CHILDBIRTH education in Tamworth was well ahead of its time half a century ago, thanks to Barbara Meers and her classes taught on the family's living room floor.
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Robin Hutchinson and Elizabeth Allen recently rediscovered their late mother's trove of teaching treasures, including books, films, pamphlets, cassette tapes, a birthing 'atlas', and even a pelvis and baby.
The sisters decided to pass the collection on to Tamworth entrepreneur and founder of Birth Beat Edwina Sharrock, after a Google search led them to her.
"It's been an emotional journey ... we've been learning about what mum did and thanks to Edwina we've really gained a strong appreciation for how forward-thinking, how empowering for women mum's early actions were," Mrs Hutchinson said.
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"Mum was utterly passionate about women and babies and being able to instill a sense of confidence in new mothers and she wanted them to have the best experience they could possibly have."
Mrs Meers led birthing classes for local mothers from the lounge room of the family's Tamworth home during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mrs Sharrock said she felt like she had an almost "spiritual" connection with Mrs Meers when she went to meet the sisters, and was mesmerised by the materials.
"What should be honoured here is that Barbara was so ahead of her time," Mrs Sharrock said.
"This is the sort of thing we're teaching in childbirth education now ... but that wasn't the norm 50 years ago. She was obviously a trailblazer in this space."
Mrs Hutchinson said although it was Google that helped them track down Mrs Sharrock, it felt like much more than that.
"When we came across this stuff, we thought hang on a second, who might use this stuff, and so then I went looking for childbirth classes and God was so generous to give us Edwina," she said.