Spotlight on Bev: Point Cook’s walking hero

Beverley Morrissey has been a Walk Organiser for Victoria's Point Cook Walkers, for over 14 years.  Here, Bev shares her proudest moments of helping her walkers stride for their health and thrive in their friendships, in this very diverse group.

 

My name is Beverley Morrissey, and I am 82 years young and originally from Warrnambool. Not knowing many people in Point Cook when I retired, I decided to start a Coffee Group, which grew into a Craft Group, then a Walking Group and lastly a Seniors Group. All are part of the Point Cook Learning Centre. The Walking Group walk every weekday. To encourage new walkers, we distribute pamphlets while we walk. Many of the new walkers go on to join our other groups.

Food and culture are a large part of our gatherings. Presently, of the 22 walkers, I am the only Australian born Australian, all the others are internationally born Australians.

We eat out weekly, lunching at restaurants, and at my home I host several international lunches where everyone brings food from their culture and on Australia Day, we do ‘Australian’ food.

My greatest achievements have been seeing the immense benefits particular people have received from the events I have started.

One person walked and talked with me for 6 months to learn English, until the day they told me their English was so good, they would walk with the faster group, I taught them too well!  Another person had such bad depression they could not go outside their door. After joining us walkers and several other groups, they now freely do anything, even travelling overseas. Another who has a carer and who would not say “boo” when they joined us, signed up to all the groups and now speaks with everyone.

One other person I am VERY proud of is I have a mute lady - She can ONLY see.  Not able to hear, make a noise, read lips,  read anything,  cannot do hand language,  why because she cannot read so she does not know words,  I am learning like the alphabet etc and trying.  She comes walking and craft and loves it because we can talk to her by different means.  She can learn to crochet things by the computer. 

We all try to keep her happy,  remembering that she cannot laugh.   But the smile,  well that is worth everything.

I was also nominated by the Heart Foundation for the Citizen of the year here in Wyndham and I finished in the top five.

I am so lucky to have a group of people who are caring and very thoughtful to each other, as well as who look after me. They love coming to our Groups because of the happiness and companionship between us, what else can we ask for, at any age.