As a Secondary School teacher Wendy teaches English Literature, Communications, Drama, History, Religion and Social and Cultural Education.  A long time ago she trained as a journalist on the Daily News in Perth but the increasing responsibility of school age children saw her change professions to accommodate their needs.

As a story teller, Wendy focuses on the Australian ethos; what it means to be an Australian in a changing cultural landscape and how, as Australians, we articulate our identity.  Many of the people she talks about are ordinary people with extraordinary stories of their own; some sad, some funny but all a colourful and endearing reflection of our great nation.

Craig Bellamy (born 3 October 1959 in Portland, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer and current coach of the NRL's Melbourne Storm club as well as New South Wales' State of Origin team.

Bellamy played his entire NSWRL premiership career with the Canberra Raiders during the 1980s and 90s. In Canberra he played under the likes of leading coaches Tim Sheens and Wayne Bennett, and won a grand final with the Raiders in 1990.

Early Career

Jason Akermanis grew up in Victoria, moving to Queensland in his youth where he was educated at Wavell State High School then at St. Joseph's Nudgee College and played football with the Mayne Football Club where he was spotted by Brisbane Bears talent scouts.

Matthew Richardson played 282 games with the Richmond Football Club, his career spanning 17 years; from 1993 to 2009. Recruited from Devonport in Tasmania, he is a true champion of the game.

Billy Brownless was an exciting forward for Geelong for over ten years.

Third on Geelong's all-time goal kicking list behind Gary Ablett and Doug Wade, Brownless initially established himself as full forward during the team's free-scoring days in the late eighties and early nineties.

After a successful playing career with the Hawthorn Football Club, Terry Wallace played out his career at Richmond FC and the Bulldogs retiring in 1991. During his career, Terry has had four successful career paths.

Jason Dunstall developed into a brilliant, unselfish full forward, coming of age in the 1986 Grand Final with 6 goals. He was an incredibly strong mark and fast lead. His precision maneuvering of his muscular frame was a stumbling block for the opposition fullbacks. If it wasn’t for a number of serious injuries, a fractured skull in 1990, and two knee injuries late in his career he may have come the greatest goal kicker in the game.

"BT" first came to Victoria in 1980 from Mandurah, Western Australia, playing for the Tigers before moving to Collingwood in 1985, where he enjoyed most of his on-field success.

Brian's career began, as a powerful full forward at Richmond, playing 43 games and kicking 156 goals between 1980-84.

Damien Fleming was one of Australia's best performed and most reliable bowlers of recent times, but a career dogged by untimely injuries and a low-key approach has restricted his international appearances, but his contribution when given the opportunity was telling.

A former star of the Hawthorn Football Club, Dermott played in eight Grand Finals for five Premierships over his career. Today, Dermott is a widely recognised and sought after MC and host of many corporate and sporting functions.

Born 11 June 1965, Mark Harvey is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club. He played 206 games from 1984 to 1997, kicking 190 goals, and was assistant coach at Essendon from 1998 to 2005. He is currently the senior coach of the Fremantle team after serving as an assistant coach since 2006.

In a 20-plus year span as a player, coach and media personality, Danny Frawley has become among the most respected figures in the AFL.

From Bungaree near Ballarat in Victoria’s west, Frawley was zoned to St Kilda and made his senior debut with the Saints in 1984. Over the next 12 years, Frawley established his reputation as a fine leader who was uncompromising on the last line of defence for the Saints.

Major Teams: Australia, South Australia 7 Victoria
Nickname: Hoggie
Test Debut: Australia v England (Brisbane) 1978/79
ODI Debut: Australia v England (Melbourne) 1978/79
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast

Former star Footballer and TV co-host, Doug Hawkins is one of the real characters of Australian Rules Football.

As a footballer during the 1980's and early 90's, "The Hawk" as he was known was a Footscray champion whose dogged determination made him the most beloved player throughout the Western Suburbs.

Can one possibly describe the illustrious career of Simon Marshall in a few short words? In this case the answer would simply be NO!

Winner of 15 Group 1 events Marshall was Australia's premier weight-for-age jockey in the early to mid-90s. Riding such stars as Super Impose, Naturalism, Better Loosen Up, Hareeba, Poetic King, All Our Mob, Mahogany and Mannerism he was king of the turf.

 Kate lives on the Mornington Peninsula (VIC), where she trains full time in dressage and also enjoys training ponies for dressage and showing. Kate works at the Victorian Institute of Sport in Athlete Career & Education (ACE). She has also been a scholarship holder in equestrian at the VIS since 2007.  

Kate knows no limits when it comes to adversity and achievement.

Kate is a keen and committed rider. She demonstrates an energetic, bright and enthusiastic character, and is dedicated, hard working, and reliable.

After coaching 10 seasons at the Melbourne Football Club, Neale Daniher became the third longest serving coach of the Club, behind Norm Smith and ‘Checker’ Hughes. With 223 games and six finals series to his credit, Neale cemented his place as one of the finest coaches in the AFL.

