May 2008 saw Billie Hunia, a lovely lady in her mid seventies, sitting staring out the window, contemplating her future. She had raised her large family but the nest was now bare with the kids grown up and doing their own thing. Billie, a recent retiree, starting noticing weight gain and a decline in her mental wellbeing. Once, an avid whitebaiter, who loved the river, Billie had even sold her nets. She stated that her energy levels and incentive to get going had disappeared. Even though Billie lived her years in the health industry as a life member of the Volunteer Ambulance Service and even had community service awards lining her walls, her heart health had deteriorated. “I was annoyed at myself and was devastated that what I used to promote as a 'Health Educator' now saw me switching roles!” After all her life of giving to the community, she now admitted that she needed some help.
A visit to her local GP saw a referral to the Sport Southland Green Prescription team. Ann Robbie, Patient Support Person made contact and from there - Well – she hasn’t looked back! Billie speaks of her journey – “The encouragement and ideas that flowed soon had me off the couch and into some home-based exercises. Starting with loan DVD's, I increased my muscle strength over the first 2 months. Then it came time to venture outside. Initially I could only walk to my mailbox, which is 20m from my home, before I would start huffing and puffing. I was too embarrassed to do anything outside of my home, as friends would stop and offer me a ride or ask 'What the hell are you doing'? Now I have the answer - "I'm walking my way back into a healthy lifestyle, why don't you join me"? I've lost 10kg and heading towards the 20kg mark. This will help me to enjoy my time with my family of grand children and great grand children.
It has taken a lot of determination. Best of all for me is knowing that Ann and the team are there to support me. Green Prescription is a brilliant programme! At present I am managing about 2km 4 times a week on undulating ground and my breathing is so much easier. I'm feeling so much better and I'm wearing some of my old clothes again. My goal now is walking up some of the local hills and returning to community organisations and promoting health again!”
Well done Billie, you are an inspiration to many in the Southland community, that it is never too late to start reaping the benefits of regular physical activity!
