By KATH GANNAWAY
UPPER Yarra TOWN (Take Off Weight Naturally) Club has scooped the pool at the TOWN state awards night.
An overall loss of 192 kilos put the club in the top position out of the 110 clubs across Victoria.
The awards were presented at a gala night attended by more than 700 TOWN members at Tullamarine, on Saturday 4 June.
Club co-leader Margaret Baker said the atmosphere was euphoric as Upper Yarra was called to the podium to receive no less than five awards.
In addition to winning the State title for Best Weight Loss Group and the Aggregate Shield for Highest Average Weight Loss per Member, the club won their division award for the greatest improvement on the previous year and came runner-up for the highest number of new graduate members.
The club meets at Yarra Junction on Wednesday nights and has more than 40 members, men and women, ranging from teenagers to seniors, from across the Yarra Valley.
“The thing that really stood out on the night was that this was not just one or two of our members achieving great things, but about the whole group losing,” Ms Baker said.
“Everyone worked so hard together for the year and this is the night when all that hard work is recognised and celebrated.
“Every time we got called out for another trophy, it was tremendously exciting.”
She said the club’s philosophy was to support and encourage each member as they journey toward a healthier lifestyle.
Regular guest speakers provide information and motivation and over the next four weeks a speaker from Yarra Valley Community Health will talk on nutrition and lifestyle.
The club meets at the Yarraburn Centre from 6pm to 7.30pm and welcomes new members. For more information about going to TOWN on weight-loss as part of a winning team, contact co-leaders Deb Wood on 0417 103 589, or Margaret Baker on 5967 1425 .
