Port Douglas’ most influential 30 under 30 revealed for 2022
From business owners, musicians, sportspeople and young activists, Port Douglas does have it all. These are the names of people under 30 to watch out for. SEE THE LIST
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IN a tight-knit community, these are the names of people in Port Douglas to watch out for. From sportspeople, advocates, business owners and musicians, this group is one to keep a close eye on. While some have left the region to build their careers or launch their business,
they have put Port Douglas on the map.
ELLIE ZILLFLEISCH
Young advocate
Ellie Zillfleisch is 17 years old and has done some work in advocating for rural women with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Ms Zillfleisch has just graduated high school and is studying philosophy and science, so she can eventually do medical research in genetics and biotech.
She was school captain at Mossman High, was awarded a Peter Doherty award and the Douglas Shire Young Citizen of the Year 2022.
SIMONE PRINGLE
Western Road owner
Mossman’s Simone Pringle has grown up with horses and cattle on the Douglas Shire and now uses all that knowledge to a wonderful effect.
She started her own Saddlery shop called Western Road three years ago in Mossman, selling horse products such as saddles and bridles to customers from across Australia and around the globe.
BARNEY SWAN
Eco-warrior Barney Swan, 27, has his own environmental organisation based in Mossman called ClimateForce.
The company is currently restoring 526 acres in the Daintree Rainforest by planting 360,000 native trees.
The inspirational young man also trekked 1000km over 60 days to the South Pole using nothing but renewable energy, carting a sled with camping equipment and supplies.
KATIE EALES
Sabbia Co owner
Katie Eales is 27 and started up her own sustainable skincare business with her husband Dave. She started the business after going on a trip to Sri Lanka where they saw so many single use tooth brushes and make-up wipes. Ms Eales wanted to create an ethical brand and first started sharing her product with her friends and families before she brought it out to Australia.
RAINE WARD
Maker founder
Raine Ward started her own business in the middle of Covid at the age of 19. She opened a store with unique homewares and handmade products. Ms Ward wanted to create a platform to showcase and celebrate local artists. She did this through her online blog — Meet the Makers where she celebrates local artists behind each piece of art in her store.
TYSON CREES
Young athlete
Talented teenager Tyson Crees is making waves in a number of different sports across the Douglas Shire, including basketball, AFL and athletics.
Crees, 14, broke several longstanding Mossman State High School records on the track last year, going on to represent the school. He also represented Mossman in the Senior AFL Schools Cup competition before being selected in the TCN 13-15 years’ side.
For his efforts, he was awarded the Douglas Shire’s Junior Sports Award in 2022.
HOLLY WILLIAMS
Tshinta family business
The popular boutique Tshinta is family run business and the daughter of the owners Holly Williams hopes to take over it one day. Ms Williams calls the shop her little baby and does all the ordering, merchandising and presenting. The shop has been around for years and was purchased by the family eight years ago. Over the years it has been through many exciting changes.
BEN SHRIMPTON
Young sportsman
Gun Newell Beach batsman Ben Shrimpton is as entertaining as they come when he gets a piece of willow in his hand.
The 23-year-old right hander has piled on the runs for Port Douglas Muddies since bursting on to the scene as a teenager.
He’s already represented his state when he was selected for the Queensland Country Under-21 team who toured New Zealand in 2018 and he’s been a regular Far North representative at the annual cricket championships.
KERROD ANDREWS
Bravery award recipient
Port Douglas customer service employee Kerrod Andrews has been the talk of the seaside village this month after he received a bravery award for a courageous and selfless act back in 2018.
Mr Andrews, 28, was working at the Cooktown supermarket at the time and put himself in harm’s way during an altercation between two customers in the Far North grocery store.
He managed to restrain and disarm a knife-wielding woman during the frightening incident, which earned him the federal government recognised award and high praise from Australian Governor-General David Hurley.
GWYNETH DOWELL
Young advocate
Gwyneth Dowell is only 17 years old and already making waves in the community. She has been part of STEM since grade 10. When she leaves Mossman State High School, she hopes to become a pilot and go on to engineering and aviation. At present she is studying in year 12.
ELROY WOODS
Young activist
Miallo youngster Elroy Woods has been dubbed a “little Steve Irwin” of the future for his passion and love for all things wild in the Far North.
The Miallo State School student also made headlines around the world when he penned a song in defence of a 4m crocodile called Howard, who had been earmarked for removal at Saltwater Creek.
The 12-year-old wrote a letter to the Queensland Government asking them to leave the saltie alone before singing “we plead to the government, please leave Howard alone. This is his home.”
COUPER SMITH
Golf star
Rising golf star Couper Smith is one of the hottest young talents on the Far North golf circuit, not just the Mossman club he calls home.
He gained entry into the Greg Norman classic last year and continues to make big strides in his pursuit of a professional career. His idol is Australian gun Cameron Smith, who recently shocked the world by winning The Players Championship in the USA.
KALLAM OATES
KJO Plumbing and Gas owner
Kallam Oates started his own plumbing business in 2020. He has been a plumber since 16 years old and created his own business as he has always been ambitious. Mr Oates does anything from new homes to maintenance to gas.
BRENDAN BAYES
Young chef
Brendan Bayes has had a passion for cooking since he was young. He did a school-based apprenticeship in Cairns at Bentley Park working at Barnacle Bill’s. He is currently the Salsa Bar and Grill junior chef at the age of 24 and hopes to eventually open up his own place.
REILLY DE CARLO
Talented tennis player
Touted as the best junior player at both the Port Douglas and Mossman tennis clubs, Reilly De Carlo has talent to burn.
