From surfing came a love of the ocean

Mosman
I grew up taking holidays on the coast of New South Wales, sometimes north, sometimes south.

Once I had my own freedom, my own sort of ability to transport myself, I grew up surfing. I surfed a lot in the south coast of New South Wales, and you put yourself into some really special locations there. One place comes to mind, Wreck Bay, which is an indigenous settlement that we have there. Looking at the way that Indigenous communities live so sustainably, they maintain their natural beauty. I fell in love with the ocean at a really early age.

I remember telling a story where I finished my university degree when I was 24. At the time I was doing a lot of climbing, and I went to the US, and I wanted to climb full-time for a year, which I did. I'd probably been six months without seeing the ocean and I didn't realise just how that affected me. And so I remember driving nearly a thousand miles right across Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, just to touch the ocean, put my feet in there. I spent a day there, and I turned around and drove a thousand miles back, to my friends, to continue my climbing trip.

I think I'll always have that deep connection with the ocean, but having said that, I think so many people in Australia have that deep deep love and connection, whether they realise it or not.

Bridge City Harbour Bradleys Head
Brett Fenton developed a lifelong love of the ocean surfing in New South Wales. He now dedicates his life to restoring the marine environment of Sydney Harbour. Image: Sydney from gooragal / Bradley's Head, Phill Pullinger
I'd probably been six months without seeing the ocean and I didn't realise just how that affected me. And so I remember driving nearly a thousand miles right across Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, just to touch the ocean, put my feet in there.

Brett Fenton
Brett Fenton
Brett Fenton is the Chief Operations Officer at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science


Share

You might like...

Forty Spotted Profile Kim Murray

Bruny Island: Critical habitat site for birds

Bruny Island is one of the most important habitat sites for a number of threatened species. It is a refuge area, like many islands around Australia and across the world. Bruny Island contains the most important breeding habitat for the Swift Parrot

Read more
Myrtle leaf

Inala Jurassic Garden's Noah's Ark project

The Inala Jurassic Garden is a small, privately-owned botanic garden located at Inala, on Bruny Island. It is a repository for more than 700 species of plants with Gondwanan connection.

Read more
Paul Oosting campaigning

Mastering Campaign Strategy: Your Power to Protect Our Planet

Here, expert campaigner Paul Oosting equips you with a powerful strategic framework for protecting the places you love and achieving lasting change.

Read more
Mount Porras on a late afternoon after the rain

Embracing Ecotourism in Sibalom Natural Park

Ecotourism in Sibalom Natural Park is a commitment to conservation. By showcasing the rare Rafflesia speciosa and our unique natural heritage, we inspire visitors to join us in protecting and preserving these invaluable ecosystems for future generations.

Read more

Newsletter

Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature