Walk Safely to School Day 2017
Published on 15 May 2017
NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY
MEDIA RELEASE
Primary school aged children across Australia are encouraged to participate in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 19 May, 2017.
National Walk Safely to School Day, now in its 18th year, encourages primary school aged children to walk to and from school, or the school bus, not just on Walk Safely to School Day, but throughout the year.
Harold Scruby, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said: "The extremely disturbing childhood obesity epidemic continues to affect 1 in 4 children at critical levels across Australia."
“Children require at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity. We should encourage them to include walking at the beginning, during and end of each day,” he said.
Gannawarra Shire Council Mayor Brian Gibson, said that encouraging children and their families to be active and healthy in the community is supported by Council.
“The best exercise for all of us is regular walking,” said Mayor Gibson. “Children love walking and riding to school and checking out what’s going on in the wider community.”
“Walk Safely to School Day is just one of the special days of the school year that acts as a reminder that walking and riding to school helps students learn better in the classroom and helps establish healthy habits that can last a lifetime.”
This national initiative aims to promote road safety messages to primary school children across Australia.
“Being active within their own communities helps children develop independence by learning how to make good decisions to stay safe,” said Mayor Gibson.
“It is always good to be reminded of those simple messages – Stop, Look, Listen and Think when we are out and about walking and riding, and also to remind road users to slow down and watch out for young children on our roads and footpaths.”
For more information on National Walk Safely to School Day visit www.walk.com.au/wstsd
For more information please contact Council on 5450 9333 or visit council’s website
www.gannawarra.vic.gov.au
…ENDS…
Date: 15 May 2017
Media contact: Katrina Thorne T. 03 5450 9333 M. 0409 616 627