With big dreams and a passion for life, Steve Crombie embarked on a journey from Australia to the Arctic Circle by motorcycle and boat. Steve visited 5 of the 7 wonders of the world, encountered anacondas and pumas, ate cockroaches, and survived multiple bats and bruises. Now he is making documentaries with
Lonely Planet and
Discovery and writing a book about being
Lost On Earth for Pan Macmillan.
How did you find out about Inspire?
Through the internet. I wanted to find a non-religious organisation making a difference and attacking things head on.
How long have you been involved with Inspire?
Since the end of 2006.
So what inspired your adventures?
I’ve never really felt comfortable in the rat race. I’ve always felt the need to move around - stimulated by change and new cultures. However, the major catalyst for me was the death of my friend Jimmy Moore on one of our camping trips.
Which of the 7 wonders do you have yet to visit?
Victoria Falls and Mount Everest.
What are you passionate about?
Frisbee and sharing experiences. As a society we are slowly peeling back the layers of our planet and one day we will have scraped all the beautiful places, races, cultures and faces off the surface of the earth. I grew fond of the idea of sharing these things with people who don’t have the time or opportunity to explore them with their own eyes.
What’s your advice for young people to take action?
Regardless of circumstance, if you are truly passionate about something and pursue it with dogged determination, one day you will succeed.
Have absolute faith in your abilities even if others doubt you. If you believe you are capable of doing something – do it. Often it only takes the dissidence of one or two people in your circle of influence to disparage you. It is important to consider the opinions of others, but not to live your life by them. Rally your supporters and take action. If you have a dream that you truly think you are capable of achieving – chase it!
What have been some of the barriers along the way?
My biggest barrier was learning how to make this lifestyle sustainable and Depression - it can tear your world in two.. Random diseases on the road, (Giardia, dysentery and a few parasites running around my body), injuries and finances also seem to slow my flow down the yellow brick road – my dreams cost an arm and a leg. How did you overcome your barriers?
Many ways. I focused on health and attaining new skills to tackle the goals I set myself. A healthy lifestyle and surrounding myself with the right people helped me overcome my depression. I refined my riding skills and took less risks to limit my injuries and learnt the art of film-making with the team at Lonely Planet and Discovery Channel. Now I have a vehicle that sustains my life as an adventurer – and a little more cash flow. I had to believe in myself. If there’s something inside you which keeps pushing you and pushing you to do something, then you’ve got to listen to it. Sometimes decisions you make for yourself are crowded by other influences around you, it’s important to make decisions for yourself. Sometimes it is good to go on a holiday by yourself and clarify what is important to you. The longer you hang onto something that isn’t making you happy, the unhappier you’ll become. If you’re doing something you’re genuinely stimulated by, you are probably a happy individual, and ultimately you’ll succeed. Regardless of how much you earn, and regardless what social status that represents, you’ll be a happy person. What advice would you give young people who might want to help someone suffering depression?
There are so many passionate and amazing people who have slipped into this world. Regardless of race, religion or creed it can affect your being in ways impossible to imagine unless you have experienced it first-hand. If you recognise the symptoms and seek assistance or at the very least acknowledge that there are some issues you need to resolve – that is a good start. It is important to remember that although you can influence people and guide them in the right direction- ultimately they’ll make their own decisions. It’s important to listen and help them take action and provide them with information and places which they can go to get help such as the ReachOut website. Providing a positive environment is important. Are you where you want to be now?
Yes. What are the plans for the next few years?
Finish this book (its killing me) and create some more shows with Lonely Planet.
Steves’s documentary – Lonely Planet’s Natural Born Traveller airs on the Discovery Travel and Living Channel on the 28th of October 2008 at 9pm. and on Channel 10 early 2009.
