Our board is made up of committed professionals with a deep understanding of the needs of our communities Our team represent various aspects of corporate and public sector Australia as well as rural Australia.
Lynn French – CEO
I am a grazier’s wife, mother, nanna, tourist operator and volunteer to our young citizens of the nation. I live on a remote historical cattle station in North QLD called Gilberton. We run beef cattle and also have a private 5 star luxury retreat. Due to growing up on the land and with limited interest in schooling I really only realised its value when I became a parent.
For 32 years I have volunteered and advocated for rural children’s access to a great education. As an active member of VISE till its folding in 2017 and 4 years supporting AHVISE, I have been a constant between families and tutors, education organisations and parent representative organisations and seen many children grow up with a great education due to these organisations support.
In 2019 I was awarded QLD Volunteer of the year and have been a long term member of the Isolated Children’s Parents Association, ICPA. Rural children deserve the best education possible and I have committed my life to this cause, BushED is just that next step.
Charles Alder
Charles is one half of the team that bought the Buy a Bale program and charity Rural Aid into existence from 2013. During the foundation years Rural Aid established a database of over 14000 farmers and Charles helped create a team that raised over $100 million in 7 years to support drought, fire and flood affected farmers and rural communities across Australia.
Charles has always been involved in education having volunteered at numerous schools, President, Secretary and Chair of School Council and also been a Vice President of Queensland’s peak parent representative body.
Anna Cronin
I am a mother, wife, and grazier in the Northern Territory, involved in beef cattle breeding. I have spent my entire life living on the land. Before starting our family, my husband and I worked for large cattle stations in the NT. We were involved in contracting at processing facilities, where we handled the processing of up to 50,000 head of cattle for various purposes, including feedlot, export, and the domestic market. Additionally, we were responsible for record-keeping and reporting to the head office.
I understand the significant pressures that young mothers in rural areas face. They often have to juggle multiple roles, serving as the primary cook, teacher, and taking on various other responsibilities. I myself experienced distance education as a child and am currently tasked with educating our own children. I am aware of the visible burdens placed on rural and remote mothers and the personal hardships they endure while living on the land.
I am passionate about supporting rural women and young families, assisting them in adapting to modern society, where everyone is treated equally, regardless of their location.
Tracy Alder
Tracy hails from Newcastle, New South Wales, and belongs to a long line of Traveling Showmen, spanning four generations. Her family traversed the entire country, captivating audiences with thrilling rides like the Chipmunk Roller Coaster and engaging games like Laughing Clowns. While she relished the excitement of city shows, Tracy’s heart truly belonged to the rustic charm of country shows.
After bidding farewell to the traveling show life to focus on her children’s education, Tracy found her calling in the school Parents and Citizens (P&C) associations. She generously volunteered with P&C groups in Queensland for several years before taking on a role at the organization’s head office. In this capacity, she supported P&C Presidents, Treasurers, Secretaries, and School Principals in resolving day-to-day operational issues, coordinated informative sessions and training days for these key individuals, fostered collaboration with Education Queensland, insurance providers, and external stakeholders, and lent a helping hand to P&C associations throughout Queensland.
In 2013, Tracy and her husband Charles initiated the charity Rural Aid, most notably recognized for its ‘Buy-a-Bale’ program. The charity gained prominence in 2018 during the height of a severe drought. Through Rural Aid, Tracy and Charles provided critical aid to farming families, delivering livestock feed, offering financial assistance, extending mental health support, and empowering volunteers to assist on farms as general farmhands.
Driven by a deep passion for children’s well-being and the enhancement of educational outcomes, as well as a fervent commitment to supporting Australian bush charities, Tracy’s involvement with Bushed Australia represents the culmination of her life’s driving forces.
