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‘The Boy on the Bay’
Twelve-year-old Sean Whitford, from Knoxfield, Victoria, was one of the stars of the Opening Ceremony, in his role as the ‘Boy on the Bay’. Sean’s character travelled with his toy duck - the catalyst for his journey through the surreal landscape of his imagination.
To music composed by Paul Stanhope, Sean and his duck lead the audience on a whimsical and emotive journey, as might be created in the wandering mind of a child, linked together by renowned Melbourne cartoonist and poet Michael Leunig’s “The Duck” poem.
Leunig's work has a distinctly 'local' feel and his famous caricatured duck has become one of his main socially-recognised characters. In the Opening Ceremony, the duck leads our young protagonist on a journey during which they encounter aspects of the Melbourne and Australian experience - both contemporary and traditional.
Gondwana Voices
Gondwana Voices is made up of young singers aged 10 to 16 from every state and territory in Australia and is internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s finest children’s choirs.
Young Voices of Melbourne
The Young Voices of Melbourne was founded in February 1990 by Mark O’Leary and is now regarded as one of Australia’s finest children’s choirs. There are currently 130 children from 6 – 17 years old who rehearse weekly in one of four groups.
Victorian Indigenous Community
Nearly 200 indigenous people of all ages (individuals and family groups) are gathered here. Participants have travelled regularly from as far away as Mildura and Gippsland to rehearse.
The Church
The Church are Steven Kilbey (vocals and bass), Marty Wilson-Piper (12 string guitar), Tim Powles (drums), Peter Koppes (guitar).
Australian Ballet Company
Founded in 1962, The Australian Ballet is one of Australia’s flagship arts companies, and one of the busiest ballet companies in the world. Each year, it presents around 200 performances in cities and regional areas around Australia, in addition to regular international touring.
The Cat Empire
Young, versatile and skilled, the musicians of The Cat Empire reflect the nature of Melbourne’s diverse and innovative popular culture.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is a well-known New Zealander opera singer of Maori ancestry.
In 1981, she was seen and heard around the world by an estimated 600 million people when she sang at the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
Te Kanawa was born in Gisborne, New Zealand. In her teens and early 20’s she was a pop star and popular entertainer at clubs in New Zealand.
Performers, Musicians & Volunteer Cast
BOY ON THE BAY
Narrator – “A Little Duck” Michael Leunig
Boys - Thomas Lacey, Rarmian Newton, Sean Whitford
Stellar - Christy Shelper, Anna Shelper (Understudy)
Aerial Rescue Koalas – Legs on the Wall - Alexandra Harrison, Ingrid Kleinig, Kirk Page, Rowan Marchingo, Victoria Hunt, Jodie Farrugia (Understudy)
Havoc Koalas – Christoper Zaluski (NICA), Dannick Chollet (NICA), Joshua Hoare (NICA), Lincoln Barros (NICA), Luke Kozlowski (NICA), Mark McLauchlan (NICA), Mat Daniels (NICA), Phillip Thompson (NICA), Raphael Bennet-Daly (NICA), Ryan Luhan (NICA), Justin Stewart Anderson, Suzanne Maree Blackburn, Louise Blair, Mia Crawford, Leroy Curwood, Corey James Dyer, Christopher Rickson
