Mr. AUSTRALIA & Ms. AUSTRALIA - OVERALL WINNERS inc. WFF Australia. (See list at the bottom of this page of all Aussie winners at the NABBA Universe in UK)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIA TITLE: The Mr. Australia contest was originally staged by various promoters and not staged every year as it has been since 1958, with 1973 being the exception. The early events were not NABBA or IFBB events as such, and were not officially staged by any bodybuilding organisation. They were staged by individual promoters. Moving on from the UBBA of the early '80s, NABBA Australia only came into effect with its first Australian Championships in 1988.
The first Australian men's national champion to compete in the NABBA Universe was 1954 Mr. Australia John Penman who competed in the 1955 NABBA Universe where he won the Medium Class 2. Of course some may say that because he was born in New Zealand, this rules him out as the first Australian born bodybuilder in the Universe. However he competed after winning the Mr. Australia title, so this first Aussie in the Universe honour is well deserved by him. In 1959 Adelaide champion Tom Lardner won the Mr. Australia title. Being a fellow South Australian, he was my local inspiration when I first took up bodybuilding. Tom passed away on July 2nd, 2015.
See our complete LIST OF NABBA UNIVERSE WINNERS and our COMPLETE LIST OF NABBA UNIVERSE DVDs.
Victor Vella Victor Vella became the next Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe in 1963, where he placed 5th in Short Class 3. Although Victor was born in Malta, he went to the Universe representing Australia after winning the 1960, 1961 and 1962 Mr. Australia titles, so we can certainly claim him as an Australian competitor in the Universe. On October 19th, 2011, I received documentation, photos, newspaper clips and videos, verifying that Victor won the Mr. Australia in 1960, 1961, 1962 and also in 1967. This makes him a 4 time winner of the Mr. Australia title.
Guy Emery was the next person to represent Australia in the Universe in 1965. He was unplaced in Class 2 and remains something of a mystery to me as to his background. I would love to have more info on him if anyone can help.
Les Spendlove was the next Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe in 1966. He was the 1965 Mr. Australia. Les placed 6th in Tall Class 1 in the 1966 Universe. This was the same class in which Chester Yorton beat Arnold into second place. Les came to Australia from Burma when he was 3 years old. He does hold the honour of being the first Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe who was actually announced as representing Australia! Even though Victor Vella represented Australia. Special thanks to Les Spendlove for sharing with me his early Mr. Universe history.
Frank Colombera was our next Aussie at the NABBA Universe, competing in Class 3 in 1970 and 1971 and placing 4th and 3rd respectively. I will publish a list of every single Australian and their placing in the NABBA Universe at a later date, as a new separate NABBA Universe Aussie History Section.
Our next Australian NABBA Universe star was JOHN TERILLI. John won the ABBA Mr. Australia title in 1982 and also won a BEST IN AUSTRALIA title in a separate amateur contest at the 1980 IFBB Mr. Olympia. John became the first Australian born star to win his class at the NABBA Universe when he won Medium Class 2 at the 1982 NABBA Amateur Mr. Universe. He then competed as an IFBB Professional before later returning to NABBA.
In 1994 JOHN TERILLI won the NABBA PROFESSIONAL Mr. Universe title. The only other 2 Australian males to win Overall titles at the NABBA Universe were GRANT CLEMESHA - Overall Amateur Mr Universe in 1995 and LEE PRIEST Overall in 2013. GRAEME LANCEFIELD won the first ever NABBA Masters Over 40 Mr. Universe title in 1991. MICHAEL MELKSHAM won the Junior Mr. Universe title in 1989. Other Universe Class Winners are listed below.
I have no records on who was the first Australian to compete in an International IFBB event. Please contact me if anyone has this information. My guess is that it was John Terilli when he competed in the 1980 IFBB World Amateur Championships in the Philippines.
