Physical activity

Heart Care Walks

The Kiama Heart Care Walks were developed in the year 2000 as part of a regional project by the Illawarra Branch of Heart Support Australia. All walks are marked every 500 metres with a numbered yellow and blue line. On each side is a red heart shape with the distance from each end of the walk. Any change of direction is marked with four red heart shapes.

Many of these markings remain around the Municipality particularly on the pathway from Minnamurra to Bombo. These walks are currently being updated with Council's Walk it Kiama project logo.

Active commuting

During 2004, the Heart Foundation and Kiama Council implemented a series of focus groups in local schools to explore the issues surrounding children's modes of transport to and from school. The long term aim being to establish a project which encourages children to engage in active transport for short trips.

Walking School Bus Project

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic with 1 in 4 Australian children being classified as overweight. Studies have associated the increasing incidence of obesity with increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Kiama Council is helping our children to take action.

As a result of the focus group findings, Council has embarked on investigating the establishment of Walking School Buses. The Walking School Bus is the latest safe, fun and healthy way to travel to and from school. Children walk to school along a specific route with an adult "driver" at the front and adult "conductor" at the back. Additional children "passengers" can be picked up along the route at "bus-stops". The Walking Bus is the group of children who are "the bus", their feet are the "wheels", their eyes are the "windows" and their legs are the "engine".

Council is seeking interested residents to assist in operating the Walking School Buses and parent who would like to get their children involved and active.

Benefits include:

• regular exercise
• an opportunity for children to learn good road sense
• stronger community bonds
• a relaxed social environment where children can make new friend around their Home and school
• reduced traffic around the school and consequent reduction in air pollution
• contribution to a sustainable environment.

The first Walking School Bus will be trialled at Gerringong Public School. Congratulations Gerringong on getting your children more active and contributing to a more sustainable environment!

For further details contact Julie Errey, Team Leader of Health and Environment on
02 42320416 or email: council@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Recommended links

NSW Department of Sport and Recreation

NSW Sport and Recreation is part of the NSW Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation which is an agency within the NSW Government, Australia.

Australian Sports Commission

is the Australian Government body that coordinates the Government's commitment and contribution to sport. It provides national leadership in all facets of sport from the elite level through to the wider sporting community.