Experience the magic first wave here and it couldn’t have been a better one anywhere else.” Tom got such a sense of comfort in the town that he even mentioned he’d like to move to the region. ‘For me it’s not too big and not too small, the people there are very friendly and always up for chat. It’s got good community spirit and the support involved in that is amazing. Out of all my travels Margaret River has stuck with me the most. There’s so much to do there and it was one of the most welcoming places I passed through. It’s bigger than my outback hometown but not crazy busy like Melbourne or LA. The people really make the town and of course so does the beautiful area itself. I definitely plan on heading back’. Even though the series is targeted at the late teens, and early ‘20-somethings’, some of its themes are actually very grounding for the older generations (particularly the blokes). Tom asks the deeper questions about life. Looks inward at his past, the people who came before him, and how that might help guide him to realise what career path to take, or what is important in life. These are questions that a lot of men might find themselves confronting in mid-life, when there is more to reflect on. Tom’s quest is not forcing spurious answers, but rather uniquely going on his own teenage journey and taking advice from interesting people with exceptional life experiences along the way. In the wake of Tim Winton’s new novel, The Shepherds Hut, conversations about toxic masculinity, about men lacking a sense of gravity or responsibility – have stirred within the media and around the dinner table. Tom seems a contradiction to all this though. Despite growing
up in a small town, where misogyny can often narrow or distort young men’s views on the world, Tom is positive, curious, and honest about his misgivings. He has a fantastic sense of humour and is able to laugh about himself, show humility and genuine emotion. Referencing his new novel, Tim Winton talks about how young boys ‘have had the tenderness shamed out of them,’ yet it is so refreshing to see someone like Tom who reverses these concepts. Tom says, ‘I honestly can’t believe how much of an affect making this show has had on me. I thought I might change a bit but I had no idea I would change this much. People talk about getting out there to discover what you want to do with your life, but I think it’s just as important that you experience what it is you don’t want to do, so you can start crossing stuff off your list. Life is full of ups and downs, it’s not always a straight line. Getting out there and doing something different every day, really getting out of my comfort zone is when I learned the most about myself.’ This rites of passage road trip sees Tom look through the lens of his camera to a world he’s never experienced before and through that he learns more about himself than he realised was even possible. And hopefully it isn’t just Tom that get a sense of learning from the series but also the viewers. Be sure to catch the program streaming on iView. Kununurra Kid has been nominated for Online Production Series of the year by The Screen Producers Australia (SPA).
Enjoy soaking in your own secluded hot tub under the glorious star-filled skies and watching the friendly wildlife on your spa chalet doorstep. Visit wineries, jewelled caves, white sandy beaches, towering karri forests, or just enjoy our meandering walking trails and picnic sites. Special food is provided for the wildlife.
YELVERTON BROOK & Conansectrvuaatryion ECO SPA RETREAT
S
Suitable for families and couples Check our independent reviews on tripadvisor
To learn more call, email or book online now for your next vacation: ph: (08) 9755 7579 margaretriver.com e: retreat@yelvertonbrook.com.au | SPRING 2018 105
www.yelvertonbrook.com.au