Performers - Gondwana Voices, Young Voices of Melbourne, MSO
Puppetry Assistants - Hamish Fletcher, Jacob Williams, Vanessa Ellis
MY SKIN, MY LIFE
Young Woman - Ursula Yovich, Georgina Chrisanthotoulos (Understudy)
Boys - Thomas Lacey, Rarmian Newton, Sean Whitford
Screen Dancers - Bronwyn Liddle, Earl Roses, Jasmin Sheppard, Nikki Ashby, Waniga Blanco
Elders
Carmel Barry – Djadja Wurrung
Carolyn Briggs – Boonerwrung
Colin Hood – Tatungalung
Debra Harrison – Bidawal
Diana Nikkelson – Ballarat Community (Watharuong North)
Diana Secombe – Jardwadjali
Doreen Sumner – Gulidjan
Eileen Harrison – Braiakaulung
Eleanor Bourke – Wergaia
Euphemia Day – Dharwurd Wurrung
Fay Harrison – Brabralung
Hazel McDonald – Wotjobaluk
Henry Atkinson – Yorta Yorta
Irene Thomas – Bangerang
Ivan Couzens – Djargurd Wurrung
John Charles – Barababaraba South of Swan Hill
Judith Williams – Dadi Dadi
Lee Clarke – Yu Yu
Lynette McInnes – Geelong
Community (Wathaurung South)
Maureen Reyland – Muthi Muthi
Nancy Rook – North East
Treahna Hamm – North East
Natasha Secombe – Djab Wurrung
Joyce Hood – Brataualung
Norman Baxter – Jari Jari
Patricia Clarke – Keeray (Girai) Peek Wurrung
Patricia Ockwell – Woi Wurrung
Peter Britten – Wadi Wadi – Elder
Phyllis Hewat – Krauatungalung
Ronnie Arnold – Gadubanud
Sarah Morgan – Brataualung
Vera Moser – Taungurung
Veronica Harradine – Ladji Ladji
Wally Cooper – Keramin
Puppetry Assistants
Hamish Fletcher
Jacob Williams
Vanessa Ellis
UNDER A SOUTHERN SKY
The Church
Steven Kilbey: Vocals, bass
Marty Willson-Piper: 12 string guitar
Tim Powles: Drums
Peter Koppes: Guitar
Boy: Rarmian Newton, Sean Whitford,Thomas Lacey
Australian Ballet Company Soloist: Frances Murphy
Ballet Dancers
Adam Bull
Amber Scott
Amy Harris
Andrew Killian
Andrew Wright
Annabel Bronner Reid
Ben Davis
Brooke Lockett
Camilla Vergotis
Craig Cathcart
Dana Stephensen
Daniel Gaudiello
Danielle Rowe
Darren Coghlan
Gabriella Raetz
Garry Stocks
Gaylene Cummerfi eld
Gennadi Koutchin
Jacob Sofer
Jane Casson
Jared Wright
Jessica Thompson
Jia Yin Du
John-Paul Idaszak
Juliet Burnett
Kevin Jackson
Kieran Gourley
Kismet Bourne
Kyle Davey
Lana Jones
Laura Tong
Leanne Stojmenov
Lisa Bolte
Lucinda Dunn
Luke Ingham
Madeleine Eastoe
Matthew Donnelly
Matthew Lawrence
Matthew Trent
Melissa Lenehan
Mitchell Rayner
Miwako Kubota
Natalie Decorte
Natalie Hill
Natasha Kusen
Nobuo Fujino
Olivia Bell
Paul Knobloch
Peter Gill
Rani Luther
Reiko Hombo
Richard Smith
Robyn Hendricks
Rohan Furnell
Rudy Hawkes
Simon Vaughan
Sophie Fletcher
Timothy Farrar
Timothy Harbour
Ty King-Wall
Tzu-Chao Chou
Vivienne Wong
Trial Bike Riders Soloist : Trevor Campbell
Aerial Ballerinas – National Institute of Circus Arts
Adelina Pinelli
Adrienne Delaney
Amy Nightingale-Olsen
Elizabeth Young
Ella Fenwick
Emily Hughes
Emma Henshall
Emma Serjeant
Jacinta Rohan
Jenny Glowacki
Jessica Davis
Katherine Thomas
Lisa Bickerton
Megan Dowse
Nami Hall
Nikki Tisdale
No Mi Che
Noi Beck
Tiffany Holmes
Whitney Cairnuff
ATHLETES’ PARADE
The Cat Empire with The Empire Horns
TRIBUTE TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC
Gondwana Voices
Young Person - Harry White
FINALE
Performer: Delta Goodrem
Stadium Announcer: Craig Willis
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Opening Ceremony Performers
