Residents at Masonic Care Tasmania’s Peace Haven and Fred French homes have embarked on a 300 kilometre journey from Norwood to Mount Wellington – sort of. 

Through a ‘virtual’ journey, for every 100 metres that each resident walks, a kilometre will be marked off a mapped path through the Great Lakes district, ending at Mount Wellington. 

The initiative is designed to keep the residents or ‘Winter Walkers’ as they have been nicknamed, active during the colder months. 

Masonic’s leisure and lifestyle co-ordinator Bridie White said the initiative was about encouraging residents to keep fit and healthy. 

“This is the first time we have done something like this, but it has been really well received,” she said. 

“The residents have all lived their lives in Tasmania and have many wonderful memories of their times in the highlands.

“Really the key for us is to encourage them to stay active in winter. 

“Walking is important for our health and wellbeing and is a key falls prevention activity in aged care homes.”

Starting last week, residents are already eight kilometres into their virtual journey.

Peace Haven Winter Walker Ruth Kjar said she still remembers her annual summer holidays in the highlands. 

“Every year we had family come over from Melbourne and we did all of the walks,” she said. 

“That was a long time ago now, but it was always such a beautiful place. 

“It was just an experience with the wild flowers and the birds. I am a bit older now, but it is nice to re-live it.”

With walking routes at both Peace Haven and Fred French homes, executive director Edward Xuereb said residents walked at their own pace and with the assistance of staff. 

“I think it is great for them to wake up and have something like this to aspire to,” he said. 

“Apart from promoting exercise, it is giving them a real sense of purpose. 

“They really are on a mission to reach their goal.”

With a deadline to reach Mount Wellington by the end of July, Ms White said the residents were calling on the community for support. 

“We hope that families and staff will sponsor residents and all funds raised will be donated to The Examiner’s Winter Relief Appeal,” she said. 

“Depending on their stamina, we might end up walking back up the East Coast and raising money for The Examiner’s Christmas appeal.

“We’ll see how things go.”

To sponsor a resident, email bridie.white@mctas.org.au.