The Mapleton Movers Heart Foundation Walking Group has received official recognition for six years of getting locals moving, with the group recently awarded a certificate from the Heart Foundation acknowledging their milestone achievement.
The Mapleton Movers Heart Foundation Walking Group has celebrated another successful year of getting locals moving, with more than 1,300 walks completed since the group’s formation in July 2019. The recent certificate presentation from the Heart Foundation celebrating “6 years of walking” recognises the group’s consistent commitment to community health and wellness.
“It’s a great achievement and to be recognised knowing that you are helping the community to better health,” said current organiser Donna Klease about receiving the milestone certificate.
The group began when friends Beth Wilkins and Donna Klease attended a local cancer fundraising morning tea and discussed joining a walking group. When Beth discovered there weren’t any walking groups operating in Mapleton, she took the initiative to establish one through the Heart Foundation Walking Program, one of Australia’s largest free walking networks.
However, it was Donna who took the lead from the beginning while Beth was still working, arranging marketing through flyers at the local chemist, Mapleton Doctors Surgery, physiotherapy clinic, IGA, Barn on Flaxton, and post office to spread the word about the new group.
In 2024, founding organiser Beth Wilkins officially retired from her role, passing the leadership to Donna, who had been coordinating the group’s activities throughout its six-year journey.
The Mapleton Movers welcome participants of all ages and abilities, with the group accommodating prams, wheelchairs, and even well-behaved dogs on leads. The walks showcase the scenic beauty of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, with routes that include concrete paths around Mapleton village.
“All ages and fitness levels are welcome including prams and dogs on leads,” Donna emphasised, noting that the group’s inclusive approach has been key to its success.
As part of Australia’s largest free walking network with over 1,200 walking groups across Australia, the Mapleton Movers benefit from the Heart Foundation’s extensive experience in community health. For over twenty years, the Heart Foundation Walking program has helped over 100,000 Australians start walking and stay walking, with research showing that walking 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by 35%.
A typical walk lasts between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the group’s abilities and the chosen route. “I’m always mindful as to everyone’s limits,” Donna explained. “Sometimes if they can only manage half an hour we walk, and they peel off and then the other ones go on for the longer walk.”
The group ventures to various locations including Flaxton for walks with coastal views overlooking the Sunshine Coast and explores trails within Mapleton National Park when ground conditions permit. The concrete footpaths around Mapleton and the popular walk from Mapleton Falls into town (with carpooling arrangements) make the activity accessible to all fitness levels.
All walks begin at 7 am at the Lilypond’s Carpark Memorial Tram seated area and run every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The group maintains its schedule in most weather conditions, with Donna noting: “Unfortunately we can’t walk if raining too heavy, but if only light we do go with our umbrellas.”
The social aspect proves equally important as the physical benefits. “It is a social outing for many, most wouldn’t do the walking if they had to do alone,” Donna observed. The group, which is predominantly women but also includes several men, maintains the tradition of meeting for coffee after Wednesday walks at the La Botiga café in Mapleton, and occasionally at the Barn on Flaxton after Flaxton Drive walks.
Current organiser Donna reports that the group has 29 registered walkers who attend on different days, with the regular exercise fostering new friendships alongside obvious health benefits. “Many friendships have been formed and are still friends today,” she said.
The health improvements have been remarkable. “A couple of members who had extremely poor health have overcome their health problems and are living their best life,” Donna shared. “Some of the walkers couldn’t walk up our hills here without stopping now they can and also walk for longer distances.”
Donna credits the group’s longevity to consistent leadership. “As an organiser you need to make it your priority to be there 3 times in the week to arrange the walks to everyone’s fitness levels, so no one is left out,” she said.
For Donna, the most rewarding aspect is “meeting new people and knowing everyone is trying to better their health.” She welcomes new members through a group chat system, while the Heart Foundation Walking Group State Organiser also sends emails with helpful tips and recipes to newcomers.
To mark the six-year milestone, Donna has arranged a celebration dinner with Beth Wilkins and her husband, and plans a group luncheon as Beth prepares to move from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.
“If you haven’t walked much and feel you would like to have some company while you better your health then we are here,” Donna told potential new members who might feel hesitant about joining.
When asked to sum up what Mapleton Movers means to her, Donna’s passion for the local area shines through: “Who doesn’t love our beautiful hinterland with so many forest walks as well as our local walking areas especially our Lilypond’s Park to have a chat and enjoy each other’s company while achieving your health and fitness goals.”
Anyone interested in joining the Mapleton Movers can contact Donna at bellville2@bigpond.com, search for “Mapleton Movers” through the Heart Foundation Walking Group website or find them through the Sunshine Coast Council’s healthy activities section.
The group continues to prove that sometimes the best community initiatives start with a simple conversation between friends who decide to act. The official recognition from the Heart Foundation underscores the significant impact the Mapleton Movers have made in promoting health and wellness in their local community over the past six years.
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