Your Time Magazine Sunshine Coast September 2023

Display Villa Opening

Sunset Palms Retirement Living

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Inspect the NEW Display Villas

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Tour resort-style community facilities

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WHEN

Saturday, 9 September 10am - 12pm

WHERE

Sunset Palms Retirement Living - 58 Harmony Blvd, Palmview (located within Harmony Estate)

PARKING

Street parking and limited on-site parking available

SATURDAY

9 September

Scan the code, call 13 28 36 or search ‘Sunset Palms Retirement Living’

RSVP is essential. Health and safety practices apply.

Iin life. Some call it lucky, others say I’m reaping the rewards of past decisions and careful planning, but as we all know, even the best laid plans can go astray.

A couple of years ago I bought an old campervan and joined the ranks of solo women travellers. Even though I seldom take it out these days, my van has become a symbol of freedom.

Earlier this year I decided to sell her because I wasn’t taking her out much and it seemed silly to leave a car sitting idle. I took photos to list her for sale, but then realised that the joy of seeing her parked there ready to go was worth much more than dollars in the bank.

And this is where I’m blessed. I had

choices. Many don’t. For many of us, thankfully, it’s hard to imagine that one day we might find ourselves in a position where our car becomes our only sanctuary.

Carrol Baker this month talks to some of the women over 55 who are confronting homelessness through no fault of their own.

And she finds that, statistically, it is women who, for various reasons, find themselves in this predicament.

Through divorce, widowhood or plain unfortunate circumstance, they have to face the fact that they are growing older in dire situations.

They no longer have choices, and their active and busy life has been reduced to the point where in the years when life should be comfortable, they are taking a fall.

None of us can see it coming, yet it could be any one of us. As my dear old mum used to say, “there but for the grace of God go I.”

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It’s a sobering thought that while some of us are sailing into a glorious retirement, others, even after a productive life, have to face the fear of how they are going to survive.

Dorothy Whittington Editor

ce the fear of vive.

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Living on the edge

higher than the national average.

With skyrocketing rents, the gender gap in superannuation, and reduced earning capacity, many older women are falling through the cracks in a system that is undeniably broken.

Without a nest egg, a partner, and a home they own, many women are finding themselves on the perilous slippery slope of housing distress or worse still, sleeping rough.

Ann, 62, has endured periods of living without a home. “All it can take is the deterioration of your physical and emotional health. When you’re less well, you’re less able to work – it’s a vicious cycle,” she says.

She trained as an environmental scientist, had to drop out of her PhD due to ill health, then became a single parent at 35 with a high-needs autistic child.

“When living without a home, I felt very vulnerable as a woman. I’d couch surf with friends, sometimes I’d sleep in a car or tent, and use public showers and toilets,” she says.

Ann met a partner and eventually they shared a home, then she caught him sexually abusing her son. Both Ann and her son fled. They suffered PTSD as a result of that trauma.

The times she lived in her car were often treacherous.

Sandra, 63, lay shivering in the back seat of her car, her bed for the night. It was a chilly 6 degrees outside.

She was parked outside a random home in the ’burbs. A dog barked in the distance, a couple argued and doors slammed.

As she burrowed down under the covers, she wondered for the umpteenth time, how this had become her life.

Sandra might feel it, but she is not alone. Many women over 55, are finding themselves couch surfing with friends, pitching tents or sleeping in their cars.

According to 2021 ABS figures, older females had a homelessness rate of 19 people per 10,000 in 2021, but those who work in the sector would argue that the numbers are skewed, and the real figures are much higher as many women who are homeless, won’t

acknowledge it for fear of shame or ridicule.

When you crunch the numbers, it’s little wonder older women are struggling to put a roof over their head.

Queensland has the highest proportion of its population who are over 55 and renting.

A report by the Queensland Government Statistician’s office shows the sunshine state’s inflation rate is

“I’ve had tricky situations with men. Often, I’ve had to quickly pack up a camp and drive, other times I’ve had to lock myself in my car.”

At 53, Ann finally found what she thought was a “rent for life” arrangement with her mum and partner. In return for affordable rent, she’d offer elder care.

While recovering from a horrific hit and run accident that put her flat on her back and enduring multiple surgeries for years, the house was sold and she was given her marching orders. Ann

For various reasons seldom of their own making, women over 55 are finding themselves growing old without the security of a place to call home. CARROL BAKER investigates homelessness and what has led women in particular to the slippery slope.

was desperate. She had nowhere to go. For many older women it’s becoming an all too familiar scenario.

When illness forced her to stop work, Linda’s marriage didn’t survive the financial strain. As arguments ensued, Linda, 66, was pushed to breaking point. She crammed some possessions into her car and left.

“My ex-husband had been triggered by a number of things; I thought I just have to get away from him,” she says. She moved house countless times, staying with friends, and then her son for a little while.

“I didn’t feel it was right or fair to stay with him as he was in a new relationship,” she says.

Linda didn’t have to sleep in her car, a fact that she puts down to “sheer luck”.

“There were a couple of places I had to leave at very short notice because I felt unsafe,” she says.

“My mental health suffered. I felt like humpy dumpty shattered into a million pieces. I felt broken and I didn’t know when or if I’d ever recover.”

Many women who are living without a home don’t consider themselves homeless. Linda says, it was a reality she didn’t want to own because of what it meant.

“I just thought this is the lowest point in my life ever,” she says. “An awful lot of women feel the same way, because there is so much prejudice and shame attached to that word.”

Linda knocked on doors looking for help, only to have them slammed in her face.

She was turned away from a housing service centre because her situation wasn’t deemed “dire enough”.

“I wasn’t escaping domestic violence and I didn’t have dependent children,” she says.

Things changed for Linda when she

got secure tenancy through the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

“I remember thinking, oh my god, I have a home. There was the sense of letting go of the immense stress I’d been under,” she says.

But it’s likely to be a sense of relief that is short lived.

“The scheme is coming to an end and not being replaced,” she says.

It’s the dire feeling of hopelessness that leaves homeless women feeling frightened and alone.

Jane, 59, is currently in housing distress, living in a converted garage in a home that’s being sold.

“That’s been my journey for a few years. Every day, it’s the first think I think of and the last thing I think of,” she says.

She left an abusive relationship a decade ago, and found herself struggling financially and emotionally.

“My partner was a narcissist. I

watched my bank balance disappear. I was also isolated from family and friends because of that abusive style of relationship,” she says.

Jane was in deep personal distress, having to ask friends and acquaintances for somewhere to sleep.

“At times it was so demoralising, and devastating emotionally,” she says.

“I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. I thought I was a good person. I thought I was doing all the right things.”

Jane also struggled with the social stigma and the judgement of housing distress.

“Within friendship groups, it’s almost as if you are a threat to the status quo of the group because you’re different,” she explains. “It’s like there’s a feeling that you might be a contagion –if it can happen to you, then it can happen to me.”

There are initiatives that are rolling out in an effort to halt what seems like an impending tsunami of homeless older

women. But it hasn’t been an easy road, and is one often fraught with mountains of red tape.

One such initiative, for those with the financial means, is Sharing with Friends.

It’s a co-housing solution where women choose their own group of five, and buy into a home by paying $120,000 each. Jane will be one of the first five.

It looks like a regular house from the street. There are private spaces, their own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, as well as shared spaces.

Susan Davies, founding member of the management committee, describes it as a “disruptor” in terms of design, and shared equity arrangement.

“It allows women to live with dignity. We know as soon as the first one is delivered and the women are living happily, that it will be a game changer.”

Susan says their vision is for 100 to be rolled out around Queensland.

There are housing and support hubs, like Housing Older Women Support Services (HOWSS) funded by the Department of Housing that women can reach out to.

And the Housing Outcomes for Older Women Initiatives is in place, but there is still a long way to go.

Ann now works as an advocate helping other women who have endured homelessness or housing distress. She recounts a poignant conversation she shared recently with a young woman.

“It’s only going to take one slip and I’m in your place,” the young single mum told Ann.

It’s a message that Ann wants all Australians to hear.

“Yes, we are older women, but unless more is done, it’s the younger women coming up behind us, who will also be impacted by this,” she says.

Too many women over 55 have found themselves living out of their car.

Bouncing into a new era of life, retiree GARRY REYNOLDS shares his thoughts on the world around us.

QUIRKY NAMES RULE

I’M INTRIGUED how quirky brand names dominate our daily life and language.

Few people say, “I’ll look that up on the internet” but rather, they say “I’ll Google it.”

Google started life as a spelling mistake. At one point, it was even going to be called Backrub.

The world’s highest rating brand –Apple – also had a quirky origin.

Joint company founder Steve Wozniak, wanted to call it Matrix Electronics, but Steve Jobs had adopted a fruitarian diet believing it would eliminate body odour and the need to bathe. His preferred fruit was the apple so he pushed for the name, even with a bite out of the logo.

Coca Cola arose from an Atlanta-based pharmacist who was wounded during the Civil War and became addicted to

morphine. He tried to break the habit by consuming a cocktail of cocaine and wine.

When prohibition came to Georgia, he replaced the wine with sugar syrup and called it Coca Cola, and the cocaine remained for another two decades until 1903, when social fears of violence forced the company to reformulate.

Another company that tried changing tack was Richard Branson’s Virgin Airlines which opened Virgin bridal wear shops. He pulled the plug on Virgin Brides when, he says, “We realised there weren’t any!”

A more successful foray was by Michelin tyres which created the first Michelin guide in 1900 to entice people to travel more and consume their rubber. After the guide allocated star ratings to restaurants along the routes, it became the benchmark for the hospitality industry.

Jeff Bezos, founder of the world’s largest e-commerce site, wanted his company to start with “A” to be the first on the list and grow as big as the Amazon River.

A surprise for many people, is that the big “M” in McDonald’s does not come from the name, but from the golden arches the original store’s owner who placed on either side so that people could recognise McDonald’s outlets from a distance.

Who knew Nike’s swoosh is not a tick but inherited from the original company – Blue Ribbon Sports – whose logo was Nike the winged Greek goddess of victory.

THE Bank of Mum and Dad (BOMD) is the fifth biggest bank for home loans.

With rising costs of living, children are increasingly turning to their parents to help them climb the property ladder. About two in five young Australians rely on their parents for a financial leg up.

In March last year, it was reported that parents are stumping up around $90,000 per adult child towards a home loan deposit. Many are driven by the desire to help their kids now rather than have them wait for the will.

However, there are pitfalls in casual family arrangements made during floods of emotional goodwill.

While BOMD arrangements can work

WILL WINNERS BE GRINNERS?

WHEN it was announced that a humble dad in Sydney’s Bankstown won a $100 million Powerball prize it must have set many of our minds wondering what we would do if we were in his shoes.

“I will continue to work. But I need to process this a bit more. Maybe I won’t in the future,” he mused.

His shocked wife added that they would buy a new home and set themselves up for life.

While friends and family wished the happy couple well, they were aware that overseas, big prizes have been a poison

well, ground rules need to be established as things can quickly go sour where there are multiple personalities and changing relationships.

Financial experts advise that it is important for well-meaning parents to understand how to legally mitigate against disastrous losses or acrimony should the unplanned occur.

Family divisions can also be generated by the pattern of lending, with sons more likely than daughters to receive financial support from parents.

Even when they receive a loan, daughters only get two-thirds of their brothers’ which seems to reflect a traditional pattern for inheritances.

chalice for some winners who eventually proved losers in life.

Many faced a deluge of requests for handouts which led to family conflicts and messy divorces.

Others got tempted into the dark worlds of drug addiction, gambling, and alcoholism.

Several were duped into unwise business investments or even had their lives threatened in ransom demands. A few kind-hearted souls who became philanthropists went bankrupt ending up relying on charity themselves.

EUNICE PROVES SHE’S A CUT ABOVE

AFTER six decades of service, hairdresser Eunice Krome has officially opened her own dedicated space, Cut Above Salon, at Sundale’s James Grimes Care Centre in Nambour.

Eunice was a teenager when she started doing the hair of Sundale residents in 1963. She was an apprentice hairdresser at Dorothy’s Beauty Salon at Wilson’s Arcade in Nambour,. She didn’t have a driver’s licence, so J.D. Grimes, who was Sundale board president from 1960 to 1978, would collect her from Dorothy’s salon and drive her to Sundale.

Sixty years and more than 40,000 haircuts later, Eunice is still cutting residents’ hair – and has no intention of giving it up.

During the 1970s, Eunice regularly pushed a hairdressing trolley from room to room calling on her clients, often with her two young children, David and Kylie, in tow. The trio quickly became an integral and much-loved part of the Sundale community.

“My kids grew-up at Sundale,” Eunice says. “They had ‘grandparents’ in nearly every room.” She says chatting with residents has always been her favourite part of the job. Recent refurbishment of the care centre allowed space for Eunice to open her salon.

