Your Time Sunshine Coast - March 2023

Iof an addictive personality, often to my detriment, and right up there with the other vices are the little games I play on phone, tablet and laptop.

For the last couple of decades, they have been magnificent time-wasters, but in more recent times they have also become good company and ensured that I stay in touch with friends.

In this instance, I'm thinking of Word with Friends, a Scrabble-based game that also permits brief (typed) conversations with opponents. It's a bit tragic to admit, but I've been playing it pretty much daily with the same friends for more than a decade.

The latest is the online daily Wordle, another fun way to start the day and

share results with friends who are also hooked on the word guessing game.

A few years ago, I was hooked on Candy Crush. That was followed by a farm I tended way too often when there were more important things to be doing, like cleaning the house.

Both wasted a lot of time but were entertaining in their way — until I finally beat the addiction. It wasn't strength of character. There was a software problem and when I lost my level, I wasn't prepared to start again.

Before that, when the kids were around, there was dinosaur chasing and looking after zoo animals and, way back, Leisure Suit Larry.

Good grief, I really don't want to think about all the misspent hours.

Now Julie Lake comes along and reports that it's not all bad. Games can be useful for keeping the brain moving, learning and socialising.

For me, I'd say the best thing is that they keep my blood pressure in check. Rather than getting steamed up about having to wait for tardy friends, the tradie or the airport queue, I get out the phone and play my move.

Dorothy Whittington Editor

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Playing games – enter a new world of entertainment

Video, as the old song goes, killed the radio star, but who would have thought that video games (VGs) would come to dominate the world of entertainment? JULIE LAKE investigates the games that engage millions of players of all ages around the world and what they offer seniors.

Stuart, “A few years ago, people my age were feeling guilty about playing video games, now there are people feeling guilty that they’re not. That’s progress.”

Gaming offers many advantages to older people because it improves cognitive ability and decision making, provides an outlet for creative skills, fosters intellectual stimulation and social interaction and even helps us connect with our grandchildren.

As several social studies have found, even the very elderly and frail can be shown how to play the simpler games, giving both themselves and their carers a new way of staying happy and engaged.

Above all, video games can be empowering because they give us the opportunity to play the hero in a virtual reality world at a time when the real world seems to become so disempowering.

in his time but dislikes anything that is gratuitously violent – which many games are. He says studies as to the effect of virtual reality violence on people are ambivalent, but he thinks it can be desensitising.

Tony’s own interest now lies mainly in simulation games, especially those relating to flight. He has long been a model aeroplane enthusiast and now enjoys the remarkably realistic Microsoft Flight Simulator VG as well as another

Most readers will remember the video arcades of yesteryear –flashy palaces of blinking lights and ringing noises where you could play Space Invaders and PacMan and much more. By the late 1980s, some of these arcade games had arrived as software on the first personal computers and we tested our reflexes on Pitfall and Super Mario.

Today, the number of available video games tops five million and many feature virtual reality worlds of such beauty that they have become a recognised art form. You likely picture the typical gamer

as a teenager shut up day and night in an untidy room, staring at a screen with an Xbox control in one hand, wasting time avidly annihilating spaceships, demons and a host of virtual enemies.

The truth is very different because today’s gamers are of all ages and all types and all, except the true addicts, manage their video gaming like any other recreational activity such as bridge, chess or Scrabble – and seniors make up a large proportion of these.

After all, those who designed the first video games are now seniors themselves.

To quote video games writer Keith

We can strive for control in a video game in a way that may no longer seem possible in real life. Our bones ache, eyesight is going, muscles shrink, hair falls out – but on that screen we are young again, perhaps possessed of awesome powers, not just able to run and jump but also to fly.

Many video games are designed for thinking and learning; they are not just for those with nothing better to do. And playing them is no more time-consuming than traditional board or card games –think board games on steroids.

Tony Obermeit, who until his retirement wrote computer applications for the giant Oracle computer technology corporation, agrees that certain video games are of great benefit to seniors.

