Ihave a family of surfers, but I’ve never stood up on a board and felt the exhilaration of riding a wave to the shore.
I’m content enough to watch from the beach deck or water’s edge, fascinated as hubby, our sons and neighbours do their thing.
I’ll take more than a passing interest as they spend hours watching YouTube videos or World Surfing League competitions around the world on the telly.
Catching waves, for them, is not just a hobby but a lifestyle choice (the youngest is now a respected surf coach and board shaper and our eldest did his PhD on the biomechanics of surfing).
Yet, I was still thrilled to finally soak up all the atmosphere of the birthplace of wave-riding on a holiday in Hawai‘i.
Unfortunately, famed Waimea Bay and Sunset on O‘ahu’s North Shore offered little more at the time than one-foot waves (yes, they still use the
Imperial system to guestimate size).
It was just like Portugal’s Supertubos (Peniche) and Nazaré a few years earlier, which we also visited during the northern summer (the absolute wrong time of year if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of monster surf).
But just being in the Hawaiian Islands felt special, embracing the ‘aloha spirit’ Duke Kahanamoku spread around the world. I hope you enjoy my travel story this month on his surfing legacy.
Keeping fit through exercise and playing sports you love are essential at any age for good health and wellbeing. It’s also important to eat sensibly and listen to your body – something Olympian and Channel 9’s Do You Want To Live Forever? star Duncan Armstrong knows only too well.
As the golden moments of the Paris Olympics play out in Europe, Duncan recounts the minutes leading up to his heart attack to writer Cath Johnsen for this month’s feature story, and describes how his life has changed as a result of that health scare. Take heed for a sporting chance at a long life!
Shirley Sinclair Editor
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Olympian’s
health crisis serves
as
a cautionary tale for us all
Olympic champion Duncan Armstrong has had his share of heartstopping moments. But four years ago, his ticker landed the gold medallist swimmer in emergency surgery, as CATH JOHNSEN reports.
It was an ordinary Tuesday afternoon in November 2020, COVID restrictions notwithstanding, and Duncan Armstrong had just spent his lunch hour in the gym, as he usually did.
The then 52-year-old was working in an executive job he loved for Telstra in Brisbane’s CBD, while also doing motivational speaking gigs on the side. He had a beautiful wife and five children he
adored. Life was golden.
After the gym session, Duncan ate a banana, showered and put on his favourite shirt.
As he tucked it in, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and said to himself, “Winning!”.
Certainly, the Aussie Olympian was used to winning – whether it was in the pool or any arena of life.
But little did he know that just 45 minutes later, he would be suffering a massive heart attack that almost lost him his life.
“I went back to the office after the workout and I felt like I had indigestion,” Duncan remembers.
“I just kept on working away, then packed up my gear to pick up my kids from school. When I got into the lift, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s bad indigestion’. I got down to the car and my arm really started to hurt.
“I thought I might’ve strained my arm at the gym.
“So, I was flicking it out as I was driving out of the car park and heading to school.
“But by the time I got to the pick-up point, I was crying.”
His arm was so uncomfortable that Duncan hopped out of the car and began walking around, attempting to shake it off.
It was at this moment that the penny dropped: he was having a heart attack.
Jumping back into his car in a state of shock, he began driving to St Vincent’s Private Hospital, located on the same grounds as the Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside.
He rang his wife at work and left messages for her, asking her to meet him at the hospital.
In his confusion, he missed the emergency entrance to St Vincent’s and kept driving to the car park, where he wound his way up the levels in what felt like slow motion, looking for an empty space.
As the stakeholder manager at Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA), Duncan Armstrong offers these tips for ensuring a healthy heart.
1. Diet – reduce unhealthy fats and sugars.
2. Exercise – move your body for 30 minutes per day.
3. Quality sleep – aim for eight hours per night.
4. Reduce stress – make time for things you enjoy.
5. Regular testing – speak to your GP about a heart check-up.
He made it from his car to the lift, but due to COVID restrictions, couldn’t enter it as there were already people inside. Instead, he staggered down through the car park and across to the hospital’s entrance.
“By this stage, I could barely speak,” he says.
“I entered and said, ‘I’m in a little bit of trouble’.
“Then I collapsed into the arms of three burly orderlies.”
Duncan says his heart attack hit in “classic Hollywood” style.
He describes the feeling as though someone was sitting on his chest, so that he couldn’t breathe.
Subsequent testing in hospital revealed one of his major vessels was 98 per cent blocked, another was 84 per cent blocked, and a third was 78 per cent blocked.
His emergency triple bypass surgery followed.
“It almost got me. It almost sent me home to heaven,” Duncan acknowledges.
“I lost a lot of my confidence … I’m a control freak.
“You don’t become an Olympic champion unless you’re an absolute pedantic control freak of the greatest order, but this was out of my control.
“I didn’t even know I was crook or had
“I can’t say that I’m sorry I’ve had a heart attack. The journey it sent me on has been fulfilling in many ways”
a family history. So, when it landed on me, it was shocking.”
As Duncan sought ways to heal amid tightening COVID restrictions, he and his wife Rebecca bought a camper trailer, packed up their three children still living at home, and travelled around Queensland.
“It was a really magical part of my recovery because I stopped doing everything, stopped thinking so hard,” Duncan says.
DUNCAN ARMSTRONG’S WINNING STREAK
You may have seen him recently on Boiling Point – Swimming’s Greatest Rivalry or Do You Want To Live Forever? (Nine Network). Both shows touch on Duncan’s long list of achievements, including:
• Gold Medal and World Record, 200m Freestyle, 1988 Seoul Olympics
• Silver Medal, 400m Freestyle, 1988 Seoul Olympics
• Gold Medal, 400m Freestyle, 1986
Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
• Gold Medal, 4 x 200m Relay, 1986
Edinburgh Commonwealth Games
• Young Australian of the Year, 1988
• Medal of the Order of Australia, 1989
• Sports Australia Hall of Fame, 1993
• International Swimming Hall of Fame, 1996
• Queensland Sport Hall of Fame, 2009.
“We had nothing on our minds except where we were going to be the next day.
“I really built my confidence back up when I was out there.”
The trip also gave Duncan time to ponder the future.
He and Rebecca had talked about relocating to the Sunshine Coast for their retirement, but both COVID and the health scare became catalysts for bringing this dream forward.
Today, the Armstrongs are thriving in their new home.
They’ve joined local sporting clubs and are embracing the slower pace of life. Their first grandchild was born in 2022.
And Duncan is regularly booked for speaking engagements, ambassadorship
contracts and corporate leadership development sessions through his company Peak Impact.
Life is golden again.
But he’s careful of overworking.
“I can’t say that I’m sorry I’ve had a heart attack,” Duncan concludes.
“The journey it sent me on has been fulfilling in many ways.
“My life has got a lot more colour, it’s got more depth, it’s got more taste, it’s got more enjoyment.
“So, even during busy days, I have this sustainability in my spirit to enjoy the people that I see and talk to, especially my family and my loved ones.”
SIGNS OF AN IMMINENT HEART ATTACK
The Heart Foundation says warning signs of a heart attack can include:
• pain or pressure in the chest, arm, shoulder, back, neck or jaw
• dizziness or feeling faint
• nausea, indigestion or vomiting
• shortness of breath or tightening in the chest
• sweating or a sudden chill (cold sweat).
Source: heartfoundation.org.au
What to book
THE King’s Birthday long weekend will see the stunning grounds of Jimbour Station, north of Dalby, come alive with the Big Skies Festival. The 2024 festival from October 3-7 includes two days of live Aussie rock and country music performances featuring The Screaming Jets, Brad Cox, Killing Heidi, Kaylee Bell, Deborah Conway, Mick Lindsay and more. Special events include the new Canapes Under the Stars, the sell-out Sunset Dinner and Jimbour House Tours, plus the Bunya Mountains Escape Tour and Western Downs Energy Discovery Tour. Camp onsite within walking distance of all the action or take advantage of transfers from Dalby. For festival information and tickets, visit bigskiesfestival.com.au
Back in the day… What to play
PICKLEBALL is considered the fastestgrowing sport in the world, and on the rise in Australia. Anyone who has ever had a game of tennis, badminton or table tennis is likely to enjoy this low-impact, paddle-and-ball sport that is played on a hard surface indoors or outdoors. A pickleball club has just started up at Buderim Mountain State School with three courts in the new hall and six outdoor courts on Main Street. Head to Facebook and search for ‘Petrie’s Pickleball Club Buderim’. The Brisbane Pickleball Club (brisbanepickleballclub.com) hosts tournaments for spectators to get a handle on easy-to-master rules and basic strategy, and also offers regular come-and-try sessions at venues across the city.
What to watch
IF YOU need more feelgood, inspirational stories in your life, head along to the cinema from August 15 for The Blind Sea. Four-time para surfing World Champion Matt Formston rides a 50ft wave in the new feature-length documentary, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest wave surfed by a vision-impaired male. Formston was diagnosed with macular dystrophy, a rare eye condition, at the age of five, that left him with three per cent vision and a desire to do what everyone else says can’t be done. An avid surfer since his childhood in Narrabeen, Formston took up the opportunity to go head-to-head with the world’s biggest and most dangerous waves at Portugal’s infamous Nazaré. Tickets are on sale now at Event Cinemas, Hoyts, Village Cinemas and leading independent theatres.
THERE was punk rock. Live Aid founder and Boomtown Rats
frontman Bob Geldof is quoted as saying: “Rock music in the Seventies was changed by three bands: The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and (Brisbane band)
The Saints”. The original Ramones – Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee and Tommy (all pseudonyms) – played their first show in New York music club CBGB, in the Bowery neighbourhood of Lower Manhattan, on August 16, 1974. They were instrumental in taking punk to the masses. It wasn’t just about the music, it was their vibe. And generations of fashionistas and hipsters since then didn’t need to know the lyrics to I Wanna Be Sedated, Blitzkreig Bop (“Hey, ho, let’s go!”) and Sheena Is A Punk Rocker to wear The Ramones T-shirt.
What to stream
THE person who received the largest ticker-tape parade in New York City history wasn’t Babe Ruth or any other Yankees baseball star. It was US Olympic swimmer Trudy (Gertrude) Ederle, born in 1905 to German immigrants. The 20-year-old was the first woman to complete the 21-mile crossing of the English Channel. Her time of 14 hours and 31 minutes on August 6, 1926, was faster than any of the five male swimmers who had crossed the Channel before her, setting a world record for men and women. An estimated two million people lined the streets in New York City on her return home to celebrate the remarkable feat in unforgiving jellyfish-infested waters and harsh conditions that kept her from swimming a straight route and added miles to the journey. Stream Young Woman and the Sea, on Disney+, for the full, incredible story.
DON McLean in the song American Pie wrote of “the day the music died”.
Music is not dying but AI is changing our tune insidiously.
Change is not necessarily bad, but it would be tragic to lose the musical gems we treasure through a lack of vigilance.
AI-generated music is no longer new. People can enter a prompt such as ‘compose the music and lyrics for a male blues song about a lost love’.
To compose the song, the AI music generator has accumulated a mass of data from pre-existing recordings without the permission of record labels, causing a fractious legal dispute.
Another concern for the music industry is the growth in cloning of singers’ voices onto other songs.
You can create a deep music fake of Paul McCartney singing Billy Joel’s Piano Man and clone your voice as a backing vocal.
We can generate compositions with AI machines and online in the comfort of our homes with royalty-free music for family videos.
