Drouin walk to school winners

West Gippsland Genealogical Society

It is with sadness that the Society note the passing of Mrs Elma Brooker, an inaugural member of the Genealogical Society in 1984.

Elma, with her husband Charles, was a valued member and very involved all activities of the Society over many years.

The WGGS library is closed and will re-open Wednesday, January 18 2017.

Ancestry classes will be held at the West Gippsland Library, Warragul on Mondays 6. 13, 20 February 2017 at 10am. Download the newsletter from the library website www.wgrl.vic.gov.au.

The Society’s next general meeting will be held on Thursday, February 23 2017. The guest speaker will be Vicki Montgomery.

Judy Farmer presented ‘Stories of Drouin’ at the November meeting. The ‘Stories of Drouin’ are recorded stories and memories of people who were part of the Buln Buln years and the town of Drouin. The group heard snippets of their interviews. The Genealogical Society meet on the upper floor of the Old Shire Hall, Queen St, Warragul at 8pm. Everyone is welcome.

Further details about the Society can be obtained from the secretary, Barbara, phone 5611 3871 or visit the website www.westgippslandgenealogy.com. Warragul RSL There was no monthly general meeting of the Warragul sub-branch of RSL for December, because the sub-branch held its Christmas luncheon for members and family.

It was the final gathering for 2016. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 2 2017 at 2pm.

Leading up to Remembrance Day volunteers were out and about selling poppies and allied memorabilia, which again was a success. The president and executive thank the local community for their continuing support for this important appeal.

Members are reminded that subscriptions for 2017 are now due and payable. If you have not already paid it would be appreciated if you could send your subscription before January 31.

The sub-branch wish its members and their families a joyous Christmas and a successful New Year.

Drouin Primary School had the highest proportion of students participating in VicHealth’s Walk to School month.

A number of primary schools in Baw Baw Shire participated in the campaign during October, which encouraged children to walk, ride or scoot to school every day.

More than 6000 walks were recorded by primary school students in the local area, and schools with the highest participation rates were congratulated for their efforts.

The winners received some exciting prizes such as sports equipment vouchers, swim passes and incursion vouchers from Incursions R Us.

Drouin Primary School had the highest proportion of students participating, with 85 per cent of children walking throughout the month.

Drouin Primary School took a lead role as Baw Baw Shire Council’s pilot school for the program.

The school had partnered with Council to develop four designated walking routes to the school, with signs put in place to easily identify drop off points.

Baw Baw Shire mayor Cr Joe Gauci said the Walk to School program aims to encourage primary school children to walk, ride or scoot to and from school every day in October to highlight how regular activity can improve children’s health and wellbeing and help form healthy travel habits from a young age.

“VicHealth’s Walk to School month is a free, easy and fun way for kids to get active this October and build healthy habits that will support active lifestyles for children as they grow,” he said.

“At a time when worrying trends such as increasingly sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity are on the rise, it’s great to see a health initiative designed to tackle these issues by encouraging children to get outside and be active everyday.”

Among the other winning schools were St Joseph’s Trafalgar, Warragul North Primary School, St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, Labertouche Primary School and Ellinbank Primary School.

Registered schools received a classroom calendar, where teachers recorded how many times students walk, scoot or ride to and from school during October.

At the end of October, teachers tallied up the overall participation and report it to VicHealth on the Walk to School website, who award prizes to the schools with the highest walking participation.

This year Walk to School month was undertaken in partnership between Baw Baw Shire Council and West Gippsland Healthcare Group with funding from the state government’s VicHealth branch.

For more information phone Kira Hardy on 5624 3544.