Stars of Newcastle 2016

Stars of Newcastle 2016

25th June 2016: Hunter TV and Daytan Productions will LIVE stream the Cancer Council’s `Stars of Newcastle`. Each year, hand picked leaders from our community step out of their comfort zone to dance and fund raise their way onto the Starlight Room Stage at Wests for a one-night-only performance that is sure to entertain. All in a bid to raise $100,000 for Cancer Council NSW!

Last year over $140,000 was raised

This year $225,000 was raised!

A BIG thanks to Out of the Square media for creating all the graphics for this production.

LIVE Streamed Gala Event: Starlight Room, Wests New Lambton, 25th June 2016 at 7:00pm

Event MC: Natasha Beyersdorf, NBN Television
Judge 1: Mark Sargent, Knights Legend
Judge 2: Nikki Verrills, Last year’s winner, University of Newcastle Cancer Researcher
Judge 3: Tracy Caldwell, Newcastle Dance Academy
Green Room: Mel Sargeant New FM

Stars Videos

Lisa Margan

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Lisa moved to the Hunter Valley when she married winemaker Andrew Margan. In 1990, Lisa and Andrew set up home in Bordeaux, France and it was during these years that Lisa developed an appreciation for quality produce, technique and the unique appeal of dining in a premium wine region. Upon returning to the Hunter, Lisa completed a Masters Degree which led to work in public health (nutrition) until going on maternity leave and ‘giving Andrew a hand’ with his newly launched wine brand, Margan. In 2007, Margan celebrated its 10th anniversary with the opening of the Margan restaurant and tasting room at the winery and vineyard in Broke which gives visitors a unique food and wine experience. Today, Lisa and Andrew oversee a flourishing 35,000 case premium wine brand which is distributed throughout Australia and beyond. All grapes for the wine are Estate Grown and handcrafted on site and the restaurant offers a seasonally inspired menu based around whatever is being harvested on the estate at the time. Lisa’s background in organic food production and the ethos of the business ensure that Margan ‘treads lightly’ in terms of its carbon footprint. Margan is now fully accredited with the Green Table Program and Entwine Australia and among the most certified wine production businesses nationally. Margan has also received numerous accolades since it opened its doors including being crowned Winner of the Excellence in Food Tourism, Australian Tourism Awards 2014.

Rhali Dobson

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Rhali has played soccer since she was 5 years old and originates from the small country town of Wauchope however the Newcastle community has adopted her as one of their own over the past 5 years. By day, Rhali is an Occupational Therapist and by night and weekends, she is a professional athlete for the Newcastle Jets W-League Soccer team. She spends the majority of summer training and travelling to various parts of Australia playing for the Newcastle Jets; and in winter, she plays locally for the Adamstown Rosebuds in the Women’s Premier League. Rhali always wanted to dance when she was younger, however she and her sisters were only allowed to participate in one sport at a time; therefore quite often the girls would put on dance performances at family gatherings! The opportunity to be part of the Stars of Newcastle event means a great deal to both Rhali and her long term boyfriend, Matt Stonham. Matt was diagnosed with a brain tumour after a seizure on the soccer pitch in July 2015. He had surgery to remove the majority of the tumour in August 2015 and is now undergoing precautionary chemotherapy. Rhali and Matt say that they love and cannot thank enough the local community for all of the support and positivity they received over the past 8 months. This is their way of giving back to the community and assisting with fundraising, health promotion and awareness for all forms of cancer.

