Glenn Archer AFL Legend and heart kid father.

Throughout his career AFL Legend Glenn Archer proved time and time again his unrelenting power and passion for his club, his teammates and the Kangaroos fans. It was fitting that the shinboner of the Century ended his career playing finals and holder of the Club Games Record. Glenn Archer underlined his greatness off the field every time he put on the blue and white stripes, but his legend grew larger through his unselfish, caring deeds off the field. The man is affectionately known as ‘Arch’, one of the greatest footballers of our time.

David Hobson

Australian tenor and composer David Hobson is one of Australia’s best known operatic performers. He has sung many roles for Opera Australia including his award winning performances of Rodolfo (La Boheme) and the title role in Orphee. Other roles for OA have included Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), Nadir (Pearl Fishers), Dorvil (La Scala di seta) and Florville (Il Signor Bruschino), as well as Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore) and the Defendant (Trial by Jury). David has also appeared with most of the state opera companies in Australia including the Victorian Opera’s productions of Through the Looking Glass and The Elixir of Love. Internationally, he has appeared with San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dangerous Liaisons and a concert with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Special engagements include the title role in Candide at the 2006 Perth International Festival, a performance in the Great Hall, Canberra for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and singing the National Anthem at the AFL Grand Final.

David has won numerous awards including a MO Award for Operatic Performer of the Year, the Sydney Critic’s Circle Award, The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer in Opera, and an Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award.

Rhonda Burchmore

From television to the big screen, musical theatre to opera, cabaret to the stage, there are few entertainment mediums that multi award winning Rhonda Burchmore has not embraced with her wide ranging talents. Sugar Babies, opposite Garry McDonald and Broadway legend Eddie Bracken and invited to repeat her role opposite Mickey Rooney and Anne Miller in London’s West End production in 1988. Whilst in the U.K. Rhonda also starred with Anthony Newley in the revival of Stop The World I Want To Get Off. Other stage credits include Song And Dance, They’re Playing Our Song, Lend Me A Tenor, Iolanthe, Die Fledermaus, An Evening With Sondheim, and the title role of Annie in Annie Get Your Gun. David Atkins, featured Rhonda in his 1987 hit Dancin’ Man, and then went on to write a role specifically for her in his tap musical, Hot Shoe Shuffle. She has also starred in Aladdin, Cinderella, Guys & Dolls, Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods and the 2000 production by The Production Company of Mame. Rhonda has also played lead roles in Urinetown, Tomfoolery, RESPECT The Musical Journey of Women and she will forever be remembered for her Green Room nominated role of Tanya in Mamma Mia.

Rhonda has produced her own live casino shows including Sings ‘n Swings, Fever and My Funny Valentines and these have been a triumph at Jupiters, Gold Coast, Sydney’s Star City Casino and Melbourne’s The Palms. It was Rhonda who opened the Melbourne Casino in her show Red Hot & Rhonda that sold over 60,000 tickets. Rhonda has performed for President Bill Clinton, sung the anthem at the Formula 1Grand Prix, The Emirates Melbourne Cup and was Australia’s entertainment ambassador at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.

Athol Guy

Athol is a familiar face in the Australian entertainment scene via his Foundation and International success of the legendary

The Seekers.

The Seekers being ‘Australians of the Year’, have the keys to the City of Melbourne and the only group inducted into Australia’s ‘100 Entertainers of the Century’, they remain unique in the country’s affections. Not as familiar is his success and activity in the worlds of television, politics and business. Elected to three successive terms in the Victorian Parliament (1971- 1979), he opted to return to the business world and rejoined the Clemenger group as a senior executive and Director of Clemenger Harvie from 1979 to 1989.

During the 90s, whilst contemplating a return to the political world, he joined St George Bank’s marketing team as Business Development Consultant, then the AMPs Hillross Financial Planning Group. Alongside these roles, he happily accommodated the many hundreds of reunion concerts with The Seekers until their last concert in Hong Kong in 2004.

