Children love to be active! Children who are physically active enjoy healthier, happier and more socially connected lives than children who lead less active lives. If active habits are built in childhood people are more likely to grow up to be active adults and have health benefits across their lives. Active travel is a great way for kids to get their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

#ride2school

In 2023, National Ride2School Day, was well supported by schools in Sunraysia.

A big thank you to Irymple PS, Red Cliffs PS, Mildura South PS, Nichols Point PS, St Paul’s PS, St Joseph’s PS, Red Cliffs East PS, Mildura West PS and The Lake PS who did such an amazing job promoting and conducting events on the day.

SCHS ran a local competition to promote the day, with the winning school being awarded 3 scooters to use as prizes to promote physical activity. The winning school was Irymple PS.

#ride2school

Now in its 25th year, National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD) is an annual event when all Primary School children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. This year Walk Safely to School Day is being held Friday 10th May. It is a Community Event seeking to promote Road Safety, Health, Public Transport and the Environment.

Get your school involved by visiting the website:

https://www.walk.com.au/WSTSD/

If you’re planning an event for Friday 10th May, we would love to hear from you!

#WSTSD

In 2022 SCHS ran an ‘Active Travel Poster Competition’.

We wanted kids to challenge their creative minds and create a poster that promotes the benefits of active travel to and from school.

Three winning designs were selected and each received a $100 Officeworks voucher. The three designs will be used to promote walk to school month in November, National Ride to School Day next year and Walk Safely to School Day next year. 

Jenna Thornton – Merbein P-10

Remy O’Donnell – Nichols Point PS

Kaan San – Henderson College

In Term 1 of 2022, Sunraysia Community Health Services, gave local schools the opportunity to apply for funding to upgrade their bike and scooter racks. This funding opportunity was our response to the feedback we gained from children and young people during Walk to School month last year. The feedback indicated that a lack of safe storage for bikes and scooters at school was a potential barrier to active travel.

Nine local schools made successful applications and we were amazed by the quality of submissions that students made on behalf of their school. Congratulations to Mildura Senior College, The Lake PS, Red Cliffs East PS, Nichols Point PS, Koorlong PS, Henderson College, Ranfurly PS, St Pauls PS and Irymple SC who all made successful applications.