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Tuesday 19 January, 2021
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Vol 15 No 2
Red shirts a labour of love
Walk organiser Henry Gassier, at the Courthouse Hotel courtyard in Main Street Bacchus Marsh; the Tuesday meeting place for their walks. Photo – Caitlin Bewley By Caitlin Bewley Their shoes are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do, all the way through the local landscape. The Marshans Walking Group laced up their shoes for the first time three years ago and now meet weekly to walk various local tracks for enjoyment and a healthier lifestyle. The group, comprised of about 14 locals, meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays and averages about 3.5km to 4kms every walk. Organiser Henry Gasior said the group size varies between six and 14 people each week depending on weather and their personal commitments. He also said the group was initially formed to promote heart health and keeping active, but soon transformed into a more social purpose. “Because most of us are getting on a bit and heading towards
pension years, we need the exercise,” he said, “That was a reason we started, but it’s gotten better than that because we’ve all become great friends. Mr Gasior said it’s a social thing as well. “You get there and you walk with different members of the group and chat, and before you know it, you’re finished.” The group is sponsored by the Heart Foundation and Bacchus Marsh Community Bank and recently started sporting matching red shirts. Mr Gasior said the walks vary every week, with some more common walks taking place along Moon Reserve, Peppertree Park and behind the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club. “It’s not about being a 30-year-old athlete or running a marathon, we just want to get people continuously walking,” Mr Gasior said. “Almost half of the group walk more than the two days; a
lot of the members are part of a bush walking group and use the weekly walks as a warmup for their large hikes on the weekends.” Mr Gasior said the group will continue to walk in 2021 and he hopes ‘The Marshans’ expands, adding to the little family they have already created. “The more locals we get the merrier,” he said. “We had a function (on December 22) and it feels like a family get together. “People bring their kids on the walks and I’d love to see more of that, there’s no such thing as age, you can bring you kids even in their prams,” he said. “The whole purpose is to socialise, and get exercise while you’re doing that,” Mr Gasior said. To join the walking group, head to the Heart Foundation website on www.walking.heartfoundation.org.au/walking/ group/the-marshans.