TO THE EDITOR ...

I HAVE just returned from a bout of op-shopping while my car was in for a service, and coincidentally picked up the latest Your Time magazine.

I’ve been a volunteer and a regular customer of op shopping, and yes I agree that some of the stuff is more expensive these days, no doubt because of Covid, but for me op shopping is still worthwhile.

My “present box” is overflowing with goodies which will be wrapped and given to someone for an important occasion, with love from me.

Peta Douglas

LOVED your article (YT, Aug) that mentioned the Salvos store at Red Hill and focused on the many re-purposed fashion items and household goods they turn over each year.

Since 2019, it has also been recycling bikes, with a dedicated workshop in two donated shipping containers kitted out with all things mechanical, in its car park.

Donated bicycles of all kinds are restored and given a new lease of life.

The Red Hill store is the only one of its kind in Australia, with a mechanic-staffed workshop specifically established.

Christine Cuthbert-Steele

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by Mocco Wollert

demand we knew was not right? Have you been careless in offering advice that was harmful?

There are regrets I think we all have – not to have stopped to smell the roses, give a helping hand to a friend when needed, stopped that vicious rumour, or defend someone who was helpless and weak.

Regret can be a healthy and good emotion if it stops us from making the same mistake again.

It is not if we let the feeling of regret permeate everything we do.

At some stage, we should try and let it go. It relates to something mostly in the past and if we hang on to it we might end up in unnecessary depression or sadness. What’s done is done.

be made to a life of another two. I made them. As a mother I failed a fair bit. I wish I would have given my daughters more understanding, more time when they needed me. But my two girls turned out ok and we are very close.

As a businesswoman I had failures but also successes , nothing to regret there. Writing was and is, my passion. By now I have I had enough successes to feel proud and satisfied even though I did not write that bestseller.

In the end, looking at the big picture, I know that I have value as a member of my growing family, as a friend to the people I know, in fact, I think that I am a valuable member of the human race.

by Cheryl Lockwood

IF WE could only let go of our regrets.

Frank Sinatra sang “ regrets , I’ve had a few” and we all sang along with him. Of course we did, because we all have had a few regrets ourselves. But are they too few to mention as Frank went on?

How many of us wish we had acted differently or spoken more kindly; offered a helping hand or said no to a

Sometimes we regret something so deeply that we can never let go of it, a burden we carry all our lives. If we can’t change what happened in the past, maybe one way to deal with it is to put that regret mentally into a box under the bed, until we have forgotten that the box is there.

One of my regrets is that I did not value myself, was down on me. Nothing special about me: young wife and mother, businesswoman, writer, in other words just another member of the human race with a normal life.

As a young wife, adjustment had to

Oh yes, dare I mention that I regretted never entering a beauty contest?

I was a model once, in a fashion parade in Darwin in 1960. Maybe I could have been Miss Darwin that year, especially as there were hardly any other contestants. There was also a ratio of 19 men to 1 woman in that little town, surely someone would have voted for me.

Ah well…

May you let your regrets go once and forever.

Email mocco.wollert@bigpond.com

THE art of haggling – are we born with it or can it be taught?

A few months back, I set off to the store to purchase a new refrigerator. Hubby’s advice was, “don’t forget to haggle. There’s always some wiggle room on their prices.”

He’s probably right but beating someone down on an advertised price does not come easily to me. The few times I’ve been brave enough to try have been largely unsuccessful.

Some people have the knack of always getting the best deal or selling something for a profit. If it’s genetic. My brother scored that gene and my share too.

My son doesn’t have to haggle as people give him discounts without him asking. This makes me believe that some people are just

born lucky. We all know one, that lucky soul who always wins raffles and lucky door prizes; the same person who drives straight into freshly vacated carparking spaces rather than doing six laps of the carpark. Partway through the seventh lap, I give up and go home.

Is there some kind of feel-good endorphin released when a born haggler achieves their goal? Is it all about winning? If there is a winner, there has to be a loser somewhere along the line.

Once I was in Peru and purchased gloves at a market for six sol, when the asking price was seven. My bargain was purely accidental as I had mixed up the Spanish to English translation of numbers.

Later, when I realised my error, I felt nothing but remorse at having ripped off the poor stall holder. Every winter, when I don my llama-patterned gloves, the guilt overshadows their fuzzy warmth.

With hubby’s words in mind, I strode into the store trying hard to look like a confident haggler. We had chosen a model on an earlier fridge-hunting expedition, so all I needed was a shop assistant.

In a short time, I would be walking out of that place with the bargain of the century. No, not walking – strutting – past less fortunate shoppers, who would gaze in awe at my bargaining skills. My haggle probably broke a record in its brevity.

“No, this fridge is already heavily discounted. We can’t possibly take

anything off of the price, our profit is virtually nothing on this one.”

There was nothing on the price tag to indicate this. Well, I puffed out my chest and glared, then rather meekly, said, “Ok then.” Hopes of strutting out were replaced by an awkward, hurried exit.

Naturally, hubby was a little surprised when I answered his inevitable query.

“How did you go? Did they knock a bit off the price?”

“Nope, I paid more.” It turned out that the delivery price quoted last week was incorrect and it was actually a little dearer.

I dared not argue over the minor difference in case the price increased further. I think shop assistants spot us pretend hagglers a mile off.

As I ordered new glasses on the same day, he dared to ask, “And your glasses?”

“Oh, don’t worry, I haggled there,” I said, “that cost me an extra $3.”

I’m not even sure how that happened, considering I thoroughly interrogated the woman over exactly which frames were included in the advertised special price. It was less than a cup of coffee, so I let it pass.

If haggling can be taught, I doubt any class would help me. I may not be the queen of bargains, but I like to think that I’m very fortunate in other ways.

Life is full of ups and downs. Some call it swings and roundabouts, which just make me dizzy, much like haggling.

Visit lockwoodfreelance.com

When life in Buderim wasn’t easy

Now more than 140 years old, Pioneer Cottage is a museum and attraction. BILL LAVARACK looks back to when the Burnett family built their home.

In 1870, Charles Ballinger selected portion 64 on recently-surveyed Buderim. His son Thomas John had portion 57 which stretched from what we now know as Ballinger Rd to Crosby Hill Rd, and built a house named Clifton Cottage near the site of the present tavern.

John Kerle Burnett, J.K., arrived in 1876 and was soon joined by his wife Ann and four children (the family later grew to eight children). He began work at the Dixon and Fielding sugar mill on Mill Rd and they rented a house built by Tom Ridley near the corner of Box St.

In November 1878, Burnett and Ann purchased 8ha of land for £15. He planted sugar cane like everyone else, and in 1882, with the help of local builder Harry Board, built a house on his block. But that simple statement does not tell the story.

Most of the block would have been tall forest probably with only a few acres cleared. There were fewer than 20 houses on Buderim, with only three or four in what is now the town centre.

Roads were rough at best and the only way to travel, or receive goods such as furniture or bulk supplies, was through the port of Mooloolah Heads, now Moooloolaba. The road to Brisbane was

virtually impassable to wheeled vehicles. There was no railway until 1891, and no shops so the community was largely self-sufficient.

Fortunately, a provisional school had recently opened.

Firstly, J.K. could not just go to the sawmill and buy pre-cut timber. Most of it was still growing tall on the block or nearby. The walls, ceiling and floor were constructed from white beech, felled and pit-sawn into planks on the block.

Red cedar was relatively abundant on Buderim and was used for doors and

joinery such as window frames. Hardwoods such as tallowwood and flooded gum were used for bearers and the shingles for the roof were also tallowwood.

The house was built to a simple design popular at the time.

Pioneer Cottage, as we see it today, looks much as it did in 1882. It was set on low stumps less than a metre from the ground. There was a central corridor with two rooms on either side and it was surrounded by a wide, open veranda on all four sides.

At a later date, part of the veranda was

enclosed and, as the family grew, two attic bedrooms were added with a steep staircase leading up from the central corridor. They must have been very hot in summer.

One family legend is that once they were as tall as the veranda railing, the children were permitted to avoid the summer heat by sleeping on the veranda.

Originally the four main rooms were a parlour and main bedroom off the corridor at the front, and a dining room and bedroom divided into two parts at the rear.

A large brick oven used for baking bread was placed a short distance from the house and a detached kitchen added. Having the kitchen with its wood-fuelled stove separate to the house was an important safeguard against fire.

It was more than just a kitchen, as it included a family room where most meals were taken, a large pantry and a maid’s room. The dining room was used for dinner on Sundays and special occasions.

Local clay was used to make bricks for the fireplace in the dining room, detached kitchen and front steps.

There was no bathroom. Family members took their weekly bath in a tin tub in the kitchen. Father was first –

The Burnett’s Buderim cottage painted by Fred Mead as he remembered it in 1910.

John Kerle “JK” Burnett arrived in 1876.

imagine being at the end of the pecking order! Water was fetched from a well at the rear of the house and warmed on the wood stove.

Other bathroom facilities consisted of a jug and basin in the bedroom. The toilet was a small sentry box down the yard over the top of a deep hole, complete with spiders and supplemented by a potty under the bed.

Nearby were stables, a large barn, buggy shed and blacksmith shed. These were to the west of the house and are now long gone. In the early 1900s, the shingle roof was replaced by corrugated iron.

The two rear corners of the veranda were enclosed, and later part of the veranda between the corners.

One corner today is the kitchen, the

other the bathroom. It seems likely these corners were originally enclosed to make bedrooms as the family grew, possibly in the 1890s, and put to their present use after the detached kitchen building was demolished in the 1930s.

In 1890, Buderim had a population of less than 250. One report gives the numbers for 1889 as 25 families and 50 school children. There was no power, reticulated water or sewerage.

There were no automobiles before about 1916 and no store until J.K. Burnett opened his general store in 1887.

Today, sitting in our comfortable living rooms in front of the TV with the bathroom nearby, it is hard to comprehend the lives of the pioneers such as John and Ann Burnett.

SEPTEMBER IS

MUSEUM

MYSTERY MADNESS MONTH

VISIT Buderim Pioneer Cottage during September, and you will have the opportunity to win a prize.

Sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council Heritage, visitors are invited to complete a quiz – the answers are hidden in the somewhere in the cottage. It’s a fun challenge and a great place to take the grandkids during the school holidays.

5 Pioneer Cresc, Buderim, Monday to Saturday, 11am-3pm

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Presented by Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Daevyd Rodda and Physiotherapist Simon Hearn, this seminar is a must for anyone suffering in pain with hip and knee osteoarthritis. Numbers are strictly limited so scan the QR code now to RSVP for your FREE ticket today.

Phone: 07 5493 8038 scorthogroup.com.au

Dr Daevyd Rodda Orthopaedic Surgeon

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RESEARCHERS LOOK FOR CONVICTS IN THE FAMILY

UK records and were reminded to also look at whether our ancestors were on the other side of the law as police offices, witnesses to crime or jury members.

A short film from the Maitland family history group showed a unique way of telling the stories and experiences of several of their own female convicts and of their Convict Bonnet Project as a way to commemorate the founding mothers of the Hunter Valley region.

Guest speaker at the next meeting is Moya Sharp with the topic Ripping Yarns and Tragic Tales of the Western Australian Goldfields

ART

MEMBERS of the Tinbeerwah Art group are preparing for their annual art show which supports Katie Rose Cottage Hospice at Doonan.

Meet the artists and find an original treasure among the many and varied works on show.

Proceeds from entry, a raffle and a percentage of sales will be donated to the hospice where T.A.G. founder Gwen Blair spent her final days.

Tinbeerwah Hall, cnr Sunrise and Cooroy- Noosa Rds, Tinbeerwah. Friday, September 15, 11.30am-5pm, gala opening 5.30pm; Saturday 16,

9am-4pm, Sunday 17, 9.30am-3pm. Call Jan Cooke 0412 769 351. Gold coin entry

IN CELEBRATING National Family History Month, Caloundra Family History Research group held a one-day seminar on how to research your convict ancestor.

From 1788-1868, the British Government transported more than 160,000 convicts from Britain and Ireland to Australia.

Four guest speakers provided a better understanding of what convict ancestors experienced from arrest, imprisonment, and transportation to new lives in Australia.

CFHR members learnt how to better research the amazing amount of information available in Australian and

After moving to Kalgoorlie in the late 1980s, Moya discovered the rich local history through her husband, a third generation Kalgoorlie man.

She now manages three websites dedicated to the rich history of this area.

Coming up on October 21 and 22, are Bulcock Street and Bulcock Beach Walks at 9.30am and 2pm and on October 27 and 28, a beginners family history research course for seniors.

