The Stevens Family

In March 2016, we the Stevens Family comprising of Matthew, Joanna, Nicholas (14), Isabella (11), Will (9) and Thomas (6) will embark on an exiting, challenging and possibly life changing adventure through the centre of Australia.

Our passion for life, family and travel leads us to many adventures. 

Joanna (author)
I am one of five children and grew up on a farm in regional Victoria. I run, cycle and swim most days. I lead a healthy lifestyle ensuring I eat well and get plenty of sleep. But, I do have some failings – like my love of a cold beer and my addiction to chocolate. I pretend to be cool but watch parliamentary question time, listen to opera and still write in a diary – a habit I started at the age of 10. 
I operate a successful strategic communications business from home undertaking government lobbying/relations and community consultation and engagement predominantly for a select handful of  mining, manufacturing and local government clients. I established a magazine, Ballarat Lifestyle Magazine, in 2009  that focuses on the events and stories of people in and around the wonderful Ballarat community. I maintain a part-ownership of the magazine having sold the majority shareholding earlier this year and contribute a True Life column for each edition. 
Matthew 
Matt is a Training Manager at Mars Chocolate; luckily he loves chocolate and Milo on his ice-cream. He has completed two Australian Ironman events - not to win but as a ‘participating spectator’.  Matt leads a simple life with a complete lack of interest in possessions – only shopping when he has to or when I throw away all his clothes. Matt has a giving, loving soul and a passion for not-for-profit organisations. After spending several years as a primary school teacher he worked with the Kids Foundation – a not-for-profit, health promotion charity dedicated to childhood injury prevention and injury recovery. He has volunteered his time with the Blokes Biggest BBQ raising almost $500,000 for the local community. He is a massive sports fan and has played and watched a huge amount of Australian Rules football. 
Nick, 14
Nick is following in his father’s footsteps in relation to his love of sport. He plays representative basketball for Ballarat in the Victorian Junior Basketball League and has played representative Australian Rules football. He tells his basketball coaches that he ‘loves’ basketball but we know the truth is that he only plays basketball to get fit and improve his eye-hand co-ordination so that he can become a better footballer. He’s on a mission to be drafted to the AFL and plans to kick a football around Australia.
Isabella, 11
Isabella or ‘Issy’ is the only girl in the family and, of course, she hates pink and has never played with a doll. She plays sport the same way she plays with her brothers in the backyard. She is a most determined young lady who gives 110 percent to everything she tries. She is likely to cartwheel around Australia and has been known to cartwheel from one end of our Jayco to the other…. 
Will, 9
Will is referred to as the absolutely ‘best’ child. He is the perfect example of the little girl (even though he is very much a boy) with the curl in the middle of her forehead - when he’s good, he’s perfect; when he’s not ... well, you know how it goes. Head-strong and determined Will likes to win. He’s the statistician in the family and while growing into his oversized body he amuses the family as he trips, tumbles and fumbles through life.  
Thomas, 6
The baby of the family is completely different to his sports-loving siblings. He has joined the gardening club at school and specialises in bug catching. He is also the much-loved family comic bringing joy, entertainment and innocence to the family. He is a little trooper that goes and goes until eventually he just has to stop.