ALEX Hecker has plans to be an archaeologist one day – or maybe a museum curator.

Anthropology and ancient history fascinate her and, with a degree already behind her in these disciplines, she’s about throw herself into a masters of cultural heritage at Deakin University next year.

But Alex’s Tomb Raider ambitions might have to wait a little to be realised.

There’s the small matter of the Miss Universe Australia pageant looming large first of all. Not to mention a hectic schedule of fashion and promotion work as a racing industry ambassador, modelling, TV presenting – oh, and a job she holds down as well.

Alex’s feet have barely touched the ground since the Spring Racing Carnival when she was a finalist in Melbourne Cup Fashions of the Field and a judge of cup-meet fashions for Geelong, Ballarat, Ballan and Werribee as well as a host of luncheons, girls-on-track events and more.

“I’ve haven’t really had a break since,” she says.

More from Alex in the latest Geelong Coast Magazine – pick one up today.

GC’s MICHELLE HERBISON chats with Stefanie de Castro about her rise from schoolgirl at Geelong’s Sacred Heart College to performing with the stars on Australia’s biggest stages.  

GC: As an ensemble member in the national tour of Grease the musical, with Melbourne shows coming up in January, what’s it like sharing the stage with big-names Bert Newton, Todd McKenney and Anthony Callea?

As ensemble member I’m in a lot of the show, which is great. I’m in all the main numbers everyone knows from the movie and a few extra songs that are in the musical that people might not know.

I get to dance a lot and sing a lot because the ensemble’s on stage a lot in this show.

So far it’s been really great working with people I’ve watched on TV, admired and looked up to. It’s a bit surreal, especially with Bert Newtown in particular, because I used to watch him on TV all the time. He’s really lovely – all of them are lovely, actually.

I understudy two roles in the show, Marty and Patty, and I actually got to go on in Brisbane. Bert gave me a bottle of champagne and a card – he’s just a sweetie.

GC: Why is Grease one of your favourite musicals. What are your favourite moments in the show?

I grew up watching the movie with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. I’ve always loved the whole show.

My favourite part in the musical would have to be doing Beauty School Drop-out, dressing up in all the long, white angelic costumes. It’s similar to the movie with all the girls dressed as angels; it’s kind of Frenchy’s dream sequence.

I actually played Frenchy when about 10 at a singing school concert – to actually be in the professional musical is definitely a dream come true for me.

GC: Tell us about your musical theatre debut in 2012 as an original cast member of the Australian premiere of TML’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a really great production to be involved with as well. It’s hard to break into the musical theatre industry, so it was great landing Chitty.

It’s more old-fashioned compared to Grease, which is a bit more up-beat and set in the ‘50s. The cool thing about Chitty was definitely the flying car.

It was pretty cool singing and waving to the car every night and I’ll never forget that.

GC: What’s it like being a professional dancer in stage shows?

It’s a lot of hard work and obviously a lot of physical energy goes into every show. We do eight shows a week, sometimes nine.

It’s tough and you have to take care of your body, eat healthy and get a lot of sleep.

Being in a touring production I have to spend a long time away from my family and my husband – he’s got a full-time job as well, so it’s hard to balance work and family life.

It can be tricky negotiating, ‘When am I going to see you next’, but at the same time it does have its fun side. My husband comes up and we see a bit of Sydney together, then we see a bit of Brisbane.

More in the latest Geelong Coast Magazine – out now.

Few people really know what their bodies are capable of until put to the test. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN meets some Geelong men and women who push theirs to the limit.

BODY building elicits immediate perceptions of muscles upon muscles, living in the gym, performance enhancing substances and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And while these perceptions are based on some fact, there’s more to the body building sub-culture than meets the eye.

In these days of obesity epidemics, generally declining health and fitness levels and associated rising medical costs, yo-yo dieting and a weight-loss industry making squillions, they stand out like a pot belly in a gym.

The explosion in gyms and memberships from the health and fitness craze is in part a backlash to these increasingly worrying trends.

More people are running marathons, pumping iron and hiring treadmills than ever and all of them, to some degree, are ultimately involved in trying to build a different body for themselves.

Within that, a small but dedicated band of people in Geelong have taken the art and science of body building to its logical extension.

Calum von Moger is an Arnold Schwarzenegger look-alike who, at 23, is already more muscular than Arnie was at the same age.

And it appears the Highton hunk is embarking on a similar career path, with the Mecca of body-building – the USA – calling loudly.

His magnificent physique, a You Tube clip – Mad Desire, with more than 500,000 hits – and a fifth placing in the Mr Universe competition in Greece has garnered Calum international attention.

“Yes, Arnie has seen the video, I’ve been told,” Calum laughs.

A high-profile body builder agent and photographer in Los Angeles has booked Calum for a three-week tour, including a supplement promotion contract, photo shoots in New York and Miami and a series of movie auditions in Los Angeles.

“I don’t know where it will lead but it’s a great opportunity,” Calum confesses.

“It’s all happened pretty quickly, it was all arranged in one weekend, but luckily I had nothing tying me down here, so I was able to grab it with both hands.”

And sizeable they are, too – shaking hands with Calum is like putting your digits in a bear’s paw.

But he knows his strength and thankfully doesn’t squeeze.

See the latest GC Magazine for more of this story.

Judy Fitzgerald overcame the tragic death of her husband to complete their miracle treatment for injured horses. Now, she tells JOHN VAN KLAVEREN, comes the harder part.

LARA’S Judy Fitzgerald’s life has revolved around horses.
But the death of husband Tim after a heart attack last year tested her passion.
Losing Tim, a former jockey, was a massive setback, she says.
“My life has been completely turned upside down and everything familiar is gone with him.
“I’ve been only just been coping and it’s very hard to go on in life without Tim. My days have been filled with anxiety attacks, severe migraines, diabetes and I get tired and sick very easily due to the stress.
“You find out very quickly who your friends are and aren’t.
“To compound all this, I went out one night and was burgled. One of the items stolen was my engagement ring.”
But a ray hope still shines in Judy’s dark hour – a secret healing ointment she and Tim had been developing with their mutual equine experience and an interest in natural remedies.
“My animals have played a huge part in keeping me going and I have now found a touch of hope in Equine Plus,” confesses the long-time horse owner, show-rider and breeder.
“This has been the only good thing to come out of my husband’s death.”
The secret blend of equine ointment is a world-first with amazing results, Judy says.
A bevy of local horse owners and leading New South Wales equine veterinarian Dr Brett Warren have backed her claim.
Judy’s Equine Plus has undergone clinical tests demonstrating a 63 per cent healing rate within 24 to 72 hours of application to wounds, cuts, lacerations and surgeries.
Judy has spent “exhausting” years developing and testing the ointment but admits she has little marketing and sales expertise to properly commercialise the product.
“It’s been tested by registered veterinarians and I’m ecstatic with the results but I’m at a loss now because this is a huge market and I need some help.”
Judy grew up on the Gold Coast riding with Twin Towns Pony Club before two years with show jumping stables in Europe.
At 25 she decided to train race horses and secured her licence in just under a year – a significant achievement for women at the time.

Read more in the latest GC Magazine – out now.