Ria’s Iceberger Profile extracted from The Iceberger News edition 2nd September 2021

Joined Icebergers: June 2018
Early days: my formative years were spent in the Steppes in Tasmania’s Central Highlands, so-named after the Russian Steppes with both areas sharing the climatic extremes of hot airless summers and marrow-freezing winters.
Learnt to swim: in the inland water holes of the Styx and Broadmarsh rivers and upper reaches of the Derwent River – tiger snake country.
Best swimming experience: Alcatraz crossings, Manhattan Harbour, Winter Rip, Franklin River, Dardanelles and daily with the Icebergers.
What song is the soundtrack to your life: The A-side is any broken-hearted tragic-love-lament by Joni Mitchell. The B-side is I Am Woman by Helen Reddy.
Swimming goals: I’d love to complete at least one Ocean’s Seven swim or a Toughest Thirteen swim. The Freedom Swim in South Africa is still on my bucket list. Just to have a swimming goal is a goal in itself these days.
Swims with: anyone who can cope with losing me!
Interesting factoid about yourself: started in taxidermy but deserted this career path for the dazzle of investment banking – both professions renowned for ‘stuffing the innocent’.
What makes an Iceberger: understated self-belief.
What is your motto for a good life: the important things in life are not things.
photo Andrew Mulholland