Aunty Jeanette comes from one of the world’s oldest living cultures and, through Brown Earth Tours, invites people to experience the true history and stories of Cherbourg. She carries direct matriarchal lineage to the Koa (Guwa) Nation from Winton in Outback Queensland, where her maternal grandmother was forcibly removed from Guwa-Koa traditional lands and relocated to Barambah (Cherbourg) around 1911. Her ancestral connections also extend to the Kuku-Yalanji, Kullilli, and Wangan Jangalingou Nations.

 

Deeply committed to sharing Aboriginal culture and history, she founded her Cultural and Historical tour business, Brown Earth Tours. As an Elder, Cultural Educator, and Tour Guide, Aunty Jeanette draws on strong cultural connections and lived experience to share stories of Country, fostering understanding while honouring and preserving cultural heritage for future generations.  

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She also shares her personal experiences of “Life Under the Act,” offering powerful insight into this period of history and its lasting impact. A published poet and author of Cherbourg Mission 100 Years: 1904–2004 Centenary, Aunty Jeanette is currently working on a new book titled Mission Impassable, inspired by one of her poems and her upbringing under “The Act.” This title also forms the inspiration for her tour package, Mission Impassable, which continues to share these stories with truth, respect, and cultural depth.

 

For many years, she has been actively engaged in community meetings and cultural events within her local area, contributing to the ongoing sharing of knowledge, stories, and lived experience. Her journey is also featured in Chapter 13 of Outback Heroines, a collection of true stories by author, travel writer, and journalist Sue Williams, highlighting her voice within broader narratives of strength and community.

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In its humble beginnings, Aunty Jeanette began as a volunteer tour guide and was part of the founding steering group of the Ration Shed Museum (Cherbourg Historical Precinct Group Inc.). Working alongside community members, Elders, and family, she helped lay the foundations for what has become an important cultural and historical space for sharing stories of Cherbourg and preserving community history.

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The steering committee also led a community-driven research project, including a visit to the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra, strengthening cultural knowledge, reconnecting histories, and ensuring stories are preserved and shared with respect.

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Aunty Jeanette has also contributed to many significant community and cultural initiatives, including the ANZAC 100 Boys From Barambah Project, Strong Women’s Shadow Boxes, Cherbourg Marching Girls, Many Threads Arts and Craft, community and historical film projects, and the 20 Years Ration Shed Anniversary celebrations. Through this work, she continues to honour community stories, support cultural continuity, and keep history alive within the Cherbourg cultural precinct.

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Her tours are not just informational—they are guided journeys grounded in lived experience and truth-telling through the Ration Shed Museum. Visitors leave with a deeper understanding, respect, and connection to culture. Bookings can be made through this website or by emailing betours4605@gmail.com.