Every generation has a character who helped shaped their view of the world. For the children of the 1960s and 1970s it might have been Humphrey B. Bear or Oscar the Grouch.
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For kids who grew up in the 1980s, 1990s or the noughties, the Wiggles feature heavily.
But so, too, does Healthy Harold, the happy giraffe who helps youngsters navigate the minefield of growing up, avoiding pitfalls such as drugs, alcohol and the other member of the unholy trinity, gambling.
Earlier this year, it looked as if federal funding for the Healthy Harold program, which provides life education for kids from preschool and right through their primary years, might be withdrawn.
The outcry was immediate – and loud. Funding was restored quicksmart.
Healthy Harold came up in conversation again on Friday during the Times’ regular Facebook Live chat with Craig Saunders, Rotary’s new local president.
Like many parents across the district, Craig knows the value of life education. He sees it as an investment in the community’s future.
If kids can learn to avoid bad choices in a fun and friendly way, chances are they’ll grow into fine, upstanding adults.
He’s issued a challenge to the community to pitch in and secure funding so Healthy Harold and the Life Education van can continue to be a regular visitor to the district.
We spoke to a couple of parents after the Facebook chat and they agreed in the value of Healthy Harold’s visits and how it had steered their own kids from poor life choices.
One mum told us her kids had spread the lessons learned back to the family, reminding her of the dangers of smoking. They had become advocates for good health.
It’s called preventive education. The idea is to encourage children to make safer and healthier choices now and in the future.
The program reaches approximately 700,000 children across Australia, with over 100 mobile learning centres and 95 specially trained educators.
There’s a saying, that it takes a village to raise a child, that resonates with Rotary’s push to fund Healthy Harold’s visits.
If our kids are schooled in how to live life our entire community will be better for it.
A small contribution from each of us will go a long way towards ensuring future generations of school children have the Healthy Harold advantage.
It’s something worth supporting.
