965 to minimise the impact on tourism of parking meters, which were introduced the preceding year.

The first meter maid was Annette Welch, now Mrs Bryant, who worked as a receptionist in the Beachcomber Hotel, owned by Gold Coast identity Bernie Elsey.

Mrs Bryant said she was a part-time model and was roped into wearing a hastily designed gold lame bikini, sash and tiara to become the first Meter Maid.

She said people like Elsey were the characters that helped promote the Gold Coast as somewhere different.

"When I met him he was running Hawaiian nights at the Beachcomber. They were the follow-ons from the original pyjama parties, although not as notorious," she said.

Mrs Bryant remembers the Gold Coast at that time as a place where "everybodyknew everybody".

"It was a gorgeous little country village — it had such a casual atmosphere. In those days it could take you hours just to walk down Cavill Avenue because you stopped to say hello to everyone you knew.

"Now it has grown but it is still beautiful."

Pioneers and pyjamas

The boss

THEN and now . . . Annette Welch prowling the streets as the Gold Coast's first Meter Maid, and (below) as she is today, with modern maids Tavia Spizer and Linda Wilson.