David (Dave) Bauer - "I came here... it's like paradise"

Published: July 2026

When Dave Bauer first arrived in Carnarvon in the early 1970s, he was not looking for a place to settle down. He was a young man travelling Australia, taking on whatever work came his way and wondering where the next opportunity might lead. Carnarvon was simply another stop on the journey.

Or so he thought.

More than fifty years later, Dave is still here.

In that time, he has become one of Carnarvon’s quiet custodians. Generations remember him from the Carnarvon Pool, where he spent almost two decades as manager. Others know him through the Robinson Street Arboretum and the Carnarvon Tree Society, where his passion for native plants has helped preserve an extraordinary collection of local species. Countless schoolchildren have walked beside him through the bush, learning from someone whose enthusiasm remains as strong today as it was half a century ago.

Yet if you ask Dave about his life, he will not begin with any of those things.

He will take you back to an orchard.

Growing up in western Sydney around Parramatta and Blacktown, Dave describes his childhood as “pretty rough.”

“It was pretty rough. But it toughened us,” he says.

While life outside the family home could be challenging, home itself was filled with fruit trees, gardens and hard work. Dave’s father managed an orchard, and it was there that a lifelong interest quietly began.

“The whole thing started when I was a young fellow at home in my father’s orchard,” Dave recalls. “I picked up all my gardening habits from my father.”

Their property stood in stark contrast to those around it.

“The whole place was chock-a-block full of trees,” he laughs. “Next door, absolutely nothing, just lawn. Chalk and cheese.”

People noticed.

“They used to say, ‘They’re crazy the Bauers.’”

Looking back, perhaps they were.

Long before native gardens became popular, the Bauer family saw value in filling every spare corner with something that could grow. For Dave, those early years were not just about learning to garden. They taught him patience, observation and an enduring appreciation for the natural world.

After finishing school, Dave joined the airline industry as a Junior Executive Trainee. It was secure work, but the routine did not hold him for long.

Adventure was calling.

At just 18, he bought an old FJ panel van and headed west, determined to see Australia for himself.

The years that followed were anything but ordinary. Dave worked wherever opportunity appeared, as a fisherman, bricklayer, labourer, farm worker and salesman.

“You name it, I’ve sold it,” he jokes.

Each job taught him something new, and each town became another chapter in a life still unfolding.

Eventually, that journey led him to Carnarvon.

He applied for the role of manager at the Carnarvon Pool and got the job, later discovering he had been the only applicant.

The plan was simple: stay for a while, earn some money and move on.

For a time, that is exactly what he did. He even headed north, intending to continue to Darwin.

But Carnarvon had a way of calling him back.

Without really planning it, it became home.

“I’ve been here 50 years,” he says with a laugh. “It’s magic.”

For almost twenty years, Dave managed the Carnarvon Pool. Yet his passion for planting never took a back seat. Where others saw empty garden beds, Dave saw opportunity. Trees appeared, gardens grew, and the space was transformed.

“I completely covered the pool with trees.”

The interest that began in his father’s orchard followed him across the country and found fertile ground in Carnarvon.

It was not long before that passion expanded beyond the pool.

Dave’s work in revegetation took him across the Gascoyne and Pilbara, collecting native seed and working with pastoral stations, mining companies and government agencies to restore landscapes disturbed by development. Each project deepened his understanding of the remarkable plants that thrive in arid environments.

Ask him how much he knows today, though, and he will laugh.

“You’d need to be about 300 years old to know half of it.”

Even after decades of experience, Dave still considers himself a student of the environment. There is always more to learn.

That curiosity eventually led him to a patch of land on Robinson Street.

Today, the Robinson Street Arboretum is one of Carnarvon’s hidden treasures, a peaceful reserve where visitors can wander among native plants uniquely adapted to the Gascoyne. When Dave first became involved, however, it was little more than open ground waiting for purpose.

The Shire approached him with an idea.

“They said they’d like someone to manage the town Arboretum for the community,” Dave recalls.

He did not hesitate.

For Dave, it was not simply another project. It was an opportunity to protect something uniquely local.

“This whole place was started as a water-wise project,” he explains.

Rather than relying on introduced species, the vision was to showcase plants that had evolved naturally in the region, species that belong to the Gascoyne and have survived its harsh climate for thousands of years.

The idea was simple.

Collect local seed.
Grow local plants.
Let the landscape tell its own story.

Progress was slow. Seed was gathered by hand, cuttings propagated, and young plants protected from rabbits, heat and the elements. There were setbacks, but Dave never saw them as failures.

Nature, he believed, would decide what survived.

“We’ve let Mother Nature decide what’s going to grow and what’s going to die,” he says. “You’ve got to work with Mother Nature.”

The Arboretum was not built quickly, nor by one person. It grew through volunteer hours, community working bees, successful grants and people who believed in its value.

One of those people was Les.

Over the years, Dave and Les formed a strong partnership, collecting seed, documenting species and helping shape the Arboretum into a place where people could both enjoy and learn from the environment.

“Les is sort of taking over a lot of my stuff,” Dave says with a smile.

There is no sense of ownership in the remark, only pride.

