Make health a priority
TOWNSVILLE dodged one large and deadly bullet yesterday.
Cyclone Debbie threatened and taunted as she edged towards the coast but in the end she spared our city. What a relief.
Now our hearts and our help must head south, to those less fortunate.
Only today will we learn the full extent of devastation that Debbie has wrought on those towns trapped in her path.
The port town of Bowen, the holiday havens of the Whitsundays, Proserpine, Mackay and townships even further south have taken a frightful battering.
No amount of planning and preparation can completely protect a community from a 300km wide storm cell unleashing the energy equivalent of dozens of nuclear detonations.
And with Debbie projected to spend the next two days over Central Queensland — across regions already hammered by torrential rains over the past fortnight — it is highly likely widespread flooding will follow.
The rescue effort will be daunting and we are fortunate in 3rd Brigade Commander Chris Field to have just the man for the job.
Brigadier Field was admired for his work in the aftermath of the 2011 Brisbane floods as chief of operations and planning for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. For most of us, it’s back to business today. Inevitably, with the wonderful benefit of hindsight, there will be criticism that authorities here overreacted. Essentially we have lost two days of business activity at a time we can ill afford such a break.
But although Debbie ultimately left Townsville blissfully untouched by her ravages, it does not automatically follow that we should not have been as thorough in our precautions.
Cyclones are notoriously unpredictable. Debbie could just have easily shifted north on Monday night and careered into Cleveland Bay yesterday. Given the best information available as of Monday, those in charge of our schools, our hospitals, our port, our airport and businesses had little choice but to err on the side of caution.
It is much better to have been prepared for the worst — even if we avoided it — than to have been ill- prepared for disaster. AT least one third of all cancers in Queensland — about 9000 every year — are preventable through healthy lifestyle choices, including being active and maintaining a healthy weight.
This year, we’re calling on Queenslanders to make their health a priority and reduce their own risk of cancer by joining Team CCQ.
Team CCQ is a fitness team founded as part of Cancer Council’s Get Moving campaign — an initiative encouraging runners, gym- goers and fitness enthusiasts across Queensland to lace up their joggers for the cause.
One person is diagnosed with cancer every 20 minutes in Queensland. About 27,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease this year alone.
Every Queenslander can do something to support those affected — for fitness enthusiasts, that might be registering for an active event and using it raise funds.
All funds raised by Team CCQ participants are invested in vital cancer research, patient support services and prevention programs statewide.
Whether you sign up for Bridge 2 Brisbane, Noosa Tri, Gold Coast Airport Marathon, the Colour Run, or a local event, participate as part of Team CCQ and raise funds for the cause.
Becoming a member of Team CCQ also gives Queenslanders ac- cess to free nutritional information, recipes and exercise advice, discounted entry to select events, prizes, and access to a personal fundraising adviser.
Sign up to Team CCQ for free at cancerqld. org. au/ getmoving.
Or visit cancerqld. org. au or call 13 11 20. CHRIS McMILLAN, CEO Cancer Council Queensland.