The national winners of the 2003 Heart Foundation Kellogg Local Government Awards were presented at the General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra on 24 November 2003. These awards recognise Local Governments that put into practice projects, policies and programs which can help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Spokesperson for the Heart Foundation, Eileen Jerga, said the $30,000 Awards, which began in 1992, recognise the pivotal role of Local Governments through introducing structural changes, implementing policies and creating environments to allow people to be physically active, reduce smoking and improve their nutrition.
The Overall National Award and National Physical Activity Project Award was won by 10,000 Steps Rockhampton and the Rockhampton City Council in Queensland for ‘The 10,000 Steps Program’.
Associate Professor Kerry Mummery, from Central Queensland University, said that this community wide, multi-strategy physical activity project has made a significant impact on the ‘Rocky’ community.
“Step counting pedometers have really helped people set their activity goals and monitor their activity levels,” Kerry Mummery said. “These were available for loan and sale in many Rockhampton locations.”
Other National Award winners included an innovative Nutrition Project by the Moonee Valley Child Nutrition Partnership and Moonee Valley City Council that encourages children to drink water called ‘H2O for Moonee Valley Kids’.
In the Recreation Infrastructure Facility category, the Ross River Parkway in Townsville took out the award.
Another Queensland entry was victorious in the Small Rural and Remote Community Project section. Balonne Shire Council was recognised for the St George Riverbank Parkland and Exercise Pathway.
Tasmania also did very well this year, having National winners in two categories. In the National Policy for Structural Change section Launceston City Council was recognised for its Active No-Smoking Strategy while Dorset Council and Dorset Community House won the National Project by a Community Organisation Award for their Seasonal Women’s Retreats.
Holbrook Shire Council in New South Wales also had success in the National Project with Limited Resources category for their Active and Able-Holbrook program.
