Carl is a Jaru/Kija man from Halls Creek in the Kimberleys in Western Australia. Carl loves spending time out bush with his family; fishing, hunting and swimming in waterholes. He loves AFL- he is a Level 3 coach! Carl was awarded State Finalist of the Australian of the Year Award- Local Hero for Western Australia in 2016 for his work as lifeguard, football coach, Clontarf worker and youth mentor. Carl was the 2020 Black&Write Fellowship recipient for his series of picture books: Backyard Sports. He was a shortlisted author for the Western Australian Writing Fellowship.
Hakea is an avid reader, nature lover, vege eater, writer, artist and adventurer. She loves to spend time imagining and daydreaming on long drives, in baths and around the garden. Hakea holds her Bachelor of Education (P-12 English and Humanities), Graduate Certificate of Special Needs and is a facilitator of Trauma Informed Teaching and Classroom Management Skills (CMS).
Mark Coles Smith, also known by his musical identity as Kalaji, is an Aboriginal Australian actor of stage and screen, sound designer, field recordist, writer, and composer. Mark has appeared in The Clearing as well as voicing Uncle Mick in Little J & Big Cuz.