In a change from tradition, LGWeek 2008 was launched midweek on Wednesday 4 June to coincide with the opening of Queensland’s biennial Civic Leader’s Forum. This is the tenth anniversary of LGWeek and was the most widely celebrated in the event’s history. LGWeek is coordinated by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and was sponsored by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation; Queensland Health; the Australian Local Government Women’s Association – Queensland Branch; and Dial Before You Dig.
The week, themed ‘Active Bodies-Healthy Communities’, highlighted the importance of councils promoting and maintaining their parks, pools, sporting fields and services to encourage increased recreational activity, especially among children.
When launching the week, Australian Local Government Association and Local Government Association of Queensland President, Councillor Paul Bell, said, “Like most people I have struggled with my weight for a very long time, I have lost
24 kgs in the last year and feel ten years younger. It is with great pride that I can encourage my fellow Queenslanders to do the same.”
To increase awareness of Local Government’s contribution to health and fitness, councils celebrated the week by hosting various events throughout the State. Among them, Sunshine Coast Regional Council hosted the ‘Wanna Be Deadly’ Sports Carnival, an Indigenous youth event that focused on health, nutrition and cultural healing by holding a touch footy competition, combined with storytelling and art displays.
Logan City Council organised shopping centre displays for the week, where staff promoted healthy eating and handed out information and maps promoting Logan’s many sporting facilities.
Mackay Regional Council hosted an LGWeek Careers Fair for high school students. The underlying theme of the fair was the importance of healthy eating and daily exercise, in addition to the right career choice, to best prepare for a successful future. Council’s sport and recreation officers were at the event and ran interactive sports activities and games.
The winner of the annual LGWeek primary school colouring competition was Mackenzie Hopkins from Bloomfield River State School. Mackenzie was the entrant from Cairns Regional Council. He and his mother made a 24 hour trek, by car, ferry and a plane, to come to Brisbane and collect his award.
A successful Business Breakfast was again held at Brisbane’s Parliament House on Friday 6 June, with both Queensland Health and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation representatives outlining their commitment to work with Local Government to combat the overweight and obesity crisis.
Per capita, Queensland has the second highest number of overweight and obese children in the country, and Australia was recently labelled the ‘fattest country on earth’ by an international health survey. Bad habits of a lifetime can lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, arthritis and some mental health problems in later life. As such, the theme for LGWeek 2008 carried a very important message.
In a first for LGWeek, a photography competition, called ‘Active Queensland Bodies’, was launched during the week to engage high school students. Entry is open to all Queensland high school students.
Students need to send their sports themed pictures taken in 2008 to enquiries134.lgw08@blogger.com Entries will be judged on Wednesday 13 August, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $300.
Entries can be viewed at lgw08.blogspot.com/
