Students at Sandgate District State High School are helping older members of the community stay fit and healthy, while learning plenty about days gone by at the same time.
The school’s Year 12 Certificate III in Fitness students have teamed up with the Sandgate RSL sub-branch to offer physical training sessions to local veterans.
Physical education teacher, Dan Parkes, said the program benefited both students and veterans.
“The students do a health and fitness screening with the veterans, and then design a program based on their fitness levels,” he said.
“A lot of the time, our fitness students work with younger students in the school, or they work with the teachers, so this is something a bit different for them.
“I took some of the students to the sub-committee meeting to meet the members, and it was great, they were impressed with the memorabilia on display there.”
Veterans receive a health and physical screening from the students, as well as two high-quality resistance training session plans, and two one-on-one resistance training sessions.
Dan, who served in the military in his early 20s before becoming a teacher, said it was great to see different generations learning from each other.
A Student’s Perspective on the Program
Fitness student Zen, 17, said he “really enjoyed” the class, and working with veteran Mike, aged 80.
“It’s a good opportunity to work with the community and help people,” he said.
“It’s very interesting writing the program and learning from Mike as well, about his life and his past.
“And with the fitness program, we have to take into consideration any injuries Mike might have, and how to tailor the exercises so that he can still do it.”
Mike told the Sandgate Guide the program was proving to be beneficial.
“My primary reason for doing it is that anything I can do to help the education of the youth, I’m happy to do it,” he said.
“And you know, if it can help me live a few years longer, that’s great too. It’s harder to stay in shape the older you get – there’s plenty of aches and pains.”
Zen added his older brother was currently serving in the military.
“I don’t think it’s the path for me, but I really like working with Mike, and I like this class,” he said.
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