He has played many different games

simulation that “flies” model aircraft. He can s elect his virtual plane to match his real-life model and thus practice manoeuvres on screen without fear of doing real life damage.

MS Flight Simulator can be a social activity, with several players picking a flight plan and destination, then all “flying” to it together.

Tony’s wife Hilary also enjoys gaming, usually with her phone or tablet. A favourite is Carcassonne, which began life as a popular tile-laying boardgame where players fill in the countryside around a fortified city.

The player who makes the most strategic placement of tiles and followers

Gaming is portable and thus of special benefit to grey nomads. Tony Obermeit, who spent much of last year travelling in Western Australia, takes wing on his Flight Simulator while sitting outside his caravan in a popular beach spot.

“Many video games are designed for thinking and learning; they’re not just for those with nothing better to do”

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wins the game. Hilary plays against somebody she has never met in America.

Many of the more complex games require dedicated consoles – powerful computers designed for gaming via your TV screen – and most of us are familiar with names such as Xbox and PlayStation.

Today there is a wide range of games available for personal computers, laptops, tablets and phones.

These are either free or can be bought from shops or through online stores run by Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and many general suppliers such as Steam, an app which allows users to download and run games.

For many VGs you will need a fast and powerful computer with a dedicated gaming graphics chip.

The sheer range of VGs is mindboggling and there is space here to mention only a handful of particular appeal to older people who aren’t likely to go for extreme violence, juvenile themes and frenetic big-eyed Japanese cartoon characters.

VGs fall broadly into four genres – neo-Tolkien fantasy with the usual, quests and battles against dark forces; intergalactic drama such as Star Wars; post-apocalyptic dystopia; and Indiana Jones-type adventure.

Some of these have their genesis in film and TV, such as the Spider Man and Avatar video game series. Others, like the ever- popular Dungeons and Dragons, began as board games.

Adventure games help retain mental acuity because players, whether competing against the system or other real-life players, are able to solve puzzles, meet challenges, accomplish tasks, win tokens or treasure, and incrementally move to higher levels in the game.

Players make good friends doing this – even if they never meet face-to-face. But there are also games that offer a

blend of traditional board game-type cognitive challenges with magic and stimulating visuals, such as the Scrabblederived Words with Friends, Peggle, and the long-popular Candy Crush saga, a mostly free-to-play multi-player/ character game with versions for Facebook, Windows and smart devices, that has board-like visuals and tokens.

More challenging is the Meet Your Maker first person building and raiding game that tasks you with creating mazes and traps to protect your resources and raid those of other players – sort of super Ludo with great graphics!

Construction is also the goal of the amazing Sim City series which enables you to design and create your own virtual metropolis, as beautiful and bustling and idealistic as you want it to be as it becomes more intricate.

And you can do it on your mobile phone, as well as other devices. At your command a virtual city (or world, as later games in the series go galactic) comes to life and you can add heroes and villains and every kind of infrastructure. No

wonder this is one of the most popular video games of all time.

Very different and less elaborate is Octopath featuring eight stories which occasionally merge, and eight separate protagonists in search of different goals.

And then there is Dear Esther, a minimal-gameplay first-person murder mystery known for its magnificent virtual reality depiction of a Hebridean island and other British-inspired scenery.

Zelda, one of the most popular gaming series, has the usual virtual kingdom, questing heroes and thwarting villains all played out through a series of challenges, puzzles, and rewards.

Some games have a strong connection to real life and offer self-improvement. For example Nintendo’s W11 sportsseries features sports simulation video games which play on a Nintendo console or handheld device.

They mimic real life sports action with training and fitness modes that monitor a player’s progress and offer competition with other players.

W11 is one of the best gaming systems for older adults thanks to its physical exercise aspect, which uses motionsensing technology and on screensimulations so the player can physically engage in activities such as tennis, fitness workouts and dance – but with lighter impact.

Then there are the virtual reality life enhancers like Flow and Flower which blend music, visuals and gameplay to create a compelling emotional experience.

