The “McKeown Mermaid” Sisters Take Us To Their Down Under Ocean Playgrounds in Queensland

DOLPHINS AND TURTLES at play with the McKeown sisters Taylor snd Kaylee taking us into their ocean playground off Queensland's Mudjimba Island.Photo Courtesy Taylor McKeown.

While COVID-19 has kept the world in lockdown members of Australia’s Dolphins National Swim Team have shared some stunning videos and photos in Australia’s real dolphin playgrounds –courtesy of the “McKeown Mermaids” – Queensland-based swimming sisters Taylor and Kaylee.

Rio Olympic breaststroke finalist and Ecology graduate Taylor McKeown and her sister, World Championship backstroke silver medallist Kaylee McKeown, have given a fractured Queensland tourism industry a huge boost with an open invitation to literally join them “down under.”

SUNSHINE RAY: Backstroke star Kaylee McKeown off Mudjimba Island. Photo Courtesy: Taylor McKeown.

The sisters have been diving off Mudjimba Island on Queensland’s spectacular Sunshine Coast and Tay is more than happy to take you there – it truly is her backyard.

“I just need to upgrade my jetski for a dive boat and wait for the 1.5m social distancing laws to drop,” proclaimed McKeown on her Instagram page.

“I lose track of time out in the ocean but thanks to Coronavirus for the time away from the training pool and thanks nature for the great weather.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE COVID-19 TUNNEL: McKeown Mermaid, Kaylee off Point Cartwright. Photo Courtesy: Taylor McKeown.

“Every time I come here, I see and discover something new and I have found a drop off with a large diversity of colourful thriving corals and then got to watch two octopi hunting, which was pretty cool to watch in action…I absolutely love spreading joy and knowledge for the ocean.”

And while the McKeown sisters have been in the deep end off Mudjimba Island and another of their favourite dive spots, Point Cartwright, some of their fellow Dolphins have been exploring their own backyards.

Rio relay bronze medallist and two-time Olympian James Roberts can be found surfing and paddling around Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

RIPPER RIPPLES for Rio Relay swimmer James Roberts off Burleigh Heads on the Queensland Gold Coast. Photo Courtesy: James Roberts.

Roberts has had some fun “surfing some ripples” and paddling on sunrise for “Meditation…isolation and exercise…”……gotta love it!

While Emma McKeon and David McKeon, lucky to survive January’s horrendous bushfires that ravaged their community, have been able to find some solace in their parents NSW South Coast home and the waters in and around Lake Conjola – a safe haven for people who had fled the killer fires.

DOG-GONE: Emma and David McKeon with Jax. Photo Courtesy: McKeon family Collection

With Dad, Ron McKeon, the NSW Head Coach and himself a dual Olympian overseeing their lockdown workouts…Dave and Emma are joined by pet dog Jax after a training session which shows off those famous McKeon smiles while Daveo has found time to get out for a spot of fishing….

HOOKED: Dual Olympian David McKeon with a dinner catch off the NSW South Coast. Photo Courtesy: David McKeon.

While Sydney’s famous Bondi’s Beach, had been closed in a blaze of publicity, Rio Olympic relay gold medallist Bronte Campbell has welcomed its re-opening.

“They have re-opened the beaches today and this girl is very happy….everyone did the right thing and they’re still open.,” said Bronte, who has this strong message for all.

“The only way through this is together…..love seeing the community working hard to make sure we can be safe and still enjoy the beach. With pools shut, bay swims are as close to training as I can get….”

And Bronte has some nice choices…..Bondi, Tamarama, Clovelly and even her own namesake Bronte Beach – a set of swimming and surfing suburbs in Sydney’s eastern Suburbs with such a rich Olympic history.

BRONTE Sunrise for Bronte Campbell. Photo Courtesy: Bronte Campbell.

Olympic greats adorn the walls of these surf clubs in Sydney – like 1956 legend Jon Donohoe and 1972 and 1976 Olympian Neil Rogers who are just two of the locals still enjoying what the ocean offers…with Neil patiently waiting for his beloved Bondi Icebergs pool to re-open, Bronte Campbell can certainly be reassured she is in the best of company.

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