Northern beaches most influential, interesting and inspiring people

Not only is she the world's most successful female surfer, but she has launched a successful second career as a motivational speaker and champion of health, wellbeing and self belief. Her Awake Academy has provided courses and workshops to thousands of happy customers. When interviewed by the Review, the 50-year-old said her goal was to make a difference. "To know that I've left a legacy, that I've made a positive impact on people's lives and given them the tools to own their truth and live a life by design and not by default." Passionate about the northern beaches, she lives in Freshwater with her rock star husband Kirk Pengilly - they even have a trophy room for all of their many awards and memorabilia. "Manly is my home ground, my spiritual ground. All the familiarity creates an immense amount of comfort," she told us. "It's like a furry onesie on winter's day."

2. Thomas Keneally

The national treasure, celebrated novelist and passionate Sea Eagles fan is both extremely talented and just so lovely. One of Australia's most prolific and successful authors, he wrote the multi award-winning and pivotal Schindler's Ark, as well as a near library of celebrated books, including Confederates (1979), An Angel in Australia (2000), and his latest, Corporal Hitler's Pistol and A Bloody Good Rant, both released last year. The longtime northern beaches resident, 86, resides high above the sea in Manly with his wife, Meg. A charming raconteur, he has been described as the nicest man in publishing. He was awarded an Order of Australia and named an Australian Living Treasure. He is a father and grandfather, the founder of the Australian Republican Movement and ambassador of the Asylum Seekers Centre - but still manages to combine his multiple interests and passions with his ever growing canon of books. Look for him at your local cafe: he likes to "steal words" out and about in the 'hood.

3. Sam and Cam Bloom

The Newport couple overcame a horrific accident - Sam breaking her back after falling six metres backwards over a faulty balcony while on holiday in Thailand - to produce a series of inspirational books about their friendship with an odd little magpie, Penguin, and how looking after her saved their family. The books became a movie (Sam was played by Naomi Watts), Sam overcame her fear of public speaking to inspire audiences as a motivational presenter and the family continue to move people all over the Beaches and beyond. "I'm not one to go around complaining," she told the Review for our moving cover story. "I know when I'm so sad and angry, I bring everyone down. I just keep busy. If you're busy, you don't focus on all the negatives." The many messages from people she has helped are getting her to a better place. Such as the lady who recently told her: You have fully saved my life. "She had depression and read my book," Sam said. "That makes it worthwhile, the fact that you've made someone's day a bit better."

4. INXS

This band of brothers has kept us entertained since the 1970s when they were known as the Farriss Brothers and hired a warehouse in the back of Brookvale to hone their craft. They've sold 70 million records worldwide, won countless awards, and their album, The Very Best of INXS, reached 'Diamond' status on the ARIA charts and was recognised for sales in excess of half a million units, making chart history. When we interviewed founding members Tim Farriss and Kirk Pengilly, who still live in the northern beaches, they told us that despite all the fame, glory and heartbreak, that singer Michael Hutchence had just one wish, to know what they were doing as a band mattered. "He used to say often that all he really wished for was that we would matter, that INXS and our music and what we created would matter," Pengilly said.

5. Brad Fittler

The supercoach filled our hearts with joy - and proved himself a talented tactician - when he led the Blues to victory in the recent second State of Origin test. But Freddy, as he is known to everyone in the rugby league universe, is also a nice guy. When the Review interviewed him for an exclusive cover story, he showed us around his roaming Terrey Hills estate and introduced us to his llamas. We also received countless stories of his kindness to players, and fans. Told of this, Fittler, 50, said: "I enjoy talking to people. I love talking and love having a chat about the footy or whatever the conversation is." He also sees the joy in winning for other people: "I love the thought that when we win, a whole state goes to work or school or wherever the next day with a big smile on their faces."

