Australians have always been proud of their wholesome, no-fuss appeal. Aussie children have been perceived as healthy, happy and althelic, thanks to an eighty-year-long strand of Vegemite commercials, supplemented by two decades of Weetbix kids.
Australia has produced some of the world's greatest athletes in the past century. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, the nation ranked fourth in the medal tally, following the USA, China and Russia - comparative giants. Most primary schools have substantial physical programs, with an aim to discover new talent for the future - early.
Before an Australian child turns two, he or she has recieved fifteen mandatory immunisations, against such diseases as polio, hepatitis B and Meningococcal.
Because of this, Australia currently has the third highest life expectancies in the world, after Japan and Sweden. However, as children of the twenty first century turn to a PC rather than a football, risks of lifestyle diseases and ailments expand.
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2002. Australia's health 2002 Canberra AIWH on http://www.heartfoundation.com.au/downloads/World%20trends.PDF 25/10/04.
Vegemite: http://www.vegemite.com.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=OldAds.1940
Medal Tally: http://smh.com.au/olympics/medaltally/
childrens health-media connection
BronwynRees 09:33, 25 Oct 2004 (EST)
