My Australian Story

Andamooka

Outback South Australia just south of Pimba.

Location
South Australia

Duration
1972-1978

Craig’s family lived in Andamooka in the 1970s.

Andamooka is a remote opal mining town in central South Australia.

In Andamooka Craig attended the Andamooka Area School.

Victor Harbor

Location
South Australia

Duration
1978-1988

After a family separation, Craig moved to Victor Harbor with his mother Mary and younger brother Brett.

The family initially lived in Encounter Bay, before Craig’s father Ralph sold his mining business and rejoined the family in the early 1980s.

Craig attended both Victor Harbor Primary School and Victor Harbor High School.

Adelaide

Location
South Australia

Duration
1989-1992

After returning from Japan Craig lived in Adelaide and attended Flinders University.

Initially, Craig boarded in Hallett Cove with his Aunty Heather Clark.

Craig then moved to Edwardstown with his brother Brett Hodges and family friend Wendy Maughan.

After returning from his second visit to Japan and during his third year of study at Flinders University, Craig lived in Bedford Park with his brother Brett and two university students.

The river Torrens running through the CBD of Adelaide.

Cairns

Mumbai Australian Travel Show Exhibition – Circa 1996

ITV crew covering the Pub Sprint Event in Cairns. (L to R) Brett Goodman-Jones, David Tunnell (Ex-ABC Television) and Craig Hodges – 28th February 1998.

Location
Queensland

Durations
1993-1995, 1997-1998

JTB – TravelBox – Japanese Speaking Tour Desk Officer. (1993)

Ocean Spirit Cruises – Cruise Liaison Officer (1993-1994)

Sunlover Cruises – Sales & Marketing Executive (1995-1996)

After returning from a year in London, Craig briefly worked as a Rainforest Tour Guide before securing a position with Information Television (ITV) as a Sales Executive/Producer/Television Host. (1997-1998)

Sydney

Location
New South Wales

Durations
1998-1999, 2002-2003, 2021-Present

Potts Point 1998-1999

Worked across Sydney at a Temp Agency in 1998 before applying to work as a Tour Guide with Intrepid Travel in Vietnam.

CBD & Bondi Beach 2002-2003

After returning from London in 2001 and briefly stopping in Cairns, Craig moved down to Sydney. The aim was to develop a film concept based on his experimental documentary work undertaken in London with Faruk Rahman.

During this time Craig worked as a freelance Production Coordinator with JapArt and other Japanese production companies.

Craig left Sydney to relocate to Melbourne, stopping in Falls Creek to work a season in the snow in 2004.

Glebe Feb 2021 – Present

Since moving to Sydney in February 2021, Craig has worked as the Co-Founder and Media Adviser to the Democracy for Burma campaign. He has also worked closely with Gallerist Saxon Strauss at The Art Syndicate gallery in Surry Hills.

Falls Creek & Mt Beauty

Winterhaven in Falls Creek – Copyright Central Snowsports

Location
Victoria

Duration
2003

Mt Beauty

Craig worked various laboring jobs waiting for the snow season to start in Falls Creek. He picked fruit, capsicums and even tobacco in the Kiewa Valley.

Falls Creek

Craig secured contract work with various resorts preparing for the opening of the 2004 ski season.

Craig then secured work with renowned ski resort owner John Grant in his Ski Rental shop at Winter Haven (now the location of The Chophouse restaurant) for the full ski season.

Melbourne

The launch of the ACCESS youth group with the Australian Institute of International Affairs – Victoria.

Australia-Japan Society of Victoria Gala Dinner

Attending the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Location
Victoria

Duration
2003-2009

Prahran – 2003-2004

Craig returned to university studying Media & Communications at the University of Melbourne, whilst working at Borders Books on Chapel Street in South Yarra.

St Kilda – 2004-2005

Craig them moved to the St Kilda foreshore with his brother Brett, whilst continuing his study at the University of Melbourne. He worked for a short period with Apple Advertising; an outdoor advertising specialist with display contracts with sports clubs across Australia. Apple Advertising was based in Brighton.

Toorak – 2005-2008

Craig moved to Toorak and started volunteering with the Australian Institute of International Affairs, whilst also working with WTAA on their Women and Leadership forum events in Melbourne.

Elwood – 2008-2009

Craig moved to Elwood and worked with Additude Advertising in Albert Park on Facebook applications and Facebook strategy.

Australian Sojourn

End of first day of the ride out of Melbourne to Broome – September 2008.

Location
Around Australia

Duration
2009-2010

Trip Part 1 Sept-Oct 2008

Melbourne – Great Ocean Road – Andamooka – Edith Falls – Darwin – Kakadu – Kununurra – Wyndham – Karunjie Station – Kalumburu – Mitchell Falls – Derby – Broome – Cable Beach

Craig took a short break from Additude Advertising and rode via South Australia up through the centre, across the Kimberley and on to Broome.

Craig slept out in the open on his first night with Bush Poet and Nomad Chris.

Geelong

Great Ocean Road

Goolwa

Visit to Goolwa to pick up my brother Brett for a run up to Kakadu together.

Andamooka

Quick side trip to Andamooka to catch up with family friends, noodle and explore the area.

Edith Falls

There were no crocs in these fresh water falls.

Darwin

Quick visit to see our cousin Scott Stephenson.

