Great Health Great Lakes is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and is an innovative project which aims to encourage people in the Great Lakes to increase physical activity and improve their eating habits, rather than go on a diet or a short term 'exercise program'.

In particular, the project will support those people who are not primarily in the paid workforce.  The project includes a range of physical activity and nutrition group programs, as well as a number of community activities such as cooking demonstrations and classes, supermarket tours and walking and cycling events.  

"The fundamental aim of the project is to promote positive changes in our lifestyle that are sustainable - making them our way of life" said Rick Naylor, the Coordinator of the Great Health Great Lakes project.

Check the Great Health website and Facebook page out!

"Phenomenal demand" is how organisers of the Great Health Great Lakes project describe the response to this life-changing project in our region.

The project has recently released a website www.greathealth.org.au, and can also be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/greatlakeshealth.  People who are interested in finding out more about the project or who would like to register online for any of the programs or activities can do so by visiting either of these sites.

The Great Health Great Lakes project includes a range of structured physical activity and/or nutrition group programs including:

• HEAL (Healthy Eating Activity & Lifestyle) – an eight-week program including group exercise and group lifestyle education sessions, specifically designed for people with type 2 diabetes (GP referrals strongly recommended)
• Beat It – a ten-week program including twice-weekly group exercise and eight group lifestyle education sessions, to be facilitated by the YMCA (GP referrals strongly recommended)
• Heartmoves – a weekly gentle exercise program, specifically designed for anyone who hasn’t exercised for a while, to be facilitated by Fitness 2428
• Healthy Dads Healthy Kids – a seven-session program for fathers (or step-fathers and grand-fathers) and their primary-school aged children, making physical activity and lifestyle change fun,
• AustCycle – short courses (approximately two hours) run by accredited AustCycle teachers aimed at people who have never ridden a bike before or those who haven’t been on a bike for years.

In addition, the project includes a range of community activities including Heart Foundation Walking, Cooking Demonstrations and Classes, Supermarket Tours and weekly Lifestyle Seminars. 

Rick Naylor, the Co-ordinator of the Great Health Great Lakes project and member of Great Lakes Council's Community Services Team, is extremely pleased with the early response to the project and is hopeful that more people will now take advantage of the website to either obtain more information about the project, or to register directly for a program.

“Our website, and our facebook presence, enable us to reach so many more people in the Great Lakes community.  We can quickly promote new programs or events and start dialogue with our clients about their preferences or experiences. The technology which supports our website also enables us to remind people when programs are commencing and to disseminate relevant health information via our project newsletter” said Rick. 

For those people who do not have internet access, registrations can be made by contacting Forster-Tuncurry Community Health on 6539 6300.

Alternatively, discuss the project with your GP to identify which program or activity may be most appropriate and they will then refer you directly to the project. For more information about the project please contact Rick Naylor on 0418 378 882.

Great health - off to a great start!

Over 60 people took part in an epic staged coastal walk from Blackhead to Yagon (near Seal Rocks) from Friday 2 December until Sunday 4 December to launch the Great Health Great Lakes Project. Friday 2 December saw a group of determined walkers set off from Blackhead to walk the length of the beach to Tuncurry.  The group was accompanied by Dr Garry Egger, who is championing Great Health Great Lakes – a two-year project funded by the Department of Health and Ageing under Phase 2 of the Healthy Communities Initiative. The walkers met up with others at Tuncurry Breakwater and continued their walk over the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge to the Marine Rescue building, where they enjoyed a well-deserved and healthy lunch prepared by the Community Nutrition team from Hunter New England Health. Dr Garry Egger, an Associate Professor at Southern Cross University and a world leader in Lifestyle Medicine, addressed the group and emphasised the importance of long-term change to improve health outcomes.  A sufferer of a chronic knee problem and a heart complaint, Dr Egger is proof that physical barriers can be overcome with the right support and encouragement.

Dr Garry Egger (left) and Cr John Stephens lead the walkers on Saturday's leg of the coastal walk. The walkers on Friday's leg tackle Nine Mile Beach.

Dr Egger has embarked on a personal pilgrimage to walk all the beaches of NSW by mid-2012, and continued his quest over the weekend, walking from Forster Breakwater to Yagon (near Seal Rocks) over 2 days.  He was accompanied by 15 keen local walkers on each day. Council's Coordinator of the Great Health Great Lakes project, Rick Naylor said, "we were pleased that 60 people signed up to join us for the walk.  We had a wonderful time, and the weather was kind to us. "Although the launch was primarily focused on walking, the Great Health Great Lakes project will also include a variety of programs including structured exercise classes, bike riding, cooking demonstrations and classes, and much more." The Great Health Great Lakes project will continue in early 2012, with the delivery of a wide range of programs and activities.  People can register their interest in any of these by phoning Forster-Tuncurry Community Health on 6539 6300.  For more information, contact Rick Naylor on 0418 378 882.