Age no barrier to Lyn’s fighting spirit

Anyone for boxing? Lyn Mills is struggling to find anyone within her age range to fight her, so she spars with a younger crowd at Oneheart Gym.

Nambour’s Lyn Mills is living proof that age is just a state of mind. Earlier this month the 70-year-old climbed into the boxing ring for the first time in her life at the PanPac Masters Games on the Gold Coast.

“It ended up being an exhibition match because they couldn’t find someone within my age range (60 to 80 years old) to fight me,” Lyn laughed. “I ended up fighting someone in their 50s and it was a great experience.”

While Lyn has previously enjoyed gym work and boxercise, learning to box for competition was a completely new experience for her.

“About three years ago, I had become quite unfit and wanted to challenge myself with something a bit different,” Lyn said.

“I happened to be walking past Oneheart Gym in C-Square Nambour and thought I would go in and see if it would be a good fit for me. After speaking with the owner, Charlie Wetere, I decided to give it a go. And I haven’t looked back. 

“Charlie always challenges and pushes me,” she said. “He certainly doesn’t treat me as though I can’t do things because of my age.

“When I first started, I could only do two sit ups, and now I can do 100. In between training, I run 5kms.”

Lyn progressed quickly, and it wasn’t long before she was looking for a bigger challenge.

“In the beginning I just wanted to get fit, but then I got the idea in my head that I wanted to climb into the ring and have a go,” said Lyn. 

“Charlie supported me every step of the way. It was an amazing experience.”

Many Nambour locals would know Lyn from the Bloomhill Op Shop, opposite the Nambour Hospital.

“I still work full time and every day I have people telling me about all the things they can’t do any more, because of their age,” said Lyn.

“I would love people to know that it’s only your mind that tells you you are too old, but you are never too old to do anything. 

“I think it is really important to get out there into life and enjoy every bit of it.”