Riverland

Distinguished and Famous people from Riverland

🏐 Zac Schubert

Zac Schubert grew up at Loxton, inspired by cousin Grant Schubert’s Olympic hockey gold medal. His own sporting path led to beach volleyball and the Paris Olympics in 2024. Away from the sand, he developed Schubugs, an insect-farming business on the family property near Loxton. Nutrition studies encouraged his interest in sustainable protein, although many of the crickets initially went to customers keeping reptiles. Preparing for the Games meant leaving the insects in his father’s care. It is an unusually busy combination: elite sport on a beach and thousands of small, chirping responsibilities back on the farm.

🔎 Jimmy James

Arrernte tracker Jimmy James, also known as Mitamirri, worked across South Australia before living near Swan Reach. In June 1938 he traced an alleged murderer near Berri after days of searching had disturbed the ground and dust had obscured much of the evidence. His skill brought public recognition, but employment and payment remained insecure. He also built cottages for mission families and sought overdue wages. This was the older Jimmy James, who died in 1945; his son-in-law later learnt tracking from him and adopted the same name. Keeping the two men distinct preserves the correct Riverland achievement and the difficult circumstances surrounding it.

🎵 Ruby Hunter

Ruby Hunter was born on Goat Island near Renmark. The Ngarrindjeri singer-songwriter became Archie Roach’s partner in life and music and the first Aboriginal woman signed to a major record label. Her family’s continuing advocacy preserves that Riverland birthplace as part of her wider musical legacy.