Wagga’s RSL will become a cool respite this summer as it trials a program helping people avoid Australia’s silent killer: heatwaves.
While country towns across NSW brace for summer bushfires, many people are unaware that more Australians die as a result of heatwaves than bushfires each year.
To raise awareness about the severe dangers of heatwaves, Clubs Australia and Australian Red Cross are launching Defeat the Heat, a new program to be piloted in Wagga, Dubbo and Richmond.
Wagga RSL’s marketing manager Jo Thomas said most people were unaware of the significant health hazards heatwaves pose.
“People don’t realise heatwaves are the country's silent killer, so as much as the program is about providing a safe space for people, it's also about creating an awareness about how seriously they need to be taken,” she said.
The RSL will host a range of activities to keep people entertained and cool during heatwaves, including extra bingo games, movie sessions and board games for young children.
