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PEOPLE OF THE BASIN
Meet a random selection of people living and working in the Lake Eyre Basin
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| As a child, Maree Morton lived on Channel Country cattle stations. Now, she and her husband, Graham manage Innamincka Station on Cooper’s Creek for Kidman & Co. Together they have raised two children in the bush. Maree says it has always been challenging bringing up children in the bush – being schoolteacher, and mum, as well as station cook, gardener, bookkeeper, and off-sider. Maree became involved in natural resource management with the Marree Soil Conservation Board when she moved to Innamincka and has been actively involved with the Lake Eyre Basin process since its inception. She is currently the Chair of the Cooper’s Creek Catchment Committee and sits on the Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group. Maree sees communication as the key to diverse groups working together for the best possible natural resource management outcomes. |
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Phillip Toyne has wide experience ranging from the Public Service, academia, and private enterprise through to law and education. He led the negotiations on the world first joint management arrangements for Uluru National Park. Today these are used as a model around the world in reconciling indigenous and environment issues. Phillip co-developed the National Landcare Program, a movement which has radically changed land use practices in Australia and which is now moving to Africa and America. Phillip Toyne is one of Australia's best known environmentalists and is currently a Director of Eco Futures, an Australian-based international policy firm working on building sustainable strategies with business, government and civic leaders. |
| Rose Turner is a Nukunu woman from the southern-central Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Rose has been actively involved in working in rural and remote areas across Australia for the past 16 years in various roles. Her work has focused on land management and policy development related to biodiversity, intellectual property rights and cultural heritage management. She has also worked extensively with Indigenous communities across Australia to create employment and training opportunities in rural and remote communities. A major part of her work has been involved in consulting nationally with Indigenous landholders on land needs and management, and funding and service delivery programs. In addition, Rose is a representative on various commonwealth and state committees. |
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Camel man, historian and naturalist, Phil Gee is a keen observer of the Lake Eyre Basin process. He is secretary of the Marla/Oodnadatta Soil Conservation Board, and the proprietor of both "Explore the Outback camel safaris" (Australia's leading nature-based camel trekking operation), and "South Australian Outback Research" (specialising in for flora and fauna survey and historical research). Phil has recently commenced small trial program of camels in pastoralism on the Stuart's Creek Station (SA). He is also editor of Australian Camel News, and has recently published A History of Pastoralism in the Lake Eyre South Drainage Basin (Royal Geographical Society and Western Mining Corporation Pty Ltd). Phil Gee graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1984 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Oenology (he should be able to make a good wine). He maintained oenological work on a summer contract basis until 1996 when his focus shifted entirely to commercial camel related ventures - particularly tourism. Phil lives in William Creek with his wife and three children. |
| Boulia identity, Dick Suter, is a man of many talents. In 1954 he was cutting waddy wood trees near Boulia with an axe for fence posts. At the time, he cursed them for the rock-hard timber they are "I knocked a two-bob bit out of my axe", but is now thrilled that the good rains of the 1970s sparked a strong regeneration of these rare trees. These days Dick is the curator of Boulia's Fossil Museum and is a mine of information on the prehistory of his part of the Basin. Not only does he find the fossils, he builds the displays, mounts the specimens and conducts interpretive tours of the fossil centre. |
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Mick Roche has been actively involved in the Lake Eyre Basin process since 1996. A geologist by profession, Mick spent several years exploring around the Flinders Ranges and Alice Springs parts of the Basin. In 1992 he was appointed Site Manager of the newly discovered Cannington silver, lead and zinc deposit on the headwaters of the Hamilton River in north-west Queensland. An early priority at Cannington for Mick was to identify and communicate with the Cannington stakeholders to enable them to participate in the development of the project. This communication function is still a priority in his role of Manager Safety, Environment & External Affairs at BHP Cannington. Mick represents BHP on several International mineral organisations and is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. |
| Rhondda Alexander has spent much of her life in the Georgina River country where her husband, Bill managed the 13,000 square kilometre ‘Marion Downs’ for many years. She has always had a keen interest in the land and was the primary force behind the formation of the Channel Landcare Group in 1992. She has also written an award winning gardening book to raise funds for the Isolated Children’s and Parents Association. Rhondda has an abiding love for this big land which, in her words, ‘…reaches out and wraps itself around your heart…’ and is committed to working to sustainably manage it for future generations. |
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Trevor Whitelaw is passionate about the Basin although he no longer lives there. His commitment to the country and its people stems from 24 years involvement in South Australia and Queensland. In 1974 he moved into the Lake Eyre Basin and began working at Santos’ Gas and Liquids processing facility at Moomba. Trevor rose to become the senior field-based person for the South Australian section of Santos’ operation. This involved overall responsibility for all activity at the field location involving some 500 Santos employees and as many as 1000 contractors. In 1998 Trevor relocated to Santos’ Adelaide office in a risk management role involving all operations, including Moomba and operations in south-west Queensland. Santos’ willingness and Trevor’s personnel commitment to the activity and its outcomes have seen him retain his close ties with the Lake Eyre Basin. |
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