‘The Fab Five’ and their key to healthy and happy ageing
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If by any chance you happen to come across a swimming pool in Melbourne’s Boroondara Sports Complex with a group of five old men swimming about, what would be the first words that would come to your mind?
‘These men are fabulous’?
Well, somebody must have thought that, because the people you’re seeing are called the ‘Fab Five’.
‘But some people unkindly call us the Flab Five,’ 68-year-old group member Angelo Natoli joked.
How does one gain entrance to such a group?
According to Angelo, there’s one requirement in their ‘serious screening process’: ‘It’s called breathing.’
From Angelo alone, you can tell that they’re a fun bunch, aren’t they?
Angelo is thick as thieves with his swimming buddies Graham Polkinghorne, 91; John Tait, 73; Lou Coldebella, 87; and newest member Dennis McArdle.
Five men in Melbourne struck a unique friendship centred on their swimming hobby. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Cottonbro studio
Believe it or not, the five men only became close to one another thirteen years ago after a chance encounter at their local pool, where they once separately went about their own ways.
The rest, as they say, is history.
‘We met by circumstance and we talk about anything and everything. We solve the world’s problems over a cup of coffee every Friday, but authorities just don’t listen to us,’ John said in an interview.
And more recently, he said: ‘We're not out to break records … we're out to get exercise and a bit of companionship as well.’
One key detail is that the members of The Fab Five all have backgrounds in physical activity, with all of them into sports like rugby and jogging in their younger years.
Lou, an avid jogger, shared how he ended up swimming: ‘I’ve always been conscious of trying to keep fit – I used to jog a bit.’
‘And then I got old, my bones started to creak, back ached, and I was having knee problems so I thought I better take up swimming.’
Swimming is one of the few activities that engages the body’s muscles throughout. In addition, it also tones your muscles and builds strength and endurance.
What’s more, it has also been recommended for people with injuries and conditions such as arthritis that make movement on land difficult, like in Lou’s case.
Graham, the oldest of the group, also added his thoughts on the group’s regular swimming sessions.
‘With me, it's a matter of necessity because it becomes like having an appointment,’ he said.
‘That's what keeps me alive, I think. Otherwise, I'd probably be staying in bed more often.’
The friendship of the five has even extended beyond the pool and into each other’s lives, with catch-up sessions over shared cuppas being commonplace now, years after they first started talking.
And for Angelo, their friendship has given him a new spark.
‘It feels good, very good,’ he said. ‘I feel fresh, ready for the day.’
For Dr Kate Gregorevic, Angelo and the rest of the Fab Five are one example of how people can keep positive attitudes toward ageing and combat internalised negativities that come with old age.
‘It's not inevitable that people of a certain age will not be capable of doing things,’ she said.
But with that in mind, Dr Gregorevic also stresses that there are lifestyle adjustments that seniors can do for a healthier mind and body, such as eating more leafy greens and veggies and making a routine that includes physical activity.
‘People don't realise how important that is. But one of the things that happens as you get older — it's particularly relevant for women — is that you lose muscle mass … and over time it can get to the point where it's harder to do things like get out of a chair, and you become at risk of falls,’ she explained.
‘So maintaining (strength) is really important for you to be able to do what you want in later life.’
‘And of course, maintaining your brain health is really important for enjoying life for all those long years hopefully ahead of us.’
This leads us to her next point: the value of having fun.
‘I think it's really underrated how important it is to have fun in life,’ Dr Gregorevic said.
‘We all need that… The reality is there's no 100 per cent guarantees of anything. And so you've got to find your bits of enjoyment, wherever you can, in the everyday.’
But wait, what’s keeping a positive outlook got to do with ageing? A lot, according to Flinders University School of Psychology Associate Professor Tim Windsor.
‘We can form negative views of what it means to be older when we're very young. And then as we age … we can begin to see ourselves in a negative light if those beliefs about ageing already have a negative nature,’ he said.
‘Awareness of losses associated with ageing is related to poorer outcomes in terms of health and wellbeing.’
As they say, knowledge is power. And with that knowledge — the recognition of what we lose as we grow old — we can see the windows of opportunity that open up, like how five men looking for physical activity ended up finding friendship in their twilight years.
‘If we're optimistic about the future and are aware of resources that we might have built up as a result of growing older, we might be more likely to mobilise those resources … that are going to help preserve well-being into the future,’ Windsor added.
And for Angelo, as he looks at yet another year with the Fab Five, he has but one piece of advice to those his age looking to get active despite everything.
‘Do it. Do something, anyway. Don't just sit around. Get in and do something, either swimming, walking, or whatever,’ he said.
‘But not at this pool because it'll get bloody crowded.’
And here we were wondering if there was room for us. To be fair, the ‘Fab Two-Hundred Thousand and Five’ does sound awful!
In case you still need convincing to exercise, here’s one article on getting motivated that might help!
That said, we highly urge you to consult a medical professional for more tailored advice on the kinds of physical activity you can engage in.
So, what do you think of the Fab Five’s friendship formed through a healthy habit? Do you have a similar setup with your friends?
Tell us your thoughts and stories below!
