Wayne Anthoney OAM

Actor, theatre director and teacher

Wayne trained as a scientist at Adelaide University, graduating in 1962, and worked with early computers until opting for a different career path in 1974.

He has worked as Humbolt the Clown on a children’s TV show and has done many film roles, most recently playing one of the guilty priests in “Oranges and Sunshine”. He has also taught part-time at Adelaide College of the Arts since its first year of operation and has written several plays.

In 1996, he took a job as Project Manager for Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal Corporation, living mostly in a caravan at Yulara near Ayers Rock. He retired from the job at the end of 2004 and during that nine years he hardly performed at all. The years in the desert, working cross-culturally at a high emotional level, have influenced him greatly.

He recently published a book, “Travels In A Foreign Land”, it being a memoir of his more than thirty years’ experience with Aboriginal people in Central Australia.

His most recent theatrical work was a play co-written by himself and colleague Jenn Havelberg. Titled “Never a Drop to Drink”, it is a bleak black comedy concerned with life in Adelaide after all the water runs out and most people have left. Wayne and Jenn performed it for a two week season at the top of a deserted building in Adelaide.

Meet our Ambassadors

Anthony Hart

Anthony Hart

Mental Health Advocate & Nominee South Australian Local Hero 2022

In November 2003, Anthony Hart made a significant attempt on his life. Through a remarkable stroke of luck, he clung onto life and survived. Since then, Anthony has been on a mission to empower men to identify and address challenges before they escalate into serious mental health issues.
Ingrid Kennerley

Ingrid Kennerley

Mental Health Advocate & 2019 South Australia Citizen of the Year

After her husband’s suicide, Ingrid displayed incredible strength and resilience, guiding her children through the tragedy, and maintaining her volunteering and support roles that are so vital to small communities.
Bill Denny AM BM

Bill Denny AM BM

Veteran, Community Advocate & SA Nominee Senior Australian of the Year 2022

Bill’s deep and long-standing commitment to the ex-service community has been demonstrated through his role as Chair of the RSL ANZAC Day Committee, Chair of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Council and as founder of the ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil.
Dr Gill Hicks AM MBE

Dr Gill Hicks AM MBE

Motivational Speaker for peace South Australian of the Year 2015 & Australian of the Year Finalist 2015

Gill Hicks is considered to be one of the most thought provoking, powerful and life affirming speakers in Australia and the UK. She is globally known as a survivor of the London terrorist Bombings on July 7th, 2005. 
Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Irving

Dr Robert ‘Bob’ Irving

Veterinarian & SA Nominee Senior Australian of the Year 2019

Since 1996, veterinarian surgeon Dr Bob Irving has spent half of each year travelling to Aboriginal remote communities in the Anangu-Yankunyjatjara-Pitjantjatjara (AYP) lands in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to treat sick animals, mostly dogs. 
Professor Helen Marshall AM

Professor Helen Marshall AM

Vaccination researcher & SA State Recipient Australian of the Year 2022

Professor Helen Marshall AM is one of Australia’s most celebrated and recognised vaccination researchers. Specialising in vaccinology, public health and infectious diseases at the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute, Helen has been involved in game-changing studies that have had a global impact. 
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