A Strong Finish to an Incredible Grant

We did it!!!!

Our Body Positive Pool Session wrapped up as the final event in our Yarra Ranges Council Community Grant, and it could not have been a more fitting way to close this chapter.

Last month I shared why a body positive event felt so important. Pools can be vulnerable spaces. Motherhood changes our bodies, our confidence and sometimes the way we move through the world. Creating a space where mums could float, laugh, show up without apology and let their kids see that confidence in action mattered deeply.

This session felt joyful from the beginning. It was the final stretch of the school holidays, that sweet moment where everyone knows routine is coming back soon. There was something special about gathering for one last memory before uniforms and lunchboxes returned.

We kept it simple. Free swim. No lanes. No pressure. Soft music playing in the background. Noodles and kickboards scattered around. Kids splashing. Mums easing themselves into the water at their own pace.

Watching everyone relax, seeing kids beside their mums, and later reading the reflections on the wall reminded me why this work matters. Then came the moment we will all remember. The massive joint bomb dive.

In true mum style, we handled the safety precautions first. Extra lifeguards were watching the little ones. We made sure everyone was spaced properly. We double checked who was jumping where. There is something very on brand about coordinating a bomb dive with a full risk assessment in place.

Once we were confident everyone was safe, we lined up along the edge of the pool. Mums and kids counted down together, nerves and laughter building at the same time. When we hit three, everyone jumped.

It was not graceful. It was not synchronised. It was loud, messy and completely joyful.

That splash captured everything this grant has been about. Showing up. Letting go of self consciousness. Participating fully instead of hovering on the sidelines. Letting our kids see us in the water, not wrapped tightly in a towel at the edge.

For some women, jumping in like that is a bigger step than it looks. It means choosing joy over judgement. It means deciding you belong in the space. It means modelling to your children that confidence is not about perfection. It is about participation.

After the swim, we gathered poolside for our creative table. Notes to our bodies were written. Postcards were decorated. The reflection wall slowly filled with honest sentences beginning with “Today I showed up even though…” There was courage in those words. There was humour too. There was relief.

This event was a beautiful finale, but it was only one piece of something much larger.

Through this Yarra Ranges Council Community Grant, we were able to deliver a series of initiatives that strengthened women and families in very real ways. Self defence classes built practical confidence and physical capability. Parent support sessions focused on navigating the teen years reminded us that the middle years of motherhood deserve just as much attention as the early ones. Our teens need us deeply, and we need each other to parent them well.

Marina McPherson’s Gut Health session helped us think differently about what we put into our bodies and how that affects our wellbeing. Emma Gilmour’s Sip and Shine workshop created a safe and thoughtful space for women to talk openly about choosing not to drink alcohol, and about how normalising that choice can feel both empowering and deeply supportive of our physical and mental wellbeing. Each event approached wellbeing from a different angle, yet together they reinforced the same message. Our physical health, emotional resilience and community connection are deeply intertwined.

And of course, there was the RUTH Run. What started as preparation for one event became something much bigger. Long before the big day, the Runooshkas were out there together in the early mornings and between school drop offs, building stamina, building confidence and building friendships. The run itself was fantastic, but the real magic was in the weeks leading up to it. Women who may never have called themselves runners found themselves showing up consistently, cheering each other on and discovering strength they did not realise they had. The Runooshkas have built beautiful friendships that extend far beyond the track, and that sense of belonging is exactly what this grant has nurtured across every initiative.

This grant allowed us to focus on an age group that is often overlooked. Support does not end when babies grow up. The years of parenting teens are complex, demanding and full of quiet challenges. Investing in women during this stage strengthens entire families.

Community grants are not just funding streams. They are opportunities. They allow ideas to move from conversations into action. They give women permission to gather, learn, grow and support one another.

As this chapter closes, the impact continues. The confidence gained in a self defence class carries into daily life. Conversations about teens continue over coffee and at school pick up. New awareness about health influences family habits. The friendships formed through the Runooshkas continue week after week. The memory of that giant splash at the pool will stay with both mums and kids.

The water settled quickly. The ripple effect will continue.

We are incredibly grateful to Yarra Ranges Council for this opportunity and for believing in the value of investing in women and families in our community. Thank you for backing this work and making these moments possible.

A huge thank you as well to the incredible facilitators and supporters who brought these events to life. Marina McPherson for sharing her knowledge on gut health. Emma Gilmour for creating space for honest and empowering conversations at Sip and Shine. Teresa and Emma from Paragon and David and Cat from Upwey TKD for building strength and confidence through self defence. Annemarie from Nurturing Parenthood, along with her fabulous support Katerina, for guiding parents through the complex teen years with warmth and insight. Pete Spink for training the Runooshkas and helping turn a fun idea into something strong and sustainable.

And to all the amazing volunteers who helped organise, encourage, set up, pack down, promote and show up week after week. Community does not happen by accident. It happens because people give their time, energy and heart.

We finished with a splash. The strength remains.