Michael is a fourth-generation passenger transport operator and Director of Emerald Coaches Queensland. He has spent more than 30 years working across the transport industry, building businesses and keeping people moving throughout regional Australia.

But when the business phone is switched off, Michael is a family man, footballer, adventurer and the bloke trusted to fly the Auswide crew into some of Australia’s most remote and spectacular destinations.

From Coaches to the Cockpit

Michael shares how he first entered the family transport industry after working as a jackaroo in South Australia and Western Australia.

He talks openly about the risks involved in purchasing Emerald Coaches, building the business alongside his wife Rachael and creating a workplace culture focused on people, teamwork and gratitude.

Michael also explains how aviation has been part of his family for generations and why having a plane has become essential to operating his business across Queensland.

Of course, flying the Auswide boys presents its own unique challenges—especially when passenger weight, fishing gear, motorbikes, luggage and questionable planning are involved.

More Than Just a Group of Mates

Michael first met members of the Auswide crew through Australian Masters football.

What began as footy trips and friendships eventually became something much bigger—a brotherhood built around adventure, trust and supporting each other through life’s challenges.

Michael describes the Auswide crew as fulfilling.

They are mates who can talk honestly about business, finances, health, family and the struggles men often keep to themselves.

Behind the jokes, campfire stories and constant bullshit is a group of blokes who genuinely look after one another and fill each other’s cups.

Average Blokes, Big Adventures

Michael perfectly captures what Auswide Adventures is all about.

The crew does not pretend to be the best riders, fishermen, navigators or outdoorsmen in Australia.

They are simply average blokes who are willing to get off the couch, have a crack and experience everything this incredible country has to offer.

In this episode, Michael shares stories from the Gibb River Road, the Bungle Bungles, Cape York, Lake Eyre and some unforgettable flights across remote Australia.

He also reveals which crew member falls asleep in the plane, who causes the most trouble and how thousands of dollars once went flying down the tarmac at Tennant Creek.

A Powerful Message About Gratitude

One of the strongest messages from this conversation is the importance of gratitude.

Michael explains how gratitude has become one of the key pillars guiding his family and business.

Being grateful for your family, your health, your opportunities and the mates standing beside you can completely change the way you look at life.

This episode is a reminder that success is not only about building businesses or reaching destinations.

It is about who shares the journey with you.

In This Episode

We discuss:

• Michael’s fourth-generation transport background
• Building Emerald Coaches with his wife Rachael
• His lifelong passion for aviation
• Planning flights through remote Australia
• Meeting the Auswide crew through Masters football
• The Gibb River Road and Bungle Bungles
• Mateship, vulnerability and men supporting men
• Why everyone needs adventure in their life
• The importance of gratitude
• The future of Auswide Adventures

Listen Now

Episode 3 of Beers, Bullshit & Bonfires is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio and all major podcast platforms.

Follow Auswide Adventures and join a growing community built around mateship, travel and having a crack.

Average blokes. Big adventures. One unforgettable brotherhood.

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Coming Up Next

In Episode 4, Pmac takes the microphone to share his version of events inside the Auswide brotherhood.

We have heard from Jags, Damo and Michael.

Now it is Pmac’s chance to correct the record—or add even more bullshit to the fire.

By day, Damo is an accountant—a bloke who understands numbers, balances the books and probably knows exactly how much money the boys waste on fuel, beer and unnecessary camping equipment.

But behind the spreadsheets is a motorbike rider, surfer, traveller, loyal mate and lifelong adventurer who believes the best parts of life are not measured by money.

They are measured by experiences, memories and the people standing beside you when the road gets rough.

From Footy Mates to Auswide Adventures

Damo first met Auswide founder Steven “Jags” Jaeger through Masters football at Coolangatta.

After years spent building careers, raising families and dealing with everyday responsibilities, Masters footy gave Damo something he had been missing—the feeling of belonging to a team again.

It brought together blokes from completely different backgrounds, including accountants, tradies, doctors, lawyers and business owners.

Once they stepped onto the field, none of that mattered.