Attending concerts where an artist who has long passed is reincarnated as a hologram figure, performing their classics interspersed with patter, is not unusual … or am I cloning Tom Jones?
With AI unleashed, it will be fascinating to see what heights the new world of music reaches (ironically, during a boom in vinyl recordings).
Maybe all is not lost, except those LPs I gave away the day the record player died.
Enterprising ‘tall timbers’
AUDIENNE BLYTH looks back to a time when our forests and rivers were awash with activity, creating and transporting the building blocks of a growing region.
From the 1860s, sawmilling entrepreneurs sought timber from the Sunshine Coast.
William Pettigrew, James Campbell and McGhie, Luya and Co became household names in the timber industry.
The rivers and lakes were the highways into the thick scrub and dense forests where cedar, beech and pine were sought. On the Maroochy River at Maroochydore, William Pettigrew established a sawmill in 1891.
He was a Scot who arrived at the Moreton Bay settlement in 1849. Working as a surveyor, he became aware of the abundance of timber and built Brisbane’s first steam sawmill in 1853. Previously, timber was cut by pit sawyers.
Other mills he built and owned were at Dundathu on the Mary River and the Union Sawmill at Maryborough. His Brisbane mill burnt down twice and was rebuilt. The great floods of 1893 and 1898 also meant serious losses at all mills.
Pettigrew’s Maroochydore Mill was dependent on logs rafted down the Maroochy River and its tributaries.
Pettigrew owned or had interests in a
fleet of ships delivering supplies and returning to Brisbane with timber. Memorable were: Elizabeth, a schooner; the Granite City, a schooner refurbished as a stern-wheel paddle steamer and renamed Gneering; and Tadorna Radjah and Tarshaw, built to negotiate shallow river mouths.
By 1900, his empire had collapsed and the Maroochydore Mill was sold to James Campbell & Sons which removed the machinery to its Brisbane mill in 1903.
On tributaries of the Maroochy River, small sawmills were established.
Each miller owned a ship to transport timber to Brisbane and return with supplies to settlers.
Pedlar & Heddon, along Paynter Creek, owned the Laura Belle, Mitchell & Sons along Petrie Creek owned Sylvania and George Etheridge owned Lucy. On the Noosa River, McGhie, Luya and Co established Elanda Point Sawmill in 1870 and developed its own shipping service.
Timber was delivered by small, flat-bottomed paddle steamers known as timber droghers: Black Swan, Elandra and Alabama, which towed punts of sawn
From the 1880s: The Tarshaw (left) and the Tadorna Radjah at Maroochydore. The two houses were built in 1884: one for the captain of the Tarshaw and the other for his overseer.
timber through the lakes to Tewantin, where the sawn timber was loaded onto the steamer Culgoa for Brisbane.
For 20 years, Culgoa made regular trips until wrecked on the Noosa Bar in 1891. The sawmill closed in 1892.
DL Brown’s Arakoon and Dath Henderson’s Adonis also regularly carried timber to Brisbane. In demand were drayloads of sawn hardwood which were taken to Gympie for the mining industry. Passengers on the boats continued the journey by coach to the Gympie goldfields.
James Campbell arrived in Brisbane in 1853. Like Pettigrew, he was a sober and industrious Scot and established a building supplies business – the beginning of his empire. He built his first sawmill at Capalaba and the second of 10 sawmills on Coochin Creek in 1881.
Previously, the timber from the Blackall Range was hauled to a rafting
ground on the creek, made into rafts and steered downstream on tides to Pumicestone Passage. Little steamers or schooners towed the rafts in this sheltered waterway to Campbell’s Brisbane City Wharf. Campbell owned a fleet of ships.
Many of them were delivering timber from the Mooloolah and Maroochy rivers, Bribie and Coochin Creek to Brisbane.
Sometimes valuable cargoes of logs made the journey from Moreton Bay to southern states or overseas.
Savvy with business, Campbell relocated the Coochin Creek mill machinery to establish a mill at Albion in Brisbane in 1890, realising the everexpanding railway would change the way timber would be transported.
Audienne Blyth is a member of the Nambour Historical Museum, open 1-4pm Wednesday to Friday, and 10am-3pm Saturday.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE FUTURE OF AGED CARE IN OUR STATE
THE future of aged care in our state will be the subject of debate and discussion this month when Southeast Queensland’s industry leaders descend on the Sunshine Coast.
The Sundale Conference, organised and hosted by locally based Sundale, will allow industry leaders to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
The two-day event will cover the new Aged Care Quality Standards and explore topical subjects such as palliative care, trauma-informed care, falls prevention and technological innovations.
Sundale CEO Cameron Taylor says the event follows the resounding success of last year’s Palliative Care Conference – the first of its type on the Coast.
“For more than six decades, Sundale has been synonymous with exceptional care for seniors throughout the Sunshine Coast region,” Mr Taylor says.
“We’re committed to driving innovation and excellence in aged care, and this conference is an extension of that.”
Staff from all regional-based aged care providers can attend the conference, which will include presentations from The Dementia Centre’s Yvonne Feeley, a clinical
dietitian focused on the aged care population, and Dr Diane Corser, a clinical psychologist who specialises in senior trauma-informed care.
“It is imperative all aged care professionals, nurses and carers are up to date with industry developments, so they are best placed to care for the region’s aging population,” Mr Taylor says.
“We have some of Queensland’s best aged care specialists lined up to deliver some fantastic insights to all attendees.
“It’s an event not to be missed.”
The conference will be held from August 13-14 at Nambour RSL Club.
One-day and two-day passes to the conference are available for purchase via eventbrite.
• New kitchens fitted with new appliances
• New flooring and furnishings
• Freshly painted internally and externally
• Spacious courtyard, landscaped gardens
• 2 Swimming Pools
• Men’s Shed and Bowling Green
• Walking distance to Translink Bus with transport to local medical centres and Stockland Shopping Centre
By Mocco Wollert
RECENTLY, I wanted to ring a friend I hadn’t heard from for a long time.
After going through my address books, I had to concede that I did not have her number anymore.
My first thought was to get the White Pages and look up her name. Then, of course, I realised that there are no more White Pages – at least not in paper form. It started me thinking of what else we have lost, not in a sad way, but just stating a list of things and services that have disappeared from our lives – some remembered fondly, others not.
There was always a little excitement when the White Pages were delivered to the house. The first look would be to find your name, so you could be assured that people would find you. The White Pages were usually delivered together with the Yellow Pages, which were so handy when you needed a tradesman or a service in your area.
As far as window protection went, most windows were covered with
venetian blinds on the inside. They sparkled in many colours and colour combinations – that is, when they were clean. Somehow, they seemed to have a special attraction to dust. As soon as you had cleaned them, dust joyfully – or maybe I should say spitefully – covered them again.
Before Google Maps took over, sending us often in the most convoluted way to our destination, just about every car had a street directory. In Queensland, we called it affectionately The Refidex. I must admit I have not yet mastered Google Maps but sometimes I wonder what confusion it would cause if Google Maps malfunctioned or dropped out altogether. Just as well there is a coffee shop on every corner, to calm the frayed nerves.
And let’s not forget the excitement of going to the drive-in theatre. They sprang up everywhere and were the ideal place to take a girl for a first kiss. Nobody would look into the dark car unless you were parked next to a car full of kids who found the goings-on in the car beside them more interesting than the movie.
A good thing to lose was seams on stockings which would never stay straight. In desperation, some
ladies discarded stockings altogether and drew a straight line down the back of their legs.
Another good thing to lose was cloth nappies. I remember washing 18 of them in one day. No baby of mine was left in a wet nappy.
Blockbuster Video was the store where we would go once a week to borrow movies – some for kids, some for adults. On Wednesdays, the new videos would come out and you had to be quick or they were all snapped up by early customers. If you were patient, you’d hire them later for a nominal fee only. I remember when the last video store closed in our suburb. There was more than the odd tear.
The list of ‘lost things’ is endless but we all adjust to new things eventually.
May you remember things lost with a smile on your face.
Email mocco.wollert@bigpond.com
Life in the slow lane Life’s an adventure
By Cheryl Lockwood
THERE are many things in life we don’t learn, simply because we don’t have to.
For me, it was backing a trailer.
My husband was quite talented at this and I had seen him reverse behemoth caravans into tight spots. He said that the only problem with achieving a perfect trailer-reversing manoeuvre was that there were never usually any witnesses to impress.
The 6x4 trailer or box trailer (or other unprintable names when trying to reverse it) is a tricky creature to control. It’s like trying to push a live snake backwards into a can of baked beans – not that I’ve ever done that.
Among other things, backing a trailer is something I’ve been practising. To be clear, I’m not doing this willy-nilly for the fun of it, but rather for the practical purpose of transportation of bulky things.
Years ago, hubby gave me a lesson when we owned a boat. He had decided that I should learn to reverse it into the driveway. I foolishly said, “I’ll give it a crack.”
Luckily, the man was known for his patience because I lost count of how many attempts I had: my brain had difficulty interpreting the image I saw in the rearview mirrors.
We lived on a curve in the road which I don’t
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think helped. At one stage, hubby went inside for a cup of tea and a nap.
Determined not to give in, I eventually stored the boat trailer safely.
Recently, I had a load of green waste to take to the dump, also known as a ‘waste transfer station’.
This slightly pretentious term does nothing to disguise the contents and I will continue to call it the dump or tip.
Hooking up the 6x4 and driving down the road was easy, but I knew that once at the tip, I’d need to reverse to the appropriate dumping point.
It had been raining and the friendly dump man advised that it was “a bit muddy out there”.
“But you’ll be right,” he said in a typical, blokey way.
“A bit muddy” was an understatement.
The ground was like a giant, chocolate thick shake and I ploughed straight in. Space was tight as there were other trucks
and trailers with blokes dropping off various loads.
After only three attempts, my trailer was in position without hitting anyone or anything.
I stepped into the muddy mess and squelched my way to the trailer while trying to look like this was something I did all the time. A confident swagger is not easy on muddy, potholed ground, but I’m sure I pulled it off.
I even walked taller, but that was just the layer of mud stuck to my shoes.
Once unloaded, I fishtailed my way back to the solid bitumen, only stopping once to retrieve the trailer’s cover, which I’d placed on the roof and forgotten about. I may have blown my chances of appearing confident at that point, but I quietly congratulated myself on my successful dumping anyway.
The task was not quite complete. I still had to get my trailer home and into my driveway, which has an uphill slope.
Fortunately for me, the neighbour’s driveway across the road lines up nicely with mine, giving me the chance to almost have the car and trailer in a straight line.
Slowly, but surely, in I went on the first try. Getting through the gateway and up to the carport took a couple of goes, but I did it.
As they say: “You’re never too old to learn”. Of course, there were no witnesses. Visit lockwoodfreelance.com
Resort-style living on the Sunshine Coast
2 and 3 bedroom villas now
Secure your slice of idyllic retirement living in the heart of the Sunshine Coast at Sunset Palms Retirement Living, a welcoming community with resort-style facilities.
Enjoy a modern coastal lifestyle, just a 15-minute drive from lush hinterland and golden Sunshine Coast beaches. With limited stage 3 villas remaining and ready to move into this year, seize the opportunity to embrace the lifestyle you’ve always imagined.
How to be vigilant against scams
EDIN READ delves into the ACCC’s The Little Black Book of Scams that could be key to protecting our identity and staying safe financially.
