Please tell us a bit about yourself: Freelance photographer, Gazette staff photographer, part time event coordinator, part time social media internet marketer. Born in Brisbane, Australia. Lived in New Guinea, Brisbane, Mooloolaba, Kuranda, Port Douglas, Fujiyoshida, Tokyo and now back to Port Douglas again. Studied film and media. Worked in the Australian music biz for many many years. Moved to Japan in 2002. Worked as an English teacher, then became a photographer and returned to the event management field on a part time basis. Lived happily there just over 6 years. Returned to Australia in February 2009. Love travelling, adventure, music and my friends. Drawn to all things visual. Take photos (almost) every day. See pictures everywhere. Cry at ad’s, movies, weddings and award ceremonies. Love life in the tropics.

Describe your role at Carnivale: I maintain all the internet related stuff: we use an online project management system called Basecamp so I make sure everyone is on top of their section; I do the social media – facebook and twitter, I write (almost) everything that you see here on the blog; I am about to take over the main website at www.carnivale.com.au and give it a much needed overhaul (wish me luck). I worked Carnivale last year, alongside Susie Marr who is over in W.A. now, and I was the person responsible for Beach Day so I have stepped up again to bring that event together this year too. I’ve also signed on to pull together the Street Parade. I did all the event photography last year and will be doing a lot more in the lead up to Carnivale this year though I don’t think I’ll be repeating the same huge job I did last year (I donated $5000 worth of photography services to the community and event managers) – it is too big a job for just one person!

What does Carnivale mean to you?: Most of all it means a chance for the community to get together – whether they are pulling an amazing event together or just letting their hair down or showing their kids a great time. Community spirit in the Douglas Region is the strongest I’ve seen anywhere in Oz, it’s lovely to be a part of that.

Favourite memory of a past Carnivale?: Hmmmm, my first ever Food & Wine night – I got a free ticket to go last year, and wasn’t working at all (after working my butt off for months helping pull the rest of carnivale together) so ended up having a rocking good time and ended up at the Courty with the Gazette team. I was in pain for days after! I don’t drink anymore so I’m glad I got to see that event with amber coloured glasses just once!

What’s your ultimate Carnivale dream?: Barack Obama judging the street parade floats! Ha ha. Actually, I just want to see this event grow into something that really pulls a lot of diverse local / national / international visitors into the region, so that the whole place is just jumping and we can get all those pesky bills paid. Carnivale is not just about community, it’s also about promoting this region which relies so heavily on tourism.