You never know what exciting activities are going to be happening behind the yellow door at the Wee Waa Arts and Cultural Centre. Last Tuesday, it was a delightful surprise to discover a giggling and gorgeous gaggle of happy babies and their adoring mums.
While The Courier is accustomed to reporting on the art hub’s popular gallery opening nights and fun school holiday workshops, the location is also a much-loved meeting place for a group of local mums and their beautiful bubs.
However, Buttercup Mums is not your average mother’s group. Some attendees travel more than 50 kilometres, from across the region, to be part of it. Cherishing the vital connection and company the get-together provides along with the invaluable knowledge and experience offered by child and family health nurse Jess Swansbra. The mums can even try a Pilates mat class with the talented, encouraging and eternally cheerful instructor Georgie Hamblin.
And all in the one spot, a valued opportunity in a rural town.
“I have been so happy with the response, I thought it would be amazing if eight or so girls signed up and we ended up with 17 in the group, I couldn’t believe it,” Jess told The Courier.
“Mums come from Wee Waa and Narrabri and surrounding areas -Turrawan, Merah North.”
As we continue to celebrate Mother’s Day – because let’s face it, mums deserve more than one day – it’s timely to shine a light on the life-changing work being undertaken in our community by humble, highly skilled, and local legends such as Jess Swansbra.
Jess’ friendly face would be familiar to many readers, the Narrabri High School graduate lives on a farm just outside Wee Waa with her husband Ben and their three adorable children.
Jess’ personal experience as a mum, her local background, and expertise as a child and family health nurse make her the perfect person to provide much-needed support, education and guidance to parents and families in our community. She’s also compassionate, empathetic, loads of fun and always up for a laugh.
“I hope through Buttercup Mums I can carry out meaningful work that I am passionate about – helping mums to find their way in motherhood,” said Jess.
“Since becoming a mum in 2015, I have learnt that motherhood really is a way of life.“I also understand that every mother and baby is unique in each and every way.
“There definitely is no one size fits all in how we should do things when it comes to parenting and being a mum.
“I hope to provide mums with the tools, resources and support they need to form a grounding as they embark on their motherhood journey with confidence to thrive and raise happy, healthy and thriving babies.
“Being a ‘baby nurse’ has been my dream for a long time.
“I completed my Bachelor of Nursing back in 2007.
“So, after finally completing my Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health and three babies
later, not exactly in that order, I’m finally here,” said Jess.
There’s a well-worn saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ but living in rural Australia means it can sometimes be difficult to find said
village.
While there are plenty of perks to living a country life; isolation, access to services and the tyranny of distance can bring challenges and potentially cause feelings of loneliness and depression.
Cue Jess Swansbra.
Jess, a registered nurse, created Buttercup Mums to educate and empower mums ‘to build the tools, confidence, and resources to mother in a way that works best for them and their family’.
Complementing the health services available in our region and ensuring families feel supported, and not lost or alone, once they’ve left hospital and are at home, sometimes on farms or remote locations.
The overwhelmingly positive feedback Jess has received shows there was a significant need for such a support service in the community and it has become a lifeline or importance source of connection for many.
“I love the social side,” said Shannon Hamblin, who attends meetings with her son Alakai.
“Being able to gather with other mothers to catch up and talk about the type of nappy you had to change at all hours of the morning or how long it’s been since you washed your hair.
“If you are struggling with anything from how your baby is eating, sleeping, talking or has a slight red mark, between us all – and the amazing Jess – you generally walk out with your questions answered.
“These gatherings are so amazing as we are able to talk to Jess about our baby’s growth and development …and are reassured ‘you are doing an amazing job’.
“Sometimes, this is all we need to hear.
“Yes, 100 per cent, being isolated is always hard. Buttercup mums has really allowed me to meet new people from all walks of life.
“The group is made up people living on farm, teachers, nurses, and educators.
“It’s wonderful to walk down the street and see another mum who you already know and have a quick little chat or a simple ‘hi’ ‘can do so much for a mother stuck at home.
“We are so lucky to have Jess, who has taken time out of her own life to open this group up for us, and to the other mothers for making the effort to come out of their laundry full of clothes and sink full of dirty dishes to socialise with those that are going through the same – thank you so much.”
Some attendees didn’t know each other before the gatherings but now it’s a time where old and new mates can learn together, have a chat over morning tea, and find comfort and company as they share their experiences – the joys and tougher days of motherhood – as well as just yarning about daily happenings and life on the land.
“The feedback I have received from the girls is that the connection with other mums has been a really positive part,” said Jess.
“For me, it is a really beautiful thing to watch the connection and friendships developing.
“The mums are not only able to connect with each other but it’s lovely for the babies to have interaction with each other too and great for their development.
“I think the connection is so important, through connection with other mums you are able to develop a broader support network and connection in the community as well.
“We do a little education session at the start of each workshop.
“The main feedback the mums have shared about this part of the program is that it gives the group a good basis for conversation and exchange of information between the group.
“We have a range of ages of babies from about six weeks through to 12 months, so there is a range of stages and experiences within our group.
“I think the mums with the younger babies particularly enjoy the education part of the workshop as well as observing and learning where the older babies are up to in relation to the different topics we explore.”
While Jess believes the in-person connection is critical; she has also developed online resources, embracing the wonders of technology which help to break down distance barriers in the country.
“I guess being from the country I naturally want to be able to help country families access the support they need when raising babies,” said Jess.
The online element is designed to help mums in ‘the thick of new motherhood’ covering everything from tips on bath time and wrapping to exploring different development domains – sensory, physical, cognitive, social, emotional and language.
“I think being a mum is definitely both meaningful and tough.
“That is why supporting mums in those early days of being a mum and beyond is so important.
“Creating an easily accessible and engaging support service for country mums is probably the main aim of Buttercup Mums.”
Jess also highlights the need for mums make sure they are looking after themselves too, and that’s partly what sparked her dynamic collaboration with Lisa Almagro at the WWCACC – a convenient location to meet – along with the health benefits provided by Pilates instructor Georgie Hamblin.
“I love the collaboration with Georgie and Lisa, they are both beautiful ladies and offer wonderful services to our community,” said Jess.
“The mums love having Georgie as part of the program – she is a gem.
“I think they really enjoy having the opportunity to incorporate a little bit of movement into their day and it’s just a nice little thing to do for themselves.
“It is so important for mums to look after themselves for their physical and mental health. Simply because if mum is going well or taking care of herself, it makes caring for and raising their baby so much easier.
“I really want to create a service that helps make mums, babies and their families lives a bit easier, so that they can live to their full potential and feel happy, healthy, supported, and thrive.”
Jess thanked the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network for funding the first round of her program.
“I am so grateful to have received the funding as it has really kick-started Buttercup Mums.”
