Aussie kids learn to sing, dance and turn to sport
2009-06-29
Thousands of Australian children in the Australian Sports Commission's Active After-school Communities (AASC) program will be inspired to get active and raise awareness of diabetes through a new song specially composed for the AASC's Turning to Sport for Good Health campaign: 'Turn to sport and Play for Life'.
The Australian Sports Commission, in partnership with Diabetes Australia, have created the Turning to Sport for Good Health campaign to increase national awareness of diabetes, which around 275 Australians develop every day. The campaign will be launched during National Diabetes Week, 12-18 July.
Through the campaign, up to 150 000 children in the AASC program will have the opportunity to learn and sing the specially composed song 'Turn to sport and Play for Life'. Children will also learn dance moves choreographed by Gymnastics Australia, to reinforce the health benefits of sport and the need to stay physically active.
A national competition will also be run as part of the Turning to Sport for Good Health campaign. The competition will invite participating schools and after school care centres to create their own music video and dance moves for the 'Turn to Sport and Play for Life' song.
Eyre Peninsula (South Australia) AASC regional coordinator Kristen Lawler, a musician, singer and songwriter, composed the catchy 'Turn to sport and Play for Life' song. Lawler hopes her song will inspire more Australian children to be active.
'Music has the power to motivate kids and adults to play sport and to get physically active. The tune will practically demonstrate how sport can be used by Aussie kids to have lots of fun, to meet new friends and to get physically active,' said Lawler.
A promotional music video for 'Turn to Sport and Play for Life' was recently filmed at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, starring children in AASC program from St Francis of Assisi Before and After School Care, and featuring singing by Adelaide Hills children from the Meadows Primary School AASC program.
As part of the ASC and Diabetes Australia Turning to Sport for Good Health campaign, children in AASC programs will also be taking up the challenge to complete 1.5 million 'sporting passes' (including throwing, catching and kicking) -- one pass for each Australian with diabetes. Each child will also receive a 'bonus pass' card to continue recording sporting passes during school breaks and at home.
