Timmis is one of Bluearth’s Alice Spring Coaches.
We asked him a bunch of questions about his role, background, and fun facts, so you can learn more about him.
Check out his answers below.
What is your role and what does it involve?
I am a coach for Bluearth in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. I work predominantly with young people within all types of schools around town, and at the juvenile section of the prison. The people I work with are mostly aged between two and 17 years. We have a lot of fun, but even more importantly I help young people to develop new skills, to better themselves and grow physically, but also mindfully, teaching reflection and calming techniques.
What do you love about your role and working for Bluearth?
I love working with people, and young people are always so keen to participate and full of joy and excitement. When a young person beams at me with a smile from ear to ear and says “I did it” or “I got it!”, meaning they have achieved or gotten better at the task or challenge at hand, nothing can’t rival that sort of genuine joy and accomplishment, for them and for me! Furthermore, teaching kids respect and kindness and remembering to think of others is a continual process and a really beautiful thing to be a part of. As the weeks progress throughout a term and kids get better at sharing space, being courteous to each other, giving “shoutouts” (encouraging or congratulatory words to other students) and as shyer children find or grow their confidence, this is a real special journey to be a part of.
Can you tell us a bit about your background/training and how you started your journey at Bluearth?
This is my second year working for Bluearth. Previously I have worked as an adventure guide, leading tours, four-wheel drive camping safaris and expedition hikes around predominantly the NT, but also in South Australia and Tasmania. Sometimes I get to bring my tour guiding know-how to my Bluearth work as well, leading hikes for young people or assisting in the running of school camps. I’ve also been known to teach about trees or animals or geology to my groups whilst we’re doing slower movement activities!
Fun Facts
- Favourite animal? My favourite animals would probably have to be bird life. I love all sorts of birds, particularly the colourful parrots. Always a special day if I see Rainbow Lorikeets, they’re one of my Dad’s favourites, and I’m hoping to one day again see a Gang Gang Cockatoo in the wild; that’s only ever happened once and I was with my Mum at the time, that was a very special moment.
- Favourite book? I was a big Enid Blyton fan growing up, and still am! Do love me the Famous Five and Secret Seven novels. However, these days I usually like to have two or three books on the go at any one time; at least one a fiction and one a non-fiction. That way it’s kind of like choosing a channel on the TV, fiction or documentary! Currently I’m reading John Grisham’s latest crime thriller, “The Indomitable Miss Pink” about an early, ahead of her time anthropologist who did some amazing and protective things in Central Australia for the local people, and a book called “Tasmania’s Aborigines”.
- Hobbies? My favourite things to do are to chat, but also to spend time on my own with a warm cup of lemon tea and a book whilst sitting under a tree, usually a big old Eucalypt.