The next meeting is September 21, 1.30pm at the CFHR rooms, Corbould Park, via Gate 2, Pierce Ave, Caloundra. All welcome in person or via Zoom. Non-members can register by emailing hello@caloundrafamilyhistory.org.au

Visit caloundrafamilyhistory.org.au

VISIT PARADISE AT ORCHID GROVE

THE award-winning Buderim garden, Orchid Grove, is opening for visitors to see hundreds of flowering orchids among waterfalls, ponds, aviaries and winding pathways over a 1000sq m block.

This year, the Southern Cross windmill from the Super Bee has been added to the antique ploughs, farm equipment, and rustic shed on display.

Discover the tranquillity of this natural garden where every metre is filled with colour, unique creations, and amazing beauty.

Orchids abound on trees, rocks, hanging and nestled amid antique garden items. There will also be a bargain desk of

BUILDING GLOBAL FRIENDSHIP

SUNSHINE Coast Friendship Force will next month host guests from Saitama, Japan for an interesting week of cultural exchange.

The club recently enjoyed hosting 12 ambassadors from the Mt Barker club in South Australia and showing them around the Sunshine Coast region.

To learn more about Friendship Force email info@ ffsunshinecoast.org.au or call Jenny 0448 866 141.

collectables, a photo display of garden history, native bees, bush house and herb garden.

Plants, including flowering orchids and bromeliads, will be for sale and light refreshments will be available at Angel’s Café.

Proceeds b enefit the Vietnam children’s charitable programs of Heart Reach Australia, now in its 33rd year.

17 Barkston Ct. Buderim

September 23-24, 9.30am-4.30pm

Entry $7 includes three lucky draw chances. Contact Chris 0418 246 888 for group bookings.

Visit heartreachaustralia.com

LEARN BRIDGE IN NOOSAPROBUS MEMBERS FEAST ON ANNUAL BREAKFAST

NOOSA Bridge Club is holding its next course of bridge lessons from September 5, in their clubrooms at 3 Wallace Street Noosaville.

The beginner’s course covers the basic concepts and includes sessions of supervised play where the teacher will be available to help.

Noosa Bridge Club is a friendly, dynamic club with lots of events and regular sessions including a Saturday session for weekday workers. Many members are in their 80s and other in their 90s still play regularly and enjoy their bridge.

Once the basic skills have been mastered, competitions are available for players of the same ability to compete in a comfortable environment.

Courses of eight weekly lessons are conducted twice a year. Cost is $80 and includes a copy of Paul Marston’s Introduction to Bridge

To register call 5447 1341, email info@ noosabridge.com or visit noosabridge.com

CLEAR skies welcomed 70 members of the Probus Club of Nambour 90 and affiliates to the popular annual breakfast at Muller Park, Bli Bli.

Chefs and helpers started at 6am, erecting a marquee and lighting up the barbecues. Fellowship and goodwill prevailed as Probus members lined up to fill their plates.

By prior arrangement and to complete the day, two coffee vans arrived with the morning cuppa to round off the hearty breakfast.

Vice president Mike Wilson thanked workers for their efforts, and Elaine and Kay for organising another great event.

The club meets at the Palmwoods Bowls Club on the fourth Monday of each month with interesting guest speakers.

Members also enjoy outings to places of Interest and a dining group visits a different restaurant each month.

To join them, call Bill 5441 1364.

YOU WOODEN WANT TO MISS IT

CALOUNDRA Woodwoorking Club’s popular annual open day will again have the work of its talented fine woodworkers on display.

This includes jewellery boxes, musical instruments, clocks, bowls, tables, carvings, and pyrography.

A raffle will be held progressively throughout the day with dozens of prizes donated by members. Winners do not need to be present for the draws.

There will be an opportunity to purchase special Christmas gifts at bargain prices.

Various demonstrations of different techniques will be held during the day.

Members will be on hand to talk about

OLDER WOMEN’S NETWORK

the joy the club offers to both women and men. There is plenty of free parking available. Further information at 0432 453 263.

65 Ulm Street, Caloundra. Saturday, October 7, 9am-4pm. Entry gold coin donation.

WOMEN over 50 who would like to meet new friends for social activities are invited to join the Older Women’s Network Maroochydore. Branch meetings are on the third Monday of the month at The Avenue Retirement Community, 32 Baden Powell St. Members enjoy a chat, discuss a range of topics, try a range of activities and have fun while making new friends.

Call Lee 0429 831 414

Cathy Meyer and Colleen Jones at the convict seminar.

Members of the Sunshine Coast Friendship Force join their visitors from Mt Barker in South Australia.

Artist Cathy Campbell with a sample of her work that will be on show.

The brain’s best friend

When it might seem that it’s too late to get a new pet as it will likely outlive you, don’t hesitate. KAILAS ROBERTS explains the value of having a pet as we age.

Throughout most of their long lives, my grandparents had a series of dogs.

My own memories of these canine companions are not universally positive if I’m honest: I recall being unfairly chastised for “winding up the dog” after it snapped at me on a number of occasions, but the fact that they empathised with the furry individual over their grandchild reflects the strength of the bond between them.

When they reached their late 70s, dog No. 6 (I think) died, and they decided not to get another. Their reasoning was that if they did so, the dog might well outlive them, and that that would be cruel.

I didn’t think much of it at the time but looking back, this was the start of their decline.

It could be coincidence of course, but I do wonder whether their decision to live without another ever-present and unjudging companion was directly linked to their deterioration.

On a practical level, they lost their motivation to go to the local park, something they had done religiously every morning to give their dog exercise.

This meant they were not as physically active, and inactivity

undoubtedly hastens the decline experienced later in life. They also missed the social contact that comes about from walking the dog.

No more chit-chat in the park and catching up on peoples’ news. Given what we know about the dangers of social isolation and loneliness – the psychological consequences as well as the increase in bodily inflammation – this would not have helped their mental or physical health.

Then there is a harder-to-measure but equally important impact on purpose. Having a role in life – even if it is just to be a caretaker for a pet – has a profound

influence on our health and wellbeing. Purpose, in fact, is one of the predictors of how long we live and caring for someone (or something) may be associated with a longer lifespan for many.

At a more professional level, I have seen both the benefits of having a pet around the place, and the terrible consequences of losing a pet.

I have looked after a man who became deeply depressed after losing his dog, his one and only companion for many years. The poor gentleman only recovered after receiving intensive treatment.

I have also seen how the eyes of those in nursing home care light up when a dog is brought into the facility, or a cat chooses to grace them with its presence.

Research backs up the value of such “pet therapy” including for those with dementia.

For many, it brings back positive memories from years before, and we know that being around domestic animals increases our feel-good hormones – endorphins – as well as oxytocin, a hormone that makes us feel connected.

Cortisol levels also drop, and high levels of this hormone are associated with stress and all its negative consequences.

The parasympathetic nervous system is activated and with this comes feelings of relaxation and contentment. There is also some evidence – though not conclusive proof – that pet therapy can improve cognitive function in some.

Having a pet is, of course, not all plain sailing. To be a good and caring owner requires commitment and responsibility taking (and sometimes can be expensive), but the benefits can be myriad.

Just one thing to remember though –if your grandchild complains that your dog has “snapped” at them, then it might be the dog’s temper at fault rather than your grandchild’s playful exuberance.

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

Take a walk on the B-side

There are two sides to everything. CHARLIE GRIFFITHS discusses how his connection with the B-side during the days of vinyl singles now applies to his view of retirement.

store would laugh when they asked for the record by the B-side name and say, “you’ve been around at Charlie’s place haven’t you?”

The record companies like all fat cats and establishment Bourgeoisie were fair game in the ‘70s. Who were they to tell me how to live my life?

could be titled Retirement Rumba presents both arguments for retiring punctually versus playing on.

Side A encourages the listener to put down their tools and take up the opportunity of a life of endless leisurely bliss, the hook being “you’ve worked hard for this …”

‘70s gems that plays a clandestine message when the turntable is reversed?

I won’t be ready to quit until I’ve played my music from front and back, loud and soft, forward and backward, and I’ve studied the cover artwork for hidden clues.

Back in the hazy crazy days of vinyl, when we purchased a record, we were blessed with two musical compositions to enjoy, and perhaps compare.

The A-side was the record company’s preferred track, the subject of the 45’s title and star of the cover artwork. The B-side was there too … well, something had to go on the backside of the disc.

Occasionally, popular artists scored praise for both sides from passionate fans. Rarely, the

B-side defied the infallible genius of the record company executives and won the hearts of some critical listeners.

I would always play the B-side often and loudly to give it every chance to impress myself, my friends, and the neighbours.

The hard-working artist deserved that much respect.

Under the right conditions the track eventually grew on some of my audience and off they’d go to procure their small piece of history.

The guy at the local record

Today my heckles rise when people, old and young, ask me why I haven’t retired, just because I’ve passed the magic 65 years milestone.

I could be rude and tell them to mind their own business, but I tend to diplomatically smile and say something like, “… unfinished business man.”

That’s my way of saying that I haven’t finished listening to the other side of the record yet. Sure, the A-side is good but to do the production justice, the B-side deserves a fair hearing. Besides, when I bought the record I paid for both sides.

An unrecorded single which

The B-side challenges the status quo proposing that the best years are ahead, hooking with “do your best work in your 70s …”

With typical B-side subtlety, “work” might mean engaging in active employment, learning a new hobby, writing a book, travelling extensively or starting a new enterprise. Listen to the track and make your own decision.

Retiring at the earliest opportunity could be like packing the record away after only listening to one side. What might I have missed? What if this recording is one of those

The retirement A-side is an easy listening, conventionalist tune, but I’m a B-sider!

I like it unrefined and mysterious, and I’m going to play it as loud as I can, for as long as I choose. It might sound a bit weird played backwards, but I just have to know…

Charlie Griffiths is a certified life coach dedicated to helping fellow Baby Boomers achieve their full potential. He invites comment at runawayretiree.com/say-what

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DO YOU NEED EYE SURGERY? at Noosa & Nambour

Why come to SCOAN?

• Locals caring for locals

• Consulting rooms in Noosa and Nambour

• We operate at Noosa, Nambour and Kawana Private Hospitals

• Associate Professor Kristopher Rallah-Baker uses the latest surgical equipment and was the first Ophthalmologist in the southern hemisphere to use the ZEISS QUATERA 700 by invitation

• He was recently an international speaker in Singapore discussing advanced in cataract surgery

We are a referral-based service which means you need to see your Optometrist or GP for a referral and our friendly team will be in contact to book you in for assessment in our surgery clinic.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our lovely team on 07 5470 2400

NOOSA: Suite 304, 90 Goodchap Street, Noosaville QLD 4566

NAMBOUR: Lower level, 62 Netherton St, Nambour QLD 4560

www.sconoosa.com.au

Exercise your rights to healthy ageing

September is Healthy Ageing Month. TRISTAN HALL discusses the importance of exercise if we are to maintain independence as we grow older.

As we progress through life, it becomes increasingly important to prioritise our physical wellbeing to maintain a high quality of life.

Regular exercise plays a pivotal role in healthy ageing by preserving mobility and independence.

A key concern with ageing is loss of muscle mass and strength, a process known as sarcopenia. Numerous systematic reviews have presented compelling evidence that exercise, particularly resistance training, can effectively counteract these age-related declines.

Engaging in resistance exercises at least two to three times a week has been shown to increase muscle mass, improve muscle strength, and enhance overall physical function in older adults.

Falls are a major health risk among seniors as they often mean fractures and a subsequent loss of independence. Systematic reviews consistently indicate that exercise interventions that incorporate balance training can significantly reduce the risk of falling.

Regular aerobic exercise has long been recognised as a cornerstone of cardiovascular health. Systematic reviews have confirmed that engaging in moderate-intensity aerobic activities, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, can improve cardiovascular fitness, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, it has been shown to enhance the efficiency of the heart, leading to improved overall heart health.

Osteoporosis, characterised by reduced bone mineral density, increases the risk of fractures and can severely impact the mobility and independence of older individuals.

Systematic reviews consistently demonstrate that weight-bearing exercises, including walking, jogging, and resistance training, can help maintain and even increase bone density, effectively reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Such exercises stimulate the bones to adapt and become stronger, promoting skeletal health.

Exercise also plays a significant

role in maintaining cognitive function and mental wellbeing.

Regular physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, can enhance cognitive performance, memory, and attention.

Exercise also has been shown to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and age-related neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and is known to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The evidence from systematic reviews is resoundingly clear –exercise is a powerful tool for healthy ageing.

Exercise empowers individuals to maintain mobility and independence, enabling them to lead fulfilling and active lives as they gracefully age.

It is never too late to start reaping the benefits, so prioritise physical wellbeing and embrace an active lifestyle for a healthier future.

