Dunsborough surfer Racheal Dawe's passion for chasing waves saw her take up a career in nursing so she could travel the world doing what she loves most - surfing.
After she graduated from university seven years ago Ms Dawe has travelled to work and live in places as far as Fiji, Indonesia and WA's north and southwest.
Last year she left the region to take up a position with the Royal Flying Doctor Service where she had the opportunity to live in The Kimberley before moving to Perth.
"I wanted to work in regional areas and chase the swell, I took every opportunity that came my way," she said.
"I am really lucky because nurses are wanted everywhere, I wanted to study nursing so I could have the flexibility to chase the swell anywhere in the world."
Ms Dawe's love for surfing began when she was a teenager competing in the Yallingup Malibu Classic and Indian Ocean Longboard Club events.
The connections and friendships she made in the surfing community cemented her passion and thirst to chase waves around the globe.
Never far from the ocean, Ms Dawe has mended many a surfer since she graduated including a man whose arm was badly cut by a giant moray eel bite at 2am in the morning in the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia.
"I had to fix the person in the dark, it was nighttime and there were no lights, that was pretty daunting," she said.
"More of my overseas medic stories and achievements can be found at the WA Surf Gallery currently on display at Aravina Estate in Yallingup with lots of other fantastic memorabilia from surfers and legends throughout WA."
Ms Dawe's role with the Royal Flying Doctor Service takes her to remote parts of the state where she helps people who have been involved in a traumatic event "out bush" or have suffered a medical episode.
"We fly into people's stations, Christmas Island and cover distances all the way from The Kimberley to the South West," she said.
"It is an absolute privilege to work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
"I love that nursing is so flexible and can take you anywhere.
"I grew up in regional WA and always wanted to work rurally so I could follow the swell and surf.
"I have also met people through work who are like minded and share a similar passion."
To checkout more of Ms Dawe's surfing and nursing adventures abroad please visit the WA Surf Gallery at Aravina Estate at 61 Thornton Road, Yallingup
