Migrants afforded friendship, fitness

Cranbourne’s Casey RACE aquatic centre has been helping improve the life of migrants in the community by partnering with the Southern Migrant Resource Centre (SMRC).
SMRC provides support to new migrant and refugee communities living in the Casey, Greater Dandenong and Cardinia regions.
A group of migrant seniors have been coming to Casey RACE with the help of SMRC to further develop their wellbeing and day-to-day living skills.
They participate in a range of physical activities at Casey RACE from using the hydrotherapy pool to the gym and everything in between.
The 19 participants of the group are all over 65 years of age and include migrants from all over the world including Iraq, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Spain.
Thelma Fiasco has been a member of the group for two years after she migrated to Australia from the Philippines.
She said she had made many great friends through the group and had found she didn’t feel her age.
“The group has allowed me to meet friends, and exercising at Casey RACE has been great for my health, especially as I get older,” Ms Fiasco said.
Another participant from Sri Lanka, Thambiah Suntharalingam, joined the group after having heart bypass surgery, and said it had allowed him to maintain good heart health.
“I needed to improve my health and strength,” he said.
“Casey RACE has helped me do that; there is a lot of equipment which is easy to use and the instructors are helpful and friendly.”
Program Worker for the group Merina Perera says the group has been very helpful to migrants to develop basic life skills and maintain their health.
“Being a member of the group and coming to Casey RACE helps migrants socially interact with each other and the community, become healthier and increase their balance and strength,” she said.