ਦੱਖਣੀ ਆਸਟਰੇਲੀਆ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਐਡੀਲੇਡ ਦੀ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੀ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਦੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ ਦ੍ਰਿੜਤਾ, ਮੇਹਨਤ ਅਤੇ ਲਗਨ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਮਿਸਾਲ ਹੈ।
ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਬਚਪਨ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਦਿਲਚਸਪੀ ਏਅਰ ਫੋਰਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੀ ਪਰ 106 ਕਿਲੋਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਵਜ਼ਨ ਹੋਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਉਹ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਨਾ ਕਰ ਸਕੀ।
ਸੰਨ 2008 ਵਿੱਚ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਦੱਖਣੀ ਆਸਟਰੇਲੀਆ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਐਡੀਲੇਡ ਆ ਕੇ ਵਸੀ ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿਹਤ ਵਿਭਾਗ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਵਰਕਰ ਵਜੋਂ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ।
ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਐਸ ਬੀ ਐਸ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਮੋਟਾਪੇ ਦੇ ਚਲਦਿਆਂ ਕਾਫੀ ਤਰਾਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਮਣਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਿਆ ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਮਾਜ ਦਾ ਨਾ-ਵਾਚਕ ਰੱਵਈਆ ਤੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹਨ।
ਪਰਿਵਾਰਕ ਮੈਂਬਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਨਾਲ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਇਕ ਸਾਲ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਮਿਹਨਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਭਾਰ 30 ਕਿਲੋਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਘੱਟ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇ ਸਰੀਰਕ ਤੌਰ ’ਤੇ ਫਿੱਟ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਰਾਇਲ ਏਅਰ ਫੋਰਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਨਿਧਾਰਿਤ ਸ਼ਰਤਾਂ ਪੂਰੀਆਂ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ।
ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਇਸ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ’ਤੇ ਮਾਣ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਦੀਆਂ ਹੋਰ ਔਰਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਿਕ ਅਤੇ ਸਮਾਜਿਕ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਨਿੱਕਲ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਸਾਕਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਹੰਭਲਾ ਮਾਰਨ।
ਗੁਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਨਾਲ ਪੂਰੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਸੁਣਨ ਲਈ ਇਸ ਆਡੀਓ ਲਿੰਕ 'ਤੇ ਕਲਿਕ ਕਰੋ....
Read this story in English:
Meet this ‘Braveheart’ who gave wings to her dreams after losing an amazing 30 kilograms in only one year.
Adelaide-based Gurwinder Kaur always had a childhood dream of serving in the armed forces. But she could not realize her real potential until 2016 due to a lack of confidence and the obesity-related complications.
The forty-year-old, who currently works in the disability care service industry, wanted to do something that was always ‘special’ to her.
‘I love my job as a disability care worker, but I always had a keen interest to work in Australian armed forces,” she tells SBS Punjabi.
Gurwinder faced countless challenges on her journey to join the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) which is the air power branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
“There’re many factors like social stigma, gender barriers, medical complications and the most of all a lack of self-belief,” she said.
“The first and the toughest hurdle was to get back in shape and feel confident. It became easier after I realized that losing weight and to feel fit is not just a physical but also a mental game."
Gurwinder said that her obesity-related medical complications made her feel ‘miserable’. But she says long gone are the days when she was depressed about it.
“I always regret that I should have realized earlier that ‘the real wealth is health’ and there is only one way to achieve it and that is with discipline and dedication," she adds.
Gurwinder, who has a firm belief in Sikhism, says that her inspiration to serve the nation comes from the religious teachings that inspire her ‘to do good and serve the community by all possible means’.
Gurwinder Kaur (3rd from the left) joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 2018. Source: Supplied
Gurwinder gives flight to her dreams
She lost an incredible 30 kilograms to fulfil her childhood dream of joining the defence force.
For Gurwinder, it was her then 70-year-old father who inspired her to shape up her physique. “Don’t listen to anyone. I know you can do it!” he told her.
“I really miss my mother. I wanted to stand next to her wearing a RAAF uniform,” she says. “I was about to finish my combat training when she passed away. My father wanted me to finish this training, so he didn’t share the news of her death at that time.
“The physical training at RAAF was quite challenging. But I managed to impress my peers with my hard work and passion. It needed some ‘real’ physical and mental strengths.
“My fellow friends at the camp were very helpful who gave me support and much-needed encouragement.”
Gurwinder lost an incredible 30 Kg to stay fit and join the defence forces. Source: Supplied
Defying gender-based stereotypes
Gurwinder believes that freedom to make decisions is also a way of gender empowerment.
“There is nothing women can’t achieve. Even the word ‘impossible’ suggests ‘I M Possible’. All you need to have is passion and a unique focus,” she says.
Gurvinder owes her success to her husband. “I am lucky to have such a lovely husband who encouraged me throughout this journey. But it can’t be true for all the women out there from our community.
“Just don't listen to people who discourage you. Nobody can confine women to the kitchen or to raise kids only. You can touch the sky if you realise your inner-strength and potential."
She adds – “You have the power to defy gender-based stereotypes – let it be cultural, social or mental barriers. Just take the challenge. It is always special when you do it with a smile while everyone else says you won’t be able to do it."
'Be confident, don't let your morale go down'
Gurwinder wants to help people who are facing similar situations as she did over the past 20 years.
“Don’t listen to any ‘silly’ ‘insulting’ jokes and taunts. Even if you’ve to face it just be confident and don’t let your morale go down,” she says. “It’s time to wake up, don’t be lazy. It’s never too late to take the challenge. If I can do it anyone can do it. Don’t restrict yourself to any mental barriers and make it look like a game that has only one rule ‘now or never’.
“Let it be if you can’t do it for any medical reasons. People will always find reasons to pass on judgments based on if you’re successful at a professional or social level. But if you’re happy in your own shoes those judgments will not matter anymore.”
Tips for ‘conquering’ obesity
Gurwinder also has some tips for women who often struggle to shed weight and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours.
“I won’t recommend any extreme, unproven methods that could potentially be risky,” she says.
“The key is to not to get desperate but move gradually. The results are always fruitful if you focus on your exercise timings and healthy eating.
“Be positive and love yourself. The success mantra is to meditate, improve sleep, activity, and nutrition.”
