MEET MATRAVILLE'S 104-YEAR-OLD

SOUTHEAST EASTERN SUBURBS VOICE

• BOTANY • CHIFLEY • CLOVELLY • COOGEE • EASTGARDENS • EASTLAKES • HILLSDALE • KENSINGTON • KINGSFORD • • LA PEROUSE • LITTLE BAY • MALABAR • MAROUBRA • MASCOT • MATRAVILLE • PAGEWOOD • RANDWICK • ROSEBERY • ZETLAND •

MEET MATRAVILLE’S 104-YEAR-OLD

Matraville woman Maria Reilly was born the year World War One ended and a decade before the start of talking pictures. She went on to see the rise and fall of Hitler, the advent of space travel and the digital technology revolution.

Maria recently turned 104 and the local community helped her celebrate the milestone with a party at Matraville RSL Club. Still lucid but hard-of-hearing, it was an opportunity for Maria to reflect on her long life.

Born to a family of rubber planters outside the north western Malaysian city of Ipoh, Ruby went on to work as a nurse at the local hospital. Meanwhile, she met and married railway station master Chin Guan Lean. The pair had a daughter, Ruby, who settled in Australia.

In 1980, now a widow, Maria visited Sydney for Ruby’s wedding and has remained here ever since. Initially she lived in Moore Park and resumed her nursing career. After that, she was employed as a tea lady with the Sydney Water Board (now Sydney Water). At that time there were around 2000 people working for the organisation and Maria says “I was the only Chinese employee.” But she was well-liked and thinks fondly of her 16 years dispensing tea and sandwiches to Water Board employees. And Jim was bowled over by Maria! They took their vows at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Edgecliff. A widower with no children, Jim was an accountant with the Australian Taxation Department. “We had an understanding that we married for companionship and happiness,” said Maria, who by that stage of her life was 75. Jim was a similar age, and had just had a hip replacement.

According to daughter Ruby Jackson, “Jim adored my mother and always called her ‘darling.’” “– because he was a gentleman!” Maria chipped in.

Jim passed away six years ago and since then, Maria has been living alone in a Matraville apartment, with regular visits from Ruby and other relatives.

She gets about slowly with the help of a walking frame. Outside the flat, she is pushed around in a wheelchair. But she manages to do online banking and has an iPhone with which she regularly communicates with her five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, plus Ruby.

One secret of her longevity could lie in her favourite beverage – hot water. Her only vice, if you can call it that, is an occasional play on a poker machine at Matraville RSL.

Having lived over a century, how has the world changed for Maria?

ROMANCE BLOOMS LATE IN LIFE

“I feel the world is going very fast,” she replied with a chuckle. “I don’t understand a lot of it."

MAROUBRA RSL SUB-BRANCH

WINTER WALK

A group of around 20 people walked from Maroubra Junction to Maroubra beach as part of a new RSL-sponsored sport and recreation program.

They made the two kilometre trek on a crisp mid-winter’s day, and at the end there was coffee and croissants at the Pavlion Beachfront, then socialising outdoors under Maroubra RSL subbranch’s new marquee.

The next walk is scheduled for Heffron Park on Monday, Aug 1. Diary dates for future events, yet to be determined, are Aug 29, Sept 26 and Oct 24. Sub branch president Colin Flatters, OAM, says perhaps his committee may follow the lead of the Paddington sub-branch, which recently staged a “walking soccer” match. “That’s where you walk, and don’t run,” Colin said. In addition, future activities may include indoor pursuits such as snooker, indoor bowls and pilates.

Colin said that the program, sponsored with government funds by the RSL’s state branch, was aimed at not just physical activities but also socialising. “It’s an opportunity for members and their families to catch up with each other in a social environment and mingle with people from other sub-branches – at the walk to the beach, for instance, we had Matraville and Paddington sub-branch members joining us.”

Called the RSL sub-Branch Sport and Recreation Pilot Program, it runs till the end of November. RSL NSW says: “The program supports veteran wellbeing and community connection fueled by mateship, recreation, and a bit of healthy competition along the way.”

Maria Poulos-Conkin

Our precious Little Bay Beach has been in the headlines a lot in the last two years.