6. Dick Smith

Entrepreneur, aviator, adventurer, publisher, philanthropist, provocateur, Aussie legend ... it would take a book to tell the life story of Dick Smith. It's just as well the 78-year-old Terrey Hills local has written one, My Adventurous Life. A national living treasure! declared the National Trust in 1997. Our first president! declared the results of a 1995 poll that asked Australians who should be head of state. He had already been named Australian of the Year in 1986, spending his tour campaigning against cigarette advertising targeted at children. Former Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove calls him "a great Aussie stirrer", no doubt in a nod to publicity stunts such as Smith's 1978 April Fool's joke in which he towed a purported iceberg into Sydney Harbour. When the Review visited, he waxed lyrical about the Beaches: "You couldn't do better than the northern beaches of Sydney in any part of the world, but I am very anxious that they don't get ruined by huge high-rise - one developer said to me, laughing, 'I can see us getting 50 storeys in at Avalon' and I said 'no way'."

7. Michael Hooper

The Wallabies captain and longtime Beaches resident is pretty much a local legend, stopped for a chat wherever he goes. Born in Collaroy and now living in Manly, he began his junior rugby club career with Manly Roos, came up through the local ranks and has played Super Rugby for 12 years, currently with the Waratahs. He was the youngest Wallaby to play 100 Tests; now aged 30, he has played international rugby for a decade.

8. Silvia Colloca

The term triple threat is often tossed around to describe someone who is proficient in three important skills within their particular field, so what do you call Newport local Silvia Colloca? Since moving from her homeland of Italy to Australia in 2009, she's become well-known across the world as an actor, opera singer, TV star, actor, author and renowned home cook. Despite all the red carpet moments, often with actor, writer, producer, director husband Richard Roxburgh, she admits she's a down-to-earth mum trying to juggle it all. "At the end of the day sometimes Richard and I just do a headcount and go 'OK we did it. It wasn't great, but we did it, we're all here, we're all good'." She appeared on our cover twice in the last couple of years, showcasing her wonderful recipes and generating lots of letters of praise.

9. Kamahl

One of the few famous Aussies who gets to go by a one word moniker, Kamahl has met Princes Harry and Charles, Presidents Obama and Clinton, the Dalai Lama, Queen, and exchanged "about 60" letters with his friend Donald Bradman. After he was discovered and sponsored by Rupert Murdoch - even living with him - he began singing in Australia in 1958, achieving platinum and gold albums and performing all over the place, including at Carnegie Hall - twice - and grabbing number 1 hits in the Netherlands and Belgium. One woman in Holland, he says, has had a Kamahl fan page for 44 years, and still updates it every week. Now 87, he has moved to Belrose and become a regular sight around those parts, travelling in his baby blue Rolls Royce to grab groceries or Japanese lunch at the nearby Glenrose Village Shopping Centre and exploring the northern beaches. "I wanted to be in a more friendly pitch while I'm still batting," he told the Review. But don't expect to catch him in the surf. "I nearly drowned when I was nine-years-old so I don't like any water more than five foot deep."

10. Valerie Taylor

Conservationist, photographer, filmmaker and inaugural member of the diving hall-of-fame, Valerie Taylor, 86, is pivotal to a range of conservation issues. With her late husband Ron Taylor, she recorded sea life (including on the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef), made documentaries about sharks, and filmed sequences for films including Jaws. She is a familiar local presence at countless environmental and conservation initiatives, from oil to overfishing to plastics pollution. She has many awards, including: the NOGI award for Arts, Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences; the Rider of the Order of the Golden Ark for marine conservation; the American Nature Photographer of the Year award; the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in marine conservation; the Australian Senior Achiever of the Year; the Australian Geographic Lifetime of Conservation award and an AM for service to conservation and the environment, and as an underwater cinematographer and photographer.

11. Tom Carroll

Grommets mentor, meditation teacher (tomcarrollmeditation.com) and environmental advocate, the former pro surfer was born and bred in the Beaches and now lives in Avalon. The first surfer to be awarded a million dollar contract, the 60-year-old still regularly surfs - and also spends time campaigning for and against local, environmental and political issues. He is open about his difficult past, including ice addiction: after recovery, he has warned casual users not to be foolhardy.