Billy Knight, Gary Lewer and Justin Wessels jointly hold the UBBA-NABBA record of 3 Overall Mr. Australia titles. Billy won his in a run of 3 in a row from 1980. Gary holds the record for the most NABBA Universe appearances by an Australian at approximately 10. Justin Wessels won his 3 National titles in a row from 2008 to 2010. He also won the 2010 OHF Best Male Presentation Award. As Justin is still competing he could well add more Aussie titles!
(NB. The 1997 Overall Mr Australasia winner was JUSTIN WESSELS. Then 11 years later, JUSTIN WESSELS again won the National titles in winning the 2008 NABBA OVERALL MR AUSTRALIA. This was the first of 3 Mr. Australia victories in consecutive years, making Justin our greatest ever Australian national titleholder with 4 titles.)
There have also been a number of IFBB Mr. Australia winners since the mid 80s that I have no records on. Con Demetriou is said to have won 6 Mr Australia titles, I believe a mix of class and Overall titles. I think that Jyrki Savolainen won IFBB Mr. Australia titles in the period from about 1979 to 1983. I believe Luke Wood also won IFBB Mr. Australia titles. In 1982 the IFBB in Australia became the NPC. In the years that followed there were no doubt at least 2 Mr. Australia winners from that time on - NABBA and NPC/IFBB.
I have just had extra info from Billy Knight. Originally a boxing champion, Billy was born in Fiji and has lived most of his life in Australia. As mentioned he won his 3 Mr Australia titles in a row from 1980 to 1982. His 1980 title was won in Brisbane and the contest was run by George Kentrotis, under the AFBB banner. Billy tells me that the first Australian IFBB contests started in 1981, keeping in mind that the 1980 Mr Olympia was an international professional IFBB event, run with huge success by Paul Graham. NPC, NPFC/IFBB are names also used by the IFBB in Australia.
The UBBA organisation started in 1982 with Billy as the first Australia winner. UBBA continued on running Mr. Australia titles till Gary Lewer won the last UBBA Australia title in 1987. Next year it became the NABBA Mr. Australia and the first such title was again won by Gary with Bruce Leong from the NT winning it in 1989 and 1990. Gary was guest poser in 1989 and not the winner as I had previously listed in error. For a number of years, NABBA Australia has been run with great success by Graeme Lancefield. You can contact Graeme through the NABBA Australia website at www.nabba.com.au .
To see the list of our Australian Champions who have won at the NABBA Universe, please scroll down to the bottom of this page. All are shown in our Aussie Universe Winners DVD, GMV-675DVD.
Please click here to see our COMPLETE LISTING OF THE MR & MS. SOUTH AUSTRALIA WINNERS.
Any corrections or extra information is welcome for this report. We know other Federations also held Australian titles. Please email me at wayne@gmv.com.au
