PLENTY OF FUN TO GO ROUND

LIVING in the moment and having a ball is proving a recipe for success for young Australians.

According to a 16-yearlong study by Deakin University’s Australian Centre on Quality of Life, 18 to 25-year-olds are among the happiest in the country.

The age group scored 77.9 on a 100-point wellbeing index which measured relationships, health and cost of living pressures. Australians over the age of 76 came in second, ranking 77.6, while people aged 36 to 55 reported a “wellness dip.”

Pacific Pines resident Ashleigh Ward, 29, wasn’t surprised with the results. and said she was “pretty happy.”

“I’m a live-in-the-moment kind of person, I prefer experiences,” she said, adding she didn’t want commitments like a home loan.

“I prefer to go to the gym, have a healthy lifestyle, the Gold Coast offers most of that.”

She said young people had a lot of choices in life.

“Everybody is sort of more relaxed ... they go out and explore and become that person (they want to be),” she said.

Picture: MIKE BATTERHAM Ashleigh Ward from Pacific Pines has fun playing with a zorb ball on the great lawn at the Broadwater Parklands in Southport at the weekend.