Eighty-four year old Merle McVicar has always been reasonably active. 

Living on a farm near Edendale kept her busy, but when her son took over the farm and she moved in to Invercargill she realised she needed to find something to help her meet people and keep active. 

A friend was a member of the Kiwi Senior walking group and suggested Merle join. 

That was more than 20 years ago, and she hasn’t looked back. 

Merle is one of 130 people in the group – not all of them are regular or active members of the group, instead attending walks when they feel like it. 

A recent trip to Springhills, near Browns, involved 65 walkers, which is about the usual number for most weekly excursions. 

For Merle, meeting people and getting out and about is the main drawcard, but seeing parts of Southland she’s never experienced is another major highlight. 

“I’ve lived in Southland all my life and I’ve seen more of it since joining the walking group.” 

For Joy and Maureen, who have both been members of the group for about 26 years, the camaraderie is what keeps them coming back. 

“I left work and wanted something to do with my time. I missed the company of people. And we do some great walks. We have had some wonderful trips,” Joy said. 

“(I love) going to places that I never knew existed in Southland. Southland just opens up to you,” Maureen said. 

All three women agree the group has been a fantastic way to combat potential isolation and loneliness, as well as keeping physically active, something the men in the group also agree with. 

One of the men said since retiring from his physically active job, he realised he needed to find something that would help keep him active, otherwise he’d spend his days sitting on the couch. 

The walking group was not only a good way to keep active, but it had also helped him make new friends, he said. 

The group is divided into three walks – a long walk (usually between 6 and 10km), a medium walk (usually around the 5km length) and a short walk (1-2km). The different walk lengths mean people of all fitness levels and abilities are catered for, and also means that if people feel like doing more or less on any given day, they can. 

The group meets on Thursday mornings, and have been on walks all over Southland – recently the group travelled to Mores Reserve in Riverton, they’ve been out to Gore, Monkey Island, and Queenstown, and there are trips to Tapanui, Otapiri, Awarua, Seaward Downs, and Woodlands planned for this year. 

Sport Southland Physical Activity Team manager Jess Domigan said the Kiwi Seniors walking group was a fantastic way for older people to connect socially, be physical active, and meet new people. 

“We know that social isolation can play a huge role in a person’s wellbeing especially in older adults, so this group is a great way for people that may otherwise not have much interaction with other people, to combat that isolation and consequent decline in wellbeing.  It also helps that Southland is such a beautiful province that you can’t help but feel great when you’ve been out on a walk surrounded by nature, and enthusiastic people.” 

We have a fantastic group of leaders who take turns to plan and lead the walks and we are always on the lookout for more members so if anyone is interested in joining the Kiwi Seniors Active Walkers group should contact Sport Southland on 03 211 2150. 

Article added: Thursday 15 August 2019