Walking Group Marks 15 Years Of Friendship & Fitness

A local Heart Foundation walking group, Carseldine Walkers, is celebrating 15 years of walking together.

The women’s-only group has become a close-knit group of friends who meet at Carseldine Railway Station every Saturday morning.

Sabina O’Donoghue, the Walk Organiser for Carseldine Walkers, founded the group in 2009.

“We only walk on Saturday mornings so our group appealed to many who worked Monday to Friday in sedentary positions as well as some retirees who preferred to walk with a group of people and not alone,” Sabina said.

“We started as a mixed-gender group and were also pram-friendly and dog-friendly. Last year, we changed our status to a ladies-only group and are still a medium-paced dog-friendly group.”

The group explores different routes each week, covering between 4.5 to 5.5 kilometres around the suburbs of Fitzgibbon, Carseldine, Aspley, Taigum and Zillmere.

“We never get bored because our scenery is a bit different each week,” Sabina said. “We try to avoid main roads as much as possible. Luckily, we have many walking paths in our area. We often walk in some local neighbourhood streets, chatting as we go, admiring some beautiful gardens and houses and new developments happening.”

Sabina said members had discovered many health benefits from their regular walks, including improvements in overall health, heart and lung function and strengthened muscles.

“Weight management is one of the benefits as you are more motivated to stay committed by being in a walking group so that you don’t let the team down as opposed to walking alone,” she said.

“Our goal is to achieve 10,000 steps during our walks. Any extra steps on the day is a bonus. Mostly our walks are on reasonably flat ground however we do have a few routes where the road has a slightly steep incline, so these walks get your heart rate pumping and your leg muscles a workout.”

Despite fluctuations in membership numbers over the years, Carseldine Walkers currently has around 11 members, including three women who have been with the group since the beginning.

“We have gotten to know each other quite well over the years,” Sabina said. “Every year, we celebrate our walking anniversary with breakfast at a local café after our walk. We often will try to have another breakfast throughout the year or a coffee for Mother’s Day or birthdays.

“We often stand around and chat after our walks sharing more stories, recipes, gardening tips or general information.”