I grew up seeing dolphins regularly in the Moray Firth in Scotland.

They would ride the bow of the Kessock Ferry and follow the sailboats in Summer. I can’t really remember water without these magnificent creatures. I have always loved the Ocean and its creatures.

I’m very lucky here in Victoria too because I spend a lot of time in Port Phillip Bay so see them regularly. I’m surprised that many Melbournians are not even aware that we have such wonderful wildlife in the Bay and not just the Dolphins!

When I watched the documentary, ‘The Cove’ that told the story of the Dolphin Drives in Taiji, Japan, I was absolutely shattered.

I’ve only ever experienced peoples’ wonder and amazement at these animals and here were these people were in Taiji, brutally slaughtering them and also selling them to the captive industry for shows and swim-with programs. This got me to thinking, “what can I do to help stop this atrocity”.

I work for Save Japan Dolphins, part of Earth Island Institute and it was through my involvement with this that I became aware of the Olympic Dolphin movement and a further push to stop the heartbreaking slaughter. I attended a protest event in February 2013 as part of this event and met up with Sharyn Taylor and Michelle Cupples and together we founded ‘MelbournDolphin’.

The Dolphin Awareness Campaign in Federation Square in June was a chance to educate people about our dolphins here in Australia and also to make them aware that in other countries they are not offered the same protection. They are exploited in many countries in the world and Australian tourists often visit attractions that feature captured dolphins. If more people know about this, they’re more likely to make better consumer choices. That was our aim.

Our oceans and its inhabitants are worth fighting for.

MelbourneDolphin continues and is now part of the bigger, global organisation, Freedom Blue.