VALERIE Barnsley never misses a day of training.
The 91-year-old has been attending group fitness classes at Beaton Park Leisure Centre for more than 40 years.
“When I first started, I’d come twice a day,” she says. “But now just the one to keep busy.”
Val attends most of the Active Seniors classes, and yoga is one of her favourites because she enjoys the “stretch”.
The Wollongong resident moved to Australia with her husband, Bruce, in 1964. He was also a regular at the Centre, and loved aqua classes the most.
The couple met when Val was 14, and Bruce was “17-going-on-18” at youth fellowship in England. They had five children together – four boys and one girl. Val lost one boy full term.
“It was awful,” she says.
Three of Val’s kids live in NSW and Victoria, and one in Scotland.
Bruce died during COVID, and since then Val has lived alone, independently, and still drives.
“I learned to drive when I was pregnant in England in the snow,” she says.
The secret to Val’s enviable mobility, balance and fitness is simple:
“I’ve always enjoyed exercise,” she says.
Val, originally from Nottingham, would walk or cycle where she needed to go, rather than drive, she’s anti-alcohol, and her passion from avery young age was ballet at which she excelled.
She chose a career in orthopaedic nursing instead of becoming a professional dancer.
When Val has completed her daily workout, she likes to watch telly.
“I love Vera. She’s an English detective who has a kind philosophy toward the criminals. I like the way she talks with her Yorkshire accent.”
When asked how she plans to spend her 92nd birthday in August Val says, “forget about it.”
Seniors Yoga with Dawn, Beaton Park, Wednesdays 8am.
Yoga teacher, skydiver, martial artist and journalist. Yoga keeps her centred and reinforces her core belief that the greatest gift to each of us is ourselves. When Dawn isn’t teaching yoga, she works as a skydive camerawoman, grapples with her mates at Gracie Barra Shellharbour, and does media and promotions for stuff she loves.
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