JULIANNA Bahr-Thomson is a mermaid with a message and is paddling 1000km from Newcastle to Noosa to raise awareness for domestic violence and Surfrider Foundation Australia.

Ms Bahr-Thomas paddled from Byron Bay to Pottsville on Sunday before heading to Snapper Rocks yesterday. Today she enjoyed a relatively short paddle to Surfers Paradise.

Although physically and mentally exhausted, Ms Bahr-Thomas was in high spirits when she hit the beach having completed the 31st day of her marathon journey.

“Within each day there are some many moments that are excruciatingly tough but I have to get through it,” the 28-year-old said.

Ms Bahr-Thomas, a professional lifeguard and teacher, said the Tweed Coast had provided one of the highlights of her journey with a whale interrupting her paddle from Pottsville to Snapper Rocks.

“There was a whale jumping around and it wasn’t really moving but then it launched up and out of the water straight at me and then just dropped right in front of me,” Ms Bahr-Thomas said.

“I was pretty scared. I was screaming with fear and happiness at the same time.”

The paddle is designed to raise awareness of White Ribbon Australia and Surfrider Foundation Australia, two charities close to Ms Bahr-Thomas’ heart.

“For 20 years I grew up with domestic violence so through this paddle I hope to up-cycle my negative experiences and what I’ve gone through and turn them into positives while supporting White Ribbon,” she said.

“I’ve also seen first hand the change in the ocean environment in just our use of plastics alone, so I really liked what Surfrider is doing.

“Going to extreme lengths to do something to raise awareness and funds is important so that’s why the paddle is so extreme but it’s getting the message out there about my charities.”

Ms Bahr-Thomas will paddle to South Stradbroke Island tomorrow and is expected to arrive in Noosa on August 7.