Glenda, a Water Warrior
In Glenda’s words:
“A self-confessed water Baby!
Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around water! Learning to swim in the Murray River, convincing my mother to take us into town every summer evening for picnics and swims on the foreshore. Picnic and swims with family in mountain streams, holidays at the beach. I didn’t realise it for the gift it was, my happy place.
Growing up, with a career, marriage, and children, my love for the water morphed into fishing, boating, and other sports.
Then, there was about 15 years - my dark years! I couldn’t access my happy place or do any sport whatsoever. By then, weight gain, and a resurgence of old injuries were starting to impact my mobility and confidence. Then in 2017, the council offered a Metaqua program. Amanda reminded me of my love of water and exercise again. I fell in love with the program and lost 14 kgs swimming up to 2kms twice a week. I felt good, my confidence was back and had pushed my PTSD back into its dark corner.
The years 2019 to 2021 were difficult for many of us and I was heavily involved with the creation and administration of a drought relief program, fire recovery, and community support during the Pandemic. The Ladies shed space emerged in 2021 from this work. The commitment to this and the previous drought relief work had taken a huge physical, emotional, and mental toll on my body and psyche. My physical health was precarious, my mental health was vulnerable and fragile, and I had stacked on the weight again. My mobility was compromised and after several small medical episodes rang alarm bells, I knew change was necessary for me to move forward.
In September 2022, I decided to get back in the water. Travelling twice a week to Warwick, soon saw me brushing off my Metaqua skills and learning to love the water again. Together with a necessary dietary lifestyle change (Coeliac Disease), swimming twice a week, and starting a third session a week now that Stanthorpe is open for Summer, I have lost 30 kgs (and counting), reacquainted myself with my body, have increased mobility, more energy and have reduced my medications to almost zero. I committed to invest in my health and well-being. I would not be who I am today if I hadn’t made that commitment. I have found my happy place again!
At around the same time I got back in the water, an opportunity arose through the Ladies Shed to fund a wellness program. I contacted Amanda to see if she would bring Metaqua back to Stanthorpe. I know how I feel about Metaqua, and what it has done for me, so I wanted to give that opportunity to the community for those who wanted to try it or come back to it. It motivates and inspires me to continue to use the program and support it when I see the number of women embracing the program here in Stanthorpe, Warwick and Tenterfield.”
The Water Warrior Project is a joint project of inspiration between Amanda, Metaqua Instructor from @swimminginthefield, and Lara Flanagan, Photographer from My Notes From Gallery, Studio & Store
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