By Tyler Wright
A new gathering place for mums in the Dandenong Ranges has proved popular, with free program ‘Rewilding for Mums in the Hills’ already booked out.
Six sessions, held between Monday 22 August and Monday 14 November at the Ferny Creek Scout Hall, will see mothers connect post storm events and after the brunt of the pandemic’s lockdowns.
Activities will include basket weaving and string making, carving and whittling, working with clay and developing ecological literacy.
Participants will also be able to engage in sharing circles and nature-based art such as mandela making.
Yonke van Geloven faciliates community gatherings on her permaculture, honybee sanctuary in Central Victoria and will travel to the hills to lead the sessions.
“I’m a mum myself of three kids and we often put everything else first; we are just busy and it’s very hard to find a quiet mind,” Ms van Geloven said.
“Especially for women, this is the work that we need to come back to; this communal finding our creativity again, finding our stillness in a busy day, and also relearning the tools that we can come back to when life gets too hectic, [or] when our stress levels are really high.
It’s generally taught as women, and especially as mums, we hold so much we hold so much of what’s happening in the community [and] what’s happening in our families.”
Ms van Geloven said there is also a bigger global grief occurring due to the effects of global warming, and after the 2021 storm events in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges.
“By learning to connect back into nature through these tools, we learn to allow to love it again and to really trust that it is an innate part of us, and that it’s not something to shun away or to fear and that we are part of this whole ecology, and this whole ecology can support us,” she said.
Yarra Ranges Council organised the ‘Rewilding for Mums in the Hills’ sessions.
“We know that after extreme weather events, the mental health and wellbeing of the whole community, including young people, children, and even infants, can be affected, and it’s crucial that we continue to take the time to connect our affected residents with important opportunities and programs that will support their wellbeing,” Yarra Ranges Council mayor Jim Child said.
“Over the past year, I’ve continually emphasized the importance of helping families recover from the stress of the June 2021 storm event and at the heart of this recovery are programs like these which give residents skills and connections to help them on their recovery journey,” mayor Child said.
Ms van Geloven said ‘Rewilding for Mums in the Hills’ is a pilot six-week program, and with interest from the community Yarra Ranges Council may be able to continue similar sessions.
For more information on programs organised by Yarra Ranges Council, visit; www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/recovery/Community-and-wellbeing/Upcoming-Storm-Recovery-events
