Hi everyone! My name is Charlotte, a Year Ten student from Riverside Christian College and ‘Whalesong’ gave me the chance to do something truly amazing for my year ten work experience. I had the opportunity to spend a week on a whale watching boat! On Monday, I arrived at the docks feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The crew was super friendly and welcomed me right away.
They introduced me to everyone and gave me a quick rundown of my tasks. I was going to help with assisting passengers, daily boat tasks and learning about whale spotting. It sounded awesome! To get rid of all the dew, I had to shammy and mop the boat, but as soon as you beat it, more comes; it was an unwinnable war. The boat departed and I felt like a pirate setting sail, minus the eye patch and parrot.
The highlight of my day was seeing my first whale! A humpback whale breached right in front of us, and it was incredible. The sight was breathtaking. I swear David Attenborough was going to appear any second. I got a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations that make whale watching tours possible. From maintaining the boat to ensuring the equipment was in top shape, I learned about the meticulous planning that goes into each trip. I helped with providing the passengers cakes, fruit, lunch and beverages. Ever tried making hot drinks on a moving boat? It’s like a culinary version of Twister. We made sure we kept everyone very well fed and I quickly learnt to make sure to leave some pineapple behind for Doug (The Skipper). Doug and Pete taught me how to spot whales. It’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, except the needle is a 40-ton animal that occasionally leaps out of the water.
By Wednesday, I felt more confident. I got to see how much work goes into running the tours. The crew showed me how they maintain the boat and prepare for each trip. I got to see what really makes the boat tick. Maintenance, checks, and cleaning – lots of cleaning. Fun fact: saltwater gets everywhere. I also met more passengers and got to share my new whale facts. Did you know a baby humpback whale drinks 100-130 gallons of milk per day?! I didn’t until Doug told me, and now I tell everyone. I even helped with some of the simpler tasks. The crew was extremely welcoming and friendly, they cleared a lot of the uncertainty and stress I felt when working in unknown environments. I met people from all over the world – a family from Germany, a couple from Lithuania, and a group of children who secretly told me they could speak to whales, and then proceed to show me their ‘whale communication skills,’ which was an exact rendition of Dory’s whale sounds from Finding Nemo. I got to talk to numerous passengers on board. Their stories and origins from around the world was perspective changing; helping the little kids spot the whales and watching them giggle and yell excitedly every time they spotted one made me proud to be part of this experience. This day taught me a lot about staying calm and being prepared for anything. Even in tough conditions, there’s beauty to be found.
Thursday was my last day on the boat, and it was bittersweet. I didn’t want the week to end. While I was taking hot beverage orders I had a heartwarming chat with an elderly couple. They’d been married for 50 years and were ticking off whale watching from their bucket list. They told me stories from their travels, and it was just one of those moments where you feel proud to be a part of their journey. The day started with calm seas, and we were lucky enough to see so many whales. Jamie got everyone to wave to the whales and they waved back! It was a breathtaking sight and a perfect end to my week. As we returned to the dock, I felt a mix of sadness and gratitude. I thanked the crew for an amazing experience and for teaching me so much, they taught me the ropes- literally. I’ve made a connection to the crew on that boat and while I won’t miss waking up at five thirty, I’ll miss the joy that this experience brought me.
My week on the whale watching boat was more than just work experience. I learned about marine biology, connecting with your environment, the importance of teamwork and how to make a mean potato salad. It made me realize so much about both the ocean and connecting/serving our community. I gained confidence in interacting with people and handling unexpected situations. Most importantly, I developed a newfound respect for the ocean and its inhabitants. I watched crew members hastily accommodate the needs of wheelchair users, people with dietary requirements, sea sickened individuals and other required needs, it’s wholesome moments like these where you wish you could continue your work experience indefinitely. This experience has inspired me to consider a future career in marine biology or conservation. Plus, I discovered that nothing bonds like a crew frantically trying to cling onto trays of hot drinks and fruit while walking upstairs on a rocking boat.
For any Year 10 students thinking about work experience, I highly recommend a journey with Whalesong, it’s adventurous and different and you never know what you might discover about the world and yourself. You’ll learn, laugh, and maybe even get a bit seasick. But trust me, it’s worth every minute.
Thank you for reading about my week with Whalesong. I know this is an experience that will stay with me forever. The memories of breaching whales, the thrill of the open sea, the connections with passengers and the contagious laughs and joy of the crew have left me with very special core memories, a full heart and an even fuller camera roll. The ocean is full of wonders, and who knows? You might even get away with not leaving pineapple for Doug.