There was a frenzy of activity at Parklands Opal, Bairnsdale recently.
Residents literally got on their bikes throughout the month to cycle in the global Motiview cycling championship, Road Worlds for Seniors, and ranked 90th in the world out of 200, and 11th in Australia. Collectively, the Parklands residents cycled 643.3km in the Motiview RWS event.
Road Worlds for Seniors is the annual cycling competition that comes free for participants with the yearly subscription to Motiview, which was wholly funded for Parklands for 2025 by The Rotary Club of Bairnsdale Sunrise.
Every participant receives a medal as a token of appreciation and recognition
of their efforts.
Parklands staff member Carrissa specially produced RWS t-shirts, to wear for this year’s fun event, labelled ‘Tour de Parklands’.
Residents cycled to videos from the Motiview video library, which offers more than 2200 videos for seniors to reminisce as
they pedal and share stories with those around them.
“This is great – it’s raining outside, but
I’m riding on the beach,” resident Helen Newman said.
Lynette Tomkins welcomed the exercise.
“Wow, this is really good – but I’m feeling it,” she said.
Road Worlds for Seniors, the only global indoor championship for seniors and people with dementia, allows older people and people with dementia to take part in a global sporting event – even though they might live in a long-term care facility.
The championship makes the cyclists become a part of something bigger – a global movement focusing on physical activity and reminiscence for people that are normally not able to take part in such initiatives.
This year, Parklands residents were able
to join thousands of cyclists from nursing homes, day care centres and senior centres around the world.
They welcomed the event with
great enthusiasm.
“I just love this,” Claire Cunningham said.
“I feel good,” Janice Baxter said.
The Parklands care team plans to include Motiview on the weekly program every second day.
As Rosemary Cooper said, “keep Motiview on the program – it’s good for the soul.”
Sunrise Rotary, recognising the advantage of Motiview for residents in aged care, especially those living with dementia, has already reserved funding to offer Motiview to another local aged care facility in 2026.
