Recently I had the pleasure of joining 130 people celebrating this year’s Active Geelong Business and Community Awards.
This annual event shines a light on the people and organisations who are helping our region move more, feel better and live healthier lives.
This work is incredibly important, and these awards recognise local leaders who are inspiring others to be active in a variety of ways.
The 2025 award winners were:
The Geelong College – Large Workplace of the Year
LBW – Small Workplace of the Year
Leisure Networks & Vines Road Community Centre – Joint Community Award
Kieser – Allied Health/GP Clinic of the Year
I congratulate this year’s winners and nominees, and I was pleased to see them recognised for their good work at the awards.
This year’s awards also featured a few fresh touches, including a pledge to introduce at least one new physical activity at work in 2026 and a three-minute stretching session.
All 130 attendees participated in the session featuring head-to-toe stretches that can be done at your desk at work.
These quirky additions demonstrated what Active Geelong is all about – inspiring people across Greater Geelong to enjoy physical activity and all the health benefits that come with it.
Here on the Bellarine Peninsula, we fortunate to have access to so many fantastic opportunities for physical activity.
Our beaches, shared paths and walking trails are full of people staying active in ways that suit their lifestyles, whether it’s a morning walk along the Ocean Grove foreshore, a family ride on the Bellarine Rail Trail or a peaceful lap around the Begola Wetlands track.
Our residents’ commitment to staying healthy and active is reflected in the findings of our 2024 Geelong Preventative Health Survey, released earlier this year.
Nearly eight out of ten people across Geelong are satisfied with their lives and 65 per cent of residents are meeting physical activity guidelines.
But the survey also identifies areas for improvement: 20 per cent of Greater Geelong residents are classified as sedentary.
That is one in five people who are doing very little physical activity each day, which we know increases the risk of chronic disease and affects mental health.
The survey also shows broader wellbeing challenges. One in four people across Greater Geelong report feeling lonely, and the rates are significantly higher among young people and people with disability.
Issues such as food security, alcohol harm and personal safety also feature prominently.
These findings remind us that health is influenced by many factors, and that activity, connection and community all play important roles.
That is why partnerships like Active Geelong work so well alongside the facilities and community support already in place across the Bellarine.
They help people take manageable steps toward a healthier lifestyle, supported by the places and networks they already know and trust.
As a Council, the health and wellbeing of our community is central to everything we do.
Our Community Plan 2025-29 and Community Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-29 are our guiding documents in creating a happier, healthier region and you can find them on our website at geelongaustralia.com.au
With strong partnerships and a continued focus on preventative health, we can make Geelong and the Bellarine even more active, connected and healthy for everyone.
