Geelong secondary students have hopefully enjoyed the irony in the title of a new program on the risks of underage boozy behaviour.
Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital delivered the cleverly-named program in local schools this week with the help of Barwon Health, ambos and police.
The Alfred’s Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth seems like an innocuous-enough title at first blush.
That is until it’s presented as an acronym and becomes PARTY.
According to Barwon Health, 400 local year 11 students enjoyed the three-day PARTY program this week.
Hopefully the message sunk in for the kids because it sure wouldn’t for any adult after three days of partying!
Ironic title aside, PARTY had a serious message for its young program participants.
And considering the number of needless tragedies to strike the local youth community in recent years – think road accidents, assaults, mental health impacts – it’s a message that needs to sink in deep.
“Trauma”, often associated with risky teenage business, accounted for two thirds of deaths in the 15-to-25-years age group, The Alfred highlighted.
“The consequences of taking risks can be life-long, for the victims and families,” stressed The Alfred’s Dr Joseph Mathew.
So PARTY hard kids, but play it safe at the actual parties.
A team of Geelong researchers might have come up with a novel solution to the embattled recycling market after a unique technology trial in the Solomon Islands, of all places.
The Deakin University team overcame “cyclonic conditions and rain” to demonstrate they could use solar-powered 3D printers to turn plastic rubbish into important plumbing parts.
Apparently the Solomons are, err, flush with mismatched pipes, which causes all sorts of sanitation and water-conservation issues.
But the Deakin team managed to print parts that fitted various requirements, turning “trash into treasure” while also striking a minor blow against the islands’ litter scourge. Nice work!
Now back from the jungle, maybe the researchers can turn their attention to our mounting mound of unwanted plastic courtesy of a downturn in Chinese demand for Australian recyclables.
Although, to paraphrase Jaws’ Police Chief Brody, they’re gonna need a bigger printer!
Meanwhile, and back onto public safety, Geelong’s TAC HQ wants road users awake to the dangers of drowsiness.
The TAC this week urged drivers to stay alert this long weekend, traditionally a danger period with more traffic and motorists covering long distances.
“We’re imploring motorists to rest up the night before and allow plenty of time to get to their destinations,” said the TAC’s Samantha Cockfield.
“On a long road trip you should factor in a rest stop every two hours to swap drivers or recharge. If you’re feeling fatigued you start to lose focus but you can avoid a tragedy if you take a break.”
And watch the speeding, too.
