A group of enthusiastic staff from CQU Mackay, lead by the effervescent Marilyn Ingham, Administration Support Officer with the Faculty of Business and Law, decided to unblock their arteries and join the Pedestrian Council’s National ‘Walk to Work Day’ last Friday October 7.

The group of 5 parked their cars at Mackay’s Regional Botanic Gardens, 4 kms from the CQU Mackay campus, and set off at a swift pace at 7.30am.

The morning was warm and sunny and the ladies were well protected with hats, sunblock and umbrellas.

A kindly gentleman stopped and offered to give the ladies a lift, possibly thinking it was his lucky day, to which Sue Ilich responded, “No thanks dear, it’s walk to work day"!.

Lively conversation ensued as the ladies paced their way to the campus. Heather Nancarrow, Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, said she enjoyed the walk very much - the company as well as the exercise.

"Even the flies that hooked up with us at Ooralee and followed us all they way to the campus weren't able to detract from the experience!,” she said.

Sue Ilich, Administrator with the Faculty of Informatics and Communication also enjoyed the walk and was happy to report, “there were no magpies, no sprinklers, and no harassment from Arthur Pinkney on his bicycle, all of which were threatened by Arthur, but we beat him to work anyway”!.

Sue said she would like to walk to work more often if not for all the stuff she has to carry.

“I have milk for work, flowers for work, books for work, lunch for work and water for work,” she said. “We all carry around too much stuff"!.

Diane Walshe, Administration Officer, said she is used to walking and walks almost every day.

“I get dropped off outside the Vet clinic on Peak Downs Highway and walk to work, then do the return trip in the afternoon. It is almost 1.5km each way and I feel so much better for it,” said Diane.

Marilyn Ingham, the enthusiastic organiser of the activity, had just arrived at building one after her walk, all hot and bothered, when she received a request to post a notice outside building 20! Not happy with the thought of more walking, Marilyn managed to post the notice without moving her tired muscles another inch!.

"Seriously though”, said Marilyn, “it really was a nice way to start the day, and good to know that I had done some exercise and done a little something to save the environment".

We often rely too much on computers and telephones for our daily communication instead of getting off our chairs for good old fashioned face to face interaction. We also rely too heavily on the convenience of cars, when our bodies and the environment would thank us for walking or taking public transport.

The Pedestrian Council’s National Walk to Work Day is now in its eighth year. To find out more you can visit the web site at http://www.walk.com.au.

Photo above: Heather Nancarrow (centre) shares the shade with fellow walkers Diane Walshe (left) and Marilyn Ingham, and said she enjoyed the company as well as the exercise.

Photo left: Enthusiastic staff from CQU Mackay joined the Pedestrian Council’s national Walk to Work Day last Friday 7 October. Staff are from left Diane Walshe, Sue Ilich, Heather Nancarrow, Annie Webster and organiser Marilyn Ingham.