‘These men are fabulous’?
Well, somebody must have thought that, because the people you’re seeing are called the ‘Fab Five’.
‘But some people unkindly call us the Flab Five,’ 68-year-old group member Angelo Natoli joked.
How does one gain entrance to such a group?
According to Angelo, there’s one requirement in their ‘serious screening process’: ‘It’s called breathing.’
From Angelo alone, you can tell that they’re a fun bunch, aren’t they?
Angelo is thick as thieves with his swimming buddies Graham Polkinghorne, 91; John Tait, 73; Lou Coldebella, 87; and newest member Dennis McArdle.
Five men in Melbourne struck a unique friendship centred on their swimming hobby. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Cottonbro studio
Five men in Melbourne struck a unique friendship centred on their swimming hobby. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Cottonbro studio
Believe it or not, the five men only became close to one another thirteen years ago after a chance encounter at their local pool, where they once separately went about their own ways.
The rest, as they say, is history.
‘We met by circumstance and we talk about anything and everything. We solve the world’s problems over a cup of coffee every Friday, but authorities just don’t listen to us,’ John said in an interview.
And more recently, he said: ‘We're not out to break records … we're out to get exercise and a bit of companionship as well.’
One key detail is that the members of The Fab Five all have backgrounds in physical activity, with all of them into sports like rugby and jogging in their younger years.
Lou, an avid jogger, shared how he ended up swimming: ‘I’ve always been conscious of trying to keep fit – I used to jog a bit.’
‘And then I got old, my bones started to creak, back ached, and I was having knee problems so I thought I better take up swimming.’
Swimming is one of the few activities that engages the body’s muscles throughout. In addition, it also tones your muscles and builds strength and endurance.
What’s more, it has also been recommended for people with injuries and conditions such as arthritis that make movement on land difficult, like in Lou’s case.
Graham, the oldest of the group, also added his thoughts on the group’s regular swimming sessions.
Swimming is a recommended activity for those with conditions affecting movement such as arthritis. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Towfiqu Barbhuiya
‘With me, it's a matter of necessity because it becomes like having an appointment,’ he said.
‘That's what keeps me alive, I think. Otherwise, I'd probably be staying in bed more often.’
The friendship of the five has even extended beyond the pool and into each other’s lives, with catch-up sessions over shared cuppas being commonplace now, years after they first started talking.
And for Angelo, their friendship has given him a new spark.
‘It feels good, very good,’ he said. ‘I feel fresh, ready for the day.’
‘It's not inevitable that people of a certain age will not be capable of doing things,’ she said.
But with that in mind, Dr Gregorevic also stresses that there are lifestyle adjustments that seniors can do for a healthier mind and body, such as eating more leafy greens and veggies and making a routine that includes physical activity.
‘People don't realise how important that is. But one of the things that happens as you get older — it's particularly relevant for women — is that you lose muscle mass … and over time it can get to the point where it's harder to do things like get out of a chair, and you become at risk of falls,’ she explained.
‘So maintaining (strength) is really important for you to be able to do what you want in later life.’
‘And of course, maintaining your brain health is really important for enjoying life for all those long years hopefully ahead of us.’
This leads us to her next point: the value of having fun.
‘I think it's really underrated how important it is to have fun in life,’ Dr Gregorevic said.
‘We all need that… The reality is there's no 100 per cent guarantees of anything. And so you've got to find your bits of enjoyment, wherever you can, in the everyday.’
Dr Gregorovic advises seniors to let loose and have fun in addition to practising healthy lifestyle choices. Stock Image Credit: Pexels/Vlada Karpovich
But wait, what’s keeping a positive outlook got to do with ageing? A lot, according to Flinders University School of Psychology Associate Professor Tim Windsor.
‘We can form negative views of what it means to be older when we're very young. And then as we age … we can begin to see ourselves in a negative light if those beliefs about ageing already have a negative nature,’ he said.
‘Awareness of losses associated with ageing is related to poorer outcomes in terms of health and wellbeing.’
As they say, knowledge is power. And with that knowledge — the recognition of what we lose as we grow old — we can see the windows of opportunity that open up, like how five men looking for physical activity ended up finding friendship in their twilight years.
‘If we're optimistic about the future and are aware of resources that we might have built up as a result of growing older, we might be more likely to mobilise those resources … that are going to help preserve well-being into the future,’ Windsor added.
And for Angelo, as he looks at yet another year with the Fab Five, he has but one piece of advice to those his age looking to get active despite everything.
‘Do it. Do something, anyway. Don't just sit around. Get in and do something, either swimming, walking, or whatever,’ he said.
‘But not at this pool because it'll get bloody crowded.’
And here we were wondering if there was room for us. To be fair, the ‘Fab Two-Hundred Thousand and Five’ does sound awful!
In case you still need convincing to exercise, here’s one article on getting motivated that might help!
That said, we highly urge you to consult a medical professional for more tailored advice on the kinds of physical activity you can engage in.
So, what do you think of the Fab Five’s friendship formed through a healthy habit? Do you have a similar setup with your friends?
Tell us your thoughts and stories below!
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