Meet the mall walkers: People who find friendship in empty shopping centres

Updated

At dawn in an empty shopping centre in Brisbane, small groups of avid walkers come together not only to pound the pavement for exercise, but for company and community.

"You're more inclined to get out of bed and walk if you know you have people to meet and if I don't go they wonder where I am." Stafford Steppers organiser Joan Watkins

The Stafford Steppers in Brisbane's north have been walking three times a week for almost 10 years.

Many of the walkers have beaten cancer, lost a partner or are recovering from illness and find a sense of community being part of this unique group.

"I moved to the area and I didn't know anyone so I decided to start the walking group and now I've met lots of people over the years." Stafford Stepper organiser Joan Watson

"I had a full medical a week or two ago and I'm 79-years-old and there's nothing wrong with me." Walker Errol Maloney

"After I had breast cancer it [the walking] got me out and about again and it was really important for me to do that." Walker Robyn Stimson

"You just do what you can plus you can sit down and have a break and then start again." Walker Elaine Hawthorne

"I like walking at 7am as don't have to worry about my wife looking into shops as they're shut and that's it." Walker Errol Maloney

"Many of us are living on our own and it gives us the chance to come together and walk." Stafford Steppers organiser Joan Watson

"It's peaceful and flat and we can walk rain, hail or shine plus there's safety in numbers inside." Stafford Steppers organiser Joan Watson

"I had a bad fall and smashed my hip and was using a walker, but now I'm doing lap upon lap of the shopping centre now just with a walking stick." Walker Elaine Hawthorne

"It's camaraderie and the sense of being together." Stafford Steppers organiser Joan Watson

"I really hope it keeps going in the future, it's important for many of us." Stafford Stepper organiser Joan Watson

Topics: older-people, community-and-society, health, exercise-and-fitness, human-interest, brisbane-4000

First posted