Meet the team

Nathania Springs sports a diverse, fresh team, with each member bringing their own skills and flair to the job. It is likely that you will meet the staff members presented here when you visit us to plan your wedding.  

Helen Célèrier

Prior to her career in sales and marketing for professional publication companies, Helen gained hospitality experience in France, the UK, Germany and Belgium.

At Nathania Springs, Helen keeps the books and she plays a key role in managing the day-to-day activities of staff planning, sales inquiries and current functions planning. Helen has a strong interest in floral artistry and in addition to preparing the table arrangements for each function, she take care of bridal bouquets with her own business under Nathania Springs umbrella, Darling Buds.
 

JF (Jean-François) Célèrier

Before buying Nathania Springs in November 2001, JF had an extensive career in hospitality with Hilton International hotels and Spotless. Work assignments over 30 years took him from the UK to Germany, Belgium and to national operations roles in Australia and New Zealand. His experience across many cultures and cuisines have shaped his wide-ranging interests in food, wine and cultural traditions.

Besides his daily activities in sales and operations, JF is always keen to customise a wedding package to suit your own tastes, culture and interests.
 

Paul Smith
After a 20-year career in Western Australia where he led kitchen teams of award winning restaurants and 4 & 5 star hotels in Perth, the Swan Valley and northern resorts, Paul moved to Victoria in January 2010.

Paul brings to Nathania Springs a passion for best cuisine that dates well before Masterchef made it a fashionable statement.

This passion started as a child when he was cooking with his Mother. After a solid apprenticeship in Leeds (UK) and an advanced catering course where his attention to details and quality singled him out as a the top of his year, Paul went on to an illustrious career in London. There, if he was not cooking for Margaret Thatcher, David Bowie, Prince Philip or Paul McCartney, he won the “Chef of the Year” competition.

Paul is dedicated to his culinary craft and nothing pleases him more than a perfect meal to suit a perfect and very special day.

At home Paul rarely cooks. He is discreet about playing the piano which he has been playing since he was 5. That’s talent all around!... and sorry,... he does not do wedding gigs at the piano.

Jason Deacon

Jason joined as one of our waiting staff in October 2004 and quickly became involved with the office and marketing activities of Nathania Springs, including the design and maintenance of this website and the centre's brochure. When doing marketing work, Jason can wear his casual clothes, and is very proud to say that the majority of this website was designed while wearing slippers.

Jason studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, & completed  a degree in Creative Advertising at RMIT University. Although mostly 'hidden away' in the office, Jason also has a Certificate III in hospitality and you might catch him serving you a drink from the bar every now and then.

In late 2008, Jason completed an Erasmus exchange to Universidad Politecnica de Valencia in Spain. He followed that in 2009 by being one of the 5 winners world-wide of the Future Lions advertising awards in Cannes, France. Employed full time in the creative team of one of the leading advertising agency since early 2010, Jason keeps a key role at Nathania Springs in progressing our Marketing innovation and strategy.
 

Penny Forrest

Coming to us from a vast hospitality background, Penny has managed restaurants such as T.G.I Friday’s and Hard Rock Café. She has also thoroughly enjoying working at theatre restaurants including Dracula’s (playing a crazed psycho) and Titanic.

Prior to this work, she obtained a Bachelor of Applied Science (Intellectual Disability Studies) and worked in various places in that field before deciding to change paths. In the middle of all of this, Penny was also lucky enough to be part of the Commonwealth Games volunteer squad!

Penny enjoys playing, coaching and umpiring netball and got married herself in April 2008. She’s thrilled to have come on board at Nathania Springs in her key role as Senior Function Manager.
 

Katrina Ball

Katrina came aboard the Nathania ship in October 2008 through a work experience placement. Being a keen multi-tasker she has tried her hand at waitressing, bar and DJ before moving into the role of Function Manager.

Fond of dancing and listening to Daniel's often bad 'dad' jokes, Katrina has completed Diplomas of Tourism and also Event Management.

Sampling all the food cooked up by Paul is a favourite pastime of Katrina's at Nathania, and she aspires to one day create wonderfully unique and delicious dishes without the use of a recipe book! A broccoli based recipe stands a good chance.
 

Emily Deacon

One of the Function Managers to make it happen on the special day, Emily has been part of the waiting team since 2005 and at the start of  2008 she became a Wedding Sales Co-ordinator. With her love of fashion, Emily truly enjoys seeing a different and beautiful wedding dress every time she comes to work.

A very keen dancer for many years, Emily participates in Advanced Jazz and Classical RAD at Kallista Dance Academy and also enjoys teaching dance.

Emily is currently studying Journalism at Monash University and in her spare time, she can be found shopping, attempting to bake and gossiping with her friends over coffee and cake.
 

Tim Werner

Tim joined the Nathania Springs team in September 2007 as a kitchen-hand and waiter. After increasing his repertoire to include yard, maintenance, DJ and bar, Tim became a Wedding Sales Co-ordinator.

Keen to make friends with everyone and everything, in his spare time Tim enjoys playing tennis, soccer, painting and learning guitar.

He is currently studying Environmental Engineering at Monash University and is keen on making Nathania Springs a more sustainable business. Tim looks forward to working with the Nathania team to produce Australia’s first “Green Wedding”.
 

Megan Fleming

Megan has been a member of the Nathania Springs team since 2004. Beginning as a waitress, she now doubles as a Wedding Sales Co-ordinator.

A broad range of interests keep Megan on her toes; playing goal keeper for her local netball team being one of them. She also is a big fan of desserts and enjoys baking the odd cake... or ten.

Megan is currently studying Arts at Deakin University with an eye for becoming an art teacher in the future. When she was in grade five she painted a beautiful whale, which still serves as a benchmark in Primary School art appreciation.

Daniel Jackson

Daniel has been a member of Nathania Springs staff since mid 2001. His involvement is with gardening and maintenance activities. Daniel is regularly busy with theatre productions and he is also heavily involved with local theatre group, The Gemco Players.

A sharp sense of humour inhabits Daniel, he and Jason are the voices and co-creators of our radio ads on Light FM. Along with Jason, Daniel co-hosted the Thursday Breakfast Program on radio station 3MDR for over 5 years.
 

Ellie & Finn

Ellie and Finn are the four legged members of the Nathania Springs team.
Ellie is a charming, (sometimes white) West Highland terrier – Westie born and bred in Geelong. She joined the team in January 2007.
Finn is an alert black, with a bit of brindle, Scottish terrier - Scottie born and bred in Thornbury. He joined the team in February 2010 after being spotted at a Highland gathering in Berwick.

Both Ellie and Finn love greeting visitors and rarely miss the opportunity to say hello or to have their belly scratched. On wedding days Ellie & Finn are trained to stay out of the way and they are often seen having a tug at a toy in the back office. Their other interests include patrolling the grounds and checking that possums and cockatoos keep within their territory. Ellie & Finn also enjoy curling up in the sun or on the back office sofa for a snooze and dream about gorgeous brides and handsome grooms.
 

If you are interested in joining the Nathania All-Stars, be sure to have a look at our employment page!