Peieta Mills – Director
Proof is in the pudding!
Local knowledge and input.
Create opportunities for employment for locals particularly youth and indigenous.
Will in the longer term create employment and career opportunities that would not normally be available in a small country town.
I have a vision for Cunnamulla being a huge hub for domestic and international tourism providing everyone with the opportunity to work.
Passionate about the area and creating an industry on a large scale that can turn around the towns economic decline and population shift.
Love people leaving amazed and excited with their trip way beyond their expectations.
Enjoy being able to include and work with so many other locals, businesses and clubs.
Really enjoyed the challenges of learning the tourism industry and understanding how to market the tours and area to be included in brochures around the world.
Appreciate the for nominal support and encouragement I have had so many people.
Carla Mills – Admin and Finance Manager
Hi My name is Carla Mills, I am 32 and have lived in Cunnamulla all my life. I completed my schooling in Cunnamulla starting at the Sacred Heart Parish School in my primary schooling then completed high school in 1995 at the Cunnamulla State School.
Once leaving school I had various jobs all relating to hospitality and tourism or clerical. I commenced work for Stephanie Mills Gallery, which is now known as Out the Back Australia in 2004 until now.
I have been married for 3 years and have 3 Children, Blake 5, Paige 2 and Gemma is 9 months. They certainly keep my hands full.
I love the relaxed lifestyle of living in Cunnamulla, Everything is just around the corner, or up the road so to speak. It doesn't take much to do anything and everything.
I like working at Out the Back Australia because of the opportunities that it creates both for myself, the tourism industry in Cunnamulla, the Paroo Shire and our communities on a whole.
Many people are involved and participate in the operating of the Tours that Out the Back Australia provides these people benefit also. It has been exciting to have be involved for a long time and to be part of the changes and development that have offered many opportunities.
Leesa Smith – Tour Guide
Leesa was born in Cunnamulla which she still calls home, her parents and grandparents were also born in Cunnamulla or further west in Thargomindah so she has a long association with the area and the bush.
Everything she has learnt she learnt in Cunnamulla area and grew up with a close knit group of friends and family enjoying experiences, open spaces and freedom you could only have in the bush. She is a qualified Wool classer and has been around the country and world but chose to come back to Cunnamulla because it’s home and she loves it here.
Leesa says “being a Tour Guide with Out the Back Australia is a fantastic opportunity as I get to show everyone my backyard and get to do fun things every day that I did as a child with the travellers. I get to show travellers my backyard and show them how lucky we are to have all the unique sights, experiences and people we have here in our special part of the outback”.
Meeting people from Australia and from around the world is a highlight for Leesa every day and she finds them interesting and fun regardless of their age or background. I love showing travellers a great time while they are on tour with us and giving them an experience that could only be delivered by a passionate local. My experience and knowledge of the shearing industry enables travellers to get real hands on experience when we visit a shearing shed and they feel like they are part of the action and excitement of the age old art that is shearing.
Tourists often refer to Leesa as the female version of Crocodile Dundee!
John Mills – Keen Fisherman & Tour Guide
John Mills a born and bred local says it’s pretty easy to take people out and share a part of our area that we love and that we feel lucky to have in our backyard.
Most if not all locals love the river and have spent most of their childhood and much of their spare time as adults enjoying activities in or on the Warrego River at Cunnamulla. Swimming, water skiing, fishing for Yellow Belly or the ever elusive Murray Cod the river is a place to relax and enjoy on your own, with mates or with the whole family.
Like all fisherman there are plenty of stories to share from the one that got away or the leaky tinny in the middle of winter, but I would have to say there is nothing as exciting as catching a Murray Cod in the Warrego River.
Natalie Campbell – Cafe, Tour Catering, Retail Sales
My name is Natalie Campbell, I am 19 and was born and raised in the Cunnamulla district. My two brothers and I went to primary school in the little town of Eulo before going away to boarding school to complete our senior education in Brisbane.
After graduating from school in 2008, I lived and worked in Brisbane where I worked in a cafe and studied business. For 2010 I have chosen to come home to work, spend time with my family and have never been happier.
Out the Back Australia is the greatest job. I absolutely love coffee and cooking and everyone is different as there are lots of things to be done and heaps of different people to meet as they come through.
I chose to come back to Cunnamulla because it will always be home. Everyone knows everyone and the list of things to do is limitless. After spending time in the city, you can really appreciate the friendly laid back nature of the locals and you really notice how beautiful the Bush can be.
Caitlin Mitchell – Cafe
Caitlin Mitchell is a thirteen year old Indigenous Australian and she has been working at Out the Back Australia for more than one year. Caitlin started work at a young age because she wanted to grab any opportunity for work and life experience that could offer her a bright future.
Born in Cunnamulla Caitlin loves that Cunnamulla is in the outback and that the Warrego River runs through the town. The best thing Caitlin loves about Cunnamulla is that everyone knows everyone and they look out for each other. Caitlin loves her job at Out the Back Australia because it gives her something to do with her spare time, the opportunity to learn new things and meet people from around the world. Travellers should come to Cunnamulla and see this wonderful peace of Outback Australia that we call home.