AFL Tasmania and the Wrest Point Tasmanian Devils announced today the signing of major salmon producer TASSAL as a sponsor. The sponsorship involves a monetary element as well as an allocation of salmon product to be used by the Tasmania Football Club.
The announcement was made at the Campbell Street Primary School with the support of the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program and the school football team. TASSAL CEO, Mr Mark Ryan, was joined by Mr Blair Brownless, the State Manager of the AASC, and young Tasmanian Devil player Mitch Thorp to make the announcement and highlight the importance of diet and physical activity to a healthy lifestyle.
TASSAL CEO, Mr Mark Ryan, was extremely pleased to be partnering the Tasmanian Devils and explained the benefits of salmon as part of a healthy lifestyle for growing athletes. Mr Ryan said: "Not only is our salmon low in calories and high in protein, but Tasmanian Salmon is also one of the highest natural sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is the perfect protein that can give active sport participants a taste for a lifetime of healthy nutrition".
Mr Brownless explained that the AASC program is an initiative of the Australian Government being managed by the Australian Sports Commission. AASC provides primary school-aged children with access to free, structured physical activity programs in the after-school timeslot of 3.00pm to 5.00pm. An important component of the program is the provision of healthy after school snack.
AASC is part of the Australian Government's $116m Building a Healthy, Active Australia package to tackle the growing problem of declining physical activity and poor eating habits of Australian children. The Building a Healthy, Active Australia initiative recognises that we need a balanced approach towards nutrition and physical activity to promote healthy habits for life. Importantly, the initiative is focused on children, because healthy and active children live better and learn better, and grow up to be more healthy and active adults.
"We all know that kids need a balanced diet and fish is certainly a brain food - but it is also great for the body. As part of any child's future development - fish, especially salmon, can provide their growing bodies with the nutrition they need to get active and have fun", said Blair Brownless, Tas State Manager of AASC.
Young Tasmanian Devils star Mitchell Thorp is an AASC program presenter for football and has worked with many young students at the Campbell Street Primary School. Mitchell believes that salmon and fish products were great for sportspeople as they are "...quick and easy to prepare as well as tasty and healthy for you."
For further information please do not hesitate to contact either:
Daniel Smedley Blair Brownless
Assistant General Manager Tasmanian State Manager
AFL Tasmania Active After School Communities
0418 114414 0437 700 304
Last Modified on 28/07/2006 11:55