In an era where tech is part and parcel of our everyday lives, scams have become increasingly complex, making anyone a potential target.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has put together some essential advice in The Little Black Book of Scams to help us all recognise, dodge and shield ourselves from these dodgy dealings.
First off, it’s key to understand what a scam actually is. Typically, it involves motives to steal your money or personal info. Scammers concoct convincing, yet entirely made-up, scenarios to reel us in. These could range from seemingly unbeatable financial deals to distressing pleas for help.
One of the most common ways scammers try to hook you is through digital communications such as emails and text messages. Often, these messages seem to come from legitimate places, including government bodies, respected companies or even mates.
They might urge you to click a link, leading you to a fake website designed to pinch your personal details. The urgency and seeming authenticity make it tough to
spot these as scams right off the bat. Phone calls are another favourite tool for scammers, who can tweak caller ID to look like they’re ringing from a familiar organisation. They typically fish for personal or financial details, whipping up a sense of urgency or fear to spur you into action. And let’s not overlook online platforms. From dodgy e-commerce sites flogging goods at too-good-to-be-true prices to social media profiles that mimic real people, scammers use every trick in the book to look credible.
Be especially wary of websites asking for payments in unconventional ways, such as gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
When it comes to social media and apps, always tread carefully with unfamiliar profiles. Scammers often pose as personal connections or celebrities endorsing products or investments, usually leading to financial losses for those duped by these deceptive endorsements.
Here’s how the ACCC suggests we stay sharp:
1. Always double-check the source of any communication using contact info you know is legitimate, rather than what’s
provided in a suspicious email, message or call.
2. Keep a tight lid on your personal and financial info. Share it only when you’re absolutely certain of the other party’s legitimacy.
3. Keep your software and apps up to date to avoid security vulnerabilities that scammers can exploit.
4. Regularly back up your important data to external drives. This safeguard ensures that if you do fall prey to a cyberattack, your personal information and critical data are secure and retrievable, reducing potential losses.
5. If you encounter a scam, report it to authorities such as Scamwatch to aid the broader effort to combat these fraudulent activities.
Remember, scams aren’t just a hit to the wallet: they can also have a serious emotional toll.
Recognising that scams can happen to anyone helps reduce stigma and bolsters community support for those affected. Resources including the ACCC’s guide are invaluable for empowering us to stay safe in this digital age.
So, stay informed, stay sceptical and stay safe. For more detailed info on navigating these threats, check out the full The Little Black Book of Scams through the ACCC’s official website, and give it a good read so that you have a better chance of being vigilant.
Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology Tech Support for Seniors. Visit greyology.com.au
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CHURCHES of Christ Housing Services
Limited has officially opened 40 social housing units and 10 specialist disability accommodation units at the $23.1 million Banksia Apartments development at Little Mountain.
Funded in partnership with the state government, the social housing units are designed to gold and platinum Liveable Housing Australia design guidelines to meet the changing needs of those aged 55 and over and First Nations seniors aged 45 and over. Housing Services general manager Gus Taddeo says the units will provide residents with homes that meet their needs.
“It was wonderful to be joined today by so many members of the community as we cut the ribbon, signalling the opening of the units and a new chapter in the lives of many people who will call Banksia Apartments home,” Mr Taddeo says of the opening ceremony.
“The units provide seniors a place where they can age in place with dignity.
“An under-occupancy strategy offered singles and couples living in large public housing properties an opportunity to downsize. This helped us form the new community here at Little Mountain. Their choice to downsize also means more family-size homes are available for those waiting on the Social Housing Register.”
Mr Taddeo says Churches of Christ was proud to partner with the state government to deliver Housing Services’ 15th major project and sixth development helping seniors seeking to downsize from larger public housing properties.
“As people age, the maintenance involved with larger homes can become quite unmanageable, especially if the homes have not been designed with ageing in place in mind,” he says. “Things like stairs inside the home, or even a step up into a shower, can become difficult, and a risk to navigate for an ageing demographic or people with disability.”
NEW TAI CHI CLASSES ACROSS THE REGION
GET active and healthy with new and ongoing tai chi classes, with benefits for pain relief, stress reduction, balance, posture, flexibility and circulation.
These introductory courses have started in Buderim, Caloundra, Eumundi, Maroochydore and Nambour, offered by the Taoist Tai Chi Society. The courses will run weekly for three to four months. Your first session is obligation-free. The sessions are designed for new beginners and are open to all ages and health conditions.
Pre-registration is essential. Email sunshinecoast@taoisttaichi.org, call 1800 108 801 or register at taoisttaichi.org/ find-a-location/sunshine-coast/.
Tai chi is a moving meditation to help
body and mind become supple and strong. New introductory courses:
Buderim: Mondays, 10.30am-noon, War Memorial Hall, 1 Main Street.
Eumundi: Wednesdays, 7-8pm, Eumundi State School Hall, 22 Caplick Way.
Maroochydoore: Saturdays, 11am-noon, Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Road East.
Nambour: Wednesdays, 10-11am, Nambour Uniting Church Hall, 37 Coronation Avenue.
Introductory half-day: Saturday, September 8, 9.15am-12.15pm, Millwell Road Community Centre.
NOMINATE OLDER UNSUNG HEROES FOR MEDAL
NATIONAL Seniors Australia (NSA) has launched the inaugural Everald Compton Community Champion Medal to acknowledge older unsung heroes while also recognising its founder.
NSA chief executive officer Chris Grice says the medal honours Mr Compton’s long-standing and outstanding contribution to Australia, while celebrating everyday champions whose grassroot experiences and selfless contributions make a significant difference to their communities.
Mr Grice says he’s keen to learn about
and celebrate the inspiring stories of older Australians and encourages people who know an older unsung hero to visit the website for eligibility criteria and to apply.
Nominees do not need to be an NSA member but must be aged 50 or over and an Australian resident. They do not need to meet all of the judging criteria. Nominations close on August 15 and the winner will be announced on October 1. Visit nationalseniors.com.au/ stories/everald-compton-communitychampion-medal
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35 BULCOCK STREET, CALOUNDRA
Rear access via Lamkin Lane
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• Caloundra Transit Centre 23 Cooma Tce, Caloundra
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Dr Michael Karpa and the amazing team at Best Practice Eyecare can help you with cataracts, dry eyes, and much more including glaucoma, pterygia, lid surgery and macular degeneration.
5492 2822
bestpracticeeyecare.com.au
Microdosing your way to fitness
CAITLYN
HUTH reminds us that the clock is ticking on our physical health and we must set aside time to create good exercise habits.
How many times have you said: “I just need time to do it”? Or perhaps you’ve said: “I ran out of time this week to get it in”.
What if we can make changes without putting emphasis on the time we spend on making these changes or getting into new habits? Small but frequent doses can be just as effective. Let’s look at some ways we can microdose habits to support physical health. EXERCISE – When it comes to exercise, there is an expectation it needs to be 45-60 minutes to be effective or that we need to feel the burn to be sore the next day.
But this is not a true marker of a ‘good workout’. If you’re struggling to find time and energy to complete a whole exercise program, you might be pleased to know it can be incredibly effective to introduce short bursts of movements in your day instead.
If we intentionally exercise for a few minutes here and there throughout the day, we are still
providing benefits towards blood sugar regulation, muscular stimulation and cardiorespiratory output – especially if no activity is happening usually.
We could microdose along the lines of incidental exercise (for example, taking the stairs instead of the lift) or intentional exercise (a quick jog around the block or 20 squats in the TV ads). Or it could be something that is just fun such as dancing to music.
Using exercise this way is excellent for giving the body a boost and stimulus it needs to
combat long periods of stillness or sitting.
GET OUTDOORS – We happen to spend a lot of time indoors with work and domestic duties and are slowly becoming a community that misses out on the benefits of being outdoors.
Our body is designed to respond to the signals of natural light, airflow and visible feedback of the environment.
These benefits stem from the physical activity we engage in, the socialisation with friends and family with outdoor events and the regulation of our nervous system. This regulation is what initiates our body to boost repair, restoration and prepare for action. If you haven’t got time to plan events outdoors, try eating lunch outside in the sun, walk while you’re on the phone, sit by the window or introduce plants into your home/office.
Caitlyn Huth is an exercise physiologist at Full Circle Wellness. Call 5456 1599 or visit fullcirclewellness.com.au
FIT HAPPENS with Tom Law
HOW TO STAY ACTIVE WHILE CRUISING ALONG
FOR the past week, my wife and I have been on a cruise – a little trip from Brisbane to Cairns, Airlie Beach and return.
Many of you may have taken a similar cruise. Let me tell you, it has been fantastic and I highly recommend it. The ship has a designated walking area and, of course, a fully equipped gym for those who like to keep up the exercise routine. You can also get off the ship at each location and exercise the sea legs on land.
The point I am making is that there is plenty of opportunity to exercise on board a cruise.
In fact, some may find it more accessible due to the relaxed nature of the holiday and the close proximity of the facilities.
“What? Exercise, you say? We are on holidays.”
Yes, of course you need to enjoy yourself and have a great time. I would suggest you simply keep some sort of exercise routine up during your break. It may not be the same intensity or duration of your normal exercise program. However, keep in mind
the fact that being active and exercising regularly is probably one of the reasons you are having a good time and being able to enjoy the sights and sounds associated with a cruise. If you want a complete break from your exercise routine, use the stairs not the lift or elevator as that will keep you in reasonable shape while you are on board.
The beauty of a holiday for you may include eating delicious meals and having some alcoholic drinks, and I have heard many people saying they come back from holidays with a few more pounds on. But with a few sensible rules, it doesn’t have to be that way.
My suggestion if you are on a cruise would be to simply: eat at the designated restaurants, not the buffet or pantry; use the stairs rather than the elevator; and take a daily walk around the deck.
Finally but most importantly, enjoy your break.
Tom Law is the author of health and exercise-related books. Visit facebook.com/Tom’sLaw
YOUR LOCAL EYE DOCTOR
Associate Professor Kristopher Rallah-Baker
TREATMENTS AT A GLANCE
• Cataract Surgery
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Soaking our brains in alcohol
KAILAS ROBERTS reports that your ‘drug of choice’ may be doing more harm than you realise.
What is the world’s most popular drug? You’d be forgiven for immediately considering it is a substance of questionable legality, whose distribution is underpinned by a shady network of ne’er-do-wells.
But, in fact, the truth is quite different.
Although many people would not think of it as a drug, alcohol is just that and tops the global list of psychoactive substances.
Not far behind is caffeine – in your daily cup of joe and other things. But the two substances are worlds apart when we consider the balance of risks and benefits of their use.
Caffeine consumption is generally considered beneficial for brain health. From a cognitive perspective, low to moderate amounts improve vigilance, attention and reaction times. It is less helpful for memory and more complex thinking (executive skills), however, leading to the classic tagline: ‘Drink coffee: do stupid things more quickly’.
Most of the studies that have looked at the longer-term effects of caffeine also suggest it is a good thing, with up to perhaps four cups of coffee per day potentially reducing the risk of dementia.
Coffee is full of antioxidants and so it may not just be the caffeine content that helps, as antioxidants dampen inflammation – a key player in many forms of dementia. There is also evidence (in the lab and in mice, at least) that coffee may bind tau, reducing the negative impact of this Alzheimer’s-related protein, and has been associated with lower levels of amyloid – the other problem protein.
So, I have no problems recommending caffeine, in the form of moderate amounts of coffee and tea, to those trying to protect their brain (though do be wary if you are prone to anxiety or cardiac disease – best to discuss with your doctor).