With a career spanning eighteen years, Kevin Muscat started his football career in Melbourne with the Youth Team at Sunshine George Cross and then progressed to the Australian Institute of Sport in 1990-91.

A country boy at heart, Terry successfully played with both South Melbourne and Essendon and achieved everything from captaining Essendon in back to back premierships and playing over 300 games to captaining Victoria and being part of the all Australian representative tours to Ireland.

Robert John (Bob) Skilton (born 8 November 1938) was an Australian rules football player who played as a rover for South Melbourne and Victoria between 1956 and 1971.

He was one of only 4 players to have won the Brownlow Medal three times; in 1959 (when he tied with Verdun Howell), and in 1963 and 1968.

Glenn Archer (born 24 March 1973) is a retired Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club. Archer officially ended his career on 23 September 2007 in a Preliminary Final loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium. Glenn is remembered as one of the greatest defenders to play the game, with his tough playing style and hard at the ball attitude. Glenn was recently named the Shinboner of the Century.

Born into a third generation racing family, there was little doubt Greg Hall would become a jockey. But in an industry where you are only as good as your last ride, it is a testament to Greg’s talent, tenacity and intestinal fortitude that has seen him overcome personal and professional challenges to become a legend of the Australian Turf.

Born: 29 December 1960
Married: To Pip
Children: Georgina, Jack, Elizabeth
Educated: Charles Street Primary School & Launceston Church Grammar School
Qualifications: Marketing Diploma, Diploma of Business Management, Level 3 Cricket Coaches Certificate

Stephen David "Blocker" Roach (born 24 April 1962 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league prop forward of the 1980s and early 1990s. He made thirty-nine representative appearances for the Australian national team in Tests, World Cup and New South Wales State of Origin matches between 1985 and 1991. Hid football career was followed by a period as a commentator.

‘Wadey’ as he is known around the world had a remarkable International career. Making a total of 118 Socceroo appearances over 10 years including ’88 Olympic Games & two World Cup campaigns, he completed one of the toughest tasks in football – to mark Diego Maradona in the two legged world cup play off against Argentina.

Mark represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and at the 2006 World Championships and was a gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

In 2005 Mark made his Boomers debut in the Kirin Cup in Tokyo.

Paul Hudson (born 20 July 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Hawks, Western Bulldogs and Richmond Tigers.

In 1990 Hudson followed in his father Peter's footsteps and joined Hawthorn with whom he would play until the end of the 1996 season. A half forward, in his 6 years at the club he kicked over 200 goals. In just his second year of AFL football he finished 5th in the Brownlow Medal and kicked a couple of goals in their grand final victory.

Barry Michael is a former I.B.F. Super Featherweight World boxing champion. He was one of the four inaugural inductees into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003 along with Lionel Rose, Johnny Famechon and Jeff Fenech.

Bryce Edward McGain (born 25 March 1972 in Mornington, Victoria) is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for Victoria.

McGain made his first-class debut in 2002 against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, due to other Victorian spinners - Shane Warne and Cameron White - he was unable to hold down a place in the side. He worked in the IT section of a bank and played Victorian Premier Cricket for Prahran Cricket Club before being called up to the Victorian side again.

Doug Walters’ popularity as one of Australia’s cricketing legends has continued long after his retirement from first class cricket.

At the age of 19, he was the third youngest to score a test century, and this was his debut for Australia. Highlights of Doug’s career include his double century, (242) and single century (103), in the same match against the West Indies at the SCG during the 1968-69 season.

Mick forged his reputation as an outstanding footballer for Collingwood, playing 155 AFL matches between 1987 and 1997 with the highlight being a part of the winning Premiership team for Collingwood in the historic 1990 Grand Final.

Chris is currently co-captain of the Melbourne Tigers in the National Basketball League. In the two years since his return, the Tigers have won one championship and been runner up in the other. Chris is currently recognised as the best player in the NBL. He was voted the Most Valuable Player in the NBL in 2006, and was named in the NBL All Star 5 in both seasons since returning to Australia.

Peter 'Crackers' Keenan (born 7 April 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne, Essendon and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1970s.

Keenan played as a 197 cm ruckman and was a solid marker of the ball as well as having a good drop punt. He was recruited from Assumption College by Melbourne for whom he made his VFL debut in 1970.

Jeffrey Robert Thomson (born 16 August 1950 in Greenacre, New South Wales) is a former Australian cricketer. Known as "Thommo", he was one of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket and was the opening partner of fellow fast bowler Dennis Lillee; their combination was one of the most fearsome in Test cricket history.

Originally from Bendigo Ricky is a former AFL player for Carlton, St. Kilda and Hawthorn.

He established his Sports Management Company, Flying Start in 1994 after 8 years of teaching Physical Education at Carey Grammar.

Shannon Grant was known as one of the premier midfielders in the AFL.

He began his career at the Sydney Swans in 1995, which highlighted him playing in the 1996 Grand Final against North Melbourne.