Mr. AUSTRALIA - OVERALL WINNERS (Now including WFF Australia from 2009) 1947 Bob Human, SA 1951 Gordon Nutter, VIC 1954 John Penman, NSW 1955 Les Griffiths, NSW 1956 Charlie Serhon, NSW 1958 Joey Cassar, VIC 1959 Tom Lardner, SA 1960 Vic Vella, NSW (Michael Hunt won the Pro Mr. Australia of 1960) 1961 Vic Vella, NSW 1962 Vic Vella, NSW 1963 Les Griffiths, NSW 1964 Chim Leong, VIC 1965 Les Spendlove, NSW 1966 Carlo Zumbo, NSW 1967 Vic Vella, NSW 1968 Carlo Zumbo, NSW 1969 Carlo Zumbo, NSW 1970 Carlo Zumbo, NSW 1971 Peter McCarthy, VIC 1972 Frank Colombera, WA 1973 Roger Walker 1974 Ted Matush, NSW 1975 Roger Walker, NSW 1976 Billy Robertson, WA 1977 Ivan Djirlic, NSW 1978 Graeme Lancefield, VIC 1979 Peter Lindsay, VIC 1980 Billy Knight, NSW 1981 Billy Knight, NSW 1982 Billy Knight, NSW (UBBA) 1982 John Terilli, NSW (ABBA) 1983 Clem Ziegler, TAS 1984 George Costa, NSW 1985 Gary Lewer, VIC 1986 Sammy Ioannidis, VIC 1987 Gary Lewer, VIC 1988 Gary Lewer, VIC 1989 Bruce Leong, NT (NABBA) 1989 Lee Priest, NSW (IFBB) 1990 Bruce Leong, NT 1991 Gary Tchernakoff, WA 1992 Kevin O'Grady, NSW 1993 Grant Clemesha, WA 1994 Grant Clemesha, WA 1995 Lou Barrie, WA 1996 Colin Murphie, NSW 1997 Grant Mayo, NSW 1998 Charles Duca, NSW 1999 Tony Loiacono, WA 2000 Nick Jones, SA 2001 Lee Newman, QLD 2002 Nick Jones, SA 2003 Mark McEntyre, NSW 2004 Scott Burgess, QLD 2005 Adam Fennell, SA 2006 Charles Duca, NSW 2007 Darren Smith, TAS 2007 Alastair White, VIC - WFF 2008 Justin Wessels, NSW 2008 Phil Karlhuber, VIC - WFF 2009 Justin Wessels, NSW - NABBA 2009 Kristian Porthill, VIC - WFF 2010 Justin Wessels, NSW - NABBA 2010 Alastair White, VIC - WFF 2011 Abe Elzaibak, VIC - NABBA 2011 David Nazaroff, WA - WFF 2012 Frank Giampino, VIC - NABBA 2012 Oskar Sarkans, QLD - WFF 2013 Matt Smedley, S.A. - NABBA 2013 Wesley Newell, VIC - WFF 2014 Mick Dittman, VIC - NABBA 2014 Ang Vincenti, WA - WFF 2015 David Cutler, QLD - NABBA 2015 Marc Wheeldon, NSW - WFF 2016 Milton DeFreitas, WA - NABBA 2016 John Duff, WA - WFF
Ms. AUSTRALIA - OVERALL WINNERS FIGURE & PHYSIQUE (Now including WFF Australia from 2009) 1982 Beth Lopez, VIC 1983 Beth Lopez, VIC 1984 Kathy Illingworth, NSW 1985 Leisa Campbell, VIC 1986 Irene Nickole, SA - Physique 1986 Dijana Kisul Rudolf, VIC - Figure 1987 Irene Nickole, SA - Physique 1987 Beth Lopez Coghlan, VIC - Figure 1988 Kim Knott, SA - Physique 1988 Jeanette Harper, NSW - Figure 1989 Irene Nickole, SA - Physique 1989 Jackie McKnight, QLD - Figure 1990 Deborah Compton, NSW - Physique 1990 Bronwyn O'Brien, VIC - Figure 1991 Tania Mittoni, WA - Physique 1991 Jacki Grieger, QLD - Figure 1992 Deborah Compton, NSW - Physique 1992 Sami Renouf, WA - Figure 1993 Tereza Sciascia, WA - Physique 1993 Denise Kelly, WA - Figure 1994 Lisa Egan, SA - Physique 1994 Tania Mittoni, WA -Figure 1995 Lisa Egan, SA - Physique 1995 Pina Theodoridis, VIC - Figure 1996 Gillian Marusco, WA - Physique 1996 Pina Theodoridis, VIC - Figure 1997 Gillian Bromley, WA - Physique 1997 Pina Theodoridis, VIC - Figure 1998 Christine Envall, VIC - Physique 1998 Lorraine March, SA - Figure 1999 Christine Envall, VIC - Physique 1999 Diane Jardim, QLD - Figure 2000 Joanne Rogers, QLD - Physique 2000 Loretta McMillan, WA - Figure 2001 Joanne Rogers, QLD - Physique 2001 Terri Roberts, SA - Figure 2002 Sandra Lee Jose, VIC - Physique 2002 Lorraine March, SA - Figure 2003 Vicki Reid, NSW - Physique 2003 Leigh Jarrett, SA - Figure 2004 Jo Rogers, QLD - Physique 2004 Stella Dinan, SA - Figure 2005 Rosemary Doorey, NSW - Physique 2005 Angela Thomas, WA - Figure 2006 Itzel Chavez, NSW - Physique 2006 Christine Hajjar, WA - Figure 2007 Marian Wilford, NSW - Physique 2007 Christine Hajjar, WA - NABBA