Walk, ride or scoot

KEEPING fit and physically active has always been a big part of my life.

So I was thrilled to witness Leopold Primary students getting active by riding and scooting to school last week.

The school is one of four participating in Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll Geelong, which is funded by $110,393 from the Victorian Government’s Kids Active Travel Program and up to $10,000 from Council.

The program, in partnership with Bellarine Community Health and Active Geelong, is all about encouraging our kids to use active transport to get to and from school.

As an Active Geelong ambassador and through my involvement in community sport, I know how beneficial exercise can be for both physical and mental health.

This is exactly why the City of Greater Geelong runs programs like Walk, Ride, Scoot and Roll.

The targeted 12-month program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of children in grades three to six through two phases.

During phase one St Leonards, Leopold and Portarlington primary schools will develop evidence-based active travel initiatives that are tailored to each of their community’s needs.

This could include bike parking and storage, travel friendly technology, safety education programs and signage to promote safe travel routes to school.

Phase two will introduce some of these initiatives to Newcomb Primary School, which also has a keen interest in active travel.

Throughout the program Council will continue to support all four schools and assess the effectiveness of the various initiatives.

I hope this program encourages more kids to walk, hit the pedals, skate and scoot on their way to and from school.

Importantly, this program aims to make students feel more confident and independent using these modes of transport and to help them safely navigate local streets near their school.

The Leopold Primary School students that Mayor Trent Sullivan and I met last Monday certainly seemed keen to show their peers how it’s done.

And speaking of young people taking the lead, it has been inspiring to witness the work of our Youth Council this year.

As the ‘youth voice’ of Geelong, they have led the way on issues affecting young people, such as the harm caused by vaping.

And in June I was lucky enough to meet yet another group of impressive and dedicated young leaders when I attended the Geelong Youth Awards.

If the calibre of our current Youth Council and this year’s Geelong Youth Awards winners is anything to go by, there are plenty more young people around our region who are ready to step up and lead.

Nominations for the 2025 Youth Council open next Monday, August 12, and we want to find the next group of outstanding young leaders to serve as the ‘youth voice’ of Geelong.

To be eligible, nominees must live in the City of Greater Geelong local government area, be aged between 12 and 17 at the time of nomination, be able to attend 80 per cent of monthly meetings and participate in a three-day Youth Council induction in mid-late January 2025.

If you or someone you know has what it takes, I urge you to nominate yourself or them at geelongaustralia.com.au/youthcouncil

Cr Peter Murrihy

Brownbill Ward, City of Greater Geelong