:
Join the Hema Alpha Team and explore with purpose
Words Julija Zivanovic Pics Supplied
Do you love touring remote regions of Australia … and want to be paid for it? Consider joining Australia’s leading community-driven exploration initiative.
Isabelle & Jeremy in the Butcher Country (High Country VIC)
It’s no secret that Australia is massive … so, it should be no surprise that mapping all of our country accurately and keeping those maps constantly updated is no easy task. In fact, it’s such a big job, we couldn’t possibly do it all ourselves. So, we initiated a community program called the Hema Maps Alpha Team.
Our Alpha Team is currently made up of 46 individual and couple teams who live and breathe the touring lifestyle — much like us! They work alongside our Map Patrol and offer genuine and trusted support for those navigating the vast Aussie outback.
We’re always looking to recruit more Alphas, and we want to show you just how far the program can take you. We’re starting our series of profiles with Alpha Team #009: Isabelle Kranhold and Jeremy Wilson. You might know them as Laps of Maps on YouTube.
Isabelle and Jeremy standing at the Tip (Cape York)
Originally from Newcastle, NSW, Isabelle and Jeremy first joined the Hema Alpha Team as a couple in early 2022. After working as a light road mechanic for six years (Isabelle) and as a qualified mechanic for 13 years (Jeremy), the couple decided they wanted to pursue careers more aligned with their passion of touring remote regions of Australia.
Four years ago, they embarked on a journey travelling around the Victorian High Country — with a Hema HX-1 GPS Navigator and several Hema paper maps in tow. During their travels they noticed quite a bit of valuable information was out of date or missing, so they reached out to Hema Maps and simply said, ‘Can we help?’. They were instructed to fill out our Hema Alpha Team eligibility questionnaire … and the rest is history.
Isabelle and Jeremy can’t get enough of the touring lifestyle, and their favourite aspect of being a Hema Alpha is all the incredible places they get to see. Some of the places their data capture has taken them they never would have thought to visit, and it’s these places that have brought them their favourite memories. They also love ensuring the data they capture is 100 per cent accurate as they know people actually rely on it, just as they do, and take pride in taking the time to record the information in as much detail as possible.
Flinders Ranges
When we asked if they had any advice for those interested in becoming an Alpha Team member, Isabelle and Jeremy emphatically told us to not be afraid to contact Hema Maps and take that first step towards becoming a member. They believe there is nothing better than being paid to map the tracks that you were going to drive anyway. Australia has so many tracks and kilometres to cover, there are always new opportunities for Alpha members.
Isabelle and Jeremy have captured many kilometres of valuable data which has contributed to our whole suite of products, both print and digital. It’s work like theirs which consolidates the incredible value of having people out in the field at all times, so you can have the most accurate maps at your fingertips.
If you’re interested in becoming a Hema Alpha Team member, go here.
Hema Tag-Along Tours powered by Adrenalin Offroad
Isabelle and Jeremy love what they do so much that they’ve recently joined us as the ‘boots on the ground’ hosts of our Hema Tag-Along Tours powered by the Adrenalin Offroad Centre.
They love being a part of taking people to remote areas and giving them information on destinations, geology and of course, are able to help out with mechanical problems. Often people join Hema Tours due to a lack of confidence or know-how to travel to these remote locations on their own, so being able to take these people out of their comfort zones is very rewarding say Isabelle and Jeremy.
Outback Pub Tour at the Betoota Hotel QLD
The recent six-day Outback Pub Tour led by Isabelle and Jeremy was a hit! Starting in Silverton in New South Wales and finishing in Cradock, South Australia, they said the tour group were ‘best mates’ from the moment they set off. They told us it was a really special experience getting to know everyone, sharing travel stories and seeing some epic scenery along the way.
Related articles:
Exploring Kroombit Tops National Park, Queensland
Getting it done: Hema High Country expedition
Learn about Hema Tours at the Sydney National 4x4 Show
Next steps
At Hema Maps, we strive to provide the most comprehensive and accurate maps and guides for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore Australia's natural wonders.
Did you find this information useful? If so, please share it with your fellow explorers. Whether it's by sms, social media, or email, your friends and fellow adventurers will appreciate the valuable tips and insights we've shared.
1 comment
We have been to all corners of the country since acquiring our 1st 4WD vehicle in 2004. Usually we join 4WD tag along tours but never camp outdoors. We found that there is high demand for accommodated 4WD tours, as camping is not an option for many travelers like us. However, finding ‘Reasonable standard’ accommodation in the outback is quite a challenge (but not impossible), since camping is the most common overnight stay option when 4WDriving through the outback.
We can assist HEMA in assessing the standard of accommodation available in remote locations such as roadhouses, townships and stations to help travelers like us deciding whether to stopover at a certain location for the night or to bypass it altogether due to existing ‘Unpalatable’ non-camping accommodation options. By having different color accommodation icons on the map, a traveler can evaluate whether this place is suitable from the point of i.e. price range, room size, cleanliness, facilities, maintenance level etc.