Thank you for showing an interest in the people contributing to the Braddon Beagle, your independent online news site for issues affecting the people of Braddon. The Beagle will also bring you interesting articles about the history, culture, and events of our beautiful electorate.
For ease of finding our contributors, they will be listed alphabetically. And we’re happy to say its a growing list!
CONTRIBUTOR: CAROL BRACKEN
Carol Bracken has worn many hats in her vibrant and diverse career. From founding a festival and serving as a local government councillor to planting 6,000 trees and purchasing over $8 million worth of computers, her accomplishments reflect her commitment to making a difference. Now, Carol channels her passion into writing, crafting her first novel while sharing her insights with readers of the Braddon Beagle.
Born and raised in Burnie, Tasmania, Carol left for the mainland to pursue higher education and a career in project management. With degrees in biochemistry and information technology, she embarked on a professional journey that took her across three states and the ACT over fifteen years. Along the way, she married Nathan, and the couple welcomed their children, Emma and Simon.
Drawn back to Tasmania by its stunning natural beauty and the call of family, Carol and her family settled on a 60-hectare farm in the Tamar Valley to grow hazelnuts. There, she left her corporate career to focus on managing the farm, building a processing facility, and marketing their produce under the brand Tamar Valley Hazelnuts. Furthermore, her dedication to the community extended to local governance, where she served as a councillor for a decade.
After a fulfilling chapter on the farm, Carol and her family relocated to Penguin. Now living by the ocean, she enjoys reconnecting with cousins and taking regular dips in the sea. In addition to working for the Health Department on digital solutions, Carol is embracing her newest adventure: becoming a novelist. Her rich experiences and deep connection to Tasmania provide the perfect foundation for her stories and contributions to the Braddon Beagle.
CONTRIBUTOR: GEOFFREY CURTIS
Geoffrey Curtis was born in the UK and left school at the age of fifteen to work in the building industry. This, however, was not to last and a move to live and work in London saw new horizons including youth and community employment. Spurred by a lust to travel, over the succeeding decades visits to places from Russia to Chile and working stints in Sweden, Canada, the USA, India, and NZ; Geoffrey eventually set his base living in Western Australia. It was here that he chose raise a family.
Having spent over thirty years with various communities working and learning from others a dramatic shift took place in 1983 to save a remnant native bushland. With the support of the local community and WA State environmental groups, the arduous fight culminated in the area being listed as a Conservation Region.
Other leadership roles included supporting evolving environmental groups, planting native trees, and the beginnings of writing an environmental column in a local community newspaper. Environmental issues remain his passion.
Politics called and Geoffrey became a local councillor and a candidate for State parliament. There was also a term as Chair of the National Trust’s ‘Environmental Committee’ and for over seven years he was involved with a local community radio station as a writer, producer, and broadcaster.
In a different vein, Geoffrey established a support group for men in crisis and later, along with his wife, an interesting challenge of creating a mobile soup kitchen for the disadvantaged.
In 2019, Geoffrey and his wife became ’Climate Refugees’ and took the plunge to live and work in Devonport. Neither have any regrets. Never one to sit around for too long, Geoffrey has enjoyed athletics and acting. He is a founding member of the ‘Latrobe Community Shed’, a volunteer with the ‘Devonport Community Garden’, and a member of the ‘Mersey Rowing Club’.
Geoffrey has academic degrees in Education and Sociology and uses these skills running courses with Port Sorrel’s ‘University of the Third Age’, (U3A). Additionally, he also has monthly columns in local community newspapers, including the ‘Braddon Beagle’, to inform, probe, be controversial when necessary, and promote discussion. More recently Geoffrey has embarked, in liaison with the City of Devonport, to establish a ‘Health and Wellness Expo’ for the community in 2025.
