About Caitlyn Shadbolt
Know locally as Gympie’s “pocket rocket”, 17 year old Caitlyn Shadbolt is forging her way into the Australian Country Music industry. Her first EP, “Into the Big World” consists of four original songs that tell her story, the journey of a young girl growing into the adult arena.
Some of Caitlyn’s recent achievements in the music arena include performances on Main Stage, the Spotlight Stage and in the Blues Bar at the 2012 Gympie Muster, graduating from the Tamworth CMAA Academy of Country Music in July 2012 and a finalist in the Tamworth Yamaha Youngstars for 2012. Her band Caitlyn Shadbolt and Aiming High, placed third in the prestigious 2012 Tamworth Coca Cola Battle of the Bands.
As well as all the gigs with her band and as a soloist, Caitlyn also finds time to commit to community groups. She is an active member of the Australian Institute of Country Music (AICM), student leader of the Country Music School of Excellence (CMSOE) at Gympie State High School and she mentors young musicians and bands in both organsiations. In recognition of her commitment to her peers and the community, Caitlyn received the Junior Cultural Award and Young Australian of the Year at the 2012 Gympie Regional Australia Day Awards.
Music and everything about it are Caitlyn’s passion. Her long term goal is to become one of Australia’s recognized country artists and work within the ever evolving industry. At only 17 years of age she is currently singing, songwriting, playing guitar, mandolin and drums. Caitlyn believes there are no boundaries to music and what can be learned about it.
Caitlyn works diligently to improve all of her skills while inspiring others through a passionate belief in setting goals and working hard to achieve those goals.
- 2012 Program Guide
Click here to see the full guide, or click on the images on the left to view presenters’ pages. - Tony Kishawi
A circus child, Tony spends adulthood reminding the world how to have fun. His work brings the joy of performance – especially Commedia Dell’arte – to thousands of actors and audience members. - Dan ReadDan lives and breathes music. His debut EP “Life Doesn’t Get Any Better”, created with talented fellow musicians, is an ode to overcoming obstacles with joy, humour and song.
- Jody Allen
Jody Allen is the owner and founder of Stay at Home Mum, a blog on how to save money around the home. She has over 90,000 followers on Facebook and after a mere 13 months has the 13th largest parenting website in the country. - Colin Graham
Colin makes entrepreneurship possible. His career in industry, universities and now as a business consultant has earned Colin ample recognition for thinking differently and making a difference. - Becky McCray
Colin makes entrepreneurship possible. His career in industry, universities and now as a business consultant has earned Colin ample recognition for thinking differently and making a difference. - Geoff Kirkwood
Geoff connects people through public speaking and leadership. A self-declared ‘referrals master’, Geoff has gained recognition in Australia and abroad for his ability to market innovative ideas. - Alexina Johnson
Alexina draws upon her farming and community building passions to talk about share-farming, networking and how small and local really is the best way to farm and eat. - Kelly Chambers
Kelly has travelled the world as a didgeridoo seller, commodities trader, student, courier and care-giver. Now, he accompanies non-traditional students on their educational journeys. - Ernesto Sirolli
Italian-born, Dr. Ernesto Sirolli has worked in Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Mongolia, and the U.S.A. in the field of local economic development. More than 300 communities and businesses around the world have adopted his responsive, person-centered approaches to local economic development known as Enterprise Facilitation® - Tracie Regan
Tracie works with stakeholders across the training spectrum to understand the uses of technology in Australian Vocational Education and to investigate the implications of various innovative teaching strategies for the improvement of lifelong learning experiences. - Greg Nash
From career beginnings as a baker, Greg now lectures and researches at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he empowers first year students to communicate with confidence. - Mary-Lou Stevens
Mary-Lou makes radio magic happen at ABC Coast FM, as a presenter and producer. All about telling stories, she has also penned a meditation memoir, which will be released in early 2013. - Pru Millear
Dr Millear has a wide range of research interests, around psychological development in adults and the choices they make about jobs and relationships. Underpinning these projects is the belief that each person is actively involved in constructing their own lives. - Robert Prestipino
Robert helps towns to be better places. By identifying trends in regional development, he proposes approaches that will make sure our children and grandchildren inherit a world worth living in. - Jasmine Crouch
As Head of Campus at Gympie’s Flexible Learning Centre, Jasmin is a visionary, a dreamer and a supporter of dreams and so is a mentor to many who share her dream that anything is achievable. - Tony Ryan
Tony is fascinated by learning. He fosters innovation through his presentations, books and leadership in education and organisational development. - Helen Fairweather
Helen thinks and works strategically for a better environmental future. An engineering academic, a political campaigner and an alternative energy advocate, she pursues innovation and sustainability. - matty-witney
Matty Witney is a dynamic performer with a penchant for the shimmering. His performances are soulful, grooving, and lyrically engaging, and they entwine elements of soul, jazz, folk, and r’n’b.