PLENTY of people told Hanny Allston to expect her life to change completely when her son Nikolas was born.

They didn’t expect the 36-year-old athlete and wilderness adventurer and her husband Graham Hammond to be summiting Hartz Peak with Nikolas when he was just a week old or to be trekking the Overland Track together when Nikolas was seven months old.

But Allston says following her instincts and developing her own way of doing things has allowed her to be the best possible mum, while also forming a strong bond with her now
13-month-old son, who thrives on being outdoors.

“It rocks your socks,’’ Allston says of being a mum.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, hands down, in my life.’’

She admits she was worried initially about how she’d adapt to parenthood.

“I didn’t know how I would go being a mum and neither did my husband as a dad,’’ Allston says. “We haven’t been surrounded by many people with kids as a lot of people in our friendship group chose not to have kids. They either didn’t or couldn’t.

“Which meant we were so raw to it. But I think because of that we didn’t really have any expectations of ourselves. We just follow our gut instincts and develop our own way. And I think that’s been really special.

“So many people said to us ‘your whole world changes’. But I think it has just been added to in a really enriching way. We are blessed to have a strong bond together and a strong sense of individuality as well. I think Nikolas has added to that rather than really changing who we are.”

A long-distance runner and world orienteering champion, Allston thrives on a challenge but admits she wasn’t prepared for a baby who never sleeps.

“It hasn’t been an easy ride at all,’’ says Allston, who has had two stints in the mother and baby unit to help Nikolas sleep better.

“We were blessed with a baby that just didn’t sleep. He was up 20 times a night for the first nine months, then 10 times a night for the next three months, and he’s up five times a night still, at least.

“We’ve tried everything. It’s just him, he’s just in love with life and I think that’s part of his sleepless troubles.’’

She says being out in nature not only helps clear the brain fog of being a sleep-deprived mum but it also seems to help her son. They regularly go for walks on the beach, play in the autumn leaves or explore the mountain trails surrounding their South Hobart home. They also ride together on Allston’s e-bike. Nikolas has a helmet and a seat on the back and loves watching the world go by.

The word “Niko” means happiness in Japanese and Allston says Nikolas is “the happiest kid I’ve ever met”, despite his lack of sleep.

“He just seems to thrive on it,’’ Allston says of being outdoors. “It calms him down.’’

She says on those tough days, when mums are tired and their brains are “fuzzy like cotton wool’’ having outside interests and goals was so important.

“If you maintain that sense of identity and have things that excite you in life, it doesn’t matter how sleep-deprived you are because you are running on love of life and that’s the most premium petrol you can put in your tank, I think,’’ Allston says.

Allston is the founder and director of Find Your Feet retail outlets in Hobart and Launceston and also leads Find Your Feet trail running tours. Since Nikolas was born in March last year she has been “exploring all new opportunities on the cards’', as well as doing some coaching and keynote speaking.

And as much as she loves Tasmania and the wilderness of her home state, Allston is preparing to move to Europe, after accepting a contract position as performance development coach and manager for British Orienteering, based at Edinburgh University.

Allston is excited about the “dream role”, as it combines her sporting and business talents.

“As much as moving to Scotland wasn’t part of my family’s life plans, it’s just one opportunity I wanted to let run its course,’’ she says.

“It’s definitely been the hardest decision I’ve ever made, to proceed with the application.

“A year and a half ago, when it was just Graham and I, we would have jumped in head first and started swimming. But when you have a son who you’re also custodian of, it does make things harder.

“We live in a very idyllic setting, where wallabies and pademelons are literally pressing their noses against the living room window. And Nikolas is standing there talking to them. It’s the perfect place for a child to grow up. So it does make you think ‘is this the right decision?’

“But rich experiences seem to see him thrive and this will be a great opportunity to see him thrive and for us to create some new stories as a family.’’

LOUISE HOUBAER

DOTING first-time mum Louise Houbaer describes her eight-month-old daughter Matilda as “a joy”. But the 33-year-old weekend news presenter admits pregnancy and motherhood have been far different – and more challenging – than she’d imagined.

“It’s definitely different,’’ she says.

“And it’s very tough … it’s certainly the toughest thing I’ve ever done. When people warned me, I suppose I didn’t really take it on board. I thought they were being dramatic.

“But it’s also incredible every day. Matilda is just the most beautiful child.’’

Houbaer suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum – a rare and severe pregnancy nausea condition, which she describes as “hell on earth”. She was hospitalised at just five weeks into her pregnancy.

“There were three or four months where I just stayed in bed apart from going to work and to the supermarket,’’ she recalls.

“That was really, really tough.’’

She hoped to rest once maternity leave began. But Matilda arrived three weeks before her due date, on Houbaer’s first day of maternity leave.

