LYNNE THOMAS

Yuin-Biripi traditional knowledge holder, Lynne Thomas, has worked in various positions that have involved looking after Country. Through her time working at Umbarra Cultural Centre at Wallaga Lake, and in national parks Lynne developed a deeper love of the bush which re-enforces the knowledge of Country passed onto her from her father Guboo Ted Thomas, an Aboriginal Tribal Elder and mother Anne Wirrimah Thomas, a Taree Purfleet woman.

Lynne has also worked in the Department of Education for many years helping develop Aboriginal perspectives into the school curriculum. Her achievements include developing an Aboriginal studies class in which students learned Dhurga and Dirrinjang languages and songs.

When Lynne is not working, she loves to go caving and trekking up into the mountains and retracing old Dreaming tracks or memory lines that were a part of the Aboriginal tracks of long ago. Lynne also enjoys painting and has created many artworks and many national park interpretation signs for people to understand the importance of landscape through Aboriginal perspectives, and the life it gives us and its species.

Lynne continues to educate people through her business, Malleema Aboriginal Cultural Tours, and inform people about country and how fire is important to the land, people and animals whether they are important Totems of significance, or not. 

Lynne will particpated in the Cultural Burning discussion panel at Giiyong Festival on 22 November 2025 on the Alice Moore stage (Speakers Tent).