Bell Tower Ambassadors

The Bell Tower is very fortunate to have the following highly respected individuals acting in the role of Ambassadors for 2012/2013.

These people have agreed to give their time to support, promote and represent this iconic venue.   We are very grateful for their commitment and take pleasure in introducing you to...

Takayuki (Tak) Takahashi

In 1988, in the interim between a change of jobs in the advertising industry, Tak came to Perth with the intention of taking a 3-month introductory-level English course. He had no particular knowledge of Perth, choosing it simply because academic and other fees were comparatively low, and the climate was said to be pleasant.

Three days after arriving, however, Tak had fallen in love with Perth. He gave up on his change of jobs back in Japan and resolved to spend the rest of his life here. He was able to realise this dream through the support of the wonderful friends and other connections he made in Perth.

Over twenty years later, Tak now publishes the Japanese-English bilingual community newspaper JA News, with a view to bringing Japan and Australia ever closer together. His company also provides various support services to tourism and other businesses that have interests in the connections between the two countries.

Tak sees his appointment as an Ambassador as a golden opportunity to make a contribution to the recognition and appreciation of Perth’s iconic Bell Tower by people from around the world, particularly Japan.

The JA News website link is www.janews.com.au

Michelle Li

Michelle Li is the Editor of a newly published Chinese magazine called Life Weekly.

Michelle migrated to Australia with her family in 2004.   For Michelle, life in Perth provided a peaceful environment that gave her the freedom to think about doing something she really enjoys and that would add more meaning to her life.  After working as a software engineer for 15 years she became the Editor of Perth’s premiere Chinese language newspaper.

As a local branch in Perth, Michelle has embraced the responsibility of ensuring the Chinese community especially new immigrants understand local life, local culture and local government. To achieve this, Michelle created community pages in Epoch Times that alert its readers to events and activities that are happening in their local community.  Michelle believes, “As the symbol of Perth, The Bell Tower is must for our readers and our visitor readers.”

Life Weekly is a free magazine available from a variety of locations around the city.

Jamie Freestone

Jamie Freestone joined Network Ten in 2007. He is currently the court reporter and has been in this role for more than three years. His duties include live reporting on high profile court cases as well as general news reporting. From time to time, he also presents the weather for Ten News at Five. One of the highlights of his journalism career so far, has been to meet and interview Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Prior to entering the world of television broadcasting, Jamie completed a Graduate Diploma in Journalism at Curtin University. Not long after finishing his studies, Jamie was offered a position with Southern Cross Broadcasting as a general reporter and newsreader for Radio 6PR and 96fm.

Jamie enjoys learning about other cultures and travelling overseas. He has a flair for languages and speaks Italian, Greek and Japanese.

Jamie admires the volunteer bellringers who spend many hours ringing and educating the public about campanology and the historic Swan Bells. He believes the tower is a wonderful place for tourists and locals to learn about and appreciate the history of the bells and the city of Perth. Jamie feels honoured to be an ambassador for the Bell Tower.

Jamie made a video postcard during a visit to The Bell Tower, you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIqT483HxPA

Adam Barnard

Adam Barnard is the owner and Managing Director of ADAMS Coachlines Perth's leading provider of Bus and Coach Transportation.

Upon completing high school in 1992, Perth born Adam joined The Australian Defence Force where he served for 8 years. After leaving the army, Adam found work as a tour guide working predominantly in the North West of WA.  In 2003 Adam commenced work as an operations manager for Nightcruiser Party Buses.

While working for Nightcruiser, Adam helped expand the operation from a fleet of two buses to 18. Following this success, Adam realized that this was an industry with endless opportunities and decided to launch his own bus and coach business.

ADAMS Coachlines started from humble beginnings in September of 2005. Quickly gaining a reputation for friendly reliable service, business grew and as a result of this strong demand in December 2005, Adam and Nadine purchased Atkinson Coachlines as a going concern. With this acquisition came several large Eastern States tours and customers that were impressed the high standard of service. The company grew again in 2008 when they purchased Swan Gold Tour's.

The company has continued to grow and today ADAMS operates four distinct brands; ADAMS Coachlines, ADAMS Mining Services, ADAMS "Gold Class", and Nightcruiser Party Buses "Under Licence to Showworld Corporation".

ADAMS Coachlines won the 2010 Gold Tourism Award for Major Tour and/or Transport Operator and has been awarded the industry's highest honour; being named the 2010 ABCUA Australian National Bus Operator of the Year.

Adam is a great supporter of the Bell Tower and has said, "If you haven't been you really don't know what you are missing".

Beth Rivers

Beth Rivers is a freelance writer, who has worked in WA media since 2007.

Originally from Sydney, Beth arrived here in 2006 to finish her Communications and Cultural Studies (Journalism) degree at Curtin University. Before graduating, Beth took an opportunity at The Sunday Times/PerthNow as an editorial assistant and moved into a part-time reporter position and then a full-time cadetship in 2008, covering general news and property.

