Walk and build healthy habits

IN celebration of VicHealth’s Walk to School month, the City of Ballarat will host an Active Travel workshop on 24 October at Alfredton Primary School.

Boosting the knowledge of local students about the positives of combining travel and fitness, council staff will help them map out safe walking, scooting and bike riding routes for community use, and build healthy habits for life.

City of Ballarat Acting Director Community Development, Sharelle Knight said the project is also in partnership with the Bicycle Network.

“It has a strong link to Council’s Active Women and Girls’ Strategy, along with its Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan,” she said.

“Alfredton Primary School will also be provided with a range of decals to be placed on footpaths to highlight these routes.”

Thirteen local schools are currently registered in the Walk to School program, and one in each ward will win a healthy breakfast funded by VicHealth, and facilitated by council early on a school day.

Winning schools will receive a $500 pack of sport equipment, and a smoothie bike will get children active at each breakfast.

VicHealth’s Walk to School program encourages primary aged children to walk, ride or scoot to school and back home, in the hope of helping them achieve their 60 minutes of recommended daily exercise.

For further information visit walktoschool.vic.gov.au. Get active show your participation online with the hashtag #walktoschool.