City recognised for “no smoking” message

City Environmental Health Officer, Hayley Williamson, accepts the award from WALGA President Mayor, Troy Pickard, and Healthway Executive Director, David Malone.

The City of Greater Geraldton has been awarded a certificate of commendation from the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia for their engagement in the 2014 Children’s Environment & Health Report Card project. 

The project aims to encourage and inspire local governments to enhance their public health plans, policies and initiatives in the area of children's health and wellbeing.

As part of the project, the City was successful in implementing “no smoking” awareness signs throughout Geraldton including playgrounds, the Foreshore and sporting venues under the project category, “prevention of disease”.

This is just one of the 100 “no smoking” signs around Geraldton.

The signage project engaged local high school students to design the artwork which has seen around 100 signs promoting safe air for the community to prevent exposure to the health dangers from breathing in tobacco smoke.

Mullewa were also successful in implementing the educational signage at playgrounds, the Mullewa Swimming Pool, Youth Centre, Recreation Centre and the Mullewa Football Club.

City Acting Mayor, Neil McIlwaine, said the primary message for this project was to promote a strong and healthy community.

“The City is proud to showcase these signs which promote a very important message to our community,” he said.

“We engaged with local students who received awareness education on the dangers of smoking.

“It’s great to see that our youth understand this message and now they can be advocates for the whole community.”

Using funding from the Department of Health through the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia and Curtin University, the City implemented the signage under the Tobacco Control Grants Scheme.