Latest news with #WesternAustralianoftheYearAwards
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Reuben De Melo: WA singer's journey from FIFO dad to touring family man after winning The Voice 2024
Unlike most emerging musical stars, former FIFO dad Reuben De Melo's life-changing victory on The Voice 2024 has afforded him more time at home with his family than ever. Removing the familiar high-vis from his wardrobe following years as a mine site rigger, the doting WA father has admitted 'life's changed heaps' as he balances time in the studio with simply being present for his three young kids and wife Olivia. 'We have actually bought a house closer to the kids' school, so a lot of positives have come out of this,' he told The West Australian. 'Obviously (I'm) not flying out to work, but I'm spending time with the kids a bit more and getting used to that sort of life being in the studio, using my time wisely, recording songs and just basically having everything in the bank to release.' With his soulful vocals striking a chord with viewers nationwide, De Melo says his newly released debut single Slow brings a 'commercial' edge to his very human sound. Ironically, it was written two years ago during his UK travels with family when he felt 'everything had become monotonous'. While the temptation might now be to trade his rawness for record sales by conforming to industry pressures, the 'father figure' is conscious of staying true to himself. 'I don't know if the world's going to change me, and if it does, I'm going to reassess,' he said. 'I think I'm going to stay true to my music, which comes from the heart and mental health, and that mining story.' What has changed, is De Melo's profile — which has seen his billing upgraded from modest Perth bars to the likes of Thursday night's Western Australian of the Year Awards. Copping second glances from strangers at the airport has become the singer's new normal, along with random photos with fans, and even messages of support from public figures such as Ben Cousins who the singer described as 'an absolute legend'. 'I have to pinch myself and go, 'You're just human mate'. But it's surreal,' De Melo said. Building a team over the past three months to propel him into the next chapter of his career, the talent is set to release additional tracks to feature on his upcoming EP which will be he'll perform on his first Australian tour this July and August. However, perhaps a sweeter reward will be his reunion with beloved The Voice coach and pop star LeAnn Rimes during her national run of shows in September. And if he's lucky, the duo's dynamic might shift from master-and-apprentice to that of equals when Rimes returns to Australia. 'She's asked me to get in the studio with her to work on a track as well, which is quite exciting. Not sure when that that will be released or anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it,' De Melo said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
How Perth FIFO dad's life changed after winning The Voice
Unlike most emerging musical stars, former FIFO dad Reuben De Melo's life-changing victory on The Voice 2024 has afforded him more time at home with his family than ever. Removing the familiar high-vis from his wardrobe following years as a mine site rigger, the doting WA father has admitted 'life's changed heaps' as he balances time in the studio with simply being present for his three young kids and wife Olivia. 'We have actually bought a house closer to the kids' school, so a lot of positives have come out of this,' he told The West Australian. 'Obviously (I'm) not flying out to work, but I'm spending time with the kids a bit more and getting used to that sort of life being in the studio, using my time wisely, recording songs and just basically having everything in the bank to release.' With his soulful vocals striking a chord with viewers nationwide, De Melo says his newly released debut single Slow brings a 'commercial' edge to his very human sound. Ironically, it was written two years ago during his UK travels with family when he felt 'everything had become monotonous'. While the temptation might now be to trade his rawness for record sales by conforming to industry pressures, the 'father figure' is conscious of staying true to himself. Reuben De Melo. Credit: Jarryd West / Jarryd West 'I don't know if the world's going to change me, and if it does, I'm going to reassess,' he said. 'I think I'm going to stay true to my music, which comes from the heart and mental health, and that mining story.' What has changed, is De Melo's profile — which has seen his billing upgraded from modest Perth bars to the likes of Thursday night's Western Australian of the Year Awards. Copping second glances from strangers at the airport has become the singer's new normal, along with random photos with fans, and even messages of support from public figures such as Ben Cousins who the singer described as 'an absolute legend'. 'I have to pinch myself and go, 'You're just human mate'. But it's surreal,' De Melo said. Reuben De Melo. Credit: Unknown / Supplied Building a team over the past three months to propel him into the next chapter of his career, the talent is set to release additional tracks to feature on his upcoming EP which will be he'll perform on his first Australian tour this July and August. However, perhaps a sweeter reward will be his reunion with beloved The Voice coach and pop star LeAnn Rimes during her national run of shows in September. And if he's lucky, the duo's dynamic might shift from master-and-apprentice to that of equals when Rimes returns to Australia. 'She's asked me to get in the studio with her to work on a track as well, which is quite exciting. Not sure when that that will be released or anything yet, but I'm looking forward to it,' De Melo said.
West Australian
13-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Western Australian of the Year Award: Finalist Lorraine Lekias brings hope to lives of foster kids
A Perth woman whose boundless love for the children in her care inspired her to start a charity from her living room believes everyone can do their bit to foster hope and joy for kids in need. The sight of vulnerable children arriving for a foster care placement with only a few belongings stuffed in a plastic bag broke Lorraine Lekias' heart. So she started Fostering Hope Australia, which gathers new and donated clothing, nappies, bottles, cots and other items and provides them to children and families. 'Having been foster carers at that time for about 20 years, and having many children arrive to us — and they would come with nothing, a few belongings, nothing of their own — we realized that there was a huge need to help families who were having children arrive on their doorsteps, literally in the clothes that they were wearing and nothing else,' Ms Lekias said. 'It's grown exponentially — it's huge. It's gone from when we started in our home, and we were supporting friends, and then friends of friends. And then we went on to become an organised, registered charity, and it's just grown beyond our wildest imagination. 'I think we have 18,000 community members on our Facebook page, and over 1100 families that we support on our foster carer page.' Ms Lekias, who still has four foster children at home aged from six to 17, said she was 'really stunned, but deeply honoured' to be selected as a finalist for the Alcoa Community Award in the Western Australian of the Year Awards. Being named a finalist was not about recognition for her as a person, she said, but for a whole community of carers, children and volunteers. At a time when many families are struggling financially, even with two parents working, Ms Lekias said foster carers were increasingly harder to find. 'It's difficult to be able to open your hearts and homes to other children, but that's where we like to bring in the donating, volunteering — that's all playing a role,' she said. 'I believe you don't need to have a child in your home to be a foster carer. You can support a fostering family, and that's foster caring.' Fostering Hope, which now operates from purpose-built premises supported by Telethon, provides a 'store', where foster carers or grandparent carers can select clothes, toys, books, car seats or prams at no cost. Not content to stop at one program, Ms Lekias also founded Fostering Joy, to provide kids with picnics, movie days, a car rally and annual Christmas events. 'We realised that 'fostering hope' was a wonderful thing, but to 'foster joy' is what brings the laughter, the light and a sense of normality into the children's lives,' she said. A third program, Fostering Journey, provides children with their own new suitcase or sports bag to keep. The two other finalists for the Alcoa Community Award are Wheelchairs for Kids Australia founder Brother Olly Pickett and M'Liss Henry, who founded Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre to support people with disabilities. There are 21 finalists across seven categories, with the winners of each category and overall winner to be announced at the Western Australian of the Year Awards on Thursday, May 29 at Crown Perth.