They were simply teammates.

That same feeling eventually became part of the foundation of Auswide Adventures.

A group of mates travelling together, riding motorbikes, tackling difficult tracks, getting lost, laughing at each other’s crashes and sharing stories around the campfire.

One Word for Mateship: Reliable

When asked to describe the Auswide brotherhood in one word, Damo chose:

Reliable.

It might not sound like the most exciting word, but to Damo, it means everything.

It means knowing the blokes beside you have your best interests at heart.

It means knowing that when someone is struggling—physically, mentally or emotionally—the crew will stop and help.

Real mates are not only there for the beers, motorbike trips and laughs.

They are there when life turns serious.

They send the message, make the call, sit beside you and help carry the load.

The Trip That Stands Out

For Damo, one of the most memorable Auswide trips was the Gibb River Road, travelling through the Kimberley between Darwin and Broome.

The riding required constant concentration, with difficult surfaces, remote country and the possibility of coming off the bike if attention slipped for even a moment.

But it was also one of the most unique and spectacular landscapes Damo had ever experienced.

The water, the wilderness and the sheer size of the Kimberley made it a trip he will never forget.

Of course, no Auswide adventure would be complete without someone falling over in the sand, bringing too much equipment or taking the wrong turn.

According to Damo, P-Mac’s hatred of sand has become legendary, while Boltsy remains the crew member most likely to bring something completely unnecessary—although the coffee machine in the support vehicle may have eventually proved useful.

A Routine Check That Saved His Life

The episode takes a serious turn when Damo shares the story of his recent open-heart surgery.

Damo felt healthy and had not been regularly visiting a doctor.

Before an overseas motorbike trip, he needed vaccinations. During the appointment, the doctor checked his blood pressure and noticed it was unusually high.

Instead of simply prescribing medication and moving on, the doctor wanted to understand why.

Further testing eventually revealed an enlargement and dangerous weakness in Damo’s aorta—the major blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.

Damo still felt completely normal.

However, doctors warned him that if the weakened area ruptured, the consequences could be immediate and fatal.

Within weeks, Damo underwent major open-heart surgery.

His sternum was opened, his heart was temporarily stopped, and the damaged section of his aorta was replaced.

It was an enormous operation for a bloke who had not felt sick.

Why Blokes Need to Get Checked

Damo’s story delivers an important reminder.

Blokes will service their cars, maintain their motorbikes, replace worn tyres and prepare their equipment before a trip.

But many will go five, ten or even twenty years without properly checking their own health.

Damo’s condition was discovered by chance.

Without that routine blood-pressure check and a doctor willing to investigate further, the outcome could have been very different.

Getting checked is not weakness.

It is one of the strongest and most responsible things a bloke can do—for himself, his family and the mates who want him around for the next adventure.

Money Means Nothing Without Time

Facing major surgery also changed Damo’s perspective on money and success.

Lying in hospital before the operation, he realised that wealth, property and money in the bank mean very little when you are unsure whether you will wake up the next morning.

What matters is how you use the time you have.

Damo believes time is precious, but it should not be hoarded.

It should be used to create experiences, take the trip, spend time with good people and make memories that remain long after the adventure finishes.

What Comes Next?

Once fully recovered, Damo plans to get back on his motorbike and return to the adventures he loves.

Potential trips include Kangaroo Island, the Great Ocean Road, the Otways and Tasmania.

At 61, Damo says he may have “ten good summers” ahead of him—and he plans to make every one of them count.

That means more riding, surfing, four-wheel driving, campfires, memories and experiences with the people who matter most.

Listen to Episode Two Now

Episode Two of Beers, Bullshit & Bonfires is more than a conversation about motorbikes and camping.

It is a story about friendship, health, mortality, recovery and the importance of continuing to live—even after life delivers a major warning.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms.

Follow Auswide Adventures, download the app and join a growing community built around mateship, adventure, memories and getting more out of life.

Check on your mates.
Book the health check.
Take the bloody trip.
And never let the truth ruin a great campfire story.