At 91, Audrey is almost unstoppable.
The nonagenarian completes a two-hour walk every morning. Audrey, who resides at UnitingSA’s West Lakes Aged Care, heads out with her walker at the same time each day. She completes four laps of her regular street circuit, which includes a lap of the West Lakes Oval, arriving back just in time for breakfast.
Originally from Lincolnshire in England, Audrey migrated to Australia at age 33 with her husband and two daughters.
“I didn’t want to come. We tore up the papers three times,” she recalls.
“The week before we were due to leave, I cried and cried. Eventually I said ‘If I don’t like it. I’ll go back in two years.’ I don’t know where I thought I was going to go back to. We had sold our house in England.
“We got off the ship at Outer Harbor and all there was rocks, cows and sheep.
“We stayed with a family until we were able to build our own home.”
Audrey has always remained active.
“When my girls joined the marching team, I joined as well. I also joined the dancing team and then I did line dancing for 22 years.”
While Audrey admits she’s “never been able to keep my feet still” – there’s more to her fitness than a love of movement. She’s also clearly determined.
“I was about 40 when I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. I’ve got steel in my toes on both feet. I had a knee replacement at 82.”
She goes on to say that she had a stroke that saw her spend seven weeks in a rehabilitation hospital.
Clearly, none of that was able to slow her down.
“Once you stop. You stop.”
When asked if she ever feels unsafe walking, she replies “You’ve got to take a chance, don’t you love?”
“I use hikers’ wool in my shoes because I’ve got corns on my feet. Sometimes it takes me three attempts to get my shoes on in the morning.”
When questioned about the significant amount of time she’s committing to walking – she’s very matter of fact.
“When you think about it – a day has 24 hours. I’m only using two.”