It's About Time - ACHPER

What do you get when over a 1000 Phys Ed/Health/Sport teachers gather for a conference?

A whole lot of energy, enthusiasm, tracksuits and of course, opportunities to connect and reconnect.

I attended the 2010 Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation annual conference which took place over the past two days. And as always, I am filled with great new ideas, greater determination, and a more defined purpose.

Physical Education - whether it be at home/school/sporting club - is learning how to move, to do and to play. With knowledge comes confidence and with confidence comes participation.  

This year, the theme was 'It's About Time' - to take stock of the amount of time assigned to PE classes in busy crowded school curricula and about lobbying for more PE.

I also think it could be about making time to participate in physical activity with our children. As parents we can give our little ones a wide range of positive physical experiences - and our time.

So I have a few new topics and ideas to help do just that - and will share these ideas over the coming days.

Swooped and Spooked

A few weekends ago while on a training ride for the Great Victorian Bike Ride, I was swooped by a bird - possibly a Grey ButcherBird.

Thankfully, I was riding along the heavily wooded bike path along a Freeway and not on the road with traffic flowing close by. It was quite a frightening experience with potentially disastrous results had I been in a busier location.

So last Sunday, keen to not let this incident put me off riding, I rode with a head(helmet)dress.

I turned a few heads, I got a few smiles and I may have looked silly - but I had PIECE OF MIND at least for one leg of my ride.

Because, on my return leg I looked down at my shadow and noticed with horror the absence of spikes on my helmet.

This post is to say farewell to my head(helmet)dress - you gave me confidence to ride through Magpie Swooping territory.

For more information on Swooping Birds click on here.

I am going to try googly eyes for my next ride.