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Paddy celebrates with Wellington walkers All roads led to the Wellington Shire Offices last week as scores of walkers celebrated the stunning success of the Wellington Walks Paddy program. By Wellington Shire Council - 1st August 2005 - Back to News At the end of the four-month program, the 190 participants from across the Wellington Shire clocked up enough kilometres to have walked around Australia nearly four times!
The program, which saw participants wearing an electronic pedometer and recording the distance they walked each day, was designed to promote healthy lifestyles and active recreation.
Wellington’s Mayor Peter Gault said: "The aim of the program was for people to set small, realistic goals and have a go at reaching them. It’s not to be ready for the 2006 Commonwealth Games!
"Essentially, the program was about helping people to feel a greater sense of well-being, to be more energetic and to be part of a community activity … it certainly achieved those goals!
"It was also an opportunity for the Council to promote the benefits of leading a healthy, active lifestyle so that people can enjoy our fabulous area to the maximum, for the longest possible period."
Cr Gault said 500 kits in total were bought by community members and 190 people from communities across the Shire recorded their steps every week.
"A further 500 kits have been distributed to schools across the Shire and some schools have already incorporated Paddy into the Walking School Bus program.
"Each of our communities had the same goal and that was to get Paddy the Pedometer around Australia and back to the Wellington Shire by the finish date of June 30, 2005.
"And every participant’s contribution - no matter how large or small - was essential to the end result, which was simply sensational. I am proud to say these participants clocked up a total shire figure of 68,940.62kms. Meaning that as a Shire, Wellington actually walked Paddy around Australia 3.7 times!"
Cr Gault congratulated everyone involved in the program and presented certificates to all participants at last week’s function.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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