Danielle Henckert

Nationality?

South African from Cape Town

Current Position?

Junior Doctor in Brisbane QEII

Education and work experience?

Schooling in Cape Town, University in Australia, James Cook University in Cairns, Far North Queensland and currently working at QEII in Brisbane.

Danielle Henckert completed a few of her electives in coastal towns in South Africa (mostly being in Hermanus) for anaesthetic experience as well as being able to surf.

Previous Volunteer Work

Many community outreach projects are located in Merweville, South Africa, and at the RSPCA in South Africa (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ).

Medical interests?

Wide range of interests currently – very interested in emergency medicine, paediatric emergency medicine, anaesthetics, and psychiatry.

Local surf spot?

I learnt to surf in a small town on the West Coast in South Africa. But Voëlklip in Hermanus will always be a favourite; however, currently exploring all the surf spots on the Gold Coast (I haven’t found a favourite yet)

What is your favourite surf destination?

Jeffery’s bay in South Africa of course!

Travel experience?

Europe and the Caribbean, and been on many road trips around Africa.

Tell us about your best surf trip ever.

Making our way up the coast to watch the World Surf League in Jeffrey’s Bay a few years in a row.

Tell us about your worst surf trip ever.

West Coast South Africa Elands Bay, which resulted in multiple complete wipe-outs.

What is the worst surf injury you have ever had to treat?

Fin strike, which required suturing (I did, however, not treat it myself, but it helped!)

The best thing about surfing?

No better feeling in the world!

What was the best advice you have ever received regarding surfing?

No surfing at dusk (in South Africa for the Great Whites!)

Favourite surfer in the world and why?

This is a shared position – Gabriel Medina and Alana Blanchard. Both of them just have an absolute passion and every time they get in the water it is so obvious that they are just effortlessly enjoying it!

Current go-to surfboards? (make and dims)

I have a classic ‘hand-me-down’ shortboard in South Africa, which is from a local surf shaper in South Africa; however, I currently have a custom one made locally in Australia.