Fruit and Veg week was celebrated in fine style in schools around the Perth metropolitan area with Western Australian Institute of Sport athletes and even Vegie Man himself keen to get fit and active through the fuel of two fruit and five vegetables.
2008 Beijing Olympian Tanya Bayley joined Australian water polo representative Luke Quinlivan in school visits to Armadale, Grovelands and Wirrabirra Primary Schools on Monday during fruit and veg week to discuss their sporting careers, the importance of a healthy physical lifestyle and most importantly getting two fruit and five veg into every day.
Bayley – who made history by competing for Australia in the first ever BMX competition at Olympic level – wowed the students with tales of the Olympic Games and thrilled the class with descriptions of race crashes.
Luke Quinlivan put the kids through their paces with some fun physical activities but quickly learned that he was no match for the combined energy of a class full of students.
“It was great to see so many happy faces,” Quinlivan said. “By the end of it though I was worn out, they’re obviously getting their two fruit and five veg because I couldn’t catch them.”
Vegie Man was on hand at Wirrabirra Primary School to get involved in the fruit and veg tag and to encourage the kids to keep a healthy diet at the front of their minds before and after exercise.
As ever the WAIS giveaways were a hit, with the Go for 2&5 fruit and vegetable toys given to each child, and even the occasional teacher. Luke and Tanya also handed out apples for everyone to eat in a fitting end to a lot of fun.
On Fruit and Veg week Friday, WAIS rowing Olympians Todd Skipworth and Natalie Bale got out to Westminster and Warriapendi Primary Schools for more fruit and veg fun.
The athletes were again inundated with questions, ranging from their Olympic experience to diet habits to training schedules, which was an interesting topic with both athletes scheduled to travel soon after for international competition.
Both athletes were impressed with children’s attitudes towards health promotion and the level of physical activity the kids displayed.
“Some of the questions that we were being asked were really engaging,” Bale said. “It showed that they care about their health and that with the right advice can really take charge.”
Skipworth – who has been involved in many school visits with the WAIS Community Development Program – added that positive message was not being lost on the young audience.
“I love being involved with Go for 2&5 because it is an excellent way to give back to the local community.”
“I know how important a healthy lifestyle has been for me, and if I can try and help pass that knowledge on to these kids then that is terrific,” Skipworth said.
The Western Australian Institute of Sport runs the Go for 2&5 WAIS Community Development Program through the support of Healthway and visit Primary Schools and Sporting Clubs to promote a healthy diet including two fruit and five vegetables daily with regular physical activity. If you would like your school or sporting club to be involved with the program please contact WAIS Public Relations officer Chris Abbott at cabbott@wais.org.au for more information.