First there was the successful community campaign by residents led by resident group Save Little Bay and Council to stop Meriton’s proposal to rezone the master planned area known as Little Bay Cove for its high rise, high density, 1909-apartment megadevelopment. Randwick Council recently marked the one year anniversary of the community’s big win against Meriton with a celebration at Little Bay with Michael Daley MP, Mayor Dylan Parker and other councillors in attendance.

Then there was the alarming discovery by a resident on Aug 2, 2020 of what appeared to be material containing asbestos on Little Bay Beach. This caused widespread alarm and the beach was closed to the public as Randwick Council engaged expert asbestos removalists to undertake ongoing inspections and remove any material suspected of containing asbestos to conduct investigations.

Specialist asbestos removal crews found approximately 100 visible samples of asbestos containing material on the beach in the first week of investigations and ongoing “emu-picks” continued to find newly exposed materials containing asbestos, most likely coming to the surface through stormwater and tidal impacts from nearby gullies which had been used as landfill sites prior to 1988 when the adjacent Prince Henry Hospital was operating. The good news is that the material found is a form of bonded asbestos (fibro) which represents a low-level risk and the beach has been regularly cleared and is safe for swimming.

The win against Meriton and other efforts to protect Little Bay are important. When creating the master plan to redevelop the old Prince Henry Hospital site, the NSW government and the Randwick City Council went to great lengths to protect the state significant natural heritage areas, including sensitive Aboriginal sites and other archaeological zones.

Today, the RAAF Memorial Clock Tower, Artisans’ Cottages, the old nurses’ quarters (now a Nursing and Medical Museum), wishing well, water tower, original gates, and Aboriginal middens, are just some of the 19 heritage significant structures that have been preserved.

Parts of the landscape in this precinct are also slowly being restored, including three sites of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a nationally protected and state-listed endangered plant species.

PREVENTATIVE IMAGING: Understanding your risk is the first step in lowering your risk

It is well known that medical imaging is used to diagnose, treat or manage an existing medical problem, but did you know this technology can be used to prevent health issues even before they develop?

To discuss preventative imaging in more detail, we talk to Dr Rohan Sabharwal, specialist radiologist and practice manager at PRP Diagnostic Imaging-Moore Park.

WHAT IS PREVENTATIVE IMAGING?

Preventative imaging can be used to detect specific diseases in the hope of finding (or better yet preventing) disease early. When diseases are discovered in their early phase, they can be treated early, and result in better outcomes.

WHAT TYPE OF PREVENTATIVE IMAGING DO YOU OFFER AT PRP?

At PRP, we offer a number of preventative imaging tests.

Coronary Artery Calcium score: With the sudden death of cricket legend Shane Warne from a heart attack, people of a similar age start to think about their own heart health. In fact, one fifth of Australians aged 45-74 years have a high chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. If you are over 45 years, you can have a regular heart health check with your GP. They can check your cholesterol, blood glucose levels and blood pressure, and if appropriate, may refer you for a Coronary Artery Calcium Score.

A Coronary Artery Calcium Score measures the amount of calcified plaque in the arteries. It’s a quick, non-invasive test that takes around 15 minutes. Based on the result, we are able to predict your future risk of heart attack/stroke. Understanding your risk of having a heart attack or stroke is the first step in lowering your risk. Consult with your GP to see if a Calcium Score is appropriate for you.

DEXA scan: There are many causes of osteoporosis. Ageing is the most common, well-known factor, but medications used to treat Chrohn’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and breast cancer can lower bone density. In addition, excessive alcohol, lack of calcium, corticosteroid therapy, smoking and lack of Vitamin D also impact bone health. By having a DEXA scan, we can determine the status of your bone health and your GP can discuss appropriate treatment options to prevent future fracture. DEXA scans are quick, painless scans and take around 10 minutes

Mammography: A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. Screening mammograms are used to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. Breast screening is recommended for women aged 50-74 years of age, including women with breast implants. If you are younger, and have a family history of breast cancer, speak to your GP about what type of breast screening is best for you.

Dr Rohan Sabharwal

PRP DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING

THE ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER, BYRON KENNEDY HALL, ERROL FLYNN BLVD, MOORE PARK (02) 8075 3400 www.prpimaging.com.au

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