Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The National Heart Foundation recently listed the Newcastle region as the fourth-worst performing area in the state when it comes to obesity and exercise, with 31.5 per cent obese and 63.2 per cent of residents not doing enough exercise. Thankfully, my community is working hard to overcome these issues of obesity and inactivity, and there are a number of fantastic initiatives that deserve particular recognition.

Last month I joined in with the 20th anniversary of the Heart Foundation's Walking program as part of National Heart Week, taking a short walk along Newcastle's stunning coastline. Some of the walkers were on their first organised walk, others were part of regular groups who meet and walk for both the physical and mental benefits that group exercise can bring.

And on Saturday 6 June I joined 552 runners and 23 volunteers at the third anniversary of the Newy parkrun. Held in Carrington every week, the Newy parkrun is part of the worldwide parkrun movement of free five-kilometre timed runs. Newy was the seventh parkrun in Australia when it started three years ago, and it is one of more than 100, including 10 in the Newcastle and Hunter region.

This fantastic community of runners welcomed me and other first-time runners with open arms. I look forward to improving my personal best over the coming months and sampling other running courses in my electorate.

I congratulate the event organisers and dedicated volunteers who keep parkrun going every week, and I welcome the work of the Heart Foundation in my community to tackle inactivity and obesity. (Time expired)

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