Guest Writer: Susie Maroney
The marine environment is so close to my heart - it's my play area, my office and where I spend most of my time.
Through my sport of marathon swimming it has meant that I have swum not only in oceans, but rivers, dams, creeks and any big puddle of water in places most people don't even see. So I have had a front row view into how the environment - and how we look after it - has shaped and changed the natural course of all these waterways, and in particular the plant and animal species whose habitat it belongs to.
As I swim, I am not seeing the fish that I used to and when I look up, there seems to be fewer trees, plants, birds and wildlife. So I have always had a unique opportunity to be aware of the changing planet, even in just a small way.
It's all about educating people, starting with our children. Schools need to include more awareness of the environment, not just with books but actually having excursions to places such as local creeks. If a child's Dad washes the car, they need to see where that dirty water can end up.
My favourite quote is from the Dalai Lama: "not one person can change the world but you can change the world for one person."
In 1996 Australian champion marathon swimmer Susie Maroney made world headlines again with her record-breaking swim of the Florida Straits - becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to the USA. Susie's life is an inspirational collection of world records and marathon swimming firsts. She regularly speaks about her experiences through rough and smooth waters and she has a passion for the sea.
The opinions expressed by our guest writer are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of WWF. Photo courtesy Susie Maroney, used with permission.
