Aussie shares heartbreaking reality of what's become of Healthy Harold

The grim photo has left many saddened at the state of the once-beloved school education program.

Healthy Harold, the beloved giraffe puppet, has a special place in the hearts of many Aussies.

For decades, he has been a staple in the Life Education program, teaching children about health, safety, and well-being from the comfort of a massive RV.

The iconic truck was a highlight of many school days, with students eagerly lining up for their turn inside the mobile classroom.

But now, with a photo showing a ute branded with Harold’s familiar face, it seems the cost of living crisis has taken its toll on the cherished program.

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Image: Reddit

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"Had to downsize the rig"

Taking to r/australia, a man shared a photo of an enclosed ute with the Healthy Harold branding on it and wrote: “Australia's cost of living crisis has hit poor Healthy Harold. Had to downsize his rig.”

The new vehicle sparked a wave of nostalgia among Australians.

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“Going to be much harder to squeeze 20 kids into the back of that rather than the bus,” one person commented.

Another user lamented, “Mate, it's just a puppet stand in the corner of the classroom these days... no longer do you get to go in the dark truck parked on the oval.”

“Give it a few years, and it'll be a webinar,” another quipped.

“Shrinkflation :(,” one user simply noted.

“That truck is a core memory for everybody,” echoed another.

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Cue the nostalgia

The thread also prompted people to exchange their fond memories: “It’s not a stranger danger lesson unless you’re lured into a van by a smoking giraffe offering free stickers…”

“Healthy Harold used to visit my kids' school on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and was sprung quite a few times nicking behind his big van for a cigarette when the kids went back into class (LOL)!”

And one user shared this bittersweet memory: “I still feel ripped off to this day when we were in the truck going to space but I was next to the door and there was a gap I could see the schoolyard through and we hadn't actually gone anywhere.”

Originally published as Aussie shares heartbreaking reality of what's become of Healthy Harold