All primary schools across Tasmania will receive a free sports pack under a Tasmanian Government and Hawthorn Football Club initiative to get kids having fun and being active.

The Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michelle O'Byrne, today launched the 2012 Hawks in Schools program at Move Well Eat Well Award School, Mount Stuart Primary in Hobart.

"The Tasmanian Government, together with the Hawthorn Football Club, is providing three footballs, three netballs, an equipment ball bag and a pump to more than 220 government and non-government primary schools across Tasmania," Ms O'Byrne said.                           

"More than 45 000 Tasmanian primary school students will have access to the new sports equipment under the Hawks in Schools program.

"The new sports packs complement sports gear given to schools under the previous Tassie Hawks in Schools program, which featured handball targets.

"We're certain that these packs will be an enormous asset to primary school students across the state, giving them access to top-quality sporting equipment and fostering active, sports-loving children."

Hawthorn General Manager, Consumer Services and Community, Greg Cook, said the Hawks are proud to support grass-roots football in Tasmania.

"These footballs and netballs, along with the sporting packs already supplied to every primary school across Tasmania in 2009, 2010 and 2011, will help promote healthy living and positive choices to the next generation of young Tasmanians, which will assist them in whatever they choose to do in life," Mr Cook said.

Ms O'Byrne said that as part of the program, all Tasmanian primary school students would have access to an online booklet, the Hawks Active Kids eWorkbook, developed by Hawthorn's major partner BUPA in conjunction with the Department of Education.

"This year the activity book will again be published online and shared with all Tasmanian primary school students," Ms O'Byrne said.

"The eBook is fun and engaging, full of interesting sports and health-related information and is a great tool to help teach kids the importance of being active and healthy."

The eWorkbook can be downloaded from www.hawthornfc.com.au.