My personal favourite of the moment is Stardew Valley, an open-ended simulation role-playing game for up to four players in which you inherit a rundown farm and improve it by growing crops, raising livestock, learn to fish and forage, interact with townspeople, marry and have children.

Kiki Osgathorpe, 76, and her grandson

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Tor, 30, share an interest in Pokémon which began in 1999 when Tor collected Pokémon trading cards, before VGs became common household entertainment.

In those days he played it on the ground-breaking GameBoy console. Today, Kiki plays mostly on her smartphone but Tor has a portable device and has just bought another for his five-year-old son Charlie, already a Pokémon player.

“It’s quick, easy and fun,” says Kiki of one of the most loved VG series, which now features augmented reality technology so sophisticated that it appears to take the player into another dimension.

As many gamers point out, the virtual reality world offers an appealing, sometimes exciting refuge from real life and a chance to interact with others of similar interests without leaving home.

“Once you’ve crossed the threshold to that world and played your first game, there’s no turning back,” Kiki says.

And the games keep getting better, with new generation consoles and gaming chips for computers making for higher visual fidelity and avatar action (avatars are the personalised graphical representative of players).

The universe of VGs is so huge that there is a game to suit everybody. Many are free on your PC or smart device and don’t even require downloading.

Others are quite expensive and require a lot of grunt. Some are even set in Australia. The best advice from seasoned gamers is to start with something simple on your PC or smart device before investing in expensive consoles, and take it from there.

If you need advice on how to get started, there is plenty of it online and all VGs come with detailed instructions.

Or ask somebody more tech savvy than yourself – such as a grandchild.

Hilary Obermeit sits in a picnic shelter playing the video game Carcassonne –against an opponent living more than 15,000 kms away.

Have your say. Send letters to Editor, Your Time Magazine, PO Box 6362, Maroochydore BC 4558 or email editor@yourtimemagazine.com.au

I WOULD like to add my scary story to the plethora of scamming examples (YT Feb).

I received a call from what appeared to be a Sydney phone. I ignored it, then it rang again and I answered.

A pleasant, non-accented voice said she was from PayPal, called me by name and said they had detected a suspicious debit on my account. So far, no alarm bells.

She said they had rung to help me reverse the debit and would I open my laptop and go to my bank account. Yes, I know, what an idiot I am, but it all sounded so authentic.

Long story short, three transactions totalling $1444.38 appeared on my account. I was promised they were working on the reversals and to wait a day for it to happen.

Well, we know nothing happened. I rang the bank, reverse searched the number to see it listed as a scam phone, cancelled my PayPal account and feel very stupid!

Sadly, it’s a lesson learned as the bank has said that because I freely opened my own account, they cannot get my money back because it wasn’t illegally hacked into.

of life, and no encouragement at all to self-fund.

A warm, inner glow? Ah, yes, that is the only benefit!

IN THE GARDEN

with Penny

I am thankful that the amount wasn’t much more as I am a pensioner and things are tight these days, but i’ve moved on and forgiven myself.

Patricia A Heron MBE

EDITION 95 of Your Time provided a really interesting and informative piece regarding scams etc.

I’m almost 86 and one of the “vulnerable” among us!

So far I’ve kept out of their clutches but I do find it all very worrying and I do know of friends who have made mistakes and fallen for scams. Luckily we have a son who can check before we commit.

Well done for highlighting this ever increasing problem!

Ron Croom

WHILE around two-thirds of the retiree cohort rely at least partly on the age pension for their financial needs, I am curious about the benefits of being self-funded.

There are no fortnightly pension payments, no fringe benefits of the age pension, no help with mobility apparatus, no expressed appreciation from the government for frugality, no better health outcomes and longevity, no better quality

While it would be a blow to the Federal budget, the age pension should be universal, on the grounds of equity, as happens in a number of overseas countries.

Ken Moore

LAST month, my heart lurched when I spotted a pair of Indian Mynah birds pecking away on the grass in front of my house.

Dark brown/black with the Mynah yellow eye, beak and leg marking, they’re too often mistaken for our native grey coloured Mynah.

The Indian Mynah is one of the most invasive animal species in the world.