Tristan Hall is an exercise physiologist with Full Circle Wellness. Call 0431 192 284 or visit fullcirclewellness.com.au

FIT HAPPENS With Tom Law

IT’S an age thing.

I don’t recall, balance, coordination, bone density or even flexibility being mentioned in any exercise language I was involved in when I was younger.

I was knee deep into endurance, speed, power and strength. Who cared about bone density and the like?

I do now, but I am far from young and the language of health and wellness for me has changed drastically.

Of course, some seniors will always be fit and competitive enough for extreme fitness and sports, but for the majority of us, the health and wellness or fitness landscape has changed to suit our aging bodies.

Bone density is dependent on a number of things, but what we do know is that resistance exercise helps. Placing the body under controlled stress with weights helps maintain and, in some cases, improves bone

density. Flexibility and the ability to reach and stretch is self-explanatory and the longer we maintain our ability to move, the better our lifestyle. Good balance is paramount and is something we should all do, particularly as we age and the opportunities through incidental exercise diminish.

The young seldom have to practice balance to any great extent as they use it in their daily routine, from getting out of bed quickly, showering and dressing, and being on their feet all day bending, walking and moving around safely and quickly.

For those of us who no longer have the balance, flexibility, coordination and bone density of a child or even a busy mum and dad, don’t despair.  You may be able to improve these areas by doing regular and appropriate exercises.

Tom Law is the author of Tom’s Law Fit Happens. Visit tomslaw.com.au

firm

meet the needs of the Cooroy and hinterland community

From1 July this year, Cooroy Legal Centre joined forces with specialist family law firm McCarthy Family Law at Noosaville to allow both firms to share staff and resources.

A full and expanded range of legal services are now available in Cooroy. Additional senior and experienced lawyers are now available for meetings with clients in Cooroy, which has enabled legal issues to be addressed quickly and efficiently.

Lawyer Jane McCarthy said she was enjoying working with Pamela Sweetapple at the Emerald Street offices of Cooroy Legal Centre, and getting to know the clients. “Pamela, Lily and Shelley together with our team of local lawyers will continue to offer sensible cost-effective advice about Wills and Estates, Family Law and residential and commercial conveyancing,” Ms McCarthy said.

We will have additional staff to assist Pamela to continue to advise in relation to family law issues, while we continue to offer excellent conveyancing services, assistance with business and property law issues, and wills and estates.

The existing staff, Pamela, Shelley and Lily, are now working alongside their new colleagues as the Cooroy Legal Centre expands to meet the needs of the Cooroy and Hinterland community.

Pamela Sweetapple (left) welcomes Jane McCarthy to the Cooroy Legal Centre.

Stay in touch and up to date online

It’s easy to get lost in the ether with so many notifications, apps wanting screentime and ads pushing for attention. EDIN READ looks at the easiest and most effective ways to communicate with family and friends.

Picking up the phone and talking to each other is the easy way to stay current, and you can end up chatting for hours. It’s one of the most enjoyable ways to have a catch-up without being next to each other.

But why not see each other too?

As they say, about 55 per cent of communication is non-verbal, so why miss some visual cues when it can be so easy to get to them?

There are multiple ways to video call when you can’t be there in person.

With cameras on at both ends, you can hear and see each other through your devices –just like a call.

A great example of this was during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

I could get together with my family in Sydney on a video call as we sat in our different places chatting and sipping our wine (and later, margaritas).

It was a great way to spend hours together when we were apart.

Apps such as FaceTime on Apple devices – iPhone/iPad –and Facebook Messenger, available on most phones, are the easiest to use.

It’s as easy to use them to video call as it is to make a phone call.

Zoom and Microsoft Teams

are other ways to video call, but they introduce some complexity, such as having to have a Microsoft or Zoom account.

Most people will already have Apple or Facebook accounts.

Texting is an effective way to keep up with key information and most people use it as such.

It can be difficult to hold

long conversations over text, so it’s common courtesy to keep things brief where possible, while maintaining politeness.

“Text talk” is mostly a thing of the past.

Facebook Messenger is an offshoot of Facebook, which serves as a less formal way to communicate.

It holds exactly the same purpose as texting, without the need for a phone number – it uses data rather than SMS.

It also means that you can talk to anyone that you have as a friend on Facebook without needing to get their number or further contact details.

If you’re already friends on Facebook, simply go into Facebook Messenger and start talking to them – it’s as easy as that.

The good old Facebook is an awesome way to keep up to date with family and friends.

Rather than having them send you an individual message with photos and details, it

allows you to see what they’ve been up to and vice versa.

Once activated, you can add “friends” on Facebook, which is like adding a contact to your phone.

Search their names, find the right person and add as a friend. This is like you’ve subscribed to their news feed.

You can see the images/text they put up and interact by “liking” or “commenting” on it, just as you would if you saw them in real life.

They can see your posts too. Share pictures of your favourite café, a night at the opera or even yourself.

Just a reminder, comments you make on a friend’s post can usually be seen by all of your Facebook friends and theirs as well, so don’t get into hot water there.

Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology tech support for seniors. Visit greyology.com.au or email edin@ greyology.com.au

Fashion fads in the eye of the buyer

Fashion is in the eye of the buyer and, observes BRUCE McMAHON, some vehicle designs may attract, some may offend.

The unfortunate Ford Taurus of the 1990s was a most strange collection of curves, thePontiac Aztec of the early 2000s was deemed “the world’s ugliest car” yet had its day as Walter White’s daily transport in Breaking Bad

All that while a HQ Holden or Chrysler Charger will be forever chic.

There remain handsome machines on today’s market, from all over the world.

Jaguar’s E-Pace remains one of the best-looking of Sport Utility Vehicles, most Ferraris and Lamborghinis still turn heads.

Mazda’s MX-5 is a handsome roadster with body lines designed to last through decades of fads and a Porsche 911 Carrera’s style is timeless.

Land Rover’s current generation Defender stands out among the fourwheel drive mob and, sorry, but some of those bully-boy pickups out of the US, such as the Dodge Ram, do look fit for purpose.

Among the more common of cars, it has been the Koreans – Hyundai and sister company Kia – producing some of today’s better-looking vehicles.

Mucking up the shopping centre car parks are the ubiquitous SUVs for there is

not a lot to be done with a two-box shape but add curves and body creases and strange, sometimes distinctly odd –looking at you here Mitsubishi Outlander – front ends.

Once these SUVs were unadorned, practical, and square-edged body shapes.

The first Range Rover of 1970 is still one of the most handsome of 20th century machines; a top-class fashion statement.

The trouble was every family and their dog wanted SUVs and so designers

took to trying to differentiate makes and models with aforementioned body swoops and such. Until now …

Hard on the wheels of suggestions that Toyota’s next Prado wagon will arrive with simpler, boxier style (and we hope without that ugly face of the current model) comes Hyundai’s reveal of next year’s Santa Fe models.

Guess what? It too will be all squared off.

The current Santa Fe is a very good

SAVE UP TO 50%* STOREWIDE!

SUV. While there are two-wheel drive versions from $46,000, see if the bank can stretch another $20,000 for the all-wheel drive hybrid version with turbocharged 1.6 litre petrol motor plus 44.2kW electric motor supplied by a 1.49kWh lithium-ion battery.

That makes for a combined 169kW and 350Nm of torque, more power than the diesel and more torque than petrol versions, and delivered by a smooth six-speed automatic transmission.

Best of all this full-sized, sevenseater’s fuel consumption comes in around seven litres per 100km; and better still on highway runs.

It is a most competent machine under all types of conditions – always nice to drive –and packed with premium comforts and plenty of safety aids.

Anyhow, while there’s this new and better-looking Santa Fe to arrive in 2024, the underpinnings and mechanical for the hybrids are likely to remain much the same.

And a driver shouldn’t lose the next generation Santa Fe in the Bunnings car park. This one, going by the official pictures, is a looker. Let’s hope it stands the test of fashion fads.

Hyundai Santa Fe has a bold new design

Live like an emperor and unleash the power of fruit

The emperors of China were renowned for their quest for immortality. JARAD BIANCHI explains their three goals and the privilege of eating fruit. sugars, including those found in processed grain and dairy, is a benefit to health, not all sugars are created equal.

Chinese herbal medicine in the modern world is in fact the same as that prescribed in the high court for the Chinese emperor.

One of the emperor’s goals was the quest for a long life –the image of an ageless emperor looking down over his kingdom was a common theme in Chinese culture.

To live past 100 was to ensure that the emperor secured his place as rightful ruler. The second goal of the emperor was to be strong, healthy and never get sick. Sickness was a sign of weakness and could lead to his position as ruler being challenged by the next generation.

The third goal was to be virile so as to ensure the next generation.

In addition to the various herbal concoctions that the emperor consumed to ensure his longevity, diet played a huge role in preserving his

Knee Surgeon

health – and fruit would have been central to ensuring excellent nutritional balance.

With fruit available all year-round, due to a multitude of trade agreements, disease and nutritional deficiency was not a problem for royalty and the emperor. Conversely, the peasant class and common people lived off rice and

dehydrated meat and as a result where plagued by various diseases due to poor nutrition.

Today, fruit is getting a bad wrap due to the sugars it contains. The common fad is to avoid sugar including fruit and aim for a diet based on mostly protein and vegetables.

While removing refined

In fact, sugar in the form of glucose is vital to the human body as it fuels the brain, nervous system and all the cells in your body.

Fruit consumed in its whole form is an ideal way to get the sugars the body needs to function, as it comes packed with multiple disease fighting compounds including antitumor, anticancer, antioxidants as well as essential polyphenols, bioflavonoids, disease fighting pectin, vitamins and minerals.

A point to be noted is that fruit needs to be consumed in its whole form. Fruit juice is not an acceptable substitute.

When you juice a fruit you release all of the sugars and remove all the disease-fighting compounds, including pectin which is often found in the fibre and the skin of the fruit.

Prime examples of fruits to be added to your diet include apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cucumber (it has seeds, so yes it’s a fruit), melons, peaches, and plums.

Like the emperor of China, we have access to a broad range of wonderful nutritious foods that promote longevity and keep us healthy, so why not take advantage and use nutrition to keep your body well?

For extra support, you can consider adding herbal tonics and really fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to live like an emperor.

Keep in mind that the goal isn’t necessarily to live longer, but to have full body function and health for as long as possible along your journey through life.

Jarad Bianchi is a registered chiropractor, Chinese herbalist/acupuncturist and naturopath. Visit drbianchi.net

Trials pave way for prostate cancer treatment

PROSTATE cancer was the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia in 2018 and the trend continues with an estimated 24,000 new cases in 2022.

The Australian male population is projected to increase by about 13 per cent over the next decade and prostate cancer is expected to increase 21 per cent for all age groups combined due to the ageing population.

Early prostate cancer symptoms are uncommon, which is why it’s important to stay on top of regular checks.

Advanced prostate cancer symptoms can include frequent urination, particularly at night; pain on urination; blood in the urine; a weak urine stream; pain in the pelvis or back; and weak legs or feet.

Treatment and care of people with cancer is usually provided by a multidisciplinary team and may take various forms.

Treatment may not be recommended straight away –options include watchful waiting, active surveillance, surgery, external beam or internal radiotherapy, cryosurgery,

hormone therapy and chemotherapy.

New drugs and treatment approaches are constantly being developed and researched.

ANZUP, the leading cancercooperative clinical trials group, has four new prostate cancer clinical trials:

ANZadapt trial aims to provide evidence to change practice and improve survival in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer through the use of adaptive therapy to prolong each

patient’s life and quality-of-life as much as possible.

DIPPER will compare cancer control and quality of life outcomes for individuals receiving either radiotherapy or surveillance following recurrence of their cancer after personalised patient selection, utilising the new imaging test and other clinical information.

GUIDE’s purpose is to see if a prostate cancer marker in the blood (mGSTP1) can be used to guide chemotherapy treatment.

The NINJA clinical trial aims to compare two emerging schedules of radiotherapy in the treatment of intermediate or high risk prostate cancer.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two radiotherapy schedules as part of this study. It is hoped this research will potentially improve the accuracy and quality of radiotherapy treatment in prostate cancer. Patients with prostate cancer will be recruited in Queensland.

September is National Prostate Awareness Month.

Visit anzup.org.au

NEW CPAP DEVICE OFFERS A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

QUALITY sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy life and has a profound impact on overall wellbeing.

For those grappling with sleep apnea, ResMed’s new AirSense 11 fosters a comprehensive and high-quality user experience.

An inbuilt personal therapy assistant delivers three coaching modules –machine and mask setup, and test drive – which effectively guides users with step-by-step assistance to ensure optimal machine and mask configuration.

This smart technology acknowledges that retaining important information during initial setup is often challenging.

The AirSense 11 works in synergy with MyAir mobile app, a platform that allows users to track their sleep therapy journey.

