Group’s sole purpose is keeping one step ahead of virus blues – The Age

“And everyone that responded was in agreement that they had the same thing.”
Brunswick Sole Mates quickly blossomed into a large network of walkers, providing company, support and community, especially for Ms Sampson, who moved to Melbourne from Adelaide in 2017.
“You automatically feel safe when youre with someone else you dont mind going through those dark corners of the park because youre there together,” she said.
Now, with toughened coronavirus restrictions in place, Ms Sampson said she felt a renewed sense of need to look out for each other during what will be a tough six weeks.
When organising a walk, members would usually post their starting location, time, date and planned route. There is no expectation or requirement to talk to your fellow walker and some people prefer to listen to headphones.
Walks must be within postcodes, with just one other person and keeping 1.5 metres apart.
“We have a responsibility to follow the instructions and the guidelines that are set for us, but we also have a responsibility to look out for our own mental health,” Ms Sampson said.
“I know for me, getting outside of the house for a walk is so important for that, and if Im allowed to safely walk near somebody else within my community, I will use the opportunity to do that.”
The walks give residents a bout of physical exercise, but for those who want to talk theyre also an important emotional outlet.
“We talk about anything on these walks from work to our love life to the pandemic, family and concerns,” Ms Sampson said.
“I feel comforted to know Im not the only person experiencing what Im experiencing but that we can come together and have a nice walk and not be fearful of what might happen if were walking alone.”
Anita van Rooyen, a longstanding member who has always worked from home, found the group through Ms Sampsons Facebook post and thought “oh my god, that sounds ace”.
Since coronavirus, a period she calls “incubation, not isolation”, she has seen the groups numbers “explode”. Moreland mayor Lambros Tapinos even came on a walk before restrictions tightened earlier this year.
Last Thursday, on the first night of renewed lockdown, Brunswick Sole Mates had three separate outings simultaneously in restricted pairs of two.
Ms van Rooyen was on one of those walks, and shared her recent feelings of heaviness and flatness with another walker, who was experiencing the same thing.
“Last time we went into this space our pantries werent organised and we hadnt gone through all the cupboardsand now our pantries are clean. Our laundry cupboard is immaculate. So what do you do with yourself then?” she said.
Miss Sampson said it had been difficult to navigate the changing lockdown rules but she was determined to forge ahead.

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