For Dave, knowledge has never been something to keep. It is something to share.

That philosophy has shaped much of his life’s work. Whether speaking with volunteers, visitors or strangers, Dave is happiest when someone asks a question.

Because every question begins a conversation.

And every conversation is a chance to help someone see the landscape a little differently.

Over time, the Arboretum became more than a collection of plants.

It became a classroom without walls.

School groups walk its tracks. Families return on weekends. Visitors discover species they have passed all their lives without noticing.

Those moments are as rewarding as watching a seedling grow.

Because while trees take years to establish, curiosity can begin in an instant.

Dave comes alive when he is sharing what he knows.

“The questions that are asked… I survive off questions,” he says. “Some of their questions astound me. They’re thinkers. They’re only young, but crikey, they impress me.”

He does not see himself as the expert at the front of the group.

He sees himself as someone still learning alongside them.

“I’ve got a lot of time for young people,” he says. “I really have. I get energised from them.”

For Dave, passing on knowledge is not a responsibility.

It is a privilege.

One memory stands out. After visiting a school, Dave was invited back to see the students’ artwork. Among the paintings, one showed him with “stuff growing out of me ears, nose, head,” he recalls, laughing.

On another occasion, after a school visit, families began arriving at the Arboretum. The children had gone home talking about what they had learned and wanted to show their parents.

For Dave, that was one of the most rewarding moments of all.

The lesson had not ended. It had travelled home.

“I get boosted with that,” he says quietly.

Dave believes people connect to the environment by spending time in it, by growing something, watching it change and understanding where food comes from.

“Doing things like planting a home garden… you get attached,” he says. “Gardening is a great tool for the mind.”

Through the Arboretum, Dave creates a space where people can slow down, look closely and notice what is around them. In doing so, they begin to understand the environment in a more meaningful way.

After more than fifty years in Carnarvon, Dave still approaches each day with the same curiosity that began in his father’s orchard.

He still collects seed.
Still walks the bush.
Still asks questions.

Perhaps that is the secret to the life he has built, not that he ever believed he knew everything, but that he never stopped wanting to learn.

Today, his priorities have shifted.

“My life now is three things,” he says.
“Family, family and family.”

It is a simple answer.

After a lifetime of giving to his community, his greatest appreciation is for those closest to him.

Yet the community remains close to his heart.

Whether welcoming visitors, chatting with volunteers or encouraging a child to ask one more question, Dave continues to do what he has always done:

Quietly sharing what he knows.

Not because anyone asked him to, but because he believes knowledge is worth passing on.

And perhaps that is his greatest legacy.

Not just the thousands of native plants growing throughout the Robinson Street Arboretum, but the curiosity he has planted in the people who have walked beside him.

The trees will continue to grow.

So too will the knowledge.

Because that is how Dave always hoped it would be.

Dave’s message is to: “Stay in cruise control. Conserve your energies. Look at what other people are doing. Be appreciative. Have respect. Respect virtually everything.”

Respect people.
Respect nature.
Be kind to yourself and to others.
Stay curious.
Grow something.
Learn where your food comes from.

And remember:

“Look after the environment and it’ll look after you. If you don’t, it’ll come back and bite you. You can have longevity and health… purely by having an affinity with Mother Nature.”

Toni Edney - Yinggarda Woman, Local Artist

Published: June 2026

Local artist Toni Edney is a proud Yinggarda woman whose story is deeply connected to Country, culture, resilience and community.

Born in Carnarvon, Toni's roots stretch across the Gascoyne. Her mother is from Gascoyne Junction, her father from Burringurrah, where she spent much of her childhood.

Toni remembers a time when community was at the heart of everyday life.

"Everyone respected everyone, like friends and families, and everyone was connected altogether," she said. "That's how it was back in my young days, and everyone was happy."

Life was simple. Toni lived alongside her parents, siblings and Elders, learning to live off the land. The family hunted for food, gathered water from river soaks and spent their days exploring the country around them. She recalls swimming in waterholes, searching for emu eggs among the spinifex, and learning from the old people who shared stories, culture and knowledge of Country.

It was also where her love of art began. As a child, Toni used charcoal from campfires to draw on gum tree bark, illustrating the hills, sand dunes and landscapes that surrounded her. Inspired by the old people who raised her, she also carved emu eggs using makeshift tools. One of her earliest artworks was a drawing of the hills around her home, a sign that creativity had always been part of who she was.

Growing up with strong cultural connections, Toni spent much of her time listening to Elders share stories and knowledge about Country. Today, she still feels a strong connection to those places and the people who came before her.

"When I go down to the river, I feel the old people's presence," she said. "I can hear the birds and the trees, and I'm at peace."

In the 1990s, Toni left Carnarvon with her son and spent many years travelling from town to town. Following the loss of her son, she returned to Carnarvon in 2016 to be close to him. Arriving with little more than a bag, she faced homelessness and one of the most difficult periods of her life.

Despite the challenges, Toni remained determined to keep moving forward. She credits her son as her greatest inspiration and still carries his words with her today.

"Don't give up painting, Mum. You've got beautiful paintings. No matter which way the wind blows, keep painting."

