Walk to Work Day

Annual event in Australia

Walk to Work Day

Observed by| Australia
Frequency| annual

Walk to Work Day is an annual, national event in Australia encouraging people to walk to work. The event is an initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, and supported by the Australian Government. In 2015, it was held on Friday 13 November.

## Event details and history

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Through Walk to Work Day, the Pedestrian Council of Australia draw attention to the health and wellbeing benefits of walking.[2] Since 2000 Walk to Work Day has been a national event supported by the Australian Government.[3] 2003 was the first time the event was held on the same date across all Australian states and territories.[4] Several non-government organisations also promote the day, including the Australian Medical Association[5] and the Health Services Union.[6]

Herb Elliott led a celebrity walk across Sydney Harbour Bridgt for the event in 1999.[7] In 2001, distance swimmer Grant Hackett backed the event in national media, including in The Sunday Telegraph.[8] In 2003, Prime Minister John Howard featured in national Walk to Work Day television and radio commercials.[9]

## See also

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* Crossing guard
* Walk Safely to School Day
* Walk to school campaign
* Walking bus
* National Pedestrian Day

## Notes

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1. ^ Pedestrian Council of Australia, Let's Get Australia Walking Again, Pedestrian Council of Australia, archived from the original on 4 November 2013
2. ^ "Start walking now to raise funds for your favourite charity". Fraser Coast Chronicle. APN News and Media. 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.
3. ^ Merom, Miller & Bauman 2003, p. 10.
4. ^ Merom, Miller & Bauman 2003, p. 7.
5. ^ "Walking – a simple prescription for good health". Australian Medical Association. 25 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
6. ^ Health Services Union (18 October 2013). "Let's Get Australia Walking Again". Health Services Union. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013.
7. ^ "Forget the car and walk to work". The Manly Daily. 25 September 1999. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
8. ^ "Grant backs the big walk". The Sunday Telegraph. 30 September 2001. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
9. ^ "Prime Minister urges Australians to make time to walk every day" (Press release). Pedestrian Council of Australia. 25 September 2003. Archived from the original on 11 November 2004.

## References

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* Merom, Dafna; Miller, Yvette; Bauman, Adrian (2003), The Walk to Work Day 2003 Evaluation Report (PDF), NSW Centre for Physical Activity and Health University of NSW, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2011

## External links

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* Official Walk to Work Day website
* Pedestrian Council of Australia website
* National Walk to Work Day