The Team

The Wollangarra team is made up of Directors, a Program Manager and a number of Outdoor Leaders. The Outdoor Leaders often possess a diverse range of skills and experience from a variety of backgrounds, such as outdoor and environmental education, youth work, conservation, and environmental science. Wollangarra staff hit the ground running from when they arrive in January, completing several months of extensive training, which includes Wilderness First Aid, Bronze Medallion (swimming supervision), four wheel driving and defensive driving, safe food handling, chainsaw operations, hiking, camping and navigation, communications training, and so much more. Leaders volunteer their time for a year in the mountains, working hard and demonstrating simple living to provide quality leadership and education to the hundreds of young people who attend Wollangarra programs each year. They are the backbone of Wollangarra.

Wollangarra leaders are normally recruited between September and December each year. If you think you might be interested in applying for this once in a lifetime opportunity, then we recommend visiting for a week as a volunteer on a program, or coming to one of our regular work party weekends. Feel free to call us at the homestead to have a chat with current Directors on what it’s all about or visit our Outdoor Leader page for more info.

The 2024 Legends!

Directors

Katie Green

Katie loves gardening, flowers, wombats and hand crafted pottery. Prior to Wollangarra Katie was a St Johns ambulance volunteer, a nursing student, a small business owner, a keen gardener and a mum. In fact, she is still all of those things plus she's now a Wolly director too!

Anthony (Smitho) Smith

Smitho was a Wolly staff member in 2010. Since then he's been living in Margaret River running a business (Water Wally) in off grid wastewater management. Smitho is an environmental engineer and he is a guy who loves the outdoors, Katie and his kids!

Maya Carlyon

Maya’s smile brightens every room and all of our hearts here on the flat. She has spent time as a young person at both Wollangarra and Mitagundi and being an integral part of the Volunteer force in late 2023 she’s a wealth of Wollie knowledge. Hailing from an amazing biodynamic farm (and family!) near Flinders, Maya is our resident scientist, specialising in physics and has all the answers for the questions we contemplate about the cosmos over breakfast. Maya is an amazing violinist, baker, knitter, list maker and avid reader and is honestly one of the finest people you could meet (profile written by Katie).

Flynn Haubold

If you ask Flynn where he’s from, you’ll get a long list including (but not limited to) South Korea, King Island and Vietnam… but originally, Flynn’s from Wollangarra… the first “Woll baby” to return as a staff member! The shepherd of 2024, Flynn can often be found with 23 sheep in tow. Aside from his sheep, Flynn loves fishing, his car and the sound of two stroke engines (his words, not mine). We love Flynn for his sense of humour, his ability to fix almost any problem, his kindness, his farts (they’re real bad), and his charm. Flynn brings loads of Woll experience to the team, having spent many weeks at Woll as a young person and volunteer and is “keen for it all” this year (profile written by Maya).

Mabel Keen

Mabel... Where to start!? Mabel studied Outdoor Education and Sustainability at LaTrobe University. They are a keen plant enthusiast, an amazing baker and our best giggler! Mabel's laugh runs from morning to night and keeps the vibe bright all the while. Mabel loves paddling on the river and has an amazing connection with the young people who come to visit Woll. They are always up for an adventure are are pumped for life!

Yeah Mabel!

(Profile written by Smitho)

The Smith Kids!

Frankie (11), Floyd (11) and Pearl (9)

… Here comes trouble! Just kidding, these are some of the most kind and understanding kids around. Growing up loving and exploring the outdoors these kids love playing around the flat. Frankie loves reading, Floyd loves riding Casper’s bike & Pearl loves BUGS!!!

Emma Ward

Emma is nothing short of an absolute gem and it’s an understatement to say that we are 100% stoked to have her on the Wolly team this year. Emma is our part time team member and our amazing stage 3 coordinator for the year. Based in Melbourne, Emma is juggling a part time job as a speech therapist. This year Emma is balancing the love for her speech therapy job and her love for Wollangarra by joining us for our holiday programs and any other time that she can squeeze it in! Emma is right at home in outdoor adventures and has an impressive list of hikes and adventures under her belt. Emma brings with her an abundance of joyful skills including guitar playing, singing, piano playing, water colour painting and she is an absolute gun at washing dishes (a knight worthy skill to have at Woll!). Emma has ½ a teaspoon of sugar in her tea and, to repeat things that are worth repeating, Emma is an absolute gem! (Profile written by Smitho).

And... Maddog!

Maddog first came to live at Wollangarra as an 8 week old puppy in 2010. He was a cute little fella back then, always hanging off the back of Smitho's boots. Now he's an old boy back on the flat. He's a bit slower than he used to be but still goes out on the odd hike and still loves hanging on the back of your boots!