A little slice of heaven: How beach access has changed Helen’s life

Published on 09 November 2026

A little slice of heaven: How beach access has changed Helen’s life

For Torquay resident Helen, a walk along the beach is about much more than fresh air and a nice view.

It helps ease her chronic pain, improve her physical fitness, lifts her spirits and introduces her to a whole community of familiar faces along the way.

And she's so grateful for the experience that she's decided to give something back.

A regular participant in the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority's Accessible Beaches Program, Helen has donated a new beach walker, helping more people enjoy the same benefits she's discovered.

For Helen, who lives with osteoarthritis in her right ankle, the beach walker has opened up an opportunity that would have been impossible otherwise.

The specially designed mobility aid provides stability on the sand, allowing her to walk comfortably along the beach and even venture into the shallow water. It also has a built-in seat when it's time for a rest.

Helen regularly uses the beach walker at Torquay's Fishos Beach, a spot she describes as: ‘a gift from Heaven, right there between Marine Rescue and the Angling Club.’

The free All Terrain Beach Walker can be hired for up 2 hours per booking and has become part of her weekly routine, with Helen covering around a kilometre on the beach two or three times a week.

And the benefits, she says, have been remarkable.

‘Hootling along on that walker has improved pain levels in my right ankle joint considerably,’ Helen said.

‘Social benefits: notable. Pain levels upon walking: huge reduction. Mental health buzz hootling along beside and in the ocean: immeasurable.’

Helen says walking through the cool ocean shallows has been particularly helpful in managing her ankle pain, sometimes reducing it by as much as a third or even half.

While she's quick to point out that her observations are anecdotal rather than scientific, the difference to her everyday life has been significant.

But it's not just about the physical benefits.

There's the pleasure of being outdoors, the freedom to move at her own pace and the simple joy of sharing the beach with others.

‘Heaps of other beach trotters and doggy walkers say hello as they trot past,’ she said.

‘Have yet to meet one bitey dog. Have yet to meet one bitey person either!’

Even a short outing can make a difference.

‘Even 10 minutes or five minutes trotting along with the beach walker gives a happy boost.’

It's this combination of physical freedom, connection with nature and community that inspired Helen to make her generous offer.

Earlier this year she contacted us with a proposal to purchase an identical beach walker to the one she uses at Fishos Beach and donate it to the Accessible Beaches Program.

For many of us, a walk along the beach is something we barely think twice about. But for people with limited mobility, the right equipment can be the difference between watching the ocean from a distance and feeling the water around their feet.

Helen knows that difference firsthand.

And thanks to her generosity, more people will have the opportunity to discover their own little slice of heaven along the Great Ocean Road.

THANK YOU, Helen, what a legend. 

For more information on the Accessible Beaches program and to BOOK a beach wheelchair click HERE