On for young and... older

WHAT’S that saying? You’re as young as you feel?

Just ask 59-year-old Dubbo transport driver and ex-farmer, John Fisher, who’s putting up his hand for a fourth time to enter the Titan Macquarie Mud Run on Saturday, March 23.

Looking a tiny bit silver around the edges, Dubbo

was curious about the extent of Mr Fisher’s preparation for the physical challenges (thankfully optional), as an example to other young-at-hearters thinking of joining the city’s muddiest activity.

He has a surprisingly minimalist approach.

Dubbo Photo News: “Mr Fisher, would you share with us secrets about how you stay in such good physical shape and are preparing for the Mud Run challenge?

Mr Fisher, long pause to think: “Not much.”

“Would that be... not much... exercise?”

Mr Fisher: “Well... I think about it.”

“Yes, the power of the mind should never be underestimated, but do you find that helps?”

Mr Fisher: “Absolutely! It gets my psyched right up.”

With nothing to prove and a determination to have a cracking good time, Mr Fisher said he loves the event so much he tries to get everyone involved.

In fact he interrupted our telephone interview to attempt to recruit a Coonabarabran man who had hinted at the possibility of a basketball team from that

Titan Macquarie Mud Run

z Dubbo

z Saturday, March 23

z Proceeds to local charities

z www.titanmacquariemudrun. com.au town entering (likely, as a joke).

It wasn’t a good line but it did sound like the man in question negotiated with Mr Fisher by saying, ‘no way’, but he could just as easily have said: “Of course John, everyone should do the Mud Run at least once in their lives. If you can do it, anyone can.

“It is good fun,” Mr Fisher said, who last year completed the 10-kilometre course dressed as one of the Bananas in Pyjamas.

He was B2 but with a Mud Run twist, so he was called “PB2” (which apparently stood for “Poor B*&tard 2”).

“Yes, you get dirty but it’s a great community event,” Mr Fisher said. “The money’s going to local charities too and that’s always a good thing.”

In 2019 Mr Fisher is joining The Young Ones team and definitely requires more dress ups. John Fisher is heading into his fourth Titan Macquarie Mud Run proving age is no barrier for having a good time, even if you are face down in the mud. PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS Where in our area is shown in this satellite image?

Clues:

Fast on four wheels; shares its name with an historic locality name. ANSWER: SEE OUR TV+ GUIDE AFFORDABLE transport solutions for people who experience poverty or disadvantage, particularly in regional and rural areas, is being raised as a state election issue by peak social services body, NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS).

“Reducing transport disadvantage across NSW must be a priority of the next NSW Government,” NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty said.

“For many people, community transport is a vital service which enables them to access medical treatment, undertake daily tasks and participate in local activities.”

Adding to provider woes is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) which has “so far failed to adequately account for participants’ transport costs”, Ms Quilty said. UK charity Aerobility has helped set a new Guinness World Record for the

Heaviest aircraft pulled over 100m by a wheelchair team. The 98 participants pulled a

127.6-tonne British Airways Boeing 787-6 Dreamliner over 106 metres at Heathrow Airport to beat the previous record by an enormous 67 tonnes. The successful record attempt was part of a fundraising event named Wheels4wings.