From 4 to 11 June, Queensland Councils and their local communities will celebrate Local Government Week with a theme of ‘Good Health’, featuring the tag line ‘Active Bodies, Healthy Communities’. This is the 10 year anniversary of the event and the first significant promotional opportunity following the Queensland Local Government elections on 15 March.
The purpose of the theme is to promote the use of Council maintained parks and facilities to encourage better fitness and increased recreational activity, especially among children. A 2007 survey carried out by the Children’s Nutrition Research Centre and School of Human Movement Studies at The University of Queensland has found one in five Queensland children are overweight or obese.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) President, Councillor Paul Bell, is particularly enthusiastic about the event this year.
“I have been lucky enough to have shed 28 kilos and I am pleased our Association is doing what it can to promote better fitness,” he said.
Two business breakfasts will again be hosted to celebrate the event and the popular primary school colouring competition will return.
In an exciting first, Queensland high school students will have the opportunity to participate in a photography competition to celebrate the week. Students will be asked to submit pictures featuring a sport and recreation theme to their Councils. A $500 cash prize will be awarded to the winning student.
For further information please contact Marketing Officer, Connie Mavrommati, on (07) 3000 2102 or email
connie_mavrommati@lgaq.asn.au
LGAQ staff lead the fitness
charge for LGWeek 2008
The theme of healthy living is featuring prominently in the minds of LGAQ staff in the lead up to Queensland’s Local Government Week 2008 to be held from June.
With the 2008 Local Government Week theme being ‘Active Bodies, Healthy Communities’ staff and management at the Association have grasped the opportunity, and are looking to ‘walk the talk’ by leading through example. In preparation for the June launch, staff have been busy walking, running and swimming.
For the second year running, the LGAQ will be entering a team in the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) Event. The GCC is a national walking competition encouraging team members to each contribute 10,000 steps a day.
Another set of cycling enthusiasts banded together to join 5,000 other riders in the inaugural Brisbane to the Gold Coast 100 kilometre Cycle Challenge.
And not to be outdone, another LGAQ team has entered into the Kokoda Challenge, a
96 kilometre, 39 hour epic in the Gold Coast Hinterland, described by former Rugby League great Mal Maninga as “the greatest mental challenge” he has ever endured.
Overweight and obesity is a serious, chronic medical condition, which is associated with a wide range of debilitating and life threatening conditions. Recent studies estimate that 65 per cent of Australian men and 52 per cent of Australian women, aged 25 years and over, are overweight or obese.
The LGAQ takes its commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of its staff, members and the community very seriously and is making a concerted effort to lead by example in making LGWeek 2008 the most effective in the event’s 10 year history.
The Principal Sponsor of the event is the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation (DLGSR). Department Director General Michael Kinnane was particularly excited that this year’s theme tied in with the State Government’s $8.4million Eat Well Be Active campaign. LGAQ and DLGSR will partner in producing school resources and providing technical advice for Council based fitness programs.
Queensland Health has been welcomed as the gold sponsor for the event and silver sponsorship has been provided by the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and Dial Before You Dig Queensland.