Anthony Merlo

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Anthony Merlo is 51 years of age and is a local Novocastrian, growing up in Adamstown Heights he attended Bel Air Primary and Kotara High Schools leaving in year 10 to undergo a trade apprenticeship at Goninans. In search of a more challenging career and after buying his first home at 21 his interest in Real Estate grew and he began his career as a selling agent in 1988. With additional Tafe studies he gained his Real Estate and Auctioneers licence and has had a successful career spanning some 28 years with great experience not only in general residential sales but development sales and consultancy. He became an equity director and equity partner in 2009 at Dalton partners The Junction, is licencee in charge and head auctioneer. His careers passion is only matched by his love of travel with his wife Alison, snow skiing and golf are his keen sporting interests. He first became involved with the cancer council some 4 years ago after he auctioned a home that was bequeathed to them and graciously donated his sales fee also to the Cancer council. That initial interest lead to last year Dalton Partners becoming a Corporate Sponsor, where on every sale, a donation is made. Dalton Partners, Anthony and his team have donated many thousands of dollars since last year, have participated in fund raising events and look forward to an ongoing relationship with the Cancer Council and helping as many people in the community that they can. Anthony also helps where he can with other charity organisations via his auctioneering prowess.

Maxine Stokes-Smith

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Husband and wife duo Max and Karstan made their mark on the record-rating season of Channel Nine’s, The Block Glasshouse, in 2014. Equipped with a ‘you only live once’ attitude, cheeky sense of humor, adventurous spirit and a ‘team-player’ approach, the couple had an absolute blast! Since The Block, the proud Novcastrians, have purchase a cute house in the Junction which they are presently renovating into their dream home. Max is National a Marketing Manager, interior stylist, blogger and adventurist. Karstan is now back into Real Estate after 10 years and absolutely loves it. His hobby is restoring old Volkswagens; most recently he turned a car that hasn’t been driven in 40 years to an award-winning vehicle! Both are extremely excited to be supporting such an incredible charity and cannot wait to help raise greatly needed funds and compete against each other on the dance floor!

Karstan Smith

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Watch and discuss on Facebook

Husband and wife duo Max and Karstan made their mark on the record-rating season of Channel Nine’s, The Block Glasshouse, in 2014. Equipped with a ‘you only live once’ attitude, cheeky sense of humor, adventurous spirit and a ‘team-player’ approach, the couple had an absolute blast! Since The Block, the proud Novcastrians, have purchase a cute house in the Junction which they are presently renovating into their dream home. Max is National a Marketing Manager, interior stylist, blogger and adventurist. Karstan is now back into Real Estate after 10 years and absolutely loves it. His hobby is restoring old Volkswagens; most recently he turned a car that hasn’t been driven in 40 years to an award-winning vehicle! Both are extremely excited to be supporting such an incredible charity and cannot wait to help raise greatly needed funds and compete against each other on the dance floor!

Catherine Britt

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Catherine Britt has a voice which instantly gets your attention…it’s the craftsmanship of this singer/songwriter and the story that goes along with it, that keeps audiences across the world enthralled. The Aussie girl from the coal works of Newcastle has toured, performed and recorded with some of music’s most respected names including Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Sir Elton John, Chris Isaac, Alan Jackson, and Keith Urban to name but a few. In 1999, at the age of 14, she released her first EP followed in 2001 by her debut album release. Since then she has released four more studio albums as well as a Best of Album, and collected a swag of awards including the CMA Global Artist of the Year Award in 2010. And because she’s not busy enough (!) Catherine can also be heard on Australia’s national radio broadcast of ABC Saturday Night Country showcasing her own flavour on the popular program each week. She also shines on television as the host of CMC’s ‘Alt Country’ program.

Marc Glanville

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Marc was born and raised in Wagga Wagga and in 1985 he signed with St George playing 3 seasons with the Dragons which included winning the 1985 Reserve Grade Grand Final and playing 6 First Grade games including his debut in 1986. Marc joined the Newcastle Knights in their first year, 1988, and had 10 seasons with the club, which included 188 first grade games, winning the Players Player of the Year award a then record 3 times and playing in the Knights first ever victorious Grand Final team in 1997. This was Marc’s last game for the club and he has since been made a life member of the Knights. Marc finished his career in the English Super League playing 2 seasons with the Leeds Rhinos. Marc has a Master’s Degree in Marketing from Newcastle University and he is currently employed with the Australian Drug Foundation as the Good Sports Northern NSW Regional Manager. Marc has been married to his childhood sweetheart, Sharon for 24 years and they have 3 children, Jordan 21, Ryan, 19 and Matthew 17. Marc is doing the ‘Stars of Newcastle Dance For Cancer’ because like many of us he has been touched by cancer throughout his life. He lost his mother to breast cancer in 1984 and his mother-in-law and sister-in-law have both recently overcome their battles with breast cancer and one of his uncles passed away from cancer as he had suffered both prostate and lung cancer. Marc is also an ambassador for the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance. Marc’s partner is Samantha Hopkins from the Newcastle Dance Academy.

