Our Coaches

Yelana Jennings

Area of Interest:
Nutrition and the member experience

About me:
Trying to be as prepared and organised as possible, doesn’t matter what the task or career, problem solving and organising things it’s where my mind likes to operate. This, in more recent times has been a blessing and sometimes a stressful curse (thanks Covid-19 and Vic Government)!
I grew up in a small country towns, where if you don’t play sport, what do you do? I played netball, hockey, basketball & squash. I ran and rode along the highway, I swam daily and competed on weekends, I did Little Aths and played junior golf. Later in my sporting life I also played hockey and was lucky enough to hit the winning goal in the Grand Final! It’s fair to say sport has made up a big chunk of my life!

CrossFit History:
I started CrossFit at Fit Republic in March 2013 when I moved to Bendigo for Uni. During my first three Uni semesters (March 2013 - May 2014), I was a Monday - Thursday CrossFitter, travelling home for sport and work most weekends, and spending my time at home each holiday break for work also. In August 2014 I made the change to Dauntless and have never looked back. My fitness improved out of sight and the friendships and community that came with it began to take over the home town sport community I was hanging onto. After just 1 year at Dauntless, I was trying to work out a way I could give back to this community that felt like it had given me so much. It was at this time I was approached and asked if I would like to join the team as one of the coaches. That was Feb 2016, and it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done.
Flash forward to September 2019 and I was then given the opportunity to take over the running of the gym!

Favourite CF movement/s:
Snatch
Ring Muscle Ups
I think the high skill technical movements are my favourite because it is about the work that goes into getting the technique right!

Hobbies and interests:
Enjoying great hospitality experiences and telling people all about them.
Socialising and still being home by 9pm ;)
Walking and swimming Ted
Exploring new places with Justin (hopefully more in the van soon).
Mountain biking, downhill in preference (will take a shuttle up a hill any day)!

Jo Wolters (Joey)

Particular Area of Interest:
I enjoy coaching all modalities of CrossFit. I really enjoy the gymnastic drills and skill sessions and also like breaking down standards and points of performance in lifting. I find a great deal of personal satisfaction when I’m able to help members find that cue or explanation that makes something they’ve struggled with click.

About me:
I am a mother of 2 teenage boys, was a hairdresser and salon owner for over 15 years. Have been involved in the fitness industry, primarily with Fit Republic, for 15 years in lots of capacities including Little Ninja Karate, instructing various classes including Kettlebells, step, cardio karate, cage fitness and eventually CrossFit.

CrossFit History:
I have been Crossfitting for about 9 years. Got hooked pretty much 2 weeks in and didn’t look back. After being a participant for around 2 years I was asked to start shadowing some classes with the view of taking on classes. When Fit decided to discontinue CrossFit affiliation we merged members of CrossFit Anarchy and Fit with dual membership deals and I went over to Anarchy to coach bringing over a majority of our members. Late 2019 Anarchy was looking at closing and Yelana approached me with the opportunity to come to Dauntless and take some sessions over there. Decided that would be a great option and we haven’t looked back since. Bringing over a group of Anarchy members we haven’t looked back and feel like we have landed in with an amazing group of athletes and management.

I have been with Dauntless since late 2019 and coaching since early 2020!

Favourite CF movement/s:
I love any gymnastic movements, my favourite is probably T2B and my favourite lift is Deadlift.

Hobbies and interests:
Cooking, socialising, fishing, relaxing with a drink or two and a platter.

Nakita Piroddi (AEP)

Area of Interest:
Injury Rehabilitation and Prevention (Accredited Exercise Physiologist - AEP)

Certified Pre + Post Natal Coach

About me:
I am the South African addition to the team. I moved over from South Africa in 2010 to complete my Postgraduate Degree and have been in Bendigo since 2015. During the day I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist in the Public Health sector. My passion is helping individuals gain independence and confidence in their body through physical activity to help them better manage any injuries and/or chronic conditions. This passion definitely aligns very well to CrossFit philosophy of health

CrossFit History:
First brief exposure to CrossFit was at CrossFit Frankston in 2012 for a few months, but didn’t really commit to CrossFit till late 2017 when I joined Dauntless. I found Dauntless when I moved to Bendigo, and really fell in love with the community and the shared goal of being happier, healthier humans