When it comes to alcohol, though, I am less enthusiastic. As far as the brain health research goes, I still don’t think we have a clear picture.
But as time goes on, the consumption of even moderate amounts is not viewed as favourably as it once was.
A large, recent observational study from the UK showed that compared with those who drank one standard unit (equivalent to one standard glass of wine), those who drank two units per day had brain shrinkage changes equivalent to it being two years older – not a good thing!
Going to three per day aged the brain by three-and-a-half years.
There are certain theoretical benefits to imbibing alcohol. These include the antioxidants in certain alcoholic drinks (perhaps especially red wine) and improvements in blood flow. Then there are social benefits and its role for some in reducing stress. But I’m just not sure that it is something we can promote as being good for your brain.
I suspect there is considerable individual variation in how vulnerable the brain is to alcohol.
Those studies that have shown a degree of benefit may have captured those who have more robust brains – ones that can mend or remodel themselves after the toxic impact of alcohol.
This is supported by the notion that people with one or two copies of the apoe4
SETTING THE STANDARD FOR CONTINENCE CARE IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
Community Nurse Service Pty Ltd is a nurse-led organisation providing excellent client-centred care, enabling people to improve their bladder and bowel health, and how they manage it.
We are passionate in providing specialist continence care to clients in the North Brisbane area as well as the Sunshine Coast. This extends to a 30 minute radius from these locations and other areas can be negotiated. Phone assessments may also be suitable for some people.
Nurses employed by CNS have a special interest in assisting people with continence issues. All nurses are experienced
Registered Nurses registered with the Australian Health Professionals Registration Authority (AHPRA).
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gene (which, in general, increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease) are more susceptible to alcohol-related brain problems. We know that this gene variant impairs this mending process.
Ultimately, you must live life, and if you are healthy and enjoy a small drink or two at the end of the day, I’m not going to insist you stop.
But it is good to recognise that it does not automatically promote a healthy brain.
And as a final, non-controversial point: heavy drinking is definitely not a good thing, and you should do your best to address it.
Kailas Roberts is a psychogeriatrician and author of Mind Your Brain: The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia, now available at all good bookstores and online. Visit yourbraininmind.com or uqp.com.au
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CHARLIE GRIFFITHS offers some solutions to chronic pain sufferers and other patients who need to overcome their MRI phobia.
Don’t you love magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans? They’re awesome at pinpointing our internal physical anomalies but they freak me out.
I’ve been fed into the murmuring brute four times, and I swore after the last episode that I would never offer myself as a medical sacrifice again without chemical intervention. Now, I’m up for another living nightmare, and even though I have a prescription for a quick-acting, short-lived sedative, I have decided this should be a last resort. What sort of Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner would I be if I didn’t practise what I preach?
As individuals, we learn through one or a combination of four fundamental processes:
• visual – what am I seeing?
• auditory – what am I hearing?
• kinaesthetic – what am I feeling?
• auditory digital – what am I telling myself?
Here are some suggestions for using these sensory modalities to overcome an MRI phobia.
Visual confrontation: Our new world is bland, bleak and boding. If we are at all
prone to anxiety in this torpedo tube, there are no visual distractions to break the spiralling cycle of despair. From memory, there’s a pinkish display iterating breathing instructions which ironically exacerbates anxiety, making ‘free breathing’ almost impossible. And there’s a comforting sign in large red capitals: “In case of panic, press the emergency squeeze ball.” That’s helpful. Visual solution: We have a blank canvas all around. So much potential. We can surround ourselves with visions of things that make us feel happy and safe. There’s no limit to the depth of colour, size and behaviour of the objects our imagination generates. Visions don’t have to be static: we could create a slideshow and travel from scene to scene, admiring our artistry and enjoying our journey.
Auditory confrontation: The growling and grinding noises within the bowels of the MRI beast resemble digestive tract activity of some ravenous sci-fi monster. Some MRI technicians offer ill-fitting, low-fidelity headphones playing our choice of harmonies to attempt to disguise the sounds of our imminent assimilation. Artificial acoustic camouflage is inefficient and unreliable.
Auditory solution: Use our imagination to manipulate the raw sound waves into friendly melodies. We can look for rhythm in the operational resonance or we can allocate a benevolent purpose to the bustle. All hell could be breaking loose outside our bubble while our benefactor protects us from immediate danger in processing data to prepare a long-term healthcare plan. Kinaesthetic confrontation: Imprisonment is intolerable, yet we surrender to this dispassionate juggernaut so it can probe us using technology we can’t understand. We could be forgiven for feeling like victims of an alien abduction.
Kinaesthetic solution: Aah, the comfort, security and joy of a hug from a dear friend or a passionate cuddle with a loved one. We crave these embraces and now would be a great time to recall our favourite personal experiences.
Auditory digital confrontation: “This can
only be a bad experience. I won’t handle the starkness, noises and confinement of this wretched machine.” That unemotional voice telling me when and how to breathe. Auditory digital solution: Vulcan logic. The circle is the strongest engineering shape. So, if an earthquake hit, the safest haven would be inside an MRI. I recall slumbering in a swag by the riverbank on a humid mid-summer night. I watched the stars through a fine mesh screen supported inches from my face. Safe, relaxed and in control in a canvas casing with the same dimensions as an MRI chamber … If this article resonates with you, email charliegriffithscoaching.com/contact
Charlie Griffiths is a certified life coach and Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner dedicated to helping fellow professionals thrive with a chronic disease or serious injury.
communities
put your
Workhorse just keeps on truckin’
With so many American utes infiltrating the market, BRUCE McMAHON looks into why old-school drivers still love the LandCruiser.
The LandCruiser four-door ute is a 21st century motoring enigma – an unsophisticated work truck with premium price tag and cult-like following. It appears the diesel V8 version of the 70 Series will not be around for much longer, its place to be taken by a fourcylinder, automatic version (apparently that’s not a bad thing, if you can get behind the wheel).
Yet, there’s the mystery of how Toyota managed to keep selling an old-fashioned V8, live axle truck for around $100,000 at some dealers – a ute with a bare modicum of modern comfort, convenience or safety features. Sure, it’s a tough machine with tough chassis and tough mechanicals but it’s also a cramped ute with bare-bones interior and engineering design, despite some upgrades, close on 40 years old. Some call that a heritage legacy.
The 2024 ’Cruisers have some refreshed style: a bit tidier, a bit retro in part – with handsome 16-inch alloy wheels and reworked grille, headlights and bonnet. There’s a 6.7-inch multimedia system with hands-free smartphone pairing and a new instrument cluster.
The touch screen looks old-school and isn’t the easiest to navigate.
Retro-inspired instruments are difficult to read but augmented by a digital road speed read-out.
A driver sits high and handsome in an old-fashion seat (there’s no left arm rest but then again, in the V8 manual, there’s a bit of shifting through the five-speed gearbox) and controls and pedals need a firm hand or foot.
Among the left-outs (items to be found in $30,000 cars), there’s no remote control for mirrors, no vanity mirror for the passenger, one faraway cup holder, and auto-down on the window for the
GRADUATES SUPPORTING WOMEN’S EDUCATION
CHOOSING a charitable organisation to support or become involved with can be challenging, given the wide variety of worthy charities on the Sunshine Coast.
driver only. Not much of this may worry ’Cruiser converts and, granted, this is no toy four-wheel drive. In many ways, it’s fun (for a bit) to go back to old-school driving.
But add all the misses to a relatively small cabin for a bulky and expensive ute and it’s not hard to see why bigger, more sophisticated and generally more comfortable American utes such as the Ram, Ford 150 and Chevrolet Silverados have found favour with tradespeople and folk towing big vans.
Sure, most of those Americans cost a little more but are all fresher in design and by the time the ’Cruiser was brought up to speed with the likes of new seats, plusher trim and a bigger, better infotainment system, a wider rear track to match the front and more, cost differences would close up.
The 70 Series LandCruiser is a very good off-road machine. Decent ground clearance, excellent low-speed gearing, loads of low-down torque from the 4.5-litre V8, plus front and rear differential locks make it a back-track warrior (a leaner size makes it a winner in the scrub over bulked-up Yanks). It steers and rides the bitumen reasonably well and has the advantage, particularly with a 40-year-old heritage, of being known and fixable in remote outposts. A great farm ute.
It’s just that, even with its limited global market, this ’Cruiser’s surely paid its way and surely Toyota has a few odds and ends from its vast model range to brighten it up.
Bring on the American-built and targeted Toyota Tundra: a refined load hauler being evaluated for Australia.
PS: Toyota dropped the ’Cruiser’s V8 option just prior to publication, though the four-cylinder version will have just as many foibles.
If you’d like to mix with interesting members while supporting education, the Sunshine Coast Branch of Graduate Women Queensland might be a good option. The vibrant branch has about 80 women graduates who meet primarily for friendship, mutual support and intellectual stimulation. Members come from diverse cultural, social and professional backgrounds in Australia and overseas.
The focus is to ensure equality and empowerment for women through access to quality secondary and tertiary
MEGA MARKET SALE
ST PETER’S Anglican Church in Beach Road, Maroochydore, is having its Mega Market Sale on Saturday, August 24, from 8am-2pm.
Some great bargains will be available, including homemade cakes, jams, chutneys, budget books and CDs, quality china and ornaments, plus camping and fishing gear.
For gardeners, there’s orchids and other plants. Christmas decorations will be included, as well as Devonshire tea with homemade scones.
MAROOCHYDORE VIEW CLUB
education and training, up to the highest levels. For more than 30 years, the branch has provided undergraduate and postgraduate bursaries for female students at the University of the Sunshine Coast, offered awards for students undertaking rural or remote professional placements, supported STEMM (Supporting Teenagers with Education, Mothering and Mentoring) at Burnside State High School and hosted refugee girls.
Membership is available to graduate women, with an undergraduate degree or its equivalent, from any university or institution of higher education anywhere in the world.
Visit graduatewomen.org.au or email info@graduatewomen.org.au
GIVING AUSSIE CHILDREN A HELPING HAND
BUDERIM VIEW Club holds its lunch meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at Buderim Tavern at 11am for an 11.30am start.
Cost is $30 to cover lunch and hire of the Function Room.
The club raises funds for The Smith Family charity helping Australian children through education.
RSVP to Gail at gai3@optusnet.com. au or call 5476 7163 by the previous Saturday to attend.
AT THE Maroochydore VIEW Club lunch recently, one member filled in at the last minute as the guest speaker, with her own interesting story to tell.
Gail’s family was a beneficiary of The Smith Family, and as an adult, she became a teacher and a published children’s book author. For the meeting, she brought some of her books along and later did a book signing, donating the proceeds to the club. The Maroochydore VIEW Club has lunches on the fourth Friday of each month, with a guest speaker, monthly outings and coffee catch-ups.
Call Claire on 0416 119 053 to attend.
LATE WINTER POTTERS MARKET
SUNCOAST Clayworkers have organised their one-day Late Winter Potters Market to showcase the work of members and other regional ceramic artists.
The vibrant and unique artisan market of handcrafted ceramics on Saturday, August 24, will feature more than 30 stalls, along with live music, in the Dairy Hall at Maleny Showgrounds from 8am-3pm. Free parking is on site and refreshments will be available.
Call 0438 450 349 for more information.
Aussies now banking on a bequest
Millions of Australians would prefer their inheritance to be distributed prior to their relative’s death, new research by Finder reveals.
