Taking care of sick kids may be very different from taking care of six kids, but Margaret Colwell has both down-pat, in her busy lifestyle.
This forty-nine year old wife and mother of six, a Woronora resident and part-time General Practitioner, began her career working with underprivileged teenagers, and now as she reaches her fifty-year milestone, little has changed in her generous nature.
Characterised by laugh lines and gentle eyes, Colwell, who has spent her entire life in the Sutherland Shire, turned light-hearted chatter into a crusade, as she spoke of the state of health of the region.
Q: In your opinion, what is the state of health like for the area?
A: The state of health for the area is pretty good. Most people have access to a high standard of health care and to good nutrition and hygiene.
Q: Is this changing or not? Why do you think this is?
A: Yes, Lifestyle diseases caused by obesity and lack of exercise are affecting more and more people. Family breakdown is causing a lot of social problems which has an adverse effect of the people and all those around them. Deteriorating law and order is also having an effect with more violence occurring and more drug and alcohol abuse.
Q: What do you think the biggest health concern for the Sutherland Shire is?
A: Lifestyle related diseases caused by lack of exercise such as diabetes, High blood pressure, heart disease; stroke and a number of other chronic illnesses are all of concern for the area.
Q: How can we overcome this problem as individuals and as a community?
A: As individuals, eat less and move more. As a community we have to start with children. Encouraging them to be more active and spend less time in front of the TV and computer and limiting junk food intake. We have to remove barriers to children being active such as winner oriented sport programmes which discourage less athletic kids from competing, uncomfortably hot school uniforms, lack of ready access to drinks during school time and boring school sport programs. Parents have to set a good example. Making the streets safer so people can walk more would also be a good start in addition to bicycle tracks that are safe and accessible.
Colwell has been involved in many health awareness activities within the 25 years she has served the community as a GP, defining her position as more than merely a mother of her own children, but rather the instigator of a healthier lifestyle in many others.
Filed under: Photo and Media Archive, Profiles of "Healthy" Sutherland Shire Citizens
