Miss Earth Australia 
MISS EARTH AUSTRALIA 2009
This is Miss Earth Australia’s sixth year. Thank you for supporting our cause.
Firstly, I must thank our sponsors, schools, local councils, photographers, hairstylists, make-up artists, judges, designers, and candidates for their generous support of Miss Earth Australia 2009.
Our candidates, who come from around Australia, have publicized our cause and initiated community tree planting events in their local communities. Their efforts have resulted in thousands of trees being planted by ordinary Australians and encouraged many of them to be more environmentally aware.
The Pageant, which will be held at the Roundhouse (University of New South Wales) on Saturday 19 September 2009, will include exciting entertainers who will add to the vibrancy of the occasion.
The judges will select a winning candidate who is beautiful, articulate, and knowledgeable about environmental issues. After being crowned, she will go to the Philippines for three weeks where she will compete against Miss Earth candidates from 120 countries. The winner of Miss Earth 2009 will travel the world as an Ambassador for the Environment.
Our Pageants seek to make Australians aware of the need for all of us to repair the damage that has been caused to this big country. Although the Industrial Revolution has done wonders for mankind it has been at the expense of this planet.
We are paying a high price for two centuries of damage such as life changing droughts, dry river beds, floods and cyclones and the loss of species because their habitats are destroyed. If we are not careful, our children and grandchildren will also be placed on the
Endangered Species List. Therefore, we must not merely contemplate the idea of tackling the Green House
Effect and Climate Change because we must act NOW to reverse the damage. If our best efforts are only designed to slow down the rate of ongoing damage, then, this planet will die slowly. This is today’s reality.
I love being alive. I sleep in a comfortable bed. The food on my plate is healthy. My bread basket is full. The beach is gorgeous and the sky is blue. My work is gratifying. I love my children just as my parents have loved me. I want them to enjoy the wonderful world that I have known and to believe that their future will last for eternity. It is their birthright to have security and happiness. I do not want them to have to fight for survival or walk in a shadow of gloom. Unfortunately, my children’s best prospects are possible, not certain.
I established Miss Earth in Australia in 2004. Back then, few people were convinced that mankind was unknowingly walking along a cliff top that was ready to crumble. Even so, we are continuing to walk along that crumbling cliff face. If you have done nothing so far, then, what must happen to make you change your ways so that our world can survive?
After the Polar Ice Caps melt and the seas rise we will be face a hostile and terrifying environment. Many communities will be irreparably dislocated. Inevitably, refugees will seek safer locations. Hostility and conflict will be common. This calamity is one frontier that we will not be able to tame. So, if you are dreaming of buying a gas guzzling car with a V8 engine along with a five bedroom house and two large flat television screens then the price will include despair. From now on, please think in terms of sustainability.
Please come to our exciting Pageant for a wonderful night. While our candidates save the world they will sing and dance.
Thank you for your support and commitment to saving the environment.
“TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE THE WORLD. THE CHALLENGE BELONGS TO YOU”
Maria James Founder, Executive Producer and Artistic Director
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains
Of ragged mountain ranges
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror –
The wide brown land for me!
-Dorothea Mackellar -
Robert James BA LLB MBA (UNSW) 0400-244-299
President of Miss Earth Australia
Since the 1960s, when I was a boy, the amount of sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface has declined by 20%. This is because pollution in the very highest reaches of our atmosphere reflects sunlight back into space and thereby stops it from reaching the earth’s surface. We must ask: why is this so?
Although we do not understand their extent or how they interact or even what many of them are, our problems are getting worse. Metaphorically, think of your loved ones as they walk along a beautiful cliff edge which is, unbeknown to them, crumbling. Soon it will fall and they will go with it. Do not bother to think that they, or anyone else, will put the cliff or themselves back together because the end is the end.
A fundamental law of physics says that everything goes from a state of order to one of disorder. It is only good management, energy and action that allow us to create order. Unless we act now, our world will fall into irreparable disorder.
If we do not stop damaging our planet then our children and their children will end up on the Endangered Species List. Is that alarmist? Please google the ‘Conveyor Belt’. It will tell you that huge quantities of ice are melting around the polar ice caps and Greenland. The fresh water will reduce the concentration of salt at the point where it enters the sea and this will cause sea levels to rise. The danger is that this effect will stall the ocean currents that move heat around the world. If this conveyor belt stops, as it almost did a few years ago, it will take centuries to restore the order that allows it to flow. In the meantime, Europe will be covered by ice.
I have learned from Maria, that self-indulgence is less important than saving this planet. She has shown me that being ‘green’ by catching a train and walking to the shops can be very pleasant and beneficial. Nowadays, our family is using less hot water, my father-in-law has installed energy efficient light bulbs and soon we will drive a smaller car. If we don't save Australia and our planet how can we expect other nations to tackle these very dangerous problems?
