IT WAS a special birthday for one of Coolum’s most friendly faces on Thursday, October 9, with Carla Elingsen celebrating her 50th birthday with family and friends at the Coolum Surf Club. With arguably the best view in town, the newly renovated Surf Club was the perfect place for lunch.

Carla is well known around town, and we have featured her many times in the paper, often at one of Coolum HeARTs events such as painting, drumming or mosaics. Carla has also often joined her Dad (John Ellingsen), who is a life member of the Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club, on Friday nights, handing out their fundraising raffle tickets.

Carla said that she was most looking forward to celebrating with her friends and enjoying her gifts.