$240,000 Healthway sponsorship for City of Mandurah's popular Crab Fest
LiveLighter campaign to be promoted at WA's biggest free regional event
Healthy food choices will be the easy choice for Crab Fest visitors
Healthy food choices will be the easy choice for visitors to Mandurah's popular annual Crab Fest this year, with new State Government support through a $240,000 Healthway sponsorship for festival organisers, the City of Mandurah.
Announcing the new two-year sponsorship for Crab Fest 2017 and 2018, Health Minister John Day said the spirit of the LiveLighter campaign would underpin many of the festival's activities.
"LiveLighter encourages West Australians to be healthy by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight," Mr Day said.
"This can be achieved by eating healthy food and being physically active.
"Healthy eating and ways to be active are integrated into the festival activities so people can go along, have a great time and see how easy it is to adopt the strategies of LiveLighter into their everyday lives."
The festival, which attracted more than 120,000 people last year and has become WA's biggest free regional event, will be held in Mandurah on March 18 and 19 this year.
The Minister said the City of Mandurah ensured all Crab Fest food vendors worked with the WA School Canteen Association, so that visitors had more healthy food choices than ever before.
Festivities include new cultural events and displays, live entertainment and cooking demonstrations at various locations throughout Mandurah encouraging visitors to move around. The City of Mandurah will provide free secure bicycle parking to encourage local people to leave their cars at home and ride to the event.
"People are going to be active and enjoy healthy food while having fun at the Crab Fest," Mr Day said.
"The principles of LiveLighter are important for everyone's health and for improving the efficiency of our health system."
Fact File
Department of Health data shows 77.8% of adults in the Peel area are overweight or obese and 35.4% are not active enough to be healthy
More than 75% of Healthway sponsored organisations now have healthy food choices available at their events, a condition of Healthway sponsorship where food is served, compared to just 43% of organisations when Healthway was established more than 25 years ago
Minister's office - 6552 6200
