Macquarie Island has inadvertently played a very important role in my academic career. Some years after completing my honours research in seabird foraging ecology, I landed a dream role as a research assistant on Macquarie Island, working on a long-term seabird monitoring program. That summer I remember crossing paths with some PhD students who were collecting data for their projects. I shared my aspirations and trepidations about beginning a PhD venture with them. “It’s only four years, think about how quickly the last four years of your life has gone by”, they would state. I considered this, but still was uncertain, and instead went back and forth to Macca for the few years after that, continuing to ponder the unknown.
My trepidation was part because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to work on. I knew my hedonistic self would always take a seabird conservation focus, and my ecology mindset would drive my approach. Things changed for me when I crossed paths with a wildlife veterinarian, and I assisted with a disease surveillance project. She would introduce me to the world of clinical wildlife health and inspired me with stories about intervention management for conservation.
With that, the ‘tick became imbedded’ and my interests in amalgamating veterinary and ecological concepts in a seabird context grew. As I was departing Macquarie Island during my last stint in March 2020, I made the decision – I was going to move to nipaluna / Hobart, start a PhD and become addicted to coffee.
My thesis is titled, ‘The health of little penguins as sentinels of Tasmanian coastal ecosystems’, and it represents some of my efforts to fathom the dynamic relationships between organisms and their environment in the context of human-influence.
I submitted my thesis just before leaving for Macquarie Island this time around and finalised the examination process during the winter in my spare time. It was only fitting that I would be awarded my Doctorate of Philosophy in Biological Sciences while down here on Macca. But as my December graduation approached, I grew homesick. I felt sad to be graduating in absentee, to be away from my family, friends and colleagues who were all part of my journey, sad to be missing the grandiose academic ceremony, with its wonderfully ostentatious rituals.
To honour and celebrate the momentous achievement, the wonderful Macca 77th community, led by Station Leader Bec, cooked up the most memorable event, probably of my life so far. I walked into the mess on a Tuesday night in mid-December, dressed for my “graduation celebration”, not knowing what to expect. I was donned with a custom-made black and scarlet festal tablecloth gown, and a traditional black bonnet trimmed with scarlet cord and tassel – which was spectacularly pompous. I was handed champagne and greeted by a colony of human sized penguins! Bec said a few words and presented me with a Testamur, certified by the ‘University of Penguinia’.
At this point, my mascara was running, I was overwhelmed by the consideration and kindness of my Macca family. Then I was presented with gifts!! Handcrafted, penguin-themed paraphernalia, delicious treats and incredibly thoughtful messages. Then I was presented with the most delicious chocolate penguin cupcakes! It was all very overwhelming.
The emotional flood gates really opened, however, when the projector came on and congratulatory video messages from my friends and family from all over the world started playing, including my supervisor who was donned in his academic robes. At this point I was ugly crying, and I think a few other sets of eyes in the room may have welled up too. Touched by the power of human connection; it was the kindest gesture from Bec to organise. My partner and mum helped put the word out and it was the most meaningful thing for me to be able to experience my graduation with both my loved ones back home and my beloved Macca family.
“How insufficient is all wisdom, without love.” – Henry David Thoreau
I would like to thank the Macca 77th crew for throwing me a graduation ceremony more meaningful and personalised than I could’ve ever hoped to experience. It was such a special night, and I still ugly cry when I relive it and replay the video messages.
Dr. Mel Wells, Wildlife Ranger