The Team
Aidan Grimes
Aidan is one of Australia’s most experienced and awarded Adventurers having walked the Arduous Kokoda track in PNG a record 124 times!!!
As well as many other treks that range from remote jungles, to alpine, sea and river, his vast experience presents a unique adventure to trekkers. Aidan is very passionate about the learnings that can be gained by listening to the Indigenous people and in this series of adventure has included those opportunities once again.
As a group facilitator Aidan has a deep understanding of safety, history and the key elements of success that supports trekkers to fully immerse themselves in the “learning journey”. Aidan is also well known for his personal development initiatives that influenced many leaders including the PM Scott Morrison.
He has worked with every population from professional sporting teams, indigenous groups, charities, youth at risk, ADF, AFP, NSW, WA, SA, NT, VIC Police, Corporations such as Microsoft, Apple and Ericsson. As well as being influential throughout Universities and schools across Australia.
Rick Roser
Aboriginal artist, storyteller and educator, Rick Roser has traversed Australia and the globe with his work. From prolific performances at some of Australia’s premier folk festivals, to extensive independent touring workshops throughout Queensland schools and travelling the world as an Indigenous Culture Presenter, Rick’s diverse and colourful career has spanned more than 20 years.
Having moved from what he describes as the ‘Boondocks’ to the Gold Coast just 12 years ago, Rick cites his performance at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as a career highlight.
“SAND SONG was a 4-day show written by Walbira Murray and directed by Elena Vereker with Insite Arts and I was very lucky to be involved – in fact, I was the show,” laughs Rick.
"I told the Goomeroi Dreaming story of the first time the sun’s light shone on Australia, while the dancers performed the story around five towering ancestor poles. I specialise in ochre-spitting, which I did on stencil art to depict the imagery of the story. And then I performed a didgeridoo solo. That experience moved me, says Rick. I was pretty proud of that. In fact I thought, if that’s my career, well that’s ok. I’m happy to stop now and concentrate on other artists – inspire other artists and provide my studio space in Burleigh for them to showcase their art.”
Rick describes his work as ‘aesthetic’, he says that he is inspired by the Gold
Coast’s natural beauty and the soft curves of the ocean. “Before I moved to the Gold Coast, I used to live on some of the cheapest land you could buy in Queensland. It was in a rain shadow, dry scraggly bush, isolated, boring, hot, cold…I used to make sculptures and art paintings and things like that and take them down to Sydney in my truck and sell them. I’d come back home and it was just depressing – there’d be caterpillars all over the place, ants, you know. After a while I thought, I’ve got to get out of here – I’ve got to get somewhere nice!”
Rick visited the Gold Coast in 2008 and said that the feeling instantly captured him.
Rick’s latest artistic project featured as part of Bleach* Festival 2020 with an
installation of ‘Dreamtime Travelers’ at Justin’s Park in Burleigh Heads.
“Nearly every piece of Indigenous art is personal to that Indigenous person, in that it’s part of their story, part of their history, their inspiration, dreams or even their spirituality. The Dreamtime Travelers are part of my history in many ways – I’ve often thought of myself as being timeless, especially out in the bush and especially here – I feel that timeless element,” Roser explains.
"That’s what inspired me about these sculptures, because I see them as Beings – not necessarily spiritual – that exist on the same plane as us. If everything exists at the same time and same place in an instant, in the universe, then these figures may well represent figures that were here back in the Dreamtime
or may well still be here in 1000 years’ time.”
Glen Mackay
Glenn has grown up on the Gold Coast and is a passionate traveler and adventurer. Glenn spends a lot of his adventure time walking the little known tracks of the world heritage listed Gold Coast hinterland and loves nothing more than to be able to pass on his extensive knowledge to would be trekkers. His humorous and engaging personality creates a warmth that resonates with all walkers as they take on the challenge of achieving their goal. An ardent believer in supporting people be the best that they can be, Glenn goes the extra mile to ensure each trekker gets to experience all that
the treks have to offer.
Dr Scott Squires
Scott brings a multitude of experience in the form of his experience as an ADF doctor in the field, having served in many military campaigns.