2024 STAFF TEAM
Michael Donovan
Director
Traditionally you can always either find Michael asleep under a tree or a few hundred meters off the ground ‘working’. For the next two years you can also find him directing Mittagundi with Dani. Michael was the program manager in 2014 and has finally decided to come back. Which is about time as he has spent the last 8 years in New Zealand talking about Mittagundi endlessly with family and friends. Michael loves early mornings, negotiating with the chainsaws, and playing games with cows. He then loves to hit the pillow as the sun goes down so he can wake up again in the morning and do it all again.
Danielle Donovan (Dani)
Director
Having heard about Mittagundi from Michael for the past 8 years, Dani is excited to experience this beautiful place and call it home for the next couple of years. Directing alongside Michael, the 2023 staff team, the cows, the chickens, the horses, the kangaroos and so much more, she is looking forward to all the highs (and the lows). Dani is getting used to the mornings day by day and really enjoys rafting, abseiling, and even hiking with young people (which she may not admit too often). When not doing these things, you can find her trying to work out the farm life, admin life balance.
Cailey Scott
Leader
Cailey joins the team from the nearby Victorian region. She has been studying Outdoor Education for the last 4 years and is super keen to be working in the industry. Cailey has been dreaming about working at Mittagundi for a few years and is so excited to finally be here. This year at Mittagundi Cailey is looking forward to learning with and from young people and sharing with them, her love for the outdoors. Cailey is most excited about maintaining the garden, learning how to build/fix fences, look after the animals and learn how to raft. You will find Cailey awkwardly dancing around the kitchen table, drawing, and trying to learn the ins and outs of Mittagundi.
Sophie Robinson
Leader
Sophie comes to Mittagundi from Melbourne, where she has just finished her Bachelor degree in Linguistics. As an ex-young person, she is keen to get back to Mittagundi to challenge herself and give back to the community. Sophie is looking forward to positively influencing young people in relation to looking after the environment. This year Sophie is excited to learn and apply her knowledge out in the orchard and garden, wishing to maintain the huge efforts from the 2023 team. You will find Sophie fulfilling her duties as chicken mum and also getting super excited to learn all farm related jobs.
Sally Freeman-Smith
Leader
Sally is the newest member of the 2024 team and joins us from Castlemaine. As an ex-young person and frequent volunteer of both Wollangarra and Mittagundi Sally brings with her valuable knowledge and experience. Working at Mittagundi was always on the cards for Sally, fortunately for us, 2024 is the year. This year Sally is excited to give young people unique experiences, similar to those she was fortunate enough to experience. Learning to milk and getting to know the horses is high on the agenda for Sally this year. You will find Sally jamming on the guitar or working on a crochet or knitting project.
Wil Auld
Leader
Wil joins the 2024 team all the way from Idaho in the States and brings with him experience from working various outdoor jobs back home. Wil is also a keen advocate for outdoor education and its benefits for young people. This year at Mittagundi he endeavours to provide young people with similar outdoor experiences to when he was younger. Wil is most excited to learn and use his skills in relation to plumbing, pigs, the forge and doing the dishes. You will find him with a guitar in hand, talking about how he wishes the weather was colder and giving every job around the farm a crack.
Belinda Black
Accounts Manager
Belinda is based on the Mornington Peninsula and manages all the accounts for Mittagundi.
Belinda attended Mittagundi many years ago as a young person and it sparked a love of the outdoors that has led her on many adventures around the world. These days three young children keep life busy, fun and filled with laughs.