I heard recently that former Redland-ite and Carmel College alumni, Jordan Smith, has now left his role as Andrew Robinson in Neighbours …
It got me thinking about other famous folk from the Redlands. Are there any Redland celebrities or Redland stars? And if so, who are they?
Here’s what I came up with!
Stage & Screen
Apart from the aforementioned Jordan Smith, another young star is Lincoln Lewis, best known for his role in Home and Away .
It’s also pretty common knowledge that Councillor Paul Bishop, who holds the seat of Birkdale/Thorneside, played Sergeant Ben Stewart on Blue Heelers from 1998 to 2004.
Karl Stefanovic, cohost of Nine’s Today Show, grew up in the Redlands and attended St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School at Alexandra Hills.
And as luck would have it, just this last week I read in the local paper that Val Lehmann – Queen Bea in Prisoner – now calls Macleay Island home.
I have also heard reports that there are a couple of others living on North Stradbroke Island, but they are unconfirmed at this stage!
Writers
Speaking of Straddie, no list of famous Redlanders would be complete without a mention of the late poet Kath Walker / Oodgeroo Noonucal.
Rowena Cory Daniells is a local author, writing fantasy and paranormal crime novel; Marianne Delacourt also writes paranormal crime. Delacourt, who lives in Ormiston, has also released a number of science fiction and fantasy novels as Marianne dePierres.
Kay Danes is an author and humanitarian, based at Wellington Point.
Sports People
Wally Lewis is a former professional Rugby League footballer and coach, and currently sports reporter on Nine Brisbane (and Lincoln Lewis’ dad!). According to Wikipedia, Wally is a “notable citizen” of Birkdale so he must have lived here at some stage, although I don’t know if that’s still the case.
Another football player, Jesse Williams, began his gridiron career with the Ravens at Birkdale and is now finding fame and fortune in the American National Football League.
There must be something in the water here in Redlands because we have sent swimmers such as Alicia Coutts, Ashley Callus and Duncan Armstrong to the Olympics, as well as divers Melissa Wu and Sharleen Stratton.
Singers
Opera singer Mirusia Louwerse tours the world performing with Andre Rieu, one of the world’s biggest stars of classical music. Mirusia is a Redland local and past student of Ormiston College.
Kim Durant is probably more familiar to the *ahem* population over 40, for singing the tune Love you Queensland/Brisbane, which went on to become a popular jingle for the Seven Network.
From Gen Y we have Jal Joshua, who was in my daughter’s class at Cleveland High when he won runner-up on Australia’s Got Talent in 2009.
Famous for being famous
Another Redlands runner-up is Layla Subritzky, from Big Brother 2012. She was based in the Redlands when chosen as a housemate – although I hear she has since moved to the Gold Coast (traitor!).
Jade Truman is another local who has found a measure of fame last year thanks to reality TV, when she caught Nicko’s eye (if not his heart!) on The Farmer Wants a Wife.
So now it’s over to you – are there any famous Redlanders that I’ve missed?!
Well, this wouldn’t be a complete list without mentioning you and I, Janet! 😉
But seriously, this really is quite a collection isn’t it? xx
Of course! I am so glad you pointed that out! 🙂
Hi Janet,
There are a couple more on Straddie, not sure if they reside there permanently, but certainly they are over there a lot, but they are so used to being able to wander around over there unrecognised, I couldn’t possibly destroy their peaceful and anonymous environment now 🙂 but it is amazing how many celebrities the Redlands has produced or how many have moved to our idyllic part of the world.
Yes I guess we’ll let them have their privacy 😉
Wow! What a great of celebrities you have out there!
I thought Val Lehmann played such a convincingly scary Queen Bea. She made “Prisoner” !
Kathleen from the original high 5 and her hubby Daniel Johns (savage garden) used to live at Raby Bay harbour side. We even saw them wandering around down there in their early days:-)
Wow! I had no idea.
Yep, Wally Lewis and his family lived in Birkldae (Aquatic Paradise) for years. In fact, I think they still live there. And my girlfriends and I used to see good old Karl Stefanovic out in town all the time back in the day. He used to frequent the same bars as we we did…good times!
I heard they were in St James’ Park years ago.
You are very clever to work out all those celebrities who live or did live in Redlands! My hubby was in the same grade at high school with Wally Lewis at State High. Also Wally used to live in St James’s Park at Birkdale and I believe he still lives in the Birkdale area at Aquatic Paradise.
Can you tell I love doing research 😉
Wow that’s an impressive list J – you might even get added to that list in 10 years time when you go viral! Em
I live in hope! 😉
What about Rosemarie Arthars who is an opera singer and her husband Ludy Sigrist, I believe they live in Wellington Point. Rosemarie also taught our daughter voice lessons which has stood her in good stead as she is now in Sydney studying Performing Arts majoring in Musical Theatre
Roz you must be missing your daughter so much although how exciting to be in Sydney and continuing to follow her love of performing!
Wow! I didn’t know there were so many famous people from here and already live here!
I know, I was amazed when I started digging 😉