Coupled with a ResMed AirFit or AirTouch mask,

they unlock detailed video walkthroughs on fitting and adjusting masks through the app interface.

This holistic approach dovetails with CPAP Direct’s commitment to ensuring each individual’s journey is comfortable and effective.

Acknowledging the need for ongoing support, the AirSense 11 features a care check-in feature. Through fast yet relevant quizzes, users are asked a series of questions about how they feel since starting therapy.

It then offers guidance on how to tackle some of the issues the user may be facing.

CPAP Direct clinicians can assess patient feedback in conjunction with CPAP machine results data and be proactive in troubleshooting and coaching.

The new machine is smaller and lighter than its predecessor and is more energy efficient, requiring only a 65w power supply.

Visit cpap.com.au

Cataracts and Dry Eyes

Age is more than just a number

Time passing may provide a chronological figure, but there’s much more to how we feel about age. JUDY RAFFERTY discusses the various stages that define life.

You might disagree, but I think we categorise people as young, middle aged, or old. We simplify the life span into these groups.

And the groups are not based solely on age. Rather, we tend to slot people into one of those three groups depending on our own age.

Increasingly, I am finding that the world is full of young people, including my doctor and dentist. However, age is much more complex than this.

We think about our age in a variety of ways. Sometimes we take a chronological perspective. We identify with our chronological age and simply state our age in years. But sometimes we identify with our subjective age.

This is the age you feel yourself to be irrespective of your chronological age. I often hear people saying, “I feel my age today” and “you are only as old as you feel”.

Thirdly, we have a functional age.

This is related to physical and cognitive capacity to do what you want to do. I think that functional age often determines subjective age.

Laslett in the 1980s categorised age as the first age, the second age, the third age

and the fourth age. It was not quite revolutionary to break up ages this way. And probably the first, second and third ages correlate with our young, middle aged and old categories.

Unsurprisingly, the first age is considered to be the age of preparation for the world. It involves education, socialisation, growing up in readiness for adult roles.

The second age is the time of productivity, work and family creation.

The third age starts in retirement. Laslett moved the third age from being an

all-encompassing class of old people to being a more optimistically framed group.

Rather than focusing on ageing problems, Laslett believed that the third age is a period of freedom with the time and health to enjoy it. I believe he was thinking about first world populations.

Laslett added in the concept of a fourth age. We all know that those considered elderly (especially by young journalists) are a diverse group.

Some people are simply elderly/older. Others have serious cognitive and physical impairments. Laslett made the distinction

between the third age and fourth age based on this difference, not on age.

The fourth age is marked by dependence on others, decrepitude and death.

I think the value in Laslett’s simple addition of a fourth age is to remove the negativity that seeps through into ageing.

Many older people seem to see themselves on a slippery slide into dependence and decrepitude even when they are still actively in the third age.

And many younger people seem to have only one category for older people. The category of the fourth age gives us language to acknowledge difference.

To say someone is in the fourth age provides both information and a simple and respectful distinction.

I wish you a very long third age and a very short fourth age.

Judy Rafferty is the author of Retirement Your Way, A Practical Guide to Knowing What You Want and How to Get It, at all good bookshops and online.

Times still changing for the generation of change

This generation has lived in two different centuries and has seen and adapted to enormous change. Now, writes LESA

No other generation has had to deal with such constant change, from an analogue childhood to a digital life; from telephones fixed to the wall, to mobiles that go everywhere; from radio and black and white TV to streaming.

More Boomers equals more change, and we are now forcing change on the retirement and aged care industries.

The traditional options for retirement living accommodation usually came down to two choices – a unit/semi-detached home in a retirement village, or a standalone house in a manufactured home park. Each is governed by its own legislation.

These choices remain by far the most popular retirement models across the industry, but to meet changing demographics and to cover alternate lifestyles, some alternatives have recently come into the market:

1. In Sydney, and recently on the Sunshine

Coast, an option to have a relative/carer live with the retiree, either in the home, or in an adjoining residence, has been offered.

2. A model whereby single women of limited means have a small individual unit, with a common shared area for the group (lounge, dining, entertainment) to jointly access.

3. Relocatable homes that in any real sense are immovable, built on a concrete base. The purchaser can even have input to the construction of the home prior to completion.

These are becoming bespoke villages more attuned to individual needs and expectations.

In the aged care space, new models include setting up an aged care village, with real shops and cafes.

In the dementia care area, there is a new model everyone is watching. Patients

STRATEGY STACKING FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Sometimes using more than one strategy, or a combination of strategies in concert, will help achieve financial goals more confidently. LUKE SMITH explains.

The concept of strategy stacking is central to getting the most out of your financial plan. In its simplest form, it is the process of putting together different financial planning strategies to create a personal financial plan.

Fundamentally one strategy by itself might achieve something, but by strategy stacking, the process of using multiple strategies, sometimes separately and sometimes together, can achieve more.

So how do you strategy stack, to put the odds in your favour? There are six issues to consider:

1. Understand your “why”. This is simply goals: short, medium and long term. As goals change, the strategies you stack should also change.

2. Remember the five foundations of money management. Respect your earnings, pay attention to spending, remember the cost of money is interest, being realistic about goals and rewards.

3. Start with the basic stack: Budgeting, where earnings meet spending. Budget is the floor on which you build your stack.

4. Use a risk assessment strategy. While it might be nice to think life is all cupcakes and roses, the reality is it comes with risk. So does your financial life. The secret to a good risk strategy is identifying the facts and making a rational, not emotional, judgement.

5. Stack your strategies appropriately. There is a mistake in trying to stack every financial planning strategy you can. It could result in a complicated and unstable stack.

6. Assess, execute, review, refine and repeat. The goal is to implement a strategy stack, see what it delivers, adjust it and implement again.

Luke Smith is a financial planner and author of Smart Money Strategy – Your Ultimate Guide to Financial Planning. Visit thestrategystacker.com.au

have a larger village format accommodation complete with shops and services, where community engagement has proven beneficial. Operators are also attuned to cultural issues, and newer constructions focus on such things as sustainability, energy efficiency, and obtaining 5-star green ratings.

The retirement and aged care industries are constantly evolving and improving, driven by competition between operators. This means that the

MACPHERSON,

it’s time to enjoy the time.

contracts involved also are changing, and contain a vast array of clauses, promises, and requirements specific to each operator, and each model they operate.

Change is constant, and accelerating, but we remain at the forefront of contract changes.

Lesa Macpherson is an expert in retirement accommodation and aged care contracts at Sunshine Coast Elder Law. Visit sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au or call 1800 961 622.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY SETTLE IN TOGETHER

FRIENDS before they became family, Vicki Hall and Ian and Narelle Grayson found it easy to move into the same community at Stockland’s Halcyon Nirimba.

Initially meeting through the local football club, their friendship of more than 25 years became a family affair when Vicki’s daughter, Sarah, and Ian and Narelle’s son, Wade married. The trio now share two grandchildren.

Vicki began looking to downsize when Ian and Narelle joined her on a site visit to Halcyon Nirimba.

Stockland’s master-planned Aura community on the Sunshine Coast, where Halcyon Nirimba is located, ticked all the boxes for Vicki and she signed up.

“I had a lovely house in Little Mountain with nice neighbours,” says Vicki, “but it is nice to have people around all the time now and things to do every day.

“There are street parties, Sunday sessions, barbecues and impromptu get-togethers every week. I love pickleball, though it is a little harder for me these days, but I still enjoy a hit and a giggle.”

Ian and Narelle, who met as teenagers, retired from their work with the Queensland Forestry Service in 2006.

“We had travelled around Australia in our caravan and had seen a few lifestyle communities. Ian had been keen to make the move since we retired but I didn’t want to leave Caloundra, where I have lived most of my life,” says Narelle.

“The location was perfect and the house we chose was beautifully presented, ticking all our boxes. We signed up the day after Vicki.

“As we prepared to move, we sold our house and moved into our caravan, living by the beach. We are still only a short drive away from the coast and there are many lovely walks to enjoy around us here too.”

Shared grandparenting duties have also become easier for the two households.

Visit stockland.com.au/halcyoncommunities/halcyon-nirimba

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY AGED CARE

THE decision to move a loved one into permanent care is often confronting and filled with mixed emotions, but according to industry experts, it doesn’t have to be.

Leading aged care provider TriCare offers families the opportunity to experience the service before making a long-term commitment.

“I guess you could call it an opportunity to try before you buy,” TriCare sales manager Kathlyn Xavier says.

“It can be beneficial for both the person in need of care and their family and friends. Respite care is ideal for those who may be unsure about entering permanent residential care; those wanting to see how they adjust to the residence, staff and location; and those

with misconceptions about what life in an aged care residence is like.”

Centenarian Mary Micallef’s family know the process all too well and have had their ups and downs with their aged care “journey of self-discovery”.

Five years after Mary moved into a retirement village, it became clear that the then 83-year-old needed additional support. Her family moved her into a serviced apartment, but as time went on, Mary needed more help with daily tasks.

Over a period of years, Mary had two-week respite stays at various aged care facilities but didn’t last the full two weeks in any of them, until they found TriCare Williams Landing aged care residence.

Visit tricare.com.au

FORUM FOCUSES ON OVER 50S LIFESTYLE

THERE’S a revolution coming with younger Baby Boomers and older Gen X-ers determined to do things their way.

What that means for today’s active over 50s is the subject of a fascinating presentation by popular Australian social commentator and demographer, Bernard Salt at the Over 50s Lifestyle Forum presented by GemLife.

The free event will take place at Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point on Tuesday, September 19, and features expert speakers in the areas of social change, health and nutrition, downsizing and lifestyle resorts, sex and relationships.

Bernard says with economic pressures easing, many people begin to take stock and think about the next stage of their lives. He calls these the Lifestyle Years.

“The kids have left home, finally. The mortgage has been paid off or the end is in sight, both partners are working and there just seems to be less pressure on the household budget,” he says.

“Plus, there’s the realisation that life’s too short and that it’s now or never to do what you’ve always wanted to do.”

He says the demographic is ready to take advantage of the golden opportunity their health and financial security is

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

EVERYONE has a story and we owe it to future generations to keep our stories alive.

Herve Carlos, producer at Life Documentaries, digitally records personal stories that offer a unique perspective in capturing a life journey in your own words. He came up with the idea after the death of his father.

“I wanted to find a way of creating an oral history of a person’s journey, so those memories can be shared with loved ones for generations to come,” Herve said. “Books and biographies have their place but to be able to see and hear someone tell their story in their own words is extra special.”

He said the process is made easy and comfortable for anyone wanting to create

affording them, but there are some other important things they should consider.

“The first thing is to understand your superannuation situation. Super may have been ignored for decades but now it’s time to confront the truth about your balance and the lifestyle it enables,” he says. “Also, start having regular check-ups and begin an exercise and healthy lifestyle regime.”

The GemLife Over 50s Lifestyle Forum will focus on topics that resonate with today’s active older Australians.

Other guest speakers are dietitian Carly Barlow, author and retirement expert Rebecca Wilson, and relationship expert Naomi Hutchings.

The forum is free, but registration is needed by September 12.

Visit gemlife.com.au/forum

a life documentary. It takes about half a day to film.

“We select a location where our clients are comfortable, which is usually in their home,” he said. “Six weeks later, we provide a 45-minute documentary of your life story, including photographs, music, and some special effects to really capture the essence of who you are and how you came to be.”

Herve said helping people to tell their story was his passion.

“And never let it be said that I have allowed the truth to get in the way of a good story,” he says with a laugh. “Trust me with your story and I will produce a documentary for the ages.”.

Call 1800 844 210 or visit lifedocumentaries.com.au

You’re invited

Over-50s Lifestyle Forum 2023

ARE YOU READY TO START LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE? GEMLIFE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE OVER - 50S LIFESTYLE FORUM WHICH FOCUSES ON THE TOPICS THAT RESONATE WITH TODAY’S ACTIVE OLDER AUSTRALIANS.

FREE EVENT

Bernard Salt

One of the country’s leading economists and demographers, Bernard Salt is is a highly sought-after speaker known for his insightful commentary on the hottest topics of the coming decade.

Carly Barlow

Carly Barlow is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian who specialties include weight management nutrition, cardiac health, diabetes, gut health and bariatric surgery.

The forum will provide valuable insights, expert advice, and practical tips on maintaining a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle as we navigate the exciting years beyond 50.

Featuring speakers in the areas of demography, health and nutrition, downsizing and lifestyle resorts, sex and relationships.

Rebecca Wilson

Founder of Starts at 60 and Travel at 60, a digital media and travel platform serving the over-60s market online and off. Her book, How to have an Epic Retirement is to be published later in 2023.

Don’t miss this exclusive one-day event!

