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Many hundreds of students - and their parents - have discovered the joys of paddling a kayak in Matilda Bay.

And for most of them, Colin Thorpe is the man who made it possible.

Colin, a UWA graduate, ran the Recreate paddling program for the UWA Sport and Recreation Association from the Watersports and Leadership complex for several years.  Then, after retiring a year ago, he immediately returned to the water as a volunteer.

He took up paddling at the age of 42.

"My son got into it and, as I had to drive him to the rapids, I thought I might as well join in," he said. He went on to complete 11 Avon Descents and, after the first few, started training paddlers for the event.

Colin's introduction to the Avon Descent was run by Bruce Meakins, Director of UWA Sports. Several years later, Bruce asked Colin to write the strategic plan for paddling for the new Watersports complex and to lead the paddling programs for students and the community.

One of his great successes has been the GOLD (Growing Old Living Dangerously) program for over-50s.

"It caters for people who probably have not paddled before, who want to share the pleasures of paddling and experience the joys of being at one with nature on the water, all in a pleasant social environment," Colin said.  "New members often have quite a range of physical abilities which are catered for by paddling in four different groups."

Currently, about 30 people spend a happy afternoon together, starting with a flexibility session run by physiotherapist Gillian Henderson, followed by lunch, an hour-and-half paddling on the river, then afternoon tea. Once in every even-week course, the paddlers travel further afield and paddle in another part of the river.

Gillian, wife of Australian Laureate Fellow Richard Hobbs, became hooked on paddling after trying it out at a Have A Go day, run by the GOLD group. Her flexibility session for older people before taking to the water has become a significant feature of the program.

"We have people in this program who have had total hip and total knee replacements, open heart and spinal surgery, and peripheral neuropathy but, together with Colin, we show them that they all have the ability to improve and enjoy new experiences," Gillian said.

Colin added a leadership program to the Gold classes, to train new instructors, which will ensure the groups will continue even when he's had enough.

But that is not likely to be any time soon.

"We have such a wonderful time, everybody learns new skills and we enjoy our beautiful river. Who wouldn't want to keep doing that?" he asked.

To find out more about Recreate courses at UWA, go to: www.sports.uwa.edu.au/recreate-courses‎