BEECHWORTH Health Service and Indigo North Health are teaming up to educate the community on physical activity and staying healthy with their free Check it Out and Give it a Go Sports and Rec Expos.

Beechworth Health Service health promotion officer, Bernadette McCann, said the project idea came from Community Action Workshops as part of the RESPOND project to introduce children and young people to range of sports outside of the traditional activities.

“The free expos aim to boost knowledge of and hopefully participation in physical and social activity,” she said.

“We will be providing information about healthy eating, additional sports and rec opportunities in the shire and provide free fruit.”

Through the expo, they also hope to highlight ‘off-field’ opportunities in sport.

“The expo is about increasing community connectedness and awareness of sport and recreation opportunities within the region,” Ms McCann said.

“It's important to acknowledge that being actively connected is not just about ‘on field’ participation, there are always other opportunities to be involved like umpiring, coaching, volunteering and coordinating.”

There will be two expos taking place, one at Mayday Hills Cricket Oval in Beechworth on Friday, October 11 from 4pm to 6pm and the other at Lions Park Douglas Street Rutherglen on Friday, October 18 from 4pm to 6pm.

Both events will feature information from North East Sports and Good Sports from Melbourne, alongside a variety of sporting clubs and organisations from the North East.

“The activities will be hosted by all North East based sports and community groups wanting to showcase what they offer and how people can get involved,” Ms McCann said.

“In addition, Indigo Shire Council will have a display and information stand promoting the rail trail and other council sports and rec initiatives they have funded and mange.”

The Beechworth event will feature pickle ball, golf, dragon boating, mountain biking, cricket, gymnastics, dog obedience club, skate boarding, AFL, CFA, Zumba, basketball, swimming, giant games, face painting, a barbeque fundraiser from the Rotary club and more.

At the Rutherglen event there will be pickle ball/badminton, golf, dance, cycling, rowing, tennis, Men’s Shed, AFL, CFA, CWA, SES, giant games, face painting, a barbeque fundraiser from the Lions club and SES and more.

For more information, contact z.gephart@inh.org.au or Bernadette.McCann@beechworth.org.au.