Students from Benalla, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga and Cobram attended a healthy weight forum hosted by the Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes and the Member for Murray Valley, Tim McCurdy at Parliament House on Thursday 17 May.
Dr Sykes said, “Students from FCJ College in Benalla used the forum to highlight a range of issues associated with obesity and weight issues in general amongst young people.
“Students had the opportunity to discuss issues relating to healthy weight and the best ways to encourage young people to make healthier food choices when eating out with friends.”
The forum commenced in the Parliamentary dining room with a discussion on body image issues. Students heard from Dr Sally Cockburn, also known as Dr Feelgood, on healthy weight and body sculpting issues.
Mick Wilson, a coach with the BlueEarth Foundation, spoke on the mission to improve health and prevent the issues created by sedentary living by helping to increase participation in physical activity for local communities and individuals.
The forum then moved into the legislative assembly chamber where students from the participating schools each had 10 minutes to speak on their assigned topic. This was followed by group discussion and interaction and concluded with a tour of Parliament House.
FCJ College student Lucy James said of the experience, “The forum was to get student’s perspectives of how obesity is affecting Victoria and whether it is a real problem. It was really interesting to see Parliament House and to be part of the forum in such a great location.
“We met the woman who writes for Girlfriend magazine and she gave an interesting presentation at the beginning of the forum.”
The forum was coordinated by parliamentary intern, Siobhan Mahoney, who is conducting a public policy study into the issue of childhood obesity in north east Victoria.
Dr Sykes, “The forum provided students with an opportunity to contribute to this study.”
He concluded, “Achieving healthy weight involves both ensuring a balanced diet, appropriate level of exercise and a general healthy lifestyle.
“The prime responsibility rests with the individual but clearly families, the broader community and government should also provide appropriate information and support.”

Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $25,000 for Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the funding will help to develop the capacity of the centre to best meet demand in the competitive training environment of the local snow sports industry.
He said, “The project will consult with local businesses to determine training requirements and traineeships.”
Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre’s CEO, Yvonne Evans said, “The funds will be utilised to develop a new strategic direction for the centre. There have been a number of challenges facing the centre this past two years due to government policy and we are hoping that this funding will enable us to undertake a critical examination of where we can go in the future and how we can get there.
“Sustainability is the key factor for us. Without a sustainable and viable future the centre will not survive and the community will be the ones to lose out. It takes an enormous effort to get a Neighbourhood Centre established in a community and once it is lost there may be no going back.
“We aim to prevent that if we can by being professional and adopting a business outlook towards our planning and development.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla today announced that students at Bright and Myrtleford P12 colleges and Mt Beauty Secondary School will receive funding for students to volunteer in the community thanks to the Victorian Coalition Government’s $4.5 million Advance program.
National Volunteer Week is held from 14-20 May 2012.
Dr Sykes said, “Our volunteers do a fantastic job in protecting communities and lives during fire, storm and flood. They also provide important support in the areas of health, education, social justice, sports, heritage and culture and the environment and conservation.
“I applaud these schools for participating in the Advance program in 2012 and I am sure that the students will greatly benefit from their contribution and experiences.
“The Advance program also provides a fantastic opportunity to partner local schools with local community groups.”
Principal of Myrtleford P12 College, Zlatko Pear said, “The Advance Program funding has been fantastic for our college. It has enabled us to run a community based Year 9 and 10 program which involves our students forming close links with the local CFA.
“At the completion of the program our students gain a certificate of basic competency from the Public Safety Training Package. Having our students involved in such a program benefits their personal development whilst contributing to the community in a meaningful way.”
Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith announced that more than 420 schools and 17,000 young people will be participating in the Advance program in 2012.
“Advance is a fantastic program that encourages young people to get involved in their local community and strengthens local partnerships between schools and local community organisations and services.
“The program also provides young people with practical opportunities for mentoring and gaining new skills and training whilst learning more about their local community.
“Supporting young people to volunteer has a positive and lasting effect, not only on the individual, but the whole community,” Mr Smith said.
Advance is a $4.5 million flexible school-based program offered annually in Victorian Government secondary schools. It engages and provides opportunities for young people between the ages of 14-18 to actively participate in their community through volunteering, while learning valuable transferable skills.
Dr Sykes also thanked the countless volunteers throughout north east Victoria who make such valuable contributions to their local communities.
For more information on the Advance program go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/advance

Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla today announced that Mansfield Secondary College will receive funding for students to volunteer in the community thanks to the Victorian Coalition Government’s $4.5 million Advance program.
National Volunteer Week is held from 14-20 May 2012.
Dr Sykes said, “Our volunteers do a fantastic job in protecting communities and lives during fire, storm and flood. They also provide important support in the areas of health, education, social justice, sports, heritage and culture and the environment and conservation.
“I applaud Mansfield Secondary for participating in the Advance program in 2012 and I am sure that the students will greatly benefit from their contribution and experiences.
“The Advance program also provides a fantastic opportunity to partner local schools with local community groups.”
Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith announced that more than 420 schools and 17,000 young people will be participating in the Advance program in 2012.
“Advance is a fantastic program that encourages young people to get involved in their local community and strengthens local partnerships between schools and local community organisations and services.
“The program also provides young people with practical opportunities for mentoring and gaining new skills and training whilst learning more about their local community.
“Supporting young people to volunteer has a positive and lasting effect, not only on the individual, but the whole community,” Mr Smith said.
Advance is a $4.5 million flexible school-based program offered annually in Victorian Government secondary schools. It engages and provides opportunities for young people between the ages of 14-18 to actively participate in their community through volunteering, while learning valuable transferable skills.
Dr Sykes also thanked the countless volunteers throughout north east Victoria who make such valuable contributions to their local communities.
For more information on the Advance program go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/advance

Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla today announced that Euroa Secondary College will receive funding for students to volunteer in the community thanks to the Victorian Coalition Government’s $4.5 million Advance program.
National Volunteer Week will be held from 14-20 May 2012.
Dr Sykes said, “Our volunteers do a fantastic job in protecting communities and lives during fire, storm and flood. They also provide important support in the areas of health, education, social justice, sports, heritage and culture and the environment and conservation.
“I applaud Euroa Secondary for participating in the Advance program in 2012 and I am sure that the students will greatly benefit from their contribution and experiences.
“The Advance program also provides a fantastic opportunity to partner local schools with local community groups.”
Acting Principal of Euroa Secondary College, Scott Watson said, “Euroa Secondary College has a very well run Advance program at year 9 level which constantly relies upon the volunteer workforce associated with a variety of surrounding country fire brigades.
“Both CFA members and equipment is utilised on a weekly basis in order to meet the educational outcomes of the Advance program.
“Young people at Euroa Secondary College are able to complete Junior Wildfire Firefighter qualifications as part of their course of work and the volunteer nature of people with the expertise in our community who assist with this outcome is greatly appreciated indeed – without this assistance the program would struggle to engage the young people involved and certainly would decrease the quality of achievement able to be obtained.”
Minister for Youth Affairs Ryan Smith announced that more than 420 schools and 17,000 young people will be participating in the Advance program in 2012.
“Advance is a fantastic program that encourages young people to get involved in their local community and strengthens local partnerships between schools and local community organisations and services.
“The program also provides young people with practical opportunities for mentoring and gaining new skills and training whilst learning more about their local community.
“Supporting young people to volunteer has a positive and lasting effect, not only on the individual, but the whole community,” Mr Smith said.
Advance is a $4.5 million flexible school-based program offered annually in Victorian Government secondary schools. It engages and provides opportunities for young people between the ages of 14-18 to actively participate in their community through volunteering, while learning valuable transferable skills.
Dr Sykes also thanked the countless volunteers throughout north east Victoria who make such valuable contributions to their local communities.
For more information on the Advance program go to www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/advance

Bright Adult Community Education Centre is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $19,800 for the Bright Adult Education Centre to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Bright Adult Community Education Centre to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the money would be used to provide opportunities to Learn Local organisations to develop programs and products aimed at building capacity and increasing the participation and attainment of learners.
He said, “This funding will greatly benefit the communities of Bright and Myrtleford and provide learning opportunities in the areas of aged care and the ski industry in particular.
Marg McCallum, Bright Adult Education Centre committee member and Jill Graham, coordinator of the Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre welcomed the funding.
In a joint statement they said that Bright Adult Education and Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre have partnered together in a joint project named Alpine Futures.
The project will focus on developing complementary strategic plans for the next three years clear clearly outlines both organisation’s visions for the future.
The development of financial and business plans will also help to improve the viability of each organisation and assist in making both sustainable and relevant within the Alpine Shire and the local community.
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

