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A big thank you to the following celebrities who publicly support the work of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children! Their efforts help to raise awareness and funds for the services that RIDBC provides.
Sir Michael Parkinson
Sir Michael Parkinson
Chat show legend Sir Michael Parkinson never hesitates to go in and bat for his favourite Australian charity.
Fans of Michael will be aware of his great affection for Australia and for cricket, but may not realise his generous regard for and interest in the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, which he has supported for 30 years.
“I have always had immense respect for the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children,” Michael said.
“I have been impressed by the positive impact they have on the lives of children with hearing or vision loss.
“I admire the work they do. They give children hope and purpose.”
In 1983, Michael created a mascot for the Institute known as “Rockie Woofit”, an Australian version of his successful UK characters “The Woofits”, which featured in his children's books and television series. Today, Rockie's spirit lives on at the RIDBC Rockie Woofit Preschool at North Rocks.
Michael's appointment marks his first role as Ambassador for an Australian charity.
The award winning interviewer launched his chat show more than 30 years ago. At its peak, up to 12 million viewers watched him interview guests like Orson Welles, Bob Hope and Muhammad Ali. Sir Michael Parkinson has become a byword for the genre of chat shows, and the list of guests from everyone who is anyone, appearing opposite the affable host is stellar.
He has already been knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and now is 'honoured' to get behind the charity he has long been involved with.
The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is delighted that Sir Michael – “Parky” – has agreed to become even more closely associated through his Ambassadorship.
Susie Maroney
Champion marathon swimmer Susie Maroney OAMSusie Maroney is no stranger to RIDBC having lent her support to many RIDBC Splash for Cash events including the 2009 event.
“I'm absolutely delighted and honoured to be an ambassador for RIDBC’s Splash for Cash swimathon,” she said.
At the tender age of 15, Susie became the youngest and fastest Australian to swim the English Channel. At 16 she broke the World Record for a double Channel crossing – England/France/England – in 17 hours. Susie went on to break six world records and completed her historic swim from Cuba to the USA – the first person ever to do so – in 23 hours 47 minutes. This was followed by her longest swim ever, Mexico to Cuba over 200 kilometres in 30 hours 23 minutes.
Amongst her many awards and honours, Susie has received the OAM, NSW Sportsperson of the Year, Australian Young Achiever of the Year and the Paul Harris Rotary award for community service.
Guy Leech
In 1984 Guy Leech shot to fame as a 19-year-old with an extraordinary against the odds victory in the first ever professional Iron Man race – the Coolangatta Gold. In front of 120,000 spectators, and a massive television audience, Guy personified the fabled bronzed Aussie with his sun bleached hair, outgoing personality, athletic talent and fighting spirit. Leech went on to dominate Iron Man competition for the next 10 years.
“Leechy” won an amazing seven Uncle Toby's Iron Man Championships and the World Iron Man title, an event many believe to be the ultimate test of fitness. Guy also won the Australian Marathon swimming championships, represented Australia in still water swimming and triumphed in his first attempt at the World Ocean Paddling championships in Molokai, Hawaii – a gruelling 56km open ocean ski race between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Oahu.
As Australia's face of fitness, Guy is passionate about encouraging a better community commitment to fitness and health. The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is honoured to welcome Guy aboard.
“I'm happy to help such a great cause,” Guy said.
For more information about Guy Leech and his fitness initiatives, visit www.guyleech.com.au.
Peter Cousens
Australian theatre performer Peter CousensRIDBC is delighted to welcome Peter Cousens, one of Australia’s most outstanding musical theatre performers, to the RIDBC Ambassadorial team.
Peter, an actor and singer for nearly 30 years, is well known for his starring roles in major musicals including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Miss Saigon, West Side Story. He is the only Australian to play the Phantom in London’s West End.
As a producer he produced his own one man show, A Life on Earth, which toured extensively around Australia for three years. In 2005 he produced, with Guy Noble, Break a Leg, a series of 8 short films about individual musical theatre performers for Ovation Television and in 2006 produced the sell-out Concert Launch of Kookaburra at the Lyric Theatre, Star City.
Peter was responsible for producing the 2007 Kookaburra season of Pippin and Company, as well as An Audience With Stephen Sondheim and Up Close & Musical.
Peter has a Bachelor of Drama (NIDA) and continues to work professionally as performer. He is also the current CEO, Founder, and Artistic Director of Kookaburra, the National Music Theatre Company.
Tara Moss
Author and model Tara MossAustralia's number 1 selling crime writer and model, Tara Moss
, is a long-standing ambassador for RIDBC, and has helped us in a variety of ways. Tara is the author of the internationally bestselling crime novels Fetish (1999), Split (2002), Covet (2004), and Hit (2006), published in ten countries in six languages.
She regularly hosts the RIDBC annual Charity Flight and she is also a favourite of RIDBC’s signing choir!
Graham Ross
TV and radio personality Graham RossGraham is best known as one of the hosts of Channel 7 television show Better Homes and Gardens, for his popular weekend gardening show on Radio
2GB,
and his family's garden tour business.
Graham and his wife Sandra have a long association with RIDBC, combining their love of gardening and their love of children to assist with many of its fundraising programs over the years.
Graham caught up with British chat show legend Michael Parkinson at the 2007 Chelsea flower show, where they chatted about their mutual connection with RIDBC.
Click here to watch the full interview which screened on Better Homes and Gardens on 25 May 2007.
Justin Norris
Swim star Justin NorrisNot just another sportsperson, Justin is known as the ‘rock star’ of the swim team. His unique edge, likeable personality and never-say-die attitude are amongst his greatest assets. He has been an Australian Swim Team member since 1999. His career highlights include several Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals from international swimming competitions, including Sydney Olympics 2000, Athens Olympics 2004, and Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002.
Justin is the official ambassador, and regular supporter of the RIDBC annual Hunter Splash swimathon.
Celebrity supporters
Luke Jacobz
Luke Jacobz has appeared on television shows such as the Big
Arvo, the
Channel 7 children’s television show, and also hosted the Popstars
Live talent show. He's also known to fans of other television shows like
Heartbreak High and Home & Away. Luke has always made a big splash with
the kids at the annual Splash
for Cash swimathon.
Sami Lukis
RIDBC celebrity supporter Sami Lukis is famous for her stint as Channel 9's Today Show weather presenter, and also for her work on Channel 10's children's show Totally Wild.
Sami is always happy to help the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children with its publicity.
Susie Elelman
Susie is a true multimedia personality, from interviewing stars like Tom
Cruise, Kylie Minogue and Whoopi Goldberg for TV, to writing for the
Sunday Telegraph, to talkback radio on Sydney's 2GB. Susie's great radio
voice helped us with the promotion of this year's Splash
for Cash swimathon.
Jim Pike
Jim Pike is a well-known radio announcer, voiceover artist, writer and
performer as well as a presenter on Burke's Backyard for 13 years. Jim has
lent his voice and talents to RIDBC on several occasions, including the
voiceover for our latest video. You can see more of Jim's talents at http://www.rmk.com.au/jimpike/.
