News Release

TSX Venture Symbol: GWG
USA OTC Symbol: GWMGF
CUSIP: 39141Y 10 3

October 2, 2006

David Criddle Appointed Director

The Board of Directors of Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. (the "Company") is very pleased to announce that David Criddle has agreed to accept a position as director of the Company effective immediately. David has also accepted the nomination by the board as Chair of the Audit Committee..

Mr. Criddle is a chartered accountant having spent 12 years in public practice, most recently as a partner with Clarkson Gordon (now Ernst and Young). After leaving public practice in 1986, David established Synergos Capital Management Incorporated, a private management and consulting company. Through Synergos David has been involved in a variety of projects and businesses in senior management and consulting positions related to senior executive management, strategic management, corporate financial planning, governance and general business management for a number of clients. David also served as President and CEO of QCC Communications Ltd, a public company involved in an advanced network and communications technology that was ultimately sold in 2005.

David continues to act as President of Synergos as well as President of Broadview House Personal Care Home Inc. and as director of several private corporations.

Great Western Minerals Group Ltd. continues to advance its goal of becoming the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the world, through the development of the 100%-owned Hoidas Lake rare earth deposit in northern Saskatchewan. The company s wholly-owned subsidiary, Great Western Technologies Inc., owns and operates manufacturing facilities in Troy Michigan. The plants currently produce advanced materials for the alternative energy market, including hydrogen storage materials for the automotive industry and superalloys for the aeronautics industry.

James Engdahl
President and CEO

For further information contact Gord Dent at (306) 668-0701. All email inquiries should be made to info@gwmg.ca info@gwmg.ca (website: www.gwmg.ca ) Direct mail: Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., 226 Cardinal Crescent , Saskatoon , SK S7L 6H8

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