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ADAM MACFIE
Adam has been involved with outback travel and discovery for much of his adult life. After moving to the Northern Territory in his early twenties, he soon realised that it would take forever to explore the vast open spaces
- so when the chance came up to work as a guide, he jumped at it. During the 1980's it was considered normal in the industry for people visiting Northern Australia to spend anything up to a month on "less than luxurious"
camping trips with few creature comforts and lots of rough roads and dust to contend with. This primary experience proved to be excellent training for Adam and he learnt how to work with people from all over the world, in
all sorts of conditions and environments. It was also a great way to explore and gather knowledge of the outback - particularly the natural and social history of the place.
In the early 1990's Adam decided to take time out to study anthropology and archaeology at the Charles Darwin University.
He became fascinated by the rich cultural legacy left by the people who lived here over countless generations among the rocks, canyons, and islands of the North. The natural and cultural history of the Kimberley and
Arnhem Land are main areas of interest for Adam and he has developed a lot of expertise operating in both regions. He has a wide and varied understanding of the land, its fauna, flora and the people who have lived there.
Many clients find their own curiosity with the area grows as the journey progresses, and it's always good to have someone on-hand who can answer their questions as they arise.
Adam has a strong working relationship with special interest and remote area operators such as Kimberley Dreams and Venture North Australia.
He has made numerous voyages along the Kimberley wilderness coast on the STS Leeuwin II and the Coral Princess as a member of the ships crew and as a guide. His familiarity with the rock art of the Kimberley means
that he is able to provide specialised interpretive services in this area if required. Adam has a reputation for adaptability, resourcefulness and integrity with both the clients and the enterprises that employ him. He has a warm
personality and a flexible approach to working with a client's needs, which makes him a natural people person. In addition to relevant academic qualifications for working as a guide, Adam also has his coxswain, divemaster, and senior first aid tickets.
Over the last few years Adam has concentrated on working in some very different roles to those he has been involved with in the past. These have included managing a development program on a Central Australian Aboriginal community for 2 years,
and working with documentary film-makers on several projects in the desert regions of Central Australia. Currently Adam works for a Sydney University on an Australian Research Council grant as a project researcher at the Strehlow Research Centre
located in Alice Springs. The university appointment is a half time position and Adam has negotiated a flexible timetable which allows him to be available for other positions during the 2005 tourist season.
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BRENDAN
BAINBRIDGE
Brendan is a Territorian, who has spent his life growing up and
living in many different areas of the Northern Territory.
Due to his fathers involvement in the early days, in the Department
of Primary Industry as a remote area cattle inspector and his mothers
dedication to aboriginal education through out the Katherine and
Arnhemland regions, Brendan travelled, lived, met and made long
time friendships with many Traditional Owners and residents in Aboriginal
communities. As a child Brendan would regularly visit Kakadu, long
before it was a National Park.
Through Brendan's up bringing he gained an understanding and respect
for Aboriginal people and their culture and a love of nature and
the bush.
After studying Parks and Wildlife Management, Brendan moved into
tourism. Brendan operates 4WD camping safaris to remote areas, and
has been granted a concession by the Traditional owners to operate
safaris to Gurig National and Marine Park and Victoria Settlement.
Through out the years Brendan has led Special Interest groups, Family
holidays, Hiking and Team Building expeditions, filming expeditions
for Channel Nine, The Bulletin magazine and numerous international
companies filming documentaries.
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HUGH
BLAND
Hugh has lived and worked in the tourism industry in Northern
Australia since arriving in Alice Springs in 1985.
Hugh is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree (Anthropology) and
has conducted 4WD camping and accommodated tours in Central Australia,
up and down Cape York, and through the Kimberley and the Top End
of the Northern Territory.
During that time Hugh has also owned and operated a small catering
business and spent 2 years developing a tourism project for an Aboriginal
community in the Daly River region.
Hugh is married with two Alice Springs born daughters and currently
works as an anthropologist in the Land Claims and Native Title field
in the Northern Territory.
Annually, Hugh takes leave and works for North Australian Expeditions,
his passion for the Australian Outback and it's people hold a never
ending!
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JOEL
GRAHAM
Joel is one of the newest members to the North Australian Expeditions
Team. He has a great deal of experience in the Australian Outdoors
and is extremely enthusiastic about its unique diversity and Aboriginal
Culture.
Aboriginal Culture has had a strong influence on Joel's life as
he spent four of his childhood years growing up in Pitjatjanjara
Lands with the Indigenous peoples of a settlement called Arunta.
Joel's passion for conservation and Aboriginal Culture has furthered
developed with the completion of a Batchelor of Technology (Ecotourism)
Degree awarded at Flinders University of South Australia.
Joel's studies incorporated aspects of Indigenous Archaeology, Natural
Ecology and implementation of sustainable tourism. Joel's good sense
of humour and love for Australia's Top End will enable trip members
to experience the uniqueness of regions visited via enjoyable interpretation.
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CHRIS
DONE
Chris graduated in 1968 from Australian National University
in Canberra, he also studied at the University of New England in
Armidale,and has a degree is in Science (Forestry). His initial
(post high school) employment was in the Commonwealth Scientific
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia in their
Division of Wildlife Research in Canberra. His work involved laboratory
and field work relating to a number of native and exotic species
of animals and during this period he worked with a number of enthusiastic
and eminent wildlife biologists.
Chris
also spent seven years working in Papua New Guinea during this time,
he was able visit many of the mainland provinces and worked closely
with the local people and obtained an appreciation of the country's
wildlife, vegetation and culture.
For the last 22 years, Chris has lived and worked in the Kimberley
Region of Western Australia where he is currently the Regional Manager
for the state Department of Conservation and Land Management. In
this role he is responsible for the management and protection of
the state's wildlife (which by definition included plants and animals)
and the management of the region's 2.5 million hectares of conservation
reserves (national parks, nature reserves and marine protected areas).
Chris has a keen interest in the geological, cultural and historical
aspects of the Kimberley and adjacent regions. He is a member of
the Eco Tourism Association of Australia and is interested in culture,
wildlife (including birds, plants and animals) and geology.
Chris has been closely involved with many visits by eminent people
such as ambassadors, premiers, governors general etc having to
organise and accompany them on their itineraries. He has been
a professional tour guide for groups such as Zegrahm and Society
and has participated in around 15 expedition type voyages making
him a well respected guide and lecturer.
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