Encouraging older residents to get moving

Published on 09 March 2021

A walking group aimed at motivating older residents to improve their physical health will commence tomorrow (10/03).

The Central Goldfields Shire “Move It” Walking Group is the first initiative to be rolled out as part of the of the Loddon Mallee Region ‘Move It’ project – funded by the Australian Government through a Sport Australia Better Ageing grant.

Week One will be held on Wednesday 10 March at Lake Victoria, Maryborough. The walk will be guided by Midlands Historical Society – allowing participants to not only be active but also discover the region’s history and culture.

Designed to create opportunities for older Australian’s to get active, the “Move It” Walking Group will showcase some of the region’s best walking trails and allow participants to discover the region’s history and culture.

The Group will be held every Wednesday and is open to adults over 65, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 50.

Central Goldfields Shire Cr Geoff Lovett said it was a fantastic initiative that will support older residents to get active for fitness, enjoyment and social connection.

“A few months ago, we invited three members of our community to join our “Move It” Steering Group – thank you to those who put their hand up and have contributed to getting the first walking group up and running.

“Community involvement helps us ensure we are reaching all members of our community and that the program is engaging, accessible and held in the right locations,” he said.  

Move It Steering Group member and Dunolly resident Brian Phillips said like many others in our ageing population, I’ve paid more attention to the importance of good physical health in recent years.

“When I was made aware of “Move It” I was eager to get involved and assist, particularly in Dunolly where we have many older residents. The opportunity to educate our people how to improve their health is so important as they can share this knowledge with their friends and be empowered to make healthier decisions into the future.”

Spots are limited.

To book your spot please call Council’s Move It Project Officer,

Zac Egan on 0428 965 448, or fill out the form online:

https://forms.gle/qML6dN9oMs9b2yWz5