Exercise pioneer celebrates 38 years of growing fitness in Tomaree’s over 50s

THE Tomaree Over Fifties Fitness (TOFFs) community recently celebrated its 38^th birthday with founding trainer Laraine Dunn reflecting on her ongoing involvement, and 79 years of healthy ageing.

TOFFS is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit over 50’s exercise club that operates between venues at Salamander Bay and Nelson Bay.

Five days a week from 8am, it offers classes including aerobics, weights, bands, and stretching to music, with a variety of qualified Instructors.

Head trainer Debbie Freeman said that the spirit of TOFFs is inspiring, “because it is founded upon a motivated community of older adults dedicated to achieving health, longevity and lifelong friendships.”

“The members turn-up to class, even on cold, rainy and dark mornings, all with a smile and keen to get moving.”

Pioneer trainer Laraine explained how TOFFS was transformed from an exercise research program into a unique, long-standing, unsubsidised community program aimed at increasing health, movement, sociality and fitness.

“TOFFS was inspired by a research project headed by Dr Arn Sprogis, a local GP backed by Federal funding and assistance from the Lewisham Institute of Sports Medicine,” she said. ”I was on board as a trainer.”

“We only expected small numbers to be part of the research, however 180 registered and most were still involved six months later when the project finished.

“The participants were so inspired and enthused they formed a committee, wrote their own constitution and pioneered TOFFs.

“In retrospect, I never imagined this would cement itself into a major senior health and wellness program in the Nelson Bay area.

Laraine said she was keen to be a part of the research program because of her interest in health and exercise as an older adult.

Her greatest reward, having been involved in establishing TOFFs and still working as a trainer, is that she gets to be part of the longevity of the club while witnessing the physical and mental health benefits for participants.

“So many members regain, retrain and retain their wellness, and health,” she said.

Laraine is proud that TOFFS exercise instructors “deliver safe, effective exercise for functioning and mobility to maintain capacity, in an environment that is nurturing, supporting and social, which provides a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose.”

She also believes the social outings, which have included bowling tournaments, coffee catch-ups and grief support, provide that sense of connection that the ageing population needs to combat loneliness, isolation and depression.

“Grassroots level teaching … has been my greatest learning curve. It widened my horizons, created greater awareness and has given me a huge amount of joy.”

“For me, this is exciting and uplifting. And as I age, I strive to walk the talk and be a good example of proactive aging.

“I am often one of the three oldest people in the class.”

Laraine’s most poignant memories include modifying an exercise circuit so that a lady with emphysema and lymphatic cancer could sit whenever she got chest pain, and rejoin at a lower intensity when she felt better.

This was a light bulb moment because it proved that “regardless of age and diagnosis, we need that sense of achievement and sense of purpose.”

One TOFFs lady that Laraine trained was from a circus, another was one of the first female pilots in Australia.

Laraine believes that while TOFFs has “shaped our community by having proactive, dedicated community members and trainers… it has had the deeper, ripple effect of tackling issues like ageism, gender bias and disempowerment.”

For more information about joining TOFFs exercise classes, contact Robin Oxborrow on 0434 950 440.

By Jacie WHITFIELD