Allansford Primary School has beaten all other Victorian schools to win gold in the active stakes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The school won Bicycle Network’s Ride2School Golden Wheel last week for having an active travel rate of 86.5 per cent in term two, the highest rate in Victoria.
The number of students who rode, walked, scooted or skated to school from April to June was recorded by the school and submitted via the HandsUp online tool.
Allansford’s 170 enrolled students helped push their school to top spot by swapping vehicle transport for physical activity.
Warrnambool City Council travel smart officer Nicole Wood said it was pleasing to see a local school win a national award.
“It is wonderful that Allansford Primary School has been recognised,” she said.
“They are one of the original schools in the Healthy Moves program and the ongoing promotion of active transport is just part of the school culture now.
“Warrnambool schools appreciate the benefits of more kids walking and cycling because it means healthier kids and healthier environments around the schools.”
Bicycle Network general manager of behaviour change Leyla Asadi said the south-west was well represented in active children programs.
The Golden Wheel was last in the region in late 2016 when it was won by St Pius.
“We think south west Victoria can become one of the state’s best regions for riding and walking,” she said.
“We encourage all local schools to make sure they log active travel data with Ride2School.
“Regularly submitting data not only puts you in the running for the Golden Wheel, schools also become eligible to receive grant money to spend on active travel projects.”
The reminder for children to continue regular physical activity comes as new VicHealth research shows that without changes by 2025, one in three children will be overweight or obese.
Statistics reveal childhood obesity levels are on the rise with only one in five children aged five to 17 years getting the recommended amount of physical activity every day.
Yet children who are regularly physically active are more likely to continue to be active as they grow up according to VicHealth research and similarly more than 60 per cent of Victorian parents want their child to walk to school more regularly.