Kim Bauer

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Kim Bauer has been working on Newcastle breakfast radio for the last 16 years. She was with NXFM doing the ‘Steve and Kim’ show until it ended at the end of 2012. Since January 2014 she’s been at NEWFM doing breakfast on the Kim, Sarge and Steve St John show. Kim has worked in radio and television since leaving school. Programming music for radio was her primary role until she finished up behind the microphone by chance… and there she’s stayed. She loves music but is not musically inclined at all.. ie can’t sing and definitely can’t dance. She’s been trying to do the ‘Nutbush’ since it first came out and still can’t get it together. Participating in The Stars of Newcastle will be her ultimate challenge. Kim has lost her mother, father, grandfather, aunty, best friend to cancer. She has also been close to many others with the disease. Having been told she has a one in four chance of developing bowel cancer, and having had multiple skin cancers removed, she is very motivated to help the Cancer Council. She is a divorced single mother of an adult son who lives in London. Her major passion is travelling and heads off whenever she can. Her partner is Michael Conry from the Newcastle Dance Academy.

Chris Stratton

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Chris Stratton (aka Strats) is the Marketing Manager of the Sydney Junction Hotel at Hamilton, Newcastle. Chris grew up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and relocated to Newcastle in 2011 where he finished off his major studies at the University of Newcastle. Since then, Chris has fallen in love with Newcastle and decided to make Newcastle home. Chris has a real knack for traditional and online Marketing. In his time away from work, he enjoys playing competitive sports, thrill seeking, building furniture, rescuing animals, gardening and playing music. A big milestone, Chris has recently turned 30 and asked his beautiful partner of 5 years to marry him (she said yes!) He proposed to Katie on Noosa main beach (how romantic). Together they have a beautiful home in Lambton and have two adopted rescue dogs from Newcastle Dog Rescue called Wynnie and Duke. They also foster Dogs whenever possible and would recommend it to anyone looking to have a pet in their lives. Personally, Chris has had a number of run-ins with cancer which has affected his family and friends. At the age of 10, his grandmother was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and survived. However, in the same year, Chris lost one of his biggest role models in life, his grandfather, to an aggressive stomach cancer. Chris’ dance partner is Maddi Magennis from the Newcastle Dance Academy.

Nick Kaiser

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Nick is the Media and Stakeholders Manager for Hunter Water and has bravely stepped in as a replacement ‘Star’ for his boss Jeremy Bath, who took the phrase ‘break a leg’ a little too literally. After growing up in Lambton, Nick finished school wanting to be a journalist and made a move to the glittery shores of the Gold Coast to study at Griffith University when he finished Year 12. A combination of the dreaded Novocastrian homesickness and the decision to change career paths from journalism to public relations saw Nick move back to Newcastle to finish his studies and find work. Nick has worked locally in communications and public relations over the past decade, and has found a home at Hunter Water discussing dam levels, sewage treatment and what should and shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet. A highlight of Nick’s work at Hunter Water is running tours of The Res, an underground water reservoir built in 1882 on Tyrrell Street that’s had more than 16,000 people register in the ballot to tour. Outside of work Nick is a keen sportsman and Club Captain of the Wanderers Rugby Club, and loves travelling with his wife Emma, having been on adventures to places like Mexico, Laos and America. Nick’s paternal grandfather was taken by bowel cancer at 54 years old, while his maternal grandmother recently beat the same cancer in her late 80s. He’s honoured for the opportunity to raise money and awareness for the Cancer Council as part of the Stars of Newcastle. Nick’s dance partner is Chloe Toms from the Newcastle Dance Academy.

