Those 65 years and over are increasingly experiencing age-associated diseases and health impairments due to increase life expectancy and low fertility. Shellharbour City Council has recognised its ageing population and has implemented a two-year Healthy Ageing Strategy to support the wellbeing of these residents with a variety of programs and activities. Shellhabour Mayor Marianne Saliba is committed to providing for the older community in any way she can. “Council has taken the initiative of installing exercise equipment throughout the city to encourage people, particularly over 50s to come and use the equipment because we know, when people exercise they’re healthier,”…
Author: Monika Samu
Leading experts are blaming TV shows for helping to normalise teenage pregnancy in Australia. Executive manager of Youth Connections, Andrea Cingi believes TV shows distort teen perceptions about pregnancy. “Young people really seem to identify and replicate a lot of the behaviours (seen on TV) and seem to think it is OK,” Ms Cingi said. Shows such as ‘Teen Mom’ and ‘16 and Pregnant’ have been in the firing line for glorifying teenage pregnancy since they first aired. Assistant Professor of telecommunications at the University of Utah, Nicole Martins said, “Heavy viewing of teen mom reality programming positively predicted unrealistic…
Wollongong will host Crafted Live beer and BBQ festival for the first time over the Easter weekend. Event coordinator Simon Rollin has a passion for putting on events that are memorable and unlike any other seen in Australia. Mr Rollin created the festival to showcase Australia’s top 20 craft-beer brewers and let locals get involved with an American-style, slow cooked BBQ competition. Illawarra Brewing Company and Five Barrel Brewing have been selected to represent Wollongong alongside craft-beer specialists from across the country. Illawarra Brewing Company Director Dave McGrath said he had noticed a massive uptake of craft-beer brewing in the…
Illawarra boxer, 18-year-old Brock Harris has defeated South Australian Jordan Richard, moving to the semi finals in the under 19s Australian Boxing Championships. Harris will fight South Australian Vince Shipani tomorrow in the 75kg division. A win would see Harris fight for gold on Saturday. Head coach and former Australian middleweight champion Vito Gaudiosi said a win would see Harris would away with much more than the Australian 75kg Junior Champion title. “If he wins, that’ll also get him into selections for Commonwealth,” Gaudiosi said The 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games will be held in the Bahamas in July. Harris said this would be a stepping…
The final link in Wollongong’s multi million dollar upgrade of the Blue Mile Tramway Seawall began today with the closure of the shared path along Belmore Basin. Extensive signage and traffic management plans have been out into place to ensure locals aren’t inconvenienced over the next 18 months whilst construction takes place. People will still be able to access and enjoy the existing continental pools using the temporary pathway that will safely divert pedestrians and cyclists over Cliff Road. Project Manager, Justin Kennedy says the upgrades will be a massive improvement to our existing amenities. Monika Samu reports.
Australians are the world’s second highest producers of waste, throwing away over 690kg per person each year. Landcare Illawarra is encouraging locals to attend the Put Soul in Sustainability forum to learn about urban sustainability issues and ways the community can get involved and reduce ecological footprint. Fair Food Forager founder Paul Hellier said local changes can have a global impact. “People underestimate the impact small decisions have,” he said. “If people are seen to be supporting businesses based on sustainable practice, other companies are more likely to get on board and there is a flow on effect.” On average, 4o per cent of Australian…