Olympic legend shares secrets

Queensland’s Bunya Mountains are resonating with whispers of a legendary Olympian who will soon visit Kingaroy to share her secrets about achieving lifelong good health and overcoming life’s hurdles.

Hundreds of people will attend a banquet dinner to hear Raelene Boyle (pictured) speak at Orana Lutheran Complex on Friday 23 November. 

Ms Boyle will speak about overcoming the hurdles of life through positive living. She will encourage others to ‘go for gold and pink!’

“Gold and pink are two symbols which are meaningful for me. Gold for perfection and pink representing breast cancer,” she says.

The legendary athlete will share her experiences and stories about her sporting career and overcoming personal hurdles such as battling ovarian and breast cancer. 

Ms Boyle represented Australia at three Olympic Games as a sprinter and won three silver medals. She also won seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

“Sport has been my life. When I look across the breadth and depth of my competitive running career I grew from all of the events.

“In 1982 I got to say thank you to the community who supported me and say goodbye on home soil at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games.”

She adds sport has given her the focus to “get on with the job” of recovery after the setbacks she has experienced.

Proceeds from a raffle and an auctioned gift pack will go toward the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) on the night.

BCNA represents the women with the disease going through the journey.

“Many voices heading in the right direction can help make a change and make the journey better for all women diagnosed,” Ms Boyle says.

The dinner will start at 6pm and there will be lucky door prizes, raffles and live entertainment throughout the night.

Ms Boyle says it is important for older Queenslanders to lead an active life and keep health at the top of their agendas.

“There is no doubt that by keeping yourself well physically you are also keeping yourself well psychologically, which takes the daunting things out of life so you can see things clearly,” she says.

“Choose the sport that suits you personally like swimming, walking, gym, golf, cycling; as long as you’re keeping active.

“Exercise is important from a wellbeing point of view. It also helps get us out of the house so we are not festering and getting depressed in our homes.

“It is important to get outside and freshen up our minds with positive thoughts.”

Orana Lutheran Complex general manager, Richard Fahy, says Ms Boyle’s speech will empower residents and the community with tips for maintaining good health and experiencing quality of life.

“Health is the most important subject matter. The purpose of the evening is to draw upon a broad range of health-related areas to improve the services needed in rural aged care.

Ms Boyle will discuss the role of exercise and nutrition in assisting to maintain independence and good health as people age.

Cost is $44 per person or $400 for a table of 10 (including GST). Bookings to Richard Fahy at Orana on (07) 4162 6555.