I’ve had a busy year already after climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in early January. I also did some volunteer work in an orphanage and schools in Tanzania – even taking English classes for 10 year old Tanzanian kids!
When I returned home I started my 2nd year of Aviation at Griffith University.
In our Uni holidays (June/July), Dad and I grabbed our motorbikes and motorbiked around Australia – we managed to visit every State and Territory and visit every capital city in 30 days.
The Gibb River Road through the Kimberleys in Western Australia was spectacular, with Tasmania’s West Coast being another highlight.
Just back from New Zealand where I had a blast white water rafting, clay target shooting, horse riding, kayaking, sailing and doing an 11 day mountaineering course.
What a fantastic place New Zealand is!
On a glacier in New Zealand
My mum flew over the my last 3 days together and we visited the South Island town of Akaroa – had a ball, including an amazing kayak amongst dolphins.
Next up is skiing in Japan with my big sister Laura and little brother Harry. Been training on a trampoline to get the core fit!
After that, on February 2, I’m heading over to the famous ski resort town of Nozawa Onsen to ski Japan for couple of weeks with my brother and sister. Looking forward to grabbing the snowboard and having some fun.
Rather thrilled to be announced today as Telstra’s Local Hero here on the Gold Coast.
The Burleigh Heads store, with manager Kevin Mailer leading the team, have been great to me with providing some incredible products including a Motorola Xoom tablet.
It’s absolutely amazing.
Kevin hands over the brilliant Motorola Xoom
Fantastic Support Of The Local Community By Telstra
Regardless that it’s me who’s benefiting from the sponsorship, it’s really great that Telstra has gotten behind their local communities to support. They do a lot and this is a wonderful way to continue that.
Telstra have also provided me with some cash to spread around to my favourite sporting groups, so I’ll be doing that shortly too.
Thanks again to Kevin and the entire Telstra for the support.
I ran the 42.2 km Brisbane Marathon yesterday with my brother Harry and our mate Harry (common name!).
At the end I had a chat with the legendary Marathon Man – Trent Morrow – who has run a staggering 40+ marathons in the last 40 months – including the 256km Marathon des Sables through the Sahara Desert in 2008 and the 90km Comrades Marathon in South Africa in 2010.
Schools teams have to have an adult leader with them – with teachers leading the other 2 teams, the school asked me to step in and lead a team of 4 boys.
We completed the Challenge in a little over 29 hours – amazing effort by the boys to finish, though we did have 2 unable to continue on after 50 km.
I’ve just (yesterday at midday) finished my 1,200 km solo run around Tasmania to raise some money and awareness of Big brothers Big Sisters of Australia.
I’m heading to Tasmania at the end of next week to see if I can run around the island – 1,200 km of it – in 27 days.
That’s more than a marathon a day.
I’m looking forward to it. In particular running through the hundreds of kilometres of wilderness trails. I have just found some yummy Beef Jerky that I am looking forward to trying while I am running.
The training has been interesting to say the least and I’m keen to test myself on lonely days running and running.
I’m not making a big deal of the fundraising – I figure Australian’s have been hammered this year, and incredibly generous, with the many disasters around the place.
I did a speech a few weeks back to 400 Grade 9 students at the yLead leadership day.
Thanks to those people who did the survey after to let me know how I did – 13 people did the survey and they all went in the draw to win an iPod Shuffle and a $50 iTunes Gift card.
The draw was done by my dog!
And the winner is…….watch the video below.
I’m Now Working
I’m taking a year to do a few things before I get into my aviation career.
I’m currently working for my dad on this cool bike storage web site.
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr Stan Bisset, a true Australian hero.
Harry (my brother), Dad and I met Mr. Bisset a few weeks back when we went and had afternoon tea with Stan and his wife Gloria in Coolum.
Mr. Bisset then arranged for Harry and I and our Kokoda Challenge team to go along to the 2/14th Battalion reunion in Brisbane, which was an enormous thrill for us all.
Mr Bisset was a remarkable Australian and the nation is poorer for his loss.
In September 2008, 15 year old Jack Sinclair and his dad Brendon, will cycle 4,500 kms across Australia (from Perth to Surfers Paradise) in just 30 days.
The ride will be used to raise to help raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia - a fantastic organisation who match up mentors to children who need a positive role model. Let's give a helping hand.
Ride Ambassador is Robbie McEwen
Cycling legend Robbie McEwen is our Ride Ambassador and said:
"For a young man of just 15 years of age to undertake this huge journey with the discipline and commitment he is showing is inspiring."
Training involves a lot of core strength work, as well as exhausting leg strengthening exercises that include lots of stair running, wading (holding a 5kg medicine ball above the head) and beach running.
The Chisel Fitness planning and implementation has made a huge difference to the guys fitness levels already.
"Chris and the guys at Chisel are just fantastic and the amount of work they have put into helping us be in the right shape has been simply amazing," says Brendon.
Take Our Survey
Take our survey and you can win great prizes!
And don't forget that you are supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Australia.
