Welcome to the Southern Courier’s 20 most influential countdown
FROM Clovelly to La Perouse and taking in Randwick, Mascot and Botany, the Southern Courier presents it’s power list of the area’s 20 most influential people in 2018. From fallen sports stars, to billionaires to TV royalty we assign them their number of influence.
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- Influential people southeast Sydney part II: Numbers 15 to 11
- Influential people southeast Sydney part III: Numbers 10 to 6
WELCOME to the Southern Courier’s list of our area’s 20 most influential people in 2018.
Our region is full of Sydney’s movers and shakers: from business leaders and influential sports stars and actors to politicians and pioneering academics.
Through the week we will be counting down the top 20.
Here are the numbers 20 to 16 to get you started. The remaining 15 we will reveal on our website, southerncourier.com.au.
On Wednesday we will post numbers 15 to 11.
On Thursday we will count down 10 to 6 and then on Friday we will reveal the top five.
We will also be running special video reports on our website each day.
Don’t forget to let us know what you think of our choices. Email editor@southerncourier.com.au
20 DAVID WARNER
Love him or hate him you certainly can’t ignore him.
Dave Warner may have become public enemy No. 1 for his role in the ball tampering scandal, but this is far from the end for the battler from Matraville.
He has recently turned his hand to punditry (perhaps a sign of things to come when he does hang up his boots) and Australia coach Justin Langer will no doubt be straight on the phone once his ban expires.
He may have had a rough few months but he still sells papers, attracts viewers and, most importantly, scores runs.
Expect to see him back in the baggy green in the not too distant future.
19 DR CHRIS BROWN
IT may seem odd that a veterinarian appears on our top 20 list. But Dr Chris Brown is so much more than just a vet.
The Clovelly-based 39-year-old is everything the 21st century Australian man should be.
He’s intelligent, charismatic, handsome and embraces everything life throws at him. He’s now a one-man brand and a regular on our TV screens, despite calling time on his Bondi Vet career last year. Such has been the success of the I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here co-host, if you asked someone in the UK to name 10 Australians he would be up there with Kylie and Shane Warne. He’s a force for good and long may he remain on our screens.
18 MERRILYN LAMBERT
WHEN Merrilyn Lambert first started nursing the Beatles were together and man was yet to step foot on the moon.
In the 50-plus years since she has treated thousands and helped save countless lives. The Randwick woman was named Prince of Wales’ Nurse of the Year earlier this year and she has no intention of giving up any time soon.
She is the embodiment of all that is good about Australia and has arguably had a greater tangible affect, effect on the lives of people in this area than almost anybody else.
Unlike many others on this list she doesn’t work for the money, the power or influence. She does it because she cares.
17 JUSTIN HEMMES
He’s Sydney’s pub king with 70 pubs, hotels, restaurants and venues to his name. Just last month his fortune was estimated at $951 million and his bank balance only looks to be heading one way. His $30 million renovation of Coogee Pavilion in 2014 has made it the place to be seen in the eastern beaches. He also runs the Tennyson Hotel, Mascot and Hotel Centennial Bar, in our area. Rumours constantly swirl about his next acquisition and he clearly sees southeast Sydney as a profitable area.
To live near a Merivale venue not only means a nice place to enjoy a beer or a night out, it also boosts house prices. That’s why he makes No. 17 on our list.
16 IWAN SUNITO
You may not have heard of Iwan Sunito but he has his hands on one of Sydney’s most sought after pieces of land. His Crown Group owns Eastlakes Shopping Centre and has plans to develop it into Eastlakes Live — a residential/retail/entertainment community of the future. The self-made multi-millionaire does more than just build apartments. He has a vision. One where we live next to or on top of everything we need: from doctors to supermarkets and bars. He also envisages residents enjoying communal parks and gardens. If Eastlakes Live succeeds, expect it to be the blueprint for many more developments.
See the rest of the list