12. Zali Steggall

Even if you don't embrace the teal, it's hard not to admire and respect Steggall, Olympic medallist, mother, barrister, and the groundbreaking politician who ousted a former Prime Minister. Disappointing the naysayers who said she couldn't, the 48-year-old recently won her second term as federal member for Warringah and has kept her passion for the environment, equality and integrity intact. For her Review cover story, she said: "I love when people stop and say well done or thank you and I'm also happy to stop with the people who don't like what I stand for as well. And then I go running and do my sport to let off the frustration."

13. Kath Koschel

In the space of five years, Kath Koschel broke her back twice, was told she would never walk again, faced having her leg amputated and lost the love of her life. It would have been understandable if she'd curled up in a ball and cried: "Why me?" Instead, the 35-year-old former NSW cricketer who lives in Fairlight started performing random acts of kindness: smiling at someone in the street, shouting a homeless person dinner, buying a wheelchair for a kid. One day, she paid for a stranger's petrol - the stranger shared it, and it ended up on TV. It all led to her launching the global kindness movement, Kindness Factory seven years ago and travelling the world as a motivational speaker, inspiring kindness in the Obamas, the Dalai Lama and countless athletes, businesspeople and schoolchildren. Her Kindness Curriculum is in hundreds of schools and ACM (publisher of this website and Australia's largest independent media business) has partnered with the charity to help spread it into more schools. "A lot of people say trauma, grief and loss don't equal kindness and I disagree with that," she told the Review. "Maybe I've had enough adversity to last four lifetimes but maybe the rest of my life is going to be completely amazing, who knows? I've got to believe that, right?"

14. Melinda Gainsford Taylor

The champion sprinter won a total of 13 individual open titles and made the final of the 200m sprint at the Sydney Olympics, placing 5th, and assisted the Australian 4x400m relay team to a fifth-place finish and a new national record, before retiring in 2002. Originally from Narromine, Gainsford Taylor, 50, now lives in Collaroy Plateau and coaches and mentors young athletes. "I love the area and the laidback attitude and where we are is very community minded," she told the Review during our cover interview. "It's very similar to a country town."

15. The Rions

There was an energy in the air when we interviewed The Rions for a cover story in May 2021. The four mates - Noah Blockley, Tom Partington, Harley Wilson and Asher McLean - were midway through their HSC at Barrenjoey High School and already writing and releasing singles and playing gigs across the country. A year later they'd been recruited as a support act for fellow Beaches band Lime Cordiale for some of their Aussie gigs. Shortly after, the guys announced their first east coast headline tour, which includes a gig at Avalon RSL on August 27. The fact that they've grown up in an now famous breeding ground of world famous musicians is not lost on them and Harley put their goal for the future simply: "Beatles-level fame".

16. Guy Leech

If you were around in the 90s, you couldn't miss the local iron men turned kings of the world. They were everywhere: on our cereal packets, in prime TV and of course winning races on our beaches: for one competition, 20,000 people packed Manly Beach to watch them race. Guy Leech, 58, now runs a defibrillator business, but was one of the best, winning seven Uncle Toby's Super Series races and two Coolangatta Golds. When we interviewed him for a Review cover - with fellow former iron man champ Craig Riddington, who now runs Sea Australia, a surf education company that he and Leech initially set up after rescuing a large group from a rip during the ad break of an ironman competition - he took us on a walk down memory lane. "I can tell you, having kids and all the other stuff I've done is unbelievable but the sheer excitement of winning a race in front of 20,000 people plus live TV after six months of sacrifice - you don't get that peak anymore. You've got to come to terms with that."

17. Johanna Griggs

For our February 2021 cover story interview with Joh (as her mates call her), 48, we met at Freshwater rockpool. And we weren't the only ones starstruck: so many swimmers stopped and watched our photoshoot as the waves crashed into nearby rocks. She first came to Australia's attention as a Commonwealth Games swimmer, but her down-to-earth nature, occasional faux pas, and more than a decade on Better Homes and Gardens have ensured that she's become one of our most loved TV personalities. "In a weird way I think it's also endeared me to the public because the amount of times that people have come up and they go 'oh my gosh we remember when you started out and we used to sit and laugh'."

