Meet Felicity Clark
Co-operative Farmer, Founder of Walkway to Wellness
I started up my first farm gym over 20 years ago. I had a little girl, three months old, who was diagnosed with leukemia, and she passed away a week before her second birthday. I set up the gym as something to focus on and distract myself, because I had lost the plot.
My mental health continued to spiral – not only was I dealing with having lost a child, but I was also dealing with post-traumatic stress from a childhood situation, and I was suffering quite a bit.
My coping mechanism was always to keep busy, focus on doing things for other people and take my mind off everything I was feeling. I ended up with adrenal fatigue and burnout and gave up on the gym to focus on my family (which had grown), going to counselling and getting myself back on track.
I started my second gym when I was approached by a lady who was struggling in her fitness journey, and I knew I was ready to get back into helping people. As word got around, I had other people in the community joining. Seven Sharp at the time had done a story on my journey, but I didn’t want the coverage to be about fundraising. That’s not what any of my work is about. Up until then, the gym was running on a generator but when people saw the story, they took it upon themselves to pitch in so I could run it as a proper gym. I still get goosebumps from the support.
I started my second gym when I was approached by a lady who was struggling in her fitness journey, and I knew I was ready to get back into helping people. As word got around, I had other people in the community joining. Seven Sharp at the time had done a story on my journey, but I didn’t want the coverage to be about fundraising. That’s not what any of my work is about. Up until then, the gym was running on a generator but when people saw the story, they took it upon themselves to pitch in so I could run it as a proper gym. I still get goosebumps from the support.
I started to notice that other people were struggling mentally as well, not just physically. I achieved a Diploma in Psychology and Counselling as part of my healing journey, but to also help the people I was working with in the community beyond physical activity. When I got a job at Rural Support Trust, I knew my calling had been to help rural women, particularly during the time of COVID-19 where life felt more isolating. With the help of Rural Support Trust, Fonterra, and Rural Women NZ, I had the opportunity to run a half-dozen pilot workshops at my lake home, made up of mini modules on sleep, happiness, movement and nutrition.
My workshop, Walkway to Wellness has since grown more than I could’ve imagined. I’ve been content in offering something that people can come along to, learn the tools and connect with one another. I always say to people that the workshops are safe havens to connect with others and know you’re not alone in your journey. Every time I come away from a workshop, I’m absolutely buzzing and ready to do another one. I love hearing the feedback and what people are taking from it.
People often ask why I do it and I always tell them that if someone tells me that I’ve helped them in some form, or changed their lives, then that to me is like winning the lotto.
The thing about mental health issues is that they can happen to anyone. People look at me as this bouncy and positive energizer bunny but what they don’t realise is that I’ve been through a lot of tough challenges in my life, and I’ve come through the other side. I want to show people they can do it too. I am the person I am today because whatever happened in the past was not going to define me and my life moving forward. It’s really important that we rural women look after our own health and wellbeing.
Where to get help
Rural Support Trust: 0800 787 254
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 (available 24/7)
Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (12pm to 11pm)
Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
Anxiety helpline: 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY) (available 24/7)
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Rural Support Trust
Fonterra has partnered with the Rural Support Trust to support rural communities to start conversations on mental health. We aim to support the regional support trusts across Aotearoa to spotlight this topic, while improving the accessibility to wellbeing and resilience services for farming families.
To learn more on the partnership, click here.
To hear from Rural Support Trust Ambassador Matt Chisholm, click here.