CONTRIBUTOR: AL HORT
Al Hort, a fifth-generation Australian, grew up next to a National Park, where he spent time in the bush emulating his childhood hero, Harry Butler, a wildlife presenter. Much to the vexation of his teachers and peers, he often arrived at school with critters he had found. Most childhood photos show him clinging to some animal he had tamed, so it was no surprise that animals featured prominently in his work.
After leaving school, he started sweeping a factory floor until he turned 18 and was let loose with a nail gun. Deciding Uni would be easier, he pursued a Degree in Education with a focus on Industrial Arts, Maths, and Physics, while milking cows to pay for his education. It was during this time that he also married Dawn.
While teaching in Western Sydney, he began training his dogs in the sport of Agility, winning a National Championship. This success launched a career in Animal Wrangling for film and television. He became the first Wrangler worldwide to receive an opening credit and worked on a film that represented Australia at the Cannes Film Festival, featuring his own dog, Mindy. He also started training sheepdogs and, along with Dawn, co-founded the Hawkesbury Sheepdog Trialling Club to help city folk train their Border Collies and Kelpies.
Following a birthday surprise on the 1874 sailing ship James Craig, Al felt inspired to volunteer. Over the next few years, this led to his qualifications as a Marine Engineer and Master, working on various vessels, from steamboats to passenger ferries. After being accepted to train in the Navy as a Seaman Officer, Al and Dawn decided to change course and start a family, eventually having a daughter named Rosie.
An injury sustained while working as a Ferry Master and Engineer curtailed his maritime career. Al then decided to fulfill his dream of living on a farm in Tasmania with his family and animals, where he enjoys the wildlife in his own backyard. He is passionate about natural farming methods to produce healthy, nutrient-dense sheep meat for locals while also revitalizing the ecology of the farm’s natural environment. He enjoys educating like-minded individuals about natural farming and continues to train his sheepdogs successfully.
CONTRIBUTOR: ADAM MARTIN
Adam Martin brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and determination to the Braddon Beagle. Growing up on his parents’ vineyard in the irrigation settlement of Coomealla, NSW, alongside his two younger brothers, Adam learned the value of hard work. It was here that he developed the public speaking skills that have guided him through a varied and impactful career.
With qualifications in carpentry and diplomas in building, construction, and finance management, Adam has successfully operated his own business since the early 2000s. His career spans senior roles as Executive Officer, General Manager, and Project Manager across multiple industries. A year spent in Canada with his wife, Colette, gave Adam an international perspective and reinforced his belief that Australian communities must reclaim control over their futures.
Adam’s time in the building and construction industry revealed systemic issues, from declining workmanship and exploitation to corruption and excessive red tape. He passionately advocates for cultural change within the industry. He believes that no amount of regulation will succeed without restoring pride and integrity to Australian trades.
Over two decades, Adam has dedicated himself to not-for-profit initiatives, advocating for social justice and holding leaders accountable. His tenacity has led to numerous victories, including the removal of fishing lockout zones, the deployment of artificial reefs, and reforms aligning regulations with community needs. Adam’s tireless efforts have seen him navigate the hallways of Canberra, exposing corruption and securing action from integrity units.
Now residing in Ridgley Tasmania, Adam helped launch the Tasmanian Pasture Poultry Producers (TPPP), rallying small-scale farmers to confront overreach by government authorities. His leadership brought farmers together to demand fairer treatment and greater consultation, a testament to his commitment to community empowerment.
Adam’s contributions to the Braddon Beagle reflect his unwavering dedication to addressing systemic challenges, fostering innovation, and inspiring others to stand up for what is right. From industry reform to sustainable agriculture, Adam’s voice is a powerful addition to the Braddon Beagle’s mission to inform and empower its readers.
