Sawtell’s Bonnie Hancock breaks world record for circumnavigating Australia in a kayak Coffs Coast Coffs Coast News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - September 1, 2022 Bonnie Hancock and husband Matty Palmer. BONNIE Hancock, a Sawtell born-and bred kayaker, paddled into Northcliffe Beach on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning, August 28, after circumnavigating Australia in her kayak and setting a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of mainland Australia by paddle, the youngest ever paddler to do so, and achieving the longest 24-hour paddle by a woman – 213km off Cape York. The 32-year-old Gold Coast Iron Woman set her sights on raising $100,000 for mental fitness charity Gotcha4Life and opening n up conversations about mental wellness. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The Paddle of Australia Gotcha4Life fundraising tally is currently $76,495 and rising. Paddling 12,700 kilometres, leaving the Gold Coast on December 19, 2021, passing Coffs and Sawtell through Christmas and New Year. Bonnie ploughed on for 254 days, changing her life, her team’s life and those who followed her, forever, with daily updates posted on social media throughout the gruelling, breathtaking journey. Bonnie’s inspiration to set her paddle to the seas came from reading the tales of record breaking sailor Jessica Watson, and Freya Hoffmeister, the only other woman to paddle Australia. “When I thought of a lap around Australia, I did not realise how big Australia was,” said Bonnie. “It is mammoth. “But it is also so incredibly beautiful, it is just an amazing country, and we are so lucky to live here. “Over the past eight months I’ve covered every metre of coastline in Australia. “I’ve seen white sandy beaches, red dirt that meets the sea and cliffs that stretch for hundreds of kilometres.” With a few days to go, her sweetest view was passing Brisbane and knowing her home on the Gold Coast was just a few more paddles away. Arriving to crowds of followers, fans and family, it was an emotional arrival with so much heartfelt pride and awe for Bonnie’s brave and inspiring achievement. “Sometimes it only takes one person to believe in you. “From the very start, Earl Evans of Shaw and Partners, believed in my crazy idea to paddle around Australia faster than anyone ever has. “Without Earl’s belief and the backing of Shaw and Partners, I wouldn’t have finished this circumnavigation. “They say you prepare your whole life to be ready for an opportunity.” “It certainly feels like my whole life has led to this, as the Shaw and Partners Paddle of Australia comes to a close,” she said as donations are continuing to come in to get to her fundraising target of $100,000. Bonnie is looking forward to hanging the paddle up for a little while and giving her body, especially her fingers, a chance to heal. “Other than getting home, what I’m most excited about is seeing people starting conversations around mental health. “I’ve had many people reach out about their own losses, passionate to take action to improve the mental health of themselves and others. “It’s an honour to partner with @gotcha4life to help them with their mission to take suicide to zero.” Donations can be made at https://gotcha4life-fundraising.raisely.com/bonniehancock. By Andrea FERRARI Bonnie arrives on the Gold Coast after paddling 254 days around Australia and setting world records. Bonnie’s mantra, “We will get this done”, served her to double down and get the world record job done through many gruelling paddles. Shaw and Partners supported Bonnie Hancock from day one in her bid to circumnavigate Australia in her kayak. “I’ve seen white sandy beaches, red dirt that meets the sea and cliffs that stretch for hundreds of kilometres,” said Paddle of Australia’s Bonnie Hancock on completing her world record breaking paddle.