18. Gus Worland

Man up, don't be a sook and don't bring the team down and just get on with stuff. When we first met Elanora Heights local Gus Worland, he told us it's these types of comments about how men 'should' act that keep him up at night. It took him years to be able to talk about the suicide of his mate Angus Roberts, but once he did it changed everything. The mental health advocate is the founder of Gotcha4Life, which has a goal of zero suicides, taking action by delivering mental fitness programs that engage, educate and empower local communities. His programs target men of all ages, and often Hollywood heavy Hugh Jackman, who he's been friends with since kindergarten, helps spread the word.

19. James Morrison

There are not too many people who can boast to having met almost every singer and band in their record collection, but James Morrison, 59, is one of those people. The jazz heavyweight and Newport local not only plays with the world's best, including at the White House when Barack Obama was president, but is humble enough to admit he's been "very lucky" in his career. He's recorded 44 albums and is loving being on tour, including an upcoming gig at Night at the Barracks concert series at North Head, which kicks off in September.

20 and 21 Ali and Cam Daddo

Iconic 80s Aussie supermodel Alison Brahe inspired plenty of teenagers with her fresh faced girl-next-door magazine covers, then walked away - aged just 23 - and started helping people. She worked as a birthing assistant and wellness educator, teacher of young children, podcaster and domestic violence ambassador. Now, aged 52, she has written a book, Queen Menopause, which is part-autobiography, part-help, aiming to change the conversation around menopause and help women get through and even embrace the changes.

Cam Daddo, 57, is a familiar face in showbiz - as the young host of Perfect Match, as an actor on stage, TV and cinema, or SmoothFM radio host for the past decade. He has been writing, singing and recording music for decades and fronts local band, Cam Daddo and the Paisley Prophets. He also has a charity, My Men's Team. After moving back from America four years ago, Cam and Ali have settled back in the northern beaches, a place they both love. They have three children and host a podcast, Separate Bathrooms, together.

22. Michael Regan

The mayor of the northern beaches - the fourth most populous LGA in NSW - steered us through local lockdowns with kindness and aplomb. His influence stretches into the federal sphere as well - wife, Bronwen is Zali Steggall's chief-of-staff. He was Warringah Council's mayor from 2008 until 2016 before being elected mayor of Northern Beaches Council after amalgamation, which he had advocated for. His reign hasn't been without controversy: he was criticised for maintaining a $1.7 million council car budget which included a Jaguar XF as the mayoral car, while requesting a 24 per-cent rate rise over four years (he later replaced this car with an eco-friendly Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV). But his Your Northern Beaches Independent Team continues to grow in representation and popularity.

23. Lime Cordiale

Brothers and band mates Oli and Louis Leimbach are on a mission to conquer the world with their distinctive brand of indi pop. During the 2022 federal election they threw their support behind independent Dr Sophie Scamps to appeal to the young, environmentally-conscious voter.

24. Jack Berne

Great things come in small packages, we found out with Curl Curl teen Jack Berne. The 13-year-old raised more than $2 million for Aussie farmers, then teamed up with fellow local Kath Koschel to change lives in local schools.

25. Giovanni Pilu

The talented chef runs the iconic freshwater venue Pilu and is also a mentor to young chefs. His contemporary Italian food is not only locally celebrated but influences foodies and chefs in Australia and the world.

26. Brad Hazzard

The NSW Health Minister and Member for Wakehurst since 1991 steered us through COVID with calmness and clarity. The former Manly High boy was previously a science teacher and local lawyer and remains passionate about local issues - and the Sea Eagles.

27. Daly Cherry-Evans

The Manly Sea Eagles captain, 33, has played for the team for an impressive 14 years, as well as Queensland and Australia. He is seen as a hard working playmaker for the team - and nice guy to boot.

28. John Cunningham

What John Cunningham doesn't know about real estate isn't worth knowing. After 45 years in the business, Cunninghams now operates four offices with more than 80 staff members from Manly, Balgowlah, Dee Why and Avalon Beach. The Queenscliff entrepreneur - who survived and thrived after cancer - has also launched projects to help domestic violence victims and dementia sufferers.

