Alumni, Abi Van Halen's Interstate Move 

Earlier last year, we brought you the story of Abi Van Halen's mountain bike adventures on the Australian and International Mountain Bike Circuit, which allowed her the opportunity to compete in the Crankworx World Tour Series, held in Cairns, QLD.

After completing Year 11 at Beaufort Secondary College in 2025, Abi made the huge leap of moving to Cairns, leaving behind her family in Victoria to chase her dreams and seek new adventures.

Abi has settled into her new life, working full-time as a wildlife keeper, who specialises in reptiles, at the Kuranda Koala Gardens. In her spare time, Abi volunteers at the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, located on the Great Barrier Reef, where she is currently caring for a number of sea turtles, each requiring some form of rehabilitation. She also assists in the rescue of river turtles and helps with their recovery and re-release back into the wild. 

Displaying incredible bravery, Abi has demonstrated that growing up in a rural area doesn't need to be a barrier to pursuing your dreams. 

We wish Abi all the best in her future endeavours and hope she continues to make a positive impact on the beautiful wildlife we have here in Australia.