Finlay Walker lives in Riddells Creek and recently completed the PADI Advanced Open Water dive course. He spoke with Oliver Lees.
What is your connection to Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges?
I have lived in Riddells Creek almost my whole life, I went to Riddells Creek Primary School until grade five and I am now at The Kilmore International School (TKIS). I enjoy living in Riddells Creek and the Macedon Ranges as I like the area, the space and outdoor lifestyle and I have many friends here. Being part of Scouts helps me to connect to my community as there a many activities you can do as a Scout.
What do you enjoy about scuba diving?
I enjoy the diversity of scuba diving as it is able to appeal to all different types of people, there are experiences such as wreck diving which you can go deep on and feel a sense of fear and excitement, but there are also reef dives, which you can get just as much enjoyment out of and admire all the different types of fish and plants species. Due to the fact that scuba diving is a group activity, I get to know people from the larger community of scuba divers from all over the world who have similar passions and interests to mine. I often dive with my dad, so it is good to spend time together doing something we both enjoy.
What has been your best diving experience, and why?
I would have to say that my favourite scuba diving experience would be when I went to Flinders Pier and saw a lot of weedy sea dragons. Weedy sea dragons are a species native to Australia, there is little known about their behaviour or population as there has never been tracked or had a population census or tracking, this is why Scouts Scuba is taking photographs and sending them to the ‘Dragon Quest’ researchers at Victorian National Parks, who use photo recognition to identify individuals and track movement. I enjoyed this dive because I was able to see the weedy sea dragons, as well as a lot of other cool species of fish, while also being able to help with research.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am the current longest-running member of 1st Riddells Creek Scout group, I have been in scouts for 10 years, as I first joined Scouts as a Joey in 2010, when I was five as part of a special Joeys program. As part of my Scouting life I have been able to achieve all of the highest achievable badges in all of the levels of scouting. These include The Joey Scout Promise Challenge, the Grey Wolf, the Scout Medallion and finally what I am currently working on, the Queen’s Scout. I have been to both a Cuboree and Jamboree.
