Renowned as an adventurer and award-winning filmmaker, St Paul's Anglican Grammar School class of 1997 alumnus Beau Miles returned to the school recently with compelling stories and inspiration for students to embrace adventure and storytelling.
Beau provided an essential reminder to students about the value of recycling and environmental stewardship as he spoke about his documentary 'Bad River' in which he kayaks along one of Australia's most unhealthy waterways.
He also sparked the imagination and curiosity of students with a riveting sneak peek into his latest yet-to-be-released collaborative project with comedian Hamish Blake. Students were fascinated to hear about how the two kindred spirits embark on an epic adventure that unfolds when they leave their hometowns, accompanied by their children, to rendezvous halfway to produce a podcast.
Engaging with his inquisitive audience, Beau gladly answered questions throughout the presentation, with students and staff keen to know all about the art of filmmaking, insights into his YouTube channel, his most cherished destinations and the path that led to his extraordinary career.
Drawing from his own experiences, Beau used his personal journey to reassure students who are unsure about what to do after school. Rather, he urged them to push beyond their comfort zones to uncover their own individual passions in subjects and co-curricular activities that they are interested in as a form of self-discovery.
Additionally, he emphasised that students should actively reach out to their valuable support network – their school 'family' of friends and teachers – as the beneficial knowledge and expertise from teachers will help them discover their own interests.