About me
"Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Cree Indian Prophecy

I have been so very lucky, in that I have been brought up to respect and protect the world we live in, to not take anything for granted and to leave only my footprints in the sand...

I love travelling and have only recently returned to Australia after travelling through Africa and Europe throughout the last couple of years. I grew up in Mylor, a small town in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. In addition to my immediate family (of which there are five of us), I am endeavouring to increase the family love through adoption! I am already the proud 'mother' of the gentle giant Svalbard, a polar bear and Elisa, a gorgeous orangutan in Borneo. I also sponsor Idah, a young girl living in Zimbabwe. As soon as I win the lottery, I will be adding many more to this – if anyone has the numbers, please let me know!!

One of the main issues with putting a stop to and reversing the destruction of palm oil plantations, is the fact that not many people know about what is going on. Thanks to my mum, I have been able to assist in campaigns through the Australian Orangutan Project, spreading awareness to the general public about palm oil and the products that contain it, so that we can all make informed decisions. As a member of GetUp, Oxfam and Amnesty International, I am aware of some of the issues we are facing and try and do my bit to help – writing letters, attending public campaigns and making an informed decision when purchasing any product. But I would LOVE to get my hands dirty!

Having travelled through Indonesia and Africa on study tours, I understand the importance of certain farming and agricultural practices to the local communities. I understand that we cannot eliminate all palm oil plantations but I do NOT agree with how it is currently acquired and believe there is a way, as demonstrated by the amazing Dr Willie Smits, that local communities (& the orangutans) can still benefit from sustainable palm oil plantations. I would love to be able to assist in this and believe it is my calling, to do all that I can to make this planet a better place for our future generations and help those that are less fortunate than me, especially the voiceless. I was so lucky to be involved in these trips (even survived with the threat of lions coming into our tent and no showers or flushing toilets!) and it has fuelled my determination to be involved in more.

In professional terms, I have a degree in Management and am saving up to complete a Wildlife Management course and a course in Teaching English as a First Language (TEFL). I would seriously love to be able to travel the world, volunteering on different projects, helping in any way I can! With experience in Project Management, I understand the importance of communication, team work and determination to achieve set goals and know I could provide valuable input into achieving these goals.

It frustrates me when people question their ability to make a difference in putting things right, looking out for each other and respecting the planet we live on. If we all made a small change in the way we live – recycle, start a compost heap, ride your bike, switch to solar, adopt an orangtuan – then we would all notice a positive difference in the happiness of the planet, while also educating others, especially children, in how they should progress forward.

At the end of the day, I know in my heart and soul that I am so completely passionate and determined to make my way around the world volunteering, working with local communities and completing projects to better the living conditions and survival rates of those (animals and people) in the affected areas. Throughout the obstacles and trials in my life (as everyone experiences), one thing I have always known, something that has never faltered, is the fact that I want to help put right what is wrong with the world we live in and I want to show others that they can do the same. "Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Cree Indian Prophecy

I have been so very lucky, in that I... (more)