A Professional Tennis Player??

Teacher Truths

I’ve always loved walking. As a student, I used to walk to and from school every day and I never saw this as a chore, rather a time to relax, chat to friends and explore new roads and paths on my journey home. Sometimes, and only sometimes, the walk home provided a good opportunity to get up to a bit of mischief. Not that I encourage that… Weekends were spent walking to the tennis courts at Queen’s Park, playing all day and into the evening and then walking home (always being prepared to use my Wilson tennis racquet as a weapon if any louts dared threaten me). As a youth, walking was merely a form of transport and was more suitable than a bike for someone who is a bit clumsy at times. I never stopped to take in the beauty of Healesville.

By the time my early thirties came around I realised it was becoming increasingly unlikely that I was going to become a professional tennis player or the next Goal Keeper for the Australian Diamonds (I blame it all on being ‘short’ and don’t believe it has anything to do with my athletic ability). So anyway, I decided being an Assistant Principal was the next best thing and also determined walking would be my next ‘sport’. Walking seemed to be a suitable option. You can do it solo, do it with others and it doesn’t require an overly disciplined training regime. This was an added bonus, because at about the same time I realised I was never going to be a professional athlete, I also realised I’m a bit lazy and I hate training.

Over the past few years walking has been my ‘thing’.  I’ve completed Oxfam twice, a gruelling 100km walk, with my best time being just over 24 hours. I was supposed to be on long service leave for Term Two and was intending on completing an 850 km walk in Spain (thankfully Mr Rennick was kind enough to allow me to cancel my leave, since I can’t even leave Healesville, let alone the country.) To prepare for Oxfam and the Spanish Camino I have completed training walks all over Victoria; searching for the biggest hills and prettiest views to keep me inspired and fit.

Interestingly, very few training walks have taken place in Healesville. Since we have already established that I don’t have the capacity to be a professional athlete and I am lazy, this paragraph is not intended to highlight my athletic prowess and endurance (despite what you may think). The key point of this paragraph, and probably the entire piece?

Why haven’t I, until now, been walking in Healesville? We live in a walker’s paradise and I am only just starting to appreciate this.

So, one of the key lessons I have learnt from COVID-19? Appreciate your own ‘backyard’, especially if you are privileged enough to live in a place like Healesville. Even though I am lazy, I’ve been walking all over the place and I’ve absolutely loved it and all the beauty associated with autumn in our town. I’ve walked the roads and ‘secret’ paths of my youth (minus the mischief, unfortunately), roads I never knew existed and I’ve walked up some bloody big mountains that rival anything else Victoria has to offer. And the best thing, other than my Taylor Swift playlist? Easy, passing (1.5 metres apart) so many other people, including students and parents, who are also walking and hopefully appreciating our surrounds as much as I am.

I’ve even started making my walks more challenging by adding in some running. I’m not at the point that I can say this is enjoyable, but it does make me feel proud, fulfilled and very sore afterwards. I’m feeling pretty fit, probably the fittest I have felt for years. If the Assistant Principal gig doesn’t work out for me, maybe there is still time to make it as a professional tennis player? Serena Williams is older than me and she’s still formidable. Watch this space…

So my advice? Notice the beauty around you. Stop and take a photo, admire the views and appreciate what we have.

Laura Mitchell- Assistant Principal and possible professional tennis player