Uniting book club and bushwalks

Keeping your mind and body in shape on the Central Coast could be as simple as the three Bs.

BooksBushBullshit – that’s the handle of Georgia Young’s social group which runs a program of a monthly book club and bushwalks for those aged between 20 and 45.

The most recent activity was indoor rock climbing, while the group is scheduled to give blood in Gosford as its next activity.

BooksBushBullshit, which she organises through Instagram (@booksbushbullshit), took shape when Young became aware of a gap in the social fabric of the Central Coast.

As a social work student she knows how loneliness and isolation can have a negative effect on mental health and noticed there was little on offer in meet-up groups that appealed to her age set.

The bushwalking groups were either for older or younger people, the book clubs met to discuss fiction rather than the self-development titles she and her friends preferred.

“There were a lot of drinking-related activities, but I wanted to do something health-related,” she said.

“I couldn’t see anything around that interested me.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the Wamberal resident was “one of the inspirational young people doing great things on the Coast”.

“It’s ideas like Georgia’s that are making for a really positive outlook on the Coast,” Tesch said.

“There is isolation in our community but there are also people like Georgia who are getting out there and doing something about it.”

Young has been buoyed by the responses of participants.

“It warms my heart,” she said.

“A girl had moved from New Zealand and hadn’t realised how much she had missed her friends.

“An emergency department doctor, who works here and in Sydney, thanked me for reconnecting him with Mother Nature.

“I can see the difference this is making already.

“People are returning, talking about meaningful things, and even hugging each other before they leave.”

Planned activities include bushwalks in Brisbane Water and Bouddi National Parks.

Young is also looking for like-minded people who would like to join the team to help facilitate activities – contact her via instagram.