The former junior champion, who spent almost a decade away from the sport in her 20s, was a standout at the national titles on the challenging Mersey River in Tasmania last month.

She won the women’s open K1 rapid sprint title and claimed bronze in the longer classic event, then blitzed the field to take out the classic national selection trial the following day.

Packham’s performance was rewarded when she was recently named in the Australian wildwater squad that will embark on a seven-week tour of Europe in the middle of the year.

The 31-year-old Bendigo Canoe Club member will contest the K1 rapid sprint and classic events at two World Cup competitions – in Serbia in May and Bosnia Herzegovina in June.

She then travels with the team to France, where the International Canoe Federation world titles will be held on the fast-flowing Isere River near La Plagne from June 26 until July 1.

Packham said she never dreamed she would be representing her country when she decided to return to paddling about two and a half years ago.

But she has worked extremely hard to build up her strength and improve her skills to reach the elite echelon of the sport.

“I have lived, breathed and dreamed canoeing for the past six months,” she said, detailing her six days a week training in the boat and a further three sessions in the gym – on top of her job as a Bendigo Health hospice nurse.

Packham is the sole female K1 paddler in the Australian team to date and one of only two women named in the initial line-up, with Ros Lawrence of NSW contesting the C1 events.

The local kayaker faces a huge challenge in France, where the course is rated more difficult than any she has previously encountered.

“There will be grade four rapids at the world titles and I haven’t actually paddled grade four before,” she said during a break from training on the dead calm water of Lake Weeroona.

“The Mersey (at nationals) was grade three so this is another step up again.”

Packham’s coach, Tony Misson, said the Bendigo club was thrilled to have a national representative in their midst.

“We are very, very proud of all the things Kristy has been able to achieve,” he said.