Blayney has received a highly commended award in the 2018 Healthy Town Challenge in recognition of the changes it made to encourage people to make healthy lifestyle changes.
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The Healthy Town Challenge is supported by NSW Health and the Heart Foundation, and encourages small regional and rural communities with populations of between 1,000 and 15,000 people to get active and eat healthier.
Coraki, in the NSW Richmond Valley, was the winner of this year’s challenge, but Blayney’s efforts to see results from the use of the challenge’s $15,000 didn’t go unnoticed.
The challenge – now in its fourth year – gives $15,000 to the five towns taking part, with the winner receiving an extra $5000.
Blayney established a community weekly walking group, new walking trails were developed in the town and surrounding villages with improved maps, and 12 pieces of outdoor fitness equipment were installed throughout Blayney along the newly establishing walking trails with instructions.
Western NSW Health acting health service manager Deborah Higgs said she wanted to acknowledge the council’s work in making the town healthier.
“Blayney was one of five towns in NSW that participated in this year’s Challenge to create supportive environments that encourage healthy living activities for community members,” she said.
“It was terrific to see the amount of enthusiasm and effort all of the five towns put into becoming healthier – particularly improving overall diet and exercise levels.
“This is a great example of how small changes to lifestyle can make significant positive changes to people’s health.