The duo later spent a couple of weeks in the mother and baby unit but despite the rocky start Houbaer says she cherishes being a mum.

She went back to reading the weekend bulletin on 7 Nightly News when Matilda was seven weeks old. She has loved having the opportunity to juggle work and family life, despite the challenges that often come with doing that.

There were times Matilda refused to take a bottle so husband Dave would bring Matilda into the office and Houbaer would be at her desk reading through news bulletins, prior to recording, while also breastfeeding her daughter.

“I consider myself very, very lucky and I’m grateful I get to wear both of those hats in one day – at 3pm I can be changing a nappy and at 4pm I’ll have my hair and make-up done and be on screen,’’ says Houbaer.

“I enjoy being able to do both, it’s great to be a mum but it’s also really nice to have that sense of identity being back in the newsroom. I get to be back with my colleagues and friends, staying up to date with what’s happening in the world and I find that really interesting.’’

Houbaer worked as a flight attendant and also ran a restaurant in the UK before studying journalism at the University of Tasmania.

Both her parents are journalists but she never planned to follow in their footsteps.

“I was very adamant my whole life I’d never get into journalism,’’ she laughs.

Her grandmother told her she’d be good at it, so, after her grandmother died, Houbaer decided to give it a shot and it’s a decision she doesn’t regret.

“I absolutely love newsreading. I love being live and being able to tell these history-making stories that spark conversations at dinner tables around the state,’’ she says.

Houbaer says she’s always been an empathetic person but becoming a mum has made her even more empathetic.

“It’s definitely not what I expected,’’ she says of parenthood. It’s better than I expected but it’s also a lot more demanding.

“The best bits are obviously watching her grow into the most beautiful, engaging little poppet. She gets a lot of people’s attention, she’s so happy and smiley … she’s fascinated by what’s going on around her.’’

She says it’s also been “really beautiful” to watch a bond form between her husband and daughter, and also for grandparents and extended family to get to know Matilda. Houbaer has also enjoyed the chance to meet other mums.

“The highlight has definitely been people meeting her, family meeting her, because she just brings so much joy – babies just bring so much joy in their own little way,’’ she says.

JAY CHIPMAN

JAY Chipman was a seemingly fit and healthy 30-year-old mother of two young boys who was preparing to embark on a family trip to Queensland when a cancer diagnosis rocked her world.

It was about a week before Christmas, in 2014, and Chipman had gone to see her GP because she had a strange feeling in her throat.

“I hadn’t even felt unwell,’’ Chipman recalls.

“I just felt like I had something caught in my throat. It was a bit weird, like a lump in my throat sort of feeling.’’

It turned out she had a tumour growing on her chest, which wrapped around her major arteries and was pushing everything up towards her throat.

Her family holiday was quickly abandoned, as Chipman began a gruelling six months of chemotherapy that required long stints in hospital.

She was fortunate to receive the all-clear after her treatment finished and as a result the now 37-year-old doesn’t take life for granted.

She values the time she gets to spend with her husband Dan, sons Jack, 19, and Max, 12, and their surprise daughter Hazel, 5, who came along after Chipman’s battle with cancer.

“She was our surprise baby,’’ Chipman says.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer, the doctors said ‘you’d better freeze some eggs because you won’t be able to have any more babies after chemo’.

“But we didn’t go ahead with it as the oncologist said we had to proceed with treatment straight away. And we were grateful to already have two healthy boys.’’

But six months after she finished cancer treatment, Chipman discovered she was pregnant.

“It was amazing,’' she says of the unexpected news. “But it definitely was a shock. She’s been like the last piece in the puzzle. I can’t even imagine our family without her.’'

During her recovery, Chipman found herself reflecting on the support services available to cancer patients and their families, and some of the areas where improvements were needed.

Three years ago, she set up Homely Retreats (homelyretreats.com.au), a charity providing short getaways for cancer patients and their loved ones, to give families a chance to rest, reconnect, have fun and create precious memories together during such a difficult time in their lives.

“When you’re in the moment and you’re absolutely coping day to day and in survival mode you haven’t got the brain capacity to think about booking a holiday for your family,’’ says Chipman, who previously worked in a furniture importing business but now works solely on running her growing charity.

“We talk to them on the phone, we do everything for them, we book the accommodation and provide them with a hamper, with vouchers for things like local cafes and animal parks. All they have to do is pack their jammies and go.

“Often we hear people say that until they
had a break they didn’t realise how detached and stressed the family was and they return home feeling recharged and so much more relaxed.’’

She says many families are worried about financial security following a cancer diagnosis, so a holiday is often considered a luxury.

