Surfers Paradise Meter Maids

[3] The women left a card stating: "You have just been saved from a parking fine by the Surfers Paradise Meter Maids".

The first maid, Annette Welch, was disinherited by her grandmother for working in that way,[5] but went on to marry the manager of a real estate firm in Surfers Paradise.

[7] The maids, however, have had ongoing financial problems since the council forbade them from selling merchandise on its land, such as keyrings, calendars and "stubby holders" for beer bottles.

Aitchison and Stewart then set up a business to continue the service, but a rival organisation was established by Lisa Hassan.

In the early 2000s, some local business owners recruited 10 women as "tourism ambassadors" — dressed in khaki shirts and shorts, and sensible shoes — to patrol the beach-front, distributing surf safety advice and free sunscreen.