How did you come to be part of the Whale Tales Crew?
I never had a specific fascination with whales, I loved all marine animals and environments, from tiny nudibranchs to rays, sharks, aquatic birds and mammals. But as soon as I saw this opportunity, everything changed.
Rob and Katie asked me to come for an interview, and we got along super well. I’m so grateful to them for believing in me, even with no previous guiding experience. Once they gave me their trust, I dedicated many hours in the library learning everything I could about whales. That, combined with all the time spent watching them, led to me becoming more and more in love and awed by these amazing creatures.
Now I can say going to work is the highlight of my days. If I spend a few days without seeing whales, I start dreaming about them. I could not be luckier to hang out with the coolest ocean animal ever; nothing could make me happier.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
This is my second season working for Whale Tales. I am excited to return with a lot more confidence and experience in my guiding skills and whale knowledge.
What excites me the most is that there are always new things to learn. I enjoy going home and researching so I can bring new and interesting information to my talks. I always learn new things in uni as well, which I love to share with the people who come on our tours.
I’m also excited about meeting all the people I get to meet on the tours and every opportunity to make a positive impact. In terms of whales specifically, I am excited for more muggings and baby whales; they always make me cry with happiness.
What’s something that surprises you about your job? Or what is the best part of your job?
If I can impact just one kid who comes on the boat and help send them down a path of conservation or caring for the earth, I already feel so rewarded. That is, for sure, the best part of my job, getting the chance to create positive change. To educate, raise awareness, and maybe influence people to care and act more in defence of the oceans.
Whale watching is a form of tourism, but it is so much more. It’s helping to create a bond, a bridge between the human world and the oceans, a bond that should never have been broken in the first place. That’s why it’s so important for me to make the experience and talks fun, emotional, and informative. We need to help reestablish that bond and sense of caring that we so desperately need right now.
What have whales taught you about the world?
Whales are incredibly smart, social and gentle. They help break the human ego and superiority complex. But the most important thing whales have taught me is resilience and the power of recovery when we stop harming nature.
Whaling in Australia was only banned in 1979. Some whales alive today could have lived through that time. There were maybe 100 left on the East Coast. Now we believe there are around 40,000.
That recovery shows two things. First, that change is possible, even when it feels like it’s too late. Second, nature can recover if we stop destructive activities. Not all ecosystems can recover on their own, but many can if we stop causing harm. Ceasing industrial-scale damage is the first and most crucial step.
Humpbacks were a close call. Let’s not repeat that mistake. We don’t need to wait until things are nearly extinct to act. Australia has the fastest rate of extinction in the world. We need to stop now.
Like whales, humans can be resilient, too. It’s not an easy task, and many whale species are still struggling, but we can turn things around if we work together. I look forward to a future with more whales, more wildlife, and more ecotourism, a world where their role is not to serve the economy, but to inspire awe, joy, and connection.
I’m grateful every day that whales help me keep my hope and will to keep fighting for that future.
