Keep moving says 90-year-old gymnast Doreen Wilson

It's a way of life and a mindset which she adheres to every day. However, Doreen's idea of keeping moving is a bit more extreme than the average nonagenarian's.

Her daily fitness routine involves a warm up of 600 skips with a skipping rope, some stretches, followed by working with light weights for strength and then some gymnastics moves.

She also teaches gymnastics to residents at her retirement village and goes to training at the Taree PCYC where she is a member of the Eastern Greys adult gymnastics team.

The team recently returned from Amsterdam where they joined other Australian teams as well as gymnasts of all ages and abilities at Gymnaestrada the world's largest general gymnastics exhibition.

The seven-day non competitive event saw nearly 20,000 gymnasts from 60 countries perform amazing routines of grace, agility, coordination and strength.

The Eastern Greys' performance alongside fellow Taree squad the Gymaroos in Amsterdam will featured akubras.

At one point Doreen is hoisted onto a male gymnast's shoulder before being lowered to the ground.

It was the sixth time Doreen had been to Gymnaestrada which is held every four years.

"I love it. It's the sharing and the creativity and the joy of movement. The rewards are so great," she said.

Doreen began gymnastics as a young PE teacher in the 1950s and soon realised she had found one of her great passions in life. In those early years she was mostly self-taught.

In the 1970s Doreen began a gymnastic program in Forster which expanded to neighbouring towns.

Even a hip and shoulder surgery hasn't slowed this gymnast dynamo - well not much. On doctors orders she no longer does cartwheels and handstands but her latest injury, a torn muscle came about, not from gymnatics, but from pruning the hedge!

Her regular training and fitness routine is evident is her still-youthful figure, boundless energy and love of life.

Doreen is adamant that gymnastics is not just for the young. "It's for everyone," she said.

"It's just a case of keeping fit. Sitting around and doing nothing is just not good for you.

"As you age you lose your muscle mass. We do need to maintain and if necessary re-establish our muscle mass."

So what does Doreen recommend.

"Start by checking out if there are any local classes with gentle exercises for seniors.

"Keep on doing whatever you can in the home.

"If you get up from a chair sit down and get up again ten times.

"And remember keep on moving."

In recognition of her contribution to gymnastics, Doreen was awarded an Order of Australia in 2019. She was also among those to carry the torch in the torch relay for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.