They take over nesting hollows, evicting birds and small mammals, and prey on nestlings including our native Mynah. Sunshine Coast Regional Council loaned me a trap and within a week I caught five.

I mentioned this on my volunteering day at Bloomhill Cancer Care and a colleague said they had a trap and were catching the Indian Mynah regularly. With 10 species visiting my backyard bird baths, and wattle birds nesting in my garden, I dread the thought of going “Cairns” where they’ve reached pandemic proportions.

Pauline Clayton

I LOVE autumn, although I can’t believe it’s here already. Hopefully the lawns won’t need to be mowed weekly.

A good time to get your mower serviced and possibly new blades fitted. It really makes a difference. I give my lawns a feed now to see them through winter.

It’s time to order bulbs, and plant fruit trees and shrubs in general. Bare root roses will be available soon. Best to read up on what you require first as some of the more popular varieties sell fast. There is a rose for every situation – great for pots, climbing, cut flowers or standards. Many still have a beautiful perfume, but not all.

A great time to plant cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, peas, beans and corn.

In the flower garden, snapdragons are my favourite, and for something low, you can’t beat petunias or alyssum.

Sweet peas are another favourite. Dig your area over, add compost, aged animal manure and a dusting of lime. Large pots are also suitable. Soak seeds overnight to plant the next day.

Prune back trees and shrubs while it’s cool. Tidy up pots by removing any dead foliage and weeds and top up potting mix.

Penny Hegarty

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FAMILIAR

OLD FACES IN CLASSIC BRITISH FILM

THE SUPERBLY-crafted British film Allelujah is a warm, humorous, and deeply moving story about surviving old age.

When the geriatric ward in a small Yorkshire hospital is threatened with closure, the hospital decides to fight back.

Allelujah celebrates the spirit of the elderly patients while paying tribute to the deep humanity of the medical staff

WIN A FREE DOUBLE PASS

Your Time has five double passes to be won to see Allelujah. Simply email editor@ yourtimemagazine.com.au with your postal address before March 20.

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battling with limited resources and ever-growing demand.

It is based on a play by British playwright Alan Bennett, and from the producers of Lady In The Van, The Lost King, The Duke and Philomena.

There is an A-list British cast of popular and familiar faces, led by Jennifer Saunders, Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi and David Bradley.

Google Allelujah to watch the trailer.

to 5 scenarios and compares cashflow effects of each option, Placement Service –

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future. We look forward to helping you navigate through the next stage of your life.

‘Modern services with a touch of traditional dignity’

by Mocco Wollert

word “grouchier” meaning to grumble, to be a grouch. It is a strong feeling of anger or dislike for a person who you feel has treated you badly, intentionally or not.

Maybe it was nothing more than a careless word about a friend who heard it. It might just be a rumour spread about you without substance, only half understood, a whisper.

There is so much negativity about holding a grudge. Anger, bitterness, resentment – all the things that destroy a person’s chance of happiness and joi de vivre. But not only that, being unhappy and angry could very well affect your health.

Holding on to negative feelings and emotions may manifest as a pain in your big toe or a sore elbow. Well, I may be exaggerating a bit.

was no more than curiosity.

One way to avoid holding a grudge and letting it overshadow your life, friendships or relationships, could be to talk about it. Maybe a friend or even a stranger can give a different point of view, help put things into perspective, and offer a more harmless interpretation.

You could let off steam by yelling about it in the sanctity of your room, maybe even throw the odd cup –nothing expensive though –anything to get it out of your system rather than let it fester inside of you.

If you come across serious grudge-holders, avoid them. They fill their own lives with bitterness and look for hidden agendas in every corner.

HOLDING a grudge is bad. It is bad for the person who is holding the grudge and bad for the grudgee – if there is such a word.

In my mind holding a grudge means that something bad has happened to me and I can neither forget nor forgive.

I find “grudge” an uncomfortable word; murky, not clear-cut like hate or disgust. It is never used without the word “holding” before it. To me that signifies something that will be ongoing, maybe forever.

