Sweaty Bettys: Bruny women get stronger together 

How one group of island women is inspiring a new model for exercise groups across Tasmania. 

Bruny Island, located off the southern coast of Tasmania, is well known for its picturesque landscapes, gourmet local produce, and being the perfect destination for a tranquil weekend away.  

The Bruny lifestyle offers the serene D’Entrecasteaux Channel, the wild Tasman Sea, and an extensive coastline ripe for meandering exploration. 

However, due to its isolation, the island lacks urban amenities like 24/7 gyms and Olympic-sized pools.   

For residents looking to maintain or elevate their fitness levels beyond leisurely strolls, options can seem limited.  

Enter the Sweaty Bettys. 

The Sweaty Bettys are more than just a fitness group; they are a pivotal part of the community on Bruny Island.  

Originating from the initiative of local woman Jo Smith three years ago, the group has grown into a vibrant network of women dedicated to fitness and mutual support.  

The group has continued independently since Jo stepped back and now includes around 20 active members, plus many more who interact with the Facebook page. 

In a show of community support, the local Bruny Island Community Association also made a substantial grant to purchase fitness equipment for circuit training. 

The Bettys organise activities through their Facebook page and have a regular community hall booking for circuit training and the Bruny Island Community Health Centre activity room for weight training, both in Alonnah. 

The group also participates in exercise events like the Bruny Island Relay Marathon and the Labillardiere 18km walk/run. 

Though the group started and operates independently, it now receives occasional support and guidance from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Tasmania. 

Sweaty Betty Jeanette Thomas says that after the group had been running on its own for a while, she was seeing RFDS physiotherapist Dave and asked if he could support their sessions.  

He agreed to attend and offer guidance on safe technique and body positioning for their exercise routines. The health centre also became a new venue for virtual exercise and weight training, using the existing equipment. 

The RFDS is one of three organisations funded by Primary Health Tasmania to support people living with chronic health conditions in rural areas of Tasmania.  

The RFDS supports people living in northern Tasmania as well as parts of the south;  Corumbene Care also serves parts of the south; and  Rural Health Tasmania delivers services in the north west. 

The RFDS runs group exercise classes as part of its service. Traditionally, these classes had a fixed duration, after which participants were discharged with recommendations to continue physical activity independently.  

However, in areas like Bruny Island, the lack of affordable or accessible fitness options meant people often have nowhere suitable to continue exercising, says Sam McCarron, an exercise physiologist at RFDS. 

“The Sweaty Bettys inspired us to create a model to help solve that,” Sam says. 

“They weren’t set up by us, but they created exactly the kind of self-managed community group we’re trying to support through our programs. 

“With the Bettys, and this model, we’ll check in infrequently to make sure it’s still safe, which means we freed up some time for our clinicians to occasionally facilitate instead of just discharging them with no further support.  

“We’re referring into a more independent, self-sustaining class where we’re not needed twice a week, we might only be needed once every three months, and we can do that education piece. 

“We’ve taken that and run with it.  Let’s do this everywhere.”  

The RFDS is now looking to refer people completing its group exercise classes into local, independent groups where possible, like the Bettys, offering light-touch expert oversight, such as safety checks or occasional visits to support ongoing exercise.  

It’s a scalable model the RFDS team is working to replicate in other areas, like Dover. 

Corumbene Care is also looking to provide a level of support for self-management after its formal exercise classes come to an end, through supported walking and swimming groups. 

Sweaty Bettys members say the group has inspired them to increase their exercise and realise their capacity. 

“The motivation was real, helping you realise what you can do. And over the weeks, it just extends and extends,” Sweaty Betty Barbara Eynon says. 

“Yes, Jessi used to say she didn’t even like to run, now she runs marathons!” Jeanette says.  

From brisk cold-water swims that invigorate the body and spirit to challenging trail runs that traverse the rugged terrains, many activities are designed to maximise the island’s outdoor offerings. 

The group purchased an online subscription to virtual fitness classes and weight training, working out together while streaming classes from a laptop at the community health centre at Alonnah.  

The Bettys emphasise self-responsibility and commitment to safety and inclusivity, paired with communal support. Initially guided by Jo Smith, the group is now occasionally joined by RFDS physiotherapists who remind participants of the proper set-up and safety aspects of the various equipment.   

 
“When we started, we made sure everyone knew they were participating at their own risk,” Jeanette says. 

 “We support each other to ensure safety in numbers, though each person is responsible for their own health.” 

The group’s activities go beyond physical exercise; they weave a social fabric that enhances the community’s resilience and connectivity.  

“The community side of it is important for me, as an older person; it’s a fantastic way of meeting people on the island,” Barbara says.  

“There’s a Sweaty Bettys Facebook page where we coordinate activities, offer lifts, share tips, etcetera.  

“It has bonded us. The social interaction is so important because you can go into your own world and not mix with other people.” 

Jessi Salonen was a new mum when she started with the Sweaty Bettys.  

“My first session was when Ally was even smaller in the Ergo baby doing squats with her, and it hasn’t really stopped,” she says.  

“It was so good because it was post COVID, so it was the only kind of socialisation, coming in here being able to bring the kids, the body feeling good and then coming and having a coffee afterwards.  

“It was the highlight of the week!  

“We had a set of twins come along; the little kids used to sit in the corner and play Sweaty Bettys, and then they’d play it at school.” 

This sense of community is crucial in a place like Bruny Island, where geographical isolation could easily lead to social isolation.  

“Jo used to say, if someone doesn’t come for a few weeks, give them a ring, check in on them,” Jeanette says.  

“They’re a fantastic group, getting our endorphins going,” Barbara says.  

“Everyone’s become friends.” 

Sam from the RFDS says as well as inspiring their own community, the Sweaty Bettys serve as a blueprint for how rural and isolated communities can develop their own sustainable health and wellness programs. 

“We’re coming from more of a public health approach, to prevent hospitalisations and improve general health outcomes by teaching people how to fish, rather than giving them the fish.”