Next year, please give us your support and encourage your friends to help us with our cause. Some of you can help us after this pageant because we still have many things to do. For instance, in October we will send the winner and representatives to the international pageant in Manila, the Philippines, which will be attended by 150 candidates from around the world.
The only thing left to say is: enjoy the night, drive a smaller car and switch off a light.
Johan Westen
Senior Photographer
Johan has been photographing since the 80's. He started photographing sporting events and landscapes in his early years.
He then moved into glamour photography which up to this time takes up most of his time.
Johan also worked in the IT industry for the past 20 years - working in the banking and shipping industry.
During those times John has built many computer systems and data centres. He has managed many projects during all those years.
Johan has been working with lots of events over the past 5 years . From Weddings to Pageants he has been their main photographer.
He has also judged a few events and helped many models in their modelling career.
Johan has been involved in Miss Earth since 2005 as their director of media. Johan believes in what Miss Earth purpose is with caring for our environment and has been involved in their many projects.
He has helped a lot of models over the years in achieving their journey in the glamour industry.
Johan's work has been published in many publications in Australia and overseas.
Charlene Obrien
Charlene Obrien combines raw organic fibres, recycled remnants, organic Australian Merino wool and luxurious sustainable hand spun silks fused with various constructive and embellished techiniques by hand and by machine. In 2007 Charlene was selected as one of 80 designers worldwide for the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris. Here, she successfuly launched her eco luxury signature label eco logika luxe by charlene, to a high end Parisian galerie. Charlene's goal is to practise low impact environmental by creating her atelier as a pure and safe workplace using solar energy, rainwater, handcraft skills and techniques, and carefully collected botanicals from her dyers garden for hand solar dyeing.
Nikki Hamilton
Nikki Hamilton is the founder of Catwalk Hair and Catwalk Beaute, and has been in the hair and beauty industry for over 25 years. She was trained in France and worked in Iran and Turkey and has received the small business award in hairdressing for a number of years. Her salon is a destination for many celebrities and models in Sydney . Her passion extends to that of the beauty of the earth and the fact that the Miss Earth beauty pageant is a combination of both, it is truly a dream come true to be part of it. This is the second year that Nikki has been involved with Miss Earth, the team at Catwalk Hair worked their wonders in 2008 on a number of Miss Earth Contestants. Nikki has also been involved in many modelling and charity events in the past 25 years, which shows not only does she love making people look beautiful but she loves helping organisations to give a better life to people.
James Yates
James Yates is an entrepreneur who has an international business in the anti-ageing market. He currently resides between Sydney and Dubai and is launching game-changing technology which will influence the way individuals age.
Prior to this landmark, James has had a career spanning close to 10 years in the fitness industry. He has consulted to the international 5 star hotel industry, trained bodybuilders for top competitions, helped many people with achieving weight loss and has worked with the elite- athletes competing at Olympic level.
Athan-Jon by Jonathan Pampling
www.myspace.com/thehumanexhibit
Jonathan Pampling's love of the environment began working in conservation which involved planting trees to restoration of the Hervey Bay foreshore. Contemplating a life as a Ranger on Fraser Island Jonathan opted out and worked in retail for a short time. He then began fashion studies in 2001 and he began his label Athan-Jon and has now been worn by Katie Noonan, Youth Group and The Butterfly Effect.
David Lowe - Performance Biography
David Lowe has performed ensemble & lead roles in many of Australia’s major professional musical and opera productions. These include Les Miserable, Wizard of Oz, Anything Goes, Me & My Girl, Aspects of Love, the ARIA award winning Pirates of Penzance, Mikado, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Miss Saigon and The Merry Widow. His opera credits for the Victoria State Opera and the Australian Opera include Othello, The Tales of Hoffman and Cosi fan tutti. He appeared regularly on Network Ten’s Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and also appeared in the Australian filming of The Bold & the Beautiful. He has performed in many concerts around Australia, including with the Western Australian Symphony on several occasions and as Buffalo Bill opposite Rhonda Burchmore in Annie Get your gun. Most recently appearing at the Bundaleer Arts Weekend in the musical cabaret “You should hear my brother sing” which he co-wrote and performed with his brother Pip. David has performed on stage at the Moulin Rouge in Paris and sung at the Palace theatre in London. David was honoured to recently perform a duet with Grammy award winning artist, Ms Helen Reddy. David’s love of comedy and grand songs makes for a powerful and entertaining performance every time.
