Doc Reynolds chairs Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Council
Nudju man and Esperance resident Ronald (Doc) Reynolds has been elected as chair of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators’ Council (WAITOC), to replace Neville Poelina who has served his maximum 4-year term.
Mr Reynolds’ past roles have included Esperance Shire Councillor where he held the portfolios for Regional Development for Tourism, Environment and Coastal Management, Recreation and Culture and Social Community Development. He has served on the Australian’s Golden Outback Tourism Board of directors, and the Esperance Tourism Board.
Mr Reynolds has also served on a number of State Ministerial Councils, National Committee’s and has previously served terms as President of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA and Chairperson of Aboriginal Lands Trust, which is the largest land holder in WA.
Doc has ha da long distinguished association with Aboriginal Affairs spanning some 30 years, at local, regional and national levels. Seeking a career change, he along wiht his sister, Gail and both their respective partners, Robyne and Mark, decided to form ‘Kepa Kurl Enterprises Pty Ltd’. Doc has a strong connection to the country, and is recognised as a traditional owner in the Esperance region. Kepa Kurl has been running for 10 years.
Doc is the first Aboriginal person to be elected onto the Esperance Shire Council and has the portfolio of Regional Development for Tourism, Environment and Coastal Management, Recreation and Culture and Social Community Development. He has been on the Local Council for 6 years and is running again for 2 more years.
Doc has sat on 4 ministerial councils and has chaired the Aboriginal Lands Trust, which is the largest land holder in Western Australia.
He also sits on the Australian’s Golden Outback board of directors, and is the shire representative for Esperance Tourism Board.
In his spare time Doc enjoys fishing, camping, painting, hiking and researching local history both Aboriginal and mainstream.
WAITOC is the peak industry organisation for Indigenous tourism in WA. It is the only tourism organisation of its kind in Australia and has just celebrated its 10th year of operation. Earlier this year WAITOC together with Indigenous tourism organisations from 5 other countries founded the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance and are holding its 1st international forum in Lucerne Switzerland on 12 October 2012.
