Toddler Tucker heads to Beagle Bay

Former West Coast Eagle star David Wirrpanda has served up a new healthy eating campaign for indigenous children and parents that will be piloted in three WA regions, including Beagle Bay.

Wirrpanda intends to travel to the Kimberley community, 114km north east of Broome, to “push” Toddler Tucker — Grow us Up Strong — the brainchild of the Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation.

Part of the aim is to encourage recognition of the need for breakfast for children, eating three meals a day and to replace soft drinks and sugary teas with water.

“I know Beagle Bay is on the map and I am keen to get up there to push this along,” Wirrpanda said.

“That is why I am involved.”

Meerilinga will run the campaign with community partners and the David Wirrpanda Foundation, established to improve the quality of life for indigenous youth by promoting strong role models and healthy life choices.

They will provide resources, training and promotional material to assist indigenous parents and carers to develop healthy eating behaviours in their children, aged one to three.

Wirrpanda launched the program in Perth last week for families in the Swan, Cockburn and Beagle Bay communities.

“This is another avenue of access to support as far as understanding the health of kids, especially young families in places like Beagle Bay,” he said.

Wirrpanda said the campaign has been educational for him — despite being fit and healthy.

“I had a football career where you basically need to have a healthy lifestyle to play at the pinnacle,” he said. “But as a father I had no idea on what nutrition my kids needed in their food — especially when the baby food stops.

“You need to develop an understanding of their taste buds and most importantly what to feed little kids.

“That is the reason I wanted to get involved because it is an education to me personally as well.

“Once I understood all that, it helped me become more of an understanding parent.”

About 4000 families are expected to take part in the campaign, which is intended to be turned out nationally.

“You don’t realise how much that (healthy eating) does for your child’s health,” Wirripanda said.

“They learn quicker and eating properly would have an effect on their young brains while growing up because they would be a lot healthier in mind and body as well.

“This is a wonderful thing for me personally, but just for me to share that with the community is just as important.”