By BRIDGET SCOTT
RED Gem Packers and Growers wants to get schools involved in healthy fundraising opportunities and has encouraged them to host a baked potato day.
General manager from Red Gem Robert Cerchiaro will speak to a group at a health and wellbeing forum at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in May about the benefits of a baked potato and a program that the company runs for schools.
For the past three years, the Nar Nar Goon based business has worked with a Narre Warren school to run baked potato days where students can purchase a baked spud from a van and later go home with their own little goodie bag.
Quality assurance manager at the company Andrina Hibbert said Red Gem would love to involve other schools from the area, such as in Pakenham, and correct any misleading beliefs people may have about potatoes.
“A lot of people think that they’re not good for you, but it’s what you top them with,” she said.
“We want to give them healthy fundraising opportunities.
“When they have a fundraiser they might have lamington days or hot dog days but this gives schools a healthier option.”
Chief executive officer at Cardinia Shire Council Garry McQuillan and the president of Think Quick Frank Connelly will be among other guest speakers at the health and wellbeing forum this May.
Another keynote speaker will be Wayne Kayler-Thomson, former chief executive officer of the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI).
The forum will provide workplaces with five key steps towards setting up a successful employee health and wellbeing program.
In addition to this there will also be discussions about how to build a positive culture within the workplace, networking and opportunities to develop local partnerships.
Red Gem recently signed up to the health and wellbeing program through the shire, and Ms Hibbert said the main focus is to educate students and encourage them to have healthier lunches.
Healthy Together is a Cardinia Shire Council initiative which aims to improve the overall health of the community where local people work, live and play.
It encourages businesses and individuals to take responsibility for their own health and their workplaces, and encourages local businesses to create the healthiest workplace possible through various actions.
The forum will be the first health and wellbeing forum for workplaces and will run from 9am until 4.30pm on Tuesday 13 May.
Booking close on 2 May.
To register go to www.trybooking.com/EJZV.
