Woman’s skydiving adventure across Australia helps heal emotional, mental health
A woman struggling with anxiety following the end of a long-term relationship stumbled across a thrilling form of “therapy” in St Kilda. But it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Inner South
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A Tasmanian woman keen to get out of her comfort zone has travelled more than 39,000km across Australia to jump out of planes at various skydiving drop zones.
Maree Innes said the thrilling adventure was her “therapy”, following the breakdown of her long-term relationship.
“I was dealing with lawyers and dividing up assets and my life and my financials were just sort of laid bare and it was so confronting,” she said.
“I had really low self-esteem and I’d lost my confidence and I just knew I needed to do something for myself.”
Ms Innes, 52, said she stumbled across a Skydive Australia ad saying ‘step outside your comfort zone’ and immediately booked her first tandem jump in St Kilda.
“I had this vision of jumping through the clouds and leaving the past behind when I came out the other side and starting again,” she said.
“I’d never done anything like it but I had no fear, I just knew it was going to heal me.”
After her first jump at St Kilda in 2016, she went back another 20 times before finally deciding to travel the country to jump at all 14 operational Skydive Australia drop zones to raise awareness of the work Beyond Blue do around anxiety and depression.
Ms Innes said tandem skydiving had helped remind her that “it’s okay to let someone else have your back”.
“Someone is literally strapped to your back and you rely on them, and it reminded me it’s okay to let someone in,” she said.
Ms Innes’ 10-month skydiving tour started in Wollongong last May and ended last Friday at her “second home”, St Kilda.
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She said she hoped to inspire others to jump outside their comfort zone too.
“Whether it’s skydiving or something else, it’s just important people do something for themselves — mental and emotional health is so important,” she said.
“I’m so proud of what I’ve done and each jump is like coming out of a cocoon and looking to the future.
“There were days when I was at work or at home, thinking ‘I can’t go through this anymore’ and I’d book my next skydive and instantly have something to look forward.”
Ms Innes chronicled her journey and each life-changing jump on Facebook.
“I’ve met so many beautiful people on this journey and made some great friends,” she said.
“I want to continue to share my story and help others who might be going through something similar to find their ‘therapy’.”
Ms Innes has plans to going skydiving in New Zealand but first, she’ll be back in St Kilda next month.