Member Spotlight

When you're not being called 'Mum', what name/nickname do you prefer to be called?

‘Woozie’ because I know I’m near to my closest family & friends when this nickname is used.

What is the best thing about being a mum?

I finally learnt the true value of a minute/hour/day!!! Time management is so crucial and I’ve learnt to be not such a dribbler, waffled as I would get nothing done!! No truly, it’s been all about bringing perspective to everything I do now - what emphasis I put on things in this life journey, has changed significantly since I had the boys - coming to this parenting gig at 42 and then 45 years, I’d been doing my (and our) ‘thing’ for so long!

What is the most challenging thing about being a mum?

Those early weeks and months - I had very very unsettled bubs, both with reflux, both with breast feeding issues and I fought so hard to keep going and I felt like such a failure when I couldn’t BF past a couple of months (although I did express and comp feed). Those relentless early days are still so vivid. Nowadays the biggest challenges are just fitting everything in and finding time to just enjoy their maturing personalities.

What are you passionate about?

Right now I worry so much about the state of our world l and what we are leaving for our littlies, in a sustainable sense and I’m working really hard on what we can do in our small family way to decrease our own footprint as much as possible. In my work as a kinder teacher, imparting enthusiasm and knowledge about sustainability is currently a really big focus for me as well.

What is something that you have done that you are proud of?

I turned my health around approx 20 years ago, losing a lot of weight (60kg) and becoming this lover of all things energetic (running City to Surf) entering 4/5km runs, gym 6-7 days per week. However it wasn’t sustainable! But I’m back on this massive health journey currently, and in the last 6 months have lost 25kgs and now need to establish exercise and eating that will see me through to old age.

What is your favourite thing to do to unwind?

What’s that, unwind!? I’m pretty highly strung and sprung and actually don’t do unwinding well! I do love gardening; I love a good furniture move around; love photography, baking and reading, but reading I don’t do enough. A walk around our beautiful lake here in Upper FTG always makes the spirit soar high. Love weekends away and driving trips.