Schools step in the right direction
The winners of the ‘Around Australia in 40 Days Challenge’ were announced on 22 December. The challenge was open to teams of junior high school students in years 7, 8 and 9, who were encouraged to walk about 10,000 steps each day to help develop healthy habits for life. Around 35,000 students from more than 300 schools took part.
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Previous MinistersPDF printable version of Schools step in the right direction (PDF 19 KB)
22 December 2007
NR07/05
I am pleased to announce the winners of the ‘Around Australia in 40 Days Challenge’.
The challenge was open to teams of junior high school students in years 7, 8 and 9, who were encouraged to walk about 10,000 steps each day to help develop healthy habits for life.
Around 35,000 students from more than 300 schools took part in the challenge. For 40 days they recorded the number of steps they took each day and entered them online, which let students see how far they had travelled on a virtual route around Australia.
About a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese, which increases the preventable risk factors for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis and other conditions.
Physical activity – along with healthy eating – can help to maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of poor health later in life.
Promoting a healthy relationship with food and exercise early in a child’s life is part of our plan to tackle the obesity problem in Australia. As a major first step, we will raise the status of obesity to a National Health Priority Area, ensuring it is at the forefront of the national health agenda.
The Government will pursue a comprehensive approach to reduce childhood obesity.
Healthy and active children will grow into healthy and active adults, reducing the burden on their loved ones and on the health system.
Congratulations to all the students and schools who took part in the ‘Around Australia in 40 Days Challenge’. The winner from each state and territory will receive $10,000 in sporting equipment from Hart Sport, and the runners-up will receive $2,500 in sporting equipment from Hart Sport.
Contact: Phuong Pham 0417 108 362
Winning schools
ACT
Winner - Brindabella Christian College, LynehamRunner-up - Merici College, Braddon
NSW
Winner - St Paul’s College, Walla WallaRunner-up - Bulli High School, Bulli
VIC
Winner - Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, GeelongRunner-up - Wesley College, Glen Waverley
QLD
Winner - San Sisto College, CarinaRunner-up - Texas State School, Texas
SA
Winner - Loreto College, MarryatvilleRunner-up - Tyndale Christian School, Salisbury East
WA
Winner - Mount Lawley Senior High School, Mt LawleyRunner-up - Christmas Island District High School, Christmas Island
TAS
Winner - Flinders Island District High School, WhitemarkRunner-up - Clarence High School, Bellerive
NT
Winner - St Philips College, Alice SpringsRunner-up - Taminmin High School, Humpty Doo
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