A Finder survey of 1062 respondents revealed that more than one-in-three Australians (36 per cent) – equivalent to 7.5 million people – expect to receive an inheritance over the coming decades. The research found one in 10 (10 per cent) are expecting an inheritance in the next 10 years, while 13 per cent anticipate they will have to wait up to 20 years to inherit their relative’s assets.
Of those who believe they will be a beneficiary, 28 per cent expect a cash inheritance of more than $100,000, 20 per cent look forward to a gift of between $50,000 and $100,000, and 15 per cent say they anticipate to inherit up to $50,000. The data shows one in five (21 per cent) believe they will be left one property, while four per cent think they will inherit two properties.
A whopping two in five (40 per cent) – equivalent to 8.3
million people – admit they’d rather receive an inheritance as a gift while their family member is still alive.
Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson says trillions of dollars’ worth of assets will be passed down to fewer heirs in years to come.
“After decades of building up wealth, baby boomers are passing down trillions in savings and investments to their children and grandchildren,” she says. “In an era of surging home and stock values, it’s going to be the largest intergenerational wealth transfer the country has ever witnessed.”
A report by the Productivity Commission says it’s estimated
Australians aged 60 and over would transfer $3.5 trillion or an average of about $175 billion per year in wealth in the next two decades. Ms Megginson says it is possible and, in some cases, preferable to pass on your assets while you are still alive.
“An early inheritance lets the parent see their children or grandchildren enjoying the gift, and the financial windfall at a younger age gives them more opportunity to use it towards something that drastically improves their life, like a deposit on a home or investing it in education. It’s not a decision that should be made without some serious consideration of your future financial needs and also the tax impacts.”
Ms Megginson urges Aussies to make sure they have a will to outline how they wish for their assets to be distributed and who is controlling the process: “It’s always best to make those decisions upfront and with transparency, so relatives aren’t left with false expectations.”
Visit finder.com.au/lifeinsurance/estate-planning
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOU SIT ON THE CAPITAL STACK
INVESTING in high-yield property funds can be an attractive proposition, with promises of high returns frequently exceeding 14 per cent per annum.
Prior to making an investment, investors should ensure they are aware of all the risks and are being adequately compensated for those risks.
In many cases, investors find themselves short-changed on their returns and exposed to greater risk than they anticipated.
One key factor contributing to this issue is a misunderstanding of the capital stack and where their investment sits within it.
The capital stack is a term used to describe the hierarchy of financial claims or layers of capital that typically fund a property-based project.
Understanding the capital stack is important as it helps assess the risk and potential return associated with a position in the stack. The capital stack is typically divided into:
First mortgage
First-ranking priority in the capital stack; secured via a first mortgage on the underlying
property security; lowest risk, as these investors are the first to be repaid in case of liquidation; typically offers the lowest returns due to the lower risk.
Second mortgage
Second-ranking priority in the capital stack after first mortgage holders; secured via a second mortgage on the underlying property security; higher risk than first mortgage, as these investors are repaid only after the first mortgage has been fully repaid; offers higher returns to compensate for the increased risk.
Equity
Third or last-ranking priority in the capital stack; not secured by any mortgage and purely dependent on the commercial success of the property project; highest risk, as these investors are the last to be repaid; potentially the highest returns, reflecting the high risk and project success.
Understanding where an investment sits within the capital stack helps investors align their risk tolerance with their investment goals and make more informed decisions.
Visit capitalpropertyfunds. com.au
Legislation governing over-50s resorts varies from state
By DON MACPHERSON
There has been some recent press attention to land lease parks in Victoria which has been critical of the industry.
Land lease parks are more commonly described as ‘over-50s resorts’ and involve the ownership of a house which is located on land that is rented.
One thing that must be borne in mind is that the legislation for these parks (as with retirement villages) varies state by
state, and what applies in one state does not necessarily apply in another. In Queensland, we have specific legislation that deals with land lease communities (Manufactured Homes Act) and retirement villages (Retirement Villages Act). It appears that in Victoria, there is no dedicated legislation dealing with land lease parks, which come under their Residential Tenancies Act. In that regard, the Queensland position is clearly superior.
The purchase of a home in an over-50s resort or a unit in a retirement village is a significant investment and should not be treated lightly. Contracts for purchases of these homes or units are complex, often running to over 100 pages.
The transaction is very different to the normal buy/sell conveyancing that people are used to in relation to a home in the suburbs.
PENSION EXPERTS MAKE CENTRELINK STRESS-FREE
By NARELLE COOPER, Capa Services co-owner
CENTRELINK’S preferred way of interacting with clients is through their MyGov account. But where does that leave those who, for various reasons, can’t or don’t want to connect online?
Centrelink is a large organisation with complex rules and regulations. So, even connecting online doesn’t solve the problem of understanding the rules. For example, when was the last time you updated your Centrelink records? Receiving payments from Centrelink comes with obligations, such as keeping your income and asset records up to date to ensure you receive the correct payment.
Just this week, we worked with clients moving into residential aged care who hadn’t updated their Centrelink records for over 10 years. Their current income and assets were significantly different from what was on their Centrelink records.
This type of discrepancy can lead to overpayments, and Centrelink raising a debt. I want to emphasise that not updating your records, resulting in an overpayment,
is not a criminal act. No one is going to jail, but no one likes to pay money back to Centrelink. And I’m not suggesting that everyone receiving Centrelink payments who hasn’t updated their records has an issue. But it is difficult to know without online access or understanding the rules.
That’s where a Centrelink administration company such as CAPA Services comes in. As Centrelink experts, staff offer solutions to ensure that dealing with Centrelink is stress-free and that you receive the correct payments, with your records kept up to date.
CAPA Services provides a stress-free Centrelink experience, regardless of the assistance you require, from the application processing to maintaining your records.
Staff work with the age pension, aged care paperwork and assessment, carer’s allowance or payment, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, disability support pension – anything Centrelink related. Call 1300 043 197 and visit capaservices.com.au
There is no ‘one size fits all’ and contracts vary from operator to operator, park to park, village to village. Engaging specialist advice is essential, rather than using a general conveyancer. To facilitate these purchases, the Queensland government rolled out specific legislation over the period 2018 to 2020 to regularise the industry in a way that made purchases more transparent and to allow comparison more easily between different options. The industry continues to be under review, and legislation is updated progressively.
From the media reports, it seems that the Victorian situation is significantly inferior in relation to buyer protection.
Having advised on more than 200 such contracts, Elder Law ensures that clients make informed decisions, fully understand what they are signing up for, and what they are committed to going in, during and upon exit.
Sunshine Coast Elder Law are specialists in retirement villages and over-50s resorts. Call 1800 961 622 or visit sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au
Elder Law are specialists in Retirement Villages and Over 50s Resorts. Contact them on 1800 961 622 or visit brisbaneelderlaw.com.au
Brisbane
Hit the road safely after a good sleep
WHILE on the road, there is one crucial factor that can make all the difference between a successful journey and potential hazards: a good night’s sleep.
However, if you’re grappling with snoring and fatigue, you may have a serious underlying condition called sleep apnea.
With one-in-four males over 30 experiencing symptoms such as excessive snoring and daytime fatigue, the impact of this condition on health and relationships can be significant.
Sleep apnea – a condition characterised by interrupted breathing during sleep – can significantly impact reaction time, focus and energy levels, as well as quality of life.
That’s why CPAP Direct is dedicated to providing solutions that can help people regain control and have the best chance at gaining a restful night’s sleep. Founded by a Queensland family which recognises the need for quality care, CPAP Direct has grown into a company with more than 110 dedicated employees and multiple locations nationwide.
Their unwavering commitment to patient satisfaction remains at the core of the business. CPAP Direct offers exceptional solutions for sleep apnea at more than 20 locations across Australia, and prides itself on being the trusted name in travel CPAP.
One of the most popular offerings is the range of travel CPAP machines, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of travelling with sleep apnea. Portable CPAP machines are built with convenience and efficiency in mind, ensuring sleep therapy is maintained even when the client is away from the comfort of their home.
Travel CPAP machines, equipped to run on either 12 or 24 volts, provide the assurance that sleep apnea treatment remains uninterrupted. A range of masks ensures clients sleep comfortably and wake up ready to tackle the miles ahead.
CPAP Direct can guide clients through the entire process from diagnosis and treatment. Experienced clinicians, equipped with
first-hand knowledge of CPAP equipment, are committed to working closely with the client to find the ideal mask and optimal device settings that suit individual needs and preferences. A strong emphasis is placed on personalised attention and support, ensuring clients receive the care necessary to enhance their sleep and overall wellbeing.
Contact CPAP Direct for a free consultation at cpap.com. au or call 1300 133 298. To take a free online test for sleep apnea, go to cpap.com.au/ sleep-studies
LET’S
EXPLORE SOME MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT EYE HEALTH
Myth: eating carrots will make you see better. While carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A (an essential nutrient for maintaining healthy vision), eating them in large quantities will not give you superhuman eyesight.
Fact: diet affects eye health. Certain nutrients are crucial for maintaining eye health. Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E can help prevent age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts and dry eyes. Leafy greens, oily fish and citrus fruits are excellent dietary choices for eye health.
Myth: only older people need eye examinations. Eye exams are important for people of all ages. Children should have their eyes checked regularly to ensure proper vision development, as untreated vision problems can affect learning and development.
Fact: regular eye check-ups are essential. Routine eye exams are crucial for detecting vision
problems and eye diseases early. Many conditions, such as glaucoma, have no symptoms in their early stages but can lead to vision loss if left untreated. Regular check-ups can help maintain eye health and ensure timely intervention if problems arise.
Myth: sitting too close to the TV is harmful. Another common myth is that sitting too close to the television can damage your eyes. While it may cause eye strain, it does not cause permanent damage. Modern televisions emit far less radiation than older models, making them safer for prolonged viewing.
Fact: smoking is detrimental to eye health. Smoking is harmful to almost every part of the body, including the eyes. It increases the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and damage to the optic nerve and blood vessels. Damage to any part of your eye can lead to vision loss. Quitting smoking is one of the best steps you can take to protect eye health and overall wellbeing.
Best Practice Eyecare’s new clinic is at 35 Bulcock Street, Caloundra. Visit bestpracticeeyecare.com.au
Cricket legend Merv Hughes
IMPORTANCE OF SKIN CARE FOR SENIORS
AS WE age, our skin becomes thinner and more fragile, making it susceptible to tears and other injuries.
Proper care is essential to maintain skin integrity and prevent complications. Healthy skin looks better and acts as a barrier against infections.
Jemma Bates, from Home Care Assistance, is a highly skilled registered nurse who brings extensive knowledge in skin care treatment
the skin hydrated.
• Sun protection: use sunscreen and wear protective clothing to prevent sun damage.
• Stay hydrated: drink plenty of water to keep skin hydrated from the inside out – ideally 2.5 litres of water per day.
• Balanced diet: eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and healthy fats to support skin health.
• Avoid hot showers: use lukewarm water as hot water can strip the skin of natural oils.
Jemma says.
“Simple steps like moisturising and protecting your skin can make a big difference.
“I recommend QV products to everyone.”
Preventing skin tears
Preventing and treating skin tears is essential as they can be painful and lead to infections if not managed properly.
This is vital for people on blood-thinning medications as they will be prone to more severe responses to skin tears such as excessive bleeding and bruising.
Jemma recommends wearing protective clothing, such as long sleeves and pants, to shield the skin from injuries when doing physical activities including gardening or bushwalking.
