A significant event occurred on the 31st January 2025 that marks the end of an era for St Helena Island. That’s the retirement of Ranger-In-Charge Roland Dowling – mentor, guru, expansive thinker, protector of rangers and the environment in equal measure, lover of heritage, friend and all-round great person.
When Roland first stepped into the role of managing Fort Lytton National Park in 1991 (and in a few years time, St Helena Island), did he know that was the start of a 34 year stint? Here was an ex-cartographer, who found his way into rangering at Carnarvon Gorge. Roly was always a free spirit and had an enormous love of people, culture and places. What better person to bring across to manage the cultural heritage sites in Moreton Bay.
The decade of the 90’s was a time of growth, innovation and energy. Roland spear-headed it all. This became obvious at Roly’s retirement send off, where people engaged in projects in the 90’s and 2000’s came from far and wide. The sentiments shared reflected on a time of innovation over a wide variety of projects to conserve and interpret the heritage parks and importantly a time of great camaraderie, with people collaborating with passion and purpose to achieve the best outcomes for these unique places.
At his send off, there was a pattern in the tributes shared by people – aspects of Roland that shine as a person and in a leadership role:
He is highly intelligent and an innovator, and would sit gazing upward stroking his chin, musing about all the possibilities that lay ahead. Roland’s curiosity is a big part of the way he approaches life and his work. He loves exploring new ideas and finding a variety of ways in which something could be achieved, weighing up the odds and giving the go-ahead on something that was seemingly improbable.
Roland is a listener. If you have an idea, Roland would firstly listen, and then stretch the idea, making you consider other ways of approaching it. His catchphrase was “If I were you, I’d…” If you had personal issues, Roland would listen, support, empathise and do anything he could to help you as an individual.
Roland cares deeply about people. He advocated for rangers by leading the Rangers union for more years than I can count. His ‘team,’ the Heritage Parks staff, were also of great importance to him, as he strived to build a tight community of people to whom cultural heritage and conservation mattered.
He has a wry sense of humour and loves a good banter. A quiet remark or a twinkle in his eye is the best indication of his subtle humour. And if I conjure up an image of Roland, I usually imagine him in a group, with everyone enjoying a back-and-forth banter, some well times quips and puns and a gin and tonic or cocktail in hand.
Roland is passionate and wants to make a difference. He never desired to head up the management ranks, but instead knew that being an on-park ranger was where he felt most able to make the impact he wanted, with his ear to the ground and an incredible network of people and organisations to draw upon.
He always rises to the challenge through dedication and resilience. Life as a Ranger-In-Charge is not an easy thing and each week was a barrage of events, tasks, people, business decisions, customer service and trouble shooting. You would never know – looking at Roland he would be casually leaning on a chair, calm expression and looking like he had all day to talk with you. I know underneath he had more deadlines and more bubbling issues that I could even realise and was paddling hard under the water.
Roland led projects that will have a lifetime impact on the physical sites on St Helena Island. Roland fought many, many times for funding to preserve the crumbling prison ruins including the restoration of the dilapidated Chief Warder’s Kitchen, placing a roof over the administration and stores building, finding masons to painstakingly save the silo walls and literally build a wall at the lime kiln to hold back the relentless ocean. He worked to conserve the environment, striving to preserve the remnant forest on the island, tending to the neglected Olive grove, managing introduced weeds and animals and working with the Qld Waders group to research migratory shorebirds.
He brought new technologies on site, including Ground penetrating radar that revealed new insights into the island cemeteries. He also worked to digitally document the island well into the future, collaborating with the University of Qld to create 3D models of the island using CYARK. Working with Uni of Qld history and archaeology students over 3 summers, St Helena’s physical artefacts were catalogued, labelled and stored for the first time thanks to Roly and his wife Jenise Blaik.
Roland also oversaw projects that focus on developing quality and original interpretation of the site and its stories. Art installations and events by Pat Hoffie were bold and pushed boundaries, but given full rein to go ahead by Roly. Quality, original Theatre in Education programs in partnership with Moreton Bay EEC marry drama and education, allowing students to be immersed in the characters of the past. Commercial operators are trained through the QPWS Accreditation Course to ensure the quality of tour guiding on the island. Festivals have run over the years to allow people to creatively enjoy the island.
For myself, Belinda Daly, Roly’s mentorship gave me opportunities on St Helena Island that resulted in a lifetime connection to this island. I was new to Queensland in the 1990’s, and St Helena became my next interpretation career path and my new obsession. He supported me to write an interpretation plan and write much of the signage on the island. He hired me to create the entire St Helena Island museum, using money from the sale of cattle, and whatever we could scrounge or build from the capable hands of island rangers. In conjunction with Daley Donnelley, we delivered the St Helena Accreditation and Update courses for many years, and I know this is where my fascination with the island’s under-researched history began. When I worked at Moreton Bay EEC, we continued to partner together to write and deliver some of the best educational programs I’ve had the privilege to be involved with. And finally, when I said I wanted to begin a website and a blog, and begin researching St Helena’s history in far more depth, Roly heard it all and promptly said “If I was you, I’d…”
On a personal note Roly, thanks for believing in me and my abilities every step of the way (I know I will not be the only person to say that). And thanks for being more than a colleague and becoming a great friend.
Custodian of St Helena Island. Image: Belinda Daly.
Roland has made an enormous impact on St Helena Island in the 34 years that he has been there, and this was evidenced by him receiving an Exceptional Service medal at his retirement. He has quite literally established the culture of the place – a place where the uniqueness of the island needs to be recognised and protected. A place which needs to be showcased to the public through quality interpretation and education. A place that needs to protect the past, embrace current ebbs and flows in government and society, and lean into future opportunities whatever they may be. So thanks, Roly, for the legacy you have left on St Helena Island and the wider Heritage Parks.
Someone else who worked alongside of you said these perfect final words at your retirement send-off last week:
“You make magic happen. You are magic.”
