Every morning Milton-Ulladulla fills with the pitter-patter of the town’s happiest feet.
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The Heart Foundation’s Happy Feet Walkers have risen with the sun and walked the town for heart-health, every weekday morning, for the last nine years.
Organiser, Tony Gerzanics joined the group after a heart scare and hasn’t looked back.
“Back when this mob started I’d just come out of hospital having stints put it,” he said.
“It was started by the Heart Foundation, then Rhonda Lyons took over. She did it for awhile, but moved out to Conjola and Dorothy put her hand up to say she’d do it.
“It's done me a lot of good, otherwise I might not have gotten out of bed.
“Now though, when you're an organiser you think, ‘Well I'd better show up’.”
Annually, the group walk more than 1000 kilometres and have chalked up 9000 kilometres since they began.
“We would’ve walked all the way from here to Cotton Bay, just past Port Lincoln in Adelaide,” Dorothy Gerzanics said.
The community group marked their ninth birthday with some well-deserved cake and a sausage sizzle on Tuesday, February 27 after their regular morning walk.
The group’s more than 50 members sang the praise of Tony and Dorothy for their enthusiasm and dedication over the years.
“These two are the most amazing and intrepid people you can have,” Christine Benavente said.
“They have organised a group of people who have become such good friends.
“And, they are always smiling.”
“They are great organsiers, they really are,” Helen Anderson added.
“We really appreciate all they are doing for us.”
The group of mainly mature aged men and women meet at various locations in and around Ulladulla.
Age and fitness level is no barrier and all walkers are encouraged to walk at their own pace.
The group, and their feet, are always happy for new walkers to join them.
Details of the weekly walk program are available every week in the Times Community Diary or by contacting Tony or Dorothy on 4455 6162.
