By Jed Lanyon
Millwarra Primary School was one of the many schools across the nation that participated in the National Walk Safely to School Day on 17 May.
The school had several students meet at a nearby park and then travel to school as a group to help promote physical wellbeing.
After braving the chilly morning, the students enjoyed pancakes for breakfast before taking on their final day of NAPLAN.
Millwarra Primary School teacher Skye Clarke said that their students would regularly walk or ride to school.
“Most are just living around the estate or nearby, so lots of them do walk or ride,” she said.
“They’re pretty active kids out here because you’ve got the bike track and the Warburton Trail, so they’re out walking and riding all the time.”
Ms Clarke said that the school had participated in the National Walk Safely to School Day for the 15 years she had been at the school.
Walking is Australia’s number one physical activity, but Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer says kids need to do more to help super-charge their health, wellbeing and learning.
Ms Palmer described National Walk Safely to School Day as a great initiative and shares the goal of event organisers, the Pedestrian Council of Australia, to make walking an everyday activity for children.
“Let’s not hide from the fact Australia has an inactivity crisis, so it’s vital for the health and future of our nation that we help our children find any opportunities to be more active,” she said
“Data shows 81 per cent of children are not achieving the recommended physical activity guideline of one hour a day.
“A quarter of Australia children are obese and it will only get worse if we don’t intervene now,” Ms Palmer said.
