Swim Strait for Life

Not all blue skies and beaming smiles... But it’s also not all grey clouds and sad frowns. Today’s ICK makes tomorrow’s FLUFFINESS that much better + brighter.

Can’t flipping wait!!!!

Iso has made it hard for me to communicate - I’m not the best with words on a good day, so now, with social media being the #1 way to keep in contact outside of our bubbles, things and my thoughts are getting lost in the translation from tech, to personal.

When people can’t see my face, see the meaning in my eyes, I’m afraid my words are diluted or misunderstood. But I’ve never meant so much, the meaning behind my words. The physical is so much different to the virtual - to be honest, it’s the hardest lesson that’s been put in front of me.

So, for now, I’m here to listen - to anyone who needs it.. after all, we each deal with things differently - this is no different.

Tuesday really, really sucked.
Yesterday was better.
Today, will be different too.
There’s no point glossing over it, cause this is hard stuff, and it can be seriously s**t.
But we’re being forced to slow down. To appreciate things we‘ve taken for granted for so long.. and I tell you what, once I start to hug my Mum and friends post-iso, 👏🏼I’m 👏🏼not👏🏼letting👏🏼 go👏🏼

It’s been a while since I’ve been on SSFL… This year, I’ve been directing my energy into something quite different in the mental health space, a venture that I believe to be incredibly important. But, things have been put on hold for a bit - right now, we’ve got some pretty important things to do as a country, to keep each other safe.

There is beauty in slowing down during this isolation period, but there’s also the scary, darker place of the unknown. Like everyone else, I’m learning how to navigate them both.

I may not be able to pursue exactly what I had planned for the upcoming months or the upcoming couple of years, but that doesn’t mean things are unravelling - instead, it’s an opportunity to do something else, unique. I’m back here, on SSFL in a different capacity than I used to be.. I’m not here to give you tips, not to glamorise isolation, but to keep things real and keep things transparent.

So, here’s to the different, and being open to the new and the unknown. Together, we got this, fam!

ONE YEAR ON!!!!
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12th Feb 2019 was the biggest day of my life (so far in my little life). SSFL finally became legit, as I swam 32km across the Foveaux Strait with the help from the most amazing support team. I didn’t do it per official guidelines, but that was besides the point.
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There are times when we have to do things differently, colour outside the lines if we want to make a masterpiece. The Strait swim was my way of redefining and re-sketching how we can approach mental health and well-being matters here in Southland, Otago and New Zealand.
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Since then, SSFL has been swimming through different types of waves - some have carried me to where I wanna go, some I’ve had to accept that I can’t fight them, and instead, I need to flow with them and approach it differently.
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This past year has been wicked. I’ve met some extraordinary people, connected with groups and communities who are constantly working to better the well-being of their members and just generally found a passion for people, and everything a person stands for.
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So, I wanna say a HUGE thank you to everyone who’s been supportive and encouraging throughout this past year - without you I wouldn’t have anywhere near as much reach as I have had.
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One year later, I’m working on a pretty significant project in partnership with some amazing people. I’m gunna continue to colour outside the lines and do things my way - this swim will always remind me of how much we can do with a lil bit hope, passion and support.
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Keep watching this space y’all!! Hannah xx @ Dunedin, New Zealand

I can’t believe how amazing 2020 has already been for SSFL - it’s going to be an absolute hisser of a year!!
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I can’t wait to get back out into our communities and do my thing!! (While also working a bit more behind the scenes on something really really awesome for our Southland and Otago communities hehe).
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Flick a gal a message if you have any questions or just want to touch base - I’m already being booked for talks and workshops for later on in the year, so scoochy on into my inbox if you wanna be in my calendar too!!!!!
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Big smiles, big dreams + big passions for making NZ a happier and healthier place for all of us ❤️

Feeling very honoured to be a recipient of a 2020 New Zealander of the Year Local Hero Award (Dunedin).
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I’m incredibly humbled to have been considered for this award, but even more so be among such outstanding company of the other recipients.
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Shout out to (and + ) for collecting the medal on my behalf while I was overseas.
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Things are happening, and they’re making a huge difference in our communities... let’s keep things rolling and make some even greater waves!!!!!
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Wooooooh @ Dunedin, New Zealand