Those words became a source of strength during some of the most difficult periods of her life. Rather than falling into the traps of negative influences and vices, Toni stayed focused on her art and rebuilding her life.

"Painting is a healing for me. It brings peace to my soul and lifts my spirit up," she said.

With support from the community, she gradually found her feet again. She became an Artist in Residence at the Cultural Centre before eventually joining the Community Art Hub, where she now helps facilitate workshops, school holiday activities and creative programs for local children and families.

Today, Toni enjoys meeting new people, sharing stories and encouraging others to connect with Aboriginal culture and Country. One of the most important lessons passed down by her parents and Elders was to respect other people, a value she carries with her every day.

Looking ahead, Toni hopes to continue sharing her stories, culture and connection to Country with younger generations.

Her message to the community is simple: bring people together, show respect, celebrate culture and understanding, and create a community where everyone can be happy.

A strong Yinggarda woman, Toni continues to draw strength from her culture, her Country and the people around her, proving that with a good mindset, good people and a strong sense of purpose, it is possible to keep moving forward.

Marco Boric - Local Grower

Published: May 2026

Marco Boric knows firsthand what makes Carnarvon such a special place to live and work. Born and raised in the region, Marco now operates as a local grower, producing everything from capsicum and sweet corn to pumpkins, mangoes, watermelon, beans and chillies.

He says Carnarvon’s combination of good soil, reliable water and ideal weather conditions creates incredible opportunities for agriculture and supports one of Western Australia’s most productive growing regions.

But for Marco, the lifestyle and community are just as important as the industry itself.

Now raising a family of his own in Carnarvon, he values being able to give his daughter the same upbringing he experienced, growing up connected to the land, the community and the outdoors.

Outside of farming, Marco and his family enjoy making the most of the region’s coastline through fishing, surfing and camping, something he believes adds to the unique lifestyle opportunities available in Carnarvon.

“There’s so much opportunity, so many sectors to work in, and community’s huge in these small country towns,” Marco said.

His story reflects the strong connection between industry, lifestyle and community that continues to make Carnarvon an attractive place for families, workers and businesses alike.

Brad and Katie Bittersweet Farewell

Published: May 2026

After more than two years in Coral Bay, Brad and Katie are preparing to begin a new chapter in Exmouth, leaving behind a lasting impact on the small coastal community they came to call home.

Originally arriving in Coral Bay while travelling around Western Australia with their family, what was meant to be a short stay quickly turned into something more. Drawn in by the lifestyle, ocean and close-knit community, the family decided to stay and became deeply involved in community life.

During their time in Coral Bay, Brad contributed through volunteer and community roles including the Coral Bay Progress Association, St John and emergency service support. As Chair of the Coral Bay Progress Association, he helped represent the broader community and supported local events and initiatives aimed at maintaining the unique community spirit Coral Bay is known for.

From Australia Day and ANZAC Day events to Christmas celebrations and community projects, Brad and Katie consistently gave their time to support the town and its people. Katie also played an important role through her work as a nurse, supporting residents and visitors alike in a remote coastal community.

Katie also played an important role in the community through her work as a nurse, supporting residents and visitors alike in a remote environment where healthcare and community connection are especially valued.

Brad reflected that one of the things that made Coral Bay so special was the way the community continually came together to support one another, particularly during emergencies and challenging times.

When asked what they will miss most, the answer was simple: “The people. The community.”

The Coral Bay community thanks Brad and Katie for the care, energy and commitment they have brought to the town and wishes them all the very best for the future.

Karen Ryan ("Big Momma"): Local Artist

Published: April 2026

Karen Ryan, known to some as “Big Momma,” is a local Carnarvon artist whose work is grounded in lived experience, community, and creativity.

She has called Carnarvon home since the 1970s, growing up on the reserve in tin sheds without lights or power. She reminisces about a simple life defined by a strong sense of community and belonging, a foundation that has remained with her throughout her life.

Family has always been central to Karen’s life. For a period, she stepped away from the creative scene to pursue secretarial work, supporting her loved ones while developing skills for her future. Her resilience, sense of responsibility, and deep care for others are values that are strongly ingrained and evident in the way she practices her craft.

In time, these values led her back to what she holds dearly. After several years away, Karen returned to the local arts space with a renewed sense of connection and direction.

Her lived experiences now inform her creative practice, guiding a practical and resourceful, hands-on approach. Embracing a “make do with what’s here” mindset, she often repurposes discarded materials, turning them into expressive artworks.

She draws inspiration comes from everyday life, including the landscapes she travels through, the stories she carries, and the creative influence of artists from other regions whom she has met along the way.

Since returning to her practice, Karen has sold eight artworks, and had pieces featured at the Gwoonwardu Mia Heritage and Cultural Centre. For Karen, art is about more than creating; it is also about giving back. She regularly volunteers, shares her work, and encourages others to step forward and express themselves.

Her message is simple: spread the love, put yourself out there, and give back where you can.

Karen remains deeply connected to the community that has shaped her and, in turn, continues to inspire it through her work and generosity. Her journey reflects how courage, a strong sense of purpose, and a good heart, can shape not only what we create, but also the impact we can have on others.