Western Australian Institute of Sport athletes Kobie McGurk, Josie Janz and Jesse Phillips this afternoon took time out from their training regimes to launch the new Go for 2&5 WAIS Community Development Program at Girrawheen Primary School.
McGurk, who is in her final block of training before the Olympic hockey team is announced in less than two weeks, led the visit to the school in Perth’s northern suburbs which saw 75 young children out in the school yard learning the benefits of being active and eating well.
“I do remember it from when I was growing up back in Collie, we had athletes come out and visit us and it is definitely something that sticks with you,” the 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist said of the inaugural visit of the new program.
“I think it’s even more important these days as childhood obesity and unhealthy lifestyles are more and more common so being active and eating well is a key message to get out there. I love it, I think it’s fantastic putting back into young kids. ”
The Go for 2&5 WAIS Community Development Program is a new initiative of WAIS, Healthway and The Cancer Council which will see some of Western Australia’s best elite athletes visit primary schools and junior sporting clubs around the State to help foster positive attitudes towards living active lifestyles and eating well. The program consists of a component in the classroom discussing the achievements of the athletes involved and how being active as young children helped them reach their goals before a component outdoors consisting of fruit and vegetable themed physical activities.
Janz, who is a WAIS scholarship holder but also plays in the ANZ Championship with the West Coast Fever, recognised the important role the new program will play.
“It was definitely different, when we go out with netball usually we talk about our team so it was good to spread a different message with WAIS promoting eating two fruit and five veg,” Janz said while signing autographs for the year five, six and seven students on the Girrawheen Primary School oval.
Phillips, who leaves for Europeon Monday to represent Australia at a series of World Cup kayaking events, was excited to see enthusiastic young children mobbing him for pear and banana shaped stress balls.
“It’s a nice change to get out of the gym and see smiling kids faces getting excited about the health message we are trying to promote,” the aspiring 2012 London Olympian said.
The Go for 2&5 WAIS Community Development Program will continue to be rolled out across the metropolitan area, with a number of regional visits expected to take place towards the end of the year.
