01 / About

A Lara resident
making Geelong
better, quietly.

Thirty-five-plus years in this region. A theatre company, a tech business, a foundation that gives back. The full story — what I've done, what I'd do, and why I'm running again in 2028.

David Greenwood OAM, founder of CentreStage Performing Arts Academy, in the auditorium

01 / Short versionThe short version.

I'm David Greenwood OAM. I've lived in Geelong for more than 35 years — in Lara with my partner Brett for the last decade. I run a theatre company that gives Geelong kids somewhere to grow up creative, and a technology business that helps local organisations run their offices. I've sat on community boards, raised over $1 million for local charities — from Cancer Council to Lara Football Netball Club — and in 2024 I was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the arts and to business.

In October 2024 I stood for the You Yangs Ward in the City of Greater Geelong council election. I didn't win — Chris Burson did, and I respect that result. But the ward needs someone working on its issues every week, not only in the eight weeks before a ballot. So I'm still here, still in the community, and I'm standing again in 2028.

This site is where I'll be writing it down: what I'm doing, what I'm reading in council papers, who I've met, and what I'd do differently if I was on council.

The work speaks. The candidate frames it. — A note I keep on my office wall.

02 / MilestonesSome milestones.

The honours below are public record. Each one links to a press article or an organisation's announcement.

2010
Founded
CentreStage Performing Arts Academy founded — now Australia's largest amateur musical theatre company, staging 15-20 shows a year, with around 500 active volunteers and 100 local contractors.
2019
Award
Edith Harrhy Award from the Victorian Music Theatre Guild, plus the Geelong Business Excellence Health and Wellbeing Promoting Workplace Award (sponsored by Barwon Health).
2020
Award
Small Business of the Year at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards (sponsored by Bendigo Bank).
2021
Hall of Fame
CentreStage inducted into the Geelong Business Excellence Awards Hall of Fame — three consecutive award wins. Second Health & Wellbeing Promoting Workplace win the same year.
2022
CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility Award (sponsored by genU). I was also named a first-year judge for the awards I'd just been inducted into.
2024
OAM · Election
Medal of the Order of Australia — Australia Day 2024 honours, for services to the performing arts and to business. Ran for You Yangs Ward in the October council election.
2025
Award
Youth Entrepreneur of the Year — Geelong Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, announced 30 October 2025.
2026
In the ward
Working in Lara, Avalon, Anakie, Lovely Banks, and across You Yangs. Regular at Bendigo Bank Lara events, community meetings, and council consultations. Office on Hamilton Highway in Fyansford, open four days a week.

03 / Where I standWhere I stand.

Plain English. These are positions I've held publicly — not in eight-week campaign mode, but every week of the year.

01

Transparency on local spending.

Every dollar of council money in You Yangs should be traceable to a project, a date, and a person responsible. I pushed for this on Serendip Sanctuary funding. It applies everywhere.

02

Genuine consultation, not surveys.

Door knocks. Hall meetings. Sit down with local resident groups, the CFA, the schools, the farmers. A survey link in a council newsletter is not consultation.

03

Back the people doing the work.

Volunteer organisations carry this region. Council's job is to fund and support them — not to take credit for what they deliver on the ground.

04

Arts & culture as community infrastructure.

The Northern Aquatic & Community Hub got a performance space because the community asked for one. I'll keep pushing for venues that work for sport, for performance, and for everyday gatherings.

05

Footpaths, crossings, the boring stuff.

The unglamorous list. The footpath outside the school. The crossing on Patullos Lane. The bench at the bus stop. Small things, named and counted.

06

An open office, in the ward.

Hamilton Highway in Fyansford. Four days a week. Walk in without an appointment. The phone goes through to me — 0422 589 271.

04 / Affiliations

On the record.

Boards, memberships, and industry bodies I'm part of. Public affiliations are the only kind worth listing.

Founder & Managing Director
CentreStage
Performing Arts Academy
2010 · / · Ongoing
Owner
Elevate Technology
Solutions Pty Ltd
Geelong · / · IT & office tech
Member
Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
MEAA · / · Ongoing
Member
Music Theatre Guild
of Victoria
Ongoing
Member
Australian Entertainers'
Agents Association
Ongoing
Member
Geelong Chamber
of Commerce
Ongoing
Premium Partner
Geelong & Bellarine Tourism
via CentreStage
Recipient
Order of Australia
OAM · / · January 2024
Recipient
Youth Entrepreneur of the Year
GBEA · / · October 2025

Land acknowledgement. CentreStage works and creates on Wadawurrung land. I live and campaign on Wadawurrung country. I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and to all First Nations people who carry this place forward.

05 / In the community

Around the ward.

Snapshots from the work — Lara Football Netball Club, the Geelong Business Excellence Awards, a poster wall at the theatre, a guide dog at The Pulse 94.7 FM, ground-breaking at the Northern Aquatic Hub, a parade down the main street. Real places, real days.

Ground-breaking at a Greater Geelong infrastructure project, with hi-vis and shovels Ground-breaking · / · Greater Geelong
On the boundary with a young Coles Healthy Kicks player Coles Healthy Kicks · Lara FNC
With a guide dog in training at The Pulse 94.7 FM Geelong The Pulse 94.7 FM
7NEWS Young Achiever Awards 2025 — presenting with a winner 7NEWS Young Achiever · 2025
CentreStage Performing Arts Academy in the Geelong street parade Street parade · Geelong
With CentreStage patrons after a performance After the show · CentreStage
A puppy in training at a Lara community day Lara community day
National Indian Film Festival of Australia, Geelong NIFFA · Geelong 2026
Showing a child the back of the camera, on a community day Community day · you yangs ward
At the CentreStage poster wall — fifteen years of productions 15 years of CentreStage
At the 2025 Geelong Business Excellence Awards GBEA 2025 · Youth Entrepreneur of the Year

All photos used with permission of those in them. If you appear in one and would prefer not to, email david@centrestage.org.au and it will be replaced within 24 hours.

05 / Endorsements

What people say.

Quotes from community leaders, fellow board members, and locals who've worked with me. Each one is on the record, with a name and a role.

"
David's service to the performing arts and to business is evident through being founder and managing director of CentreStage Performing Arts Academy since 2010.
Order of Australia citation / 26 January 2024
Read all endorsements

06 / What's next

Want to help?

Volunteer your time, endorse the campaign, or just write back and tell me what you think the ward needs. I read every email.

Volunteer Endorse David