Ensure a safe environment by removing sharp objects, and padding furniture edges can also help prevent skin tears.
WHETHER you are a carer or are being supported by a carer, it’s important to want to be in charge of decisions about how you live your life.
Wellways Carer Gateway’s Aged Care Navigator Program is a free service providing support for people who need help understanding and navigating the aged care system, services and supports available to them.
“The process of registering with My Aged Care can often appear complex and indeed overwhelming”, says Jodi Burkitt, an aged care navigator for Wellways Carer Gateway.
A carer for her mother, Jodi has a deep understanding of the challenges that older carers and carers supporting their loved ones face.
the array of available services and resources,” she says.
Aged care navigators such as Jodi connect carers to services, including My Aged Care, and act as a bridge to community services. They help map out the best ways for people to receive support from My Aged Care and other services.
They also source social support in the community and equip people with the education and resources they need to overcome a broad range of challenges.
Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care and Department of Social Services, the Aged Care Navigator Program is a Wellways Carer Gateway model.
Wellways Carer Gateway provides vital support for
A bright solution to your dry eyes
THE THIRD TO DIE
By Allison Brennan Crime thriller
Reviewed by John Kleinschmidt
THIS book is the first of a series, with at least one later book published.
The story brings together LAPD Detective Kara Quinn and FBI Agent Mathias Costa –both investigators at the top of their game.
While on forced leave in her hometown, Quinn discovers the body of a young nurse. The manner of death indicates highly controlled rage and fits the profile of a compulsive triple serial killer.
Local police, the FBI, their best profiler and Quinn all become involved in the investigation.
From the killer’s history, Costa’s mobile response team (MRT) knows that two more people will die.
Within a few days, the killer commits three murders, then disappears for three years. The MRT must find the killer to prevent the next two murders.
Well worth reading.
HUSH: A MEMOIR UNRAVELLING THE UNINTENDED LEGACY OF FAMILY SECRETS
By Michelle Scheibner
HUSH explores the ways the psychological and physical effects of inherited family trauma are passed down through generations.
Not belonging had been a constant theme throughout Michelle Scheibner’s life, leaving her with an indescribable sense that something wasn’t quite right … but she had no idea what.
Unexplained feelings of abandonment led Scheibner to continually choose partners who were incapable of committing to her wholeheartedly, leaving her with a familiar feeling of shame, isolation and invisibility – a feeling she was never quite enough.
When the one person she thought
TABLE FOR TWO
By
Amor Towles, Historical fiction Reviewed by Annie Grossman, Annie’s Books on Peregian
AFTER the resounding global success of A Gentleman In Moscow and The Lincoln Highway, we were wondering what this wonderful author would come up with next.
I was so delighted by this new book.
It is a collection of six stories, all set in New York City, plus a novella set in Los Angeles in the ‘Golden Years of Hollywood’.
Amor Towles is a gentle, elegant and beautiful writer. His characters have a depth and individuality rarely found, and although his themes can be seen as a little quirky, the stories are captivating and so very enjoyable.
All of us at Annie’s Books thoroughly recommend this as a great read.
truly understood who she was died, the familiar but undefined melancholy of her childhood was amplified and she felt a hopelessness about the future.
After plenty of research and delving deep into the past, Scheibner realised her own identity had been stolen by silence and secrets during a childhood where she was trained never to ask questions.
What she uncovered changed her life: a brother with Down syndrome who’d been given away at birth, still very much alive; a DNA test which revealed her Jewish ancestry and her father’s hidden secrets.
She asks the questions:
• do we need an acceptable identity label to be validated?
• what makes us who we are?
• what will our legacy be? And, what defines us?
While this is Scheibner’s story, its purpose is to give you permission to go on your own journey of self-inquiry.
Hush encourages people to look for traces in their own story, to heal and inhabit a coherent identity.
“I encourage you to put aside your complaints and private fears and see your life with a new and curious lens. You are more than your current and past story,” she says.
For Scheibner, it took three years of
By
WITH her third novel, Anna Downes once again offers her readers a gripping psychological thriller, studded with sufficient clues/red herrings to keep you doubting your judgment almost with each fresh chapter.
Three narrators keep the tale moving while Katy searches for her sister Phoebe, missing for over a year after she embarked on a solo van-life adventure along WA’s Coral Coast.
While following the trail generated from Phoebe’s social profile, Katy encounters Beth who enters the
digging, research into epigenetics, training and many discussions with her psychotherapist before she was able to shift the guilt needed to shift the tangible load of prior generations that she was carrying.
“Whether we know what happened in our family history or not, the cycle of trauma and pain is imprinted through the generations … I can’t help but ask myself if it’s possible that every wound I feel, every complaint about what I don’t have, every unexplained fear keeping me from moving forward, may have come from a previous generation?” she says.
Knowing it was time for her to stop holding on to the remains of the past if she was to repair, she decided that these reminders could not and would not be coming into the future with her.
“Healing has been a multifaceted process. As I pieced together each fragment, I could see my heritage looking back at me, finally soaking into my mind and heart. I found selfidentity and self-compassion. I’ve emerged stronger, braver and wiser. I am enough.”
Scheibner’s TEDx talk Do We Need an Identity Label to be Validated? in 2021 has so far had almost 50,000 views. Visit michellescheibner.com
scenario, bearing her own emotional baggage and secrets. Were the notes left around the van during the night signs that Phoebe, and now Katy, have attracted the attention of a stalker or someone who may be able to assist in the search? Perhaps it will be revealed – or not.
Novels involving strong women characters with a large dose of derring-do always attract me, but this one is next level. I was unable to put it down until its conclusion.
I did find the totally left-field ending a little too clinical and contrived, but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of this brilliant book.
RED RIVER ROAD
Anna Downes, Crime thriller Reviewed by Jan Kent
ARCO’S THE SUNRISE TOUR
THE Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra (ARCO) specialises in historically informed performance of late 18th- to early 20th-century orchestral and chamber music repertoire on period instruments, as well as touring and presenting educational programs around the country.
The Sunrise brings five principals from ARCO into the intimacy of chamber music, including co-artistic directors and long-time musical friends Rachael Beesley (violin) and Nicole van Bruggen (clarinet).
The program takes in a sweep of classical quartets, including the buoyant Mozart K.157, the melancholy Cavatina from Beethoven’s
Op.130, and a turbulent Finnish landscape by the little-known Bernhard Crusell.
At the pinnacle is Haydn’s Sunrise Quartet in an 18thcentury clarinet arrangement by Vincenzo Gambaro,
WHEN and WHERE: Thursday, August 29, at 7pm (plus postconcert Talk & Tea at 8.15pm), Old Museum Building, 480 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills; Friday, August 30, at 7pm (plus preconcert Talk & Tea at 6pm), The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra; Sunday, September 1, at 3pm (plus post-concert Talk & Tea at 4.15pm), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 115 Eumundi Road, Noosaville.
TICKETS: Via arco.org.au
ELTON JOHN TRIBUTE
WORLD-renowned entertainer
Greg Andrew has donated his Elton John Experience show to raise funds for the endED House of Hope at Woombye, in conjunction with Mooloolaba Rotary and Sunshine FM.
The concert will also feature a special performance by the Matthew Flinders College contemporary vocal ensembles.
Guests can look forward to a night of great music, laughter, raffles and a huge auction to win a week’s accommodation on K’gari (Fraser Island).
WHEN: Saturday, August 24, at 6.30pm.
WHERE: Matthew Flinders Anglican College, 1-47 Stringybark Road, Buderim.
TICKETS: Tickets are $65 which includes snacks, a free drink and light supper. Book at trybooking.com/csgpf
REFLECTIONS – Songs of Love and Hope will nourish the soul as it shows Oriana Choir in true eclectic mode.
Under the direction of Kim Kirkman and accompanied by Fay Baker, the performances will showcase a mix of classical, sacred and modern repertoire taking audiences on a harmonious journey of musical reflection and joy that will uplift and inspire. From celebration to contemplation and jubilation to meditation, these are songs that will lift spirits and remind us there is love and hope to be found, even in such uncertain
THE golden anniversary of Mike Oldfield’s trailblazing magnum-opus will be performed by an expansive live group, featuring and arranged by his long-term collaborator Robin A Smith.
The concert will see Tubular Bells performed in full, along with further Oldfield compositions, including Moonlight Shadow, To France, Family Man and excerpts from
times. Hear a gospel-flavoured arrangement of Bridge Over Troubled Water, the high-energy delivery of the traditional spiritual My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord, the beauty of Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s Ecce Novum and Ubi Caritas, and heart-felt longing of the Hal David-Burt Bacharach classic What the World Needs Now WHEN and WHERE: Saturday, August 17, at St Patrick’s Church, 14 Church Street, Gympie, and Sunday, August 18, at Stella Maris Primary School, 5 Stella Way, Maroochydore – both at 2pm.
TICKETS: Via oriana.org.au
Ommadawn. Tubular Bells was the debut studio album by the English multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, conceived in 1971 and finally released in 1973.
VENUE: The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra. WHEN: Wednesday, August 14, at 8pm.
TICKETS: From $79, via theeventscentre.com.au or call 5491 4240.
MIKE OLDFIELD’S TUBULAR BELLS LIVE IN CONCERT
Flashback to August 2019, when Noosa Chorale presented Cabaret and All That Jazz in concert with the Australian Jazz Ensemble at The J.
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF ART AND JAZZ IN NOOSA
THREE Noosa cultural organisations, formed in 1994, will celebrate their 30th anniversaries with a month-long series of art and music events.
The events will start on Thursday, August 1, with the Tinbeerwah Art Group’s admission-free art exhibition
The Joy of Music at The J Theatre in Noosa Junction.
The Noosa Heads Jazz Club’s Noosa Jazz Festival opening night on Thursday, August 22, features the Australian Jazz Ensemble and the Noosa Chorale with All That Jazz under the direction of guest conductor Paul Coppens. Coppens founded the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra and has a distinguished career as a conductor and musician working with orchestral and choir recitals, ballets
and operas. Australian jazz legend Brett Iggulden will lead the Jazz Ensemble, which will include internationally famous jazz guitarist Ian Date and local clarinet artist Paul Williams.
The exciting 11-day program includes a Saturday matinee of All That Jazz, a Sunday afternoon jazz concert at The Majestic Theatre in Pomona, four Jazz Party sessions at The J Theatre in Noosa Junction, two afternoon matinees, and two evening concerts.
WHEN: Various art and music events from August 1 to September 1 WHERE: Various Noosa Shire venues.
TICKETS: Via noosajazzclub.com/ programs-tickets. For more information, email info@noosajazzclub.com or text 0478 256 245.
FOR THE DIARY: August
HERE are some dates to keep in mind this month.
• August 1-31 National Family History Month
• August 2 Jeans for Genes Day
• August 5-11 Dental Health Week
• August 5-11 National Stroke Week
• August 5-11 Keep Australia Beautiful Week
• August 6 Hiroshima Day
• August 10-18 The Ekka (Royal Queensland Show)
• August 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
• August 10-18 National Science Week
• August 13 Left Handers Day
• August 14 World Lizard Day
• August 17-23 National Book Week
• August 18 Long Tan Day (Vietnam Vets’ Day)
• August 19 World Humanitarian Day; National Aviation Day
• August 22 Daffodil Day (Cancer Council)
• August 26 National Dog Day
• August 30-September 21 Brisbane Festival
OEEY-GOOEY CHOCOLATE PUDDINGS
WHATEVER the weather outside, chocolate always warms the cockles of our hearts. So, try this easy recipe. Serves 4.
