Education a growth industry
A JAMES Cook University study has found people who live in de facto relationships are more likely to engage in risky drinking than those who are married.
The study outlines the differences between heavy drinkers in Australia and Alberta in Canada, with those in de facto relationships at a higher risk Down Under.
JCU Associate Professor Richard Franklin said the many similarities between the two countries were valuable to the efficiency of the experiment.
“Comparing the two can give us valuable insights into managing alcohol problems in both places,” he said.
Researchers asked more than 1200 people in both places about their drinking habits.
“A higher rate of hazardous alcohol use was found in Queenslanders than in Albertans,” Prof Franklin said.
Higher income, having no religion, and living alone were also associated with alcohol risk in both Queenslanders and Albertans.
Dr Franklin said the study had produced a valuable source of information for policymakers to use when designing strategies targeting hazardous alcohol use. A FORMER Israeli soldier accused of killing a pedestrian as he walked along a road at Airlie Beach will spend the festive season in jail after he was denied bail.
Omer Itshaky, 23, was charged with multiple offences following the death of a 46year- old man who had been walking along Shute Harbour Rd on Sunday.
Itshaky faces charges of dangerously operating a vehicle causing death while adversely affected, as well as failure to provide a specimen of breath, dangerous drug possession and possession of utensils.
Police are appealing to any members of the public who may have witnessed the incident or have dash- cam footage to contact police. KIDS at St Clare’s Catholic School in Burdell have gone back to their roots to grow some of Townsville’s most impressive vegetables.
Their gardens have produced tomatoes, pomegranates, lemons, limes, herbs and more, plus some of the biggest sweet potatoes students and teachers have seen.
Sustainability teacher Leann Hultgren said the new program, which focuses on sustainability and healthy eating, was gathering a lot of interest.
“The ethos of the program is teaching students how to make healthy choices for themselves and for our planet,” she said.
“If we can get young people interested in that topic, there’s some great sustainable initiatives that might become mainstream.”
Students from prep to Year 6 are involved with the sustainability program.
“It’s nice that in this day and age that students can still be so excited by the simple things in life,” Ms Hultgren said. Students are also using their produce to try new things in the kitchen.
“I have students now who are asking their parents to cook with products they never would have before, like spinach, or even chilli,” Ms Hultgren said.