Chris Tugwell

Chairman, Mid Murray Landcare SA & River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve

Chris joined the Mid Murray Landcare SA committee in 2015 and was the driving force behind the 3,200 square kilometre River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (Australia’s first) working for four years with the Mid Murray Council, tourism specialists, local residents and experts from the Astronomical Society of SA to make the Reserve a reality. They achieved gold tier IDA accreditation in October 2019. In recognition of his work to create the Reserve, Chris was made the 2021 Mid Murray Citizen of the Year.

Over the past 25 years, Chris and his partner have planted some 80,000 trees and bushes on what was a 350 acre sheep paddock at Big Bend on the Murray, restoring habitat for local wildlife, including many resident wombats.

Chris is a Life Member of the Australian Writers Guild, and when not admiring the astonishing night sky, he is an award-winning writer and film maker.