Sam Lovell (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Sam Lovell was born in January 1933 on Calwynyadah Station in the Kimberley, Western Australia. At the age of four he was taken away to Mulla Bulla Station in 1937. Mulla Bulla Station was an Aboriginal settlement where so called “half caste” children were taken. Sam does not remember his mother and never saw her again after he was taken away. His early employment ranged from truck driver and drover to Head Stockman and yard building contractor.

In 1981, Sam and his wife Rosita established Kimberley Safari Tours, a tourism business that had more than 2,500 customers when they sold it in 1992. Sam was awarded the prestigious Sir David Brand Award in 1988 for his contribution to tourism. The Kimberley Tourism Association also presents an annual Encouragement Award, the Sam and Rosita Lovell Tourism Award to developing businesses.

Since 1995 Sam has been employed by the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development (OAED) as an Aboriginal Tourism Project Officer. In 2003, the Governor of Western Australia awarded Sam the Order of Australia for his contribution to Indigenous Relations.

Sam works with many international media groups including the BBC and Swiss Television. He was a Senior Cultural and Heritage Adviser on the major motion picture Australia, a Baz Luhrmann film.

Sam Lovell (photo by Kenn Stearns)