Promoting wellbeing this festive season

Published on 06 December 2019

Families visiting Gannawarra Shire Council’s Maternal and Child Health service throughout December will receive a Five Ways to Wellbeing magnet and a local hand-made soap from Windella Farm, Cohuna.

Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said that the initiative aimed to encourage residents to shop locally this Christmas as well as providing a small gift to young families in the lead up to the festive season.

“The Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give – are all simple steps that can be taken to improve health and wellbeing,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“Whether it is catching up with your neighbours, being active every day, taking notice of the environment in which we live, learning a new skill or volunteering your time, all can help create positivity regardless of the challenging year many in our community have experienced.”

The wellbeing packs are an initiative of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee - a group of 21 agencies working together to support the wider community through ongoing dry conditions and other issues that are impacting on local farming families and small businesses.

Other initiatives of the Gannawarra Community Resilience Committee throughout 2019 have included the establishment of the Gannawarra Giving Account, the monthly Gannawarra Cares newsletter and supporting events and programs through funding from the Gannawarra Community Resilience Grants Program.

“I encourage all residents to take the time to connect with each other throughout this festive season and to keep money in our community this Christmas by shopping locally,” Mayor Learmonth said.

“Christmas is an exciting time, and I am sure the wellbeing packs will be well received by families during their visit with our Maternal and Child Health Nurses.”  

ABOVE: Bianca Woodier (right) and her children, Finlay (second from left) and Owen received a Five Ways to Wellbeing magnet and soap pack from Maternal and Child Health Nurse, Jenny Newell during a recent visit to the Gannawarra Shire Children's Centre.