Seniors get Art & About for walking tour

Sydney’s seniors can explore their creative side with a free after-dark, guided walking tour of the City’s public art projects.

Sponsored by the City of Sydney, the Art & About seniors walking tour is the latest in a series of after dinner walking events showcasing Sydney as a great place for older residents to explore on foot.

The group will discover highlights from the Art & About Sydney program, including the Australian Life and Little Sydney Lives photography exhibition in Hyde Park. The tour will also tell the stories of some of Sydney’s oldest public artworks such as the John Baptist Fountain.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney’s night life should be open to everyone, young and old.

“Our older residents make huge contributions to our community, yet may not feel comfortable taking part in night-time cultural events,” said Ms Barone.

“We want seniors to feel welcome and engaged in our diverse city. The after-dinner walking groups are a great opportunity for over-55s to meet new friends, get out and about confidently in the evening and discover art and creativity in some unexpected places.”

The guided educational walks target over 55s, providing them with after-dark safety tips, an opportunity to socialise with other older residents and stay fit and active.

As well as the social benefits, walking is a low-impact activity that is ideal for older Australians. According to a French study, walking briskly for just 15 minutes a day can reduce the risk of death by 22 per cent for people over the age of 60.

Researchers from University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, looked at more than 123,000 people for up to 12 years to see what effect their lifestyle and level of exercise had on their mortality.

Compared with those who were inactive, older adults who walked for 15 minutes a day had a significantly lower risk of death.

Alexandria resident Judith Daley previously attended one of the City’s After Dinner Walking Tours in Pyrmont and has decided to bring along her neighbour for the upcoming Art & About tour.

“I heartily recommend the City of Sydney After Dinner Walking Tour because it is a wonderful chance to renew acquaintances over the dinner, and the walking tour itself gives us the chance to have a more intimate opportunity to examine the works of art on display and to hear more about the artists and their history,” said Judith.

“The last tour I went on was a walking tour of Pyrmont and I learnt so much about the fascinating suburb even though I had thought I was fairly familiar with it.

“The staff who conduct the tours are charming and supportive and the whole event is carried out in a comfortable and non-threatening manner.”

The concept was inspired by the OPEN Sydney night-time economy strategy and Action Plan 2013-2030, to promote Sydney as a safe place to explore at night.

After dinner walking group guided tour of Art & About Sydney Where: Departs from The Castlereagh Club, 199 Castlereagh St, Sydney. When: Thursday, 22 September 2016 Time: 5pm Cost: Free. Dinner at own expense. Booking required. Sign-up: To book, please call (02) 9244 3696, or email [email protected]

For more information, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Bridget Ahern, phone (02) 9265 9753, mobile 0423 505 854 or email [email protected]