2016 Event Promo

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NBN News Story

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2016 Stars

Event Supporters

Stars Supporters

Kim Bauer
Andrew Robertson The Good Guys Warners Bay
New FM

Lisa Margan
Margan Estate
Hunter Valley Stays

Mitchell Hughes
Kim Burton Toyota
Murray’s Brewery
Event Cinemas
Lass O’Gowrie Hotel
Rose & the Sea (band)
The Main Guy and the Other Guys (band)
Bofolk Ballico (band)
Falcon Ridge Wines
Go Karts Go
Newcastle Knights
Newcastle Jets + Joel Griffiths
Sydney Swans + Isaac Heeney
Matt Hall Racing
Jobe Wheelhouse Football
Newcastle Jockey Club
Newcastle Hunters
Newcastle North Stars
Toronto Golf Club
Charlestown Golf Club
Nesbitt Hair and Body
Chops Hairdressers
TK Hair
Harry’s Snitzels
Longbench Cafe
East End Hub
The Press Bookhouse
Roladoor Cafe
Cricket NSW
Channel 9
Sanbah Surfshop
Kurt Fearnley
Philippa Anderson
Rosie’s School of Rock

Fundraising Events

Highlights Reel

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Event Credits

If you volunteering and you are not listed below, please email us your details.

Executive Producers
Elissa Mead
Shayne Connell

Technical Director
Rod Breis

Director
Nathan Daymond

Assistant Director
Jasmyne Renes

Floor Manager
Lisa Morel

Event MC
Natasha Beyersdorf

Stage Production & Choreography
Tracy Caldwell
Roxanne McCoourtie
Simone Birch

Hunter TV Presenters
Danny Thornton
Benn Allsop

Cameras
Luke Partridge
Seb Kaczorowski
Matt Morris
Ken Ross
Sally Ross
Paul Mailath

Venue Lighting and Sound
Tom Somogyl from Fordtronic

Sound Engineer
Tim Salvini

Lighting Engineer
Adam Wood

Spotlight Operator
Lliam Ferguson

Production Assistants
Stacy Tierney
Tomika Harper

Graphics by Out of the square Media.
Toby Lakeman, Motion Graphics / Editor
Jamie Lewis, Creative Director
Rob Vincent, Solutions Manager
Marty Adnum, OOTS Manager

Stars
Anthony Merlo
Catherine Britt
Chris Stratton
Nick Kaiser
Karstan Smith
Kim Bauer
Lisa Margan
Marc Glanville
Maxine Stokes-Smith
Mitch Hughes
Rhali Dobson
Willow Fensom

Dance Teachers
Amara McHugh
Aimee Birch
Maddi Magennis
Chloe Toms
Isabella Ostermann
Michael Conry
Samantha Hopkins
Eliza Magennis
Teaghan Birch
Callum Phipps

Photographers
Kirsten Woodforth
David Cobbin

Promo Voiceovers
Darren McErlain

Costumes
Janette
Betty
Sue

Stage Props
James Ostermann

Event Supporters
Newcastle Herald
105.3 New FM
Out of the Square Media
Charlestown Boutique
Wests New Lambton
Newcastle Dance Academy
Hunter TV
Daytan Productions
The Happy Wombat
KROSS Video Productions
Kirsten Woodforth Photography
Fordtronic Video and Sound
Glenn Cook, Wide Horizons
The Mask Academy
Sublime Hair Design

Green Room Host
Mel Sargeant

Judges
Mark Sargent
Nikki Verrills
Tracy Caldwell

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/Starsofnewcastle

Event Website

http://starsofnewcastle.com.au

Buy Tickets

http://www.westsnewcastle.com.au/entertainment/event/stars-newcastle-dance-cancer-gala-evening-2016

Supporters

Dancing with the stars Newcastle.