The flying professor: taking science lessons to the outback
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The retired Victorian's outback pilgrimage started eight years ago. (ABC)
Each year retired university professor Phill Higgins packs up his plane and heads off on an outback odyssey, sharing his love of science with students in remote areas.
What started as a distraction from sadness in his own life is now bringing great joy to hundreds of children. The labour of love grew out of a family tragedy for Professor Higgins and his wife Suzanne.
"I taught university for 32 years I think and then retired and then looked for something different because I had a little bit of trauma," he said.
"My eldest daughter died of cancer and I sort of needed something to get the grey matter working on different things."
The 64-year old Victorian set off on his first outback pilgrimage eight years ago after getting a pilot's licence.
More than 60,000 kilometres and 1,200 students later, he has plenty of fans, including Luke Bermingham.
Eight-year-old Luke and his younger sister Ellen live on Lissadell Station south of Kununurra.
It is one of nine pit stops for the professor this year as the teaching tour heads west to the Kimberley.
"To get a professional specialist out among the kids is pretty hard and it's pretty expensive and you've got to find them," Professor Higgins said.
"Who's going to uproot everything, get in the plane each day and fly to a dot on the map?"
Something special
Six extra classmates from other remote stations also make the trip to Lissadell.
After all, having a scientist drop in with a plane full of homemade gadgets is something special for children who often have lessons over the phone.
Professor Higgins covers plenty of ground in the few days he spends at each place. Optics, physics and chemistry are all on the curriculum.
And there is still plenty of chemistry when it comes to Phill and Suzanne Higgins.
"We first dated in 1964 and we ended up getting married in 2001, so you can't rush these things," he said.
"There's a whole sequence of events in there and we were both single again in the 90s.
"We accidentally bumped into one other again and Suzanne loves flying and loves the outdoors, loves the outback and so, here we go."
Optical rewards
Professor Higgins says the most rewarding part is when he sees the reaction in the children's eyes.
"You can tell from a student's eyes when they've understood something and when they can't," he said.
"That's a big joy in it, to see the kids go 'Yes, yes, I've got it'."
It may not be the retirement Professor Higgins planned on, but he believes his daughter would have been delighted.
"I reckon she'd be pleased as punch and I reckon she'd be trying to get in the back seat," he said.
"I reckon she'd be really proud and she'd be bragging to her friends a bit ... Well, that's what I hope anyway."
Based on a report by Kerry Staight for AM and Landline.
