13/10/1999

This will be a major family event providing access to the latest information and products related to child accident prevention.

Kidsafe today announced it would stage the first Kidsafe Picnic in September 2000 at Albert Park Lake to be followed with a series of rural events throughout country Victoria.

The Kidsafe Picnic will provide an ongoing framework for a range of community groups and government agencies across the full safety spectrum to combine their efforts and extend the effectiveness of the "safety message".

Mr Ed Szwaja, Executive Officer of Kidsafe Victoria said, "The Kidsafe Picnic would be staged over two days, 9th and 10th of September 2000 and would utilise the environment of Albert Park Lake to create seven distinct but interconnected worlds to provide a framework for safety messages.

The special Kidsafe Picnic will include animal world, activity world, home world, farm world, water world, wheel world and adventure world.

Mr Szwaja said that each world would share the same core ingredients including a prominent information booth disseminating safety information and interactive displays from safety organisations and government agencies.

"Provision has been made for commercial and government suppliers of safety equipment, safety training services, and other goods to feature in a trade style show."

This provides exhibitors with the opportunity to showcase their safety products directly to a target market.

Mr Szwaja said, "the Kidsafe Picnic would also include food vendors, and designated picnic areas, rides, colourful roving musicians and performers to entertain children in participatory activities."

"We will even be using story telling to get the safety message across to both parents and children and the Kidsafe Internet site hosted by the Greenweb will spread the message about the event."

"Planning is well underway for the event which we believe because of the venue and the vast array of entertainment will attract in excess of 50,000 visitors. The Metropolitan Melbourne Picnic will be linked into Community Safety Week."

Mr Szwaja said Kidsafe has a major commitment to rural Victoria. A Series of Kidsafe Picnics are proposed for rural Victoria, with the Kidsafe Picnic Launch at the 37th Annual Elmore and District Machinery Field Days on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th 2000. This event has the potential to reach 50,000 people.

Other confirmed dates and locations include:

Shepparton Agricultural Show- October 13th, 14th 2000
Mildura Agricultural Show – October 19th 20th 21st 2000
Warrnambool Agricultural Show – October 27th 28th 29th 2000
Ballarat Agricultural Show – November 10th 11th 12th 2000
Lardner Field Day Warragul- March 23rd 24th 25th 26th 2001

Mr Szwaja said the Kidsafe Picnic has the potential to reach in excess of 10,000 families at each venue in the country. This is a prime target area for the Kidsafe Picnic and the dissemination of the safety message in association with Rural Agricultural Shows and Field Days.

In 2001/ 2002 it is planned to take the Kidsafe Picnic national and sponsors for the event are now being arranged.

Media Enquiries:
Ed Szwaja Executive Officer Kidsafe Victoria (03) 94271008