She is not easing up any time soon

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July 22, 2025

Keeping brain and body active is her key motivator for a healthy and long life. Local Whitianga resident Anne Knowles celebrated her 87th birthday recently and has no plans or intensions to ease up any time soon on what is currently a well-balanced, enjoyable, healthy and disciplined lifestyle.

Anne is following a lifestyle that gives her energy and purpose.

Staying active both from a physical and mental perspective has always played a big part in Annes daily regime, more so since her husband Malcolm passed away suddenly in 2008 which left a large gap in her life.

“We use to do a lot of tramping and jogging together and I still have fond memories of several long and enjoyable tramps on Mt Ruapehu. I continued walking after Malcom passed away but eventually my artificial hip was causing me problems. Also, I injured a knee after falling carrying a laundry basket, so swimming and riding my e-Trike became part of my daily exercise routine from around 2005 onwards. There was no way I was ever going to give up on regular exercise. I just had to find activities that were enjoyable, created less impact and kept my body parts moving.”

Living in an apartment and resort block which has an outdoor heated swimming pool at her disposal, allows for an early morning start with between 60 and 75 minutes of nonstop exercise most days. That’s often followed by a 10-to-12-kilometre cycle ride along the beachfront on her e-Trike when the weather allows.

Regular exercise also means there are no guilt trips when it comes to sitting for hours absorbing herself in her love for completing difficult jigsaw puzzles along with reading or getting out and playing competitive bridge. “I read somewhere that activities like puzzles use both sides of your brain at the same time. Well, all I can say about that is it definitely keeps my grey matter fully challenged for many hours on end,” says Anne.

Anne’s connection with Whitianga dates back to 1962 when husband Malcolm took up a role in teaching at what was then called Mercury Bay District School. They had originally left London in 1960 by ship and Malcolm had initially spent two years teaching at Queen Elizabeth College in Palmerston North before arriving in Whitianga. In 1968, they decided to head for the far north and spent 37 years in Kaitaia, where Malcolm taught at the local college before they made the call to retire back to Whitianga.

Overcoming hardship and keeping a positive mindset has been a hallmark of Anne’s life. As a child living in Middlesbrough England, she lived in a terrace house with no connected hot water, no bathroom and an outside toilet. A tin bath, which was also used as the outside washing tub, was brought in on a Saturday night and filled with water boiled from an outside tub. This allowed the five-member family to take turns having a much welcomed bath.

“We still made the best of what little resources we had and I have always focussed on staying positive and as physically healthy and fit as I can be. It was a tough life which taught me discipline, determination and hard work will eventually make for a better life. Age is no barrier to keeping up those standards either, one just has to adjust and find new ways to exercise, stay motivated and to keep a positive outlook on life. For me the pool, riding my e-Trike, completing puzzles and playing bridge suits me just fine and makes me content.”

One tip Anne is keen to pass onto others living alone is keeping a St Johns alarm handy.

“I have two; one for around the house and the second one is amazing;- I can press two buttons and talk direct to someone who can provide help. It also has GPS, so if I’m driving for example and feel unwell, they can locate my position quickly anywhere in New Zealand. I put the GPS one on the side of the pool. It definitely provides me with some added peace of mind.”

Anne is certainly a great example of the benefits of living a busy but balanced life in an effort to maintain her independence, but also to keep both the mind sharp and the body moving all in keeping with her age.

Anne is following a lifestyle that gives her energy and purpose.

Staying active both from a physical and mental perspective has always played a big part in Annes daily regime, more so since her husband Malcolm passed away suddenly in 2008 which left a large gap in her life.

One tip Anne is keen to pass onto others living alone is keeping a St Johns alarm handy.

Anne is certainly a great example of the benefits of living a busy but balanced life in an effort to maintain her independence, but also to keep both the mind sharp and the body moving all in keeping with her age.

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