Bidyadanga kids paint a picture of healthy living

Bidyadanga came alive with colour, creativity and community spirit this April as dozens of local kids took part in an art contest promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing at Bidyadanga Remote Pool. 

Run in partnership with Healthway, the Fuel to Go & Play competition was part of a Healthy Venues pilot program, which is supporting the community with a new approach to community education.  

Inviting young kids aged 5 to 16 to create works celebrating healthy lifestyles, nutritious food, and the role of water in bringing their community together, the competition sparked a huge response. A total of 69 entries poured in between the 5–12 and 13–16 age groups, with exciting prizes up for grabs such as sports vouchers, Croc shoes, and snorkelling equipment! All participants also received a Croc charm and certificate for participating. 

From bright paintings of fruit bowls to dot art featuring sea creatures and swimming scenes, each piece told a personal story. One young artist, 14-years-old Mango, impressed judges not once but twice with their art depicting local waterways and turtles. 12-year-old also Nani also took home a prize for their blue and purple dot painting.  

This fantastic outcome wouldn’t have been possible without the energy and support of Scott and Linda Kendall, Pool Managers at the Bidyadanga pool, who went above and beyond to help organise the competition and get kids involved.  

Through the Healthy Venues pilot, the pool’s canteen has also introduced a range of healthier snack options to teach local kids about the importance of eating well.  

Combined with programs like Swim for Fruit, it’s clear that small changes can have a big impact, especially when the whole community gets involved. Huge thank you to Healthway for their support of this new Fuel to Go & Play program!