Mums’ group changing lives one walk at a time

A thriving community group is helping temper the feelings of isolation and monotony that often come attached with the initial years of motherhood.

Mum Walk Bendigo – a chapter of Mum Walk Australia – meets at the Lake Weeroona playspace every Wednesday at 9.30am and every Thursday at 11.15am.

The local organiser of the peer-led social health movement, Amelia Gravette, said she was drawn to establishing the group after struggling herself.

“I had a horrific pregnancy with my son and after he was born I spent so much time by myself at home,” she said.

“It was very isolating, it was very boring.

“I wanted to connect with other local mothers, I wanted to get out of the house, I wanted my son to have some friends.

“So, I started this – it’s been running for over a year and it has

really taken off.”

Gravette said as opposed to other formal playgroups, there are no costs involved, no age limits and no rules.

“Personally I found other mum groups and playgroups, where you’re expected to sit in a circle, didn’t work for us,” she said.

“The walk around the lake is so good because it meets everyone’s needs, whether for younger kids in a pram, some older kids bringing their bikes and other kids walking.

“We’ve also got some mums with babies who don’t cope in a pram, so they just meet us here, they congregate in the playspace and we bring along mats and toys for them.”

Gravette explained that the group’s motto – no mum walks alone – is all about decreasing loneliness and increasing connection.

“It can be really, really scary to join a group for the first time, especially in adulthood, so I try and make it a welcoming environment for people so that they feel comfortable,” she said.

“I encourage people to try it at least once and experience it because I am so proud of the village that we’ve been able to create and the support that we’re able to provide to women.

“So many have said without this, they don’t know what they would do.

She said she has never had any negative feedback, and for her personally it has been a game changer.

“Lots of friendships have also been formed through this – true, authentic, genuine friendships outside of motherhood.”

You can meet members of the group at one of their semi-regular clothing swap events at 10am tomorrow morning, Saturday 20 June at the Lake Weeroona playspace.

Contact Gravette through the group’s Facebook page.