Beth graduated from her News Limited training in 2010 and took a year off to backpack around the USA, Canada, UK and Europe - to learn some world history, see how other cultures lived and find out that, 'the more of the world you see, the more you'll want to see and the more you'll realise you can never see it all".

She returned to The Sunday Times/PerthNow in 2011.   On her return Beth took on the roles of STe (Entertainment) writer, kids' ChillOut!  and TV Guide editor and "Get With It" online PerthNow blogger until July 2012. Plans are now underway for Beth to launch an independent online blog.

When accepting the invitation to be an Ambassador, Beth said, “What amazed me while travelling was walking past buildings, monuments and pieces of history that the people of those cities and countries also passed each day but seemed to have become immune to their significance.  While the bells that sit in The Bell Tower are only 10 years-young to the people of Western Australia, the history of these bells is something I would hope we continue to marvel over and never become apathetic towards. What an honour, Perth houses the only royal bells to have left England, bells that rang out for victories, centuries ago, honouring brave lives lost and precious lives spared.”

Beth made a video postcard during a visit to The Bell Tower, you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OdTQAITtKI

Howard Sattler

Howard Sattler presenter on 882 6PR has won 5 National RAWARDS and been presenting his talkback and current affairs programmes for the past 30 years.

 
After starting his career as a journalist with the Sydney Morning Herald, he progressed to being appointed the Managing Editor of the Independent Newspaper Group.

His television experience includes being a reporter, bulletin director, chief of staff, assistant producer, documentary presenter and commentator on news, breakfast and nightly current affairs programmes with Channel's 7,9 & 10.

His introduction to radio was as News Director at 882 6PR and in 1981 as host of the "Sattler File". He has covered all major local, interstate and overseas issues including the Asian Tsunami, Gulf Wars I and II and the end of Apartheid in South Africa, where he travelled to cover the election of Nelson Mandela. Howard has twice won awards at The International Radio festival in New York.

Howard has great respect for the heritage that the Tower encompasses and has said "It’s testimony to the quality and the historical links that bell ringers from all over the planet visit Perth’s Bell Tower.  While we often lament WA’s dearth of heritage the bells and the music that resonates from them affords links with Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar that are acknowledged internationally.”

Howard Sattler delivers no holds barred news, current affairs, talkback, entertainment and sport to drive you home between 3.00pm and 6.00pm weekdays on 882 6PR News Talk. For more information go to www.6pr.com.au

Brad Elborough

Brad Elborough has been a part of the travel and tourism industry since 1997, having worked in retail with chains Flight Centre and STA Travel. At the latter, he was Regional Sales Manager in Victoria/Tasmania and also had a 12 month stint at the company's head office in London.

Writing is what Brad always wanted to do, having worked as a sport journalist straight out of university, it was a natural progression to move into travel writing.

Brad has made a point of getting out and about, all over the world since his first European backpacking trip when he was 18. His travels have been widespread, but lately has enjoyed spreading the word on the great offering of Western Australia.

Brad made a video postcard during a visit to The Bell Tower, you can view it here http://youtu.be/Pr8HedxskbA

Ebbeny Faranda

Ebbeny Faranda is currently the weekend news presenter and reporter for Channel Nine News Perth. She read her first radio news bulletin at the age of 19 for Curtin FM and was soon offered a position there as breakfast news editor/presenter. Upon completion of her university degree, Ebbeny was offered a job at Sydney radio station 2SM- which supplies news to over 35 stations across NSW and Queensland.

While in Sydney she also worked for Radio 2GB alongside radio broadcasters Alan Jones and Ray Hadley, and as well as reporting, she presented news bulletins including those during the Athens Olympics.

Ebbeny was soon offered a position with Channel Ten News Sydney. She spent three years here covering a variety of local and national stories, catering for the Morning, 5pm and Late News. One of her most challenging moments was reporting in the Sydney newsroom on the night of the London underground bombings and having to compile the lead story for the special edition Late News.

Feeling a little ‘home sick’, after 3 years living in bustling Sydney Ebbeny transferred home to Ten Perth where she spent a further two years reporting before moving to Channel Nine Perth in 2008. As well as being a proud Nine Perth reporter Ebbeny also occasionally presents WIN News.

Ebbeny enjoys exploring different overseas destinations and also loves to wine and dine in the company of family and friends.

Ebbeny made a video postcard during a visit to The Bell Tower, you can view it here http://youtu.be/uNtvcI38Yjc

William Hames

William Hames is the Executive Chairman of Hames Sharley, and its founding father. He is a qualified Architect, Urban Designer and Land Economist with high level skills in retail and commercial property development, including land development.

He has considerable international experience, particularly in SE Asia, where he has been responsible for a number of major retail, resort and residential developments. His forte is placing urban design into a practical, commercial realm as well as the creation of vibrant civic spaces.

His expertise in Urban Design and City Planning is recognized in the Design Advisory committees he serves on for the City of Perth and the City of South Perth.

We will introduce you to our other ambassadors shortly:

• Stephen Scourfield – The West Australian Newspaper, Stephen made a video postcard during a visit to The Bell Tower, you can view it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpCy7GUGBNY