Nova
Peris

“I would always go without if it meant that I can give more to my children ... I do everything that I can to try and enable my kids to have a better life than me.”

Mother’s Day 2021

Sunday May 9

To date, Nova Peris’ life is full of firsts. She was the first Aboriginal athlete to win gold at an Olympic level, as well as the first to achieve this in two different sports. She was the first Australian to run with the Sydney 2000 torch on home soil and in 2013, she became Australia's first indigenous woman elected into Federal Parliament.

A young athlete and mother at 19 (now a mother of three), Nova knows more than anyone what it means to juggle family and professional life.

What does motherhood mean to you?

Motherhood means to me, is “forever” – it's just a forever thing. It's a bizarre thing to say, you know, like, the words like unconditional love – you're just to give. I would always go without if it meant that I can give more to my children – and that's sort of how I feel as a mother – I do everything that I can to try and enable my kids to have a better life than me.

You were a young mum and athlete, how did you manage?

As an athlete, you have to be selfish in a way it's always me, me, me, me me, but that never happened throughout all of my sports. I was 19 when I had Jess so it was always me and her along the way. So I didn't have the life of the average athlete, where you have to become selfish in a way, because it was just always me and my daughter. It was always, “I've got to go home and cook dinner for me and Jess” you know, put a roof over our heads for me and Jess, I go to work to earn money for me and Jess, all my sporting achievements were for me and Jess.

What does “time” mean to you?

You can't pour a cup of tea if the pot’s empty and so that means making time for yourself, mentally and physically, and making sure that your health is in good order to give.

You've been a successful Olympic athlete in three sports categories and a politician, how does the role of ‘mum’ compare?

There is an "Off" switch. With parenting there is no "Off" switch. I could wake up and then have text messages from your kids: "Mum, I'm not well. Mum, I'm struggling. Can you call me?" Being a mother is 24/7, so that's a big difference and you know, there is no choice about that. You're a mother – you're there forever.

“You can't pour a cup of tea if the pot’s empty and so that means making time for yourself, mentally and physically, and making sure that your health is in good order to give.”

As an Aboriginal woman, have you felt it's important to pass on traditional beliefs or spirituality to your children?

Absolutely. I think more about that responsibility now; because my mum and my grandmother were both members of the stolen generation, they were removed from their customs.

I went back to country and I found out how important it is – what it means to be an Aboriginal person. My kids – all three of them and my grandson – they absolutely thrive. I know that they are so proud when someone says to them, "What's your nationality?". They're strong with their identity. So absolutely it's important, and it's paramount for people of my generation to help our children.

Why was it so important for you to be involved in Australian politics?

I think, because no one had gone before me. There was no Aboriginal person at the federal level for the Labour Party, and there had never been an Aboriginal woman. So for me, it was a big thing. I didn't expect everything that was thrown at me, but I weathered the storm and hopefully made it easy for all those other Aboriginal women that have gone into parliament now.

You've recently started the Nova Peris Foundation, tell us why and its purpose?

What I saw during COVID, was that there was a big cry out for fresh food in remote Aboriginal communities. So much so, that the Federal Government instigated a federal inquiry into food security and food prices in Aboriginal communities.

I've partnered with this company called Food Ladder and they build super greenhouses, it's all agriculture technology. When you go to Aboriginal communities – to their local store – you see that the perishable goods are just disgusting. You would not get that served in any store in an urban setting, and the food price is ridiculously expensive. So that was the basis of starting up my foundation, there's an immense trust with Aboriginal communities and I. It's going to create jobs and we can teach kids about horticulture, agriculture and the importance of nutrition.

What's the message you give to young aspiring Aboriginal athletes or young women, generally speaking?

Never be afraid to set the goal posts. It's important to have dreams and aspirations, but also understand the pathway and how to get there. You often hear the saying that people give up when they don't realize how close they are to actually achieving things. It's not about the destination – it's about the journey. Enjoy the journey while it lasts.

“There was no Aboriginal person at the federal level for the Labour Party, and there had never been an Aboriginal woman. So for me, it was a big thing. I hopefully made it easy for all those other Aboriginal women that have gone into parliament now.”

If we can learn anything from the pandemic, uncertainty and lockdowns, what do you think we should take away from it all?

What I've learnt is: sometimes all this information becomes so overwhelming, but focus on the things you can control in life and do what you can do in the environment you're in. It's being able to control the controllables and control how you react to certain things.

What’s next for Nova Peris?

I love watching my children on their own journey, it's exciting. It makes me happy that they're happy and healthy. I love the fact that they love their sports and they love their education, I just hope they maximize their opportunities. I'm also really looking forward to working with these communities and, then fast forward in 12 months to see these Aboriginal communities flourishing and growing their own food produce.

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Mother’s Day 2021
Sunday May 9