From the Ocean to the Outback

In a 2014 feature from The Border Watch, readers were introduced to the remarkable journey of Uncle Ken Jones, a proud Boandik Elder from South Australia’s Limestone Coast. The article traces Ken’s life from a boy growing up by the sea to becoming a respected cultural educator and environmental leader.

Raised in Port MacDonnell, Ken’s early life was deeply shaped by his connection to land and ocean. He spent his days with his siblings and father fishing for crayfish, hunting rabbits, and learning how to live in rhythm with the natural world. These lessons weren’t learned in classrooms, they were passed down by grandparents, shaped by time, and guided by the seasons.

In 1972, Ken joined the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, working in some of the most remote parts of South and Western Australia. He developed a deep understanding of environmental management, wildlife behaviour, and marine conservation skills he would later combine with traditional Boandik knowledge to shape a more holistic approach to caring for Country.

After years working across the state, Ken returned to his roots in Port MacDonnell. There, he and his brother built eco-friendly homes using local materials and sustainable practices, while Ken maintained his work as a fisherman and diver. But it was during these years that another calling emerged to educate, restore, and share the cultural stories tied to the landscapes he knew so well.

Together with his wife Katrina, a former journalist, Ken co-founded Bush Repair, a family-run business blending eco-tourism, land care, and cultural storytelling. Through immersive tours and site-specific education, Bush Repair takes visitors “on Country” from coastal cliffs to wetlands to learn about bush tucker, medicinal plants, wildlife tracking, and Boandik stories handed down through generations.

Beyond business, Ken has become a community champion, volunteering with environmental groups like Southern Ocean Coastcare and Shore Birds South East. He plays an active role in local biodiversity research, dune regeneration, and habitat mapping, and is often called upon to guide government and school groups through cultural and ecological awareness sessions.

Ken’s work is grounded in action and lived experience. His story reflects a life spent listening to the land — and now, helping others hear what it has to say. Through Bush Repair, he demonstrates how culture and conservation are not separate paths, but interwoven tracks leading toward deeper respect, connection, and care.

As the Border Watch feature reminds us, Uncle Ken’s legacy isn’t just about the past, it’s about preparing the next generation to walk Country with knowledge, humility, and responsibility.

Read the original article here:Border Watch – Lifetime of Experience Put to Use (Ken Jones)