27 November 2019

Canoe believe this Lotterywest grant

A group of around 70 Western Australians are making waves. The Over 55 Canoe Club encourage people aged 55 to 85 to paddle on the Swan, Canning, Avon and Murray waterways. Long term member Ken Westover said the club holds weekly meet-ups, camps in the Walpole area and various overnight events in and around Dwellingup when the river is running.

“What the club offers is getting people out of a sedentary lifestyle, so they just don’t sit at home and gradually go into a state of decline,” he said.

“They’re getting exercise; they’re communicating with nature in our great outdoors.

“It’s also the support group they get by being part of a group of caring people.”

By playing Lotterywest games, you've helped support the club with a grant of $5,187 towards satellite phones and radios for group leaders to maintain contact on the water and seek assistance in the event of emergency.

“It’s amazing that within a few kilometres out on the river you can almost imagine yourself out in the wilderness,” Mr Westover said.

“All you can see is the river, the foliage and the birdlife; you could be out in the wilderness.

“We keep people in touch with nature.”

In between paddling events and out of the paddling season the club maintains regular informal social activities off the water.

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