Bio: Deb Hunter

Deb lives on a small farm at kooparoona niara in central northern Tasmania. She grew up outside Sydney on the edge of Kuringai National Park. The best childhood memories include exploring animal tracks through the bush, the creeks and Aboriginal rock art sites and Easter and holidays on the family dairy farm near Bega. Deb moved to Tasmania for the farming life before her 21st birthday. Hobbies include organic gardening and livestock, food preserving, cooking, photography and music. Deb has loved road trips all her life because the journey is as important as the destination.

Deb started Wild Cave Tours with a friend in 1989; within the next year, the Mole Creek Caving Club was formed. Deb is still involved with both and with speleology, the study and exploration of caves, and cave rescue. Holidays are spent in remote parts of Australia with other like minded friends from other Australian caving clubs, discovering and mapping caves and documenting their values. She also practices part time as a registered Bowtech physical therapist.

Deb has other outdoor interests in Tasmania including bushwalking, sailing and volunteering in National Parks and the World Heritage Area. She returned to study in 2004, obtaining a degree in Environmental Science with honours in karst hydrochemogeology in 2008 and Master of Science (Chemistry) in 2017. Deb has a deep respect for Australia’s first peoples and the privileges she has enjoyed while learning about and exploring their ancient land.

Deb Hunter on holiday