The Team at Astra
Rosy Seaton
Proprietor of Astra Lodge
Introducing
Shannon Exelby
General Manager of Astra Falls Creek
TAG General Manager, Shannon Exelby was raised on a cattle and cropping farm in country Queensland. He’s spent a lot of time exploring Australia and beyond, working and living in many beautiful locations. In Shannon’s well-travelled opinion, “Astra Falls Creek rivals the best in the world.”
“It’s a slice of Europe nestled in the Victorian Alps,” says Shannon.
A leader and innovator in the tourism industry for two decades, Shannon managed some of Australia’s most iconic hotels and resorts before joining TAG in 2018.
For Shannon, the perfect holiday is as much about the people as it is the location. He’s passionate about every guest having the best experience possible. “Astra Falls Creek is like no other ski accommodation in Australia. Our guests hail from all corners of the globe, and it is an annual pilgrimage for many.”
The Astra Experience is about bringing the magic of the glorious natural wonders of the Victorian Alps to guests, and for Shannon it’s about enjoying their sense of discovery. He takes great delight in ensuring that every guest leaves Astra happier than when they arrived.
Bryan Seaton
Head of Astra Transportation
Rosy’s brother Bryan was born and raised in Albury and joined the Astra team in 2018 to provide a private transport option for our guests. Bryan gets behind the wheel of the Mercedes Benz V Class 7-seater van and will pick up guests from either Melbourne or Albury airport and drop them at the front door. This bespoke service is famous for the convenience it offers; for the comfort of the ride and for Bryan’s great conversation!
Head to our Location section and find out more about this fantastic service.
David Featherston
Venue Manager
David joins the team at Astra as Venue Manager
David began his hospitality journey in the kitchen and acquire and ran his first restaurant from the kitchen, a well-known and much loved eatery on the foreshore of Hardy’s Bay, NSW.
In 2018, the mountains and regional dining scene lured David and his family to Bright, Victoria where he opened Elm Dining and later The Yard Bar & Grill where David made his transition from Head Chef to Host building a far reaching community connection. We are excited to work with David, bringing local knowledge and passion to the dining experience.
Sarah Volpe
Astra Restaurant Manager
Sarah has refined her love for creating special occasions from intimate romantic dinners to large wedding celebrations over the last 10 years. With experience in some of Melbourne’s most iconic dining establishments, as well as Regionally throughout Victoria’s Alpine Region and the Yarra Valley, Sarah has developed a love that comes from presenting beautiful food and wine to all her guests and creating memories that last a lifetime.
Whether you are making a dinner booking for 2 in our dining room, or planning a special dining experience in our Wine Cellar, Sarah will ensure the process is seamless!
Kauri Watkin
HEAD CHEF
Astra are thrilled to welcome Kauri Watkin back to Astra Falls Creek as Head Chef for 2022.
With experience spanning around Australia, in both regional areas and major cities, Kauri’s love for local produce and cooking with the seasons shines through.
After spending time around the world absorbing different techniques and working under award winning chefs, Kauri moved to Japan to further his knowledge and understanding of Japanese food and culture. He gained a true understanding of Japanese cooking and tradition working at the highly awarded Kaiseki Restaurant Kumahiko Arashiyama.
Most recently Kauri swapped the snow-capped mountains at Falls Creek for the Ovens River in Bright, as he and the Traverse Alpine Group transformed Elm Dining in Bright which received exceptional guest and industry reviews all summer.
This Winter at Astra indulge in Kauri’s expertly designed tasting menus. With opportunities for an exclusive Private Cellar Dining Experience, or dine in the award winning restaurant, the team at Astra will certainly look after you.
Après at Astra is not to be missed this year with lots of inviting surprises to be announced!
Matt Cridge
Sommelier
Born and bred in English cider country, Matt joined the Astra Falls Creek team as Sommelier for the 2021 snow season. With over a dozen years’ experience in hospitality, Matt has left behind the apples and hops, customary ingredients in the ciders and beers of Somerset, to dive headfirst into the world of wine here in Victoria.
Matt based himself the world-famous Yarra Valley for three years and fell in love with the cultivation and harvesting of grapes. He was enthralled by the ever-changing climatic factors that grape growers face and impressed by the extraordinary effort shown by winemakers who protect the season’s precious offering with conscientious work.
At Astra, Matt can guide diners through the individual delights to be savoured in a glass of wine from many of the world’s best terroirs. He revels in acknowledging the generations of hard work that goes into each vintage, and delights in retelling the secret stories revealed by carefully decoding a wine label. Matt combines his knowledge of wine with admiration for those who protect their land and intervene with the vintage when only necessary.
Having just finished the summer with Astra’s sister restaurant, Elm Dining in Bright, Matt now looks forward to taking you on an engaging and authentic wine adventure when you dine at Astra for 2022.
Allow Matt to take you on a voyage across the World with our impressive cellar list.
Hudson, Ollie & Detlev
Concierge & reception team
Jesse, Monica, Dean & Alice look forward to welcoming you when you arrive at Astra Falls Creek.
Lisa Pileggi
Astra Day Spa Manager
Lisa is a qualified and experienced therapist with extensive experience working in Day Spas and Skin Clinics throughout both Melbourne and Europe.
With a passion for working closely with her clients, Lisa finds joy being able to work with each client and indulging them in a spa or massage treatment to fit their needs.
Lisa loves watching guests leave the Astra Day Spa with a rejuvenated glow.
Tara Exelby
House Keeping Manager
It really is a family affair at Astra Falls Creek! Tara Exelby joins the Astra team again this year as House Keeping Manager. Tara grew up in Canada and her favourite places are the incredible Whistler and Revelstoke resorts where she returns most years to ski and visit family.
Tara has worked in some of Australia’s best resorts and hotels since moving to Australia in 2004. She brings a quite grace to the housekeeping service to ensure that all of Astra’s guest spaces are spotlessly clean and well presented.
What are they up to now?
LUIS BUCHAN
Luis Buchan served as Astra Sommelier for 3 seasons in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Born in Mexico City earning a BA in Gastronomy and Diploma in wines. Luis is our first inductee to the Astra Family where are they now. Luis has since moved to Queensland with his partner studying Geology with the same passion he invested in wines. We chat regularly with Luis and he will still send bottles of wines for us to try and as same we send him some of our new favourites. We wish Luis the best of luck with his new career and extend our sincere thanks for his years of service at Astra Falls Creek.
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