Central Goldfields Shire Council will join VicHealth in its mission to get kids walking, riding and scooting to school as part of the health promotion foundation’s annual Walk to School program.
This year’s Walk to School month runs from 7 October 2019 to 1 November 2019.
Every October, Walk to School encourages families to get active on the trip to and from school to help kids build healthy habits for life.
Thanks to $15,000 funding from VicHealth, Council will work with local primary schools to promote the program, provide resources, develop maps for safe walking routes, and investigate more ways to be active every day.
Central Goldfields Shire Chief Administrator Noel Harvey said VicHealth’s Walk to School program is a free, easy and fun way for kids to get active and build healthy habits for life.
“Central Goldfields Shire Council is delighted to support Walk to School in Maryborough to encourage more kids to be active on the way to and from school,” Noel said.
“Our kids are healthier and happier when they’re active every day, and walking to school is a great way to get their activity in.
“We want to make walking to school easy and attractive for families, and we encourage all residents to walk to school, or park and walk, during the month of October.
“Last year, six local schools participated in this great VicHealth initiative, and we encourage more primary schools to get involved this year to make Walk to School bigger and better.”
Acting VicHealth CEO Dr Lyn Roberts AO said each year the Walk to School program continues to grow with more and more schools taking part with fantastic results.
“Walking, riding or scooting to and from school every day is an easy way to make physical activity part of kids’ daily life which is why our Walk to School program is so important,” Dr Roberts said.
“Last year, more than 140,000 kids from over 750 schools across Victoria took part in Walk to School, travelling the equivalent distance of two return trips to the moon.
“Helping our kids to get active is so important for their health and wellbeing, which is why it’s great to have the support of Central Goldfields Shire Council to get more local kids walking, riding or scooting to school.”
Local schools who take part in Walk to School will be in the running to win some fantastic prizes, including a footy clinic at their school hosted by an AFL or AFLW player.
