Healthy Harold brings colour, connection and community to Kempsey
Thursday, 4 Dec 2025
Service Clubs Park burst with energy and rainbow hues on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, as families from the Mid North Coast gathered for the second annual Healthy Harold Kempsey Festival of Health. Hosted by Life Ed NSW with support from over 16 local partners, the free event featured a vibrant Colour Run, interactive wellbeing stalls, and meet-and-greets with Healthy Harold.
The Healthy Harold Kempsey Festival of Health ran for a dynamic two-week period from 4-15 November 2025, with Life Ed delivering its engaging programs to 2,640 children across 35 schools and early learning centres. The central feature was the vibrant Colour Run event on 14 November at the Eden and Verge Street Complex, uniting over 250 families through clouds of rainbow colours, interactive wellbeing stalls and community fun.
Part of Life Ed NSW’s broader community engagement strategy in regional areas, the festival created in consultation with Kempsey locals, sparked conversations on mental and physical wellbeing, resilience, and positive health outcomes while connecting families to vital local services. These initiatives strengthen regional communities by promoting preventive health education, fostering collaboration among organisations, and building lasting networks for youth support and family services.
Jonathon Peatfield, CEO of Life Ed NSW, highlighted the event’s role: “This festival hosted by Healthy Harold connects community members with each other and local health services, encouraging healthy habits that build thriving communities.”
Partners praised the festival’s collaborative spirit. Aisha Spokes from Kempsey Shire Council noted, “It was really great seeing the Healthy Harold Colour Run here because the kids get so interactive. It’s great for fitness, but also for mental health and community connection. We really value that Life Ed brings this event to Kempsey.”
Beau Champion from KARU and Wuunggati Barriya added, “It’s fantastic that everyone can come together. Linking this network across organisations helps us all work better together for strong community outcomes.”
Supporters included The Benevolent Society, Waratah Education Foundation, Kempsey Shire Council, YP Space Mid North Coast, Headspace Kempsey, Pathfinders, Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation, Australian Bananas, Real Futures, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, Kari, Wuunggati Barriya Aboriginal Corporation, Mid North Coast Local Health District, Uniting, Lions Club Kempsey, and Community Housing Ltd (Tidda Time).
