Council supports local families to walk, ride and school
Published on 03 October 2019
Colac Otway Shire Council supports local families to walk, ride and scoot to school
Colac Otway 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.
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.
Colac Otway Shire Council will work with local primary schools to deliver a range of activities to support more families to walk, ride or scoot to school this October thanks to $15,000 funding from VicHealth
To support the program, Council will run a colouring competition for participating schools, install new and upgrade existing decals and install a ‘drop and walk point’ as a pilot program.
Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram 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.
“Colac Otway Shire Council is delighted to support Walk to School in the south west region to encourage more kids to be active on the way to and from school,” Cr Schram said.
“Our kids are healthier and happier when they’re active every day, and walking to school is a great way to get activity in.
“Last year 13 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 Colac Otway 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.
For more information visit the Walk to School website on www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au