29. Kerri Pottharst

She won Olympic gold in beach volleyball at the Sydney Olympic games, conquered the public speaking circuit and then took on the SAS Australia reality TV show aged 56. She told us: "I wanted to inspire people to not be afraid and not let age be a factor in getting out there and enjoying life."

30. Miguel Maestre

Celebrity chef and Elanora Heights local Miguel Maestre - one of the friendliest, most energised and entertaining guys in showbiz - strummed a ham guitar during his Review cover interview.

31. Tim Hewson

The corporate exec and father runs Mongrels Men, a grassroots mental health charity that brings men together for sunrise beach runs, hikes, coffee and more.

32. Nichola Constant

The first female Chief Commissioner of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission lives in Collaroy and is the wife of former Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski.

33. Carissa Tombs

The tireless centre court player spent a decade in the Australian squad and was a member of Australia's three Netball World Cup title-winning sides in the 1990s.

34. Sarah Turnbull

The best-selling author (remember Almost French?) and environmentalist may have recently missed out on winning local council, but the literature world is sure to be the winner as she goes back to writing.

35. Romilly Madew

The Avalon Beach-based CEO of Infrastructure Australia is also a co-founder of Minerva Network, which supports professional sportswomen on and off the field.

36. Robbie Slater

The Socceroo, who lives in Killarney Heights, won an English Premier League title with Blackburn and represented Australia 44 times.

37. Anita Jacoby

The award winning, ground breaking producer and journalist lives in Avalon. She has recently published a book, Secrets Beyond the Screen, detailing her journey after discovering a family secret.

38. Shannan Ponton

The excitable celebrity trainer and former Biggest Loser TV show star is passionate about health and wellness and his beautiful northern beaches base.

39. Bruce 'Hoppo' Hopkins

We love Hoppo - not because he has been such a lovable lifesaving face on Bondi Rescue, but because he defected from Bondi, commuting to the reality show from his Avalon base and proving we really do have the best beaches in Sydney.

40. Shirley McLaren

Honoured for her service to veterans and their families, and to the community, recently the Narrabeen woman appeared as a participant in the ABC documentary Old People's Homes for 4 Year Olds.

41. Richard Tombs

This former Wallaby wowed us with his strength and courage when he spoke to us two years on from a devastating accident that left him in a wheelchair.

42. Jamie Durie

Australia's very first celebrity gardener began life as a spunky member of a men's stripping troupe and went on to launch a successful business in horticulture, landscape design and furniture design. He's also an OAM, TV host and producer and author of 11 books on landscape architecture, garden design and lifestyle.

43. Lynleigh Greig

Snakes may scare others, but not this wildlife rescue volunteer from Elanora Heights. This dedicated local was crowned Pittwater Woman of the Year 2021, then honoured with an OAM.

44. Home and Away

This prime time show put Palm Beach on the map for tourists, and was the star maker for so many well-known actors - Chris Hemsworth, Naomi Watts, Heath Ledger, Isla Fisher ... the list goes on.

45. Sophie Scamps

Dedicated local GP and now Mackellar's first ever non-Liberal MP, this modern independent not only transformed voters at the federal election, she also opened up her home to a Ukrainian family who escaped the war.

46. Sam McCourt

This former oncology nurse helped launch Viral Kindness and Kindness Coffees Manly as a way of helping Manly's rough sleepers and people doing it tough. She was crowned Manly Woman of the Year 2021.

47. Geoff Coombes

Co-founder of Tour de Cure, an annual event to help fund researchers, surgeons and clinicians who dedicate their lives to finding a cure for cancer. It's raised more than $66 million and funded 554 cancer projects since 2007.

48. Andrew Newton

This former registered nurse has worked in health for decades and is now the man at the helm of Northern Beaches Hospital.

49. Prinnie

She's the ultimate slashie - singer-actor-dancer-entertainer-performer. She performs pop shows, back-up vocals, cabaret and musical theatre, and also mentors The Voice wannabees.

50. Tom Trbojevic

Manly Sea Eagles' brilliant but currently injured full-back is so good that he's simply known as Turbo. His tremendous speed and ability to break the line has seen him become one of the NRL greats.