Geelong’s weirdest and best reality stars

Geelong and the Surf Coast region have a long and storied history of producing some of the most colourful characters to grace our screens. SEE THE LIST.

Geelong reality stars

Geelong and the Surf Coast region have a long and storied history of producing some of the most colourful characters to grace our screens.

Since the inception of reality television, Pivotonians have been regulars on Australia’s biggest shows, from flaunting talents, to discerning nice guys from “F-Boys”.

Cats legend Billy Brownless and son Oscar will feature on Ten’s Amazing Race Australia: Celebrity Edition, which airs on Monday night.

Earlier this week, Ocean Grove teenager Cookie Robinson, who was in hospital with tonsillitis four days before her blind audition on The Voice, was able to turn the chair of the judge whose song she sang.

Last month it was reported that local model Nicole Mitrov would date 24 men on popular Binge show FBoy Island in her quest to find true love.

With Geelong being so active in this space in recent months, the Addy has taken a look back in time at some of the region’s best and most interesting reality show contestants.

Ceres local Taylor Henderson is a reality show success story.

Taylor Henderson – Australia’s Got Talent, X Factor

Originally from Ceres, Taylor Henderson has been one of Geelong’s biggest reality show success stories.

In 2012, he and his farther Cam auditioned for Australia’s Got Talent.

At the judges discretion, the pair were split up, with the idea they might go better as solo artists.

It’s a decision that’s hard to argue – Taylor finished third and his old man came second.

Henderson went on to finish second on The X Factor the following year behind Dami Im, which resulted in a Sony record deal.

Henderson now boasts 235k followers on Instagram, and still garners 68k monthly listeners on Spotify.

Heath Tournier has found himself on the streets. Photo: Supplied.

Heath Tournier – Big Brother

Heath Tournier had a brief run on Big Brother, featuring for a grand total of three episodes in 2005.

Earlier this year, the Geelong Advertiser reported Mr Tournier claims he has been the victim of unproven fraud and money laundering offences dating back more than a decade, leaving him “broke” and “homeless”.

Mr Tournier appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 6 accused of a “degrading” alleged sexual assault in October 2022.

The court was told Mr Tournier is accused of pushing his alleged victim onto a bed, choking her then telling her he was “going to rape her” before he allegedly “spat in her face”.

In 2018, Mr Tournier put his Torquay property up for sale after his home went up in flames a year before.

Mr Tournier, his partner and then 18-month-old daughter were asleep when they woke to find fire engulfing their home at 2 Gilbert St.

Mr Tournier had built successful construction firms in Western Australia and Victoria, a student accommodation business and a real estate company after he shot to fame on Big Brother in 2005.

Farmer Alex and Jess Wolfe. Picture: Ch 7

Jess Wolfe – Farmer Wants a Wife

South Geelong’s Jess Wolfe was a fan favourite on Farmer Wants A Wife in 2020.

The then 25-year-old “won” the heart of a country bloke, before he broke it off while the two were on holiday.

In somewhat of a twist, it was revealed he had rekindled his relationship with the runner up.

In 2020, Wolfe told the Geelong Advertiser the “experience had changed the way she viewed reality TV.”

“You’re doing all these hours of filming … and they only show two seconds,” she said.

“I think producers choose people for a storyline, everyone gets a storyline.”

She urged people considering applying to carefully consider the choice.

“I think you need to be wary if you apply for a show, just stay yourself,” she said.

“I never went on the show for fame and I think that’s why everyone saw who I was.

“Stay yourself and you’ll go a long way.”

Big Brother grand final. Runner-up Rory Ammon.

Rory Ammon – Big Brother

Geelong bricklayer Rory Ammon was certainly a colourful character.

His biography on the official Big Brother website said his “good looks, chiselled body and funky wardrobe make him very popular with the ladies.”

Recently single at the time of recording, he listed his hates as “old people who drive 20kms under the speed limit, paying 25 cents for a little sachet of tomato sauce.”

Anti-religion with traditional views, Ammon’s loves were “boobies, beer, bricks and chicks.”

Ammon, and his striking dreadlocks, nearly went all the way in 2008, finishing runner up.

In 2010 Ammon blamed national celebrity for the drunken behaviour that resulted in his fronting Geelong court on criminal charges.

Magistrate Stephen Myall told Ammon’s lawyer he had never heard of him, Ammon was banned from CBD nightspots for three months.

Ammon also operated Cloud 9 Bar and lounge on Pakington St.

Aussie paparazzo Darryn Lyons on television show Celebrity Big Brother.

Darryn Lyons – Celebrity Big Brother UK

Paparazzi king, Bosnian war correspondent, politician, nightclub impresario, author, Royal watcher.

Ex-Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyon’s website is correct when it says his “CV reads like a white-knuckle ride through conflict, media, business and government.”

But there’s a lesser known chapter in Lyons’ career that many don’t know, he was a UK Big Brother star.

While Lyons finished sixth, it is his $20k “no sweat six pack” which remains in the minds of viewers, described by Channel 9 as “a sculpted six pack seemingly implanted atop his generous gut.”

“It takes away all the fat around it and actually lets your natural abs be there,” Lyons said.

“Basically it’s the male version of a boob job.”

Originally published as Geelong’s weirdest and best reality stars