KAKADU NATIONAL PARK

Kakadu – Ubirr

‘A moderately steep, 250 m climb takes you to the top of a rocky lookout that offers superb views over the Nadab floodplain‘

Kakadu – Maguk Falls

Maguk Falls in Kakadu National Park.

Kakadu – Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) Rock

Solo climbing, since my brother Brett returned to Adelaide. He left me with some extra cargo on the bike too.

The precarious section of the Kimberley is known at the Kuranjie Track running around the Cockburn Rangers from Wyndham to the Gibb River Road.

Gibb River Road – Karunjie Station – Oct 2008

On the Gibb River Road I stopped to help down a Ringer whose car had broken down. To help I rode some 70 kilometers into the station where he was working mustering cattle to let his workmates know. This was the start of my short stay at Karunjie Station.

To see more of Craig’s images from Karunjie Station – Click HERE

Gibb River Road – Wyndham

Mitchell Falls

The Mitchell Falls lured me up into the upper sections of the falls.

Derby

Attended the Derby Ball.

Broome

Visited Matsuo’s Micro-Brewery in Broome.

Cable Beach

Cable Beach Broome was the end point for the first part of the trip. Stayed for a few days, put the bike into storage, then flew back to work in Melbourne.

Trip Part 2 Feb – March 2009

Broome – One Arm Point – Fitzroy Crossing – Halls Creek – Wolfe Creek – Purnululu – Kununurra – Katherine – Nhulunbuy – Yirrkala – Elcho Island – Bawaka – Garma Festival (Gulkala)

After packing up and leaving Melbourne in February 2009 by train, Craig recommenced his motorcycle trip from Broome. Craig started travel writing and recording his travel with photography.

Broome & One Art Point – February 2009

One Arm Point (Ardyaloon) visit to stay with Bruce Wiggan after being introduced by Broome local Paul Boon.

The stay with Bruce forms the basis of a travel article about traditional turtle hunting for food. This article is published by Justin Jamieson in the Get Lost! Magazine (Issue 21, July 2009 Edition)

Tragically, it was also whilst staying in One Arm Point with Bruce that I witnessed the aftermath of a horrendous boating accident, which saw a young man lose his life mid-flight as he was evacuated to Perth for medical attention. I spoke on local ABC Radio about this accident and the slow response from the Royal Flying Doctors.

Broome ‘Walmadany Concert for Heritage‘ – 27th March 2009

Daile Pepper from the Sydney Morning Herald reported that, ‘tonight Butler will play without Barker and Birchall at the Walmadany Concert for Heritage in Broome to protest against the idea of building a gas processing precinct at Walmadany, about 60km north of Broome, as he continues his activism.’

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/john-butler-trios-revolving-door-20160127-9dja.html

Fitzroy Crossing

For about 10 days in May 2009 I camped on the sandy banks of the Fitzroy River near the “old crossing” a couple of kilometres out of town. During the day I would head in and take the time to talk to all sorts of people who were open for a chat as they went about their daily lives. From time to time, usually on dusk, I caught up with Patrick and his son fishing down on the old crossing.

Wolf Creek Crater & Purnululu National Park

Visited Wolfe Creek crater and Purnululu.

Katherine

Stayed with local family Luke and Nicki Asling in Katherine for a few days. Went out and photographed Luke’s work team as they worked on trucks and changed tyres in the heat of the day.

Arnhem Land – Nhulunbuy – July 2009

First trip to Arnhem Land, Craig camped on the beach near Nhulunbuy, before moving out to camp at Crocodile Creek.

Arnhem Land – Yirrkala

Craig stayed in a camp near Ranger Wendy Marika’s house, at her direction. It was in Yirrkala that Craig started meeting many of the Yirrkala community, including Timmy ‘Djawa’ Burarrwanga.

Arnhem Land – Elcho Island

Invited to assist with a Yolngu Radio survey on Elcho Island. He travelled with visiting American student Simon Yugler.

Garma Festival (Gulkala) – August 2009

I attended the festival as a freelance writer. Young photographer getting ready to take a photo of Chief Minister Paul Henderson as he is being interviewed on radio at the Garma Festival.

Bawaka (Homeland) – September 2009

I visited Bawaka homeland for the first time with Timmy Burarrwanga and his family in 2009.

Trip Part 3 Oct – Nov 2009

Arnhem Land – Gulf Country – Kowanyama – Cairns

Gulf Country & Kowanyama – October 2009

Craig experienced motorcycle engine problems with compounded by poor fuel quality. He stayed with Police Officer Brett Chadwick in Kowanyama until his bike could be transported to Cairns for repairs.

Cairns – November 2009 – April 2010

Unexpected extended stay while the motorbike was being repaired.

Cape York – RIDE UP March-April 2010

Rode the Suzuki DR 650 up Cape York camping and stopping along the way.

Sailing on Andiamo IV – April 2010

This was an enjoyable sailing trip with Skipper/Owner John and fellow crew member Nadine from the Netherlands. We spent 19 days at sea sailing from Seisia down the coast to Cairns Queensland.

Things got tough when ran out of stores and had to be towed from Cape Melville to Cairns. John had left our departure very late and the seasonal winds had swung around. To make matters worse, we also had engine failure and a ripped genoa from multiple attempts to round Cape Melville in gusty conditions. In the end, we got very lucky and were towed to Cairns behind Dave’s trawler.

Cape York – RIDE DOWN – May 2010

Rode the Suzuki DR 650 up Cape York camping and stopping along the way.