By YASEMIN TALAT
THE Australian Breastfeeding Association this month celebrated its 50th Birthday by rejoicing with volunteers and mothers in the community.
Second generation volunteer and Group Leader for the Australian Breastfeeding Association Brimbank and Melton group, Julie Gruis, said she enjoyed working with mothers and liaising with community members over the years.
“It’s a good way to connect with other mothers,” Ms Gruis said.
“I think what’s really important these days, is that mother-to-mother support we offer.”
Ms Gruis was pregnant with her daughter Elesha, who is now seven-and-a-half years old, when she first joined the group and has since continued to support many mothers around Brimbank and Melton.
“We encourage mothers to come when they are pregnant as well just so they connect and meet the other mothers and volunteers and so when the baby is born we are not total strangers,” Ms Gruis said.
“We run our group meetings in Brimbank once a month and we hold breast feeding education classes around the Western Suburbs.”
ABA president Rachel Fuller said when the association first started in 1964 there was not even a book about breastfeeding available in Australia.
“Now ABA produces a huge range of information; our volunteers run more than 230 support groups around Australia, a 24-hour Breastfeeding Helpline and our breastfeeding counsellors and educators help more than 80,000 mothers each year,” she said.
“Research shows that more than 90 per cent of Australian mothers want to breastfeed so it is just as important now as in 1964 to offer mothers help and support so they can breastfeed for as long as they would like to.”
Everyone is welcome to join the group. For more information email aba.brimbank@gmail.com
