Feature by: Jo Baker
Standing with bare feet on sugary burnt orange sandstone, young Ngarinyin and Walmajarri man Tremane Baxter-Edwards feels a profound connection to the 1.8-billion-year-old Cockburn Ranges before him. This ruggedly serene spot in the Kimberley wilderness, on the banks of the Chamberlain River, isn’t far from where his great-grandmother came into the world. It’s where the spirit of Country speaks clearly to him and grounds him in his rich cultural heritage.
Dreamer Tremane Baxter-Edwards
Tremane, or Buster as he’s affectionately known, is one of the East Kimberley’s most-loved cultural tour guides. He has been working at El Questro Wilderness Park (also known as Marlabu to his community) since he was a young teenager, guided by the spirits of his ancestors.
“When I work on Country at El Questro, I remember where I am. I stand at the ranges with my great-grandmother, and my family before her, who looked at these ranges and who were by these waterholes and these rivers. I reflect, and I think to myself, what an honour and privilege it is to come from the oldest, continuing living culture in the world, to speak my language and tell the stories I was told as a young fella, passed down by generations that have lived on this beautiful land,” says Buster.
If he had to pick one spot where he loves to take visitors to feel and immerse themselves in Country, he’d have to say Pigeon Hole Lookout on the Pentecost River at El Questro.
Gibb River Road, El Questro Wilderness Park
“To be away from the bustling cities and to experience the gentle wind travelling over the range. It’s an amazing place to visit. And seeing the rocks at golden hour is a pretty incredible sight.”
But to really feel what it's like walking on a dream, Buster says you can’t beat going barefoot.
“There's something about stepping on spinifex, hot sand, and rusty old ranges that doesn't feel the same with shoes on. You feel a lot, and it goes right through your body. It’s a physical connection, but it's a way that spiritually connects you as well.”
Aerial view of Pender Bay, Dampier Peninsula
Beyond this enchanting wilderness, Buster has carried that deep connection to Country and community to carve out a role for himself in regional development and youth empowerment.
Working with all levels of government, Aboriginal organisations, and the private sector, he’s brought his charismatic brand of leadership to shape policies and programs that strengthen community capability, support economic participation, and build respectful partnerships.
It’s a journey he says is guided by his grandmother’s story – a powerful woman who dedicated her life’s work to representing Aboriginal people across the Kimberley and the state.
Mimbi Caves Campground, Fitzroy Crossing
“I always think about her wherever I go. I think about where she was born, and how far she'd come from being a bush woman, literally born under a boab tree. She raised me to be a very proud Aboriginal man, and my ultimate dream is to one day hold the highest office in the land, as Prime Minister of Australia.”
Standing on the shoulders of his ancestral giants, it’s a dream he doesn’t take lightly. So maybe one day, in the not-too-distant future, he’ll come knocking on the door of Parliament House.
Published in January 2026.