How did you become involved in tour guiding?
I have always had a strong affinity to Nature & animals.

This combined with an ability to communicate to people of all backgrounds, living in a wonderful region & at the time extremely frustrated with the direction of business I took the opportunity to dabble in showing people the regions better features.

It became obvious that the constantly changing experiences were like a contagious infection and I found the entire experience extremely relaxing & gratifying to both the clientele and myself.

As enquiry for service grew quickly I decided to pursue the vocation more seriously.

What is your role within the business and where are you located?
My present role is as “ the dogs body” – no seriously as The Operations Manager of a small group tour company – Wayoutback Desert Safaris based in the Red Centre of Alice Springs. You name it - I am involved or get involved (not that I want to) in all activities within the operation of the company.

More relevantly I deal with the companies Private Charter, Group & Niche Tour Preparation & Delivery. In house and external training of our guides is a very important part of my day to day involvement.

What does a general day at work involve?
It is best answered as – what isn’t involved – A day includes all forms of Administration, Tour organisation, Tour preparation, Over viewing Maintenance of Equipment, Touring, Staff, Training and on top that I represent the Industry on several tourism committees.

In short the average day is pretty casual.

Where is your favourite 'spot' for Tour Guiding?
This is difficult – I would say there is nothing more relaxing & picturesque than the Ormiston Pound Walk in the Larapinta Trail, particularly after a thunderstorm, closely followed by Redbank Gorge – also within the West MacDonnell Ranges.

What do you never leave home without?
Hat, Water Bottle, Leatherman & a positive attitude.

What has been your best Tour Guiding experience?
There have been many wonderful experiences involving the people we tour & involving nature & the weather.

Some of these include watching the birth of a whale, birth of a camel, a thorny devil laying her eggs, sitting atop Mount Sonder on the Larapinta Trail watching the sun rise, the full moon rising behind Uluru, Rain on the Rock, violent colorful Desert Thunderstorms, or laying in the crystal clear waters of a normally dry Desert watercourse after a storm on a hot day.

Despite these, the most overwhelming experience was witnessing an entire group, sitting on the side of the road, hugging and crying as they didn’t want to say goodbye to each other. For me that epitomized what a tour should set out to achieve – a bond, a friendship & total satisfaction.