Mike not only “talks the walk” but believes strongly in “walking the walk”. With an extensive knowledge and vast experience of over 30 years in the Health, Fitness & Wellness sectors he knows movement is the most natural form of medicine one could ever prescribe to live a happy healthy and long productive life. Mike was nick-named the Walking Wizard by others because of the amazing amount of energy and power he gets from being on the poles and in turn communicates to others so that they can make amazing changes in their daily lives by using the poles in their leisure time and lifestyles. Walking with poles is simply a feel-good, fun, friendly and functional way to move about. Since walking has been the most common form of mobility for thousands of years, simply adding the poles to your walk makes it that much better. Mike continually demonstrates and shares with communities far and wide the benefits, ability and achievable results you can gain from walking with poles through presentations and regular Pole Walking Challenges. Mike is the first person ever to complete 2000 kilometres in just 22 days using poles and he loves pushes into new boundaries with no- limits where others seldom go, like his Non Stop 24-Hour and 36-Hour and 48-hour Pole Walking Ultra Challenges. He strongly encourages all those he connects with to move more in nature in the great outdoors be it hiking or walking holidays as you’ll get more out of life and always remember, “It’s Better on Poles”
Colleen has over 30+ years experience in Fitness, Health, Recreation and Pre-retirement Health Planning. Past State Director of the Senior Adult Unit for the NSW Health Dept. Currently Director of Rayna Holdings Pty Ltd. Colleen has successfully developed many national healthy lifestyle community programs such as Walking for Pleasure, Aqua Fitness, Gentle Exercise, Healthy Lifestyle Holidays and currently Lifeball and is instrumental in developing walking with pole programs into regional and rural communities. Over the past 30 years she has been highly sought after as a lecturer/ presenter at all levels of education from public to professional seminars at health and fitness conventions to presenting scientific based research papers at international conferences to regular speaking engagements to Universities and TAFE students.
Grace has been instructing for over 30+ years in health and fitness & lifestyle programs to people of 8yrs to 88yrs. For over 26 years Grace owned & operated a very successful Fitness Centre in her home town of Tweed Heads. She has a vast knowledge and experience in group fitness programs, from 2001 to 2004 co developed SmartShape the highly successful weight management education program for professionals. Grace is the real back-bone of the WalkAbout Active Team, she is not often seen but she is so often found doing the major work behind the scenes.
Jay has always had a passion for sports and outdoor adventure; he aspires to be successful inside and outside the 4 walls. His passion has lead him into a successful career as Health & Fitness Trainer and now his current role as an Operation Manager in the Outdoor Recreation Industry which allows him to empower people in the ultimate experiences of hiking, Mt Biking, abseiling, bush walking and kayaking in the great outdoors. Jay maybe the junior in the development team but already he has conquered many challenges which has given him a vast amount of real life knowledge and experiences of others twice his age. Jay thrives on calculated risks, and is always on the lookout for his next adventure that keeps him out of his comfort zone.