Dr Doc Reynolds

For more than 50 years, Dr Ronald (Doc) Reynolds has helped integrate traditional culture with scientific research, community planning and tourism in the region of Esperance.

Doc is recognised as a Senior Saltwater Knowledge Holder/Cultural Custodian/Traditional Owner of the Esperance Tjaltjraak (Wudjari) people, most eastern of the 14 tribes of the Noongar Nation located in the south east of WA, around the Esperance region. He learnt all his skills from the old Wudjari people who sat around campfires and shared their stories.

Doc has been actively involved with Aboriginal Affairs for nearly 50 years having leadership roles at the local, regional, State, National and International levels. Doc was the 1st Aboriginal Shire Councillor elected to the Shire of Esperance, and has numerous leadership roles, former President of the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA (ALSWA), former Chair of the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) and the former Chair of the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) and many others leadership roles at the local, regional, State, National and International levels.

Doc has spent his entire life in the Esperance area, and has a strong connection to, and knowledge of, Wudjari Tjaltjraak Culture and Country and has benefitted from opportunities to learn culture and language from his Senior Knowledge Holders. He has shared and will continue to share this, with the next generation of Wudjari’s and collaborators who enable the community to ensure that Wudjari knowledge is in the forefront of any research, planning, monitoring and the application of new technology.

Doc is a recognised cultural educator, working with the Tjaltjraak Rangers, some of whom are grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Elders who started Esperance's Native Title claim. As a Senior Cultural Advisor and knowledge holder, Doc is a respected member of his community and regularly leads and co-designs culturally sensitive research, participates in steering committee and speaks at important cultural events. In the early 1990s, Doc was chosen by the Elders to lead on their behalf the Esperance Wudjari Tjaltjraak Nyungar Native Title claim over the wider Esperance area to finally see their wishes come true on the 14 March 2014.

Doc has been a tireless worker in protecting and upholding Wudjari cultural values and been involved in Caring for Sea/Country programs for over 35 years, including the CEO of Esperence's Aboriginal Community Centre with over 23 staff for 12 years.

In 2003 Doc along with his sister Gail and their respective partners, Robyne and Mark, formed Kepa Kurl Enterprises Pty Ltd, focusing on Cultural Tourism experiences and Cross-Cultural Awareness training, which was recognised as one of the leading Aboriginal tourism operations in Australia before they stepped away from their tourism operations.

Doc Has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the The University of Western Australia. He is the 2023 recipient of the Sir David Brand Medal, which recognises the extraordinary personal and professional achievement and contribution by an individual over many years to the WA tourism industry. In 2024 Doc was nominated for the WA Senior of the Year and is the Inaugural Inductee of the Landcare WA Hall of Fame. He is also the recipient of the Australian Marine Sciences Association's 2024 Gigari MG Excellence in Sea Country Award.

Today Doc is semi-retired (wish!!!) enjoying his spare fishing, reading, camping, being on country and time with his grandchildren.