There are now more than 110,000 Victorian students who devour fresh fruit and vegetables under the Brumby Government’s popular Free Fruit Friday program.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said around 110,000 Prep to Year 2 students from a total of more than 1000 schools are participating in the ‘Go for your life’ Free Fruit Friday program in 2009.
This includes more than 60 Victorian government schools joining the program for the first time in Term 3 2009.
“Children need fresh fruit and vegetables every day to grow up healthy and strong,” Ms Tierney said.
“But parents also need to do their bit to make sure kids get the nutrients they need.
“Families and schools play a crucial role in teaching young people how to adopt healthy eating practices.”
“Just like ‘Go for your life’, this program is part of our push to encourage healthier lifestyles and avoid damaging health issues like obesity and diabetes.”
Schools participating in Free Fruit Friday will be able to access a range of educational materials to teach children the benefits of healthy eating. Students will also continue to learn about the benefits of physical exercise through mandatory school sport and physical education.
The Brumby Government’s $11 million Free Fruit Friday program continues to grow in popularity, with a three-fold increase in the number of students participating since the program began in 2007.
Ms Tierney said schools will be encouraged to purchase fresh produce from local businesses as part of the Free Fruit Friday initiative.
“Not only are we ensuring our young people get the best possible start in life, we are encouraging schools to buy local and support their local communities,” Ms Tierney said.
Free Fruit Friday complements a raft of Brumby Government initiatives aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles among students, including the development of the ‘Go for your life’ Healthy Canteen Kit, the removal of high sugar content soft drinks from school canteens, and a total confectionery ban commencing this year.
Grasmere Primary School will join the Free Fruit Friday program this school term.
Other Schools within the electorate of Western Victoria which participate in the Free Fruit Friday initiative include:
Colac Otway Shire:
– Apollo Bay P-12 Collage
– Beeac Primary School
– Birregurra Primary School
– Carlisle River Primary School
– Colac Primary School
– Colac South West Primary School
– Colac Specialist School
– Colac West Primary School
– Elliminyt Primary School
– Forrest Primary School
– Lavers Hill P-12 College
Corangamite Shire:
– Camperdown College
– Cobden Primary School
– Derrinallum P-12 College
– Hampden Specialist School
– Lismore Primary School
– Noorat Primary School
– Simpson Primary School
– Skipton Primary School
– Timboon P-12 School
Glenelg Shire:
– Bolwarra Primary School
– Bundarra Primary School
– Casterton Primary School
– Dartmoor Primary School
– Heywood Consolidated School
– Merino Consolidated School
– Narrawong District Primary School
– Portland North Primary School
– Portland Primary School
– Portland South Primary School
– Portland Special Developmental School
Moyne Shire:
– Grasmere Primary School
– Hawkesdale P12 College
– Koroit And District Primary School
– Macarthur Primary School
– Mortlake P-12 College
– Panmure Primary School
– Port Fairy Consolidated School
– Woolsthorpe Primary School
Warrnambool City Council:
– Allansford And District Primary School
– Merrivale Primary School
– Warrnambool East Primary School
– Warrnambool Primary School
– Warrnambool West Primary School