MACE is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $50,000 for Mansfield Adult Community Education Centre to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as MACE to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the funding, in partnership with Swinburne University, will be used to develop a Facilitated Online Regional Learning Model to provide learners in the Hume Region with access to a three tiered degree program.
He said, “This is a fantastic initiative which will have many benefits for people in the Benalla Electorate, particularly our young people who wish to commence further education without having to initially relocate to a Melbourne or a larger regional centre.”
MACE CEO, Paul Sladdin said, “Learn Local organisations such as MACE are committed to providing access to learning opportunities for people in the Hume Region.
“This additional funding is welcome in that it will enable MACE to engage with Learn Local organisations to ensure the roll out of the Uni4U project which is aimed at increasing the participation rate in higher education for people in the Hume region.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Waminda is one of 60 Learn Local organisations across Victoria to receive grants totalling $2.3 million, provided through Round 3 of the State Government's Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board Capacity and Innovation Fund.
Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has welcomed funding of $36,020 for Benalla’s Waminda Community House to help them better serve the needs of learners in the region.
The grants help Adult Community Education Learn Local organisations such as Waminda to expand their services, improve efficiency, offer new courses and increase the participation and attainment of learners.
Dr Sykes said the money would be used to provide opportunities to Learn Local organisations to develop programs and products aimed at building capacity and increasing the participation and attainment of learners.
He said, “The funding for Waminda will help the organisation to position itself as a preferred provider for the socio economically disadvantaged neighbourhood of West Benalla.
“Waminda will undertake research and community consultation, develop volunteers and develop sound learning pathways.”
Waminda Coordinator, Bobbie Titcher said, “The project will also work toward building the capacity of Waminda to serve the local community by strengthening the organisation’s governance and operating systems and establish stronger partnerships with other community organizations.
“A partnership has also been developed with The Centre to assist in the development of educational programs in the local community.”
Dr Sykes said that the ACFE Capacity and Innovation Grants have been designed to help Learn Local organisations to develop new programs to boost participation and learning.
"The Capacity and Innovation Fund is an initiative that will encourage innovation within adult education and support a sector of the Victorian education system that already does vital work in supporting adult learners.
"As a knowledge-driven economy, Victoria will increasingly need a workforce with higher levels of qualifications and skills. Through these funds, the Learn Local organisations in our region are further enhanced to help supply this education and training. Congratulations to all successful applicants from this round."
Each year the state's 310 Learn Local organisations provide education and training to more than 95,000 people, offering vocational, language, literacy and numeracy and work-skill courses.
Dr Sykes concluded, “In the 20 years that the community-based adult education sector has been recognised in Victoria by legislation, these organisations have helped countless thousands of people to an education and employment pathway.”

Twelve local You’ve Got What It Takes (YGWIT) student award winners and their families enjoyed the Brisbane Lions versus Melbourne match last weekend at the MCG with Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.
The Benalla Electorate students were some of last year’s recipients of Dr Sykes’ ‘Weary’ Dunlop ‘You’ve Got What It Takes’ Award.
Initiated nine years ago by Dr Sykes the award recognises students who have demonstrated persistence and resilience in overcoming challenges to achieve either personally, socially, academically, on the sporting arena or in some other field of endeavour.
“It was great to see the Lions win and to see local Benalla boy, Tom Rockcliff play so well.
“This fantastic opportunity was made possible through the generosity of the AFL and this year the students each received caps courtesy of the Brisbane Lions,” Dr Sykes said.
Local students who attended with their families were:
Riley McCloskey (Benalla); Luke Birch (Euroa), Rebecca Jennings (Violet Town), Nathan Malesa (Eildon), Jacob Traczyk (formerly Benalla), Zoe Cavedon (Bright); Abbie Hunter (Benalla); Brody Brown (Porepunkah); John Guppy (Broken Creek); Sophie Davies (Devenish); Gorgia Spinks (Broken Creek); Katie King (Nagambie).
Last week seven other YGWIT award recipients travelled to Parliament House and enjoyed a morning tea and tour of the historic building with Dr Sykes.
“I look forward to following the progress of each of these resilient young people in years to come and I will continue to offer the award to schools in my electorate on an annual basis,” Dr Sykes concluded.
Nomination packs for 2012 will be sent to schools in term three this year.

This week in Parliament, Member for Benalla Bill Sykes highlighted the important work done by the nationally recognised Beacon program and the involvement of Euroa Secondary College and local business people in the initiative.
Dr Sykes said, “Last week I joined local business people and community leaders at Euroa Secondary College to learn more about the Beacon program courtesy of student ambassadors Sierra Weston, Lewis Meeny, Emily Wallace and Byron Craven.”
Beacon’s programs support young people to develop a positive attitude to education, employment, themselves and the wider community. The not for profit organisation currently works with 120 schools Australia wide.
Dr Sykes told Parliament that during the Community Connections Event at Euroa Secondary College on Wednesday 21 March 2012 student ambassadors spoke about the Beacon program and what it meant to them.
Euroa Secondary College student Sierra Weston said, “The Beacon program helps students gain many valuable skills such as public speaking skills, networking skills and a knowledge of how to present yourself. I am very proud of the leadership skills I have developed through my involvement with Beacon.”
Lewis Meeny said, “The Beacon program presents students with a great opportunity to connect with local businesses and the community.”
He also said it had helped him gain more of an understanding of careers and pathways. Most of all, he said he has really enjoyed speaking to successful and interesting people in the community.
Emily Wallace said Beacon had helped her explore many different careers and industries, some of which she did not even know existed. She said being a Beacon ambassador at Euroa Secondary College has definitely helped develop her confidence. She now finds speaking to a roomful of people exciting rather than scary.
Byron Craven said, “The Beacon program benefits not only students and schools but also local businesses and the community by raising interest and giving students the opportunity to talk to business people and find out potential pathways into the careers they want to be involved in after secondary school.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “I encourage all Euroa and district businesses and community leaders to get on board and support the Beacon program in its work in encouraging young people to achieve to the max.
“Remember, it takes a village to raise a child.”