PINE RIVERS UPDATE

Queensland Day Awards

June 6 is Queensland Day, and to celebrate I held the first annual Pine Rivers Queensland Day Awards. These awards are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many great Pine Rivers individuals and organisations who go above and beyond. Any individual or organisation in the Pine Rivers community could be nominated to recognise the above and beyond work they do for the community. Winners in our Samford, Highvale, Dayboro and surrounding suburbs included:

• Sergeant Ken Robinson – Dayboro Police Station

• QAS Dayboro First Responder Group

• Samford Scout Group (pictured)

• John Blake

If you have any individuals or organisations who make our community extra special, please nominate them in 2023.

Cost of Living Survey

I know a lot of people in Pine Rivers are struggling with the rising cost of living right now. High inflation and interest rates mean a lot of locals are doing it tough. For some families, difficult budget decisions are needing to be made. I’ve set up a survey to hear from you firsthand on the effects of the rising cost of living and to make sure our community’s voice is heard. The results of this will help me lobby on behalf of locals. You can find the survey at: https://nikkiboyd.com.au/campaigns/ cost-of-living-survey/ Vaping

Survey

The Palaszczuk Government has launched a parliamentary inquiry into the availability and prevalence of vaping, with a focus on younger Queenslanders, and the health risks associated with e-cigarettes. This parliamentary inquiry will help the Government chart a path forward to address this important health issue. I’m keen on hearing from the community on their concerns on vaping. That’s why I have set up a survey to hear all feedback on the matter. https://nikkiboyd.com.au/ campaigns/vaping-inquiry/

A link to both surveys can also be found on my Facebook Page: @NikkiforPineRivers

WHICH BODY ODOUR DO MOSQUITOES PREFER?

Ever wonder why you and your distant cousin are targets for mosquitoes while the rest of your family seem largely immune? It may partly come down to what you ate for dinner.

A recent study published in Current Biology found that mosquitoes appear to prefer certain body scents over others, which can be affected by diet.

People whose body odours contained more carboxylic acids and lower levels of eucalyptol were deemed the tastiest targets for mosquitoes. Eucalyptol is a chemical that is likely derived from plant-based foods and flavourings in a person’s diet. Those with high eucalyptol levels were the least preferred human subjects in the six-person cohort, meaning if you ate a garden salad for dinner you may be less likely to be mosquito fodder than someone who ate a rib eye steak.

To achieve these findings, researchers trekked to Zambia where they built a 20m square flight cage in which they released 200 hungry mosquitoes and tracked their activity using infrared motion cameras.

Humans were typically hunted between 10pm and 2am, which is worth keeping in mind when you zip up your tent on your next camping trip. Researchers were surprised by the effectiveness of mosquitoes in locating and choosing their human meals within the large experiment space.

Samford Valley

Family Pets – Equine & Farm

FAMILY PETS

Weekdays 7 am – 7 pm

Weekends 8 am – 5 pm EQUINE & FARM

Weekdays

Sport Club Power Bills

We’re giving our local sporting clubs a $650 energy rebate! This $650 rebate is part of the Energy Bill Relief Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments and will be automatically applied to your club’s electricity bill starting July 1st! Eligible clubs must consume less than 100MWh of electricity per year and must be on a separately metered business tariff.

Next edition I look forward to providing our 2023 budget announcements.

Nikki Boyd State Member for Pine Rivers

Previous research found that mosquitoes identify targets using visual cues as well as body emitted heat, carbon dioxide, odour and moisture. There were different spatial ranges for each cue; warmth reached up to 50cm while visual cues could be perceived up to 15m. Mosquitoes could zone in on carbon dioxide and body odour as far as 60m.

Tanya Hall

Original research available at: doi. org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.050

Samford Area Mens Shed

There is that old saying that “time flies when you’re having fun”. So often when we’re doing something that we really enjoy, we wonder afterwards at how quickly the experience is over and we’re just left with the memories – or photographs. Contrast that with the phenomenon of time dragging on when we’re engaging in onerous tasks or duties that must be done rather than done for pleasure.

For the men at the Samford Area Mens Shed (aka: SAMS) the experience of time going so quickly comes to mind when they realise that it’s the middle of June already! So much has happened since the beginning of the year – a new Chairman and Executive Committee elected at the AGM, a change of coordinators, some men leaving SAMS to go into new adventures and new members joining SAMS. Although the time seems short, it has also been exciting as well. With new changes come new challenges and opportunities to explore new ideas and ways of doing things.

One of the objectives at SAMS is to offer a range of activities that will develop men’s hobbies, pastimes and interests. To achieve this, the Woodies and Steelies are embarking on a range of skills development initiatives. Activities are designed to help the men gain new skills or improve existing skills and to add fulfillment to their shed experience. Pre-existing knowledge is not required, just an enquiring mind and a desire to learn.

Men of Samford and surrounds, why not come along to the SAMS Shed on any

Tuesday morning at 9am and see what SAMS is all about. Look for the shed at the far end of Showgrounds Drive, Highvale - just near the high voltage power tower. Want to know more? Visit the SAMS website at samfordshed.org.au or email samssecretary1@gmail.com

Brian Slattery

How Can Exercise and Fitness Impact Mental Health?

The 3144 push-ups in 23 days Challenge is a great opportunity to support an important cause. Did you know that we lose more than six men to suicide in Australia every day? The benefit of challenges such as this is the awareness and connection it creates.

As a personal trainer, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that fitness and exercise can have on not just our physical health, but also our mental wellbeing. It’s not just about building muscles and losing weight; it’s about finding inner strength, improving self-confidence, and even preventing the unthinkable. There is undoubtedly a profound connection between fitness, exercise and mental health, and its role in suicide prevention.

It may seem unachievable, but as with any new goal, the secret is breaking it up into bite-sized actions that move us toward our goal. 3144 push-ups in 23 days means an average of 137 push-ups a day or 15 pushups at hourly intervals throughout the day. Although the challenge has already started, we can use it as inspiration to keep the conversation going through all of June. Scan the QR code to download our 3144 Push Ups in 23 Days Challenge Tracker so you can track your progress by crossing off each completed set.

The Science Behind the Connection

When we engage in physical activity, our brain releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, our “feel-good” chemicals. These neurotransmitters help reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and promote feelings of happiness and relaxation. Regular exercise also improves blood flow to the brain, enhancing cognitive function and overall mental well-being.

Stress Relief and Emotional Resilience

Whether it’s a high-intensity workout or a calming yoga session, physical activity helps us channel our emotions, release tension, and clear our minds. It boosts our emotional resilience, allowing us to cope better with daily challenges and bounce back from setbacks.

Boosting Self-Confidence and Empowerment

As we set and achieve fitness goals, we witness our bodies and minds transform, instilling a deep sense of empowerment and self-belief. Feeling strong and capable, we become more resilient against negative thoughts and better equipped to overcome difficult times.

Fitness and exercise are powerful tools that positively impact both our physical and mental well-being. So - lace up those sneakers, find an activity you enjoy and let fitness guide you towards a healthier mind, body and soul.

Jacek Sicinski www.purefitnessandwellbeing.com