Titles

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Mr & Ms AUSTRALIA - OVERALL WINNERS
(courtesy Wayne Gallasch)

The Mr Australia contest was originally staged by various promoters and not staged every year as it has been since 1958. These early events were not officially affiliated with any organization.

The first Australian champion to compete in the NABBA Universe was 1954 Mr Australia John Penman who competed in the 1955 NABBA Universe where he won the Medium Class 2. Of course some may say that because he was born in New Zealand, this rules him out as the first Australian bodybuilder in the Universe. However he competed after winning the Mr Australia title which qualified him as the first Aussie in the Universe history books.

Victor Vella became the next Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe in 1963, where he placed 5th in Short Class 3. Although Victor was born in Malta, he went to the Universe after winning the 1961 and 1962 Mr Australia titles.

Guy Emery was the next person to represent Australia in the Universe in 1965. He was unplaced in Class 2 and remains something of a mystery.

The next Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe was 1965 Mr Australia Les Spendlove, who placed 6th in Tall Class 1 in 1966. This was the same class in which Chester Yorton beat Arnold into second place. Les came to Australia from Burma at age 3. He does hold the honour of being the first Australian to compete in the NABBA Universe and to be actually announced as representing Australia.

Frank Colombera was next competing in Class 3 in 1970 and 1971 and placing 4th and 3rd respectively.

Gary Lewer holds the NABBA record with 4 Overall Mr Australia titles. Gary also holds the record for the most NABBA Universe appearances at approximately 10.

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