Naomi Hutchings

Naomi Hutchings is a clinical sexologist with a passion for supporting people to experience quality sexual health, relationships and emotional wellbeing.

DATE Tuesday, 19 September 2023

TIME 9:30am - 12:00pm

WHERE Sandstone Point Hotel, The Pumicestone Room

RSVP Register online at GemLife.com.au/forum by Tuesday, 12 September

INDUSTRY EXPERTS

OF THE MONTH

THE benefits of pet ownership are well recognised and there are pets who need owners too. The Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge, established in 1979 to provide temporary refuge and find new homes for abandoned, abused, stray and unwanted cats and dogs, this month introduces:

Hit the Brakes…!

If you are appointed as the executor of an estate, you have a number of duties cast upon you.

They include:

(a) maximising the size of the estate for the beneficiaries; and

(b) preparing any necessary tax return or obtaining Income Tax Clearances.

Estate administration involves a range of financial considerations which can be affected by the number and type of assets within the estate. The assets might typically include land held by the deceased, or the deceased’s own residence.

I am sure you will agree the Sunshine Coast is certainly undergoing a phase of urban renewal – with many houses being knocked down and replaced by new units or townhouses as part of a development scheme.

Before you put your ‘developer’ hat on and demolish the deceased’s home, you might want to make sure you are not bulldozing the main residence CGT exemption as well!!

Knocking down the deceased’s home (or even the subdivision of land) can have significant tax implications for the estate and the beneficiaries.

It is important that you obtain the correct accounting and legal advice before acting, to ensure you don’t inadvertently destroy any tax exemption that might be available to the estate.

Recovery after an anterior total hip replacement

Many patients are surprised at how quickly they can comfortably ambulate after an anterior total hip replacement. Patients are typically mobilised within hours of their surgery. Most of our patients usually rapidly progress to being independent on crutches and require them for only one to two weeks.

There are many factors that dictate how long a patient needs to stay in hospital but generally getting back to your home environment as soon as it is safe to do so is an important component of your physical, as well as your psychological, recovery.

Excessive physical activity in the first two months after a hip replacement is counterproductive. We generally recommend gentle walking and stretching.

Many patients are safe to drive after just three to four weeks and can perform most of their everyday activities within six weeks.

For patients who enjoy more extreme activities such as surfing, they should wait at least three months to return.

All patients are different, and you should discuss your specific situation with your orthopaedic surgeon.

MIDNIGHT is an active one-year-old border collie x kelpie.

He’s active and would suit someone looking for a running partner or a super smart dog for activities such as flyball.

Sweet and craving human affection, Midnight is looking for someone to work on his lead manners.

TOOTSIE is nine years old and has come back to us in sad circumstances. She would do best in a retirement-style home. An affectionate girl who loves her cuddles, Tootsie loves to sleep on her owner’s bed and has spent time outside but does not hunt. If you would like to give a sweet senior girl a chance, come and meet Tootsie.

All cats and dogs are vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, desexed, microchipped and medically treated if necessary. The refuge at Sippy Creek Road, Tanawha (adjacent to the Council Pound) is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm. If you’d like to adopt call 5494 5275, email office@sippycreek.com.au or find more details at sippycreek.com.au

HARRY NEEDS TO SETTLE DOWN

THE 4 Paws Animal Rescue provides refuge for homeless cats and dogs. A not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers, 4 Paws takes animals from council pounds, some having been surrendered or abandoned, others having been saved from cruel living conditions.

HARRY is one of two elderly residents at 4 Paws. This gorgeous senior is 15 years old and is now seeking a quiet forever home for the rest of his days.

An extremely cuddly, friendly and well natured chap, he has an extraordinary, yet cute, meow and is very affectionate. Harry will be under the “Permanent Foster” program which means all vet fees for the rest of his life will be paid by 4 Paws Animal Rescue.

He is desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.

If you can give Harry the home he needs visit 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au

IT’S AN OLD DOG’S LIFE – By Garry Reynolds

DOGS generally age more quickly than their owners, which becomes evident with the early onset of canine health challenges.

Tiny dogs are considered seniors around eight years of age while large dogs can hit this milestone at just five years.

During the aging process, exercise is important for dogs — and their owners. Older dogs may have shorter and more frequent walks and welcome a jacket in cooler times when arthritis sets in.

As with humans, getting a good sleep is crucial to wellbeing. Providing a dog with a bed that distributes its weight evenly reduces pressure on ageing joints.

Not only is the type of food an older dog eats important, but so is elevating the senior dog’s dish to help it cope with stiffness in the back or neck.

Senior pets generally require fewer calories, less protein and phosphorous than they did in their younger years. Older dogs are at higher risk of developing obesity as their energy levels drop.

The old dog can also face problems eating if their owner hasn’t paid regular attention to its teeth.

They can really tug at their owners’ heartstrings as they develop ways of adapting to loss of sight and hearing.

When they develop cataracts, some dogs may rely on brushing along the walls of their home to get their bearings. Moving furniture may confuse the ageing pet. Invariably, a cuddle works wonders for the aging pet. It lets them know they still have the love that welcomed them on the day they arrived as a yappy puppy.

COAST STARS IN SYMPHONIC MASTERPIECE

SUNSHINE Coast Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) celebrates the Last Night of The Proms with the debut of a piece by Australian composer Clifford Bradley, commissioned by the SCSO.

The first known symphonic piece composed on and about the Sunshine Coast, Under the Watchful Eye of the Glasshouse Giants - A Sunshine Coast Overture is a musical journey.

It evokes the features of the Coast, based around the history and majestic splendour of the Glasshouse mountains and the wildlife of the mountains and surrounding forests.

Bradley, who is now established as one of the top film

music orchestrators in Australia, says the work is inspired by the wildlife and the spectacular mountains that stand silently watching over the region.

There are four sections to the piece, which runs as a continuous whole – The Forest Awakens, The Forest at Play, The Awakening of the Giants and Standing with Eternity.

Timed to coincide with the Last Night of the Proms at Lonodon’s Royal Albert Hall in September, the SCSO presentation brings a first half of favourites by Australian composers and a second half of British Proms classics.

Opening with a welcome and performance by local Aboriginal leader Kerry Neill, the concert includes other modern Australian pieces by Catherine Likhuta, Elena Kats-Chernin and Paul Stanhope, and classics from Percy Grainger, Colin Brumby, and Peter Allen.

Events Centre, Caloundra

Saturday, September 16, 7pm

Tickets $49, concessions $39 Bookings call the box office 5491 4240 or visit theeventscentre.com.au

PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES

MELANIE and the Madmen promise the dance floor will be packed when they present a cheeky spring gig at the Majestic Theatre in Pomona.

With loads of soul and a vintage vibe, Melanie and the Madmen will have the theatre jumping with a selection of favourite tunes from the blues, soul, funk, and swing.

A big night out is assured with tunes from the greats such as Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Raitt, Renee Geyer, Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Cocker.

Melanie and the Madmen bring upbeat tunes, dynamic vocals, big soul, and funky groove to every show.

Joining Melanie Evans, who is on vocals, are Simon Gardner on guitar, Brendan Scully on bass, Andrew (Mouse) Szumowski on keys and Mitch Francis drums.

Majestic Theatre, Pomona Saturday, September 23, doors and bar open 6pm, show 7pm. Tickets $30, concessions $25. Call 5485 2330 or visit wildgoat. com.au or themajestictheatre. com.au

MUSICAL GAMES WITH THE ADDAMS FAMILY

CALOUNDRA Chorale and Theatre Company introduces the quirky and macabre Addams family, a family musical based on the well-known characters created by Charles Addams.

Wednesday wants to marry a normal boy from a normal family creating turmoil for his family, the Beinekes, and the Addams family.

The two families meet over a dramatic and comical dinner at the Addams family home.

Ghastly, ghostly and hilarious this musical will entertain with

its energy and spooky special effects.

Based on the book by Marshal Brickman and Rick Elice, music and lyrics are by Andrew Lippa.

CCTC Theatre 3 Piringa St, Wurtulla. September 29, October 4-6, 11, 13-14, 7.30pm; September 30, October 1, 7-8.14-15,2pm.

Tickets $39, concessions $37 Bookings trybooking.com/ CHUKU or call 0490 329 912. Special price preview September 27, 7.30pm, $30.

Documenting Your Life Story

Rehearsal for, from left, Tracy Stoddart, Colin Butcher, Kate Cullen, Libby Richardson, Helen Duffy, Peter Voight, Jody Collie, and Andrew Trestrail.

Leading the way!

The Senior Leadership Award is a dis nguished recogni on created to pay tribute to individuals during Queensland Seniors Month in October, who have demonstrated remarkable leadership skills, excep onal achievements, and a steadfast dedica on to serving the Sunshine Coast community.

STEVE PARISH is a well-known Australian photographer, author, and environmentalist. He is renowned for his contributions to nature photography and conservation efforts. Steve Parish has captured the beauty of the Australian landscape and its wildlife through his photographs and has been a prominent advocate for environmental awareness and preservation.

Parish has published numerous books featuring his photography, showcasing the diverse flora and fauna of Australia. His work has contributed to raising awareness about the country’s unique natural heritage and the need to protect it for future generations.

He is greatly admired for using his own life experiences to help people find their passion, overcome mental illness and learn to cope with life stresses.

BRUCE AND DENISE

MORCOMBE, the inspiring parents of Daniel Morcombe, a Queensland teenager whose tragic disappearance eight years ago led them to create an enduring legacy of safety, education, and community empowerment.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe have demonstrated remarkable fortitude and courage in the face of unimaginable tragedy. They embody the virtues we hold dear: love, faith, hope, and perseverance.

The dignity with which they have navigated their grief has garnered admiration and respect from communities across Australia. Their path led them to establish the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, a shining beacon of hope and education committed to empowering children with the knowledge and tools to safeguard themselves.

Despite the profound sorrow they experienced, the Morcombes channelled their energy into creating a lasting impact through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.

LYNELLE MACE fondly known as Aunty Minnie Mace, a prominent Elder and founder of the Nungeena Corporation for Aboriginal Women’s Business. She is celebrated for her exceptional contributions to Indigenous women’s issues and her profound impact on the community.

Aunty Minnie Mace’s dedication to advancing the cause of Aboriginal women is exemplified through the Nungeena Corporation. The organization addresses critical issues by providing transformative programs, workshops, cultural awareness initiatives, and selfempowerment opportunities.

The corporation not only serves as a safe haven for women’s gatherings but also offers essential referral services.

With an unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, Aunty Minnie Mace serves as a cultural educator and researcher.

Hailing from the Koa people of Winton, Queensland, she draws from her ancestral heritage to share captivating stories of the Dreamtime and the history of Ancient Civilizations.

Her extensive knowledge encompasses both Aboriginal and Egyptian cultures, making her a remarkable storehouse of wisdom.

CECILY MESSER, an exceptional community advocate and tireless volunteer, has been awarded the 2023 Senior Leadership Award for her unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions.

Fondly known for her boundless energy and infectious smile, Cecily has made an indelible impact on the Sunshine Coast community through her selfless work.

Cecily Messer, is an integral part of the Coolum Peregian RSL sub branch and the local Surf Life Saving Clubs.

With over 23 years of remarkable service, she has emerged as a beacon of leadership and dedication. Known for her gold, silver, and bronze medals in lifesaving competitions and ocean swimming, Cecily’s athletic prowess is a testament to her determination. However, it’s her role as a volunteer that truly defines Cecily’s legacy.

Her commitment to our community is unparalleled. Her genuine compassion, tireless dedication, and ability to bring people together have made a profound impact on the lives of many.

Service to others is not just a gesture; it’s a source of transformative power that uplifts the giver and the receiver, creating ripples of positive change that reach far beyond the act itself.

Tanya Dave, Gerontologist and founder of the Senior Leadership Award says, the award is a testament to the valuable contribu on of our senior community.

Our award winners’ incredible life journey and service to others, serves as inspira on to all of us and showcases the indomitable human spirit.

Recipients of the award will receive their welldeserved honours on October 5th.

The celebra on of their outstanding achievements will take place in the presence of 200 esteemed guests during a morning high tea at Maroochy RSL.

This year, the award is proudly presented to the following recipients.

Tanya Dave

Steve Parish

Bruce and Denise Morcombe

Lynelle Mace

Cecily Messer

2023 SENIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD HONORS REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS.

JOIN SINATRA THROUGH THE YEARS

ONE of the most authentic tribute concerts to the music of Old Blues Eyes, the King Of The Swingers is the closest thing to Frank Sinatra in his prime, touring today.

Standing in Sinatra’s shoes is Rhydian Lewis, who fronts The

ART GOES OFF THE SHELF

Residuals, one of Australia’s finest 4-piece bands. He will perform the songs in a captivating way and give the background stories.