The 13-year-old competes at both Douglas Shire clubs and has been quietly working his way up the grading by playing in a number of tournaments across the region including Cairns, Innisfail and Mareeba.
NATHAN SMITH
FNQ Air and Refrigeration owner
Nathan Smith is the owner of FNQ Air and Refrigeration. He is 28 years old and got the business about three years ago. Mr Smith had been in the industry for about seven years and felt like he wanted to step out of his comfort zone.
ISAAK FINES-LELEIWASA
Western Force player
Port Douglas product Issak Fines-Leleiwasa cut his teeth in the Douglas Shire and is now one of the most dangerous scrum halfs for the Western Force in the Super Rugby.
The humble 26-year-old’s transition to Sydney has been seamless. He played his junior football for the Port Douglas Reef Raiders before pursuing his rugby union career down south on both the Gold Coast, Brisbane and now Sydney.
LONI FITZPATRICK
Harpist
Loni Fitzpatrick is an up and coming harpist in Port Douglas. At the age of 29 she plays at weddings and events. Ms Fitzpatrick is freelance and has recently gotten into sound healing where she hopes to connect with musicians. While she is located in Port Douglas, she has played sold-out crowds in Sydney Opera House.
WINI HEATLEY
Soccer player
Former Port Douglas junior Wini Heatley is now carving out a soccer career with Melbourne City in the national A-League Women competition.
She is knocking on the door of a national call up and was a member of the Matildas squad last year ahead of their friendly match against the Republic of Ireland.
The 20-year-old started every game for the Brisbane Roar prior to her signing with City.
MATT GIBUMA
Talented player
Freakishly talented two-time premiership winner for Mossman-Port Douglas, the fullback is arguably the most electrifying player in the CDRL. Gibuma, 24, is near the top of the CDRL tryscoring leaderboard, and wouldn’t be out of place at a higher level.
NICKI SAMSON
Licensed real estate agent
Nicki Samson is popular in Port Douglas for her knowledge of the area. The 22-year-old holds a full real estate agent licence and has a large understanding of all property management legislation.
SHAWN BOWEN
Northern Pride player
One of Mossman’s favourite sons, Shawn Bowen has been a mainstay for the Northern Pride for the past five years.
Coach and former rugby league champion Ty Williams has been an unashamed fan of the Mossman Sharks product since adding him to his squad, with the talented centre playing 54 games since 2017.
CAITLIN O’NEIL
Advocate
Mossman State High School student Caitlin O’Neil has been described as an inspiring role model for the region through her environmental advocacy work, which netted her a Civic Recognition Award at the tender age of 15.
O’Neil, 17, is a powerful ambassador for the Great Barrier Reef Legacy and the Tangaroa Blue Foundation where she instigated the removal of single-use plastic straws from her school. It inspired her to write a book titled Everything Flows to the Sea which tells about how the waste item finds its way to the ocean.
ALYSSA JACKSON
Illustrator
Fellow Mossman State High School Year 11 student, Alyssa Jackson, illustrated the Everything Flows to the Sea book, which was given to every enrolled primary aged student from prep to Year 4 across the Douglas Shire in 2020.
Its success was so profound that it was also handed to all kindergarten and child care kids started school last year.
READ MORE: CAIRNS’ 30 INFLUENTIALS UNDER 30
HOLLY DOWELL
Singer
Holly Dowell has been singing with Alteouise DeVaughn since she was eight. She is now 15 years old and has been heavily involved in Clink Theatre where she has had roles in Annie, Cinderella and the Sound of Music. Holly hopes to be an opera singer one day when she finishes school.
VASCO GONSALVES
Videographer
Upcoming videographer Vasco Gonsalves is 18 years old and has moved to Brisbane to study screen and media. He makes music videos and works at some weddings. When Mr Gonsalves was at school, he entered every Port Shorts Film Festival since 2015 and has a passion for videography.
JAKE GIRGENTI
Filmmaker
Mossman filmmaker Jake Girgenti, 21, climbs the Far North’s filmmaking ladder after bursting on to the scene with an acclaimed documentary three years ago.
Girgenti, who went to the Mossman State High School, received critical acclaim from some of the best screenwriters and producers in the country at the Port Shorts Film Festival in Port Douglas in 2018.
His short film Sausage Roll was the audience choice while his documentary-style film, featuring Indigenous Mossman women called Because of Her We Can, earned him a call up to work with prominent local filmmaker Sio Tusa.
ANGELA BRISCHETTO
Dancer
Angela Brischetto is one of the brightest young stars to ever graduate from Mossman dance school Bodies in Motion.
The talented teenager, 16, was awarded the Douglas Young Citizen of the Year in 2021 and has inspired many young dancers through her commitment to the art.
She was accepted into the Dynamite Studios Performing Arts High school on the Gold Coast as a 14-year-old and is training full-time while completing her Year 10 studies.
CONSTABLE TARAN GALLO AND CONSTABLE LATRECE DE THEIR
Police officers
Port Douglas Constable Taran Gallo 26, and his bride-to-be Constable Latrece De Their 24, have served the respective Far North communities of Port Douglas and Mossman for the past three years, after moving to the region in 2019. The couple plan to marry later in the year and look forward to progressing their careers in the region, with Taran focusing on tactical crime and Latrece continuing her community policing career.
EMMA HENDERSON
Tropic Tails Mobile Dog Wash owner
Emma Henderson has always had a passion for working with pets. When she was younger she worked at Paws and Claws then she worked as a veterinary receptionist. She then travelled for a while and found herself back in Port Douglas. Ms Henderson now 29, missed working with dogs and so she opened up her business.
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