Michaela Meade
Retirees in South Morang have banded together to walk around the world – with a twist.
Residents at Stockland’s Arilla retirement village began tracking their steps with a click-o-metre in a bid to keep active during last year’s lockdowns.
They cover distances of up to 1000 kilometres each week, and have now walked the equivalent of mainland Great Britain’s 17,820 kilometre coastline.
Resident Kathy Upton said the community at the village has been “incredibly supportive”.
“I was able to meet with other residents which has really helped me feel connected to not only my neighbours but the wider community,” she said.
“When you see how far we’ve ‘travelled’ around the world, it really helps put it in perspective.
“We enjoy the social aspects on the walks and keep encouraging each other to achieve our goal to make it around the world.
“We all really look forward to these walks each week and hope they continue for a long time to come.”
Other Stockland retirement villages have joined in for the “worldly walks”.
Arilla village manager David Gent said: “We love seeing our residents staying active and healthy with these kinds of community activities in the privacy and safety of the Arilla gardens.
“The walks… really [show] that this is not just about exercise for our residents, but continuing to remain connected with one another.”
