BILL HURLEY FRASER - FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
A vinyl hoarder, avid skateboarder and surfer with a background professionally and recreationally heavily invested in food and music. An Apollo Bay lifetime local who was cultured from a few years fermenting on the European festival and event circuit, the Director of The Apollo Bay Seafood Festival in the summer and Director for WinterWild throughout the colder months. Bill is the Vice President of the local community radio station 3ABR and hosts a weekly Friday afternoon timeslot ‘Front Left’ playing whatever feels good on the day. You can most likely find him late into the night hogging the iPod classic at your after party. Follow him on Instagram if you like oversaturated iPhone pics and want to see how good life in Apollo Bay really is.
Contact him at - billhurleyfraser@gmail.com
Kevin O’Connell – WW Chair & ADMIN BLACK BELT
Kevin was virtually penniless when he left Australia is the 1980’s. He returned from living and traveling through Europe, Asia and the US three decades later and is now almost penniless. Progress of sorts I suppose. Oh well, he learnt a bit, picked up several skills and is very focussed on Community.
Kevin is Chair of the Southern Otway Landcare Network, President of the Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Seafood Festival Committee. Kevin spent several decades working in the publishing and healthcare sectors, most recently as a senior global project manager for a range of companies headquartered in Brussels, Tokyo, London and the US.
Kevin believes that there is much each of us can do to shape, nurture and support the creation of the person we want to be. Purity of intent, clarity of vision and surrounding ourselves with those who believe that the heart of a community is created from within.
Winter Wild – it resonates around us and is a great way to manifest this reality for ourselves and to create a deep and lasting sense of community.
Contact - kevinoconnell500@gmail.com
Pat Mackle - Sponsorship Manager
Pat has worked in creative industries all her life. From 10 years in advertising & film production to establishing a successful print media company, Avant Card - in operation for 25 years. Pat created a national company with 3 offices & managed a staff of 30 with an annual turnover of $4 million. In 2010 Pat opened Shop Neutral, an eco-friendly retail store based in Melbourne. After living in big cities, moving to Apollo Bay in 2019 was the best decision she has ever made. Pat is also the Sponsorship Manager of Apollo Bay's annual Seafood Festival & loves putting her 40 years of business experience to work in a voluntary capacity. Pat is pescatarian, loves Yoga & is passionate about the environment & sustainability.
Contact at patmackle21@gmail.com
Jade Forest - Festival creative
art forms the core of cultural expression.
Contact - info@jadeforest.com.au
Tessa Connelly - Communications Manager
Tess is a writer, editor and publishing professional newly based in Apollo Bay. She has worked as a food writer, a copy editor, and most recently as a book publicist for some of Australia’s most loved authors.
Tess is particularly passionate about Australian storytelling and community engagement with literature and the arts. When she’s not buried in a book, you’ll find her on the beach with her dog Maggie.
Contact - hello@tessa-connelly.com
Em FenneY - general Committee member
Em is excited to have returned to the bay full-time allowing her the opportunity to become more involved in WW, having previously been a casual volunteer.
Her experience of working in international project teams enables Em to provide operational support to the WW committee.
Em's passion is to give space to create and express. She loves the idea 'Be yourself. Everyone is already taken'.
Janina wagner - FINANCE COORDINATOR
It's been over 10 years since Janina fell in love with the wild coastal town of Apollo Bay where she found not only her life partner but also a wonderful community that was welcoming and warm. Giving back to these people is close to her heart.
Before she permanently settled in the bay, Janina completed a bachelor’s degree in Leisure and Tourism Management in her homeland Germany. She has travelled extensively and worked in a broad range of businesses in the tourism industry. Currently, she works in different roles in Bookkeeping and as Tourism Officer for the Colac Otway Shire.
Janina’s favourite things are walking in the Otways, swimming with her dog, creating art and dancing the night away.
AMY HARBOUR - general Committee member
Having moved to Apollo Bay 15 years ago from Barwon Heads for a sea change, Amy has only looked back from the ocean to the rolling hills behind that frame the Apollo Bay skies to know that this is home.
Professionally Amy comes from a background in property management both the permanent and holiday kind, with side hustles of crafting tea and tie-dyeing. Unprofessionally, she goes about her days raising her children, enjoying cheese, Mexican food, walking her daughter’s dog, rowing surfboats and opportunities to partake in culture and the arts, the odd running event and surfing.
With a passion for music, the outdoors, all types of festivities, being amongst friends, and a brain that malfunctions in the heat, WinterWild contents her heart.
nattie murray - volunteer coordinator
Nattie is all about food, art, community and most importantly family. She is mum to 4 awesome kids and an educator of allsorts. On arrival in Apollo Bay 9 years ago, Nattie threw herself into community volunteer positions and has been involved in many of the Otway’s creative ventures ever since. She is the volunteer coordinator for the WinterWild festival this year, and loves an excuse to bring people together!