Performance Credits
Biloxi Blues by Neil Simon: Adelaide Arts Theatre Production - 1989
Ba-Ta-Clan by J. Offenbach: W.A. Music Theatre Company - 1990
Cosi Fan Tutti by Amadeus Mozart: Australian Opera - 1990
Jonah by Allan John: W.A. Academy of Performing Arts - 1990
Les Miserable by Schoenberg & Boublil: Cam Mack Production Australian & N.Z. Tour – 1990/91
Wizard of Oz by Arlen & Harburg: Adelaide Festival Theatre Trust, National Tour – 1991/92
Othello by G. Verdi: Victorian State Opera - 1992
Tales of Hoffman by J. Offenbach – Victorian State Opera - 1992
Annie Get your gun by Irving Berlin – Victorian State Opera - 1992
Me & My Girl by Furber/Rose & Gay – John Nicholls Productions, National Tour – 1992/93
Aspects of Love by Andrew Lloyd-Webber: Really Useful Company, National Tour – 1993
Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan: Simon Gallaher Productions, National Tour – 1993/94
The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan: Simon Gallaher Productions, National Tour – 1994/95
West Side Story by Bernstein & Sondheim: Queensland Production - 1996
Sweeney Todd by S. Sondheim: Queensland Theatre Company – 1996
Miss Saigon by Schoenberg & Boublil: Cam Mack Production - 1996
Anything Goes by Cole Porter: W.A. Music Theatre Company - 1997
The Merry Widow by J. Offenbach: Simon Gallaher Productions – 1999
1999-2009: Musical Cabaret, concerts, Bold & the Beautiful (Network 10), corporate entertainment.
Lily Cheng
Australia Oriental Sing & Dance Group is the most celebrated Chinese performing arts organization in Australia. The originator Lily Cheng, with more than 30 years of expertise in the dance industry, is a renowned dancer in the Chinese community.
With a passion for dancing that was developed from a very young age, Lily received extensive professional dance training, which she used to establish herself in the industry here and abroad in Hong Kong and the US. Whilst in the States, she had performed in large performances in Broadway and also giving dance lessons as an instructor.
Not only can she perform in styles of various cultures all over the world, she also possesses an inspired talent to choreography. The group itself composes not only of dancers, but also many brilliant vocal singers as well as instrument performers all of whom are exceptional in their flair. Each performing act is a spectacle, accompanied by a dazzling display of colours and costumes will leave audiences in awe.
Layne Beachley
Born to an un-wed 17 year old Scottish mother and Adopted into a beach loving family at 6 weeks old.
The only surfer to have won 6 consecutive world titles, male or female. Holds the women's record for winning 7 world titles.
The first woman to successfully ride a 50 foot wave off the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Layne's partner is INXS guitarist and saxophonist Kirk Pengilly.
Layne has her own women's performance/ leisure brand called Beachley Athletic available nationally through selected Kmart stores.
Founded The Layne Beachley Aim For The Stars Foundation and is also an ambassador for The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Day Of Difference, Planet Ark , Tourism NSW and the Australia Day Council.
Along with Russell Crowe Layne was named an honorary Sydney Ambassador to the United States of America .
Sponsored by Oakley Sunglasses, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Darcy Surfboards, Maitland Toyota , Musashi and Kiehl's
Stages the richest and largest women's stand alone World Championship Tour surf event in the world- The Beachley Classic.
Ivan
Ivan is a leading male model who has been featured in both Australian and International magazines. Since being crowned Mr Supermodel Australia in 2006, he has had the pleasure of working with some of Australia's top photographers and designers, proving his versatility in editorial, runway and high fashion. Ivan is also a superb athlete and will look to represent Australia at next year’s Commonwealth Games as a track sprinter. Having recently completed his bachelor degree in Commerce Accounting and Corporate Law at Macquarie University, Ivan has established the thriving psychology practice, Sydney Psychology & Wellbeing. In his down time, Ivan enjoys surfing and playing his beloved guitar. Going forward, Ivan will look to commence a Masters in Psychology at Sydney University. He is also excited about the prospect of establishing his own brand with friends.
Daniel Ross
Singer, Dancer, Songwriter, Actor... From the tender age of 7, Daniel has been in the show biz scene, first starting out in local talent contests and cultural events around his home town of Sydney, since then, Daniel has expanded his craft and over the years has branched out to other forms of performing arts.
A previous scholar at Australian Theatre For Young people and Brent St, Daniel has spent many years in musical theatre and has performed in shows around Australia including the 2000 Olympic games opening ceremony and was recently a cast member of Cameron Macintosh's MISS SAIGON.
Daniel has also spent a significant amount of time in the U.S, writing with various RnB / Hiphop artists and producers, and finds song writing one of his biggest passions.
Miracle Wash Laundry Balls
Model, photographer, web developer
I spent 18 years living in Australia. Two years ago I decided
to move back to my home country, Hungary, but part of my
heart and soul still remains in Australia, where I spent much
of my adult life.
I love this country dearly and I am well aware
of the environmental issues this continent is facing.
I had been devastated by the news of the bushfires over
the summer period. It was heartbreaking to me.
I feel, it is my duty and responsibility to help raising awareness
of climate change and the need to protect our environment.
I felt honored to be asked for helping in development of this new
website for Miss Earth Australia.
http://www.envisageweb.net.ms/