This story was one of the top stories from 2024 and was originally published in July.
If you’re ever in doubt as to just how transformative daily walking can be, Point Cook’s Bev Morrissey serves as a timely reminder.
“I was very stiff, not able to do gardening, etc,” recalled the 83-year-old of when she first took up walking 15 years ago.
“Gradually I was able to walk with no disability.”
Nowadays, Bev not only walks free of disability, but often at a pace that younger walkers can’t match.
Bev is the co-founder and organiser of Point Cook Walkers, a walking group registered with the Heart Foundation that sets off every weekday at 9am from outside the Stockland Shopping Centre on Main Street.
“We are the only group in Victoria, who walk five days a week,” declared Bev of the group’s commitment to regular exercise.
It’s a commitment that has been recognised by the Heart Foundation, with Bev recently being awarded one of its Gold Shoe awards for 2024.
According to Heart Foundation, the Golden Shoe is awarded to nominees who display “outstanding leadership, organisation and friendship they share with their group each and every walk”.
However, Bev said her award was for organising other activities too.
“I was picked from the whole of Victoria not just for walking but because of the many things we do together as a group. Lunches every week , games every week like scrabble, cards etc, bus trips and many other things,” Bev said.
Cade Lucas
