Barefooter Stories
1 – What’s something you love to do outside of work and how does it help you live your Barefoot Lifestyle?
Anyone that knows me know I am very passionate about food. I like to take time to sit and plan our menu for the week – on days where I know I’ll be making dinner with Evie by my side, I pick easy meals I’m familiar with but when I have the time and space I love trying new recipes and learning new things. For me cooking is a way to express my love for those around me (including myself) and it’s also a great way to delve into and appreciate other cultures. I also love the process – from buying the ingredients at the markets or smaller Asian/African grocery store and supporting small businesses and making those human connections, to the moving meditation of chopping vegetables or kneading dough. I really want to ensure I foster a healthy relationship with food for Evie so spending the time and energy on our meals is very important from that perspective too. She’s now at an age where she loves putting away the groceries and is starting to get involved in the cooking which is great. I love it all and that’s why when I can, it makes up so much of my week.
2 – We know that bodies love to move, what do you enjoy to do movement-wise?
It likely comes as no surprise that I love to run. Since retiring from competitive track I’ve really had to redefine my relationship with ‘exercise’ as opposed to ‘training’. So rather than running max effort 300m reps to the point of near collapse, I now spend much more time on the road running at any easy pace – taking the new found opportunity to really listen to my body and adjust my pace and distance depending on how I’m feeling (whether or not I’m pushing Evie in the stroller!). I’m not naturally built for endurance so its been a fun challenge slowly increasing my distance on the longer runs. The steady state run really gives me space to clear my mind and I always feel better after going for a run. I also love the feeling of being strong so you can find me in the gym a few times a week and I still run hill sprints for fun!
3 – Tell us about a happy memory or memories and how it shaped the person you are today?
The obvious answer is giving birth to my daughter as it really does fundamentally change you as a person. Aside from that though can I say when I finally got to pat a wombat on a work outing to Lone Pine Koala sanctuary? Wombats are the perfect balance of systematic planners (they build very complex burrows) + fierce loyalty (they’ll sit on a fox’s head and crush it to protect its burrow).I love those qualities and my obsession with wombats knows no limits!
On a more serious note, it’s probably an obvious one, but I have to say the Rio Olympic Games. Making the team was a goal for 8 years, so just to be there was a huge tick off the bucket list. More than that though, our relay team had a great team culture and we knew we were in the position to do something remarkable. For a country of our size, its tough to get 4+ women running fast all at the same time but everything came together and we all stepped up and ran for each other. The moment we got confirmation we’d made the Olympic final was just pure joy. To have my family there to support me in Brazil was so special too. That memory is reflective of just some of the skills my athlete life has given me – discipline, delayed gratification and immense gratitude both for those sweet moments and the people around you who helped make it happen.
4 – If you could choose your dream holiday would you prefer an international or local destination? And what has been your favourite holiday so far?
It’s very hard to pick!
Living in the US at the moment, my dream ‘holiday’ is probably coming home to Brisbane to see family and visit a proper Aussie beach. That aside, I would like to visit New Orleans while we’re still here for the food and music. We’ve also got a family trip to Italy coming up soon which I’m very much looking forward too. As for my favourite holidays so far, my husband and I took Evie to London when she was about 6 months old and we had such a great time exploring, catching up with friends from Australia and making memories as a little family.
5 – What made you want to become a Physiotherapist and what has been a standout moment for you as a physio?
I grew up in a healthcare household and the value of caring for others was instilled in me from a young age. Growing up as an athlete I had injuries, including one that took me out for a whole season. Seeing the difference good physio care could make to my performance and quality of life made me want to help people the same way my physio had helped me. I don’t think there is any singular standout moment in my career – I have lots of small moments that are important to me and they are all centred around making a positive difference in people’s lives. It is truly a privilege to walk alongside someone and witness all the highs and lows of their journey up close. So to come to work and do that every day is something I am very grateful for and enjoy, even when its hard.
Bonus question: You have another 6 months left in America in your Virtual training role. From the time on the ground in clinic over the last 2 years what is it about being in the clinic that you are looking forward to the most for when you’re back?
Definitely the people! Its great seeing the team in our virtual training sessions, but its not the same as being in the clinic and having lunch together, catching all those little moments between clients. And I miss all the amazing Barefoot clients too! Getting to spend my day helping cool people be able to do even more cool things is just the best. I can’t wait to catch up with some of the clients I’ve been treating for 10 years and meet amazing new ones too.
AT BAREFOOT PHYSIOTHERAPY, WE’RE PROUD TO SERVE CLIENTS FROM ALL CORNERS OF AUSTRALIA WHO MAKE THE JOURNEY TO OUR CLINIC IN TENNYSON, BRISBANE.
Below is a list of nearby suburbs that many of our local clients come from. Whether you’re near or far, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional care tailored to your needs.
