Every fortnight for the past 25 years, the Sunshine Stompers have put on their walking shoes and gone for a stroll.
It all started in 1990 when the then-Sunshine council started up a walking group at Brimbank Park.
Sunshine resident Gilbert Bell, who was there at the first walk, remembers more than 60 people coming together in the early days and travelling all over Melbourne by train to walk around different locations.
Numbers diminished as the years went by, but the group, which became known as the Sunshine Stompers, still draws at least a dozen faithful walkers every fortnight.
Mr Bell, 93, has stayed on for the entire quarter-century, as have original committee members Arthur and Shirley Anstey.
Mr Bell said the group usually walks up to eight kilometres before stopping for lunch.
“We’ve been to Ferntree Gully,” he said.
“The other day we went to Williamstown. We’re going to the Botanical Gardens next … we go all over the place,” he said.
“I’ve always enjoyed it. I enjoy the people and I’ve made quite a few friends.”
The Sunshine Stompers will celebrate their 25th birthday on May 11.
For more information about the Sunshine Stompers, call Mr Bell on 9311 4103.
