About The Same Same 25 The Same Same 25 is an annual celebration of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians. They are publicly nominated, and chosen by a panel of community leaders. For the past two years, the announcement of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians has attracted widespread national media attention and focused on the achievements and influence of a varied and inspirational group of people. View the Same Same 25 for 2008 here. View the Same Same 25 for 2007 here. About Same Same
The Judges - The Same Same 25 judges are drawn from a wide cross-section of the community, representing a broad field of influence and experience in their chosen professions. Andrew Creagh (Editor, DNA Magazine), Cec Busby (Editor, LOTL Magazine), Rachel Cook (Editor, Cherrie Magazine), Christian Taylor (Editor, SameSame.com.au), David Wilkins (ACON), Kevin Golding (Business Analyst), Peter Walton (Publisher, Evolution), Libby Clark (Co-founder, Sound Alliance), Tim Duggan (Co-founder, SameSame.com.au)
The Process - The Same Same 25 is publicly nominated, and chosen by a panel of community leaders. Anyone in Australia can nominate someone for the Same Same 25.

Jonathon Welch

Choir Director

Nationally recognised as an acclaimed singer, conductor, author, choir director and recording artist, Jonathon Welch is man of many talents, who is community minded and passionately dedicated to sharing the power of music to elevate society. In 2008, the openly gay Welch received a Local Hero award in the Australia Day awards, and in June this year he was awarded an even bigger honour – The Order Of Australia.

With high standards and a professional focus, Welch consistently inspires the discipline required to elevate even the most inexperienced in the Choral art form. Through an organised choir, Welch uses music to lift the spirits and esteem, plus raise awareness of the issues faced by that particular community.

A fine tenor, Welch was originally a touring singer with Opera Australia until he left the company to become the choir director of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir in 1998. Welch went on to work with some disenfranchised sectors of society and is most widely known for his work with the homeless through the creation and touring of the Choir Of Hard Knocks, now known as the Choir of Hope and Inspiration. The choir was the subject of an award-winning documentary that featured on ABC. Welch has also been responsible for touring and recording the efforts of the Choir of Hard Knocks, and created the Choir of Hard Knocks Foundation to ensure ongoing support and awareness for the homeless.

Most recently Welch worked with inmates of a women’s prison in Victoria for a choir work called ‘Jailbirds’, which has also been documented by the ABC.

Most recently he has launched Social Inclusion Week and National Street Party, with the support of the federal government and a number of prominent business supporters. Through these self initiated projects that he hope will connect Australian communities each November.

“The real purpose of life is joy… and music is an integral part of connecting to that joy” says Jonathon.

Welch lives in Melbourne with his partner of 9 years, Matt.