Grudge comes from the old French

Sometimes, people are looking for an insult where none is meant. Some people are hypersensitive and see an attack in every corner.

“I am lucky,” I say to people. “You can’t insult me because I simply don’t get it!” This is probably because I am not looking for hidden meanings or a thinly-veiled insult.

Sometimes grudges are being nurtured about nothing more significant than a joke gone wrong, a word misunderstood, a laugh at the wrong time, a suspicious look that

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then

If you hold grudges of your own, think seriously about them. Are they really worth hanging on to? Some people hold a grudge so long they can hardly remember what it was about.

Don’t expect apologies. It is one of the hardest things to do, especially if you have been in the wrong – watch our politicians on television – just hold out your hand, metaphorically or not, and let it go!

May you be able to forgive even if you can’t forget.

Email mocco.wollert@bigpond.com

IT WAS bound to happen eventually, yet I still feel my body has betrayed me.

Despite my best efforts, Covid 19 caught up with me. Or rather, I caught it.

My main defence, which worked for three years, was a refusal to catch it.

As I had been in contact with family who had tested positive, I knew my sudden tiredness was not good.

I spent a day in complete denial, but a sore throat saw me reluctantly reach for a rapid antigen test. The nasty little lines indicating a positive result came up pretty quickly.

My cold-like symptoms were overshadowed by actual disappointment that I was not invincible. My disappointment was then overshadowed by a desire to nap on the couch for three days.

It was great to have time at home free from commitments but not so great having no energy to even think about all the things I could achieve while at home.

Naturally, I shared my germs with hubby, though I really don’t know who had it first.

There we were, two lacklustre bodies sharing the couch. We decided that laughter was the best medicine, so watched comedies on TV and occasionally found enough energy to chuckle.

Sometimes, we left the couch to have a nap on the bed. I had no idea what strain or Greek letter we were up to and didn’t much care. Like a lot of people, I had barely suffered a cold since the pandemic started thanks to recommendations of social distancing, mask wearing, hand hygiene and a pinch of luck.

Earlier on, we accepted stringent rules regarding leaving the house, overseas travel and oddly, the amount of toilet paper purchased. The ban on hugging didn’t bother me. I was never a fan of the activity anyway.

As a child, I once refused to hug my visiting aunt. She good humouredly asked, “What about a handshake?” I agreed and offered my hand. She took it and pulled me into her voluptuous curves and hugged me until I gasped for breath. Clearly, the woman could not be trusted.

I have my reasons for expecting to remain healthy. When I was three years

old, I spent a couple of days in hospital with a gastro bug. I was so distraught that Mum was allowed to take me home.

I remember crying a lot and according to Mum, I was most put out by having to wear a nappy to deal with one of the usual symptoms of gastro. This event saw me vow to never be sick again and to avoid any further hospital visits.

Of course, I had the usual childhood diseases of the time, but remained in good health overall. I survived the scrapes and physical mishaps that come with trying to keep up with two older brothers, which was probably more hazardous than any illness.

As far as viruses go, Covid was no worse than the common cold for both hubby and me. Only the tiredness was next level. For three nights, I slept solidly for eight hours and awoke feeling tired. Hubby was also weary, but said he thought it was age related.

We hope our vaccinations helped us put up a good fight, but we knew other people who didn’t fare so well, some pro-vax and some not. I got over Covid and expect I will also recover from my immune system failing its one job to protect. To be fair, it must have made some effort, or I would have been sicker.

They say ASSUME makes an ASS out of U and ME, so best not to assume I am invincible in future.

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Read all about it in the treasure Trove

The valuable online newspaper resource Trove is being threatened by funding cuts and that, writes AUDIENNE BLYTH, is something which should concern us all.

News that the federal government will slash funding and impose harsh “efficiency dividends” on the National Library of Australia, is alarming.

There is a great need to object to this funding cut and many of us have already petitioned the government.

Trove, a resource of NLA is an internationally recognised “collection of collections” yet important parts of the service are to be scrapped.

