Planning for a combined Health Service and Masonic Lodge health promotion initiative has received a huge boost with a grant awarded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) to Canowindra Health Service.

In recent years members of the Masonic Lodge and Canowindra Health Service have worked together closely to promote Men’s Health with the Pit Stop Program. Early in 2008 some of the Masonic lodge members approached Community Health Staff wanting to work with them on a program that could help address obesity levels and improve the health of community members. This led to the development of the “Better Life Canowindra” campaign.

Julie Middleton, local Dietitian reported “This campaign will start in 2009 with the Canowindra Fitness and Nutrition Challenge. The main aim of the campaign is for people to improve their fitness and nutritional status over a 10 week period. Participants will have access to current Health Service exercise program over this time as well as some extra programs including a weekly “Boot Camp” class, resistance training sessions at the hospital gym and Nordic/Pole Walking workshops with the Department of Sport and Recreation, to name a few.”

Sue Johnson, local Physio stressed the campaign was about having fun as well as improving health. “We are encouraging friends to enter in teams of four so they can work together and support each other. Great prizes for winning teams and individuals will be awarded based on results of the pre and post fitness assessment.”

Short workshops on a range of nutrition, exercise and lifestyle topics will also be conducted over the campaign time by members of the Community Health Team.

Masonic Lodge member David Francis has been busy promoting the program to different organisations in town and is thrilled about the grant. “The grant for $3500 will allow the Health Service to purchase new fitness equipment for the Community to use and develop promotional and educational materials for the campaign. We are really encouraging the town to get behind this campaign and take up the “Challenge” to improve their health.”

For more information about the campaign please call the Health Centre on 63441314.