6 minute read
Beyond Blue
Wellbeing Benefits of Growing Your Food
The mental health and overall wellbeing benefits of edible gardening, indeed any gardening, has come at a welcome time. In a year that has really proven challenging to all, the value of mental and spiritual health derived from gardens in the home has now really come to the fore.
Vegepod’s self-watering, self-contained and portable raised garden beds have provided benefits from sustainable eating to therapeutical horticulture. This type of activity has been proven to:
Lower Anxiety Aid Depression Reduce Stress Calm the mind Improve Concentration Engage all the senses
Provide a connection to nature
Encourage responsibility, care and feelings of reward Activate Key Motor Skills Facilitate Social Interaction Help overome boredom and lonliness Reinforce a sense of belonging, inclusion and connection
Beyond Blue Australia reviewed multiple methods in their publication What Works for Depression, which you can read here. One of the methods assessed is natureassisted therapy. Nature-assisted therapy is the use of plants, natural materials and the outdoor environment to improve health. It includes therapeutic horticulture (gardening and plant-related activities to improve wellbeing) and wilderness or outdoor adventure excursions. One study has been carried out looking at the effects of gardening for two months in depressed female university students. There were 50 students who either did the gardening or received no treatment. The gardening group was found to improve more. “Harvesting and eating produce you have planted from seed and watch grow over time is an amazing feeling,” says Simon Holloway from Vegepod. “We have seen time and again the incomparable joy of gardeners accessing nature and fresh food from our Vegepods and other gardens. Every backyard irrespective of size or location can achieve a more self-sustainable and environmentally friendly way of life.”.
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If you need assistance visit Beyond Blue’s support services. Our mental health professionals are available 24/7 on1300 22 4636, Web chat (3pm-12am AEST) and email (responses within 24hrs). For immediate support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 and in an emergency, always call triple zero (000).
Five-star safety ratings for Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross
ANCAP Safety has awarded the maximum five-star safety ratings to the Isuzu MU-X large SUV and the Toyota Yaris Cross small SUV.
The safety performance of the seven-seat Isuzu MU-X follows its partner model, the Isuzu D-MAX, with both Isuzu models now carrying a five star safety rating having scored well across all four key areas of ANCAP assessment. Due to the similarities between the two models, many of the test results obtained through testing of the D-MAX last year were able to be carried across to the MU-X, with supplementary testing conducted where the MU-X’s design and safety performance was likely to differ. The MU-X was subject to a fresh frontal offset (MPDB) test which revealed a slightly better score of 87% for Adult Occupant Protection when compared to the D-MAX (83%) with improved protection offered to the chest and upper legs of the driver and chest and lower legs of the front passenger. The protection offered to occupants in the second row was poorer than the D-MAX’s perfect score in this test, however remained well within the five star threshold.
The Isuzu MU-X is equipped with a full suite of airbags, including a centre airbag to prevent severe occupant-tooccupant and occupant-to-vehicle contact in far-side impact crashes. A driver knee airbag and curtain airbags extending into the third seating row are also standard on all MU-X variants. The MU-X also has a driver monitoring system and intelligent seat belt reminders for all seating positions. “The MU-X takes advantage of the safety features already demonstrated in the D-MAX, and its pleasing to see this strong performance carried over into the Large SUV segment,” ANCAP chief executive officer Carla Hoorweg says.
Similarly, the safety performance of the Toyota Yaris Cross follows that of the Yaris hatch in offering a balanced level of active and passive safety to buyers in the Small SUV segment. Toyota Yaris Cross 2021 ANCAP Oblique Pole impact test “The Yaris Cross achieved maximum points for its protection of adult occupants in the side impact, oblique pole and whiplash tests. Occupant-to-occupant protection was also good, with the Yaris Cross fitted as standard with dual centre airbags between the front seats to minimise potential head injury in side impact crashes,” Hoorweg says. The protection provided by the Yaris Cross to pedestrians, if struck, was good. Its ability to actively avoid collisions with pedestrians through its autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system also scored well in forward-travel test scenarios, however the standard AEB system does not react to vulnerable road users in reverse and a nil score for AEB back-over was applied. The AEB system fitted to the Isuzu MU-X is also not capable of detecting and reacting to pedestrians in reverse, with a nil score for AEB back-over also applied. “Both the Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Yaris Cross are very well equipped in the areas of physical crash protection and active collision avoidance, making them safe choices within their respective segments,” Hoorweg says.
August new car sales up 33% in Australia
New vehicles sales in Australia are up 33% on the same month last year, demonstrating the resilience of the market in spite of the impacts of lock downs and microprocessor shortages says the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
Toyota was market leader in August with 24.6% of overall sales. This was followed by Mazda (9.4%), and then Kia, Ford and Hyundai who all recorded around 6.2% of market share. The Toyota Hilux was the highest selling model with 4770 sold with the Ford Ranger and Toyota Corolla achieving second and third place. Consumers purchased a total of 81,199 new vehicles during the month of August, despite Covid-19 restricting access to vehicle showrooms in many States and Territories. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory all recorded growth greater than 30% compared to August 2020. Victorian sales have rebounded resulting in an increase of more than 150%, while the ACT and NSW recorded declines. FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says that uncertainty around lockdowns meant manufacturers were having to remain agile in the ways they engage with customers. “The bounce of 33% on last year’s figure demonstrates the resolve of car manufacturers to engage with customers and drive-up new vehicle ownership.
“With access to showrooms limited, vehicle makers are working to engage customers in their homes and other places of isolation,” he says.
Strong sales of electric SUVs amidst a global shortage of microprocessor parts are a result of manufacturers working with their suppliers to match vehicles with market demand. “We know that the car industry is suffering the global impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains. An increase of 635% on the sale of electric powered SUVs shows just how diligently manufacturers are working with suppliers to deliver vehicles to market,” Weber says.
Source: autotalk.com.au
Key Points:
The August 2021 market of 81,199 new vehicle sales is an increase of 20, 213 vehicle sales or 33.1% on August 2020 (60,986) vehicle sales. August 2021 had 26 selling days compared to August 2020 with 25.8 which resulted in an increase of 759.2 vehicle sales per day.
The passenger vehicle market is up by 2581 vehicle sales (17.5%) over the same month last year; the sports utility market is up by 8603 vehicle sales (26.6%); the light commercial market is up by 8002 vehicle sales (71.2%); and the heavy commercial vehicle market is up by 1027 vehicle sales (39.3%) versus August 2020.
Toyota was market leader in August, followed by Mazda and Hyundai. Toyota led Mazda with a margin of 12,314 vehicle sales and 15.2 market share points.
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