Embarrassing baby pic!

Couldn’t mention the trumpet trees and the most ridiculous baby picture of my oldest son without sharing it! Currently enjoying what is my last targeted walk for the Oceans to Outback Fundraiser feeling grateful for the friends that have chipped in to support me or followed these little updates!

Walk around the block

Trumpet trees are blooming everywhere and it reminds me of this adorable and apparently embarrassing baby picture of my oldest when he was 10 months old - we were staging a photoshoot with him and same aged cousin and he decided to eat some trumpet tree blossoms covering the ground around him! I walked several block circuit around the PCYC where my son was training for basketball to earn my k’s for today! I hope I’ll keep walking instead of sitting and watching practice!

Bribery

Sometimes you just gotta make it happen by whatever means necessary - I decided to walk while my oldest son had basketball practice which was indoors. Thankfully I could loop around outside the complex in a nearby park and wander through the facility to check on children periodically. However, when my youngest lost interest in tagging along with his big brother he started following me and insisting on one thing or another he needed me to do - among them, a request for a thick shake. “If you let me finish my walk you’re on!” did the trick and I was able to complete a mostly peaceful walk and enjoy a thick shake after too 🤷🏼‍♀️😂

Bird Attack!

Walking for the Oceans to Outback is proving dangerous - I had my first every Magpie attack (where contact was made!). I decided to walk around the soccer pitch again Saturday morning despite chasing off a cold…on my second loop I was chased by Plovers and as I was scurrying away a magpie came down out of nowhere and pecked at my scalp - multiple times despite SPRINTING a fair way away over about 50 m…they are committed! Apparently much delight amongst soccer parents at my expense 🥴. My route changed and got substantially smaller - now petrified of Magpies!

Finally a big walk!

Today I hiked the Forts Walk on Magnetic Island with my children and about 35 new university students from China to help welcome them to Townsville / Australia. We saw a koala, fed rock wallabies, kayaked / SUPed in the ocean despite an algal bloom, ate more Noodies than we can mention and walked EVERYWHERE all day. Our feet are tired but we had a great day!

The most boring walk yet 😂

I don’t know how many laps around the outdoor basketball courts I completed but it was 5 km worth and totally boring! Although always enjoy watching my son practice but much prefer walks with more natural scenery! Some days you don’t have time for a nice walk and have to make do where and when you can!

End of winter walks in nature

The last couple of days of school holidays gave plenty of opportunity to be active with my boys. Fishing by the river and a scooter ride, walking up to rock slides at Crystal Creek - not as much dedicated walking time as I would like but plenty of sunshine, beautiful views and the last of our blissful winter weather before summer starts to crank up the thermostat! Favourite nature view from Big Crystal Creek National Park treks today 🙌🏼💙

First walk!

A nice morning walk around the soccer fields as my youngest son has his very first soccer practice. Nice to know a lap around the fields is 1 km - I envision many more laps in my future!

I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

As a marine biologist, I’m lucky to spend time working in some pretty spectacular parts of Queensland – but many of them are also very remote. My colleagues and students regularly undertake fieldwork far from major hospitals and emergency services, and knowing the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is there helps keep our teams safe and connected to critical care when we need it.

That’s why our College of Science and Engineering at JCU has chosen to once again get behind Oceans to Outback this October – and why I’m taking on the challenge as part of Team Marine Biology & Aquaculture!

Across Australia, people living, working and travelling in rural and remote areas rely on the RFDS for emergency retrieval and essential healthcare. This October, we’ll be getting active and raising funds to help keep the Flying Doctor flying.

If you can, please support our challenge and help the RFDS continue reaching Australians wherever they are. 🌊✈️🏃‍♀️