| Talks and Walks
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Seniors' Week Introduction
Talk 10 April 2008
The Seniors' Week "Walking the Streets of Turramurra" promotion opened with what was described as a
"motivational talk" from Alan about the benefits from and joys of walking.
The talk was in the unusual setting of a store that specialises in equipment for seniors.
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Hornsby Probus Club 14 May
2008
Alan has addressed his third Probus Club meeting, this time 50 members of their Hornsby club.
Although most Probus members are elderly, their clubs are thriving unlike the battles
faced by so many organisations to retain members.
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Diabetes Fitness 13 February 2008
Alan addressed a group of diabetics at a Chatswood function
organised by the Northern Sydney Division of General Practice.
He encouraged the patients to minimise or reverse their health
problems by exercising.daily.
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Georgian House
21 August 2007
Alan was guest speaker for residents of North Sydney’s
Georgian House retirement village and day-care centre. As
opposed to day-care centres for children, this is the Uniting
Church’s pioneering venture into day care for elderly
people while their sons or daughters are at work.
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Wahroonga Probus Club 10 May 2007
Wahroonga Probus Club invited Alan to be guest speaker after
learning of his walking exploits via TV news. The 60 members
wanted to know everything from the best walks in Sydney to
how to cope with dogs. One of the members was a distant relative;
they had not seen each other for 57 years.
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Seniors' Week Walk (Sydney)
16 March 2007
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Seniors' Week
www.nswseniorsweek.com.au
is an annual programme of events for seniors, organised
by the New South Wales Government. Again this year,
Alan led the Friday walk and provided the commentary.
These three photos are from this year's walk through
the back streets and lanes of Edgecliff. (The first
two photos courtesy of Morris Stocker.)
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Manly Probus Club address 17 August 2006
Alan was guest speaker for the Manly Probus Club, the name
“Probus” being derived from professional and business
men.
You might deduce from the grey-haired audience
that Probus Clubs don’t target a young membership, and
you would be right. The average age of the 100 members here
is 84.
Alan explains that Dangar Island boasts
a wheelbarrow park because the island has no cars. (Click
on the photo above to see the original being shown on the
screen.)
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Harbour Island Walks
May 2006
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As part of his association with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to encourage
walking on the trust's lands and islands, Alan toured several harbour islands, including Cockatoo Island.
The trust's attractions, including islands that were closed to the public for decades, can be seen at
http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au
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Hidden Valley Tour Waverton
7 April 2006
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care invited
Alan to be a Media Ambassador and tour guide as part of the
state government's Seniors' Week, 2006. On 7 April he conducted
a discovery walk through what he calls the "Hidden Valley".
He guided 100 seniors, split into a morning and afternoon
tour, down cliffs and along the narrow lanes of Waverton.
The "Hidden Valley" walkers
descend the cliff between Toongarah Road and Bay Street,
Waverton.
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Share 28 October 2005
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"Share" is a government initiative
which promotes health and fitness in Sydney's south
and south-west suburbs. The president invited Alan to
be the guest speaker for their 2005 annual meeting.
The 40 in attendance were a mixture of departmental
executives, psychologists, health professionals and
others. He was offered a $100 payment for his talk.
On the basis that their annual report had mentioned
that some sections of "Share" made a loss
for the year, Alan declined it, claiming that they wouldn't
be able to afford it. They insisted, however, so he
now jokes that he is "on the professional speaking
circuit."
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Health Department "Boost Your Life" 15
March 2005
Alan was guest speaker at the Health Department's
"Boost Your Life" launch at Wentworthville on 15
March 2005. He spoke to the 60 guests about the fun and fitness
you can derive from exercise, even at 90.
The department's Michael Russo said "Alan is
a wonderful ambassador for promoting physical activity in
the ageing population." Also, by card: "It was an
honour to have you as our guest speaker. You made all the
people here feel really great. You were a treat. Would love
to have you back soon". (Sharewest and Wentworthville
Club)
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Department of Technical and Further Education 30 August
2004
Alan spoke to students at TAFE's Hornsby college following
this letter:
"I am a teacher of two classes (at Hornsby, a northern
Sydney suburb) composed of students who are migrants to this
country and who are increasing their reading and writing skills
in English. For one of the lessons we read your article from
The Sydney Morning Herald of last week and then visited your
web site. The students were impressed by your feat and your
feet. "
Warren McPerson
A TAFE student displays the Herald article about Alan
that they used for study in one of their lessons
Alan addressing students at Hornsby TAFE
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