The City of Willoughby is celebrating Biketober, a national competition designed to encourage bike-riding. For those already registered, there are prizes for accumulating the most points, awarded for riding and for encouraging others to ride. A total of 4,200 people took part in the festival in New South Wales last year, with over 31 million kilometres logged since the event’s inception.
Supporting community participation, Willoughby Mayor, Gail Giles-Gidney, referred to projects underway to improve cycling links to St. Leonards. A recreational ebiker, Giles-Gidney said:
“eBiking is an enjoyable way to get fit and it’s great for the environment as it reduces your carbon footprint.”
Elsewhere on the North Shore, the focus is on mental health. Lane Cove Council is marking Mental Health Month with a range of online events, including a small business breakfast seminar, an online carers forum, a ‘Night with the Blokes’, sessions covering self-care for teens, parenting, laughter and positive life talk, and practical lifestyle instruction, including yoga and a ‘Mood and Food Cook Along’.
North Sydney Council online events will cover transcendental meditation, existential therapy, laughter and mindfulness. Flyer and posting printing can be an effective way to promote events like this and raise community awareness.
Public health is of heightened concern due to the impacts of the pandemic. Mental Health Month is an advocacy initiative of the Mental Health Foundation Australia.