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Words: Luke Voogt At just six-years-old Newtown’s Kempton Maloney had already drummed at his first pub gig. “He certainly drew a crowd that night,” says mum Simone. Kempton’s drum tutor Brad Dawson invited him and his parents to a packed Saturday night gig with his band Trojan in 2014. Before he knew it, he was […]

Theatre tickets, latest fashions, overseas travel – they’re just some of the regular prizes for competition addict Stephanie Bailey. ELISSA FRIDAY goes into the draw with our empress of entries. Finding “25,507 unread emails” on her mobile phone is business as usual for Torquay’s Stephanie Bailey. “Some people say I should have set up another […]

Friends who sing together stay together. ELISSA FRIDAY meets the Acabellas, three women bringing the joy of music to Geelong’s masses. Pictures: Louisa Jones “Music is like the river of life,” declares Belinda McArdle. “And it’s so powerful singing with other people than on your own.” That power comes through in the community acapella open-house […]

By Elissa Friday A day at the races leads to a wedding at Lorne and a life together in Torquay for Melbourne girl Nicki Filby and Geelong local Dane Baladois. Interview: Elissa Friday Pictures: Rebecca Hosking Photography WHERE THEY GREW UP Nicki grew up in leafy Melbourne suburb of Glen Iris while Dane was raised […]

From barrels of oil to relationships and labelling – ELISSA FRIDAY meets three female success stories operating diverse Geelong businesses Delivering, loading and unloading 200-litre oil drums was just the start for M&R Distributors owner and director Monique Holmes-Richardson. “It was only me back then,” Monique says of her experience as a teenage entrepreneur. “I […]

A campfire proposal leads to marriage vows for long-time locals Caitlin Ciangura and Liam Bainbridge. Words: Elissa Friday Pictures: Louisa Jones WHERE THEY GREW UP Caitlin Ciangura was raised at Lara and Liam Bainbridge had been living in Geelong from his teens. They’ve now resided happily together at Bell Park for the past two years. […]