Turia is one of the most remarkable people you’re ever likely to come across. Attend her event, and you’ll be helping her raise money for her favourite charity, Interplast.
Turia was born on the tropical island of Tahiti. Her dad, a keen Australian surfer, had gone there to surf. He fell in love with the waves and a beautiful woman (Turia’s future mum). The family migrated to Australia when Turia was three and ended up on the South Coast of New South Wales.
Turia studied at the University of New South Wales where she earned a double degree with honours in Mining Engineering and Science. She worked as a model before landing her dream job with Rio Tinto at their prestigious Argyle Diamond Mine and moving to Kununurra with her partner, Michael. Their lives were turned upside-down when she was trapped by a grassfire in a 100 kilometre ultra-marathon in September 2011, and suffered burns to 65 per cent of her body.
Her recovery has been remarkable, but so is Turia’s commitment to others, who are less well off.
She’s passionate about helping burns victims in the developing world, who don’t have the access to health care that we do. Her main cause is Interplast, a charity that provides free reconstructive surgery to those who need it most. In 2014, Turia and her team raised close to $200,000 for this incredible group.
Turia’s memoir Everything to Live For was published in 2013. Come and meet this unique and wonderful woman in conversation with The Australian Women’s Weekly associate editor Caroline Overington, at a champagne book club in Melbourne on October 23.
Book your tickets: www.eventopia.co/bookworld
