As National Walk Safely to School Day approaches on Friday 10 May, Shellharbour schools are gearing up to embrace the initiative with open arms. Mayor Chris Homer is encouraging children and their parents or carers to ditch the car and lace up their walking shoes. 

The initiative aims to highlight the numerous benefits of regular walking, particularly to and from school. Tullimbar Public School in Shellharbour is one such school participating in the initiative. 

The annual National Walk Safely to School Day is in its 25th year of promoting physical health, the importance of road safety and environmental consciousness due to decreased car dependency that causes air pollution

Mayor Homer emphasised the significance of daily physical activity for children’s overall health and mental wellbeing saying, “I have always been an advocate of leading a healthy lifestyle. This initiative is a wonderful way of setting up regular walking habits for children.”  

The initiative is championed by the Pedestrian Council of Australia. Their Chief Executive Harold Scruby adds, “Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.”

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