Free fun to make the family smile

THE Annual Heathcote Community Smiles Day event will be held at Barrack Reserve on Saturday 23 November from 11am to 2pm.

Community Smiles Day, a joint project by several local groups, was created by Dr Adel Asaid of Heathcote Primary Health in 2021 with the aim of bringing smiles to the faces of young people.

“Through our annual Smiles Day competition, we are extremely excited to once again give away thousands of dollars of prizes,” Michelle Chapman of the Smiles Day organising committee said.

“This year our neighbours in Pyalong, Tooborac, Redesdale, Mia Mia and Colbinabbin have again been invited to participate with Heathcote.

“Prizes have been generously donated or made available through support from Heathcote Primary Health, Heathcote Health, Heathcote Community House, Heathcote Lions Club and Millers Custom Trailers.

“They include healthy activity gift vouchers and loads more as prizes, for our early years and primary school-aged children.

“This is an event for all our community, bringing together all people from Heathcote and our surrounding districts.

“It also provides an opportunity for local organisations to advertise their services and activities.

“There will be many free activities including a sausage sizzle, water, fairy floss, snow cones, face painting, a photo booth, a free gardening activity, a flight simulator, music, animals, as well as information tables and a special visit from a jolly person in a red suit.”

Researchers and students from the Violet Vines Marshman Centre at La Trobe Rural Health School will this year join the Community Smiles event to promote oral health and engage with the community in supporting healthier smiles for all.

“Oral health plays a vital role in overall health, as a healthy mouth helps us eat, speak, and smile with confidence,” Ms Chapman said.

“We are also excited to announce that Love Your Sister (LYS) and Samuel Johnson will be in attendance.”

LYS is an Australian anti-cancer charity, and since its inception in 2012 has raised nearly $20 million for medical research.

Founded by Gold Logie-winning actor and Victorian Australian of the Year 2018, Samuel Johnson – whose late sister Connie lost her battle with cancer – LYS is a million-strong village of everyday Australians committed to vanquishing cancer with hard science and the best new technologies.

There will be opportunity to donate to LYS and the Keep the Lights on campaign. Attendees will also be able to buy some LYS merchandise at the LYS trailer on the day.

The Smiles Day committee is grateful to sponsors and organisers, including Heathcote Primary Health (St Anthony Family Medical Clinic), Heathcote Health, Heathcote Community House, the City of Greater Bendigo with Emergency Recovery Hub funding, Mandalay Resources, Heathcote Library, Heathcote and Nagambie Community Bank, Heathcote Lions Club, and Millers Custom Trailers.