In November 2019, I became a Coach with Dauntless. In 2020 I began working more formally with some of our members with new or long term injuries. I am now able to provide 1:1 injury rehab programming for any Dauntless members that require rehab outside of class, as well incorporating rehab or modifications into their daily WODs as needed. Appointments can be made by any of our Dauntless members

Favourite CF movement/s:
Any Barbell work (well maybe not thrusters)
HSPU
Saturday Swimming

Hobbies and interests:
Identifying new shoe purchases on members!
Day and Overnight hikes.
Any Craft activity

David Dean (Davo)

Area of Interest:
Weightlifting

About me:
Originally from Tasmania, I moved to Bendigo at 16. I work as a Social worker at Anglicare. I’ve always been driven to help others and has been a major passion in and outside of work. I have a beautiful fiancé, named Sara and a little baby girl, named Maisie.

My 2 biggest weaknesses are a good platter and a natural confectionary party mix. My biggest strength is that seeing almost anyone is exciting to me.

CrossFit History:
I THINK I have been coming to CFDL since 2013/14. Initially I would come once or twice a week, get sore and then avoid the place till I felt better again. After about 2 years of that, I learned more about consistency being a better goal and that’s when I went from ‘feeling like I SHOULD go to gym’ to genuinely loving it.

I started coaching at CFDL in September, 2018. The reason I wanted to be come a coach is that I get to be there for the moments people learn new skills, hit P.R.s on their lifts, or truly learn that they are more resilient than they realise.

What I never expected, was there would be moments people would share things from their personal lives and want someone there to cry with, people would come to class with a piece of advice that they utilised outside of the gym that made their life better, or my FAVOURITE thing.. When someone shy, who second guessed their ability realised that they were actually inspiring others and I got to be there to see that moment.

Favourite CF movement/s:
Snatch, rest and anything in a partner WOD

Hobbies and interests:
I love to be around my family (they all live away). I love being with Sara and Maisie and doing literally anything. I love to play Xbox, any food, getting outside, anywhere. I love BBQs, dressing up and meeting people for drinks! I like to be an idiot and make people happy and I like being around the people from my gym.

Peter Harwood (Pete)

Area of Interest: Olympic Lifting, All Athlete Advancement. I live to Coach and love to help, all those who want to, be the best they can be. 

About me:
Im a focused and enthusiastic Partner / Father and Masters Athlete. I have faced many challenges in my short 48 yrs and I am looking forward to the next 48 years worth. Ive been training to better my life choices for 10 years now and the next two should be the hardest and most rewarding of them so far. Been a Salesman for most of my Career but Coaching is my passion and where I find the biggest rewards by far.

CrossFit History:
I started at CrossFit Anarchy as a 117kg novice at 39 and just handled 2-3 sessions per week in those days. Moved over to CFDL after 7 years of training and 18 mths of Coaching with my Partner Joey to find a new Community to participate in and continue our CrossFit journey. Now at 93kgs and training 6-7 sessions per week my next step is competition.
I started coaching at Dauntless in Nov 2019 first shadowing before taking classes solo from Jan 2020.

Favourite CF movement/s:
All Barbell Lifts. Snatch, C&J, Deadlift etc

Hobbies and interests:
Adventure Moto Riding, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Hunting and watching all kinds of Motorsports up close and personal.

Bianca Donaldson (B)

Area of Interest:
I love learning about the Nutrition side of things and how I can tweak my lifestyle. But I love lifting weights in particular Back Squats.

About me:
I am a Mum to my two gorgeous sons Jaxon and Tex, and a wife to my loving husband Michael, I am currently a stay at home mum working casually as a waitress and doing the book keeping for our family business. I enjoy keeping fit and love to keep busy.

CrossFit History:
At the age of about 19 I was overweight and very unhappy with the way I look and this affected me mentally. I turned to gym and running, with this I found it helped me a lot mentally, in 2013 I needed to try something different so I tried CrossFit at Dauntless and I have not looked back since I LOVE IT.
I started coaching at Dauntless in May 2017.

Favourite CF movement/s:
Bar Muscle Ups
Back Squats

Hobbies and interests:
I love catching up with friends and socializing