Bass Coast’s top 10 influential people: Ali Wastie, Brett Tessari, Matt Bowtell
He’s been recognised by the Queen and is the founder of an Australian charity helping amputees and accident victims reclaim their lives. Mat Bowtell is a shining light of Bass Coast. SEE THE LIST
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The Bass Coast’s most influential people come from all walks of life.
Many go quietly unnoticed, while others play a prominent role beyond our city.
But they all unite on one front – their desire to help this growing region flourish.
Here’s our list of the Bass Coast’s top 10 movers and shakers.
ALI WASTIE
Ali Wastie is the chief executive of the Bass Coast Shire Council.
She began the role in February 2019 and is the first female CEO.
Ms Wastie previously worked as a director of city communities at the City of Melbourne and before that, she was the director of social and economic development at the Yarra Ranges Council.
She holds numerous degrees in arts, education and a Masters of Business Administration (Diplomacy and Trade).
After growing up in East Bentleigh, Ms Wastie currently resides along the Bass Coast.
MAT BOWTELL
Recognised by the Queen, Mat Bowtell is a Phillip Island engineer and the founder of Free 3D Hands, an Australian charity.
In 2019, Mr Bowtell was the only Australian recipient of the Commonwealth Points of Light award.
He was recognised for his work at designing and creating 3D printed hands and fingers.
Rather than licencing his designs for profit, Mr Bowtell makes them available to download online for free to anybody with a 3D printer.
“Mat Bowtell gave his revolutionary designs away for free, when he could have laughed all the way to the bank. Measure him by that, I say,” Victorian Australian of the Year, 2018, Samuel Johnson said.
“Mat’s exquisite engineering mind and genuine social conscience prove that he is born to do this work. It’s pretty simple, if we help him, he will help many.”
BRETT TESSARI
Councillor Brett Tessari is the current Mayor of the Bass Coast Shire.
He was appointed in 2018 and represents the Bunarong Ward.
Cr Tessari is a third-generation local who lives with his wife and three children.
He is an active community member, having previously been president of the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club and a member of the Wonthaggi Relay For Life Committee, presiding as master of Ccremonies for the event for the past two years and a member of Rotary Club Wonthaggi.
Cr Tessari wants to get people passionate about where they live and reinstall community pride in Bass Coast.
HANNAH TZIMOKAS
At just 23-years-old, Hannah Tzimokas was awarded the Victorian Beach Lifeguard of the Year for the 2019/2020 season.
Ms Tzimokas began her lifesaving career in 2009 and is currently Bass Coast’s chief lifeguard.
She is an active member of Woolmai Beach SLSC and is responsible for delivering one of Victoria’s largest summer lifeguarding programs.
PETER DANN
Dr Peter Dann is a Research Director at Phillip Island Nature Parks.
He has worked as a wildlife ecologist for 30 years and has published extensively on seabirds and shorebirds in Australasia.
He is a research fellow of the Department of Zoology at the University of Melbourne, the Scott Polar Institute at Cambridge University and the past chairman of the Australasian Seabird Group, an editor of the journal Marine Ornithology and a director of the Penguin Foundation.
SOPHIE BOLDING
Sophie Bolding was awarded the 2020 Bass Coast Young Citizen of the Year.
She was acknowledged for her significant contribution to women’s football, playing a vital role at the Bass Coast Breakers Women’s Football Team.
Ms Bolding was head coach mid-season in 2019 and successfully juggled the tasks of being both coach and player.
She is heavily committed to empowering women and girls along the Bass Coast.
JORDAN CRUGNALE MP
Jordan Crugnale MP is the Victorian Labor Member for Bass.
The electorate covers Pakenham, Clyde, Clyde North, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang through to Grantville, Phillip Island, Inverloch.
Before her election in November 2018, she was a teacher and served as Mayor of Bass Coast Council.
DON TURNER
Named the 2020 Bass Coast Citizen of the Year, Don Turner was recognised for his work on bike education.
The San Remo resident has dedicated many years to helping students gain valuable knowledge around road safety.
He has represented the community on the Bass Coast Road Safety Committee and received an award from Regional Roads Victoria for his voluntary work with the Gippsland Road Safety Committee.
Mr Turner has also participated in road safety projects and programs such as L2P, Looking after our Mates and Hypothetical.
GRAEME BURGAN
Graeme Burgan is an Education Ranger at Phillip Island Nature Parks.
He has a strong connection with the land and wildlife after exploring the area as a child in the 60s.
Mr Burgan has been a part of many local committees, including the conservation society.
He has a Diploma of Recreation and a Post Graduate Diploma in Natural and Cultural Heritage.
He is committed to educating people about cultural and environmental conservation.
TRILBY PARISE
Trilby Parise is an artist who devotes her spare time to local projects within the community.
She has been a leading member of Amazon 1863 Project which is a volunteer group committed to preserving artefacts of a shipwreck discovered on Inverloch’s surf beach.
She lives in Inverloch with her family and is strongly influenced by the coastal environmental in her artwork.
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Contact Brooke at brooke.grebert-craig@news.com.au
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