Australia Day Ambassadors
Strathbogie Shire Council is delighted to have secured the services of a number of Official Australia Day Ambassadors to attend various events across the Shire on 26th January 2007.
Official Ambassadors are usually prominent people who are engaged on a voluntary basis to attend Australia Day events, give a short address on what Australia Day means to them and to assist with award presentations.
The inspirational will act as official Australia Day Ambassador for the Shire-wide and local celebrations to be held at Avenel in 2007 at 9.30am in Jubilee Park. A number of local guest speakers have also been engaged by Committees.
Irena Olevsky - Violet Town
Irena was born in Moscow. She commenced synchronized swimming at the age of 8 as it provided a combination of her two favourite sports - swimming and rhythmic gymnastics.
Irena moved to Australia in 1992 with the family and settled in Melbourne. After joining the Nunawading club in Victoria she competed for Victoria at 1993 Australian Championships where the team finished first.
Irena joined the Olympic Athlete Program upon her return to Australia in 1994 and continued training with the squad until 2000 Sydney Olympics. After becoming an Australian citizen in 1995 Irena represented Australia in a number of international competitions.
Irena's highlights are winning a silver medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and representing Australia in 2000 Sydney Olympics competing in both duet and team events.
Euroa - Mark Stone
Mark Stone is the Chief Executive, Parks Victoria, appointed in 1998, re-appointed 2001 and 2004.
Currently Mark is Chief Executive, Parks Victoria; Australia Day Ambassador; Director, National Parks; Director, Variety Club the Children's Charity (Honorary); Director, People & Parks Foundation; Fellow, Williamson Leadership ('93); Member, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Day Council (Honorary).
With such an extensive work history Mark will be sure to entertain Euroa residents with his Australia Day address.
Milosh Ivanovich - Avenel
An outstanding academic background has seen Milosh go from a nine-year old immigrant who didn't speak English, to attaining his PhD in Information Technology by the age of only 22.
He attended East Oakleigh Primary School for two years, and then enrolled in a program for gifted students at University High.
Milosh obtained his high school certificate at the age of 15 and became the youngest full-time student at that time to enroll at Monash University.
At 19, Milosh obtained his degree in electrical engineering with First Class Honours as Generation Dux and went on to complete his Masters degree in just seven months.
Milosh then took only two years to complete his PhD while working at the Telstra Research Laboratories in Clayton as Senior Research Engineer. Once again, the academic nature of the Telstra research assignments allowed Milosh to combine work and study, and achieve the degree in record time - about half the time it usually takes an Australian PhD student from enrollment to graduation.
Milosh is currently working as Senior Emerging Technology Specialist, Telstra Chief Technology Office in Melbourne, in multiple high level Project Leadership roles liaising with the senior management team of the company.
Bill Horman APM - Nagambie
Bill Horman has had a long and distinguished police, law enforcement and emergency services career - including serving periods as Deputy Commissioner (Operations) with Victoria Police and as the Commissioner of Vanuatu Police and Commissioner of Tasmania Police.
Bill has worked for many years on various committees involved with road safety, community safety as well as crime, violence and injury prevention. He is also the State President of Neighbourhood Watch.
He is currently one of the long serving members of and Chairs the Victorian Community Council against Violence, is on the Executive Committee of the Victorian Safer Communities Network and works on the Melbourne Safe City Forum.
He is employed by Crown Casino as its General Manager Community Affairs. He is Vice-President of the National Association of Gambling Studies and works on various committees of the Australian Gaming Council and the Australian Casinos Association.
Maree Caldow - Longwood
Maree's beaming face is universally recognised in Victorian harness racing circles.
The wife of successful freelance reinsman John Caldow, Maree has made a sizable impact on the industry since assuming control of the family's Melton training establishment in the 1999/2000 season.
She has prepared in excess of 200 winners who have accumulated over $1.1 million in prize money.
Her principal successes have included the Group Three Ladyship Cup, Silver Chalice, Graham Goffin Memorial and Victoria Cup Consolation with reigning Australian Mare of the Year, Nolarama, as well as the Group One VicBred Super Series Final with Harry Moreau.
Maree's enthusiasm and exuberance serve as a tremendous example for others and promote harness racing in a very positive light.
For more information: Marli Kelly on 0409 410 178 [18 December 2006]
For details/interview call the Editor on (03) 5798 1858