Guyra Shire Council has been recognised for best practice in creating healthier communities, and was announced as the national highly commended recipient of the 2014 Heart Foundation Local Government Awards, in Coffs Harbour.
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The New South Wales state winner was highly commended in the category for ‘Councils with populations of 15,000’ or less.
Kerry Doyle, Chief Executive of the Heart Foundation NSW congratulated Guyra Shire Council for its commitment to the health and wellbeing of the local community.
“Guyra Shire Council received this national high commendation for their commitment to a wide range of health initiatives including being the champion for its Healthy Highlanders programs, which aims to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst Shire residents, and the Heart Foundation congratulates all those involved,” Ms Doyle said.
“Local governments play a pivotal role in introducing structural change, implementing policies and creating supportive environments which allow people to be physically active, reduce smoking and improve their nutrition,” Ms Doyle added.
The awards are important in helping the Heart Foundation to recognise the outstanding achievements of local governments in the continuing fight against heart disease, the number one killer of Australian men and women.
“The Local Government awards are important because they recognise the outstanding achievements of local governments in the continuing fight against heart disease – the single biggest killer of Australian men and women,” Ms Doyle said.
Guyra Shire Council’s Healthy Highlander’s program encouraged more than 1000 residents to be physically active by:
• Offering over 35 hours of physical activity per week through the Heart Foundation’s Heartmoves and Walking programs, Beat It, HEAL and Austcycle
• Developing and installing outdoor gym equipment and walking trails
• Developing shared paths, as well as community gardens
• Upgrading play equipment
• And commenced work on a Bike Plan for the local area.
The Healthy Highlanders program was a jointly funded program by Guyra Shire Council and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). Healthy Highlanders commenced in March 2012 and continued until June 2014.
Despite the official program concluding, Guyra Shire Council together with local sporting organisations and personal trainers are still working hard to ensure the Guyra Shire community reap the ongoing rewards of sustaining a healthy and active lifestyle.