Strand walk to encourage women, girls to be active
Date published: 12 January 2016
Townsville City Council has joined forces with female sporting role models to encourage higher participation rates of girls and women in exercise.
An Active4Life Walk has been set up between the Rockpool and Strand Park featuring decals of 10 active women from the local and national sporting community.
Sportswomen include Natalie Cook, Libby Trickett, Karla Scott, Alyssa Koenen and Hannah Astbury, Shelby Green, Mia Murray, Tayla Harris, Brianna Coop and Caroline (Caro) Tahana.
There are also a small number of decals that outline statistics and tips relating to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and good health.
Sport, Recreation and Parks Committee chair Cr Pat Ernst said the current gap in participation rates between males and females in sport and active recreation needed to be bridged.
"The State Government has identified that the rate of participation in sport and active recreation is 4.8% lower for Queensland women (aged 15 and over) compared with Queensland men," Cr Ernst said.
"The participation rates between girls and boys (under 15) are even more pronounced with a 13.8% difference.
"Council wants to close that gap and get more girls and women involved in sport.
"We hope this Active4Life Walk is just one way to provide inspiration and encouragement."
The public will also have an opportunity to speak to some of the featured sportswomen at the upcoming Get Active Expo at Townsville RSL Stadium on January 31. Entry is free.
The expo will give sport, recreation and health providers in Townsville an opportunity to promote their services directly to a female audience.
"By holding this expo we can hopefully encourage more girls and women to become active and healthy while having fun in sport," Cr Ernst said.
