2021-2022 Annual Report
Our first incorporated year out of lockdown
What a year 2022 has been. Mums of the Hills Inc (MotHs) was created as a local online private group in 2015. Since then, MotH’s passion for supporting and advocating on local issues has grown from strength to strength. This year, MotHs had our first lockdown free year as an incorporated group which enabled us to be more visible in our place-based communities, create opportunities to connect in person, to learn new skills and generally recover from the previous years.
It comes as no surprise that returning to a COVID normal was going to be difficult. For some, the idea of being back around people was difficult to adjust to while others relished the opportunity to reconnect. Our two Yarra Valley wine tours in December and March were both well attended. Other social events such as the National Moth's week celebrations, the Teddy-bear's picnic and movie nights were also great social opportunities. Other events aimed at improving mental health included the Phone Photography workshop, and Creative Sunday Writing and Craft groups. Providing mums with the opportunity to learn how to safely use a chainsaw was a long held goal of mine that finally came into being. A full run down of our social events in 2022 can be seen our annual report below.
The June 2021 storms and the pandemic played a big part in the events that MotHs was involved in. Moths committee members Leslie Almberg and Katerina Volny were instrumental in our forest walk commemorating the June 9 anniversary. Until then, many hadn’t ventured back into the forest since the storms and so walking gently and making peace with our memories was an important part of healing. MotHs also supported a wide array of Yarra Ranges organised events, playing a key role in steering groups to ensure that the community needs were met. MotHs supported events covered topics such as trauma informed care, bush playgroups, strengthening relationship and womens rewilding groups.
Advocacy played a major role in MotHs work in the community. Along with our Federal election political debate, MotHs also highlighted issues around telecommunications, housing, emergency preparedness, domestic violence and mental health. Advocacy work was made possible by the wealth of knowledge held by our MotHs Committee. You can read more about the issues we advocate on here. These issues are frequently discussed in our private group which has grown to 5.4k members. The information in our News and Resources sections on topics such as disaster relief, post natal depression, domestic violence, mental health and trauma are the result of an outpouring of concerns from the group. We do what we can to help and try our hardest to be a voice.
Finally, the development of our website marked the beginning of MotHs stepping out from Facebook to service the whole community. Along with the website and events, our presence at markets and festivals and on the Regional Community Recovery Committee, we have well and truly established MotHs as a hybrid online and place-based community.
We may be a fledgling not-for-profit but we have big goals and a whole lotta passion and determination. I can’t wait to announce our plans for 2023.