Ellyse Perry Ocsober Interview

Ellyse Perry Ocsober Interview

This year's Ocsober ambassadors have been announced with the 2012 campaign spearheaded nationally by Australian cricket captain, Michael Clarke, Nine Network Entertainment Editor, Richard Wilkins, popular TV personality Natalie Gruzlewski and Cricket and Soccer International player Ellyse Perry.

A number of new national ambassadors have also recently signed up to support the fundraising initiative including 2011 Masterchef Winner Kate Bracks , Blake Worrall-Thompson - Eat Yourself Sexy Host, Nathan Jolliffe from Celebrity Apprentice, Tom Wren and Sarah Grace from Winners and Losers, and Polly and Waz from The Block. Other prominent ambassadors include Olympian Chantelle Newbery, celebrity nutritionists Lola Berry and Zoe Bingley-Pullin, Miss Earth Australia Deedee Z, and Ten News Presenter Natarsha Belling.

The high profile group is encouraging adults across Australia to cut out alcohol for the month of October in order to raise $750,000 for Life Education. With the support of their iconic giraffe mascot Healthy Harold, these funds will allow the charity to continue to deliver vital health and drug education to 650,000 children throughout Australia, empowering children and young people to make safe and healthy choices for life through the programs delivered in schools.

The key message the charity is promoting this year is Cut it Out. And have Fun this Ocsober. The campaign will highlight the many positive messages associated with Ocsober, from urgently raising funds for Australia's kids, through to the health and lifestyle benefits such as feeling healthier, losing weight and having more time to enjoy with family and friends.

Influential support for the campaign has also come from a range of other popular media and TV personalities including Good Health Editor Catherine Marshall, Madison Editor Lizzie Renkert, House and Garden Editor Lisa Green, and Sunrise Host Melissa Doyle.

Registrations are now open and adults across Australia are being encouraged to sign up now. Once registered, they will have their own fundraising page and can easily direct friends and family to sponsor them online.

For more information or to register, please visit www.ocsober.com.au

Interview with Ellyse Perry

Question: What inspired you to become an ambassador for Ocsober?

Ellyse Perry: I was extremely fortunate to experience the Life Education program when I was at school. It was easily one of the highlights of every year and something that my school friends and I eagerly looked forward to. The important lessons that the Life Education Program teaches young children about health and welbeing is invaluable and something that all school age children to have the opportunity learn about. Ocsober is another fantastic initiative by the Life Education group, which promotes an area of health and wellbeing which is more relevant to adults, whilst also raising important funds for the organisation. It is such a pleasure to be involved in Ocsober!


Question: Have you participated in Ocsober previously?

Ellyse Perry: No, this is my first time around.


Question: Why is important that Australians cut down on their alcohol consumption?

Ellyse Perry: Much of our social attitudes and culture revolves around the consumption of alcohol. I think Ocsober is an important reminder of ways and means to have fun and interact socially without feeling the need to drink, especially given the significant negative implications and impacts drinking excessively can have, not just on the individual but society in general.


Question: What will you be drinking and doing this Ocsober?

Ellyse Perry: Certainly lots of water whether it be sparkling or still, and a few freshly squeezed juices.


Question: What's the main piece advice you'd give a young adult about alcohol?

Ellyse Perry: I think it's really important to consider the kind of habits that you can get in to from a young age that you tend to hold throughout your life. So much of the important stages of our learning and development occur as a young adult and alcohol can be a serious inhibitor of this. There's so many great things we can do socially without having to drink.


Question: How will you be fundraising for Ocsober?

Ellyse Perry: Pestering all my friends and family to be involved and hoping meeting some other Ocsober participants and working together with them along the way.


Question: What are the main advantages of cutting out alcohol?

Ellyse Perry: I think the advantages are varied and specific to the individual. It may simply be feeling healthier and more energetic, it could improve the kinds of relationships with have with others or possibly discovering new things to enjoy and do with friends and family instead of drinking.


Question: As an international soccer and cricket player you need to stay healthy; what tips do you have for Australian women?

Ellyse Perry: Enjoy physical activity and keep it social. It's so much easier to do something when you take pleasure in doing it and it's amazing how much better you feel after exercising.

Question: Did Life Education visit your school?

Ellyse Perry: Yep, every year I was in primary school. I loved it!


Question: How can Australians get behind Ocsober?

Ellyse Perry: By participating as one the 'legends' or donating to Life Education.


Interview by Brooke Hunter