His multiple community roles include Macedon Memorial Cross Trustee, Board of Living Legends, Current Chair of Tourism Macedon Ranges

Bushranger Nick Jewell

A tough opening batsman who forged an outstanding partnership with Chris Rogers in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield during the 2008/09 season. The pair averaged more than 60 in 11 matches together, providing a terrific platform for the Bushrangers on their way to the title. The four-day specialist scored 737 runs at an average of 43.35, including two centuries and four half-centuries, to finish as the eighth leading runscorer in the Sheffield Shield for the 2008/09 season.

A former toy salesman, Jewell played one AFL game for Richmond. Draws on his broad sporting knowledge as an on-air performer for radio SEN 1116 and 774 ABC, while he is also captain-coach of Premier side Frankston Peninsula.

Bushranger Damien Wright

Wright made a huge impact in his first season with the Bushrangers after missing the entire 2007/08 season with an ankle injury. The paceman took 24 wickets @ 28.50 in the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield and was more than handy with the bat, providing some lower-order grunt with 282 runs at an average of more than 30 including three half-centuries. Wright played all three forms of the game for Victoria and was a key member of the Sheffield Shield-winning side. That was Wright’s second first-class title after winning the Pura Cup with Tasmania in 2006/07.

Born in Casino, NSW, the Bushrangers will be looking for Wright to continue to provide his enthusiasm and experience for the upcoming season.

Melbourne Storm’s Robbie Kearns

Robbie Kearns has been the heart and soul of the Melbourne Storm since its inception into the National Rugby League competition in 1998. Kearns was considered to be Mr Consistent during his playing days with the storm. Retiring from the game in 2005 Robbie has not been lost to the club altogether. Robbie remains with Melbourne Storm as the Club Ambassador and continues with the Storm in a coaching and promotional capacity.

While playing for the Storm, Robbie played eight State-of-Origin games for New South Wales and 14 games for his country.

Robbie Kearns’ career:

Cronulla (1992-95) – 77 games, 9 tries, 2 goals (40 pts)
Western Reds (1996-97) – 37 games, 4 tries (16 pts)
NSW Tri-Series – 1 game NSW State-of-Origin – 8 games Australian Super League team – 3 Tests, 1 try (4 pts)
Australia – 14 Tests Melbourne Storm (1998 – 2005) – 169 games, 16 tries (64 pts)
Melbourne Storm captain (2000 – 2001, 2005)
Melbourne Storm Player of the Year (1998, 2003)
Melbourne Storm Clubman of the Year (1998)

Melbourne Storm’s Ryan Hoffman

Ryan started playing rugby league as a five-year-old for Campbelltown Collegians in Sydney before moving to Adelaide. Hoffman’s representative career kicked-off with berths in the NSW under-17’s and under-19’s as well as Australian Schoolboys selection. He made his first grade debut in 2003 with the Storm and senior representative debut in 2006 – playing for NSW City against NSW Country. State of Origin and national honours followed the following year with Hoffman firmly entrenched in both squads before injury cut his 2008 season short. Ryan was an integral player in winning the 2009 Ruby League Grand Final.

Ted Kitto

English born Ted Kitto loves Australia and living in Shepparton. After leaving school started he started an Electrical Apprenticeship, but when the war broke out, went into the Royal Navy for 3¼ years. After being demobbed, he resumed his interrupted apprenticeship and in 1953 married a girl he had known all his life with their first child born in 1954. Eight months later, they emmigrated to Australia moving to Cobram where they resided for 10 years adding to their family with three more children, two boys and a girl.

Ted spent two years in Melbourne at Caulfield Institute conducting Teacher Training then sent to Shepparton Technical School and taught Maths/Physics for three years. He was promoted as Head of the Electrical/Electronics Department and later transferred to T.A.F.E. in charge of eight staff.

He decided to take early retirement in 1988, however did some relief teaching for a couple of years after that.

As a youth he played soccer and cricket with athletics his favourite, particularly distance running up to 1,000 yards. Throughout his life Ted played tennis, squash, indoor cricket, has been a member of the Boy Scouts, a warranted Scoutmaster and Badge Secretary.

Community service has been an integral part of Ted’s life with Apex prior to joining Shepparton Kiwanis in 1973 being on their board for many years – Vice-President 1991/92 – President 1992/93. District Board of Trustees as a K.I.A.R. 1994/95 – Youth Chairman 1995/96 – Lt.Governor District 7 – 1996/97 and 1997/98. Y.C.P.O. Chairman 1998/2002 – Heartkids Chairman 2002-2007-Lt.Governor 2008/9 and still there for 2009/10 – Life Member – Legion of Honour and a George Hixon Fellowship.

