Partner Series - The Sisterhood of The Travelling Mums

Introduce yourself, who are you? Where are you from? Who's in your family? What is your career background?

Hi, I’m Cordelia! I’m a Sydney-based single mum to my beautiful toddler, Zechariah, who is the light of my life and the reason I’m so passionate about building meaningful spaces for mums.

I come from a big, close-knit family, and community has always been a huge part of who I am. My career background is in marketing, leadership, administration, events and community management. I’ve worked across both the public and private sectors, but my heart has really landed in building communities, organising events and creating opportunities for women to feel supported.

Let’s start with the heart stuff - what inspired you to start this space for mums?

The Sisterhood was born out of one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life. Becoming a first-time mum, and doing it as a single mother, was both beautiful and incredibly isolating. I remember looking around and realising how many mums were silently struggling - not because they weren’t strong, but because motherhood can be lonely, overwhelming, and so different from what we imagined.

I craved genuine connection, a village, a place where mums could show up exactly as they are, messy bun, tired eyes, full heart,  and feel seen, supported, and understood. When I couldn’t find that space, I decided to create it.

What started as a small idea quickly revealed a massive gap: mums weren’t just looking for activities or playdates; they were looking for community. They were looking for friendship, belonging, and a safe space to breathe. That’s what inspired me, and what continues to drive me every day - the desire to make sure no mum feels like she has to navigate this journey alone.

If you had to describe your community in three words, what would they be?

Supportive. Inclusive. Empowering.

What were those early days like?

The early days were humble, raw, and honestly… a little lonely. It really was just me, my baby, and a thermos at the park, hoping someone else might show up and want connection as much as I did. Some days one mum would come, some days none, but every time I went home I felt this quiet conviction that something bigger was meant to grow from those simple meetups.

What kept me going was the feeling that if I needed a village that badly, then surely other mums did too. I kept thinking about the mum sitting at home feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or just craving adult conversation, and I wanted her to have a place to land. Those slow beginnings became the foundation of everything the Sisterhood is today. It started small, but it was built with heart, persistence, and a real belief that mums deserve community.

How have you seen connection change a mum’s experience of motherhood?

I’ve seen connection transform motherhood in ways that still leave me emotional. When a mum feels seen, supported, and surrounded by people who genuinely care, everything shifts - her confidence, her mental health, her sense of identity, even the way she shows up for her children.

One standout moment for me was watching two mums who met at one of our earliest walk-and-talks. Both were quietly struggling - one with postnatal anxiety, the other with feeling completely overwhelmed and alone. Over a few weeks, their friendship blossomed. They started checking in on each other, going to events together, and became each other’s safe place. Months later, they told me that The Sisterhood didn’t just give them friends, it gave them stability, hope, and a reason to leave the house again.

I’ve seen mums rally around a mum having a rough week without her even needing to ask. I’ve seen new friendships turn into lifelong support systems. I’ve seen mums walk into events nervous and walk out lighter, smiling, and saying, “I really needed that.”

Connection changes motherhood because it reminds us that we were never meant to do this alone. And every time I witness that power in action, it reaffirms why this community exists.

What’s something about new motherhood that you wish more people talked about?

wish more people talked about how deeply lonely and overwhelming new motherhood can feel, even when you absolutely adore your baby. There’s this unspoken pressure to “enjoy every moment,” which can make mums feel guilty for struggling, but the truth is, the transition is huge. Your identity shifts, your routine disappears, your body is recovering, and your entire world changes overnight.

I wish we spoke more openly about the mental load, the emotional rollercoaster, the exhaustion, and the quiet moments where you wonder if you’re doing anything right. I also wish we talked about how hard it is to ask for help, and how normal that is.

New motherhood isn’t just about nappies and milestones; it’s about rebuilding yourself while caring for someone who depends on you completely. If more mums knew it was okay to feel all of that, there would be so much less shame and so much more compassion.

What do you think makes your group feel like a safe space for mums to show up as they are?

I think our group feels like a safe space because it was built on honesty, vulnerability, and zero judgement from day one. Mums don’t have to pretend with us, they can show up tired, emotional, overwhelmed, or completely put-together, and they’re met with the same warmth every time.

There’s no pressure to have it all together. No competition. No comparison. Just real women supporting each other in whatever season they’re in.

Our tone is inclusive, our events are welcoming, and the community itself leads with compassion. When mums walk in, they see other women laughing, sharing openly, comforting each other’s kids, and creating genuine friendships — and that instantly disarms any fear of not fitting in.

The Sisterhood feels safe because everyone is allowed to be human here. And that’s something mums don’t get often enough.

What’s one story, message, or memory from your group that’s stayed with you?

One memory that has really stayed with me was a message from a mum who had been quietly struggling with postnatal depression. She came to one of our events looking exhausted and unsure if she even belonged there. A few mums immediately welcomed her in, helped settle her baby, and just chatted with her like she’d been part of the group forever.

Later that night she messaged me saying, “Today was the first time in months I didn’t feel invisible. I felt like myself again. I didn’t realise how much I needed this until I walked in.”

That message broke me in the best way. It reminded me exactly why this community exists. It wasn’t about the event, the activity, or how many mums came, it was the connection, the warmth, and the way strangers can make someone feel valued within minutes.

Moments like that make every bit of effort worth it. It showed me the power of community in its purest form.

If a new mum is nervous about joining a group - what would you want her to know?

I’d want her to know that she’s not alone - every mum who walks into our group has felt nervous at some point. It’s completely normal. But the moment she arrives, she’ll be met with warmth, understanding, and women who genuinely get it.

There’s no pressure to look a certain way or have everything together. You can come tired, emotional, running late, or still figuring things out - we’ve all been there. Your baby can cry, need feeding, need changing… nothing phases us.

I’d want her to know that she deserves connection, support, and friendship just as much as anyone else. And that one brave step (even if it feels small) could be the start of her finding her village.

We’re here to welcome her exactly as she is, no perfect version required.

How can people get involved or support the work you’re doing?

There are so many meaningful ways people can support the work we’re doing. The best way is simply by joining our community, showing up to events, and helping create the warm, welcoming energy that makes The Sisterhood so special. Sharing our group with other mums who might be feeling isolated can make a huge difference too - sometimes one invitation can completely change a mum’s experience of motherhood.

As we move toward becoming a Not-For-Profit, we’ll also be opening up more opportunities for volunteering, partnerships, and community-led support to help us expand our impact.

If you’d love to be part of our growing village, you can join our Wombee group here 👉

Every mum who joins strengthens our community and helps us continue building a space where no mum feels alone.

And finally - coffee order of choice for a 9am meet-up?