Redland Celebrity Roundup!

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?!