Maddy McAllister: Shipwreck detective by Deb Fitzpatrick

This delightful and engaging story about the life of Dr Maddy McAllister, currently Senior Curator of maritime archaeology at Queensland Museum, will provide readers with a snapshot of the passion for diving and shipwrecks that Maddy showed from an early age.

Maddy had always loved the ocean and spent her early years swimming, fishing and holidaying around water. Her beloved grandfather was instrumental in fostering this love and his storytelling about events related to both the sea and land encouraged Maddy to explore deeply in her areas of interest: ancient history, archaeology and the ocean.

As a child, Maddy and her sister Ally moved around with their parents due to work commitments. Maddy learnt to accept the changes that occurred, make friends, develop a love of horses and horse riding, but the pull of the ocean was always there. It was the place Maddy felt calm and at peace. After finally settling down in Busselton Western Australia near to her grandparents, Maddy attains her SCUBA diver’s certificate, learns about two teenagers in 1876 who saved many survivors of a shipwreck and decides that archaeology is to be her tertiary focus. After studying hard Maddy is accepted into a Bachelor of Archaeology at Flinders University SA. She defers for a year and works as a tour guide around Geographe Bay where she learns about the marine environment. Maddy’s fascination with shipwrecks continues to grow and her expertise and study in the area is now well recognised all over the world.

Maddy McAllister’s story sends a strong message to young readers that to achieve success and enjoyment in your chosen field is to persevere and continually strive to learn more.  Her love for her work, the marine environment, and the all-important shipwrecks, resonates throughout this absorbing story.

Teacher notes are available.

Themes: Themes: Family, SCUBA Diving, Archaeology, Marine Environment, Shipwrecks, Science.

Kathryn Beilby