About us

About us

About us

Ambassadors

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.

Peter Cousens

Australian theatre performer Peter Cousens
Australian theatre performer Peter Cousens
RIDBC 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 (www.kookaburra.org.au)

 


Tara Moss

RIDBC ambassador Tara Moss
Author and model Tara Moss
Australia's number 1 selling crime writer and model, Tara MossLink opens in a new window, 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 FlightLink opens in a new window and she is also a favourite of RIDBC’s signing choir!

 

 

Graham Ross

TV and radio personality Graham Ross
TV and radio personality Graham Ross
Graham is best known as one of the hosts of Channel 7 television show Better Homes and GardensLink opens in a new window, for his popular weekend gardening show on Radio 2GBLink opens in a new window, and his family's garden tour businessLink opens in a new window.

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 Norris
Swim star Justin Norris
Not 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 SplashLink opens in a new window swimathon.


Celebrity supporters

Luke Jacobz

Luke Jacobz has appeared on television shows such as the Big ArvoLink opens in a new window, 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 CashLink opens in a new window 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 CashLink opens in a new window 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/Link opens in a new window.