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The Central Queensland region is among Queensland’s highest heart attack hotspots, ranking third in the state.
Australian Heart Maps data shows the rate of heart attack hospitalisations in Central Queensland (22.6 out of every 10,000 people) is 30 per cent above the state average.
The Central Queensland region includes Gladstone, Rockhampton, Livingstone, Central Highlands, Banana and Woorabinda.
Not-for-profit organisation The Heart Foundation released the alarming figures as it called on the Queensland Government to put $1.8 million in next month’s state budget towards widening access to the lifesaving service.
The foundation claimed preventing these heart attacks would provide a whopping $230 million in economic and social benefits to the Sunshine State.
Gold Coast captain Jamal Fogarty has first-hand knowledge of why it is important for the NRL to promote statistics about Indigenous education and employment during this weekend’s Indigenous Round.
Fogarty, who was a youth worker before reviving his NRL career with the Titans last year, has been involved with the Indigenous community in Beaudesert and estimates only a small percentage of students will attain their HSC.
“At the moment they have got 180 Indigenous students attending the local high school and we have got between 15 and 25 on track to complete Year 12,” Fogarty said.
“As an NRL player if I can play a small part to get one or two kids to stay at school then hopefully that goes a long way to giving them something to do to give back when they are older too.”
50 years ago, Neville Bonner had been working as a bridge carpenter when he was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy, becoming Australia’s first Indigenous Member of Parliament.
From the Archives, 1971: Neville Bonner appointed to Senate brisbanetimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from brisbanetimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.