Ingredients:
• 100g dark chocolate
• ½ cup (115g) butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup (175g) chocolate cake mix (see tip).
Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Melt the dark chocolate and 110g of the butter in the microwave or in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir in the cake mix and eggs and mix until just combined. Grease four cup-size ramekins with the remaining butter. Dividing evenly, and pour the chocolate mixture into each. Bake until the tops of the puddings are set (12 to 14 minutes) but still ooey-gooey on the inside. Serve with double cream or vanilla ice cream.
Tip: Store the rest of the cake mix in an airtight container or re-sealable plastic bag, ready for the next batch of puddings.
Recipe courtesy of 4 Ingredients The Easiest One Pot Cookbook Ever, on sale for $24, including free postage Australia-wide at 4ingredients.com.au/products/4-ingredients-the-easiest-onepot-cookbook-ever
THE ‘WRITE STUFF’ FOR EVERLASTING MEMOIR
WHEN Your Life Your Words founder and managing director Caroline Jamieson sat down to write her parents’ eulogies a few years ago, she struggled to create the heartfelt tributes she wanted to give.
“I knew them as my parents, but there was no insight into them as individuals,” Caroline says.
She found it somewhat difficult to accurately portray who they were, where they came from and what they cherished about their lives. She wished they had left behind their own accounts, which would have allowed her to prepare more detailed eulogies.
Luxury display homes open
IMAGINE your own hinterland retreat on the Sunshine Coast, close to nature, and located in a friendly, over-50s lifestyle community with impressive resort facilities.
GemLife Palmwoods over-50s lifestyle resort has just released an exclusive selection of homes, each with unsurpassed, elevated bushland views and private suspended back decks. Two fully furnished display homes are now ready for inspection.
“Inspired by the subtropical beauty of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, each home backs on to an extensive tract of bushland offering outstanding, uninterrupted green views,” GemLife Palmwoods sales coordinator Karen Taylor says.
“The homes’ suspended back decks give the feeling of being amongst the treetops, close to nature.
“The master bedrooms are thoughtfully located at the back of the home and, with no rear neighbours apart from the birds, homeowners will experience the feeling of living in a hinterland retreat.”
There are four designs to choose from, each featuring luxury upgraded
inclusions and designer finishes.
The homes have two bedrooms plus a multipurpose room, spacious living and dining areas, as well as a gourmet kitchen with upgraded appliances and a walk-in pantry.
Priced from $1.8-$2 million, these special homes are located close to the newly opened multi-milliondollar Country Club and an elevated treetop boardwalk.
“The only way to truly appreciate these premium bush-outlook homes is to come and see them for yourself,”
Karen says.
“The feedback we’ve received from those who have inspected so far is that these homes are truly exceptional.”
GemLife resorts are designed for over-50s who want to pursue an active and social lifestyle.
At GemLife Palmwoods, homeowners enjoy a host of facilities, including a newly opened three-level, architectdesigned Country Club with impressive recreational, leisure and sporting facilities and a separate Summer House with resort-style pool.
Call 1800 718 414 or visit gemlife. com.au/gemlife-palmwoods-resort
Caroline, of Bribie Island, did not want the same thing to happen to her children and grandchildren. After more than 30 years managing and directing businesses in the executive recruitment and fine dining sectors, Caroline decided to take time off work to write her life story.
Eighteen arduous months later, she completed her memoir.
But when she read the final document, she was disappointed, telling herself: “Caroline, you are definitely not a writer”.
“Yes, my story was on the pages, but it didn’t read well. It didn’t portray what type of person I am, the values I live by and the essence of my soul,” Caroline says.
“If only I had a professional writer compose my story. If only I could have spoken about my life and let a writer do all the rest. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the general public had an opportunity to have their story written by a professional writer?’.”
This is when her idea for Your Life Your Words was born. She is now proud to have celebrated the second anniversary of the inspirational business. With her decades of experience in recruitment, Caroline is an expert at finding the best staff to fill professional positions. She uses the same method to recruit her writers.
“Our writers are not just brilliant writers, they are also very special people,” Caroline says.
“They have an innate skill for taking clients down memory lane and capturing
their life stories in an authentic and masterful way. When a client receives their finalised life story, they experience an amazing sense of accomplishment. They can’t wait to share it with someone. Clients tell us that the process we use gives them a profound sense of self-regard.”
Sunshine Coast client Craig McConaghy found the completion of his memoir rewarding. His children had urged him to record his story after his rich career spanning 50 years in Papua New Guinea. He had started as a patrol officer, or ‘kiap’, and continued in other business enterprises involving coffee growing and exporting.
“Thinking that I could do this, I got as far as two chapters and I ran out of things to say,” Craig says. “That is when I came across ... Your Life Your Words – Memories and Memoirs, which attracted my interest. I had an excellent writer, and I am entirely happy with the work. It will be passed on to my children and grandchildren to fill in the historical and family gaps that previous generations thought little about.”
The business has a bank of professional writers across Queensland. They are from varied backgrounds but are all united in their love of storytelling. Writers visit clients in the comfort of their own homes.
The number of visits depends on how many words it takes to complete the life story and how much detail the client wants. The final memoir is printed in a leather-covered book, with an option to complement this with a video recording.
WORDS: Megan Long Prices start at $2450. Call 0401 544 153 or visit yourlifeyourwords.com.au
Client Craig McConaghy with his memoir
Karen Taylor
Fundraising for vital wheelchair
Sheila Clarke (pictured) is a proud Sunshine Coast writer and art teacher who is going through some health challenges but has summoned the courage to reach out for help.
She knows she is not the only one in the same boat: too old to benefit from the National Disability Insurance Scheme but unable to meet her needs through the My Age Care package alone.
A fundraising lunch at Kawana Waters Hotel on Wednesday, August 7, at 11.30am may be her best chance of putting together the money she desperately seeks for a power wheelchair to improve her independence.
She tells Your Time her story … I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1984, aged 38. I have been hospitalised many times over the years as my condition deteriorated.
In the past decade, my health has deteriorated, resulting in peripheral neuropathy, pulmonary embolism, cervical spondylosis, osteoporosis and bilateral chronic venous insufficiency.
My current situation is that I cannot walk. When transferring, I often have falls, with the most recent resulting in a spinal fracture and several crush fractures.
The electric power chair I use has been assessed by an occupational therapist and the result is that I need a prescripted power wheelchair with an estimated cost of $34,000.
I do not qualify for NDIS due to my age of 77 years. I am on Level 4 of the My Age Care package, which has insufficient funds to meet my basic needs.
Here is a look at what my package supplies versus what I need.
Personal care is one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. I need an extra hour daily, but there are not enough funds.
INDUSTRY EXPERTS
LEGAL
Rest in peace
It’s hard to believe that it’s almost 10 years since my father passed away.
Memories and photographs help keep him close.
COSMETIC
Cosmetic tattooing gives nature a hand
Shopping: no funds for this. Continence: no funds for this (did you know that the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme only supply to levels 1 and 2, not 3 and 4, who probably need it the most?).
Scripted wheelchair: no funds.
As you can see, these are essential requirements, not luxuries.
I am very grateful for the package the government supplies and use it wisely. I am sure many other people are in the same predicament.
I constantly suffer high levels of pain, which led me to make a conscious choice to be friends with my pain and not fight it.
I choose to be positive and happy, live my life to the fullest, and be grateful for small mercies.
I am trying to fundraise the $34,000. So far, $13,500 has been raised.
If you can help with donations or fundraising, email Sheila at pjgsc49w@ gmail.com.
I am struggling to continue organising fundraising events, and my health limits my ability to do so.
I am a lucky one. Although I have a mild cognitive impairment, I can still advocate for myself. I feel for anyone who does not have the ability to do so.
It is a long road, but it can be achieved, one step at a time.
The fundraising lunch at Kawana Waters Hotel on August 7 will include a pre-lunch drink, two courses (multi-choice main meal, with vegetarian and glutenfree options, and dessert), plus tea or coffee. The Kawana Waters Hotel has sponsored the lucky door prize of a $200 venue voucher. Raffle prizes also are offered. Tickets are $30, to be paid before the event.
Contact Sheila on 0451 397 719 or email pjgsc49w@gmail.com for inquiries or further donations.
Some people want more than memories and photographs to stay connected which has prompted a growing trend in the ‘digital after-life industry’.
Through virtual reality and artificial intelligence, there are companies using data from a deceased person’s emails, voice recordings and even social media posts to enable a digital version of the deceased person to be created and ‘live on’.
This digital version of the deceased can interact with the living, through a variety of ways including robotics and the use of AI to simulate a text-based conversation.
There may be some therapeutic benefit by assisting with the grieving process. However, care must be taken to avoid any detrimental impact – particularly if memories are tarnished through errors in the AI, resulting in an unexpected interaction that does not reflect the deceased’s true character.
Will we get to the stage where we need to ask clients when preparing their Will: “Do you consent to being recreated digitally after you pass away?”. What would your answer be?
It seems to give a whole new meaning to resting in peace.
As we age, our facial structure changes. Our eyebrows thin, eyelashes start to lose colour and the ease of applying eyeliner becomes more difficult.
Eyebrows start to look sparse due to the natural decline of testosterone (in men) and estrogen (in women) that begins in the 40s. Both of these hormones affect the hair-growth cycle and the structure of the hair follicles.
Whether you have patchy and thin natural eyebrows, or want to reduce your morning makeup routine, or simply seek to enhance your natural, beautiful features, cosmetic eyebrow tattoos and eyeliner may be the solution you need.
With more than seven years of experience and knowledge in eyebrow and eyeliner tattooing, Signature Cosmetic & Beauty owner Sam Holmes believes that everyone is unique and that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to cosmetic tattooing.
The clinic offers a bespoke service where your brows are designed around your individual facial features and skin tone. Known for her natural tattoo style, Sam was one of the first on the Sunshine Coast to offer the ‘combination’ brow technique.
It is her most-popular eyebrow style and is suited to everyone.
Overseas
Flight time: about 10 hours, 40 minutes
grew up learning how to craft the long timber boards known as olos and singing to the surfing gods to bring bigger waves. What is even more extraordinary is that he lived in a time when foreign missionaries had tried to erase virtually all traditional customs from the then Kingdom of Hawai‘i – including he‘e nalu.
The eight-year-old boy with sunkissed hair and sand between his toes had just started to know the thrill of catching white water atop his father’s short board.
Each night, he’d drift off to sleep to his mother’s voice as she read him the tale of a brave surfing warrior who lived long ago in a faraway land called Hawai‘i.
The little boy treasured I Wish I’d Surfed With The Duke and dreamed of one day having his own big-wave adventures overseas.
As that beautiful Australian picture book tells its young readers, Hawaiian ali‘is or kings performed he‘e nalu to demonstrate their strength and courage.
The Duke of the title was the real-life Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola
But to the Honolulu local, the Pacific Ocean was school, church, workplace and centre of his social world.
As he grew into a man, his size 13 feet and huge hands meant he had in-built paddles and fins that not only made him an outstanding swimmer, but also assisted in a growing number of surf rescues.
