Horsham’s Stan Penny attributes his new outlook on life to his fitness regime – he has been a regular at the gym for the past 10 years, joining when he was 85.

“That’s what’s keeping me alive,” Mr Penny said.

“Honestly – I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have this. They’re a good lot of people.”

Planet Feelgood gym owner Lisa Cosson leads ‘Strive to Survive’, which Mr Penny attends twice a week.

“The class focuses on resistance training to help manage chronic disease,” she said.

“Most people coming in have type two diabetes, type one diabetes, any sort of chronic disease from heart attack, stroke, hip replacement, knee replacement, brain acquired injury, Parkinson’s – there’s all different conditions.”

Ms Cosson said Mr Penny joined the gym via Wimmera Health Care Group. 

“Unfortunately, his wife had passed, and he was having some emotional and wellbeing troubles – he talks about ‘blue days’,” she said.

“Now he’s fitter, stronger, taller, and cheekier than when he first started, and he just loves it, he loves the banter.”

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