Walk, ride or scoot to school this October

Published on 12 October 2020

As of the date of signing, the Chief Executive Officer has certified that this material is not considered to be electoral material in accordance with Council’s Governance Rules made under the Local Government Act 2020, Civic Place, Warragul. 

Baw Baw families are encouraged to dust off the cobwebs and walk, ride or scoot to school this October after months of remote learning.

VicHealth’s Walk 2 School month is a fun and free way for kids to achieve the recommended 60 minutes of exercise per day.

Walking, riding or scooting to school encourages kids to build relationships, establish life-long healthy habits, and reduce pollution and traffic congestion. Regular exercise is also closely linked to better mental health outcomes for both children and adults.

In recent years, almost 1200 local students from 12 Baw Baw schools have participated in Walk to School month.

In 2018 Darnum Primary School saw an incredible 97 per cent of students walking, riding and scooting to school – taking the top prize for the South Eastern Victoria region.

This year, in recognition of the complications of Covid-19 and new Covid-safe drop-off and pick-up measures, Council is encouraging families and schools to participate in any way they can – whether it’s walking to school, lapping the playground at lunch, or downloading one of the activity sheets available at www.walktoschool.vic.gov.au  

Quotes attributable to Baw Baw Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Mark Dupe.

“This has been a challenging year for both families and schools and getting the recommended amount of exercise probably hasn’t been a top priority over a long winter of remote learning.

“Now that regional students have returned to in-school learning for Term 4, walking, riding or scooting is a great way to re-establish healthy habits.

“We are lucky to have a fantastic cohort of School Crossing Supervisors dedicated to helping children and families safely cross our roads – please use these crossings when planning your trip to school.”