First Health expo a success

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 277, 7 March 1989, Page 1

First Health expo a success

The Waimarino' s first ever Health Expo co-ordinated and run by the Community Health Watch Committee held in the weekend was a fantastic success, according to organisers.

Visitors to the Raetihi Primary School hall on Saturday were bombarded from all sides with displays and stalls - all health-related - run by community organisations and businesses, including the Country Women's Institute, Plunket and St John's Ambulance. Occupying centrestage was a food pyramid display and "Eat To Beat" promotional ma-

terial from the Heart Foundation. Static displays that attracted particular interest included an enormous inflated ball adorned with information provided by the local Campus Life group. The Waimarino's rescue helicopter occupied a space in the play area outside the hall and was eagerly inspected by children and adults alike throughout the day, as were local fire brigade and ambulance displays. People of all ages and levels of fitness pitted their abilities in the Physical Competency Course run by local Police. Co-ordinator Wayne Mills was pleased with the number of applicants - over thirty people raced against the clock and completed the gruelling course that included pulling a loaded trailer, scaling a wall and carrying a very weighty manikin some distance. Turn page 2

Health Expo

From page 1 People flocked to the school on Friday evening for the opening night address by guest speakers Phyl Van Den Broek and Doctor Sam Chan from the Wanganui Area Health Board, speaking on Hepatitis B and AIDS. Waimarino Community Health Watch Committee Expo subcommittee chairman Dorothy Scarrow said there was a favourable feedback from those in attendance, with speakers innundated with questions from the floor. Similarly, talks held on Saturday that included Maori Health, Stress, Asthma and Child Health - topics relative to the

Waimarino - were lively and generally well attended, according to Mrs Scarrow. "It was just incredible to see exactly what is available in the district health- wise," she said. "The expo was a first for the Waimarino and proved to be a good learning opportunity for local people." Mrs Scarrow also praised the local business community for their input and the Waimarino as a whole for supporting the event. Pre-Expo activities during the preceding week included a golf-a-thon, bike-a-thon and squash-a-thon. A fun run and swimming gala were also held on Saturday.