Canberra

Mid-February brought the first glimpse of early autumn—crisp mornings balanced by lingering summer heat, and, in true Melbourne fashion, days that couldn’t decide between sunshine and storms. 

  

The month wrapped up with a personal milestone: my first work trip! I headed to Canberra for the Universities Australia Solutions Summit, an annual conference where higher education leaders come together to tackle the sector’s biggest challenges. Representing Animal-Free Research Advocacy, this was a valuable chance to understand university priorities—viewed through our lens of transitioning research and education away from animal use.

Dana, Robyn, Carol, Rachel

Day 1: A Rocky Start
The trip began with a rocky start on Monday afternoon. My one-hour flight turned into a four-hour detour through Sydney. By the time I arrived, I’d missed the welcome reception. But a golden hour walk to the Australian War Memorial (closed by then) and a sunset climb up Mount Ainslie offered my first taste of Canberra.

Canberra, Australia’s capital, is a planned city nestled within the Australian Capital Territory. Surrounded by forest, farmland, and nature reserves, the city’s centerpiece is Lake Burley Griffin. On its shores sit the strikingly modern Parliament House and cultural landmarks like the National Gallery, known for its rich collection of Indigenous art.

Day 2: Summit in Full Swing
Tuesday started with an early breakfast session at the National Convention Centre, followed by a full day of discussions and panels.

Afterwards, I took a walk to Lake Burley Griffin and Commonwealth Park. Navigation was tricky thanks to ongoing light rail expansion, and once again Parliament House was closed when I got there. Work trips do not leave much time for exploring!

Day 3: Wrapping Up
Wednesday was another packed program before heading straight to the airport for my flight home—touching down just as the sun dipped below the horizon. What a whirlwind!

 

 

A key theme across the summit was ethics—covering topics like public trust and social cohesion on campuses. Yet animal use in research and education was conspicuously absent from the conversation. To me, this is a critical oversight. As universities strive for innovation, credibility, and excellence, transitioning to human-relevant, animal-free methods should be part of that future-focused vision.

U24 Safety to Sorrento

It’s been a hot summer in Melbourne! In early February, we saw the hottest three-day period in a decade, peaking at 40°C (104°F). Just after the cool down, Tom and I geared up for another weekend away.

We headed down to the Mornington Peninsula after work on Friday. It's a 1 hour and 40-minute drive to Point Nepean National Park, located at the very tip of the peninsula. After spending a day there last year, I was excited to camp at the park's pre-pitched Discovery Tents. Settling in for the night, Tom and I rested up for what would be an exciting and physically demanding Saturday.

U24 Safety to Sorrento is a 24km ultra marathon swim course stretching from Safety Beach to Sorrento. Originally organized by the SwimWell coaches in 2022, the event was created for Victorian swimmers who couldn’t travel to Western Australia during COVID-19 for the iconic Rottnest Channel Swim. Many  events take place around Melbourne, but this one stood out to me for its scenic coastline swim.

Solo swimmers can choose to swim either the second half (12km / 7.5mi) or the full course (24km / 14.9mi). Alternatively, you can participate as part of a 4-person relay team, with each swimmer covering 6km (3.7mi). Each swimmer is paired with a paddler for safety and support. Most swimmers maintain an average pace of 3km per hour (20 minutes per km), meaning the full 24km course takes around 8 hours to complete.

I was matched with a non-assisted relay team (no wetsuits) alongside Lisa, Sally, and Tim. Our team had two dedicated kayakers: Gilles paddled the first half, and Terry took over for the second. Tom and Lisa’s partner, Michael, served as our ground crew.

Gilles, Sally, Tim, Lisa

After a stunning stunning sunrise over the bay, the first swimmers hit the water around 7am under very windy conditions. 

As the most experienced swimmer on our team, Sally powered through the choppy water to McCrae.

Then it was my turn to carry the torch to Capel Sound. The wind and waves made for a tough swim, but my nerves faded to joy as I settled into a rhythm. The water temperature was mild, and I spotted plenty of wildlife—including banjo sharks (which are actually rays, not sharks) and stingrays. 

My open water training with the bay squad paid off. Gilles told me I was really strong for the first 5km, but I started fading in the last stretch. Nutrition is key!

Tim, the youngest of our group, took on the third leg to Tyrone Beach.

Lisa, a returning relay participant, swam the final 6km to the finish line in Sorrento, bringing us home strong. I really enjoyed getting to know Lisa, who happens to live in our neighborhood.

I was so impressed by everyone, especially the long-distance swimmers. Swimming is one of my favorite physical activities, and I am curious to see how far I can go—though I’ll need to consider my fueling strategy. Staying hydrated and fueled while swimming is definitely trickier than on bike or foot, but I'm willing to figure it out!

Tom and I spent another night camping before heading home on Sunday. I had hoped to squeeze in some exploring, but the weekend turned out to be all about the swim.