Over-50s Athletes from Gold Coast and Tweed Shine in the 2024 GemLife Games

When a dark past catches up to you

Title: Past Shadows

Author: Edwin J McBride

Price: $26.95

Publisher: Shawline

Publishing By Samantha Elley

A word of warning. This is not a book for young people or even those adults with a squeamish nature.

Kimberley McIntyre is a young mum with a dark and troubled past that has come to hunt her down.

She has built a good life for herself but cracks start to form and when her husband

Ashley has a near-death experience, he realises their marriage is over. Meanwhile, police are hunting for a serial killer who is focusing on young women in the city. He leaves behind brutal clues to his nature, but little do the police know, one of their own is helping this deranged individual.

This mystery murderer has one goal and that is to square things off with Kimberley.

The climax comes in a confrontation of fear, murderous intent, vengeance and a realisation of past shadows haunting and affecting those who are innocent in the cross fre.

Edwin McBride grew up in rural NSW and has been writing for over 35 years. He has written fction, non-fction, magazine articles, TV/radio and flm screenplays. His book titles include: Paper & Fire, The Birth of Anna, Dis & Dat and Incident at Redding Creek.

To order a copy of Past Shadows visit www. shawlinepublishing. com.au

Over 500 athletes, volunteers, and spectators aged 50 to 80 are set to demonstrate that age is no barrier to athletic competition at the 2024 GemLife Games, taking place on the Sunshine Coast on September 5 and 6. Among the competitors are 11 participants from the Gold Coast and Tweed regions, joining the event for the frst time in what promises to be a spirited showcase of sportsmanship and community.

In only its second year, the GemLife Games have seen a surge in participation, with nearly double the number of athletes compared to its inaugural event. Competitors from South-East Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria will engage in eight sports, including tennis, pickleball, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, eight-ball pool, virtual golf, lawn bowls, and swimming.

Bruce and Julie Berry, residents of GemLife Tweed Waters, are among the eager frst-time participants. The couple, aged 70 and 58 respectively, will compete in various swimming events, while Bruce will also take on virtual golf. With a history of competing on international and national stages, the couple sees the GemLife Games as an exciting opportunity to reignite their passion for sports.

“We’ve always been interested in playing our sport in games,” said Bruce. “These games are great because they’re motivating me to take it seriously again and get more exercise. I’m 70 now, and my son, who is he hasn’t picked up a table tennis racket in decades, Kang is excited to give it another shot.

“I’m sure many people when they were young played, and now with this competition, they think, ‘Why not give it a go?’ That’s what I’m a ftness fanatic, might fnally convince me to get active.”

Kang Lee from GemLife Gold Coast also sees the games as a chance to return to competition. The 72-year-old, who has played many sports throughout his life, will compete in virtual golf and serve as a substitute in table tennis. Though thinking,” Kang said. “It’s about enjoying the experience, sharing friendship, and extending knowledge.”

GemLife Director and CEO Adrian Puljich highlighted the event’s growing popularity and the enthusiasm of participants. “We had 160 competitors in our inaugural games last year, and this year, over

280 are taking part, supported by around 200 volunteers and spectators,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see our new residents from the Gold Coast and Tweed Waters communities join in, and we hope to inspire even more to participate next year.”

The 2024 GemLife Games have expanded to a two-day event, introducing swimming as a new sport to accommodate more participants and offer a wider range of activities. The event embodies the spirit of trying new things, staying active, and fostering community connections.

“The camaraderie is incredible,” Puljich added. “Some competitors are driving up to 20 hours to be here, and many local residents are hosting them, which only adds to the community spirit.”

With a strong sense of community and a shared love of sport, the 2024 GemLife Games are set to be an unforgettable event for all involved.