Choosing an active life is what keeps me young!

For Southcare Star Bill, who turns 98 years old this year, choosing an active life is what motivates him and as he says “keeps him young.” 

He cycles with a bunch of five mates every week – he is the eldest and the youngest is around 80 – and all average about 18km each trip. The cycling crew each drive with their bikes on the back of the car to an agreed spot and then traverse along the river on the cycle path to a café because, as Bill says, “no coffee, no ride!” before returning to their cars and heading back home. 

“We do this every Thursday morning and it’s a great way to spend a few hours together,” he says. 

Bill formed his cycle club in 1995, after retiring the previous year and following his wife’s passing. 

“I used to catch up with people socially but found all they did was go out to dinner at restaurants and I can cook a good meal at home, so suggested forming a cycle club and 13 men and women quickly joined in!   

“We’ve been doing it ever since, even in the hottest of hot weather and when it’s raining too, and while not all 13 are still with us, it has become a great way to keep fit and stay connected. 

Swimming is something else Bill did regularly and was doing 2km twice a week in less than an hour. 

“I laugh because I only learned to swim when I was 66 years old and spent the majority of my working life on ships in the middle of the ocean. I started as an apprentice at 14 years of age and was at sea when I was 19,” he says. 

Bill only stopped swimming when the pool near him closed for renovations and while he hasn’t gone back now that is has re-opened, he says he is not completely sure he has hung up his goggles just yet. 

Something else he has done once and is keen to do again is skydive…yes, we told you Bill’s life is certainly active! 

“I jumped when I was 65 and loved every minute of it and have thought so many times over the years, I should do it again!” 

Southcare visits Bill once a fortnight to help with domestic assistance around his 3-bedroom home in line with his assessed and approved care needs. 

“Having some help at home is great because there are certain things I can’t do that well, like changing the sheets on my bed because the mattress is just too heavy. I know cycling 18km every week might be hard for some, but that is the sort of thing I find easy!” 

Bill is happy to chat to anyone who might like to join his weekly cycle group. 

If you want to get involved, reach out to Team Marketing at Southcare and they can put you in touch.