How Bali jailbird who turned life around working at $10million ‘Cali Beach’ club on the Gold Coast

A Bali jailbird who turned his life around after trying to kill himself behind bars is working at a ritzy new $10million Gold Coast nightclub that welcomed some of Australia’s biggest social influencers to its grand opening.

Will Cabantog served a one-year sentence at the Indonesian island’s Kerobokan prison after he was caught with 1.12g of cocaine during a nightclub raid in July 2019.

Cabantog, who tried to hang himself while in jail only for the makeshift noose to snap, has since become a mental health advocate after vowing not to let his suicide attempt be his legacy. 

The ex-Melbourne club promoter on Wednesday revealed he was ‘back doing what I love’ after being hired as a senior VIP guest host at the Gold Coast’s ‘Cali Beach’ club.

Cabantog served a one-year sentence at the Indonesian island’s Kerobokan prison after he was caught with 1.12g of cocaine during a nightclub raid in July 2019

‘It’s in my blood and in my bones from pouring my first pint at the pub to at one point running the most successful club in the country,’ he wrote on Instagram.

‘Some might say I’ve changed but I’m same person just a better and improved version.’

The high-end rooftop club in the beachside city threw open the doors on Saturday to its 5,000sqm venue four stories above the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard. 

Among the guests on opening night were Big Brother star Skye Wheatley, model Erin McNaught and a string of social media influencers including 

The complex features an outdoor cinema, poolside cabanas, a volleyball court and a range of outdoor dining spots. 

Before his arrest in Bali, Cabantog was often photographed enjoying the party scene – posing for pictured with the likes of Australia’s Honey Badger and Eddy Maguire.

Ex-Big Brother star Skye Wheatley was at the grand opening of the ritzy beach club last Friday

Guests pictured at the opening of the beach club on a rooftop above Surfers Paradise Boulevard last weekend

Guests are pictured enjoying the opening of the ‘Cali Beach’ club on the Gold Coast

But after his near-death experience he said he wanted to reshape his life and told how he had started meditating, teaching English and had started studying for an online certificate in mental health.

 ‘I didn’t want to be remembered for coming to Bali and doing a line of coke and getting caught and thrown in a Bali jail and taking my life,’ Cabantog told The Herald Sun.

‘When you are stripped of everything and don’t have much left. It’s all about the legacy you want to leave.’ 

Cabantog said his near-hanging was just the tip of the iceberg of his traumatising time in jail life.

Kerobokan jail was built to house 300 criminals, though currently holds more than 1,400.

To make matters worse, maximum security prisoners, such as rapists and murderers, share open spaced dorms with minimum security prisoners.

Cabantog last year told how his suicide attempt led to him turning his life around

Cabantog was sentenced to one year in jail following a raid on the Lost City nightclub in Bali hot spot Canggu

Cabantog said he rented his own private cell – which can cost $250 a month – as a safety precaution during his one-year stint in the jail.

The jail also charges $50 for clean water, while cell protection and cleaning is set t $150.

He also received support from Bali Nine’s Matthew Norman – who shared the prison with him and became a spiritual leader of sorts to other prisoners as he serves his life sentence for drug trafficking.

Cabantog’s experiences have also prompted him to kickstart a mental health awareness campaign #speaklesslistenmore, which also serves as his Instagram handle. 

The ex-Melbourne nightclub promoter served his jail sentence at Bali’s notorious Kerobokan jail. He said he rented his own private cell as a safety precaution

Prior to his arrest, Cabantog was often photographed enjoying the party scene and posed for pictures along the likes of Australia’s Honey Badger and Eddy Maguire