MOREE is lacing up and stepping up, with the month-long Moree Muscle Muster well under way.
More than 250 people connected to 22 local businesses and organisations have signed up for the month of September to do battle in the sixth running of the popular health and fitness competition.
Moree Muscle Muster is co-ordinated by Moree Community Health dietician. Sally Lavery, in partnership with University of Newcastle Rural Health Department dietician, Renaye Madden and HealthWISE dietician, Natalie Grey.
Mrs Lavery said the Moree Muscle Muster brought people together, all while getting fit and healthy.
“It’s a step-and-exercise challenge aimed at getting business houses and community organisations and groups to be more active, and to have fun at the same time,” she said.
“The competition tends to be fierce, with plenty of ‘friendly’ banter between individuals and teams,” she smiled.
Last year’s winner, North West Local Land Services, with seven members captained by Sally Poole, leads the way.
Points are based on average steps per participant, and with one-third of Moree Muscle Muster completed, the reigning champions have logged more than 135,000 steps, with an average of 19,301 steps per team member.
“Their top two walkers are training for triathlons, so are really pulling the team average up nicely,” Mrs Lavery said.
Previous winners include McDonalds Moree (2022), McGregor Gourlay (2021), 2VM-NowFM (2019) and Moree Public School in 2018.
Moree East Public School team members (at back) Sharlene Morris, Sophie Dowsett with (middle) Lilly Jarratt and Lauren Spindler, and (at front) Jess Vickers. (Absent: Chloe Kelso, Nicola Dillon and Tallee Warrener).
Mrs Lavery said the Moree Muscle Muster has grown in popularity since first being held six years ago.
“We didn’t have one in 2020, and with COVID happening we weren’t able to gauge the feeling about running it again,” she said.
“But there was a lot of feedback when it wasn’t held, so it came back the following year and has grown ever since.”
This year’s edition has drawn together a diverse group of competitors from across Moree.
Moree Community Health, with 20 members captained by Dominique McGann, sits second behind North West Local Land Services.
Tayla Macey’s 12-member PCYC team is currently running third. Also competing is Moree Hospital (Leeanda Cain; 17 members), Finagri (Justin Barnes; seven members); UONDRH (Renaye Madden; four members), Webb and Boland (Olivia Modin; 17 members), McDonalds Moree (Garry Campbell; 17 members); Moree Public School (Ashley McNamara; nine members); McGregor Gourlay (Alison Nolan; 46 members), Byamee Homeless Support (Russell Cook; six members), Chiropractic Life Moree (Binh Le; 15 members), St Philomena’s School (Isabella McGrath; 16 members); Rabobank Moree (Felicity Taylor; seven members); Moree East Public School (Sophie Dowsett; six members); Moree Family Support (Stephanie Burrow; 11 members); Moree Freight Services (Jeni Bruno; seven members), Centacare Moree (Nicole Youngberry; six members), HealthWISE (Natalie Gray; eight members), Moree Secondary College (Vicki Busse; 20 members), Gwydir Medical (Kristy Williams); three members) and Mitchell Jones from Moree Court House.
Moree Community Health team members regularly use the spacious shared pathways either side of the Mehi River between Dr Hollingsworth Bridge and Dr Hunter Bridge.
“Our managers have introduced a twice-weekly walk during work hours as a staff health initiative, and that benefits us in the competition as well,” Mrs Lavery said.
Moree East Public School team captain Sophie Dowsett said this was the school’s fourth year of competition.
“Some of our members have only joined this year. We’re 10 or 11 days in, and so far we’re averaging well,” Miss Dowsett said.
“Most of us walk separately, because of different schedules, but you do notice in September the whole town seems to be out walking, especially along Greenbah Road.
“It’s definitely good, healthy competition between all the businesses and organisations – especially among the schools,” she laughed.
Miss Dowsett said steps in the workplace can be recorded as well as dedicated walking exercise.
“I use a Garmin to record steps and others have Apple watches, so it all happens electronically,” she said.
“Even if someone is playing a game of netball or touch football, where wearing jewellery is not permitted, the minutes played and intensity of the sport can be entered and automatically converted into steps,” she said.
Words and Image: Bill Poulos
That’s fabulous. Wish it had been going when I lived in Moree. I have a step counter on my phone so check my steps every day. Use a wheelie walker due to back problems but don’t just sit at home an vegetate. My Dr is pleased with my walking and I’m now 76.