Have a heart

THE CITY of Casey has been named one of eight municipalities in Victoria to win a 2008 Heart Foundation Victorian Local Government Award.
The awards are presented to councils who have not only planned and implemented heart health programs in their communities, but also achieved outstanding results with those programs.
The City of Casey has been awarded in the Provision and Use of Facilities category for Casey’s Road Safety Education Centre project.
The safety centre developed to teach local children, families, and primary and secondary students how to safely use local bike paths and streets for physical exercise, and within 12 months, almost 4000 people have accessed the centre’s resources.
Kathy Bell, chief executive officer of the Heart Foundation in Victoria, said the award is an important recognition of the outstanding achievements in the continuing fight against cardiovascular disease, which is Australia’s leading cause of death.
“Local government plays a pivotal role in introducing structural change, implementing policies and creating supportive environments which allow people to be physically active, reduce smoking and improve their nutrition.”
The City of Casey is now eligible to be selected as the National Category Winner or the National Overall Winner, which is to be announced in November 2008.