Day 10 - it’s all uphill from here!

Day 10 started with a walk on campus before work - I tackled the ‘JCU Stairs’ on the Douglas Mountain ⛰️ Bike 🚲 Trails for the first time in many, many weeks I realised as my heart ❤️ pounding revealed how much my fitness has dropped (or a sign of the dry, hot 🥵 conditions on the day!). I realised although my heart and legs 🦵 were getting a bumper workout - the distance on this trail was meagre and not likely to add too much to my overall tally… 🤷🏼‍♀️ I made it to my midway stopping point before turning back with thoughts of the work 📝 I needed to tackle for the day 📆. A problem with early morning workouts - my mind 🧠is already winding up for the tasks ahead! The trail was dry and the pebbles underfoot a bit slippery, but I’m so pleased I am not finding the need for a walking 🥾 pole on this trail anymore (or for getting turned around on the many intersecting bike trails while I absentmindedly listen to podcasts! 🎧). I’ll definitely do this trail again next week - anyone keen to join me?!

Day 7 - late night jams!

Day 7 after a day of rest included a late night walk around the neighbourhood 🏡after tucking my children in to bed 🛌 and listening (and maybe dancing? 💃 ) to Taylor Swift’s 🧡👗 new album - zero. shame. I had a blast! ❤️‍🔥

Day 5 - walking on the wild side!

Day 5 was a big one! My sons and I took a group of 35 new JCU students from China 🇨🇳 to Magnetic Island ⛴️ to help share with them some of the lovely natural features of their new home in Townsville! 🇦🇺Together we completed the Forts Walk and saw just one, very sleepy, koala 🐨! Mr 6 struggled initially (although this is his third time completing this walk), with negative thoughts and exhaustion - but reframed his thinking into positive “I AM going to FINISH this walk AND see koalas and then have lunch AND play on the beach!” 🏝️ he shouted repeatedly as he sped up ahead regaining his leadership role with big brother Lincoln. So proud of them both! Our feet 👣 were sore, our tummy’s hungry 🤤 , the wait for the bus 🚎 was long, and the sun was hot! 🥵 It seemed like everyone else in Townsville had the same idea of taking a trip to Maggie this day. But an afternoon at the beach 🏖️ fixed all our troubles and the crowds dissipated. One more short walk to get ice cream 🍦 and hit up the playground 🛝 before our return to the mainland. Day 6 better be a rest day… 😉

Day 4 - not much walking happening today!

We’ll call this a day of rest 😂 Small walk along the strand 🏝️ to attend the Drum Circle 🪘, get some hot chocolate ☕️ at Juliette’s, and then back to home! 🛌🥱

Day 3 - it’s a family affair!

Day 3 and I’m proud to earn my first ‘3-day streak’ badge! 🥉😂🙌🏼 Tonight my two sons wanted to accompany me again on my walk, even Mr 6, despite his complaints about the length of the walk on Day 2 🙄. He also is the only one riding on a scooter 🛴, so I’m not sure his complaints are valid! We clocked 🙌🏼⏰over 4.5 kms AND made it to the playground 🛝 with enough daylight for a quick play, so we are feeling pretty proud of our efforts! My older son has decided he wants to join the MBAQ Team as well so look out for his new registration! I suspect his fundraising efforts will smash mine… 😉🥰💸

Day 2 - neighbourhood walk with family

At the end of day 2 my two sons decided to come with me for a sunset walk - one on scooter 🛴and the other now feeling inspired to sign himself up to walk and raise funds for RFDS! 🛩️ The sunset 🌅 tonight was lovely and we enjoyed watching the stars ✨ come out and the flying foxes 🦇 swooping overhead. Another 4 km to the tally! 🧮

Day 1 - beach walk / neighbourhood walk

Day 1: Kicking things off on time with a small walk 🥾 on Day 1 of the challenge - wasn’t sure I would clock in any kms today but started with a shell 🐚 collecting walk on Saunders Beach 🏝️ with a friend and ended with a neighbourhood sunset walk solo! Peaceful! I could finish many more days this way happily 🌅

We're fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

As marine biology and aquaculture lecturers, researchers, and students based in Townsville, we know firsthand the challenges of working in remote and rural locations across Queensland and beyond. Whether conducting fieldwork on islands of the Great Barrier Reef or in regional communities, the Royal Flying Doctor Service helps keep us—and the communities we work with—safe.

This October, our team is taking on the Oceans to Outback fitness challenge to raise funds for the RFDS so they can continue their life-saving work across Australia. Please support our challenge—together we can keep the Flying Doctor flying.