CONTRIBUTOR: DAWN MEREDITH
Dawn grew up in England, Australia, and Norway. She is still fluent in Norwegian and has been back to visit many times. Norway’s culture and landscape have left their mark upon not only her character, but also her work as an author. She is the author of fifteen books for children, young adults, and adults. Her 2024 book Secrets of the Water Meadow is set in 1970s Norway on a small island and is based upon her life experiences in a similar place. It is a nostalgic look at a simpler childhood that seems to resonate with adults as well as children. Dawn is an award-winning gardener and enjoys creating a peaceful place to sit and read, to be surrounded by nature.
Dawn has a Bachelor’s degree in Education, with postgrad studies in Literacy Development, Behaviour Management, Special Education, and Counselling. In addition, she’s an Artist, homesteader, and sheep farmer.
Dawn worked as a Special Education Teacher and Literacy Specialist for several years while developing her writing career and enjoying the duties of a wife and mother. She ran teacher education programs in schools for teachers of students with disabilities and learning difficulties. Dawn was also a Support Teacher for the Hearing Impairment program. In addition, she has worked in the private education sector providing educational assessments and implementing programs for individual students with specific learning needs.
Now Dawn’s new challenges involve a 100-acre family farm in Tasmania where she continues to author books, work in her garden, and sell her art. For Dawn, nature, and the natural way of doing things form the basis of so much that inspires her, from growing and preserving food to creating fine art to authoring exciting stories for children and young adults. She remains passionate about education and family life; that parents, the first educators, are the most important and influential people in a child’s life.
CONTRIBUTOR: MALCOLM RYAN
Malcolm Ryan brings a wealth of experience, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit to his role as a contributor to the Braddon Beagle. Growing up on a 480-acre dairy farm surrounded by native bush, a sawmill, and trout-filled dams along the Cam River, Malcolm’s formative years instilled in him a zest for life and a strong connection to the land.
Over the years, Malcolm has held diverse leadership roles and gained hands-on experience across industries including agriculture, forestry, mining, tourism, fashion retail, and local government. From dairy and beef farming to producing cut flowers and grapes, his agricultural knowledge is complemented by his involvement in forestry and paper production. Beyond industry, Malcolm has also contributed to community boards, mentored at-risk youth, and played significant roles in sports like cricket and football.
Malcolm’s passion for protecting rural communities drove him to campaign against Managed Investment Schemes (MIS) plantations overtaking prime agricultural land. This advocacy led to his election as a Burnie Alderman in 2005, a position he held for nine years. During this time, he championed the preservation of agricultural land and rural social fabric, helping to expose the financial fallout of plantation schemes that ultimately collapsed by 2012.
In 2014, Malcolm embarked on an exciting new venture with the launch of Rhuby Delights, a unique confectionery business celebrating his lifelong love of rhubarb. This innovative product pairs rhubarb with chocolate, offering a delightfully different way to enjoy a classic ingredient. Rhuby Delights reflects Malcolm’s creativity and deep appreciation for quality, homegrown produce.
A sixth-generation Tasmanian, Malcolm is dedicated to sharing his insights and stories with readers of the Braddon Beagle. His diverse background and commitment to the community make him a valuable voice for the region.
EDITOR: BELLE VANDERMEER
So, who is Belle Vandermeer, you’re asking yourself? Do not worry, she asks herself that same question at least once a day. She’d love to be able to give you a definitive answer, but in truth, it’s fluid. It changes on a day-to-day basis. All she knows for certain is that she’s never been particularly good at accepting labels or boxes, let alone fitting into them.
Belle emigrated to Australia from The Netherlands as a small child and currently resides with her husband and two Jack Russells on the beautiful King Island. She’s both a left and right-brain person, holding qualifications in both Finance and Fine Arts.
Belle has always had a love of language and a beautifully crafted sentence and admits to having a fetish for collecting quotes, poems, and song lyrics. What she won’t admit to is how many notebooks she’s filled with those quotes… When a shoulder injury slowed down her art practice, she decided to explore her love of the written word more fully and began writing. “I’ll paint my pictures with words.”
Belle has gone on to author three novels, a novella, and a collection of short stories. She also freelances as a copy and line editor.