mmg.com.au

Life Education yesterday launched the new Goulburn Murray Mobile Learning Centre at Tatura Primary School.

Principal Jane Lloyd, who is a member of the new Life Education Goulburn Murray Region Committee, said the new mobile learning centre was crafted and made in Strathmerton by Daryl and Lisa Brian and their employees at Murray Valley Motor Homes.

The team at the family business attended the launch to support and showcase their work.

The new Life Education Goulburn Murray Committee consists of Andrew Galbraith (chair), Neil Smith (deputy chair), Jane Lloyd, Michelle Collins, Alan Keat, Margaret Oldfield and John Pretty, all of whom were present for the official launch.

Ms Lloyd said Life Education was the largest non-government provider of health and drug education to children and young people Australia-wide and was well known for its popular mascot, Healthy Harold the Giraffe.

She said every year they visit school children across Australia to motivate, encourage and empower them to exercise real choices that are informed and safe, through its leading drug and health education programs.

‘‘Now the popular mascot will be visiting a number of Goulburn Murray primary school children,’’ she said.

Life Education Victoria chief executive officer Michelle Wood said Life Education along with Healthy Harold aimed to empower young people to make informed decisions related to their own health, wellbeing and behaviours, by expanding their knowledge and skills through interactive education sessions.

‘‘Students are motivated by the session content, which is current, relevant and age specific, to make healthy lifestyle decisions,’’ she said.

Specifically, the program aims to enable children and young people to achieve the following:

●Acquire age-appropriate knowledge to support informed health choices.

●Develop and practise skills and strategies to act upon individual decisions; and

●Recognise the values and attitudes that may influence lifestyle choice and behaviour.

Issues that Life Education and Healthy Harold cover through the program include; bullying, nutrition/hygiene, drugs, alcohol, personal safety, general health and cyber safety.

This will be Life Education’s 17th Mobile Learning Centre Victoria-wide.

The new committee is seeking local support and anyone wishing to join or provide financial support, for example by Adopt-A-School visit, would be welcome. Phone Andrew Galbraith on 58237619 for more information.

Life Education works to motivate, encourage and empower children and young people to exercise real choice and make informed, safe and healthy lifestyle decisions, through its leading health and drug education programs.

Life Education is a registered charity, independent of government and religion which has been operating since 1979, and more than four million students have participated in Life Education’s program over the past 34 years.