When I first moved to Darwin I lived at the hospital with my partner in staff quarters while we house hunted. It was a cement shoe-box - designed for one person really. With zero ventilation, outdoor space, or people to hang out with - the sweat, heat and isolation was enough to drive me crazy. My saving grace was riding to the foreshore at sunset & cooling off at the Nightcliff pool. Packed full of people walking, running, riding or picnicking & drinking beers to cool off in the golden hours. A regular feature on the path became a man on his bike with a cockatoo perched on the front & a boombox playing "love is in the air" or similarly happy-pop songs. I always wondered who he was & what his story might be.

In my final months in Darwin I teamed up with Johanna Bell of Story Projects to create our 'Locals who love Birds' series. We both finally got to meet Julio, below are some excerpts from the interview.