A recognised restaurant site had become available on the east end of the Coolangatta strip, where there was already a number of Asian restaurants as well as a few large holiday accommodation high rises.
Steve Ferli had a good long look at the site and its possibilities, particularly the numbers of passers-by and the frequency of patrons to the Asian restaurants.
The restaurant is a large open-faced facility with large glass windows to the roadway, an extended covered patio around two sides, with a large open area at one end to capture the onshore breeze. Steve Ferli had spent one full month refurbishing so that all was ready for the opening day on Monday October 19th, with breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Who should turn up for lunch on that very first opening day? None other than artist Tronson du Coudray – the missionary painter who seeks out public hanging space to promote Well-Being Australia's art ministry (of which he, as Mark Tronson, is chairman).
And what should he see ? Nothing but vacant empty walls and oodles of them - just begging for art works.
During the business lunch that Mark Tronson was hosting, he and Steve Ferli conversed on the possibility of hanging quality art on the expansive empty walls.
Steve recognised this would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. The next day, Mark Tronson supplied nine paintings along with information about each art work. Together, they decided which painting should go on which wall, and by lunch time the restaurant went from having an appearance of bare walls to that of having well-spaced professional art works all around the room.
In other words, it looks great !
This is just another example where Mark Tronson, during his ministry of 32 years, has been in the right place at the right time; as if a providential appointment had been divinely pre-arranged.
Three local restaurants, plus some resorts and business venues, now boast Tronson du Coudray – the missionary painter, art works, promoting the Well-Being Australia Art Ministry.