A star on the rise who has already achieved so much

SMART is really not a strong enough word to describe this Centralian genius

SMART is really not a strong enough word to describe Rachael McCullough.

Consider this: Rachael was accepted in to the University of Melbourne- one of the highest ranked universities in the world.

Rachael then studied one of the most complex and difficult course combinations possible- a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, AS WELL AS a concurrent Diploma in Mathematical Sciences.

And now, Rachael has completed her Masters Degree.

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Alice’s own Rachael McCullough literally is a Master Scientist!

Rach was born and bred in Alice, with Mum Wendy, Dad Jamie and younger sisters Sophie and Lucy.

“We had a household filled with books. My parents and my extended family were interested about the world around them, and the people around them,” Rachael says.

“We watched lots of documentaries. Dad was really in to telescopes. And my Grandma- my Mum’s Mum- was as well.

“Dad was teaching her telescopes! It was always really fun, looking at the natural world.

“Dad had a hand made metal detector, and he’d go fossicking for gold. I remember when I was 5 or 6 going out with him and looking for fossils.

“Even more recently, when I came home on Uni holidays, Dad said, “You’re studying evolutionary biology, why don’t we go look at some ancient rock life, and we went out to Ross River.”

A home life so encouraging of learning and discovery was always going to be a good grounding for school life.

“I always loved school. Mum says that when she dropped me off on my first day of Transition, she didn’t know what to expect, and she saw a lot‘ve other kids looking really scared, apparently I just said, ‘Ok, bye!’

Rachael and younger sister Sophie at the Alice Springs desert park in 2001. Picture: SUPPLIED

“I really enjoyed reading and drawing, and my friends did too!

“I played netball and then got in to running when I was older.

“I did ballet as well. And Mum is very musical and she said, ‘Why don’t you give music a go?’

“I did piano lessons, then the saxophone, and I really enjoyed the clarinet.

“I actually got the clarinet back out recently! Here in Melbourne’s Covid lockdown. I got it out and cleaned it up!

“I always really liked playing the Pink Panther!”

“And there was always classical music playing on the radio in the background of our house!”

If academia was a footy season, Year 12 would be Grand Final day.

13 years of schooling culminates in that final year.

Rachael finished Year 12 with a score of 99.9.

That’s the Premiership Cup right there. That’s Olympic Gold.

Rachael and her great friend Claire Robertson tied for Dux of St. Phillips.

As always, Rachael is super humble, and has important words for those who are approaching the end of High School.

“Your Year 12 score doesn’t define much about what you’re going to do with your life. Once you leave high school, no one really cares about what score you got.”

A wonderful taste of reassurance and perspective for those of you about to do exams, and for those who will in the years ahead.

See, this is the key to the Rachael McCullough story- great mind, but also a great heart.

Before their Year 12 exams, Rachael and Claire both signed up to ‘World’s Greatest Shave for a Cure’, for the Leukaemia Foundation.

“It was something really important to Claire. She told me about it, and I was like, ‘Our hair’s about the same length, why don’t we join forces!’

“We got together in our spare time, we did posters and we had an online fundraising page.

“It was a testament to Claire’s resolve, and the generosity of the Alice Springs community.

“We’d ask people if they could help, and they’d be like, ‘Yeah sure!’”

Hundreds of people gathered on a Sunday morning at the Todd Mall markets, and watched as the girls had their heads shaved.

“I was totally fine about having my head shaved! It just grows back! I’m lazy with that kind‘ve stuff with hair in general.”

A few months later, Rachael packed up her life and moved to Melbourne.

“It was a whole different ball game at Uni. I hit a lot of walls and found it hard to feel like I was doing well.

Rachael and friend Jessie at a climate march in Melbourne last year. Picture: SUPPLIED

“You need a whole different set of skills at Uni. Academic success there is driven by being curious about the world around you and asking questions about it.”

Rachael turned those feelings of adversity in to outright success, completing her Bachelor of Science, with a major in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, as well as a Diploma in Mathematical Sciences.

And this year, Rachael completed her Masters of Science!

Running with the footy analogy from earlier, that’s like winning Four Premierships in-a-row.

Incredible!

Perhaps more incredible is that the combination of study that Rachael herself crafted back in 2013-14, is now the area of expertise that is essentially governing the world right now.

The intersection of biology and maths, utilising the tools of data science and computation is the mechanism being used to inform Governments all around the world how to handle the coronavirus.

“Biology is really complicated: So, how can we use maths and computer science to try and predict what will happen.”

Rachael tailor-made this line of study for herself.

Then a couple years later, the University created this as an actual course.

In other words, Rachael was a step ahead of one of the world’s top Universities.

And! As it turns out, her prescience now sees her as a fully qualified scientist in an area so vital to the world.

“I have a lot of respect for the modellers and the mathematicians and epidemiologists working on this.

“And it’s been really heartening to hear Governments saying that they will follow the science in how they respond to the virus.”

Rachael achieved her Masters in June, and even made her own graduate cap, with no formal ceremony due to Covid.

COVID also ended plans to travel South-East Asia in July and August.

Instead, Rachael has taken the role of an Analyst with Economic Strategy firm Alpha Beta.

“I did an internship there, and I really liked it. I wanted to do something practical, where I could do work that would be applicable right now, and see results.”

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At 25, Rachael has an open mind about what the future may hold.

“I want to do something that let’s me use numbers, but where I know it’s going to be actually helping someone. Possibly healthcare modelling, or education.”

Two pieces of advice Rachael has for kids in school now:

“Focus on progress over perfection. You’re not going to get every question right, and you don’t need to!

“And make sure you know what it is you care about. And then prioritise your time and effort in to that.”

Great advice for all of us!

Rachael McCullough is a star on the rise who has already achieved so much.

Rach, you have the world at your feet, and as a community, we are with you every step of the way as you continue to climb high!