A recruiting drive urging young families to “get back in touch with nature” has begun, with Geelong Bushwalking Club searching for new members.
The club began in 1973 with an advertisement to meet under “the old pine tree at Steiglitz”, member Joan Kerr explained.
“We still say hello to that tree when we’re walking out that way,” the 71-year-old said.
“Those days it was a family sort of club. We would really like to see that aspect of the club come back to life again.”
The central Geelong local encouraged families to join up and check out some of the “wonderful” tracks around Geelong during the club’s weekend walks.
“We know a lot of young people like to walk and they walk with their kids,” she said.
“When people live such urban, stressed-out lives, it’s good for them to get back in touch with nature. It’s such a lovely thing to do together.”
The club has about 200 members, including some of the original six, with the youngest regular being in their forties, according to Joan.
But while the club was searching younger members, its older participants had enjoyed huge benefits, Joan said.
“We have people in their mid-80s who still do quite demanding walks – it’s something you can keep doing well into old age.”
She believed walking had added years to members’ lives and improved their quality of life too.
“People make lifelong friends in the club. Some of the people live alone, so they might not have other connections.”
A speech pathologist of 30 years, Joan joined up when her work began to “wind down”.
“You just feel great when you come back from a walk,” she said.
Details: www.geelongbushwalking.asn.au
