Walk Sydney Streets with Alan Waddell
March 21, 2007

Ninety-two-year old Alan Waddell has walked every street, lane and bush path in 232 of the suburbs of Sydney. “Australia’s Forrest Gump”, as the local media call him, took up walking after his wife of 60 years died in 2002. “I know that Marj wouldn’t have wanted me to just sit around and give up on life,” says Alan, “so I started walking some nearby streets and it grew from there.” He walks daily, averaging nearly two miles.

Alan gives talks to seniors’ groups, schools and health organizations about the benefits of walking. He is an ambassador for Australia’s National Heart Foundation and the annual Seniors’ Week. In March, 2007, his state’s premier presented him with an award for his community health work.

As well as keeping himself physically fit, Alan exercises his mind while he walks as he searches for and photographs the unusual aspects of Australia’s largest city. These are displayed on his web site www.walksydneystreets.net which has sections for everything from mail boxes to toilets.

Here are just a few of the reviews Alan has received around the world:

• "You're a legend, Alan" - Hon. Tony Abbott, Australian Minister for Health
   (Heart Foundation Week speech)
  

• "He's a legend, a terrific Sydneysider and a great Australian"
   Radio Nova (Merrick & Rosso)
  

• "An extraordinary account - an old man mapping the city with his feet"
   Adelaide Advertiser
  

• "One of the best web sites I have ever seen" - Radio 702 ABC (Simon Marnie)
  

• "Inconceivable pioneering work" - Guang Ming Daily (Malaysia)
  

• "A popular web site" - San Francisco Chronicle
  

• "Fantastic web site" - Radio New Zealand
  

• "A real-life inspiration" - The Nation (Thailand)
  

• "Australia's Forrest Gump" - 7 TV network's Today Tonight 
  

• "The North Shore's most famous athlete" - Sydney Weekly Courier
  

• "Elderly Australian walks into stardom" - China Daily, People's Daily (China)
  

• "A media darling Down Under and his fame is spreading fast across the globe"
  Kitchener Record (Canada) 

Here are some of the amazing pictures (and very humorous comments) that will get you started on your very own walk with Alan!

Colombo Road, Bilgola: I was hoping someone would open the door to tell me why no-one opens the door.	Our Ferndale Close fence at Constitutional Hill runs rings around yours.	The real estate agent must have had a field day advertising what is now a private home in Birrell Street, Bondi Junction. Possibilities abound, such as "your paradise on earth", "a heaven-sent opportunity" and "a generous offering". But we're sure you can do better.