Aussievision Team: Joel

Name and where you live

G'day I'm Joel and I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland! I grew up in country NSW in a town called Wagga Wagga and have also moved around Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast before arriving up here. Sure big cities are fun and exciting, but nothing beats the laid-back beaches and rainforests of the Sunny Coast!

Where to see more of Joel

Instagram: @joely.guacamole

X: @joely_g

Threads: @joely.guacamole

Tell us a little bit about yourself

These days I’m working in organic produce where my days include a bit of anything and everything, from email marketing to social media to working at the weekend farmers markets. It’s fun to work in such a healthy environment and play with fresh fruit and veggies every day!

I’ve only recently returned to work after taking a well-earned break to travel Europe following the sale of my colon hydrotherapy clinic last year. I figured after 10 years of running my own business it was probably time for some new adventures! I’m passionate about natural and alternative health, and it was such an honour to hold space for the many patients I saw seeking help over the years.

In my free time you’ll either find me hiking in the rainforest looking for swimming holes, relaxing at the beach, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, heading to a concert, or travelling somewhere new. Life’s all about gathering experiences, not things!

Hiking the mountains and fjords in Norway the same time Alessandra finished top 5 with Queen of Kings

What is your Eurovision journey?

I first started really getting into Eurovision whilst still at uni in 2002, when Marie N won for Latvia with I Wanna. Like everyone else I was absolutely captivated by her performance and transfixed by her multiple costume reveals. From here I was hooked, and have been ever since!

In these early years I was the sort of fan who sat down during the Grand Final broadcast, pen and paper in hand, eagerly ranking the contestants trying to predict who I thought should win. The more flamboyant and kitsch the better, and boy did the 2000’s deliver – peaking with the impossible campness of Feminnem’s Call Me from Bosnia & Herzigovina in 2005.

It took another 15 years for me to get introduced to the world of National Finals though. It wasn’t until I started learning to speak Swedish (due to my love of all things Swedish pop) that I discovered Melodifestivalen – and since then I’ve never looked back! In fact I’m such a Swedish stan that I often wonder which event I love more – Eurovision or Melfest. Please don’t make me decide…

Is it even a Eurovision party if you don't have a fruit platter with baby Swedish flags?

These days I’m all across every National Final, and my favourite thing to do is discover the gems that weren’t selected for Eurovision but should have been. Did somebody say Danny Saucedo? But seriously, in a world where so much great musical art is created, why not consume it all?

Do you have any affinity with nations other than Australia?

Well if we believe Duolingo and my 2000+ day learning streak, I appear to have a pretty strong affinity with Sweden! But honestly who wouldn’t, when they’re such a powerhouse of the competition? Lena Philippson was the original diva, Charlotte Perrelli is an icon, and two-time winner Loreen is Eurovision royalty.

The number one item on my bucket list is to experience a Eurovision Grand Final held in Sweden. I was devastated when I missed out on tickets in 2024, hopefully it’ll be next time lucky!

To be honest though I’ve definitely got a soft spot for all of the Nordic nations. Any year that Finland, Iceland, Norway or Denmark wants to win, I’m here for it!

Any Aussievision highlights?

The highlight has got to be attending my first OGAE Preview Party with the Brisbane Aussievision team in 2025.

Not only did we get to see the film clips of all 37 countries and meet Aussie artist Go-Jo, but we were also treated to a high-energy performance from 2010 and 2017 Eurovision alumni from Moldova, The SunStroke Project! A heap of fun all round, especially to meet the rest of the team in person for the first time.

Me and Go-Jo, just two besties hanging out

Quick questions on Eurovision entries

Best winner:

I’m gonna go all the way back to 1969 and say Spain’s Salomé with Vivo Cantando is the best Eurovision winner of all time. That dress, all 14 kilos of it! Those are-they-or-aren’t-they-allowed-in-Eurovision standing on the spot dance moves! And that rapidly increasing pace as she reached the crescendo. Every. Moment. Iconic.

Favourite three non-Australian entries:

Mihai Traistariu – Tornero (Romania, 2006) Francesca Michielin – No Degree of Separation (Italy, 2016) Go_A – Shum (Ukraine, 2021)

Favourite Australian entry:

Dami Im – Sound of Silence (2016). We really should have won with this song. This was Australia’s golden moment on the Eurovision stage, and was the perfect entry for its time.

Makes you dance:

Helena Paparizou – My Number One (Greece, 2004)

Favourite non-qualifier:

Saba - Sand (Denmark, 2024)

Favourite Eurovision year:

I’m going to be controversial and say 2020 – the Eurovision that never happened! This year offered so much hope, and surely would have been the strongest and best Eurovision yet.

But if we're talking contests that were actually held, 2005 will always hold a soft spot in my heart for many reasons, three of them being Vanilla Ninja, Feminnem and Helena Paparizou.

Favourite national finals:

Eurovision: Australia Decides and Melodifestivalen

Favourite national final songs:

My Top 5 countdown are all failed Melfest hopefuls, as expected.

5. Clara Klingenström - Behöver inte dig idag (2021). Always a genuinely enjoyable tune.

4. Emil Henrohn – Mera, mera, mera (2023). This is Emil living his best flaming gay life, and boy do I love it!

3. Kayo - Innan natten är över (2006). People are sleeping on this dreamy schlager classic!

2. Fröken Snusk – UNGA & FRIA (2024). Epadunk at Melfest? Yes please!

1. Danny Saucedo – Happy That You Found Me (2024). Did someone say robbed?

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