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Bass Strait by kayak
Bass Strait By Kayak - meet the Team:
Andrew Simmonds
From family living in Far North Queensland, Andrew has always been in and on the water. Although growing up in the highlands he soon found a love for the sea. This passion has seen his work and much of his play based in the ocean across northern Australia and overseas. As a skipper/engineer of live-aboard vessels, Andrew spent much time across the Great Barrier Reef working as a Marine Park Ranger before moving to Townsville where he now lives. He is a strong advocate for the environment and the under dog. Andrew loves action and things that float, so kayaking has always been attractive, especially when sailing and kayaking is combined! The Bass Strait by Kayak expedition is one that this group of mates have had a dreamy eye on for a very long time and are very excited it’s finally a reality! Not being all about adventure, as a passionate lover of music, Andrew is regularly found getting down at a live gig while catching up with good folk and blowing the froth of a coldie! Salud!
Simmo
Damian Lovejoy
Damian was introduced to kayaking as a young kid at the family’s annual Easter trip to the Snowy River on the NSW/Vic boarder. Many days were spent with family friends honing paddling skills and looking forward to the day when we could break out on our own. These early days on the Snowy River are where a lifetime love affair with all things rivers and kayaks began. Since then Damian has never looked back and explored all aspects of the sport from sea-kayaking the wild Cape York Peninsula to the magnificent snow-melt rivers of the Snowy High plains. Damian’s first real exposure to Bass Strait was during a couple of climbing trips to the remote cliffs of Flinders Island. Ever since then Damian has wanted to combine his love of kayaking with the beauty of this rugged but stunning environment. Finally after 40 years of paddling, the trip has come to be a reality.
Lovejoy
Mick
Mick Ramsay
Mick grew up in Queensland and spent his child hood playing in creeks, throwing rocks, climbing trees and riding bikes. As a university student he discovered a different way of interacting with the environment and developed a passion for kayaking. He has paddled extensively on the East Coast in rivers and creeks and explored much of the Central Queensland coastline. Mick lives on the Sunshine Coast and works as an Outdoor Education Teacher and spends his time juggling his surfing obsession with being a dad and renovating. This trip is an opportunity for Mick to cross Bass Strait again after his first ever expedition when he sailed across with his dad when he was 15.
Seano
Sean Marler
Sean obtained an interest in nature during his early childhood days and he attributes this passion to family camping trips, playing in the mud, and the patience of his Uncle Frank. His addiction to kayaking was first diagnosed in 1992 during a paddle on the Yarra River on a cold winters day when he got really wet. As part of his medication, he has since kayaked white water rivers in NZ, California, Nepal, India and Uganda, and enjoyed sea kayaking adventurers in Moreton Bay, Fraser Island and Port Philip Bay. Sean gets his outdoor thrills from kayaking sea and rivers, cycling forest trails and immersing in the mountain ash forests of Victoria. Urban hobbies are broad and include seeing live music, conversing with good humans, campaigning for a better world and drinking dark ales.
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