The seaside town will face-off against mid-north coast towns Nambucca Heads and Bowraville, northern NSW town Kyogle and Culcairn in the Riverina for the Healthy Town Challenge.

The Healthy Town Challenge is a joint initiative of the Heart Foundation and the NSW Office of Preventive Health. Now in its fifth year, the challenge is open to towns outside the Sydney metropolitan area with populations between 1,000 and 15,000.

On Wednesday, February 20, Shoalhaven City Council mayor Amanda Findley launched her support for the challenge by hosting the first fortnightly walk in Ulladulla. She encouraged residents to participate in the free fitness challenge and sign up for the contest.

The launch of the challenge coincided with the first "walk with the mayor". Each Wednesday, Cr Findley will host a walk at 10am from the Ulladulla Civic Centre, with Ulladulla Harbour and Millards Creek noted as walking trail options.

The competition starts now and runs until September. It also offers participants aged 16 years and over a free health coaching service with NSW Government’s Get Healthy Service. 

“If you need the motivation to get to your healthiest, this challenge could be the support that you need,” Cr Findley said.

“The more people who sign up for free telephone-based health coaching from the Get Healthy Service, the better our chances of winning the challenge."

Cr Findley said the Challenge Team aim to help participants with goal setting, maintaining motivation, overcoming barriers and making sustainable lifestyle changes in a weekly phone call.

"It’s a great opportunity to make positive steps for a healthier future,’ she said.

“The Healthy Town Challenge will run until spring and there will be lots of events taking place that residents can get involved in including healthy eating workshops and fitness and nutrition activities.

The healthiest town will win $5000, but more important than town glory was the opportunity for people to take small steps to improve their health, Cr Findley said.

As an entrant, $15,000 has been granted to Ulladulla to bring its proposed project to life with plans to support active ageing by establishing community walking events and come-and-try exercise workshops.

Details about exercise workshops and nutritional activities will be released during the six-month program.

For more details visit www.facebook.com/UlladullaHealthyTownChallenge or call the Healthy Town Challenge Team on 0472 834 174.

The next walk with the Mayor will be  Wednesday, 5 March 2019 at 10am.