Our team
Ali
Alexandra (Ali) Bloomfield has a PhD in marine science and a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons. First Class). She has experience tutoring at university as well as educating pre-school children about marine life. She has presented talks at international conferences as well as at community forums.
Ali has spent over a week of her life (minute for minute) SCUBA diving, a lot of it here in South Australia doing biodiversity surveys of rocky reefs. Ali has living in the Victor Harbor regions since 2009 raising her children with her husband.
“From my experience, children really enjoy finding items on the beach. This creates a fantastic opportunity for marine education as they seek clarification of what they have actually found.”
Renee
Renee Newman has a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) and is a qualified sailing instructor. She has sailed around the world and has taught children outdoor education in various settings. Renee has a Diploma in Small Business Management and ran her own ecotourism business on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Renee grew up in Victor Harbor and has been raising her children here with her husband since returning from sailing around the world.
“I’m excited to pass on my experience in ecotourism and to engage children in the local marine environments we call home.”
Nedra
Nedra Haines is the Manager of the Victor Harbor section of the Kangaroo Island/Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch and has been associated with the South Australian Whale Centre for over 10 years. She has assisted with the education programs and tours (including Professor Blubber Stage Shows), education of whale spotters, is a registered whale spotter herself and worked at the reception desk. She recently won the 2024 Australia Day Award for Active Citizenship in the City of Victor Harbor in recognition of ongoing marine conservation efforts:
“Nedra’s contributions to the conservation of marine wildlife will have an enduring impact on the community for years to come. Nedra Haines is the coordinator of the Kangaroo Island/Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch which involves the organisation of regular dolphin surveys along the Fleurieu Peninsula coastline. She is also well known for her work monitoring the endangered Little Penguin colony on Granite Island and is a local whale spotter. Her passion for marine science and research has been shared through education to the local community, including recently as part of Fleurieu Marine Education’s Coastal Adventures youth program. Nedra is also a long-standing volunteer at the Horse Tram merchandise shop, and the Victor Harbor Visitor Centre (incorporating the SA Whale Centre), where she is able to share her extensive knowledge with visitors.”
Stephen
Stephen Hedges has become an acknowledged expert on the lifecycle of the Little Penguin colony on Victor Harbor’s Granite Island. He has made an outstanding contribution to penguin research, first as a tour guide for more than 20 years, and then as a research assistant with Flinders University, and the BirdLab, for almost 10 years. In 2022 he received the South Australian Award for Active Citizenship for his work for the Granite Island Little Penguins. Stephen draws on his 45yrs experience of teaching in schools to deliver educational tours and sessions to young and old.
Ian
Ian Milne has a Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology) and Graduate Diploma in Teaching and was a teacher at the local Victor Harbor High School for many years where he taught a popular and successful course in Marine Studies to Year 12 students. Ian has been a local SCUBA diver and keen snorkeller in Encounter Bay and was involved in setting up Whale Watching in Victor Harbor for which he received an Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award.
“I have an extensive knowledge of the marine environment in Encounter Bay and the plants and animals that live in it and love sharing this knowledge with others and telling stories about my happy place – underwater!”
Roslyn
Roslyn Shirlaw is a conservationist focussing on the well-being of our coastal environment and birdlife. By promoting the importance of caring and sharing for our environment, Roslyn hopes to improve well-being and survival rate of threatened species. She is a passionate volunteer with National Parks and Wildlife Service, Birdlife Australia and Flinders University Bird Lab. Trained in conducting bird surveys and citizen science data-collection, she surveys and monitors Little Penguins and Beach-nesting birds like Hooded Plovers and Fairy Terns. Roslyn is also an active member of Friends of Granite Island and Friends of Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. Following a varied and successful working career, Roslyn now aims to broaden our appreciation of nature. This is achieved by creating and delivering informative learning programs and guided tours for people of different generations.
Tara
Tara Wheatland has a Bachelor of Science (Zoology) and studied in Far North Queensland. She also worked with a marine-research and liveaboard adventure SCUBA diving organisation where she dived at some wild and remote locations on the Great Barrier Reef. She has participated in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, regularly helping collect rubbish from beaches. Tara enjoys swimming, snorkelling, diving and kayaking and swims in the Southern Ocean every day.
Tara lives with her partner and young son in Goolwa Beach.
“Through teaching my son about the natural world, I have come to believe that wonder, curiosity and discovery are the first steps to inspire children to love and protect our oceans.”
