28 Aug, 2013

Find the pathway to your good life

‘Pathways to your Good Life’ is a series of events running across the City and North Adelaide from 1-8 September and City of Adelaide has made sure the program has something for everyone.

From recycling shoes for charity to exploring the Park Lands’ bike trails, the variety of fun, informative activities is sure to inspire everyone towards their own pathway to the good life.

Healthy and sustainable eating, living and exercising are all key features of the program. People can participate in or learn about low-waste and international cooking, bike riding, general health and exercise, green cleaning, sustainable craft and crochet sessions throughout the week.

Events are being held around the City and North Adelaide including at the North Adelaide Community Centre, Council’s Box Factory and the South West Community Centre, so people can find out what’s happening in their neighbourhood and be part of the fun.

Council’s ‘Pathways to your Good Life’ program of events is a part of Adult Learners Week, an international celebration of life-long learning that is recognised in more than 40 countries around the world.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood is a great example of the importance of physical activity and eating well, having recently lost 20 kg by healthy eating, swimming and riding regularly.

“The theme of Adult Learners Week: Pathways to your Good Life, fits so well into my psyche, I’ve invested a lot of time into learning what I need to do to be healthy and I have to say, I’ve never felt so good.

“The sessions on offer during ‘Pathways to your Good Life’ make it easy and fun for everyone to start their own pathway and with winter almost behind us what better time to start making changes for a long, healthy and happy life,” said Stephen.

Soles4Souls Australia Chief Executive Officer, Dalice Kennedy is facilitating an event during the ‘Pathways to your Good Life’ program.

Dalice is the founder of Soles4Souls Australia which collects gently worn and new shoes and redistributes them to people around the world living with no or inadequate footwear to protect their feet and health and to provide the opportunities they deserve.

“In 2010 I travelled to Kenya leading a team of Australian volunteers on various development projects for three months. During that time I witnessed the negative impact no shoes can have on people of all ages, including parasite infections and cuts and scratches, which are painful and can become deadly,” Dalice said.

“Since the launch of our first shoe drive in Adelaide in September 2011 Soles4Souls Australia has redistributed more than 71,000 pairs of shoes in Australia, Tanzania and Vanuatu, with an additional 35,000 pairs of shoes set to be re-distributed within the next month.

“Come along to the event and join my session of learning, culture and recycling, and better still – bring your unwanted shoes together with a gold coin per pair,” she said.

A recent shoe recycling event in Melbourne collected more than 10,000 pairs of shoes in one-month for the barefooted of the world, and Dalice is hoping donations to the North Adelaide Library will span Tynte Street between the North Adelaide Library and O’Connell Street on Monday 2nd September.

People wanting to find out more about the Sole4Souls event can join the ‘Recycled Shoe Drive’ at the North Adelaide Community Centre and Library on Monday 2nd September at 10.30 am, which will be followed by a Tibetan cooking demonstration by Chef Bhu Chung.

The shoe collection will be open right up until September 30 2013 at the North Adelaide Community Centre and Library, and people can come in any time and donate their shoes together with a gold coin to support the transport and distribution costs.

Other events include food reuse and cooking demonstrations from the people from Bliss Organic Café and OzHarvest, group exercise sessions in Whitmore Square, creating recycled plant pots and even history walks through West Terrace Cemetery.

To find out more about what’s happening for ‘Pathways to your Good Life’ go to our website cityofadelaide.com.au/adultlearnersweek

Rebecca Draysey