Figure 2007 Ellena Tsatsos, VIC - WFF Figure 2008 Nicki Ware, QLD - Physique 2008 Coral Moody, QLD - NABBA Figure 2008 Mandy Knowles, WA - WFF 2009 Lisa Bailey, QLD - Physique 2009 Anne-Marie Lasserre, QLD - NABBA Figure 2009 Alison Mathews, QLD - WFF 2010 Shaz Simpson, QLD - Physique 2010 Annette Galagher, NZ - NABBA Figure 2010 Leonie Mischewski, WA - WFF 2011 Anne-Marie Lasserre, QLD - NABBA Figure 2011 Women's Physique - Discontinued 2011 Leonie Mischewski, WA - WFF 2012 Anne Sievers, QLD - Physique 2012 Lee Anne Vincent, WA - NABBA Figure 2012 Tracey Guile, QLD - WFF 2013 Sherrie Gossow, QLD - NABBA Figure 2013 Caris Rhodes, WA - WFF Figure 2014 Sherrie Gossow, QLD - NABBA Figure 2014 Annika Barnett, NSW - WFF Figure 2015 Renae Johnstone, VIC - Physique 2015 Annette Lachat, QLD - NABBA Figure 2015 Codi Deaves, NSW - WFF Figure 2016 Cecilia D'Amico, WA - NABBA & WFF Figure 2016 Tiahna Prosser, QLD - WFF Bikini Model 2016 Vanessa Allia, WA - WFF Sports Model
COMPLETE LIST OF NABBA/WFF AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS: WOMEN’S EVENTS - AVAILABLE ON DVD FROM GMV.
A-0337ADVD 1986 UBBA Australian Championships : Prejudging: Men & Women A-0337BDVD 1986 UBBA Australian Championships : The Show: Men & Women GMV-062DVD 1987 UBBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-087DVD 1988 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-108DVD 1989 NABBA Australia: The Women’s Prejudging GMV-109DVD 1989 NABBA Australia: The Show – Men & Women mixed GMV-125DVD 1990 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-143DVD 1991 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-146DVD 1992 NABBA Australia: Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-147DVD 1992 NABBA Australia: The Show: Men & Women GMV-156DVD 1992 NABBA Australasia: Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-157DVD 1992 NABBA Australasia: The Show: Men & Women GMV-161DVD 1993 NABBA Australia: Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-162DVD 1993 NABBA Australia – The Show: Men & Women GMV-174DVD 1993 NABBA Australasia – The Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-175DVD 1993 NABBA Australasia – The Show: Men & Women GMV-183DVD 1994 NABBA Australia – The Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-184DVD 1994 NABBA Australia – The Show: Men & Women GMV-187DVD 1994 NABBA Australasia – The Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-188DVD 1994 NABBA Australasia – The Show: Men & Women GMV-201DVD 1995 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-208DVD 1995 NABBA Australasia – The Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-209DVD 1995 NABBA Australasia – The Show: Men & Women GMV-221DVD 1996 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-235DVD 1996 NABBA Australasia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-246DVD 1996 NABBA Oceania Champs – The Prejudging: Men & Women GMV-247DVD 1996 NABBA Oceania Champs – The Show: Men & Women GMV-258DVD 1997 NABBA Australia: The Women – Pump Room, Prejudging & Show GMV-269DVD 1997 NABBA Australasia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-291DVD 1998 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-308DVD 1998 NABBA Australasia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-321DVD 1999 