October is Senior’s Month, which is a great time for seniors to enjoy the huge diversity of activities on offer.
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Why not embrace this glorious spring weather and visit or volunteer in one of the wonderful National, State or Regional Parks in Victoria’s western region.
We know that spending time in nature is good for you, and we call this approach Healthy Parks Healthy People, and it also means that parks and natural areas need people to care about them.
Many valued volunteers and citizen science participants are seniors.
Getting out into a park, especially helping to care for natural areas, helps with personal health and fitness, and fosters social connectedness and role modelling of positive actions for all ages.
Many Victorian seniors have benefitted from time spent in nature walking, camping or holidaying with family and friends throughout their lives and have shared their enjoyment of nature with others.
One Grampians visitor, Jim, describes the lifelong enjoyment natural areas bring:
“When I was at school, we used to come by bus from Ballarat to the Grampians,” he said.
“The highlight was always the visit to Wonderland Pinnacle. Our major interest, however, was the informal run to the pinnacle. To finish in the first ten was the significant achievement of the visit.
“Now I am 79. I walk slowly up to the Pinnacle. On the way, I am overwhelmed by the extraordinary beauty, diverse scenery and a powerful feeling of spiritual presence.
“Walking up to the Pinnacle is demanding but immensely rewarding. I do not feel old because I am at one with the environment which is ageless.
“I am amazed that I could have run up the track so many times and missed all this.
“I wonder if someone had encouraged us to walk, and look, and listen, whether we would have discovered Wonderland.”
If you prefer a gentler walk, there are plenty of inviting gardens and parks throughout Western Victoria, including Mt Macedon’s glorious views and gardens, the rich displays in the Ballarat and Ararat botanical gardens, and the incredible wildflower displays in the Little Desert.
For more information: http://parkweb.vic.gov.au