Common Ground Toowoomba offering support for rural mums this Mother’s Day

Days after finding out she was pregnant with twins, Felicity Burton and her 20-month-old son were injured in a motorcycle crash, which inspired her to found an organisation that supports rural parents and families who need to travel for medical support.

Shine - Cattle producer Felicity Burton with Elsola Rey (Chestnut Mare) at Cooranga North on their (Karl Burton) property Cyprus (50km south of Kingaroy). Felicity led the acquisition of three units (in Toowoomba) for emergency housing for families that have children in extended hospital visits. Photo: David Martinelli.

After being taken off coma inducing medication, the Burton family feared their son Kory would never wake up.

The 20-month-old was with his mother Felicity Burton, who was pregnant with twins at the time, when they were inolved in a vehicle incident on their property north of Dalby in September 2018.

Living on a cattle property in Cooranga North, Ms Burton spent more than six weeks in Brisbane while her son was in hospital.

“There was so much uncertainty because he was so young there wasn’t a lot of accidents or other cases that they could relate back to,” she said.

After a few days Kory eventually woke up but the young boy had to learn to walk, talk, eat, and drink again.

“For the next 12 months, his speech was quite slow and he had to walk in a moon boot a little bit to make sure he was walking properly,” she said.

Korey is now a healthy and happy eight-year-old boy.

Kory Burton helping with mustering on the property.

Ms Burton said staying in a city hours away from home during such a challenging time was a lonely experience, and she saw a need for more support for rural families going through trying times, so she co-founded Common Ground Toowoomba.

Common Ground, which Ms Burton started with two other regional mothers, offers emergency accommodation for rural families, during medical emergencies.

Co-founders of Common Ground Foundation Felicity Burton, Belinda Keats, and Georgie Keats.

“The three of us have also personally had to live away from home during a medical tragedy or times of need,” Ms Burton said.

“I know too well what it’s like to split up with the rest of your family and have to deal with that isolation.

“There’s that physical distance that you just can’t change.”

Ms Burton, who is now a mother of three, wants to help other rural mums deal with the struggles of isolation and she will be speaking at a Mother’s Day Fundraising event in Kingaroy.

Felicity Burton co-founder of Common Ground Foundation Toowoomba.

The funds will go to Motherland, an organisation that supports mums in rural and isolated areas.

Ms Burton said the Mother’s Day event could help mums who feel they are missing the community support they need.

“It’s just incredible to think what people can do when they get their heads together and work together for a common cause,” Ms Burton said.

“Being a first time mum in any regards is confronting, but doing it on your own in an isolated setting is a pretty good challenge.”

Burton family at their property Cypress at Cooranga North.

The event will be held at Hillview Cottage Kingaroy on May 24 and tickets can be bought online at motherlandaustralia.com.au.

People can apply to stay at Common Ground accommodation at Picnic Point through Toowoomba Hospital Foundation at toowoombahospitalfoundation.org.au.

Originally published as Common Ground Toowoomba offering support for rural mums this Mother’s Day