Boys get in early for health kick

TEENAGE boys were up early on Thursday morning to take part in Cardinia Shire Council’s Active Boys’ Breakfast.
The program is part of the shire’s healthy lifestyle plan and is designed to encourage boys to continue taking part in sport and physical activity throughout their lives.
Cardinia Shire recreation officer Michael Haley said about 60 year 7-9 boys from Kooweerup and Pakenham Secondary Colleges, and St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, took part.
“In recent years there had been a trend in boys to move away from participation in active sport and recreation to things like computer games to fill in their recreation time.
“Events like this are a good way to encourage them to stay involved in physical activity,” he said.
The boys got the chance to speak with guest athletes Hawthorn AFL player Angelo Lekkas, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Kris McKarthy, and Paralympians Don Elgin and Kieran Ault-Connell.
Cr Brett Owen, who spoke at the breakfast, said the event provided a great opportunity for young men to meet positive role models and get tips on what it takes to make it to the sporting elite.