Healthy Harold

There's not much info I can gather about the animatronic version, sadly. While some websites mention the robot briefly, there's a reddit thread with more information about the robot. I can't verify all the details people have mentioned, since I haven't seen video footage of the animatronic.

More footage, especially video footage, of this animatronic would be appreciated!

About

According to the official website, the photo pictured above is from the 80s, and features Bob Hawke (the prime minister at the time) with Harold. The website doesn't mention this giraffe is an animatronic, but I think it could be the animatronic people have mentioned. The eyes look like they're supposed to move, the giraffe is large, and it doesn't look like a puppet. What makes this seem more convincing to me is that people have mentioned the animatronic came out of a wall. The only thing that confuses me is people have mentioned that they recall seeing the robot in the 90s; maybe it was still around at the time? I don't know.

Also, a discussion posted by 96.5 Wave FM (radio station) on YouTube mentions the robot clunkily came out of something like a cupboard, and that the robot could bat its eyes and move its head. Two reddit users mention they recall being able to control the robot with a remote.

Kellie Sloane, the CEO of Life Education, stated the following in an interview:
"...in the^[sic] 1979 when we first started and then shortly thereafter in the early 80s, Harold wasn't as cute and fluffy as he is now. He was this animatronic giraffe, right, basically this long neck would stick out and come out of the wall. Harold had bloodshot eyes and he was^[sic] kinda droopy ears and that's because he hadn't been looking after his health, perhaps smoking or drinking the night before. So after he learned the lessons, Harold would re-emerge, looking a bit fresher and happier, with blue eyes."

Videos

Who's Healthy Harold?

Briefly, Healthy Harold is the mascot of an educational program about health for children. At some schools in Australia, children are invited into a van where they would be greeted by a person with a puppet version of Harold. Children are entertained by the puppet and taught about staying healthy. You could also visit a Life Education center to see Harold.