I am standing under a beach tent at North Avoca readying to make kites. Down the beach I can see the approaching crowd of walkers.

I turn and she is standing there alone. Daypack on, water bottle in hand and hat on her head — a prepared walker.

I ask, "Do you want to make a kite?"

She frowns. "How much?"

"It's the 5 Lands Walk, it's free."

"Yes, I'd like to make a kite. It looks like so much fun. I'm happy to donate."

"You don't have to donate. Sponsors provide money for the materials and everyone you see working on the day is a volunteer."

She looks at me. “Really?”

"Yes,” I explain, “I’ve been involved since the first one in 2006. It used to be run by the Council, but the community took it back, owned it and made it what it is today."

"So why do you do it?"

I pause and think. "It's my way of giving back to the community. Plus I love to watch that moment of awe and wonder in children when something they've made takes to the sky."

"But I'm not a child and I've never made a kite."

"It's okay, it won't take long. What colour kite do you want to make?”

She takes a moment to look at the colours available and coyly says, "Red?”

I smile. "Good choice, because red kites always fly higher."

She watches and follows my moves as I fold kites in preparation for the arrival of the walkers. When she finishes, I ask, "What colour tail do you want your kite to have?"

"Green. I follow South Sydney."

"Don't we all?" I measure out and staple the tail to her kite.

I hand her a line, explaining the basics of kite flying and safety. “Let out a little bit of line and let the wind catch the kite. Be careful if you’re walking backwards, fly in wide open areas away from power lines and don’t fly in storms. Enjoy."

She steps away from the tent and releases the kite from her hand. It soars effortlessly in the north-easterly breeze. Her frown is gone and a look of wonder spreads across her face as she squints at the kite high in the sky.

"See, I told you — red kites always fly higher. Just remember, we don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

She turns to me and smiles.