By Callum Ludwig
A treasured Upper Yarra community member celebrated his 90th birthday on Wednesday 24 August, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Millgrove resident Egon Fink hit the milestone, and spent the morning leading the session for his beloved warm-water exercise class at the Yarra Centre in Yarra Junction.
Mr Fink said he loves everything about the group.
“I love the exercise and the company, it’s good for my body. Together we are not just at the pool exercising, we socialise too,” he said.
“I’ve been going to the pool exercises longer than most of them, since when the pool opened when we came further out into the Valley from Mount Evelyn. I noticed the pool and I’ve always liked it.”
Mr Fink has been attending the warm water exercises classes for over 15 years, starting back in 2007.
Mr Fink said it was nice to have so many great friends to celebrate with him.
“I certainly feel a bit special,” he said.
“I’m part of four groups, I have my family, the swimming group, the table tennis group and my car show group and I am seeing them all today.”
Mr fink and his wife Maureen help start up the table tennis club at the Yarra Centre back in 2009 and have run it ever since. Before Covid, it was a group of about 30 people which has reduced to 20-25 but the club still regularly plays on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Maureen Fink said their involvement at the Yarra Centre has been lovely and a great social activity.
“When moving to a new area and not knowing anybody, it has been great, it’s how we’ve met everyone we know up here,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful area, similar to Mount Evelyn and the people are really nice, it’s been a godsend really. When you are working you meet lots of people but once you retire, your social circle shrinks. We have lots of nice memories here.”
