The Shire of Busselton as part of its program to encourage greater physical fitness within the community, regardless of age or gender, is encouraging members of the community to enjoy our beautiful scenery whilst participating in the 10,000 Steps Program, a publicly accessible, national online activity program.

The benefits of the program are:

• Helping you to look and feel better; and
• Assisting in reducing your risk of developing many lifestyle-related health problems, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, some forms of cancer and positively addressing mental health issues.

As part of this commitment the Shire of Busselton is promoting a Library Loan Scheme pedometer package that will enable you to monitor your own progress in your attempts to keep fit and improve your feelings of health and well-being.

With your own personal monitor of your physical activity, the 10,000 Steps Program will go a long way to assisting you to:

• Make you feel more energetic and less tired;
• Help you lose weight and control your appetite;
• Help you look and feel better;
• Help you sleep better; and at the same time
• Assist you in enjoying and getting to know your local neighbourhood!

The Shire of Busselton annually participates in the corporate/community Pedometer Challenge.

Seven teams across the Shire recently competed for five weeks in a virtual walking challenge, where they travelled the equivalent distance from Port Douglas in North Queensland to Hobart (3040 kilometres).  Shire President, Cr Wes Hartley, who launched the program on 8^th June said: "It was an excellent result and a great example has been set by all those teams and individuals who participated in the 10,000 Steps Program".

The final results were as follows:

1^st                  Team GLC (Geographe Leisure Centre);

2^nd                Team Goose on the Run (Goose Restaurant);

3^rd                 Movers and Shakers (Naturaliste Community Health Service);

4^th                 Depot Gladiators (Shire of Busselton Depot);

5^th                 Gone Walkabout (Naturaliste Community Health Service);

6^th                 The Artful Dodgers (Shire of Busselton Library);

7^th                 Extreme Chalkies (Dunsborough Primary School).

All teams managed to average the targeted 10,000 steps per day for good health.  The Pedometers will soon be available for a "corporate bundle" loan for other corporate groups wanting to promote a healthy workplace.

Pedometers are available for loan to the community from the Busselton and Dunsborough Libraries.

For more information on the keeping physically active log onto: http://www.beactive.wa.gov.au/ or contact the Shire's Recreation Officer, Jeremy O'Neill, on 9781 0356 for further information.

Media enquiries can be directed to the Shire's Public Relations Officer, Helena Webb on 97810446 or helena.webb@busselton.wa.gov.au