Students get ready for Walk to School Month

Published on 16 September 2019

Local primary school students are preparing to increase their physical activity as part of the upcoming Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program.

All 10 primary schools across the Gannawarra Shire will again take part in the initiative, which encourages children to walk, scoot or cycle to school, or their school bus, from Monday, 7 October to Friday, 1 November 2019.

“The Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program has become an annual highlight at local primary schools,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.

“It is an exciting month of activity that motivates children and their families to get out and about walking and riding in their communities. Last year 747 local primary school students took part, actively travelling a combined total of 12,993 kilometres.”

This will be the seventh consecutive year Gannawarra Shire Council has coordinated a local VicHealth Walk to School program after successfully applying for a $15,000 VicHealth Walk to School grant.

Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said that October is the perfect time to get outdoors and walk.

“Living a healthy active lifestyle is important for children’s health and wellbeing and walking is a great way to enjoy some fresh air, sunshine and meet other people,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“Getting active to and from school promotes healthy habits and supports children to achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity to help them live healthy and happy lives.”

The Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program is a partnership project between Gannawarra Shire Council, Northern District Community Health, Kerang District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Mallee District Aboriginal Service, Victoria Police and Mallee Family Care, with support from the Southern Mallee Primary Care Partnership.

Walk to School is a VicHealth initiative. For more information visit www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au, call Council on (03) 5450 9333, or follow www.facebook.com/HealthyGannawarra

CAPTION: Cohuna Consolidated School students Emily Barker, left, Noah Mathers and Archer Lacy, front, joined Mayor Lorraine Learmonth in launching the Gannawarra VicHealth Walk to School program.