Trove offers the free speech of past generations and represents a democracy of knowledge in a real and practical way. It is a free online library database, a treasure chest, a record of our doings since newspapers began.

As long as you have access to the web, the service is free wherever you live.

Visit trove.nla.gov.au and you may freely research or just read about any topic you like.

Some of us like to research family history on Trove.

The columns of the births, marriages and deaths “hatched, matched and despatched” are very useful. Trove has details about the lives of pioneer families and stories about how our ancestors lived.

Some researchers like to read the news belonging to a certain time period to discover divided and past opinions. You can read a first-hand account of major events such as wars,

catastrophes, and even debates for government legislation.

A topic much debated is the weather and Trove can supply details of past weather patterns, rainfall, droughts and floods.

Some of us may prefer to look at the social side of life, the fashion in clothing, household furnishings and cars.

It is easy to become addicted to Trove.

Sunshine Coast residents would find much of interest in looking at copies of The

Nambour Chronicle & North Coast Advertiser, first printed in 1903 and available on Trove up to 1955. We can gain a valuable picture of how development occurred here.

We can find stories of the first Europeans who came to the Sunshine Coast to harvest the great forests of pine, cedar and beech. There are stories of settlers arriving by boat before roads and railways were established.

Advertisements feature blacksmiths, midwives, wheelwrights, saddle and harness makers, and boarding houses.

News features land clearing for sugar growing and the building of tramways from Nambour to Coolum and also to Buderim – reporting the controversy of whether the terminus should be at Woombye or Palmwoods.

One-teacher schools open. Men and women enlist in wars.

Other newspapers also have items relevant to our region.

TheBrisbane Courier, first printed in 1864, provides information about building the rail link between Brisbane and Gympie in the 1890s.

The Queenslander, first printed in 1866, features pictorial sections of life throughout Queensland, a photographic record of the past, of people, places and events. We may be surprised to learn that The Nashville TimesGympie and Mary River Mining Gazette was first printed in 1868.

Gold was discovered there in 1867 and many of the timbergetters from the Sunshine Coast ran off to the diggings. Foremost for Gympie was building a road to Brisbane. All the details can be found by accessing Trove. Trove offers us an identity, our cultural heritage. There is a need to expand Trove, and certainly not to cut its services.

SING A SONG OF NAMBOUR TOWN

THE song Nambour Town may not be as familiar to today’s audiences as songs like Road to Gundagai or I’m Going Back Again to Yarrawonga but, at a concert in Nambour’s Royal Hall in 1907, it was the highlight of the night.

Performed by senior girls from Nambour State School, the song was “Very well received and loudly encored” – so the girls obliged and sang it again according to The Chronicle of July 27, 1907.

Fortunately, The Chronicle was so impressed that it also published the words of the song, but the original tune and the name of the lyricist have been lost. There is speculation that it was composed by a Nambour schoolmaster but the evidence is inconclusive.

We don’t know how often Nambour Town was performed after its premiere in 1907.

It may have faded into obscurity within a few years and remained there until more recent times when local historian Tony Bryant came across the words in The Chronicle.

Tony could see the benefit in resurrecting it and, after a fruitless search for the music, he sought the help of local composer Helen Porter who put the words to music in a style consistent with the era in which the words were penned.

A few years ago, after a possible 100

years or so in obscurity, Nambour Town was presented at a concert in Nambour’s Quota Park when a combined choir conducted by Mitch Myer performed the piece to Helen Porter’s music.

Nambour Town will get another airing as part of Buderim Male Choir’s Great Southern Land concert program at Beerwah and Buderim this month. See What’s On, Page 32 for details.

Excerpt from Nambour Town

MATTERS

Keep an ear out for the risk of dementia

Recent reports have suggested a connection between hearing loss and dementia. KAILAS ROBERTS finds that there’s nothing to be lost by covering bases and addressing what is one of the easiest ways to promote brain health.

What would you guess is the best thing you can do to reduce the worldwide burden of dementia?

I’m not talking about an individual person’s risk of developing the condition –though the answer may well be relevant to you personally – but about something that would prevent or delay most cases around the world.

