It’s one of the most remote places on the planet – an atoll with three buildings, limited electricity and a satellite phone – and it’s where 18-year-old Charlie Thomas will be living for the next eight months.
“I’m going on a big research vessel,” she says with a grin. “It drops us off and it doesn’t come back.”
“She was born to do this,” declares proud mum, The Breeze radio host Jeanette Thomas. “There’s just no way you’d ever stop anything like this, you just foster it and we’ve done that from the get-go.”
Jeanette shares, “There’s never been any fear of any type of animal or bug. It’s quite the opposite. Charlie wants to love and save everything, and try and make the world a better place.”
Since she finished year 12 in 2018, Charlie has worked at non-profit organisation Sea Cleaners, which removes waste from waterways, as well as giving educational talks at schools. She also visited Hawaii to do clean-ups on the beaches and saw first-hand the massive impact plastic was having on the tourist hot spot’s environment.
“When we got there on the first day, we looked over and there was a big, beautiful, cuddly-looking seal sitting on the beach, and it was surrounded by plastic,” Charlie recalls. “It was so awful, just heartbreaking. It sparked my passion for Hawaii and the wildlife, and I thought, ‘I have to come back and do something more.’”
Esta historia es de la edición February 24 2020 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 24 2020 de Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Lee & Luke's - RECIPE FOR LOVE
The Cantabrian contestants reveal the secrets of their incredibly strong mother-son bond
JEN GARNER FINALLY TELLS - MY SIDE OF THE STORY!
The actress breaks her silence at last on her relationship with ex-husband Ben Affleck
JESS BREAKOUT ROLE - 'KIWIS DON'T REALLY CARE IF YOU'RE FAMOUS'
The Palmerston North actress is in demand after her part in Netflix hit 3 Body Problem
POSH'S SPICY 50TH
It cost a whopping $525,000, but it was worth every penny!
NEW NZ EXPERT JO - LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX!'
The Kiwi relationships therapist reveals how she was convinced to join MAFS and shares her top tips for the bed room
MEGHAN WARNS HARRY - ARCHIE'S NEVER SETTING FOOT IN LONDON
Despite her husband's pleas, the duchess is determined to celebrate their son's birthday in the US
SHORTY STAR COURTENAY'S - BEAUTIFUL BIG DAY
The actress and her long-time love Chris tied the knot in an intimate, emotional ceremony
Jaden's Paraly mpic dream LOWE IT TO MYSELF'
The record-breaking wheelchair racer isn't letting his disability hold him back
Peak PERFECTION
Fiona Connolly discovers California's winter wonderland Mammoth Lakes is just as magical in summer
HOW TO BUDGET LIKE A LEGEND
Business specialist Cameron Wislang offers his five top tips for managing your money