Alan Waddell

Alan Waddell
Waddell in 2006
Born Alan Mossman Waddell
(1914-07-24)24 July 1914
Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
Died 2 September 2008(2008-09-02) (aged 94)
Royal North Shore Hospital
Cause of death Complications following hip replacement surgery
Resting place Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney
Residence Longueville, New South Wales
Education Sydney Boys High School
Occupation Chartered accountant
Years active 2003–2008
Spouse(s) Marjorie Eileen Hume
Children 3 sons
Website walksydneystreets.net

Alan Mossman Waddell (24 July 1914 – 2 September 2008)[1] was an Australian walker who received national and international media attention for walking every street in over 280 suburbs in Sydney.

Early life

Waddell was born on 24 July 1914, completed his schooling at Sydney Boys High School in 1931 and qualified as a chartered accountant.[2] He served in the Citizen Military Forces during World War 2[3] and married Marjorie Eileen Hume on 30 May 1942.[4]

Walking

When Marjorie died in 2002, Waddell took up walking as a pastime and to combat aneurysms in his legs.[5] After walking every street in his local suburb, he began to venture further in 2003. By 2004, he started to attract interest from the media.[6] This led to further interest from radio[7] and television.[8] Over the next five years, he was a regular feature across print and electronic media. A list of all articles appears on his website.[9]

By the time of his death in 2008, Waddell had walked 5000 kilometres and covered every street in 284 suburbs of Sydney.[10] Over the years, his feat had been covered by media in many other countries, including China,[11] South Africa,[12] Thailand,[13] the United Kingdom,[14] and the United States.[15]

Awards and honours

In 2007 Waddell was presented with the Live Life award by the New South Wales government for promoting health and well-being.[16] He was also an ambassador for the Heart Foundation[17] and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Alan Mossman Waddell (1914 - 2008)". heavenaddress.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "Obituaries" (PDF). The High Bulletin. 54 (1): 20. March 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "WADDELL ALAN MOSSMAN". naa.gov.au. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Marriages". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 July 1942. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  5. ↑ O'Brien, Lisa (17 June 2008). "Colourful Sydney Identity: Alan Waddell". timeout.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Macey, Richard (11 August 2004). "Streets ahead of us, and he's 90". smh.com.au. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Radio Northern Beaches 2MWM-FM". 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "7 TV Network's Today Tonight". 11 August 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Media Items - Press and Radio". walksydneystreets.net. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Pollard, Ian; Stephens, Tony (12 September 2008). "The widower who walked his way into Sydney hearts and history". smh.com.au. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "Elderly Australian walks into stardom". chinadaily.com.cn. 28 April 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Plucky 91-year-old beats odds to keep walking". iol.co.za. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Coorey, Madeleine (10 May 2006). "Old Coot Walking". The Nation (Thailand). Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  14. ↑ "Alan Waddell's Arty Mailboxes". stopjunkmail.org.uk. 29 January 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  15. ↑ Graham, Tom (18 December 2005). "WALKING THE WORLD / What started as a simple exercise routine evolved into something wonderfully demanding that compelled them to see more, do more and learn more about themselves and the places they each call home". sfgate.com. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  16. ↑ "NSW Government Award". 12 March 2007. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Love Your Heart - Alan Waddell". villages.com.au. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  18. ↑ "Mosman harbour walk". getaway.ninemsn.com.au. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2015.

Book

  • Waddell, Alan (2009). Walk Sydney Streets. Crows Nest, New South Wales: John Waddell. p. 102. ISBN 9780646509631. Retrieved 21 May 2015.

Obituaries

Website

  • Waddell, Alan. "Walk Sydney Streets". walksydneystreets.net. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
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