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Throughout his time at the College, Lachlan
Greg Johnson who, was a very serious Deputy
was amazing,” he said. Since then, Lachlan has been touring
studied Drama and Music before adding Music
Head of the Senior School, but turned into
Extension in Year 11. Being a student who
a music theatre lover and stage man in the
around the world for most of this year, visiting
had his heart set on the creative arts, Gillespie
afternoons.”
Australia, New Zealand and North America. The new Wiggles also have their first TV series
says that BBC gave him the perfect platform
Like most other aspiring performers,
to peruse his dreams of a career in the area.
Lachlan had to work elsewhere while trying
'Ready Steady Wiggle' which started on the
“I never really saw myself doing anything else,
to land that life-changing role. “I was living in
ABC in August.
other than trying to get into a music theatre
Melbourne, working at a local cafe while I was
course,” he said.
auditioning for everything that came my way.
will get the chance to be back in Brisbane
The performing arts industry is incredibly tough
in December, when the Wiggles do their first
These areas can sometimes find themselves
As a part of his busy schedule, Lachlan
out of favour to other areas of interest, such
and you can spend the majority of the time
national tour of Australia. Every so often,
as sport or academia; but Lachlan says BBC
walking away from auditions after getting so
Lachlan gets the chance to come back to
had the necessary programs and facilities to
close,” Lachlan said.
BBC to visit his old teachers, and keep up with
support his interests. “It’s fantastic at BBC. If
After a successful audition with The
how his old school is going. “My mum is still
you want to learn music or drama, you had
Wiggles in 2009, Lachlan found himself touring
teaching at the College in the Junior School,
absolutely no problems in doing so,” Gillespie
nationally with the group just three days later.
so I do occasionally pop in when I can. It’s
said. “Having these opportunities at the
“I toured with the Dorothy show for two and a
wonderful to see my old teachers. I would like
College led to a huge confidence boost leading
half years, travelling to all corners of Australia
to visit more, but I am very rarely in Brisbane
up to finishing school.”
and New Zealand. It was an incredible time,”
for more than a day at time, so it gets a little
he said. “This was a dream come true. A
hard to fit everything in,” Gillespie said.
Lachlan was heavily involved in the music program, not only studying the subject, but
chance to tour the world with the original four
Lachlan’s advice for those students wishing
undertaking extra curricular music programs
Wiggles, who I had looked up to and held in
to pursue a career in the creative arts is to
that gave him relevant experience. “The BBC
such high regard, long before I joined all the
make yourself stand out from the pack. “Only
Music program was fantastic. I remember
way back in 2009.”
this year I have learnt one of my biggest life
nervously preparing for the Trinity College
Gillespie saw touring with The Wiggles
lessons, and that is to find out what makes
singing exams, both individually, and as part
as an honour, and was proud to be able to
you unique, and use that to your advantage,”
of the choir, which were good tests. I was part
continue the existing dynasty. “The Wiggles
Lachlan said. “I was very nervous knowing that
of the choir program right through my senior
have been travelling and performing for
I was going to be taking the purple skivvy from
years at BBC and enjoyed that immensely.”
children all over the world for 21 years. I am
Jeff. I thought to be the next purple Wiggle
During his latter years at the school,
so grateful to The Wiggles for giving me this
I had to continue being Jeff, and not myself.
Lachlan participated in school productions,
opportunity,” Gillespie said. “It is a very special
The sooner you can discover what makes
which provided him with an avenue to test
job, not only performing live shows but also
you different to everyone else, the easier it is
himself in a professional environment, and gain
visiting the hospitals and meeting children with
to realise you were never meant to get those
valuable stage time. Lachlan’s fondest memory
special needs. I absolutely love it.”
other auditions because you land a role you
of his time at the College was being cast as
Halfway through last year, Lachlan learned
were born to play,” he said
Bill Hickok in their production of ‘Calamity
that the original Wiggles were retiring, and
The Wiggles are touring around Australia
Jane’. “I was eagerly awaiting the opportunity
was asked to step into the shoes of Geoff,
this December in their ‘Ready Steady Wiggle’
to audition for the school musicals once I
the purple Wiggle. “I had dreams of maybe
tour, which is the first opportunity to see
reached Year 11. It was a wonderful thing to
putting on a coloured skivvy one day, but it
the new generation of Wiggles in Australia.
be able to finish school of an afternoon, and
was a dream just to tour as a Wiggly dancer
Lachlan and the other Wiggles will be visiting
then run up to the chapel where the girls of St
and singer for the guys, but to be one of them
the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on 23
Aidan’s would meet with the boys of BBC for
was amazing. When I eventually put the purple
December.
rehearsal. This was all led by the creative Mr
skivvy on in the new year, I was speechless. It