THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE.
EXPLORING THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS
Maddi, known as “She Who Explores” from Wollongong was lucky enough to grow up in the most amazing part of the world, the South Coast of New South Whales, Australia. She grew up spending her weekends in nature, the ocean in her front yard and mountains of Kosciuszko in her backyard.
It’s ALL ABOUT CURIOSITY.
As a true go-getter, Maddi keeps herself extremely busy. She engages with every activity that sparks her interest. Not only does she work two full-time jobs, she also started an online side-hustle and it’s important for her to find time for family and friends. Keeping her schedule progressive makes her feel at peace. One day, she wants to be the grandma who lived a fascinating life with lots of inspiring stories to share, just like the time she fought the fires in NSW during the black summer. Nature has become her place to balance and destress. When she gets to feed her curiosity with exploring the outdoors, she is at peace despite the hard demands of life.
dancing made her world go round.
PIGEON HOUSE MOUNTAIN IN HER BACKYARD
Maddi hasn’t always been the Australian bound explorer she is today. In 2017 she retired from being a professional dancer aboard the world’s most exclusive cruise ships, such as Princess Cruises, travelling all over the world and it’s most tropical places for work, the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Baltic, Alaska, Asia… you name it. Sounds like a dream, right? But it wasn’t always a glamorous ride. Not only was she a dancer, but also an acrobat and aerialist, magicians assistant and “back up” singer for many wild and wonderful shows similar to Moulin Rogue, Crazy Horse, Cirque Du Soleil, Musicals including Legally Blonde and others. The job asked a lot of her, being challenged to connect with new people every day, living out of a suitcase and being under an immense pressure of the daily required physical training.
The job took many tolls on Maddi, such as physical injuries like knee dislocations, a fractured ankle, slipped discs in her back, and mostly emotional tolls. At times, she was away from home for over 8 months, leaving behind family and friends, to whom she could barely connect with. But she wouldn’t have wanted to miss the experience of travelling alone and taking on such a big challenge. She proudly says, it has shaped the ambitious person she is today.
When she said good-bye to the entertainment business, she felt an urge to grow as a human and expand professionally. She went back to University to become a Primary school teacher. But to keep her love for dancing close, she is teaching at a local dance studio. And as if this isn’t already enough service to our community, on top of her hard contribution, Maddi is also a retained firefighter at the NSW Fire + Rescue.
“I was so humbled that despite the hardship these people were facing, they still managed to provide for their town and their community, the Australian spirit was shining bright.”
BLACK SUMMER MADNESS.
ON DUTY AT THE BLACK SUMMER BUSH FIRES
Maddi has been a fire-fighter for 4 years and has been fighting the fires across NSW in the Black Summer. As it was a very confronting experience, she has learned most of her skills within the brigade. She was a part of the Strike Team who were in charge of defending homes, evacuating communities and cleaning up towns during the aftermath. People who's homes are alight or who have completely lost everything would run up thanking us. Yet, they were still out in their town trying to help as much as possible, proving ample amounts of food for our crew.
During the horrific bush fires, Maddi was on duty from December to February and it was one of the most meaningful experiences, especially in the face of her deeply rooted love for mother nature. Thanks to the incredibly pristine locations and sites she has come to visit worldwide, she truly understood the meaning of saving and preserving the Australian bush land. It’s important to keep those places pristine for everyone else to enjoy help nature to stay alive and thrive.
Living close to the ocean, off the land with a large veggie garden, in a home next to a waterfall and be working in the fire brigade full-time, are only a few of Maddi’s life goals. Her choices definitely drafted a woman, who trusts herself and knows that she can accomplish anything on her own. For someone like her, there are no limits.
WHEN NATURE Becomes a MUST.
SOLO TRAVEL IS THE BEST
Whilst she was confronted with many life challenges, Maddi has found her deep connection to nature. It’s her place of healing, recreation and mental well-being. The outdoors became her medicine, her place of distraction and nourishment for the soul. Often, when she feels lost, nature is the place where she feels found, with the instant side effect of pure joy and happiness.
There is no excuse to not spend time in nature every day. Her favourite adventures include multi-day hikes, finding secluded water holes and waterfalls. It was only a question of time until she would find her mission in encouraging others to step outside of their comfort zone, immerse themselves in nature and travel solo. This has led Maddi to create her page “She Who Explores” where she shows other females that travelling alone builds resilience, independence and confidence, which are true VIRAGO life qualities.
To share her love for independent adventuring, she wrote an ebook guide to the South Coast! Plus, is already in the process of releasing a second ebook guide to the Illawarra region.
Her experiences in 2020 have provided Maddi with resources she didn’t have prior: Independence, confidence and a much more powerful personality. She has come to known, that she only deserves the best. We couldn’t agree more and wish her the best and so much more!
If you would like to KNOW MORE ABOUT Maddi, please visit SHE WHO EXPLORES And she.who.explores on INSTA.
We hope you enjoyed this article.
Stay true to yourself, dare & care.
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Lara