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-337DVD 1999 NABBA Australasia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-363DVD 2000 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-377DVD 2000 NABBA Australia Pro-Am Qualifier: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-420DVD 2001 NABBA Australia & WFF: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-436DVD 2001 NABBA Australia Universe & WFF Qualifier: The Women – Prejudging & Show GMV-542DVD 2003 NABBA Australia: The Women – Prejudging & Show (Adelaide) GMV-680DVD 2007 NABBA Australia & WFF: The Women – Prejudging & Show (2 DVD set) GMV-720DVDSP 2008 NABBA Australia & WFF Championships - Men & Women (2 DVD set) GMV-762DVD 2009 NABBA Australia & WFF Championships - The Women's Complete Contest. GMV-803DVD 2010 NABBA Australia & WFF Championships - The Women's Complete Contest GMV-822DVD 2011 NABBA Australia & WFF Championships - The Women's Complete Contest GMV-840DVD 2012 NABBA Australia & WFF Championships - The Women's Complete Contest 2013 - No DVDs were produced by NABBA/WFF GMV-885DVD 2014 NABBA/WFF Australian Championships: NABBA Australian Titles (Also on Blu-ray) GMV-886DVD 2014 NABBA/WFF Australian Championships: WFF Australian Titles (Also on Blu-ray) GMV-911DVD 2015 NABBA/WFF Australian Championships: NABBA Australian Titles - Bodybuilding & Figure GMV-912DVD 2015 NABBA/WFF Australian Championships: NABBA Australian Titles - WFF Bodybuilding & Models
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AUSSIE WINNER'S AT THE NABBA UNIVERSE - PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR GMV-675DVD.
NAMES WHICH ARE HIGHLIGHTED BLUE BELOW ALL HAVE A DVD AVAILABLE. SIMPLY CLICK THROUGH THE LINK.
MEN 1982 John Terilli - Class 2 1986 Sammy Ioannidis - Class 3 1989 Gary Lewer - Class 1 1989 Michael Melksham - Junior 1991 Graeme Lancefield - Masters Over 40 1993 Kevin O'Grady - Class 1 1994 John Terilli - Professional 1995 Grant Clemesha - Class 1 and Overall Amateur Mr Universe 1995 Shane Stratton - Class 3
2013 Lee Priest - Class 4 and Overall Mr Universe
SPECIAL NOTE: Brian Buchanan won the Professional Class in 1995, representing Australia. As he only lived in Australia (from UK) for a relatively short number of years, it was deemed unfair to include him in this DVD as a true Australian Universe winner. That makes our only men's winners: GRANT CLEMESHA, LEE PRIEST, JOHN TERILLI, GRAEME LANCEFIELD & MICHAEL MELKSHAM. Plus the other Class Winners above.
LEE PRIEST and GRANT CLEMESHA are our only OVERALL MR. UNIVERSE WINNERS.
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WOMEN 1988 Leisa Campbell - Overall Physique 1990 Bronwyn O'Brien - Overall Figure 1992 Anita Lawrence - Overall Figure 1993 Deborah Compton - Overall Physique 1993 Tania Mittoni - Figure Class 1 1994 Andrea Izard - Overall Physique 1995 Tania Mittoni - Figure Class 1 1996 Pina Theodoridis - Overall Figure 1998 Pina Theodoridis - Overall Figure 1999 Taylor Young - Overall Physique 2000 Loretta McMillan - Figure Class 2 2001 Terri Roberts - Figure Class 2
2009 Anne-Marie Lassere - Figure Class 1
2011 Jodie Howard - Figure Class 2
PINA THEODORIDIS is our Aussie record holder at the Universe with 2 Overall Titles - in FIGURE CLASS. |
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