AUDI CROFT
Despite growing up in the landlocked Mid West region of Western Australia, Audi has a much closer affinity with the ocean than with red dust!
Living in outback Australia, water of any kind was hard to come by when Audi was a kid. Drought taught her and her siblings to appreciate water in any form.
“Dad was determined to make sure we were capable swimmers,” Audi said.
“He taught us to doggy paddle in a stormwater ditch at the side of the road, where the slimy sediment on the floor of the ‘pond’ was all the incentive we needed to master staying afloat!”
Family holidays meant a trip to the coast and the ocean was a watery wonderland of adventure.
“Swimming, snorkelling, diving, exploring the reefs, sailing the cat, fishing, boating, waterskiing… all of it took place mainly in a little bay named after my grandparents.
“Every outing meant a saltwater adventure.”
I WANT YOU BACK
Audi’s fascination and love for the ocean grew quickly… and although her path took her away from it for quite a number of years, she was destined to return.
“Predominantly an angler and a waterwoman at heart, I turned back to it in my 40s when I was introduced to game fishing.
“It fast became my new team sport and reacquainted me with a love of fishing and being on the water.
“It’s led me to sharing – through our camera lenses – the stories that deserve to be told surrounding our oceans, fisheries and the characters who share our great love of the outdoors.”
These days based in Sydney (NSW, Australia), Audi is married to recreational fishing media identity and marine conservationist Al McGlashan.
Together, they run content production company McGlashan Media.
MAKING MEMORIES
Over the years, Audi has had countless interactions with sharks, dolphins and whales.
There’s one, in particular, she ranks among her all-time favourites.
“We’d been snorkelling in a remote section of the Montebello Islands [WA, Australia] and were returning to the Blue Lightning pontoon on our jet skis.
“We felt the sense of being followed. When I turned to look, five massive humpback whales were cruising up behind us at a great rate of knots… keen to make it up to the Kimberely to breed, no doubt!
“They weren’t remotely concerned with us as they surrounded our jet skis with their mammoth forms, swimming alongside us as if we were part of their pod.
“After a few short moments they powered off on their northern migration leaving us all spellbound.”
LEARNING LESSONS
Audi loves swimming with schools of fish and other marine life – and has been lucky enough to swim among a flotilla of sea turtles.
“I’ve also learnt that during mating season, while it may seem peaceful to lay in the wash and observe from a distance as turtles make their way up the sandy beaches to nest, it’s actually in the danger zone.
“Approaching male turtles mistook me for a waiting female and were keen to try their luck in the surf!”
Spending so many days on the water, Audi and Al see a lot of amazing – and some heartrending – things.
“If we see marine creatures or seabirds in trouble, we always do our absolute best to help it resume a normal life.
“We’ve fed and watered many seabirds, way out to sea that needed respite from their travels, having them seek safe haven in our boat’s cabin… removing a seagull’s toenail caught in an oyster… you never know what you’re going to find out there.”
Game fishing reignited Audi’s love for the ocean.
LIFE ON THE LINE
Audi fishes a lot with her husband, Al, who naturally finds himself surrounded with fascinating people.
“I have to admit, I love life among fishos.
“They have a raw connection with their environment and most avid anglers have a peace or a passion that comes from their time on the water.
“I find it energising and exciting to be around.
“I personally had a battle royale with a massive broadbill swordfish in a canyon offshore from Sydney… a three-hour dance, which saw both of us gain ground at different times before the fish pulled the hook right at the boat before we could satellite tag it.
“It just keeps me going back for more!”
Every day on the water with Al is “flat calm and sunny” (according to him) and Audi has had some pretty serious moments at sea.
“Aside from wearing goggles and snorkel while filming an appalling storm during one trip, I’ve also had whiplash and concussion.
“I once managed to blow apart my ankle, with tears up to 80 per cent, as we came off the back of a five-metre swell and found a void on the back of a wave.
“No hectic day on the water has managed to deter me from returning for the next adventure… I see it as a privilege to live the life we lead, and I’ll take whatever comes our way.”
BACK TO BASICS
The seemingly total disregard for rubbish and plastic pollution in our environment is most heartbreaking for Audi.
“Beachcombing as children, we were taught to pick up anything that wasn’t natural – and if we were inland, my parents always encouraged us to care for our community including picking up litter whenever we saw it.
“It’s a message that doesn’t seem to be reaching grassroots level these days.
“We try to leave every space we visit better than we found it, which can be an exhausting task along the Parramatta River and the creeks we run and walk along every day, but every effort is still worthwhile.
“We need to get back to basics: firstly, look at what you’re doing that’s adding to the growing pollution problem, beginning with any engagement with packaging; and move on to picking up litter whenever and wherever you see it.
“We need to take it seriously and stop handballing it as if it’s everyone else’s issue… it’s about what we all need to do, which will eventually lessen its impact.”
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Topwater waves of pollution choking waterways until they pour into the ocean; underwater sediment we’ll never be able to eradicate; an irreversible issue, which demands proactive steps before it’s too late… this is where Audi sees it heading unless everyone starts taking personal responsibility.
“Reduce consumption of packaged goods and, if it’s unavoidable, choose wisely.
“I can’t help but wonder if social media platforms driven by consumerism, actively encourage ‘influencers’ to talk the talk, all the while behind the scenes they’re doing anything but walking the walk.
“Conscious consumerism is a strong way forward, but it has to be authentic.
“Community projects encouraging clean-up days are a great initiative, however it feels like closing the gate after the horse has bolted.
“Our governments need to be actively promoting community standards like they did throughout the ’80s… making littering socially unacceptable and putting the onus on the individual to think about their individual impact.
“Responsibility extends through to citizen science activities… our interaction with our environment allows us to collect data to bridge the massive gap of information we currently have on ways to effectively help our marine environment and fisheries.”
LAST WILD FRONTIER
The ocean is one of our last wild frontiers. We know it’s capable of healing itself [to a degree], and we know it’s vital to our life on earth, yet most of the world’s population sits back and passively waits for a miracle to counteract our impact.
“If we all start with the small stuff we can actually change, the wave of change will begin to take effect.
“If we don’t, it’ll be like sitting on a beach and watching the tide run out before we get hit by an irreversible tsunami of pollution we’ll never be able to counteract.
“We need to protect its ‘wild’ for the generations to come so they too can enjoy it as a saltwater wonderland.”