Pupils legging it

St Josephs Primary School walking school bus "drivers" Shannon Regan (left) and Dianne Mills,...
St Josephs Primary School walking school bus "drivers" Shannon Regan (left) and Dianne Mills, with Monique Lewis (5) in front, gather at the Oamaru Public Gardens yesterday. Photo by Sally Rae.
Sport Waitaki active transport co-ordinator Helen Algar wants to see more school pupils and parents taking advantage of the benefits of the walking school bus programme.

The programme, which was launched in Oamaru in 2005, involves supervised groups walking designated routes and the supervised groups replacing individual car trips to St Josephs Primary School.

A celebrity walk was held yesterday in damp conditions, with school principal Jenny Jackson, Project Turnaround co-ordinator Derek Beveridge, Sport Waitaki co-ordinator Grahame Johnston, North Otago rugby coach Mike Mullins, radio announcer Mike Plant and Dave Crowther from AMI Insurance joining Mrs Algar and pupils.

Community volunteers were being sought to "drive" the bus and it was also hoped to establish a "bus" walking from the north end of Oamaru, Mrs Algar said.

The benefits of walking or cycling to school were wide-ranging and the walking school bus provided a regular opportunity for children to walk to school safely under adult supervision.

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