Ted has been a member of HeartKids at the R.C.H. for 16 years, and in 2007 was presented with Life Membership. As Chairman, Ted was instrumental in obtaining the support of Kiwanis and eventually obtained the support for HeartKids with the Board of Trustees, which was eventually adopted in 2002 as a National Project and continues up to the present time

Y.C.P.O. Young Children Priority One

K.I.A.R. Kiwanis International Accredited Representative

YOUNG HEARTKIDS AMBASSADORS

CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS – heart kid

22 year old Christian was first diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in July 2007 at age 19. He had been suffering blackouts, severe palpitations and chest pains for several years but was not diagnosed and was admitted to hospital after his heart started to shut down in 2007. As a result of an ectopic pacemaker (a genetic heart defect) Christian faced a heart transplant until he had corrective surgery and spent months in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Despite his condition he was able to be a member of several Australian and Victorian lacrosse teams and also Captain of the U19 Australian team. Since then, Christian was forced to find a new sport which played less stress on his heart or give up sport entirely so he chose hammer throwing with his first year representing Victoria at National Championships and spent time as a training partner to his mentor/coach Olympic Champion Koji Murofushi in Japan. He was named a ‘Remarkable Australian’ and Olympic Spirit Ambassador in 2008 and was an Olympic Torchbearer in Canberra. Christian is working hard to become the first ever Olympic Athlete with heart failure and compete at the 2012 London Olympics. Managing his condition is a constant struggle with constant medication and dietary restrictions but he is still able to compete at the elite level. He spends his time teaching physical education at primary schools around Melbourne and training twice a day in preparation for this year’s Australian Championships.

Christian is the eldest of 8 children, being the only boy with 7 sisters!

SPORTING HISTORY

• 2010 Moorabbin Leader Sports Man of the Year Award
• 2009 Member Victorian Athletics Team
• 2009 U23 Athletics National Championships Finalist
• 2008 IOC Olympic Spirit Ambassador
• 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Torchbearer
• 2008 Victorian U15 Lacrosse team assistant coach
• Member of 2006 Australian Senior Men’s Lacrosse World Championship squad
• Captain Victorian Men’s U19 Lacrosse Team 2005
• Member U23 Men’s Lacrosse Team 2006
• Captain Australian U19 Men’s Lacrosse Team 2004

Shaun Wilson-Miller – heart kid

At 14, Shaun Wilson-Miller knows that every day is a gift. In August 2008 Shaun became the second Australian child, and the first since Fiona Coote in 1986, to have a second heart transplant. Shaun was born with a congenital heart defect. Years of treatment and complex surgery failed to repair the damage and so he underwent his first transplant at the age of 8. A second transplant was required just 5 years later at age 13. Thanks to the care and support from The Royal Children’s Hospital and Heart Kids, Shaun is now happy, healthy and enjoying life.

Shaun lives in Dandenong with his dad and he is currently in Year 8 at Carwatha College. Shaun hopes to be a nurse one day so can help other people who are sick. Shaun believes that being positive helps you through life’s toughest challenges. "People should live life to the full because you never know what is going to happen". Shaun loves the way ‘Heartkids’ manages to care for so many sick kids and knows first-hand how their support helps kids get through the tough times.

Erin Cervelli – heart kid

Heart kid Erin Cervelli, 28, is not only a heart kid but a very passionate HeartKids member, Victorian Committee member and volunteer at many of HeartKids functions from Christmas parties to the Good Friday Appeal. Erin’s focus is the HeartKids Teen Camp which she has seen grow from its beginnings in Victoria to a National Camp with the full backing of Heartkids Australia.

Erin’s journey started when she first walked into 7 West at the Royal Children’s Hospital as a five year old for a VSD repair. It was open-heart surgery – the good news, however, is that in theory, she is now cured. Since then, Erin has dealt with the emotional and physical scars from her surgery, giving her vital understanding and skills she uses in her position as Camp Co-ordinator and all round support person for the teens and young adults she encounters through HeartKids.