Rote Island Huts
About us
Rote Island Huts is a Not-for-profit family retreat that was established by the Australian Charity ‘Mercy Huts Inc.’
We exist, not only to make sure you have an amazing holiday experience, but to see the local people of Rote benefit from the emerging tourism industry. Our desire is to create a sustainable community-based tourism model as we develop social enterprise retreats that delight guests whilst giving back to the local people.
We believe in building capacity in our staff AND the greater community through training and education, specifically in hospitality and tourism.
We believe in using only local labour and staff. We believe in offering respect towards the local community. We believe in minimising cultural degradation that can occur with emerging tourism in remote communities.
Introducing the founders
Matt & Nat Thistlewaite
Watch their story below.
Matt and Nat Thistlewaite
Matt: Professional fireman with previous work as a builder and cafe owner. He is Indonesian speaking with 30+ visits to Indonesia.
Nat: Co-owned a Dive School, Professional Scuba diver and host on luxury yachts. The Thistlewaite family spent 2012 living on Rote Island embracing the community, language and determining the true needs of the locals.
Sally and Paul McMahon
As part of the pioneering team bringing this project to life, Sally and Paul have been a part of the planning, marketing, living-on-the-land, preliminary building and fundraising efforts and ongoing active board members.
Sally has qualifications and experience in Workplace Health and Safety, Exercise Physiology, Training and Assessment, Business, Finance, Property Development, Nutrition and Health Coaching.
Paul has held WHS Manager roles, including National leadership, in the fields of corporate, construction, civil infrastructure, FMCG, professional sports and events.
Mike Devlin
Michael brings his extensive experience in management and business strategy to the mix. He is a true leader and has held the position of CEO for Gloria Jeans Coffees, MD for Wilh Wilhelmsen Investments and currently Director of Sussex Inlet Community Bank-Bendigo Bank.
Michael, as well as holding a longstanding relationship with Mercy Indonesia, has an interest in community development in poorer nations with experience as an investor in Indonesia.
David Lovell
As a key leader on the CSA (Christian Surfers) National team, Dave has led many throughout the years with fatherly gentleness and prophetic vision. His love for and knowledge of God‘s Word has opened the hearts, minds, and spiritual eyes of many from our community, from groms to those with grey hair!
Dave speaks with the authority of one who has weathered many personal storms, a man whose faith is genuine, earthy, and relatable. Dave has served CS for many years through his apostolic and prophetic calling, and it is a great honour and privilege to have him speak into the heart of our community in Rote.