Ya girl is back! After a seriously needed break at the end of last year, I’m back in NZ and thrusting myself entirely into 2020. While I was away I had a lot of time to self-reflect and I began to realise just how intense these past two years have been on me. 2019 came with huge peaks and some rather sizeable troughs, but all in all it gave me a sense of hope that surpassed any other feeling. People have begun to notice how important it is to break down barriers surrounding MH and well-being, leaders in our communities have opened their doors to listen to our calls for change, schools actually INVITED me into their classrooms to talk about topics that have always been hushed and pushed under the rug…
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This year will be no different - we’re going to keep progressing forward, looking after ourselves and the people around us with greater knowledge about MH and well-being. BUT, for me, this is going to look a bit different. I’m excited to work alongside so many passionate folk to bring something slightly different to our communities here in Southland and Otago!!!!
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2019 was FAB, and 2020 is going to be even better. Watch this space yo!!!
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H x

I'm feeling very humbled to be named among countless outstanding and selfless individuals as a recipient of a 2020 Kiwibank Local Hero Medal.

More-so, because I get to stand beside my friend James Heath who has exemplified true selflessness and dedication to his community at Otago Uni.

Such cool stuff - and thanks to everyone who has supported this young gal from Invercargill try and bring a bit of sunshine to those darker days!!!! Wouldn't be here without you all 🧡

Naturally can’t take much seriously...

I’m privileged to have received the OUSA - Otago University Students' Association + University of Otago Outstanding Contribution to the University Community Award and the Sporting Blue Award for swimming last week at the Blues and Golds celebration.

It was made even that much sweeter seeing my gal boss friends Annie Grimes and Lucy Aitken receive the Outstanding Contribution to the Dunedin Community award for their work with Woman’s Refuge Dunedin!!!

It’s been a hecker if a year, but believe it or not there’s more things coming!!

Again, I’m blessed for the endless support behind SSFL and behind me personally - it’s pretty cool y’all!!!

SMILING WITH YOUR EYES

Sometimes we can forget those moments that are filled with genuine happiness. In the past, I’ve found myself thinking that I only occasionally have moments of pure fulfilment - but then I look back on pictures like this one. It’s not the smile that I look at, it’s my eyes. I can’t express how extraordinary the difference is when you can see the smile in your own eyes.

It’s hard when you can’t actually see the joy on your face, especially when your eyes are bursting with joy even at the smallest, often unidentifiable moments. But know that they are there. I’m working on that - trusting that in the smallest moments I am completely entirely filled with happiness.

It may seem like a small thing, smiling with your eyes. But to me, it’s become a representation of the biggest part of my journey - appreciating the things I can’t see.

I can smell spring and DAMN it makes me wanna cruise around in the water again!!!!! Can’t wait for warmer water just so I can float 😂 - won’t be anything like this swim!!!! 12.5km seems like a marathon these days, 32km is just something else HAHAH

The Silverline team's been working outrageously hard over the past wee while to bring something wicked to the Otago Uni community...

Get tagging your mates to score some mint exclusives, mint chat, mint food and a mint engagement with some epic folks and their experiences with mental health!!!

Six months. Six whoppers since the big day, and I still can’t put into words how much this whole journey means to me.
Reflection on SSFL brings tears to my eyes - something that doesn’t happen all that often.. but I’m proud of the tears because they represent countless sacrifices, endless hours in the pool but most importantly my connection with communities around NZ.

Even though I’m a bit lost for words, I’m absolutely functioning on the mantra that actions speak louder than words... You bet I’ll keep working everyday to bring more hope and happiness to our communities here in NZ.

Thank-you for all your support, encouragement and passion - it’s a huge part of my ‘why’ and I think about it every single day.

Kia kaha, we got this NZ.

H x

HAVE YOUR SAY!!


With lots of planning and things in the works (for some pretty exciting stuff), I want to give YOU the ability to have your say!!!!

With a hopeful project in the works at the University of Otago (in conjunction with some cool and awesome groups), it’s become really apparent how important the student + community voice is. In saying that, I need your help.

The possibility of starting something that holds a legacy here at the University of Otago is exciting - the possibility of starting something which helps build relationships and forwards the understanding of the importance of positive student well-being is BIG. With such a huge opportunity, it’s really important that we brainstorm and think about this TOGETHER, as students present and future will be affected by the things we decide to do now.

