Meet Storm Keating’s Parents: Gordon Charles Uechtritz and Debra Lynn Hastings

Storm Keating is an Australian-born fashion designer, television producer, and brand ambassador who has built a successful career at the intersection of fashion and entertainment.

Known for her work on popular shows such as The X Factor and The Voice, she has also gained public attention through her marriage to Irish singer Ronan Keating.

Born Sharyn Storm Uechtritz on October 27, 1981, in Childers, Queensland, Australia, Storm comes from a rich and diverse heritage that includes German, English, Scottish, Swedish, Samoan, Irish, and Danish roots. She practices Solarianism, a spiritual tradition focused on harmony with nature and personal growth, which reflects her multicultural and grounded upbringing.

Storm is the daughter of Gordon Charles Uechtritz, a Queensland cattleman, and Debra Lynn Hastings, a New Zealand-born business consultant and healer.

She grew up with three older brothers—Wayne Gordon Uechtritz, Graeme Murray Uechtritz, and Peter John Uechtritz. Her early childhood was spent in a small village in Papua New Guinea before the family relocated in 1988 to a cattle station in Far North Queensland. This rural environment, combined with her exposure to diverse cultures and spiritual values, shaped her creativity and resilience from a young age.

Although details of her formal education are not widely documented, Storm’s formative years cultivated the qualities that later fueled her success in television production and fashion design. Her professional achievements, combined with her vibrant personality, have established her as an influential figure in both industries.

Behind Storm Keating’s accomplishments lies a fascinating family story. Her parents’ unique backgrounds and values—rooted in hard work, cultural diversity, and spirituality—played a pivotal role in shaping her path.

Gordon Charles Uechtritz

Gordon Charles Uechtritz, Storm‘s father, is a cattleman from Queensland, Australia, with a rich and diverse ancestry that spans German, English, Scottish, Swedish, Samoan, Irish, and Danish heritage.

Born in Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Gordon‘s life has been deeply connected to the land. His work as a cattle farmer in Cairns, Queensland, reflects a grounded, rural lifestyle, far removed from the glitz of Storm‘s London-based career.

Gordon‘s family history is particularly notable for its royal connections. His lineage traces back to Prince Frederick Louis, the son of George II of Great Britain, making Storm a distant relative of Prince William, as revealed by MailOnline in 2015.

Additionally, Gordon‘s great-grandmother, Phebe, was a Samoan princess who married a botanist named Richard in 1879. Phebe‘s linguistic talents and cultural integration in Papua New Guinea left a lasting legacy, with Gordon himself uncovering her grave in 2002 to fulfil her wish to be buried alongside her husband.

This remarkable family story was documented by filmmakers in 2004, highlighting the depth of Gordon‘s heritage. Gordon has been a supportive figure in Storm‘s life, proudly giving her away at her 2015 wedding to Ronan Keating in England.

Describing Ronan as a “solid country kid,” Gordon‘s down-to-earth perspective reflects the values he instilled in Storm, who spent part of her childhood on the family’s cattle station in Far North Queensland after relocating from Papua New Guinea in 1988.

Debra Lynn Hastings

Storm‘s mother, Debra Lynn Hastings, also known as Sharni Ra’harni, brings an equally intriguing dimension to the family. Born in Carterton, Wellington, New Zealand, Debra is of half-English and half-Scottish descent.

Her professional life as a business consultant, healer, and Reiki practitioner showcases her multifaceted nature, blending practical expertise with a spiritual approach. Debra‘s influence on Storm is evident in the creative and resilient spirit that defines her daughter’s career.

The name “Storm” itself was inspired by a character in one of Wilbur Smith’s novels, a choice that reflects Debra and Gordon‘s adventurous and literary inclinations. Concerned that the unique name might lead to teasing, they added “Sharyn” to her birth certificate, resulting in Storm‘s full name, Sharyn Storm Uechtritz. However, Storm has embraced her distinctive moniker, which has become a hallmark of her public persona.

Debra‘s New Zealand roots and her work as a healer suggest a nurturing and holistic approach to life, which likely shaped Storm‘s ability to navigate the high-pressure worlds of television production and fashion design.

While less is known about Debra‘s personal journey compared to Gordon‘s well-documented heritage, her presence in Storm‘s life is felt through the family’s close-knit dynamic, as seen in recent reunions in Australia.