The Premier’s Active Families Challenge

Well first and foremost big congratulations to everyone for their efforts over the past six weeks. The Challenge has finished and I am told the completion forms are streaming in from families right across the state.

I am proud to say I completed the Challenge on Friday afternoon, when I joined hundred’s of other community members at a working bee at the local Montrose Recreation Reserve. The Reserve is currently undergoing a major redevelopment and all the exercise I got out of painting and carting mulch was enough to notch up my 30^th day.

As I returned home and crossed off the last block I couldn’t help but think that the Challenge wasn’t as difficult to complete as I had imagined. Of course there were mornings when I struggled to get out of bed, or evenings when I thought it would be much easier to stay on the couch than join Meagan at the pool but overall getting in just 30 minutes a day could be found through just a few small changes to our lifestyle.

At a forum of community sporting groups in Williamstown last night I said that the success of this Challenge will be the level of attitude change towards how easy it is to lead an active lifestyle. So my message is, while the Challenge has finished make sure you continue with the habits you have developed over the last six weeks - half an hour of exercise a day is all it takes.

Now I must encourage all participants to submit a completion form, because there are some terrific prizes up for grabs. Everyone who completed the Challenge will receive a certificate from the Premier and have their name listed in a souvenir lift out in the Herald-Sun. But that’s not all - families will also go into the draw to win:

• A family pass to the 2008 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday 27 September (two adults and two children)
• One of ten Australian Football 150 Years Sherrin footballs signed by your favourite player
• One of six family memberships at the YMCA
• One of 40 $200 Rebel Sport

These certainly are fantastic incentives - although winning a football might cause more problems than it’s worth, in our house I know there would be a big battle over whether it’s a Lance Franklin signature (me) or one from Robert Harvey (Meagan).

Finally a big thank-you to the over 8,000 families and 28,000 participants who been part of the Premier’s Active Challenge over the past six weeks. For those that missed out it will return in 2009 and you can start training today, remember it only takes 30 minutes a day!