SO!!!!!! Can YOU think of any areas/initiatives/programmes that you would like to see here on campus focus on the well-being of you and your friends? Do you want to see more personable relationships built between student and lecturer? Do you want a student phone line that you can call if you’re having a sh*t day? What about a space on campus that is SOLELY for you to look after your well-being? Maybe it’s simply acknowledgement from your lecturer that sh*t sucks sometimes?

Get your thinking caps on, think about what YOU need and what YOU want to see. Even if you're not at Otago Uni, what do YOU think?

Link in here for a place to send your responses - or flick me a message!!!!!

https://forms.gle/TEwKYpaB4UA1oiHj7

Ya gal is excited. Let’s make this change happen. Let’s build ourselves up and do what WE need to do to be healthy and happy.

A BRAVE FACE

So often people may hide their emotions and ignore what they’re feeling - kinda like hiding behind a mask.

This past weekend I went down to Invers to celebrate some amazing things with people I love and a community that’s helped many of us live out our passions... but when I drove back up to Dunedin on Saturday, something wasn’t sitting right. I had driven ALL THE WAY UP TO DUNEDIN, up my driveway, but I could NOT bring myself to get out of the car. Everything was wrong - so I literally filled my car up with petrol and started driving back to Invercargill. When I called my flatmate to tell her I wouldn’t be home that night - and put frankly, I broke... for no obvious reason at all. After coaxing from another flatmate, I turned around and picked her up, and we both went back to Invercargill together for the rest of the weekend.

The thing was, I had no glaring reason to feel like this. I have never been more supported and felt more love than had in the week beforehand, and there were no physical indicators anywhere in my body to tell me what I was actually feeling. Something just wasn’t right.

Considering I was so lost in understanding why I was feeling that way, all I needed at the time was to know that I had someone there for me. Neither my Mum or my friend forced any conversation or tried to make me work out exactly what made me feel that way - instead they were literally a presence of support. Mum fully supported me in coming back (when logically it was a bad student financial decision), and my friend dropped her entire weekend just to be with me and make sure I got back to Invercargill safely on Saturday night.

I still don’t have answers for why I had such an unexpected moment of sadness, but I do now know that I’ve got some sturdy established methods to deal with them.

It’s so important for our society to understand that you don’t have to have a mental illness to have bad days. This is real stuff that everyone deals with. PLEASE don’t feel ashamed or hesitant to put yourself and your well-being first, because YOU are the most important person in your life!!!!!!!

So now I’m back with a genuine smile - and it feels fab ❤️ we got this yo

We spent Friday night celebrating some amazing sporting achievements and moments at the Southland Sports Awards.

I was honoured to be selected as a finalist for the Southland People’s Choice Sporting Moment of the Year - sharing this category with outstanding performances from the , , Southland Cricket duo Jason and Jason, and the overall winner, .

Just a side note for all the young people out there - you don’t have to follow the conventional track to achieve incredible feats. You can move mountains from small towns or your local field. You can do literally anything if you love what you do and are passionate - for me that was my love of swimming and my determination to bring greater support for NZ’s mental health and well-being.

I’m so proud to be from Invercargill. We may be small but that means we don’t have to look far to find inspiration.. and that’s a testament to the passion and drive within our community.

It was a special day to share with some incredible people. Huge congrats to all the finalists and winners!!

The return-to-Uni blues have hit, so I’ve made it one of my short term ‘turn-arounds’ to make the yuck things (that we have to do) more palatable.

Twice a week I’m going to explore Dunedin by myself, outside of the student area and try and find spaces and areas that are refreshing and CHILL, cause anyone that knows me knows I struggle to have any chill moments. Today’s place is , an organic and environmentally conscious store and cafe that promotes conscious living (something I’m trying to do a bit more). A small wee hidden gem I would never have found if I hadn’t given myself the opportunity!!

Productivity, perspective and purpose.

Happy hump day homies, give it all you got!!

H x

I’ve always dreamed to be at the Southland Sports awards for my swimming endeavours- I’m here this year, just coming from a different angle.

Blessed to have the awareness that the Swim generated be recognised as a moment worthy of such an incredible honour!!! Being mentioned alongside such outstanding and memorable moments is incredible.

The link is attached, vote away!!!!!

Sports Awards: People's Choice Award, cast your vote Click into the story to cast your vote for the 2018/19 Southland Times People's Choice Sports Award.

