Julia Hutchinson

#59 Raising Me Wilder with Julia Hutchinson

I always knew that you could do anything you set your mind to. You just had this ferocious tenacity in the pool at a young age. I still remember you diving in, in lane 8, and swimming your little heart out.

My mother, Julia Hutchinson, has not just been 'Mum', but my friend, role model and most avid supporter... through every mad idea I have embarked on. I can still remember her grasping hold of my infant-sized hand as I toddled up the gravel road next to her, blonde piggy tails bobbing. 'Hanny, please never grow up.' This is my first memory of my mother and it must have left a lasting impression on me for I don't think I have every truly grown up!

My experience of swimming was similar to yours. I loved the training and trying to get the most out of myself. But when it came to competition I found it emotionally much harder. My poor parents didn't even like swimming and would have to drag their bones out of bed to take me to the pool in the mornings.

My mother has always loved the water and was an aspirational elite swimmer in her youth, achieving strongly in the state swimming titles through her high school years. However, the juggle of long commutes on public transport to school, and then later medical college, forced her to put a pause on these aspirations. She would later return as a masters-aged athlete and break national records in swimming. After studying medicine and pursuing a career in general practice, my parents moved from Victoria to Tasmania where they fell in love with a small hobby farm, a 30-minute drive south of Hobart. This was to become our family home and the base of my many & wild adventures for the first 19-years of my life.

As my brother & I grew in energy and explored interests in swimming, orienteering, running and music, my mother unwaveringly supported us. Whether it was driving me to swimming training 6-days a week at 5am, preparing dinner for my arrival home at 7pm after evening sessions, home-schooling my brother for a few years in high-school, or leaning into orienteering when this new & somewhat whackier pursuit begun, she was always a pillar of strength to us. Further to this, she worked full-time whilst leaning into farming duties - weeding, looking after animals, honey extracting, and preparing every meal from scratch. Yes, her role in my idyllic childhood was nothing short of incredible.

Alongside my father, Mum embedded a belief that I could do anything. Even when I lost my footing, she believed in me - through my journeys in sport, medical college, teaching, paramedicine, and finally, 'business'. In fact, it was Mum who said, 'I believe Find Your Feet will be your rock'. Little did I know what was in store!

Simon & I never planned for you both to grow up on a farm. We just found the property and fell in love with it instantly. I know that our lives took such a vastly different turn after this moment but being outside and roaming far & wide became such an invaluable part of your growing up.

Mum has always been unbelievably strong and fit, both mentally and physically. However, it is what she has achieved in the last 12 years that I find so inspiring. After my parents parted ways, my mother moved to a small 'tree house' at Fern Tree on the slopes of Mt Wellington and it was from here that Mum became even more adventurous. To everyone's amazement, she taught herself to mountain bike, pursued trail running, ran a marathon in Ledhak, cycled toured through China, Iran and Europe, participated in 6 Find Your Feet trail running tours, and all the while worked as an emergency medical practicioner. She has rennovated two houses, made a plethora of quilts and has just brought herself a baby grand piano as an 'investment' in her retirement... whenever that begins! Each and every day she lives two days in one - beginning the day with adventures & exercise, and concluding the day with work until 10 or 11pm at the hospital. Competitive with herself and driven to realise her full potential, I know where a lot of my innate mojo comes from.

Mum is not a public speaker and does not strive for the lime-light. So, this conversation is a rare glimpse into her world. It is about raising a Type A achiever and the young athlete, assisting children to pursue their truth, adjusting personal expectations as we age, overcoming adversity, the risk of modern sedentary lifestyles & how to approach our big goals, especially as adults.

Some of the topics covered in this podcast:

My mother's experience as a young swimmer
Raising a wilder, competitive child – me!
Parenting to allow our children to find & live their truth
Maintaining fitness, health, wellness & goals as we age
The scary rise of the sedentary lifestyle
Embarking on new pursuits
Love, parenting and remaining true to oneself

I sometimes get scared watching all these adults pushing their bodies and minds so hard, so far. It sometimes just feels like they are expecting more and more of themselves. I wonder if it is bringing them joy? Or why are they doing it to themselves? I just hope that we can all find the joy and health in what we choose to pursue.