The Science Supports Bendigo’s Optimism Campaign

Media Release 21 September 2020

A team at Harvard University’s Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has published research showing optimists have a lower risk of high blood pressure and hypertension.   This reinforces other recent prominent medical science findings establishing optimism as the trait most associated with healthy longevity, a lower risk of heart disease and better sleep.

Most importantly, the research lead Professor Laura Kubzansky, Harvard’s Lee Kum Kee Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, said Optimism is a health asset and a potential target for public health interventions"

“The Science Backs Bendigo’s Optimism Campaign,” said The Centre for Optimism’s Chief Optimism Officer Victor Perton.  “Bendigo is ahead of the game fostering optimism in its community and helping its leaders and people consider what makes them optimistic.”

Read More on Bendigo's Optimists and Optimism

Bendigo Voices of Optimism – positive voice for inspiration and change

The City of Greater Bendigo, in partnership with the Centre for Optimism, is in the midst of an innovative campaign “The Voices of Optimism” with a wide range of industry, community and health leaders, including the Mayor, Councillor Margaret O'Rourke, sharing their reasons for optimism to promote the positive force of optimism in the Bendigo community and showcase why the Bendigo region is a great place to live, do business, study and enjoy.

The Bendigo Invention and Innovation Festival – a model for regional growth

The City of Greater Bendigo is also the lead partner in The Bendigo Invention and Innovation Festival with its theme “Optimism through Innovation” and including schools, universities and Bendigo’s manufacturing sector.  The festival was launched by Victoria’s Innovation Minister Jaala Pulford and Bendigo Bank’s Managing Director Marnie Baker.

“Despite the extreme COVID lockdowns and curfews impacting on the whole of The State of Victoria and Australia, the organisers had the optimism and guts to continue on an unfamiliar online platform leading to a tenfold increase in registrations and a global audience.  The organisers attracted support from the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of The Opposition and Senators,” said Mr Perton.

“Greater Bendigo has long prospered from inventions and innovations and we are proud of our reputation as a forward-thinking City of the Future,” said Cr Margaret O’Rourke. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been the great disrupter and now, more than ever, the ability to invent, innovate, and capitalise on new ideas are key to business success and survival, whatever the size or industry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been the great disrupter and now, more than ever, the ability to invent, innovate and capitalise on new ideas are key to business success and survival, whatever the size or industry.

“Greater Bendigo has a fantastic optimistic community spirit which is why it’s a great place to live, study and work.”

Chairman of the Centre for Optimism, Robert Masters, said the Bendigo Festival was ‘a model’ for the Federal government and regional Australia to adopt in promoting the revival of Australia’s manufacturing sector.

“Australians are noted for their innovation; it runs through our history, from the time of the stump-jump plough to the black box flight recorder, the heart pacemaker, photovoltaic cells, X-ray crystallography and even the Hills rotary clothes hoist,” he said.

“The country has the opportunity to be competitive in the global innovation race and cannot afford to fall behind its peers in education, research, investment and entrepreneurial ship.

“If we want to be a top-tier innovation nation by 2030, the Bendigo model is the inspirational initiative that can carry all these pillars and promote regional cities and towns to be great places to live, study and work.”

Further Comment: Victor Perton 

The Innovation and Science Australia Report released in Nov 2017 (the 2030 Plan) made 30 recommendations for governments to help achieve the goal of being a top-tier innovation nation by 2030, including launching a landmark National Missions program to inspire innovators, progress solutions to big problems, and generate national passion and pride in innovation and science achievements.

Worth Doing: Our 5-Minute Survey on "What makes you Optimistic?"

 

Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism

We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world
Give Today

Connect With Us

We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim.