Older Adult Fitness Instructors
Ever known an older adult fitness instructor who is highly passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of older adults? The following case studies feature qualified, experienced fitness instructors who empower older adults to be, and stay, physically active. Read on to find out what makes these instructors the best of the best.
Anne Callahan
At the YMCA Victoria 2010 Staff and Volunteer Awards, Anne Callahan, personal trainer, received an Excellence and Achievement Award for Older Adults.
At the same awards ceremony, Macleod Recreation and Fitness Centre, where Anne works, was prestigiously named YMCA of the year!
Anne is an integral part of the team at MacLeod Recreation and Fitness Centre, having worked with the YMCA for over 5 years. She has a strong commitment to living a lifestyle dedicated to health and wellness and she passes this onto Pryme Movers at the Centre.
Read Anne's story
Frances Scarrot-Goold
Frances Scarrott-Goold is the Pryme Program Co-ordinator at Northcote Aquatic & Recreation Centre and has recently completed the Kokoda Trail in Papua 
New Guinea. Seven days of high humidity, heat and torrential rain, steep climbs and even steeper descents, were shared with 18 Aussies and their local porters and support crew.
Kokoda was a personal challenge for Frances but her Pryme members and the staff at Northcote see her achievements as inspirational.
Read Frances' story
Carol Edmeades
Carol is a long term employee of the YMCA Victoria, having had 32 years experience in the fitness industry as both an instructor and program coordinator of exercise to music classes for older adults. 
She currently oversees the Pryme Movers Program at Manningham YMCA Community Wellness Centre and Donvale Indoor Sports Centre.
Her philosophy is ‘age is no barrier to exercise’. Carol is living proof of this, instructing over 9 group exercise classes a week!
Read Carol's story
Anne Cresswell
Anne Cresswell, a volunteer instructor at YMCA Benalla Aquatic Centre,
won the individual award at the Council on the Ageing Active at All Ages Awards. The Awards, held on Wednesday 23 February 2011, recognise older people who are outstanding participants, role models and volunteers in sporting and active recreational activities.
Read Anne's story.
Bill Stevens
Bill Stevens, a fitness instructor at multiple YMCA’s, has been working as a fitness instructor for over 16 years!
Bill has always been an active man and upon retirement, was inspired to become a fitness instructor to maintain his fitness levels. Bill originally anticipated that he would instruct a few classes per week. Nowadays, however, he finds that he is busy teaching more than 20 classes per week!
Read Bill's story
Maria Muccillo
Maria has worked in the fitness industry as a personal trainer for over 20 years. Her passion for physical activity and a healthy lifestyle has been ongoing, and for many years she taught physical education in schools. 
She recently completed training with the National Heart Foundation to become a qualified ‘Heart Foundation Heartmoves’ leader.
Heart Foundation Heartmoves is a low-to-moderate intensity exercise program suitable for anyone who is living with a health condition.
Read Maria's story
Mary Maguire
Mary Maguire is an Arthritis Victoria trained Warm Water Waves instructor.
Arthritis Victoria's Waves program provides gentle warm water exercise classes that offer a general workout for the whole body. All classes are held in hydrotherapy pools where the water temperature is 32 to 34°C. Classes are held at various locations across Melbourne and led by trained volunteer instructors, many of whom have a musculoskeletal condition. Mary, herself, has osteoporosis.
Read Mary's story