Pushing the Limits
Meet Geoff Wilson, Toowoomba's newest Vet and the face behind Vetlove. Geoff also happens to be a world-class Polar Explorer, pushing the limits of human endurance.
08 October 2024
Photography: Kitale Wilson & Dom Gould (Courtesy Geoff Wilson)
It's 3am and the alarm sounds. I drag myself to the kitchen and pour myself a coffee before heading to the office for an early morning zoom call. It's just gone 5pm in Iceland and it's the last opportunity to touch-base with Dr Geoff Wilson before he heads to Greenland and proverbially "disappears off the edge of the earth" on the next leg of the @projectzero_earth odyssey around the globe.
For those that may not know his name, Geoff Wilson is Toowoomba's newest vet and the face behind Vetlove, which recently opened on Ruthven Street in North Toowoomba. For those in the adventure community however, Geoff's is a story that reads more like a Hollywood script (it probably should be), and a name that resonates with adventure, resilience, and an unyielding passion for life.
From his roots in the wilds of Africa, to his record-breaking polar explorations, Geoff’s story is a testament to the power of pushing boundaries and defying the odds.
Born in Kenya, from an early age Geoff’s life was shaped by the challenges that would forge this indomitable spirit. Surgeries to correct a severe cleft palate and days filled with the thrills and dangers of the African bush (such as a narrow escape with a bull elephant) ingraining both a love and reverence for nature and adventure.
Yet, by the late 1970s, living under the political unrest and human rights atrocities of Ugandan Dictator Idi Amin, the family fled Africa; selling all they owned to buy a small four-person Cessna aircraft, and over a six week journey, fly the family from Africa to Australia - landing in Darwin with no clearance or documentation.
It was this dramatic migration, that rather than quell Geoff’s adventurous spirit, instead fueled his drive to seek out new challenges; leading him to a life of adventuring and a career in veterinary science.
Yet, as his professional life flourished, Geoff felt an insatiable pull toward adventure and in 2009 he returned to Africa to cross the Sahara Desert—using only wind power.
It was a groundbreaking feat, making him the first person to kite-ski the vast, arid expanse, and the trip that would become the prelude to the greater challenges ahead; equally challenging and record-breaking crossings of Greenland, Antarctica and the Australian outback.
For Geoff, however, these adventures were less about personal glory than making a difference, the challenge of the impossible, and experiencing the world's last great frontiers of nature and exploration.
"For me, it’s about embracing the unknown, connecting with the environment in its most unforgiving forms, and proving to myself that with enough determination, anything is possible", Geoff explains.
In 2013, Geoff took on one of his most personal expeditions — a solo and unsupported crossing of Antarctica, towing behind him a pink sled designed in the shape of a pair of breasts. Affectionately dubbed “The Boob Sled,” this was more than just a quirky addition to his gear; it was a deeply personal tribute to his wife, Sarah, who had bravely battled breast cancer. The Boob Sled became a powerful symbol of Geoff’s commitment to raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The sled carried his gear across the icy terrain during a 3,428-kilometer journey raising funds and awareness for the McGrath Foundation.
“The Boob Sled was a statement—an icebreaker", Geoff explained. "It carried the message that even in the harshest environments, we can carry the weight of a cause that’s much bigger than ourselves.”
This mindset—pushing the boundaries not just for personal achievement but to make a difference—has been a driving force in all of Geoff’s expeditions. They’re about challenging the limits of human capability and contributing to causes that resonate deeply with him.
In particular, Geoff’s adventures are marked by their “green-powered” nature—whether man-powered or wind-powered.
Among his most significant achievements is the 2019-2020 Antarctic expedition, where he completed the longest solo, unsupported polar journey in human history. Kite-skiing for 58 days and 5,306 kilometers across the icy expanse of Antarctica, to become the first person to summit Dome Argus (the highest ice-shelf in Antarctica and one of the most remote and inhospitable places on earth) without support.
Minus 80-degree temperatures, crossing ice-crevasses and battling severe frostbite, there was one day as Geoff recalls, " I was caught in a 100km/hr plus winds and a whiteout so severe that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. It felt like the world had closed in on me, and all I had was my instinct to keep moving.”
“There are moments when you have to question your sanity, but the thought of reaching that next milestone and the reason behind it keeps you going.”
Geoff also explains that his support system—comprising family, friends, and coaches—plays a vital role in maintaining this focus, offering the emotional and practical support necessary for success. “No one achieves greatness alone,” Geoff says. “I’m incredibly fortunate to have an amazing team backing me every step of the way.”
"Whilst the mental and physical demands are intense", Geoff says, " it's important to keep focussed on the bigger picture. Ultimately, as Geoff explains, "Success is rooted in passion and in making a difference, in being part of things that are bigger than yourself."
"When you find that thing that makes you come alive, you can overcome even the toughest of obstacles".
