Mother / Daughter
Rite of Passage Info Night

I am a mother of two independent young adults, a son and a daughter; And I have been brewing t his camp up since I was a teenager myself.

I started with a degree in cultural and social Anthropology focusing on cross-cultural women's studies, followed by home-birthing and raising two children, mostly as a solo parent. I have been a Birth Doula for 14 years in both home and hospital settings.

I then worked for Relationships Australia counselling parents and children.  As a Hakomi Psychotherapy graduate, and counsellor of women, mothers and daughters I support women through the rite of passage of becoming mothers, and through this work, daughters into becoming future mothers and/or community leaders.  Over this time I have steadily clarified what it was that was 'missing' from my own transition from childhood to womanhood. I am still a craftswoman primarily, an industrial seamstress and tent builder, I am the creator of our community red tent (2013), and The Red Books (currently 6 books with 18 years to date of sequential birthing stories from local women). I have allowed the understanding of what a mother / daughter rite of passage camp looks and feels like to evolve in my heart for the past 30 years, steadily acquiring the skills, life experiences, mentorship and the team I need to lead this work.

i have held many women's circles and facilitated processes for mothers alongside father/son rite of passage processes. 

Rites of Passage Facilitator, Holistic Life Coach, Art Workshop Facilitator and Yoga Teacher

Bonnie has a multi-dimensionality to her as she has transversed different career paths. Starting her journey in high level corporate for 7 years, she discovered the potential that sits within us when we really go for something and also the importance of learning how to care for your mental, emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing due to the stressful environment she was in. Throughout her time in corporate she was focused on cultural change, leadership development and supporting her team members to thrive.

She realised her passion for supporting personal development, emotional intelligence and empowerment and so stepped into a new path becoming certified as a Rites of Passage facilitator and leader, a yoga teacher and a holistic life and health coach. Over the past 5 years she has been working in these fields, completing trainings and doing her own inner work. Bonnie has been working with schools creating/running workshops and Rites of Passage programs and also doing her own business running adult retreats, coaching and workshops focused on creative transformation and initiation.

Freya has a deep passion for walking with girls into womanhood as both a mentor and friend. She believes that having older positive role models to guide girls into their next phase is essential as well as community led ceremony to celebrate them and honour their transition. Freya has spent the last 10 years working in nature settings as a mentor and Rites of Passage facilitator for young girls/women.

Theatre Director, Community Group Facilitator
Silvia holds a BA and Graduate Diploma in Theatre Directing, Victorian College of
the Arts, Melbourne Australia (1995). She has lived in the Denmark community for 15
years and has facilitated many community performance projects, including Living
Testament (2016), The Fisherman and His Wife (2018), and The Spindle of Spoken
Story (2019). Silvia is currently working on a multi-artform staging of The Fairy
Queen, an opera by Henry Purcell with Denmark Baroque Inc, for March 2024.
 

Silvia is a talented theatre professional and group facilitator, who brings a wealth of
experience to holding a safe, nurturing, yet fun and enriching space for participants
from all walks of life and experiences. Having participated in last year’s Rite of
Passage camp with her own daughter, Silvia brings a finely feeling perspective to this
work and will fully support and help hold your journey with your daughter through the
threshold into adulthood.

Clare is a yoga teacher who creates safe, welcoming and nourishing classes inviting exploration of body, mind, heart and spirit. She has studied, practiced, trained and taught throughout Australia, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

"I can distinctly remember the time in my life (not so long ago really) when I was a girl, trying to make sense of what it means to be a woman. It was a challenging chapter, and my experience is a part of what draws to Rites of Passage work, illuminating the value of both the framework & processes. I see too the void left by a culture inept at deeply acknowledging transitions and feel so inspired to be a part of a movement that is birthing new stories for young women & their mothers. "