By Marcus Uhe
The Akoonah Park Mens Shed in Berwick received a much needed boost from Berwick Nissan on Friday with the donation of a $3000 cheque.
The money will subsidise the shed’s fitness and flexibility program, held on Friday mornings with qualified fitness instructors from YMCA.
The cheque presentation took place during one of the fitness sessions and was kept as a surprise from the majority of participants until the handover.
Berwick Nissan’s Mark Wright said his business had been supporting the fitness program for two years now, with a portion from each sale going towards their community fundraising program.
He said he was proud to support a local program that encouraged connectivity and friendship.
“$20 or $25 comes out of our bottom line that we put aside, and we pick a charitable organisation every six months and donate some money,” Wright said.
“I think it’s very important that you maintain connection not only with the community but with the older people in the community.
“Older people get forgotten about a bit. Let’s keep remembering them and support them.”
The Fitness and Flexibility program finished second in the 2020 Community Exercise Program Award.
Not only does it get the members moving but it provides a bonding experience that was taken away due to Covid lockdowns.
It’s the brainchild of Ernie Bird, welfare and wellbeing leader at Akoonah Park.
The program started in July 2018 and provides basic fitness classes for 25-to-30 participants per class.
“In that (first) six months we did 440 member hours of fitness, with an average of 22 people,” Bird said. “In the next 12 months we did over 1500 hours of fitness with an average of 25 members per class.”
He said the use of professional trainers allows for a custom workout plan for members his age, with the average participant around 72 years old.
“They’re professional, and they know what exercises will benefit us for our situation.
“We had one guy who was 90 and he arrived with a walking stick. We had a situation where we sit on a chair and there was a cone over there, and you have to run around it.
“Most blokes could do it in four or five seconds but he took 32. It was great motivation.”
Trainer Brett Andreasen has been involved with the program for four years and created a series of workout routines on Youtube so participants could continue to exercise and keep their fitness up during lockdowns.
He told Star News encouraging movement was the key for this age demographic.
“Generally as you get older, a couple of things happen; you don’t lift your feet as much when you walk, and your grip strength goes,” Andreasen said.
“Holding the weights, doing some of these exercises, we work on those aspects, as well as agility and balance. All those things that start to deteriorate when you get older, we’re focusing on that.
“We do a bit of cardio, a bit of strength. It gives them an all-round fitness base.”
Established in 2012, the shed currently has 160 members and offers a range of programs including woodwork, welding, fishing, caravanning groups and more.
For more information on the Akoonah Park Men’s Shed head to apms.org.au/home