At the age of 24, The Duke – by then an Olympic gold medallist on the US swimming team – was invited on a tour Down Under over the 1914-1915 Southern Hemisphere summer to showcase his pool skills to a ticketed audience. While here, he also was persuaded to show off his wave-sliding talent. The Duke’s free demonstrations at Sydney beaches ensured he left behind a lasting legacy that has evolved into the surf culture so entrenched in everyday life today – especially on the Sunshine and Gold coasts.
on January 22, 1968, at the age of 77, but visitors to O‘ahu can still feel his presence and be embraced by ‘aloha’. If only for a short time while on holidays, they can live the carefree life of The Duke and his pioneering Waikī kī Beach Boys, toast his memory overlooking the water at Duke’s Waikī kī Restaurant and Bar at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, or simply don a floral ‘aloha shirt’ and be a free spirit.
SHIRLEY SINCLAIR takes a deep dive into the story of a revered Hawaiian athlete and statesman whose prowess in the waves created a worldwide surfing movement.
Kahanamoku – a much-celebrated and dearly loved character, considered to be the father of modern surfing.
In the early 1900s, The Duke, of minor noble Hawaiian birth, reigned supreme in the ancient art of he‘e nalu: wave-sliding. His aquatic prowess made headlines more than half-a-century earlier than Eddie Aikau, Kelly Slater, Carissa Moore or Gerry Lopez became household names among the surfing fraternity.
His escapades fascinated the world decades before big-wave riders made their pilgrimage to Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline on O‘ahu's North Shore or the Pe‘ahi break (nicknamed ‘Jaws’) on Maui’s North Shore for the Northern Hemisphere’s winter swells.
Born on August 24, 1890, The Duke
His generosity and friendliness epitomised what Hawaiians call ‘the aloha spirit’: connecting our spiritual side to love through positive thoughts and deeds, small acts of kindness, and a happy outlook.
The Duke died in his beloved Honolulu
They can see The Duke’s larger-thanlife persona that is immortalised in a 275cm statue – one of the most photographed and visited tourist attractions in the Hawaiian Islands. The cast bronze statue, erected to mark the centennial of his birth in 1990, was sculpted by Californian artist and professor Jan Gordon Fisher.
The waterman is depicted standing in front of his surfboard, surrounded by honorary Hawaiian spears, inviting all-comers to ride his waves. The statue, on Kū hiō Beach next to the Waikī kī Police Station and fronting the busy surfside Kalakaua Avenue, is festooned daily with fresh leis as a lasting memorial to the gift he gave the world.
Hundreds of locals and tourists honour that gift and The Duke’s memory by joining the many line-ups on any given day across Waikī kī Bay.
From the bedroom and balcony of our
One perfect day. Image: Shirley Sinclair
The Duke's statue. Image: Shirley Sinclair
Olympians Johnny Weissmuller (left) and Duke Kahanamoku are seen at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. Image: AAP.
Isabella Nichols at Pipeline. Image: Supplied by World Surf League/Tony Heff
Oceanview Junior Suite at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel on a recent trip, we had a bird’s-eye view of beginners through to seasoned locals at the variety of take-off spots.
The parade of surf-riding, stretching from Kū hiō Beach to the point of Duke Kahanamoku Beach and Lagoon fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, entertained us for hours when we weren’t in the water ourselves.
All over Hawai‘i, the bright and breezy surf culture is everywhere, and you can’t help but be swept away in its ebb and flow.
It’s in the framed photographs on bedroom walls at the aptly named The Twin Fin Hotel. It’s in the fences using old and broken boards as ‘pickets’ on locals’ homes and businesses.
It’s in the big-brand surf labels on boardshorts and T-shirts worn by surfers and non-surfers alike. It’s in the feelgood vibe of every ukelele or slide guitar tune blasting out of the rental car radio. And it’s in the storage racks for locally-owned and rented boards on the side of five-star hotels.
‘Perfect’, glassy conditions drew out locals as well as global visitors for a paddle one particularly majestic Sunday afternoon until the final rays of sunlight left a palette of gold and lavender across the sky – vibrant colours that would put the prettiest muumuu or beach towel to shame.
Such enticing conditions are the norm just about all-year round in Hawai‘i, where
the average water temperature in Waikī kī is 25.5° Celsius and a mild climate reigns (really only two seasons: summer from May to October and winter from November to April).
Board hire is easy, too. Waikī kī ’s Ohana Surf Project (ohanasurfproject.com), for example, rents surfboards in great condition from $20 for one to three hours and can arrange drop-off and pick-up for an extra cost from your hotel. Private and group-instruction lessons also are offered.
Surf shops and rental kiosks are dotted along the beach strip. So, everyone has the opportunity to feel the exhilaration of water beneath feet, the breeze in saltencased hair, the sun warming the body and the thrill of a smooth ride down a wave that’s just perfect for them.
That special kind of thrill is all thanks to the master Hawaiian watermen who came before us – watermen like The Duke.
* The children’s book I Wish I’d Surfed With The Duke was written by Leonie Young and Lisa Thompson, illustrated by Michael Pitt, and first published in Australia in 1999.
* The writer was a guest of Hawaiian Airlines but paid for all other expenses.
GETTING there
Hawaiian Airlines flies from Sydney to Honolulu five times a week. Flights depart at 9.40pm, so Aussies land in Honolulu about 11.25am (the same day).
Its Airbus A330 aircraft has 278-seats, including 192 Main Cabin, 68 Extra Comfort and 18 lie-flat Business Class seats.
Hawaiian Airlines baggage allowance in Economy and Extra Comfort is 1 x 23kg free checked bag plus an 11kg cabin allowance. In Business Class, it's 2 x 32kg free checked bags plus an 11kg cabin allowance.
The airline offers more than 170 domestic flights a day within the Hawaiian Islands.
Via Honolulu, the airline offers convenient flight connections to 15 US gateway cities, making a stopover in Hawai’i an attractive option when flying between from Australia and the US mainland (hawaiianairlines.com.au/ destinations/north-america).
THE GHAN: A LEGENDARY RAIL JOURNEY IN OUR BACKYARD
SIT back and let the heart of the outback unfold before your eyes on a journey from Australia’s southern to northern shores, or vice versa.
As you gaze upon rugged ranges and vast, arid landscapes, you'll witness a panorama like no other.
This is not just a trip: it's an invitation to immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of Australia’s interior.
Regarded as one of the world’s greatest train journeys, The Ghan delivers so much more than an extended train ride. It promises access to parts of Australia no other holiday can come close to – an ideal balance of comfort and adventure, culminating in an experience that will move you in every sense of the word.
Drift through sun-scorched plains and past ancient rock formations while enjoying the plush comforts of your cabin.
This year, The Ghan marked 95 years of outback crossings.
Much has changed since 1929, and today The Ghan offers more than just transit between Adelaide and Darwin.
There’s nothing like putting down your suitcase and allowing your journey to simply unfold.
Once you step aboard the train, you can relax, knowing everything has been considered and included in your fare.
Onboard, you will find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive
service and the camaraderie of fellow travellers. And when the train stops, the adventures begin.
Choose from a range of included Off Train Experiences to create a rewarding personal journey through Australia’s outback and beyond.
The hardest decision you’ll need to make is what to have for lunch and which experience to join.
Every moment of your holiday with The Ghan is crafted to be unforgettable, blending the rich history of Australian rail travel with modern luxury and a spirit of exploration.
From the vistas of the Red Centre to the lush beauty of tropical Darwin, your trip will be filled with unique encounters and captivating sights.
This is your chance to explore Australia in a way that combines luxury with adventure, creating memories right here at home without leaving the country.
Travel on The Ghan or book The Ghan Expedition – an extended journey – as the foundation for your next adventure. Your rail journey can also be enhanced with a choice of tailored holiday packages.
Contact your local Travellers Choice agent before September 21 to take advantage of The Ghan Outback Sale, with special offers for The Ghan 2025 train journeys.
Visit travellerschoice.com.au
Stay free in Adelaide, savouring delicious food gems and touring the Barossa Valley, before hopping aboard The Ghan for a journey through the Red Centre to Darwin.
Explore Australia by train from Adelaide, passing though historic Alice Springs and the gorges of Katherine. Then, enjoy a free stay in Darwin, including a sunset cruise.
Combine two national parks with a legendary rail journey and connect with nature, wildlife and incredible landscapes as you traverse from Adelaide to Darwin through the outback.
Adelaide • Alice Springs
Kakadu National Park
Katherine
Darwin
Red Centre Spectacular
Immerse yourself in the Northern Territory’s natural wonders and settle into The Ghan’s gentle rhythm as you travel across the country from Adelaide to Darwin.
Adelaide • Alice Springs
Kings Canyon
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Watarrka National Park
Katherine
Darwin
With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn
1. In cricket, what is the BBL?
2. True or false: high tides only occur during daylight hours.
3. Which part of the United Kingdom does not share a land border with any other part of that country?
4. In what suburb of the Gold Coast is the tall building Q1?
5. What chemical has the symbol S?
6. What is 1000 minus 20 per cent?
7. In what country did Emmental cheese originate?
8. What is the formal name for the lower house in the Australian Parliament?
9. What is the singular of indices?
10. What Spanish name is pronounced ‘hor hay’?
11. What is normally done with a praline?
12. What company markets the iPhone?
13. In Cockney rhyming slang, what is a ‘fireman’s hose’?
14. How many months of our calendar end in the letter H?
15. What is the South African currency unit equivalent to a dollar?
16. Who was defeated as premier of Queensland in 2015?
17. In what field of endeavour has Nigella Lawson gained fame?
18. According to the saying, who is the enemy of my enemy?
19. Who was the actor said to have fired the fatal shot while filming Rust?
20. What legal devices do sprinters often use at the start of a race?
16. Campbell Newman. 17. Food writer and TV chef. 18. My friend. 19. Alec Baldwin. 20. Starting blocks.
House of Representatives. 9. Index. 10. Jorge. 11. Eat it (confection). 12. Apple. 13. Nose. 14. One (March).
Big Bash League. 2. False. 3. Northern Ireland. 4. Surfers Paradise. 5. Sulphur. 6. 800. 7. Switzerland.
soba, sorb
1.
8.
15. Rand.
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
Across
1 Group of soldiers distracted cadet then sent around minutes(10)
6 Like parking close to cinemas showing Dangerous Creatures (4)
9 Open vault(5)
10 by weapon(9)
12 Use fellow in the making of divine bug(8)
13 Plain cakes and small ice creams(6) 15 with seeds primarily(5)
16 They seize person in possession of marijuana(8)
18 Hard cut played somehow clear of pad(8)
20 Shot ultimately landing next to a pin?(3-2)
23 Rough photocopy not too distorted(6)
24 Caller should hear this voice in the middle of feast(4,4)
26 One prepared brain in clear alcohol(9)
27 Eggs are reportedly extracted from small shrimp(5)
28 Last piece of stitching has mended deep wound(4)
29 Copies altered parts of procedures(10)
1 Cards and more cards one used on board(8)
2 Hunters suffering badly with diarrhoea(3,4)
3 Coach strokes miniature according to a cleaner(6-7)
4 Mark is dealing incorrectly out of order(10)
5 Is aware of pronounced negative responses(4)
7 He was known for his oral mistakes working in translation of prose(7)
8 Tragic is maiden’s love of cruelty(6)
11 Runner-up and misguided idealist is given more money?(13)
14 Bottomless gorge crossed by sharp, caring person?(10)
17 Understand son setting
19 Employees of developer the coop(7)
21 Unimaginative professionals upset American agents(7)
22 Part of Australia elected head of government in a provisional role(6)
