Back in Sydney

It’s good to be back in Sydney, though the temperature drop compared with Darwin was certainly a shock to the system! Stepping off the plane into the crisp air, it’s noticeably cooler than the tropical heat I’ve grown used to over the last month.

Wrapping up my time with the team in Darwin was bittersweet. I’ve officially taken co-ownership of the office staff award, which was a lovely parting gift. We also celebrated with a cake that wished me a “Happy Birthday”—it’s definitely not my birthday, but it was the only one left in the shop! Huge thanks to Letitia for organising the sugar hit; it’s been a privilege working with such a great team.

My final night in town was classic Darwin: a humid evening following a cracking afternoon thunderstorm. It was the perfect backdrop for the Penrith Panthers vs The Dolphins clash at TIO Stadium. Since I’ve been a “local” lately, I felt duty-bound to support the Dolphins as the home team. I didn’t quite make it to the final siren—the humidity and long days mean I tend to flag in the evenings—but it was a tight finish after a dominant first-half performance by the Panthers.

The flight home was a fascinating cross-section of life. In the heart of AFL territory, the NRL is clearly making its mark; half the cabin was filled with Panthers players and supporters. It was slightly surreal watching them spend the four-hour flight with their heads down, intently reviewing match footage. The sea of black jerseys didn’t go unnoticed, either; a bloke in a bright red shirt (Dolphins) looked around and joked, “There’s a lot of black shirts on this flight,” which sparked a roar of laughter from everyone on board.

I also had the pleasure of meeting a lovely man named Ross while we were boarding. At 75, Ross has lived with cerebral palsy his entire life, and he described it more clearly than anyone I’ve ever met: “It’s like my body is made up of two halves.” He needed a hand with a few things—fastening his seatbelt, opening bottles, and cutting up his meal—but it was a joy to meet him.

Between the Darwin stint and my recent travels overseas, I feel like I’ve been away for a couple of months. It’s been an incredible stretch, but I’m well and truly looking forward to hanging up the bags and relaxing at home for a while.