Australian pensioners fight off old age with fencing

Their zimmer frames make them doddery, rather than D’Artagnan, but a group of Australian pensioners, at an old aged people’s home in Melbourne, has found a new lease of life through fencing.

Fencing was introduced nine months ago at the Corpus Christi Catholic home and has proved an unexpected hit among the establishment’s retired priests and nuns.

"It is just remarkable," said the home’s ‘lifestyle coordinator’ Patricia Boyd. "We have residents in their 80s and 90s, many who use walking frames, who are fencing independently. It’s a case of the mind telling the body 'you can do more than you think'."



Ms Boyd said she never intended to offer fencing as one of the home's activities but was convinced by instructor Joseph D'Onofrio, who came to work as a volunteer.

"They thought fencing? No, that was quite strange. But Joseph came along and he spoke to them and he actually went into how it's very spiritual. It just went from strength to strength and they've become very good at it."

About 16 residents aged over 80, now take part in the sessions each Monday.

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