Dr Gillespie announced that 25 local schools in the Lyne electorate had signed up to be a part of the Sporting Schools program, the biggest change to school sport in over a decade as part of a $100 million government initiative to keep students fit, healthy and happy.

Manning Gardens Public School purchased 12 bicycles as part of the program to encourage bike riding among the students.

It will be one of the sports introduced by the school alongside ten pin bowling.

With a quarter of Australian children now overweight or obese, Dr Gillespie said that implementing the program was an important part of "ensuring current and future generations of Australian kids keep fit, healthy and happy."

"This is one of the government's cornerstone preventative health programs aimed to improve our children's health through getting more kids involved in physical activity," Dr Gillespie said.

"Being involved in this new program will expand sporting opportunities for children before, during and after school hours at primary schools like this one."

Dr Gillespie said three-quarters of Australian kids spend their spare time watching television, yet only one third of children are managing the recommended hour of physical activity a day.

Sports co-ordinator for Manning Gardens Public School, Paul Stevens, said that the funding would enable students "access to equipment and sports they may not have had previously."

The Sporting Schools announcement is supported by the release of a new online guide offering parents tips on how best to nurture their child's interest in taking up a sport, as well as maintaining it as they get older.

Schools taking part include Coopernook, Hannam Vale, Lansdowne, Mitchells Island, Moorland and Tinonee public schools, Manning Valley Anglican and Taree Christian colleges and St Joseph's Primary School, Taree.