MURRUMBIDGEE LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT Media Release

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Friday 19 March 2021

Gear up to Ride to School: Friday 19 March 2021

Riverina students gearing up to Ride2School

Students across the will be among the thousands in the country participating in National Ride2School Day Friday March 19. Ride2School Day has been running since 2006 and is a great way for students, teachers and parents to rediscover the fun of riding and kick-start a healthy productive day.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District Health Promotion Coordinator, Brendan Pearson, says riding to and from school every day is a great way to get kids moving more often, improving both their health and concentration.

MURRUMBIDGEE LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT

Tel. 02 5943 2009 Mob. 0412 324 122 Email. [email protected] . @MurrumbidgeeLHD /MurrumbidgeeLHD @Murrumbidgee_LHD /MLHD /MurrumbidgeeLHD

– 24 hour health advice and information you can count on 1800 022 222.

MLHD supports schools to encourage active travel to school and to include road safety within their curriculum.

“We congratulate the schools that have put the time and effort into making this event happen at their schools, because it will help children now and into the future,” Brendan says. He says there has been a significant decline in the number of children who ride to school over the past 40 years. “In the 1970s and 80s, eight out of 10 children rode bikes to school, but now it’s only two out of 10 children.”

Brendan says a recent week-long study in Wagga found only 19-25 bikes or scooters at schools, some of which have up to 600 children. “We want more children learning how to cycle and enjoying it so they can take that into adulthood, and also learning about road safety. If they learn how to cross a road safely while walking or cycling, and understand traffic rules, that is going to help make them good adult road users, whether they’re driving a car or riding a bike.”

“From an environmental perspective, we want to reduce the number of trips we make in a car to reduce congestion around schools and also reduce emissions that are contributing to some of our issues in society.”

To Register for Ride to School: www.ride2school.com.au

ENDS

Media note: For general interviews contact Brendan Pearson 02 60534851 Health Promotion Officer location specific contacts:

1. Melanie Broadbent for and surrounds on 03 5882 2903 2. Judy Zappacosta for Griffith and surrounds on 02 6966 9909 3. Megan Mattingly for and surrounds on 02 5943 2315 4. Alexandra Walker for and surrounds on 02 6947 0906

To register for Ride2School visit

Schools Currently Registered for Ride2School include: Barmedman Public School (Barmedman - NSW) Brungle Public School (Brungle - NSW) Burrumbuttock Public School (Burrumbuttock - NSW) Public School (Conargo - NSW) South Public School (Corowa - NSW) Deniliquin South Public School Franklin Public School (Tumut - NSW) Henty Public School (Henty - NSW) Holbrook Public School (Holbrook - NSW) Public School (Jindera - NSW) Koorawatha Public School (Koorawatha - NSW) Lockhart Central School (Lockhart - NSW) Public School (Mathoura - NSW) Rosewood Public School (Rosewood - NSW) St Joseph's Primary School ( - NSW) St Mary's Primary School (Hay - NSW) St Patrick's Primary School (Holbrook - NSW) Trinity Anglican College (Thurgoona - NSW) Wagga Wagga Christian College (Wagga Wagga - NSW)