Local walking champions awarded golden shoes for golden hearts
The Heart Foundation is celebrating its 2023 Golden Shoe Awards winners, with eight active Walk Organisers honoured.
The annual award is bestowed upon a select group of walk organisers who shine in their local communities by helping to support new and seasoned walkers.
Walking has been shown to improve physical fitness and mental wellbeing.
The Heart Foundation's Senior Advisor for Physical Activity, Elizabeth Calleja, congratulated the 2023 Golden Shoe Award winners, saying, "They were awarded the golden shoe because of their untiring service to the community."
"Walking continues to be something that empowers so many people – especially for those who may otherwise miss out on exercise and socialising with others. Heart Foundation Walking is Australia's largest free walking network," Ms Calleja said.
"During the past 28 years, the number of people joining a Heart Foundation Walking group has skyrocketed. For some people, joining a Heart Foundation walking group has been a genuinely life-saving decision."
Ms Calleja said the Heart Foundation's Walking Groups reached many parts of Australia, including groups in remote and sparsely populated regions. Walkers "come for the walk but stay for the talk", with the annual walker survey showing that over 90 per cent of walkers participating in the program reported that group walking helped their physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Walking for an average of 30 minutes or more a day can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke by 35 per cent and Type 2 diabetes by 40 per cent.
It's not just your heart and muscles that benefit from walking - it also helps improve our daily mood, which cumulatively leads to better mental health.
Golden Shoe Award winners will receive a special golden shoe pin, a certificate and a $250 VISA gift card.
This year's Golden Shoe Award winners
TAS: Lynette Green – Best Foot Forward (Claremont)
Walk organiser Lynette Green has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Best Foot Forward walking group is keeping pace with all possible opportunities. As well as organising walks, Lynette has been instrumental in ensuring the group has regular bus trips and three-monthly walking challenges. Within the group Lynette is described as "an exceptional walk organiser", who has invited health care professionals to deliver information sessions, conduct testing and share knowledge on how to lead a more productive and health life.
Lynette has been a walk organiser for 13 years, has done 846 walks, leading a group of 68 walkers.
VIC: Barry Nixon – Ballarat Heart Beats (Ballarat)
Barry Nixon has made a difference to many people's lives, by organising social group outings as well as opportunities to walk. The walkers have gone from strength to strength with Barry at the helm. Barry has been active in helping support mental and physical health in the Ballarat community, even assisting walkers to gain access to district medical personnel and services.
Aside from walks up to four times a week, the Ballarat Heart Beats enjoy coffee catch ups, lunches, dinners, concerts, and community events.
Barry is a leader for four separate walking groups, establishing them for those who had come through cardiac rehabilitation. He's been a walk organiser for four years and has done more than 500 walks.
SA: Elaine Small – Women Walk the Talk (Glenelg)
Elaine Small has been described as an "inspiration" by those who nominated for a Golden Shoe Award. Other words ascribed to her include "compassionate", "proactive", "positive" and "leader".
Elaine has gained a reputation for helping walkers regain confidence, self-esteem and positivity through her happy and supportive attitude.
Elaine has been a walk organiser or four years and 49 walkers in her group.
WA: Colin Evans – Warnbro Sound Walkers (Safety Bay)
Colin Evans is known for making people feel good about themselves, offering inspiration for those who may be doing it tough at times. He's known for going the extra mile, even helping walkers when they're off the track, whether paying hospital visits or making sure they're well looked after when they are back at home.
Colin regularly organises walks, morning teas and milestone acknowledgements for Warnbro Sound Walkers.
Colin celebrates seven years as a walk organiser in July and heads a group of 49 walkers.
NT: Lucinda Moody – Active in Alice (Alice Springs)
According to Active in Alice walking group members, Lucinda brings a "positive vibe" to their Saturday morning walks. Known for helping people challenge themselves, maintaining that the steps to heart health are physical and mental.
Active in Alice boast 402 registered walkers, although they don't all walk at once! The Alice Springs Town council employee dedicates her time away from work to the group.
Encouraging, bubbly, positive and a great engager, Lucinda is a worthy Golden Shoe Award recipient.
QLD: Nerida Thompson – Brighton Walkers (Brighton)
Nerida is a welcoming presence at the Brighton Walkers, not only filling out paperwork but seeing to all the members' other needs.
But her dedication extends well beyond the administrative, even rallying walk group members to help one of their own negotiate the public transport system, with an instructive day trip into the city.
As one Brighton Walkers group member enthused, "She honestly is one of the best!" A walk organiser for five years, Nerida has completed 251 walks with the group of 67 walkers.
NSW: Phillip Elwin – Sydney Walk Eat and Talk (SWEAT) Walkers (Cronulla)
Under the leadership of Phillip Elwin, the Sydney Walk Eat and Talk (SWEAT) walkers have continued to prosper, with membership increasing apace. SWEAT walkers come from a variety of background and places. Phillip makes everyone welcome and is known as an expert in organising safe walks to interesting places. He also encourages others to become walk leaders.
During the walks, Phillip uses his knowledge of plants to add an extra layer of interest. With more than 30 years as a teacher in the New Guinea Highlands, he has many stories to tell.
SWEAT walkers say they've learned a lot about Sydney during their treks. As one SWEAT walker said, "He's very knowledgeable about nature and goes the extra mile with his research to make each walk a great experience for all of us."
Phillip organises two groups and has been a walk organiser for nearly 10 years.
He has 260 walkers registered between both groups.
ACT: Edna Kauffman – Groovy Grannies (Holt)
The grooviest of grannies, Edna Kauffman has gained a reputation in the walking community as someone who helps keep people moving. The Walk for Heart ambassador leads about 15 to 20 members on most Tuesdays and Thursdays, with 34 registered members.
Groovy Grannies members say Edna is fun to be around and always encouraging.
The indefatigable Edna has completed 1202 walks during her 15 years as a Heart Foundation walker.
