Dean Whittaker Since April 2000 Dean Whittaker has been living in Jabiru in the Northern Territory where he is a deacon in the Uniting Church. Prior to that he lived in Strathalbyn in South Australia. He is married to Penny and has three daughters under the age of 14.

Dean has had a commitment to Aboriginal issues and reconciliation for many years and at some time in early 1994 made a commitment to support Ngarrindjeri people who were expressing concerns about the proposal for a bridge to Hindmarsh Island.

One means by which Dean sought to do this was to write a number of letters to the editor of Strathalbyn's local paper, The Southern Argus, raising his concerns about the failure of our society, and in particular, government and bureaucratic processes, to adequately respond to issues of Aboriginal heritage and spirituality.

Early in 1997, around the time of the passing of the federal Hindmarsh Island Bridge Bill, Dean wrote to the Southern Argus. The letter included comments about consultation with Aboriginal people.

Within 48 hours of that letter being published Dean was served with a summons from Tom and Wendy Chapman claiming that he had defamed them in his letter to the editor. Chapmans' later added a further three of Dean's letters to the Southern Argus to their claim.

Dean says "This litigation has been a very debilitating experience, personally and for my family. I have really appreciated the support and care of many people, old friends and new, who have stood by me and supported me. I also have drawn a great deal of encouragement from the efforts of the KLDF. Thanks everyone!"

Margaret Allen is the alleged publisher of Green Left Weekly, an independent newspaper which was launched in 1990 by progressive activists from a range of social movements. By sharing information and publishing views and facts that mainstream media won't cover, Green Left aims to assist the work of activists in the anti-racist, feminist, student, trade union, environment, gay and lesbian, socialist, civil liberties and anti-imperialist movements.

Neale Draper was formerly a senior archaeologist with the Aboriginal Heritage Branch of the Department of State Aboriginal Affairs. In 1994 he conducted a report into Aboriginal sites directly impacted upon by the proposed Hindmarsh Island Bridge. His Report was crucial in the Federal Minister placing an order temporarily stopping bridge construction in May of that year. He no longer works for the Department of State Aboriginal Affairs and is being sued over an interview published in Green Left Weekly in 1997.

Dr John Coulter, medical graduate and researcher, has been active in conservation since the mid 1950s. He was a Councillor of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 1973-90, foundation member/former President of the Conservation Council of South Australia, and is current President of Australians for an Ecologically Sustainable Population. He was a Senator for South Australia from 1987-95, and parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats from 1991-93. He held the Democrats' Environment portfolio from 1990-95.

The Australian Democrats political party was formed in 1977, based on a national structure, member participation, democratic principles and progressive policies with a style based on persuasion, rational debate and participation in the political process. Currently there are seven Federal and six State Australian Democrat parliamentarians.

The Friends of Goolwa and Kumarangk Inc began life in January 1993 as "The Friends of Hindmarsh Island", an unincorporated group of local residents opposed to the building of the bridge. In October that year, another group (believed to be pro-bridge) formed and registered the name the Friends had been using. In view of the many Goolwa residents involved in the picket actions against the construction, and the key role of the Ngarrindjeri people in the struggle, the new name was chosen and the group incorporated. The "Friends" remains an active local voice in opposition to the building of the bridge.

Richard Owen is a librarian at one of Adelaide's post-secondary teaching institutions. He has been on the Executive of the Conservation Council of South Australia and has a long standing interest in Hindmarsh Island/Kumarangk where he spends much of his "leisure" time. He is very active in the Land Care group there and has a passionate vision of the island revegetated and protected as a sanctuary for its human and non-human visitors.

The Kumarangk Coalition consists of a range of individuals and community groups who are opposed to the building of a bridge to Hindmarsh Island. The Coalition fully supports the Ngarrindjeri people in their opposition to the proposed bridge and seeks to promote dialogue between Ngarrindjeri people and other South Australians. In 1997 the Kumarangk Coalition received a State Reconciliation Award for organising "The Long Walk" - a six day walk from Adelaide to Kumarangk (Hindmarsh Island) where Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people shared knowledge, companionship and sore feet.

Greg and Chris Lundstrom are residents of Goolwa and have 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren. They believe in conservation and are owner builders of their own home using alternative building methods and recycled materials. They grow much of their own food and run about 70 chickens to assist them with organic growing methods. Growing up in Goolwa, and being the son of a professional fisherman, Greg formed an appreciation of the natural environment of the Lakes and Coorong at an early age. Similarly Chris' commitment to revegetation and organic growing are reflected in the family home and garden.

Greg and Chris have been working with various groups and projects for over 20 years. Greg is the chairperson for Signal Point Riverine Environment Group (involved with water quality monitoring and wetlands rehabilitation), and Chris is treasurer of The South Coast Peace and Environment Group.

Greg was a member of the local council's Environment Advisory Committee, and they ran the regional depot for "Trees for Life". They have had to curtail these two activities due to the ongoing financial and time commitments that the defamation case has brought.

They have been outspoken advocates for the environment for years on a variety of topics including the Hindmarsh Island bridge issue. However, it is their business activities that have brought them into the legal arena. For 18 years Greg and Chris have owned and operated System Screen Print, a small printing business at Goolwa servicing mostly local businesses, clubs and organisations. They were the printers of a pamphlet which is the basis of one of the defamation actions.

They have already run up a pre-trial bill of over $12,000. The costs of a trial could well find them unable to continue operating their business and threaten their home.

Margaret Bolster is Editor of Environment South Australia, the magazine of the Conservation Council of South Australia. She is also a Board Member of the CCSA and the Mt Lofty Ranges Catchment Program. Her background is in teaching, music and visual arts.

Emeritus Professor David Shearman has held senior academic and medical positions at Edinburgh and Yale universities and a Chair of Medicine in Adelaide. He is a physician, scientist, researcher and student of the environment.