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After hearing the Oliver-Bennetts’ stories from Minyerri, Claire Franklin wanted a first- hand experience and ventured up to the Northern Territory in late 2007. She was touched by the Minyerri community and an Australian culture she knew little about. Meeting the Minyerri kids sparked her interest in working on an indigenous youth project. Claire has an Advanced Diploma in Business Advertising from RMIT and BA in Media and Communications from Swinburne University. Claire is currently working in Indonesia as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development and has previously worked in Melbourne and London within Communications and Fundraising. Her feeble attempts at surfing continue, but as a Desert2Surf member the pressure remains to one day ride that wave…
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Sunny felt instantly connected to the people and the Alawa Country while visiting Minyerri Community for the first time in 2006. Since then she has been continually drawn back to the community with each trip igniting an even greater commitment to creating opportunities for indigenous youth. Sunny has a Bachelor of Business and a PhD in Corporate Social Responsibility and Branding. She currently works in corporate relations and communications in the not-for-profit sector for one of Australia’s largest and most successful social enterprises. A passionate surfer, Sunny believes in the power of sport to change lives and close the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia.
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Stephanie has a background in Commerce, Public Health and Health Promotion and holds a Masters in Public Health (International Health) with studies in community development and Indigenous Health and Wellbeing. She has recently commenced working full time as a HIV / AIDS Prevention Program Manager for an international non-government organisation in the Solomon Islands, She now contributes to Desert2Surf remotely through program and organisational development. Steph believes that the current disparity between indigenous and mainstream health outcomes in Australia is unacceptable and as such jumped at the chance to become involved in D2S. Steph is constantly inspired by the positive and determined manner in which the other D2S members strive to make desert dreams come true!
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Robbo is an outdoor education teacher and passionate long boarder. His experience teaching at Minyerri, and his “regular” job running surf camps, inevitably led to the notion of taking aboriginal kids to the surf. Believing as he does, that aboriginal Australians had prior ownership of our country, he sees this as a way of “paying the rent.” He believes Desert2Surf is riding the wave of empathy in the South.
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Deb is a health and physical education teacher with a passion for photographing the beauty and diversity of the natural world and the people who give our world such a rich texture. Her experience teaching indigenous children – painful and hilarious all at once, as it could be – was actually her greatest learning experience. Now, through Desert2Surf, she hopes to give something back to the Minyerri families who, across the cultural divide, accepted her and her family. She wants the Minyerri kids to have childhood experiences that help them to grow and blossom. Deb hopes that this personal growth is possible in the supported, fun and challenging environment provided by Desert2Surf. Her personal goal is to progress from surfing the shories to surfing the breakers…
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Ben’s passion for travel has taken him to Playa Bocana discovering mythical waves, to teaching school kids at the base of ancient Khmer temples. His travels have taught him to respect and appreciate all cultures and now, as a primary school teacher, he endeavours to educate younger generations. A family trip to Manyallaluk when he was a teenager sparked Ben’s interest in and respect for indigenous Australians. This has developed over the years with experiences that include studying at the Gnibi College for Indigenous Australian Peoples at Southern Cross University as part of his education degree. Being a member of Desert2Surf enables Ben to combine his passions of surfing and teaching, while giving something back to people who have had so much taken from them.
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