Amazing to see the Invercargill Youth Council engaging our younger community involved in the mental health conversation. The more we can learn and the more understanding of each other’s experiences we have, the greater opportunity we have of making positive impact in our community.

Invercargill Youth Voice on Mental Health Please note: This survey deals with the topic of mental health - if you feel uncomfortable and want to exit at any time, you can do so by simply closing the browser.

I’ve always struggled to explain in words what success has been for me through this campaign - I’ve always had to be broad in saying that the success I value most is people becoming more aware of the mental health and well-being conversation.

Today, I can SHOW you what success has looked like.

Two amazing, and brave young girls from different places in Southland chose to profile Swim Strait For Life as their Southland Social Sciences Fair projects. I’m extraordinarily humbled to have been the subject of their project, but even more proud to see their boards cover things around mental health.

Aoife (Halfmoon Bay School - year 7) and Amelia (James Hargest College - year 9) each chose their own directions with their projects, and both of them CHOSE to research and understand more about mental health and well-being... I’m genuinely blown away.

These girls have talked about topics that I didn’t even understand at their age, because frankly, we didn’t talk about good or bad days, and we certainly didn’t takes about how we would deal with them in a positive or constructive way.

The mere fact that these girls were courageous enough to look into mental health and well-being is one thing... But for them to have researched tools and found resources to help them if they ever need it is something else, completely inspiring.

This is what Swim Strait For Life was, and is about - helping our communities of all ages become more aware of our own well-being, and how to take care of it.

Congratulations to both Aoife and Amelia, I’m incredibly happy for you both in the work you’ve put in and the results you’ve both achieved!!!

@ Invercargill Workingmens Club Inc

So humbled to be involved with Silverline, how EXTRAORDINARY. Equally as extraordinary is the work that Silverline does at the Uni of Otago - check it out!!!

Yesterday, so many of you engaged in a conversation about how men’s mental health (and mental health in general) should be labelled.

Perspectives and context are crucial. The interpretation of any message, whether it’s in the mental health/well-being arena will always vary on people’s experiences and views of the world.

Engagement with these conversations is SO beneficial - we can learn, and widen our understanding of different people and different messages.

THANK U for everyone who messaged me last night, the in-depth conversations were SO insightful!

CLOSE TO HOME

I quit competitive swimming when I was in high school. Things weren’t good, I was in a bad place and I was becoming emotionally distant from my friends and Mum. There was support for my goals, but I felt alone in the sacrifices I made day-to-day for my swimming.

I still loved my sport - but I hated everything that was consuming it. I had to take myself out of the swimming environment and focus on my mental health and well-being.

Being a young sportsperson can be so so difficult - so being able to bring perspective and support to our up-and-coming athletes is something that is close to my heart. Each experience is different, and each person deals with their experiences differently. But knowing that other people face difficulties, whatever they may be, and still do something special and extraordinary despite these difficulties, can bring a new sense of hope.

I really hope that my experiences (good and bad), from my competitive swimming and pre-Foveaux bring some hope to any of our younger athletes struggling.

With perspective, and the right support, our mind and bodies can prove to do things we never thought capable.

KIA KAHA x
@ New Zealand

For the hot-mess of days -

You 👏🏼 will 👏🏼 never 👏🏼 have 👏🏼 to 👏🏼 do 👏🏼 that 👏🏼 day 👏🏼 again!!!

always keeping ya gal grounded when life gets flannel ❤️

When I talk about the comradery within swimming, some people struggle to understand what I’m meaning.

Soooo many people think that swimming is a completely isolated sport. Practically, yea, the action of swimming is on you. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have people in the lane beside you doing the same thing. There are people there to encourage you and empathise with you in the good and tough times.

When I swam across the Strait, I held so much value having my support swimmers in the water with me. Even though they couldn’t move my arms for me, their presence in the water was some of the most valuable support I could have ever asked for. Knowing I wasn’t at it alone was comfort beyond words.

THIS CAN BE THE SAME AS OUR WELL-BEING JOURNEY. Although we have to work on our journey through our own actions, we can have people there beside us - being present and being supportive while they go through their own journey.

To be able to share your journey with someone, even if they can’t ‘practically’ help you, can make things seem much less daunting.

Talking isn’t the only thing you can do: being present is an incredible basis of support.

Thank you to all those present in my life ❤️

@ New Zealand