Chipman says milestones such as Mother’s Day and birthdays take on new meaning for someone who has had cancer. Her boys were just 4 and 11 when she got sick.

“Birthdays are a big one for me,’’ she says.

“Because I guess there was a period in time when I was probably thinking, ‘Will I be here for the next birthday?’’’

The Chipmans live near the beach at Lauderdale and are likely to spend Mother’s Day going on a family walk together.

“I’ll probably also get a cup of tea and a piece of toast made for me,’’ Chipman says.

“I feel totally grateful that I am here and I get to see my kids grow up. We often take it for granted, especially when we are tired and grumpy and life isn’t going our way. It’s nice to be healthy again and enjoy the kids … it definitely gives you a new appreciation of what’s important.’’

LASHAI HOWARD

WHEN LaShai Howard moved from Hobart to Melbourne to further her modelling career five years ago, she had no idea she’d soon meet the love of her life – basketballer Sam McDaniel – then have a baby and move back to her home state for the establishment of the Tasmania JackJumpers.

But the now 27-year-old says she couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out, with the trio living in Blackmans Bay, close to the beach and the JackJumpers’ training base at Kingston.

“It was bizarre, because I didn’t think I would be back here so soon,’’ Howard admits.

“But it’s been really perfect timing, because it’s not just the two of us, we have a son as well, and I truly believe this is the best state to be having a family in. It’s amazing.’’

Howard grew up in Burnie – her dad, basketball import Barry Howard, came to Tasmania from the US in the 1990s where he met and married her mum, Kellie.

Howard grew up playing basketball for the Wynyard Wildcats and has a lot of friends in the basketball community. When she moved to Melbourne to pursue modelling she met McDaniel through a mutual friend.

McDaniel, the son of larger-than-life character Wayne McDaniel who starred as an import for the Hobart Devils during his time with Tasmania’s former NBL side from 1989-94, was born in Tasmania but spent most of his childhood in South Australia.

He played three seasons with 2021 NBL premiers Melbourne United before moving to Hobart last August to join the league’s newest franchise, the Tasmania JackJumpers, on a three-year contract.

Howard says it has been great to return to Hobart – where she spent some time living before moving to Melbourne – and explore the state with McDaniel and their 13-month-old son Malakhi.

“It’s incredible being here, we absolutely love it,’’ she says.

“It’s definitely nice being somewhere that’s a little more low key and relaxed. Melbourne is very hustle and bustle at all times.’’

She says the juggle of parenting a small child while also supporting a partner who travels regularly to play away games was made easier by being close to her family – her mum travels regularly from Burnie to Hobart – and by being surrounded by friendly neighbours and a supportive basketball community. Other JackJumpers players, including captain Clint Steindl, vice-captain Jarrad Weeks and point guard Josh Magette, also have young children. So, the families support each other.

“We’re so grateful to be doing this in Tasmania, we couldn’t have dreamt of a better outcome in terms of our living situation,’’ Howard says.

“And the team, on top of that, what they’ve accomplished is just incredible, they’ve just exceeded everyone’s expectations and we couldn’t ask for anything more.

“Being in a place that’s more neighbourly, everyone is so humble and so kind and it is a place where you literally know your neighbours. It has just been a great experience all round.’’

Howard describes Malakhi as a “very energetic” and “curious” child who “loves exploring’’. And now Malakhi is walking he’s keen to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“He’s very active and basketball is already his favourite thing to do,’’ Howard says.

“Any time there’s a ball around he wants to pick it up.’’

Howard, who has been doing a few modelling jobs while in Hobart and has almost 19,000 Instagram followers, says it’s a delight to be Malakhi’s mum.

“It has just been an amazing journey, just watching how much they learn and grow every day into their own little personality,’’ she says.

“To be honest I’ve always been very much looking forward to being a mother, and I was very lucky and fortunate to have a very ideal pregnancy and birth. So, I honestly can’t wait to do it again.

“I’ve also been around kids my entire life, so it wasn’t foreign to me. I used to babysit a lot growing up, and most of my friends in Tasmania have had children before me.’’

Howard initially planned to spend Mother’s Day with Sam and Malakhi, going out for breakfast or lunch, then hanging out at home or at a playground. But those plans changed when the JackJumpers secured a spot in the NBL grand final series – she and Malakhi will now be at MyState Bank Arena cheering on the team in a Mother’s Day clash against Sydney Kings at 2.30pm.

“Within the basketball industry you just never know,’’ Howard says.

“You have to make the most of any holidays or celebrations spent together, because it’s not always going to be possible (due to the scheduling of basketball games).

“So, there’s nothing better than just being able to spend time together. Malakhi and I will be at Sunday’s game now – getting the win would be the perfect gift.’’