Rhydian and The Residuals have been performing their world-class concerts to audiences in some of the finest theatres and halls around Australia for more than 10 years and have a special chemistry.

The show features all the hits including Come Fly With Me, The Lady Is a Tramp, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, That’s Life, My Way and New York

The Events Centre, Caloundra. Wednesday, October 4, 11am. Tickets from $22.50. Bookings call 5491 4240 or visit theeventscentre.com.au

MIXED Media artists at Buderim Craft Cottage present their suc cessful Off the Shelf art sale for the seventh year.

Off the Shelf allows artists to declutter their studio for the benefit of buyers, as prices are greatly reduced. The gallery will be full of art, with two rooms to explore and take the pieces you love with you.

The artists, both established and emerging, are members of the Buderim Craft Cottage, a hub of creativity and popular Sunshine Coast gallery.

Buderim Craft Cottage, 5 Main St, September 22-24, 9am-3pm.

AFTERNOON OF RED HOT JAZZ

THE Jazz and Blues Collective presents the Braben Jenner Hot Five with guest vocalist Grace Rigby for an afternoon of traditional and mainstream jazz with plenty of inventive improvisation.

The band will be playing the music of early to mid-20th century America.

Sidney Bechet, Johnny

Dodds, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Bix Beiderbecke, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington and other classic jazz greats all feature in a diversified mix of vocals and instrumentals.

Special guest vocalist Grace Rigby will be joining John Braben (trumpet), Jo Bloomfield (keys) Peter Freeman (bass), Dave Burrows (guitar), and Paul Williams (wind).

A Coffee Van will be on site from 12.30pm and there’s a BYO drink licence to bring your own food and drinks.

Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Rd East. Maroochydore. October 1, 1.30pm to 4pm (doors open 1pm). Tickets $26,seniors $25. Bookings ticketebo.com.au/ jazz-blues-collective     Call Graeme 0417 633 734.

AWARD-WINNING PLAY COMES TO MALENY

MALENY Arts Council is delighted to present Noëlle Janaczewska’s masterpie ce The End of Winter, a play about the rapidly changing climate. Will climate change erase winter leaving it to exist only in fairy tales, paintings, and historical ac counts?

The End of Winter has won many accolades with a tour de force solo performance by Jane Phegan.

Maleny Community Centre. Sunday, September 10, 2pm Tickets $45. Bookings malenyartscouncil.com

SINGING UP A STORM

DIRECTOR Kim Kirkman will bring his enthusiasm and choristers to entertain and inspire at the Make your Garden Grow concert, a collection of songs about gardens and those who play in them.

The concert features the Inspiration Choir and Caloundra Community Choir, and soloists accompanied by the Hinterland String Orchestra in an afternoon of joyful song.

Proceeds will help St Andrew’s Church pay for repairs needed on the church’s foundations which are seriously in need of attention.

St Andrew’s Anglican Church, 46 Upper Gay Tce, Kings Beach, Caloundra. Sunday, September 10, 2pm. Tickets $20 at the door or trybooking.com

The WORLD in Your Hands Travel in Your Time

A day at the beach – with a Dutch difference

The Netherlands may be internationally identified by windmills, tulips and clogs, but according to some of the locals, its beaches are worth talking about too. ALLISON WHITE spends a day beside the seaside on the North Sea.

Peace Palace and The Hague’s many foreign embassies, to reach the sea.

The route is lined with elegant old buildings and shopfronts, so much so that it becomes difficult to tell just where the city stops and the beach resort starts. It’s safe to alight when the tram empties as the beach is the end of the line.

There is a long, wide expanse of beach, an esplanade, a pier and a lighthouse. The water and wind is popular for windsurfing and kiteboarding, and even a few keen surfboard riders who will put on a wetsuit and look for a wave – even in winter when the sand is white with snow.

Like coastal towns everywhere, development has taken its toll with burger joints, pizza chains and the obligatory golden arches flashing their neons around the superb Kurhaus, or “cure house”.

Kurhaus was more famous as a concert hall attracting top artists from around the world, including the Rolling Stones in 1964 and Ike and Tina Turner in 1971.

The Kurhaus was saved from demolition when it was listed as a historic building in 1975, and

was renamed the Grand Hotel Amrath Kurhaus in 2014. On the last Sunday of each month, there’s a tour of the grand old building followed by high tea.

The ornamental brickwork and art nouveau style of the Kurhaus still manages to stand out from the casino, cinemas, shopping centre and apartment blocks that, along with the promenade, have joined the beachfront clutter as quickly as a Gold Coast high-rise.

Although it is difficult to imagine Holland competing with the sun, sand, sea, and sky of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, defensive Dutch folk consider North Sea coastal towns such as Scheveningen and Kijkduin worthy tourist destinations.

And if the banks of traffic and wall-towall people on even a not-so-sunny Sunday are any indication, they must be right.

Of course, the fact that Holland has 17.9 million people jammed into an area about the size of south-east Queensland, and that the little low country would fit into Australia 186 times, may also help account for the numbers.

Nevertheless, while there are plenty of good reasons to add the Netherlands to a travel agenda, the Dutch coast is generally not among them.

But it could be – even if only for the sake of comparison.

The tourist industry in Scheveningen, for example, is more than a century old and it was home to fishermen long before

To residents of The Hague, the seat of Dutch government which is less than an hour from the more famous capital Amsterdam, Scheveningen is a “must see”.

In terms of tourism, it rates right alongside the home of the International Court of Justice, the Peace Palace, and the Madurodam, a miniature village which offers a garden walk through the whole of Holland on a 1:25 scale.

The biggest challenge to finding The Hague’s premiere beach is knowing how to say it – it is pronounced Schray-ven-inger - as became obvious during World War II.

During the occupation, the name was used by the Dutch resistance to identify German infiltrators. It was a dead giveaway, sometimes literally, if those asked failed to pronounce the ‘Sche’ with a guttural similar to throaty rolled “chr” of the Scottish loch.

A tram from the city centre takes only 15 minutes down an avenue of trees and past the architectural grandeur of the

Built on the site of a bath house beside the beach in 1884-85, it was destroyed by fire soon after and had to be rebuilt in 1886-87, but as a health spa, it drew thousands, including the rich, royal, and famous, to the beach in the late 19th century.

For much of the 20th century, the

And like Mooloolaba, it’s a far cry from the days when everything revolved around the fishing industry.

The bright side is that on the northern coast of the northern hemisphere, there is no fear of buildings throwing a shadow on the beach. In fact, they provide protection from the cold winds that howl in from the North Sea.

Even so, on a bright summer’s day in

the Dutch set sail south to discover Terra Australis.

The ferris wheel and pierat Scheveningen is a quick tram ride from The Hague.

Beachgoers between the sea and the Kurhaus.

June, when the average temperature is 19.4C, the chill wind still often calls for a jumper before venturing out on to the sand.

Contrary to popular thought, there is sand. The expanse between the esplanade and the water is wide enough to accommodate restaurants, rows of sun chairs and then some, and while not the glistening white of the local habitat, it’s close enough to be acceptable to Australian beach-goers.

The swell is little more than a gentle ripple and even in summer, the temperature is literally breathtaking.

While local government in Queensland has agonised over how close buildings

Essential Tips and Tricks for TRAVELLING SENIORS

As the golden years approach, many seniors find a newfound freedom to explore the world through travel. Here are 10 tips and tricks to ensure travelling seniors have a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience.

Health Comes First: Schedule a pre-travel checkup with your healthcare provider. Discuss your travel plans, medication management, and any necessary vaccinations. Carry a list of your medications, medical history, and doctor’s contact information.

Travel Insurance: Invest in comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies and cancellations. This safety net can provide peace of mind in case unforeseen situations arise.

Pack Light and Smart: Opt for lightweight luggage with wheels and invest in packing cubes to stay organised. Pack versatile clothing that can be layered and, mixed and matched. Remember, comfortable walking shoes!

Stay Comfortable During Transit: Whether travelling by plane, train, or car, prioritise comfort. Bring a travel pillow, blanket, and entertainment such as books, music, or puzzles to stay occupied during the journey.

Take Time to Enjoy Your Itinerary: Avoid the temptation to cram too many activities into your

should be to the beach, here restaurants sit right on the sand, even blocking beach access so that unless you are prepared to look for a public access, the only way to the beach is past dining tables and a maitre d’.

While in Scheveningen, visit the Panorama Mesdag. Housed in a purposebuilt museum the work by Dutch artist Hendrik Willem Mesdag is more than 14m high and about 120m round. From the gallery in the centre of the room, it gives the illusion of standing on a high sand dune overlooking the sea, beaches and village of Scheveningen in the late 19th century.

There’s also plenty of history, particularly from World War II, when the

coastline was part of the Atlantic Wall coastal defences built by Nazi Germany against allied invasion.

At the nearby Haagse Bos, (Hague Forest) V1 and V2 missiles were fired on London, and residents of Scheveningen lived in fear as if a launch failed, the rockets crashed into their streets.

At the same time, more than 25,000 members of the Dutch resistance were held at the Scheveningen prison awaiting interrogation. Many were shot in the nearby dunes.

The prison became known as the Oranje Hotel, acknowledging the national colour and the fact that these were not criminals. It’s now open for visitors to hear grim stories of the era.

There’s plenty to choose from when it’s time to eat. Where locals once relied on the fruits de mer – North Sea herring, cod and plaice – visitors can now find anything that takes their fancy.

And if throwing your head back and dropping a whole raw herring into your mouth isn’t quite to your taste, fish and chips on the beach or at the harbour is hard to beat – followed by a serve of famous Dutch poffertjes, little pancakes drenched in butter and topped with icing sugar.

A day beside the seaside is a whole new experience for Queensland coastal dwellers who will find a Dutch beach is worth a visit even without sun and surf.

TOUR THE BACKROADS

WHEN there’s a maximum of 18 in a tour group, it’s possible to go beyond the “name” sights and big cities and see a destination through the eyes of those who live there.

Back-Roads Touring has been creating small group tours for more than 30 years and understands that the best kind of adventure is the one that introduces local experiences and gives time to explore independently.

Hand-picked accommodation offers charming boutique retreats full of character that become a highlight of the tour and not just a bed for the night.

Itineraries have a regional focus, taking the scenic route rather than highways and the pace is easy, with travel involving little more than 150km a day to ensure a relaxed journey and leave room for flexibility.

Tour leaders have local knowledge and experience and know how to avoid the crowds while finding the best local restaurants and getting off the beaten track.

There are no early starts or long days on the road. Itineraries are relaxed and flexible, so it becomes like travelling with a group of friends while not having to worry about organizing anything.

Tewantin Travel call 5447 1011 or head to The Atrium, Suite 11, 91 Poinciana Ave, Tewantin.

itinerary. Allow ample rest periods and choose activities that align with your energy levels and interests.

Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Carry a reusable water bottle and healthy snacks to stay hydrated and maintain your energy levels while exploring.

Respect Your Limits: Be aware of your physical limitations, and don’t hesitate to ask for assistance when needed.

Stay Connected: Keep a charged mobile phone with you, and share your travel plans with a friend or family member. Regular check-ins can offer reassurance to loved ones.

Socialise Safely: Connect with fellow travellers or locals, but exercise caution when sharing personal information. Trust your instincts and avoid unfamiliar or unsafe situations.

Organise Foreign Currency Before You Go: Crown Currency Exchange has 19 stores in Queensland, all offering Seniors Rates every day of the week. Show your Seniors Card to access the special rates.

Travelling as a senior can be a fulfilling and enriching experience. By prioritising health, safety, and comfort, you can embark on memorable journeys that add a new dimension to your life’s adventures.

1300 392 426

The giant cylindrical painting of Scheveningen by Hendrik Willem Mesdag.

VARIETY MAKES MAGIC IN NEW SOUTH WALES

JOURNEY into history and see the landmarks that define New South Wales on an adventurous 11-day tour to the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the famous Blue Mountains.

Deliver post along the lower Hawkesbury, visit the only pearl farm in NSW, explore pioneering homesteads and see the famous Christmas Lights Spectacular at the Hunter Valley Gardens on a trip that brings together magnificent scenery and national heritage.

“The comfortable touring coach has big windows to sit back and enjoy the views all the way,” says Paul Brockhurst of CT Travel.

“The tour is from November 26 to December 6, and to make it easy to fully explore the local areas with day trips, we will be based for three nights at both Forresters Beach on the Central Coast and Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.”

First night is in Coffs Harbour before heading on to Port Macquarie and Bulahdelah and crossing the range to the Hunter Valley.

The Hunter Valley Gardens’ remarkable annual display of Christmas lights in the largest light event in the southern hemisphere. Explore the gardens during the day and then return for an evening filled with light.

