Sarah Sackville is a surfer, surf therapy coach and all-round ocean lover whose connection to the coast has shaped how she sees the ocean, herself, and her community.
Through years of surfing and camping along Tasmania's coastline, Sarah has developed a deep, life-changing relationship with the marine environment. That connection led her to a simple but powerful question: how to give back to something that gives so much.
To answer that, Sarah is cycling with her surfboard from Sandford to Cloudy Bay on Bruny Island, raising funds for Neighbours of Fish Farming (NOFF), a community group at the forefront of resistance to expansion of industrial salmon pens and the environmental damage caused by the industry.
"I'm a big believer that feeling connected to something naturally makes you want to protect it"
Sarah is setting off to witness firsthand the impacts of salmon farming on the coastal environments of Southern Lutruwita (Tasmania). She believes surfers, and anyone who benefits from the ocean, have a responsibility to stand up for its health, especially given how much it sustains and supports human wellbeing.
Her ride also celebrates the raw, natural beauty of Tasmania's coastline, its surf breaks, beaches, and wild places, and highlights what is at stake if these environments are degraded.
With support from LOWco Au, the journey will be documented, sharing both Sarah's story and the often-overlooked impacts of industrial aquaculture on otherwise pristine coastlines.
At its core, Sarah's belief is that connection drives care. By sharing her journey, she hopes others might feel a similar connection to the ocean and be inspired to protect it in their own way.
Taking on her first bikepacking trip, Sarah has kept things deliberately simple: a second-hand bike, a homemade trailer built with help from a neighbour, and just the essentials to carry her board and gear.
Trip Updates!
Check here for updates before, during and after the ride, and to hear about Sarah's journey learning about salmon farms, surfing, diving and cycling the southern edge of Lutruwita/Tasmania!
When Sarah first had the idea of doing a bikepacking trip, it was really just about trying something new and pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Then a friend threw out the idea, why not use it to give back somehow?
