Freefall

I am quite certain that deep down in my body, somewhere, is a very clever 'something or other' that just knew how important it was to put this show on the stage. Or, in the very least, somewhere outside of myself. I guess that's where the journal entries started pouring from... and it has been my duty to listen, as intently as possible, to that 'something or other' since.

To our audiences, thank you for supporting independent theatre. Thank you for witnessing my story and, in doing so, paying homage to NICU families everywhere. Thank you to our midwives, nurses, doctors and healthcare workers. Thank you to the Mums - you make the world go round.

Thank you to my Mparntwe community for giving me the finest example of what community and connection means.

Thanks, Mum for being the birthing goddess that you are. For all you have given my siblings and I and to your 18 grandkids who have followed. Dad, thank you for being the finest example of what it means to be a sensitive person and someone who cherishes connection. Thank you, both, for believing in me and my art from the get go.

Katie, thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. I love you. You taught me so much about how to be an incredible Mum before it was my turn and you show me, every day, how to get stuck into the gritty bits of life. No waiting, just jumping.

To my Freefall team: Jules, my midwife. Thank you. There is truly no other human on the planet I could have taken this journey with. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the greatest gift any human could: to hear my story, in granular detail, over and over. Your time and presence is the greatest gift I have ever known.

Chrysoulla and Kallum, my music and sound wizards, I'm not quite sure how you do what you do but I am deeply grateful for the illumination you have both brought to my work through your respective masteries. My deepest thanks.

Betty, thank you for being my hype gal and for teaching me so very much about birth. Yours is an artistry I deeply admire and I cannot wait for the continued creative endeavours we will take.

Hannah, thank you for your insights. Your holding. Your wisdom. Your role modelling. Thanks for coming on board when the show was still in its infancy and thanks for holding so many Mums in our community with such respect and tenderness. We are very lucky to have you.

Shaylee & Blaimesy, thank you for holding my girls in your heart and for caring for them whilst we went and made a show. We, quite literally, couldn't have done this without you. Thank you.

To the community support I have received from 8CCC, Birth & Beyond and Red Hot Arts, thank you for your belief in my story, my words and independent theatre.

Thank you to the Regional Arts Fund and the Northern Territory Government for providing funding for this show, as well as to each company who sponsored us so generously: Territory Connect, Core & Floor Restore, L.J. Hooker & Lasseter's. Thank you to each and every person who has bought a raffle ticket and/or donated to our Australian Cultural Fund. Thank you for believing in independent theatre.

Cecilia, thank you for entrusting your sacred Rhebo Hall to me and my team as we grew this artwork from the inside out. We are so fortunate to use such a magnificent, fitting space.

To Alice Sings and the brilliant Ed. Thank you for sharing your skills with us. Thank you to you and the artists who created Endless Sky - it is because of you that we have the most incredible memory of Clovie's first steps. Thank you.

Thank you to my Danflub, for writing the most incredible song and gifting it to me. To have my story told through your words is so special. Thank you for being my real-time journal.

And to Michael and B, my loves, for making the song come to life with your prowess. I love you both infinitely.

The medical teams at Alice Springs Hospital - the midwifery team, obstetrics team, paediatrics team. I have a very sound theory that medical professionals are pretty crap at receiving compliments (hence why I needed to go ahead and make a whole show in thanks to you!) but here I am to thank you, once again, for all you have given us. The same goes for the NICU team in Adelaide. I think you are a remarkable bunch - people who dedicate their lives to improving others'. I am deeply privileged to have crossed paths with you.

To Fran, Megan, Lolly, James, Bec, Ella. I don't think I'll ever have words for what you have done for me, for my family. I am deeply, deeply grateful.

To the women who have held me: Mik & George, in so many ways. Lauren, for carrying me through both of my pregnancies. And to the women who have held me while I wept: Bec, Bethany, Libby, Lolly, Charlotte, Louie. Thank you for not wavering. For welcoming. For helping my grief have somewhere to go.

Kim. My friend. Thanks for letting me put your picture on a big screen. Thanks for answering every single question. I am forever grateful that I got to grow my babies whilst being in such close proximity to you. The many steps I waddled back and forth to your office and the many steps on the trails we have shared since is something very close to my heart. I love you so much and will be forever grateful for the way you cradled me and my family on 24/10/2024.

Lolly. My kindred spirit. Thank you for teaching me so much, every day and for role modelling to me what it means to be a brilliant human. I can't wait to watch you become a Mum... I reckon your baby is the luckiest kid in the world.

Mais, my fairy sister. You are everything I want to be when I grow up. I am so lucky our orbits met. To be held by you during our pregnancy and beyond is one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive in this lifetime. To watch you unfurl into motherhood has been an immense privilege and I am so excited for the day you get to see this show. Thank you for exploding my world open in the ways you have. I love you.

To my Briar Katie Wren and Eremaea Poet. You are two of the most magnificent humans I have ever met. I am so, so incredibly proud to be your Mum. I love you with all that I am.

And my Clover Sonnet. You are a force. You have taught me an immense amount of life lessons in a tiny blip of time and I am so grateful. Thanks for the scare of a lifetime, champ.

And your Dada, Dan. I am very glad I met you. I am very glad you said yes and you keep saying yes, every day. You are the best play mate I have ever had. If I could jump cut from the moment I said "Hi I'm Jac. You must be a new Captain" to now, I'm not quite sure I would believe the majesty and magnificence of what my life with you has become. Thanks for being the reason I have x3 Yeperenye babies. I relish adventuring with you every single day. Thank you.