AFTER more than a decade building a colourful life and career in the United States, Brendan Stonestreet has returned to Australia with a new perspective and a renewed sense of belonging.
His journey has taken him from the Gold Coast to the Las Vegas Strip, from stage lights to helicopters, from building elaborate showgirl costumes to photographing celebrities.
Now, Hervey Bay is the place he has chosen to call home.
Brendan grew up in Australia but spent much of his twenties chasing opportunities on the Gold Coast.
He worked in gyms, did some modelling, and earned a living in the nightclub scene.
His life took an unexpected turn at 31 when he accepted an invitation to join Australia’s ‘Thunder from Down Under’, the long running male revue show on the Las Vegas Strip.
“I never really considered myself a dancer,” Brendan laughs.
“But I was fit and up for the challenge. It was physically demanding, but it opened the door to a whole new world.”
That new world came with its share of setbacks.
The heavy schedule left him injured, and when his time with the show ended, he found himself looking for the next chapter.
What followed was classic Las Vegas.
He built a showgirl company, designing feathered costumes and started managing dozens of performers who posed with tourists under the neon lights.
“I couldn’t sew a button when I started, but I taught myself and before long had 25 or 30 girls working for me on the Strip.”
It was a Christmas gift that changed everything, when his then girlfriend gave him one of the first consumer drones to hit the market.
“That drone was my first camera. I flew it as much as I could. I got hooked, and one thing led to another, drones to videography, videography to racing drones, then into photography.”
Soon, he was being hired for commercial shoots and luxury real estate, gradually refining his skills and building a reputation. He hustled constantly, reaching out to helicopter companies, tourism operators, and business owners.
“I probably got ninety nine rejections for every yes, but it only takes one yes to open the next door.”
That persistence brought him into contact with some remarkable names.
“One day I got a call asking if I could shoot Mike Tyson the next day. Suddenly I’m at his house. His hands were the biggest I’ve ever seen.”
“Next thing I know, I’m working with aircraft and helicopter companies, flying above the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip. All that came from just asking. Taking action is everything.”
After fourteen years abroad, Brendan has resettled in Hervey Bay, where his parents have lived for the past four years.
The decision was partly practical, he wanted a base in Australia, but it was also personal.
“Hervey Bay feels right. It reminds me of home, except without the surf. The lifestyle, the space, even the whales, it’s special.”
While he admits he misses the waves, he sees opportunity in the Bay’s growing community.
“In Vegas, social media was everything. Here, I see a lot of businesses still tied up in day to day operations, and their digital presence gets left behind. For a regional city, that’s a huge opportunity.”
Brendan says his career has been less about luck and more about persistence and confidence.
“I think the biggest lesson I can share with young people here is to not be afraid to put yourself out there. Send the message, knock on the door, start the conversation. You might hear no most of the time, but the one yes can change everything.”
“I have learned that passion counts, but so does action. You don’t need to know the whole path, just take the first step and keep moving forward. That’s how opportunities come.”
