Surround yourself with positive supportive people and don’t let others sabotage what you are trying to do. Nothing is out of reach.  Remember, dreams do become reality.

Jackie Foster has not let turning 50 stop her pursuing her goals of competing in an elite sport at international levels. She is the reigning Australian 2006 Natural Body Building titleholder for her age class. Jackie was born in England but spent over 30 years living in and around Narrandera, a small town in the Riverina. Her husband Eric was tragically killed in a farming accident in 1993. Jackie stayed in Narrandera to raise her three children until they had finished school and left home. She moved to Wagga Wagga in 2000. Jackie is a high achiever and manages a much-disciplined exercise regimen while juggling four part-time casual jobs to support her sport.

What gave you the motivation/inspiration to follow your dream?

I’ve always been interested in keeping fit. From a very young age I did competitive swimming to state level. I was never very good at ball games and team sports—I preferred individual sports. After having my third child I put on a lot of weight and thought ‘Hey, I’m out of control here and I need to do something’. I decided then, at age 32, to get back into fitness and I started doing aerobic classes in Narrandera. I became a community health educator and fitness instructor. I also ran small discussion groups on living healthy lifestyles, was a Nursing Mother’s counsellor helping set up groups around the Riverina, and I ran a coffee shop in Narrandera for a few years.

At what point did you realise that your dream was actually possible and what was it that made you think you could really do it?

When Eric died I had a very challenging time bringing up the children, and when they left home I needed a change. I had always been interested in doing weights and had a gym set up at home. I decided that if ever I moved to a town that had a gym, I would join it. Moving to Wagga Wagga gave me that opportunity. I joined Flex-It without a thought to competing. I went to my first body building competition in Dubbo in 2000. I was blown away seeing a 58-year-old woman competing. It made me think that maybe I could do it too. The owner of my gym helped me with a natural (no steroids) body building training plan and I was fortunate to meet a woman preparing for competitions. I became her training partner, travelling with her and learning how the competitions worked. It was a really good grounding and I learnt a lot.

In 2003 when I was 51, I began my journey to getting ‘on stage’ as a natural ‘figure body builder’. Figure body builders focus on more than just muscle. We wear very high heels and sparkly outfits. We’re judged on body proportion and shape. We do a set of compulsory poses and a one minute routine to music of our choice, and we’re awarded points for each segment.

Getting ready for a competition takes 10–20 weeks of preparation and is quite scientific depending on what you are trying to achieve. I do regular specific and intense exercise routines and I’m on a strict diet. It takes a lot of self-discipline to ‘keep my eyes on the prize’ and get on that stage.

In my first year of competition I was placed second in NSW. That allowed me to progress to the national titles (again I was placed second) and then ultimately take part in an international competition where I gained a third. In 2004 I reached a personal pinnacle when I became Miss Olympia after winning the world titles in Las Vegas (USA).

When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up?

I wanted to be a librarian but it never happened! I left school at Year 10 because of family reasons and joined the bank.

How did your childhood influence you in later life?

I had a very good childhood. Mum and Dad were my biggest influences. They always worked hard and set very high standards. We had quite a disciplined home life especially with swimming. I was up at 5.30 am for training before school and back again to the pool after school.

Who are your role models?

Not anyone in particular. I really enjoy reading and watching stories on TV about people who have overcome tragedy and adversity and turned their lives around. I find their stories very motivating.

What does success mean to you?

Success just means having a go and setting realistic goals. If it doesn’t work out, that’s OK. Just try something else. Success is showing my children, family and friends that I can do anything if I set my mind to it—and so can they. If one door closes, another one opens. You just have to look for it. Everything that comes my way always makes me stronger for the next thing.

What has been one of the biggest barriers you have had to face, what happened, and how did you overcome it?

The loss of Eric was devastating. He just went to work one day and never came home. I was fortunate that we lived in a small country town. Everyone knew each other so I had lots of support and counselling. If I am in trouble and need help, I will go and find it.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What is your vision for the future?

I’ll be 64 and will be still keeping fit, although I may have reached my competing use-by date. I would like to stay in the sport and I have started training as a judge so I can travel to competitions. I would also like to be training other women to go on stage and reach their goals.

What would you like to say to other women who may be just starting out on a ‘Daring to Dream’ journey?

Life is too short to have regrets. Don’t just dream it, have a go. Surround yourself with positive supportive people and don’t let others sabotage what you are trying to do. Nothing is out of reach. Remember, dreams do become reality—go for it.