Rural Wyong has Alison Homestead, set on 2ha of land where, in 1825, it became the nation’s first land grant.

Bound by water on three sides, The Entrance is the main marine mouth connecting Tuggerah Lake to surrounding beaches and Forresters Beach is the perfect base for day trips.

Cruise to Broken Bay Pearls, the only pearl farm on Australia’s East Coast, and its oyster leases on the scenic lower Hawkesbury River. Follow the story of the Australian pearl from ancient beginnings to modern farming.

Set in peaceful surroundings at West Gosford, Henry Kendall Cottage was the home of the pioneer poet, while Mount Penang Gardens has 12 themed garden rooms set around a sculptural plateau.

Firescreek Botanical Winery is a lush farm and garden producing awardwinning wines from a variety of fruit and botanicals. Join the Riverboat Postman cruising the lower Hawkesbury, and delivering mail to isolated settlements

along the waterways while hearing anecdotes of river life.

Get an overview of the magnificent scenery of the Blue Mountains from Govetts Leap and Echo Point lookouts, before riding the Scenic World Railway, and then taking the cableway to the forest floor and the Skyway high over the canyon for first-class views of the famous Three Sisters.

The Carrington Hotel in Katoomba is Australia’s oldest remaining resort-style hotel and a perfect setting for high tea before heading to Leura to visit Bygone Beautys Treasured Teapot Museum.

A museum on the site of the original Commonwealth small arms factory tells the story of British influence and houses a comprehensive collection of experimental weapons. In later years, the factory made sewing machines, sheep shearing handsets, handcuffs and other commercial items.

The Bylong Valley Way, part of the Greater Blue Mountains Touring Route, has amix of stunning scenery and sleepy towns on the way to Muswellbrook.

Head home through Tamworth, Armidale and Glen Innes, and the scenic Washpool Park to Grafton and Ballina to tick off some more NSW regions.

“There’s so much to see and we have captured a fine mix of it all,” Paul says. Visit cttravel.com.au or call 5391 1648.

A BLOOMING FEAST

IT will be a feast of gardens and natural beauty on a seven-day coach tour to the Grafton Jacaranda Festival and the Hunter Valley Gardens.

The Coastal Variety Tours trip from November 3, heads down the Pacific Highway for a stop at the Australian Seabird Rescue Centre in Ballina before arriving in Grafton for two nights for its famous Jacaranda Festival and parade. Then there are three nights in the Hunter Valley to visit the magnificent Hunter Valley Gardens, 25ha of international display gardens and a winery tour.

There will be a cruise on the Hawkesbury River with the Riverboat Postman and sightseeing in the coastal area of Newcastle, Port Stephens and Nelson Bay, with its sweeping views from the Nelson Head Inner Light. Coastal Variety Tours offers home pickups on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast.

For a full itinerary call 5530 2363 or 0437 436 722.

CANBERRA FLORIADE

GRAFTON JACARANDA FESTIVAL

Tour Highlights:

Hunter Valley Gardens, Winery Tour & Tasting, Cockington Green, Tulip Top Gardens, Cowra Cherry Blossoms, Japanese Gardans, Lake Burley Griffin Cruise, Canberra Attractions, Blue Mountains

Katoomba, Scenic World, Warrumbungle National Park, Toowoomba Flowers.

FARE INCLUSIONS:

• Motel Accommodation • Breakfast + Dinner Daily

• All tour admission fees • All included tours

HOME PICK-UP & RETURN

Tour Highlights:

Hunter Valley Gardens, Hawkesbury River, Port Stephens.

FARE INCLUSIONS:

• Motel accommodation Grafton, Hunter Valley • Coffs Harbour, ALL Breakfast & Dinners, All Admissions and Touring • Ballina

- Australian Seabird Rescue, Grafton Jacaranda Festival/ Parade

• Hunter Valley Gardens, The Riverboat Postman Cruise

- Hawkesbury River

Museum & tea room

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW PLUS GREAT OCEAN ROAD

• Port Stephens/Nelson Bay - Lighthouse

• Newscastle Slim Dusty Centre Kempsey

HOME PICK-UP & RETURN

THREE THINGS ABOUT ELSIE

By Joanna Cannon

Literary fiction

Reviewed by Jan Kent

THE tale of Elsie and Florence, who is wavering in the confusion of dementia, amid a handful of interesting characters in a retirement home may seem a little too close to home for some of us.

However, this book, with its carefully crafted poignant language, had me laughing aloud and shedding a quiet tear in almost equal measure.

The addition of a mysterious newcomer to the home, leading to unexplained and confusing events for Florence, keeps the reader wondering whether she is imagining it or if there is some sinister purpose behind it all.

Florence recognises him as an enemy from her past, but didn’t he drown 60 years ago? Fortunately, she has her forever best friend Elsie, with whom she shares her worries and secrets from long ago and who helps her remember.

With a shift in time from Florence lying on her floor after a fall to the events of her younger days involving the long-held secrets, the author has cleverly woven the past and present together.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of language and those of us who need reminding how precious our friendships are.

TOM LAKE

By Ann Patchett – Literary fiction

SANDPIPER

By Michael Pert

Historical thriller

Reviewed by John

Kleinschmidt

EARLY this year I reviewed and enjoyed The Kissing House, the first book of author Michael Pert. Sandpiper is his second offering and well worth a read.

Set during World War II, it covers a less popular aspect of war stories – the operation of undercover spies.

Sandpiper has a dark past and is drawn into spying against his country, while controlled by a ruthless spymaster.

British Intelligence is determined to uncover a spy threatening the D-Day landing in France and recruit Yvette and Andy for the task. This is a real thriller and love story with strong, colourful characters and a fast-paced plot.

Reviewed by Annie Grossman, Annie’s Books on Peregian

want the details – the real story of their mother’s youth.

GATHERING DARK

By Candice Fox

Crime thriller

Reviewed by Jo

Bourke

CANDICE Fox burst on to the literary scene in 2014 when she won the Ned Kelly Award for the Best Debut novel, Hades, followed quickly by Best Fiction for Eden the following year. Since then, she has proved to be a popular crime writer, partnering with author James Patterson for a number of novels and a prolific range of solo novels since.

Gathering Dark is a page-turner with an unbelievable mix of characters – the once-respected Dr Blair Harbor, a convicted murderer; detective Jessica Sanchez who fights jealousy from her colleagues after catching a killer earns her a massive mansion; Sneak, the compulsive thief and cell mate saviour of Blair; and Ada Maverick, feared underworld gang lord who terrifies everyone but directs the search for Sneak’s missing daughter.

Candice has the skills to transport the reader with brutal graphic descriptions balanced with humour and empathy. Like most crime novels, we know good will prevail but it is a wild ride.

Interesting insight into the author: Candice has a young daughter and they delight in being volunteer wildlife rescuers. Perhaps that explains a gopher featuring in Gathering Dark!

TOM LAKE

By Ann Patchett –Literary fiction

Reviewed by Lea Dodd, of Rosetta Books Maleny

SET IN Michigan during the lockdown, this could have been just another pandemic story but Ann Patchett delivers so much more.

As Lara and her three grown daughters are brought together to conduct the harvest on the family’s cherry farm due to staff shortages, Patchett weaves the past and the present in a seamless dual timeline that brings to light both Lara’s pre-orchard hopes and dreams and her choice to be happy with the path down which life has taken her.

This is a message she attempts to pass on to her daughters, and to her readers. Once again, Patchett has drawn complex characters in a wholesome and compelling story that is thoroughly enjoyable.

FIRE WITH FIRE

by Candice Fox – Crime thriller

Reviewed by Graeme Bowden. The Bookshop of Caloundra

to find her.

YOUNG children generally see their parents as having a life that began with their arrival!  It is difficult to understand that their own anxieties and challenges have been experienced by generations before them, including their parents.

In this wonderful new novel from Ann Patchett, Lara Nelson shares her “before time” with her three daughters.  Their mother’s life up until the time of the story has been sketchily told to the girls, but now they

What they see as the most interesting aspect of their mother’s youth is the time she dated Peter Duke, who became a movie star.

This was a thrilling, passionate and exciting time for Lara, but also frustrating and heartbreaking;  at a time where her dreams seemed possible and the future looked bright, but the universe had other plans.

Told in two timeframes — the emerging actress and the mother telling her story — this is a gentle and atmospheric story of love, ambition and the paths we choose, from one of the great international writers of our time.

I HAVE been a big fan of Candice since her first novel Hades in 2014. She has co-authored a number of books with James Patterson and I feel his influence in this story. While most of her books are set in Australia this story happens around Los Angeles.

The parents of a young girl who disappeared from the beach are unhappy with the efforts of the police

They take a number of people hostage in a forensic investigation laboratory, then begin destroying samples to be used as evidence in outstanding criminal matters in an effort to force the authorities to try harder to find their daughter.

What I love about Candice’s books is the way she develops her characters and how my feelings towards them develops and changes throughout the story.

You will enjoy meeting them all in this story.

With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

1. On a standard qwerty keyboard, which key is the largest?

2. Which organisation had a TV commercial consisting of a parade of bandaged animals?

3. A decorative ornament on the end of a curtain rod is called what?

4. What is the maximum number of overs in a T20 cricket match?

5. In what decade was the Challenger space shuttle disaster?

6. Do the Himalayas span 2, 4 or 5 countries?

7. On a restaurant menu, what does “DF” stand for?

8. In the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, what was the full title of the movie, “Dead Men …”?

9. True or false: There is no mention of cats in the Bible

10. In what country of the British Isles was chef Gordon Ramsay born?

11. How many pedals does a normal grand piano have?

12. In what war was the book and movie Catch 22 set?

13. Which word is closest in meaning to priggish: self-righteous, happy, skinny?

14. Which fictitious detective wore a deerstalker hat?

15. On what street is the New York financial district centred?

16. What Australian state capital was founded in 1835?

17. How many five-cent coins are worth $3?

18. The Model 3 and the Model Y are varieties of what vehicle?

19. How many ureters does a normal human have?

20. From what planet did Superman come?

1. Spacebar; 2. RSPCA; 3. Finial; 4. 40; 5. 1980s (1986); 6. 5; 7.

Dairy free;

8. Dead Men Tell No Tales: Salazar’s Revenge;

9. True; 10. Scotland; 11. Three; 12. World War II; 13.

Self-righteous;

14. Sherlock Holmes; 15. Wall Street;

16. Melbourne; 17. 60; 18. Tesla cars; 19. Two; 20. Krypton.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

DOWN

1

2 Cooked kipper stuffed with duck is a meaty dish(4-3)

3 Control coach in stand(9)

5 Part and parcel of control experiments(4)

6 Safeguard reduced mass of detritus found on the side of a mountain(5)

7 Get rid of chlorine in discharge gradually(7)

8 Silent, reserved editor paid

9 Drain containing mesh adjoining a jointly owned property(9)

13 Powerful greenies, badly treated, died(9)

16 Untidy rolls revealed sadness(9)

17 Sizes up animals carrying last of merchandise on ship(8)

ACROSS

1 Occupants of camper emptied an electrical unit(6)

4 Unproductive period in yard turned around without a magic formula(3,5)

10 Drunken cab driver lies about large and small outback meeting(10,5)

11 Case enclosed by a small convex moulding is documented(8)

12 Sharp’s opening with deuce oddly to mislead(6)

14 Iron this crumpled thing(6)

15 Place that doesn’t exist at this time in this place(7)

18 Copy cassette except for the introduction(3)

19 Stroll with relative appearing in series(7)

21 Smuggled alcohol and called headquarters(4,2)

24 Government tax is included product(6)

26 Young lady cracked teat with twist(8)

28 Posh thief arranged to leave camel(4,2,3,6)

29 Boy at home added to a short instrumental composition(8)

30 Celebrity providing refuge for the old tenacious person(6)

20 Divine grace shown by court in agreement(7)

22 One heartless lady supporting grade in

23 Decay close to cliff affected trees(6)

25 Show off piano in catalogue(5)

27 Knock out psycho falling over(4)

WORDFIND

with

Country/Western, Rock n Roll Artists. See the Outback like you’ve never seen it before!

QUICK CROSSWORD

No. 3702

9-LETTER WORD

No. 074

Today’s Aim:

16 words: Good

24 words: Very good

33 words: Excellent

Every row, column and 3x3 outlined square must contain the numbers 1 to 9 once each.

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

WORD STEP

8 Fruit (plural) (8)

13 Digestion (10)

16 Responded (8)

18 Inconsistent (7)

19 Stuck (7)

20 Pipe (7)

21 Contrary to law (7)

22 Rubber (6)

25 Illness (4)

Day Trips

Day Trips & HOLIDAY ESCAPES

No. 074

Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. One possible answer shown below.