Mermading brings happiness and connection to this new tribe of Newcastle swimmers

Mermaids, water nymphs, sirens. They have captivated mere mortals for millennia.

And now, they’ve arrived on an unlikely Australian shore.

The Newcastle Merfolk group is home to a range of enthusiasts, from a street circus performer with an environmental science degree to a teenager whose queue experience gave him the confidence to swim past the breakers.

The practice has enchanted Newcastle Merfolk bridge leader Charmaine Lowe, also known as MerSharma, since she first tried her sister’s monofin in 2020.

“We hit the water and it was an absolutely wonderful and beautiful experience,” Ms Lowe said.

“I started collecting the skins and fins and collecting all the accessories like the hair and the crown.”

Sirens for mental health

Ms Lowe, who has lived experience of mental health problems, said mermaiding had become a safe way to combat them.

“For me to get in line and put my mersona on, it really gives me a boost, it really gives me a sense of ‘this is amazing’, it opens up who I am,” she said.

“It’s a form of creativity that I can’t experience otherwise. I can come out here and dress up and be creative with the process.”

Ms Lowe is an ambassador for Mermaids for Mental Health, an initiative that fosters inclusion and acceptance in the hobby.

“When you’re struggling with mental illness, you can feel so isolated and alone,” Ms Lowe said.

“So it’s nice to say, ‘Hey, these people aren’t going to judge me for being weird, they’re not going to judge me for being different.’

“Actually, I’m here because they support me and like me and accept me for who I am.”

Ms Lowe wanted to bring the online community to Newcastle’s shores and created the Newcastle Merfolk Facebook group in 2023.

Although it quickly gained 100 members in just 48 hours, it took time for members to sink offline.

“It takes a little time to build and get to know people in the community (enough) for them to feel safe enough and brave enough to dress up, because not everyone feels ready to do that,” said Mrs. Lowe.

Tail flipper

One of Ms Lowe’s unexpected recruits is her 15-year-old stepson Locklan Benson, who first started swimming alongside her with a GoPro at mer-meets.

His curiosity got the better of him and he swapped the wings for a tail, which he says helped he in gains confidence in the water and out.

“I used to never go out by the waves and now I can go out in the deep without stressing,” he said.

“But I think otherwise. I think anybody, like any boy who likes that kind of thing, just has to get up and do it.

– Don’t be ashamed of it.

Consistency is paying off with more and more mermaids now connecting in the coastal city.

Newcastle Mermaid Rachel Dryden first got excited about the practice from influencers like Hannah Mermaid.

As a performer with a degree in environmental science, she said mermading was a “perfect combination” of everything she loved.

Ms. Dryden feared she would have to walk alone or drive several hours to find people to explore her newfound passion with before landing on Ms. Lowe’s page.

“It’s incredible to be part of a mermaid pod,” she said.

“It makes a community and that’s what being a Sirin in Newcastle really is, it’s a community.”

Safety issues

Swimming with a pad isn’t just for fun either. It is an important safety feature for Newcastle Merfolk.

Royal Life Saving Australia warns that monofins and tails can be dangerous and increase the risk of drowning.

Among other advice, the organization said only experienced and competent swimmers should use the devices, and children in particular should always be supervised.

“Orca” Jason Humphreys entered as “support team” for Newcastle Merfolk.

While he enjoys splashing in the queue, he said his main priority is being the lifeguard of the group.

“I’m a nurse so I have some life saving experience and I’ve trained in free life and rescue techniques to make sure everyone is safe.”

Strong ties

University of Queensland wellbeing researcher Tarli Young said when it comes to longevity, having a community is even more important than typical health factors such as weight or smoking.

Dr Young said this was especially the case when it came to mental health.

“There is evidence that people with a history of depression, if they go and join two or more groups, they halve their risk of relapsing into depression, which is really amazing,” she said.

And according to Dr. Young, the more niche a community is, the stronger the bond between members can be.

“So if you meet someone else who likes to jog or run, it kind of creates a bond, but it’s not that unusual,” she said.

“Whereas if you have something very unique, like two people in (merfolking), they have something that feels very unique to them. And that can allow them to form a fast and strong bond right away.”

Dr Young said the practice of merfolking also combines a number of well-being factors, including community, exercise, nature, play and creativity.

Ms. Lowe wants to make sure her group members take their mermaid joy back to shore.

“It’s nice to think that when you put your tail on it, it makes you feel special,” she said.

“We have to take that special feeling with us, even when our tails are down.”