Whittlesea recently hosted another inspiring edition of Beyond Your Now – a conference that continues to empower women to share their life experiences.
Each year, founder Christina Matthews finds a lineup of speakers who share their personal stories, shedding light on important issues such as domestic violence, divorce, marriage, mental health, the loss of children, and other related topics.
In its fourth year, this year featured new voices on stage, including Suzie Botross, Helena McNeill, Debra Charles, and Nikki Simos, who embraced the theme ‘Trusting Through Life’s Trials.’
Ms Matthews expressed her hope that attendees would leave feeling uplifted.
“I hope that the way I’ve presented and done it, that people can walk out going, ‘they were heavy stories, but I can be encouraged’,” she said.
“These words behind me, encourage love, support and community are really what it’s about every time.”
Ms Charles, a mother of seven children, shared her journey of grief and empowerment across various stages of life, particularly reflecting on her experience of losing a child to an illness, and her separation from her husband just 18 months ago.
Ms Charles said she hoped her story helped someone in the audience.
“I feel like there’s probably a few women who may be in that predicament or just have left, and so if we can share and say, ‘yes it’s tough, but you can move forward’, I think that’s a great encouragement for them,” she said.
“Particularly as women, we can put on a mask and go ‘everything’s good, I’m okay’ … you just need one or two people that you feel that you can share with, who can help direct you, whether that’s a counsellor or speaking to your GP.”
Ms McNeill, a creative storyteller and musician, made her debut at the conference.
The audience was treated to a performance from Ms McNeill, who shared a poignant account of her life over the past five years, starting with a divorce that proceeded the onset of COVID.
Not too long after, Ms McNeill experienced another grief in her life – losing one of her twin daughters, who was born prematurely, and lived with a disability.
Ms McNeill emphasised the importance of simplicity in moving forward – taking one day at a time and seeking support from friends and counsellors.
“For me, being my daughter’s carer, that was really a tricky thing because I lived on adrenaline and having to be her carer, so that’s been a really big life lesson to learn how to take care of myself,” she said.
“I think allowing yourself to express your emotions and tears … are really good therapy as well, and it’s necessary. It’s not a weakness, its wisdom, and it’s part of the healing journey.”
On the day of the event, Wallan author Ms Simos expressed her story through a compelling video presentation while an intuitive painter brought her words to life with strokes on a canvas.
Final speaker, Ms Botross left the audience with valuable tools for resilience, encouraging others to embrace their challenges and acknowledge their emotions.
As a cherished tradition of the conference, Ms Matthews invited her daughter Jaymee to close the event with a heartfelt rendition of Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful.’
Ms Matthews and the team will take a break to reimagine its new location and program, as Beyond Your Now will be relocating to Torquay for October 10, 2026.
Ms Matthews thanked the community for getting on board, emphasising that their support has been vital in creating a space for connection and healing.
