Geelon Geelong

Barbara Abley is a third term Brownbill Ward Councillor, first elected to council in 2001.

She previously served as Deputy Mayor (one year), and two years as Mayor, the first female to hold this senior position on the City of Greater Geelong Council, and in the history of the City of Geelong.

Cr Abley’s community service recognitions include a Paul Harris Fellow; investiture as a Dame of Grace Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller; Lions International Medal of Merit and Geelong 2003 Zonta Woman of the Year.

She is President of United Way Geelong; Immediate Past President and Number One Ticket Holder of the Geelong Rugby Union Football Club; a Past President of the Rotary Club of Geelong Central and current member and Director of Rotary Club of Corio.

Cr Abley holds Tertiary and Graduate Qualifications in Health, Management, Nursing and Internal Auditing, and is a Fellow, Royal College of Nursing Australia.

In her professional life, Cr Abley is the Community Relations Manager of the Life Style Funeral Company, a Geelong owned and Geelong based firm.

She is the Council’s Arts and Culture Portfolio

Kelli Paun is 27 years old and has been working for 95 5 KROCK for 8 months.

She is an announcer on air during the work day and also on breakfast with The B Team.

Before KROCK Kelli was on air for Power FM in Muswellbrook NSW, she was their drive announcer for 12 months, as well as reading and making commercials.

Tony Wilson is an author of more than 20 books for all ages and several genres. His picture books Hickory Dickory Dash and The Cow Tripped Over the Moon were bestseller and both were selected as National Simultaneous Storytime titles. His most recent book for adults is 1989: The Great Grand Final (Hardie Grant, 2020) 

Tony was a long-time member of the Breakfasters team on Triple R and has a regular segment on ABC Mornings with Sammy J. He co-directed and produced the sports documentary feature The Galahs: A Footy Journey, A Sporting Odyssey (Sepia Tones Productions) which premiered at MIFF in 2016.

He also hosts a website and podcast called Speakola, which is dedicated to great speeches, famous and otherwise. Guests on the podcast have included Stan Grant, Kate Mulvany, Nelly Thomas and Andrew Denton. 

Damian Callinan is an award-winning standup comic, TV sketch show star, broadcaster, director, actor and writer.

Damian specialises in ridiculous but sympathetic characters from Troy Carrington, the Rousseau-quoting country football coach, to Jethro the pub beggar with a business plan.

His media credits include Spicks and Specks, Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala, Before The Game, Skithouse, The Wedge, Comedy Slapdown, The Fat and as a guest or co-host on Triple J, Mix FM and ABC Local Radio.

Meanwhile he works consistently in the corporate sector and is an accomplished comic actor, appearing in productions including the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), in venues from the Sydney Opera House to the Victorian Arts Centre.

In 2010, Damian presents 2 major tours of his solo shows, The Merger, a special commission from Vic Health and Regional Arts Victoria and nominee for best show of the 2010 Melbourne Comedy Festival, and his unique take on dance, The Cave to the Rave.

Simon Hall is better known as Yon from Tripod, Australia’s funniest band.

Tripod are best known for their madcap performances on Rove, Spicks and Specks and are regulars in the annual Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala.

They’ve released Christmas albums (2009’s For The Love of God), sold out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and Comedy Festivals, and most recently wrote and opera about Dungeons & Dragons. Their musical output is prolific including eight full-length albums and three DVDs. In 2005, the band scored an ARIA award for their album, Middleborough Rd.

Gael Jennings is an award-winning national TV and radio broadcaster with 25 years’ experience as presenter, reporter and TV executive.

She was the ABC’s first national science and medical reporter for TV News, and for the 7.30 Report, presenter of 7.30 Report, reporter of ABC TV’s Quantum and Catalyst, host of ABC radio 774’s mid-morning and afternoon programs, Insight presenter on SBS, and a development producer with ABC TV. She is an award-winning author of two non-fiction books and is a regular commentator on ABC TV News Breakfast and 774 ABC radio. Gael is an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Advancing Journalism.