The secret life of Craig O’Neill
During the day, Dr Craig O'Neill from GEMOC is a mild-mannered geodynamic modeller, conducting simulations of how the Earth's surface and interior have evolved over millions of years. Away from the office however, O'Neill is ‘Extreme Man', with a penchant for wrestling man-eating alligators. Like all brave action heroes, of course, O'Neill is blasé about these dangerous creatures.....
"Alligators look terrifying but they are actually just like big puppy dogs," he says. "I saw the funniest thing in Louisiana - there was one across a footpath which must have been about 12 feet long and a friend and I stopped and wondered how we would get around it when this guy walking his dog came past. The dog just walked around the front of it and the guy stepped over it and just kept walking.
"I've spent a bit of time out in the swamps photographing alligators and I've handled gators of various sizes. I've also swum with freshwater crocs in Queensland and the Northern Territory, trekked through Mexican swamps looking for American crocs, and fed salties, but I'm not game enough to get in the water with them!"
What was your first job?
Delivering pizzas to stoners in the sticks on the Central Coast.
What do you like most about Macquarie?
The people number one and the position second. And the ambience on campus is very nice, oh and the Uni is pretty close to the beach.
What is the best advice you've ever been given?
An old Judo Sensei of mine used to say "Craig, stop thinking too much. It's all just rat cunning".
Who inspires you?
Carl Sagan, the great science communicator. Up until a month before his death from cancer he was still attending meetings, giving interviews and generally spreading the word. He never let anything slow him down.
What are you addicted to?
Endorphins. I tend to get very grumpy if I don't run or go to the gym for a couple of days.
What is your ideal way of relaxing?
A camping/fishing/surfing trip on the North Coast.
What do you do best?
I'm great at taking the reigns in pub trivia and I have a reputation for my instant recall of Simpsons quotes and cultural references.
What's a good Sunday?
A sleep-in followed by a big brekkie then hanging out at the beach with a beer and a BBQ.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I have a lop-eared bunny named Booflet. I really wanted a dog called Boof but I live in a unit so I had to compromise. Because it's a female my wife wouldn't let me name it Boof, so Booflet it became.
Is there life after Macquarie?
Life after Macquarie is hopefully a long, long way off. It's a bit like thinking about whether there is life after death! |
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