Page 9 - Waterfall City Issue 7 July 2024

Waterfall City’s
MATURE OLYMPICS 2024

“Never put an age limit on your dreams,”

- Dara Torres, four-time Olympic champion, swimming
A t the Waterfall Mature Lifestyle Estates (Waterfall

Hills and Waterfall Valley), there has been no
need to wait for the Paris 2024 Olympics in
July-August this year, as these estates have
hosted their very own during April and May, showing
everyone how important it is to engage in an active
lifestyle and foster a community of care when retiring.

The making of the games
The Mature Olympics 2024 is the brainchild of Pam Fletcher,
an Ex-Physical Education (PE) teacher who lives at Waterfall
Hills Mature Lifestyle Estate. Alongside Linda Evans from
Waterfall Hills, Ronelle Baker, Events Co-ordinator at
Waterfall Valley and a very able team of around 50 dedicated
individuals, they created their own Olympic Games for the
Mature Lifestyle Estates in Waterfall City. Pam’s vision was to
re-ignite friendships, skills, and cross-estate interaction.

“We always wanted the two estates to work more closely
together to get people out of their homes and socialising.
The thinking was that one may have once upon a time
enjoyed a certain physical activity, and there are likely some Torch Bearer and resident Brenda Fitzgerald at the Waterfall City Mature
enthusiastic sportspersons among us keen to show off Olympics 2024 mini opening ceremony.
their talents. We also wanted to create great spectatorship
opportunities, especially for those not partaking, and
showcase our estates’ amazing facilities.”

The action kicked off in April, and an admin team was
appointed to plan the opening ceremony. According to
Linda, many questions arose.

“What is the history of the Olympic Flame, and how would
we symbolically replicate it, with Olympia being the
birthplace, then carried to The Games? How would one
carry a lit torch from the Waterfall Valley Mature Lifestyle Waterfall Ciity Mature Olympics 2024 opening ceremony.
Estate through the streets of Waterfall City to Waterfall
Hills? Was permission required or, heaven forbid, a police
escort needed? Do we have a willing Torch Bearer to run the
route? More importantly, how do we re-enact the tradition
with authenticity and in compliance with health and safety
regulations, yet realistic enough to interest our residents?”

Several meetings, ideas and collaboration with various
residents and Waterfall City Management brought it together.
As a result, the Mature Olympics 2024 kicked off with a mini
opening ceremony at Waterfall Valley, where Greece was
represented by resident Ekaterini Baumann Markaki, dressed
in national colours and an olive wreath crown, who handed 5km Park Run

Waterfall City Issue 7 2024 7