WAITOC's vision is to see the creation of a vibrant authentic Aboriginal tourism industry as an integral component of Australia’s tourism industry and for Western Australia to become the premier destination in Australia for authentic Aboriginal experiences. Our aim is to create a vibrant Aboriginal component of Western Australia’s tourism industry, raising the profile of Aboriginal tourism on a State, National and International level.
Sam Lovell
Sam Lovell was born in January 1933 on Calwynyadah Station in the Kimberley. His father was Jack Lovell, part owner of Calwynyadah Station. Sam was taken away to Mulla Bulla Station in 1937 when he was 4 years old. Mulla Bulla Station was an Aboriginal settlement where so called “half caste” kids were taken. Sam does not remember his mother and never saw her again after he was taken away.
Sam has an extensive background in tourism establishing his own tourism business in 1981, called the Kimberley Safaris Tours, prior to that his employment ranged from truck driver, stock hand to fencing yard building contractor.
Until recently Sam was employed by Aboriginal Economic Development (AED), Department of Industry and Resources as an Aboriginal Tourism Project Officer, he filled that role since 1995. Sam’s role included:
Providing on-site advice and practical assistance to Aboriginal clients involved or proposing to be involved in tourism activities
Assisting in negotiations and interpretation between Aboriginal people and government departments and tourism operators
Identifying training needs for Aboriginal tourism enterprises and negotiating with training agencies for the provision of training
Provide on-site training to a number of Aboriginal tourism enterprises
Provide on-site training to a number of Aboriginal tourism enterprises
Participate in activities marketing Aboriginal tourism ventures
Sam was awarded the Sir David Brand Award in 1988 for his contribution to tourism and was runner up for this award in 1985.
A tourism award, the Sam and Rosita Lovell Tourism Award has also been named after him and was presented annually by the Kimberley Tourism Association.
In 2000 Sam also received a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians. To this day Sam continues working in Aboriginal Tourism supporting operators throughout WA.
Dale Tilbrook
Dale Tilbrook is a Wardandi Bibbulmun woman from the South West of Western Australia. Dale’s tourism journey started in 1996 with a small
company with her brother Lyall Tilbrook, making returning boomerangs
and other artefacts. They were proud to be awarded an Olympic swing
tag for the sale of their boomerangs during the 2000 Games in Sydney.
In 1998 Dale and Lyall opened their first Aboriginal gallery and gift shop in the Swan Valley.
Dale often jokes that the beautiful artwork is only a device to entice people into the gallery, giving her the opportunity to talk with visitors, broadening their understanding of Aboriginal culture, history and language. Education is an important part of the cultural experience offered at Maalinup.
Dale also works extensively with students of all ages through school incursions and education programs and regularly called upon by the corporate sector to deliver talks about bush foods, catering and cultural awareness programs.
Native plants and their traditional uses, both as food their medicinal properties, is a passion for Dale. Her extensive knowledge, gleaned from elders and her own research has made Dale a sought after bush tucker speaker.
Dale also serves on the Boards of a number of organisations including:
Swan Valley and Eastern Regions Slow Food Convivium, ANFAB (Australian Native Foods and Botanicals), WITH-WA (Women in Tourism and Hospitality) and The WA Parks Foundation.
