TIM McDEVITT | 60 years old Police Officer for 41 years, recently retired - GDs, Witness Protection, TOU Throughout my career I tried to maintain a level of health and fitness required of my duties. It was not an easy task whilst performing shift work and trying to maintain family and social lives. Retirement has provided more time for me to focus on rebuilding and maintaining my physical and mental health as well as reconnecting to people and places. The demands in my work and personal lives often meant that I would put off having a health check-up with my G.P, having a skin check, having my eyesight checked and any other ailment that seemed to come with age. A skin check revealed that I had Stage 3A Melanoma Cancer and having my eyes checked indicated that I had the early stages of Glaucoma. If both conditions were not picked up through regular checks the potential outcomes would be blindness or death. Both conditions were managed through surgery and medication, and I live as normal and healthy a life expected for a male of my age. I now enjoy a variety of familiar and some new activities that provide the stimulus for good mental and physical health. In particular, gravel cycling. I set physical goals training for specific events which delivers personal fitness and a sense of achievement. It’s also my “happy place”. Everyone should have and activity that makes them happy and healthy and aim to enjoy their retirement through good health. TAMARA DAVIDSON | 60 years old Senior Constable, General Duties, Lake Illawarra Police District I have always been very active from a very young age. Participating in a number of different sports such as soccer, touch football, netball, tennis, cycling and running. I love all sports. I love running and go for runs most mornings, when my shifts allow, which is something that I have done since my early teens. I am at my happiest when I am exercising. Being a Senior Constable in General Duties, my job can be very stressful at times, and I find that I get a bit of anxiety which mainly hits me in the mornings, that’s when I get myself out of bed and go for a run, this clears my head and makes me feel good. I have always eaten healthy, making my own meals rather than buying takeaway, however I do love chocolate. I have passed this healthy lifestyle onto my four children and now they are doing the same with their children. I love spending time with my seven Grandchildren and fell that my regular exercise and healthy eating has made it easy for me to keep up with them. Living a healthy wellbalanced life from an early age has, I believe, helped me go through menopause with minimal issues. and beyond s Steps to Better Health and Fitness | The Importance of Periodic Health Assessments 27
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