You might be thinking exercise, diet, or looking after your heart health, and all of these would be reasonable choices, but the number one intervention may come as a surprise – avoiding or treating hearing loss.

This finding comes from a 2020 commissioned report in TheLancet, a prestigious medical journal, that looked at a number of modifiable risk factors for dementia. This report suggested that 8 per cent of cases of dementia could be avoided or delayed by addressing hearing, more than any other intervention.

Research has found a correlation between poor hearing and an increased risk of developing dementia. While hearing loss may not directly cause dementia, it can contribute to cognitive decline in several ways.

One possibility is that hearing loss may lead to social isolation and loneliness, which are risk factors for dementia.

When individuals have difficulty hearing, they may withdraw from social activities. Lack of social stimulation can lead to reduced cognitive function and increased risk of dementia.

Another possibility is that the brain must work harder to process and interpret sound when hearing loss is present. This increased cognitive load can lead to cognitive fatigue and can impact cognitive performance in other areas as well.

There is also evidence to suggest that hearing loss can lead to changes in brain structure and function. Specifically, when

the brain does not receive input from the ears due to hearing loss, the areas of the brain responsible for processing auditory information can become less active.

This can impact the brain’s ability to perform other cognitive functions, potentially contributing to the development of dementia.

It’s important to note though that while there is a correlation between hearing loss and dementia, not everyone with hearing loss will develop dementia, and not everyone with dementia has hearing loss.

Positively, there is also some evidence to suggest that correcting hearing loss can reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in 2018 found that older adults who used hearing aids had a lower risk of developing dementia or depression compared to those who did not use hearing aids.

Some studies have also suggested that treating hearing loss with hearing aids may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. However, other studies have not

come to the same conclusion. One reason may be that hearing loss is only one of many factors that can contribute to cognitive decline and treating hearing loss alone may not be enough to improve cognition in advanced dementia.

So, while there is evidence to suggest that treating hearing loss may help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, evidence for whether treating hearing loss can improve cognition in individuals who have dementia, is less clear.

Ultimately, although there is some uncertainty about the link between hearing loss and dementia, doing so is usually straightforward and has no associated risks.

In my opinion, it is low hanging fruit when it comes to promoting brain health.

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

Drink or end up in deep water

Dehydration is a very real risk but there are plenty of other good reasons to keep up water intake. KENDALL MORTON explains the other health benefits. mental confusion. Severe dehydration is dangerous and requires medical attention.

diuretics can cause dehydration. Sometimes the interactions between different drugs can cause dehydration.

Older family members who suffer from mild cognitive impairment may not recognise their thirst signals or may forget to drink.

If someone is immobile and needs assistance with getting to the bathroom, they can be inclined to drink less in order to limit their bathroom trips. Alcohol and caffeine drinks are diuretic, so they can contribute to dehydration too.

Summer or winter, water plays a vital role in keeping us healthy. It lubricates joints and organs, helps regulate body temperature, maintains blood volume and aids circulation.

It transports nutrients and moves toxins and waste out of the body. It helps think clearly and can lift mood.

Without adequate water, you can develop fatigue, dizziness, constipation, mental confusion and headaches. These are symptoms of dehydration.

Seniors are at greater risk of dehydration than other age groups. Here’s why:

As you get older, the body’s thirst signals become weaker and less reliable. Medications such as

Being ill with diarrhea or vomiting removes fluids from the body which need replacing. Hot weather also poses a problem as our bodies perspire more to regulate temperature.

Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, a dry mouth, headaches and light-headedness.

If ignored, dehydration can become severe with symptoms such as fainting, weakness, urinary tract infections and

The general guideline for daily water intake is two litres for women and 2.6 litres for men. However, if a health clinician has advised restricted fluids, it is important to follow their guidelines.

So, how do you encourage older family members to drink enough water?

First up, discuss the idea of doing a water intake log for a few days. This can be simple set of tally marks on the fridge or a notepad.

Each time they have a glass of water, they can put a tally mark. You could also do a water intake log for yourself.

Share the risks of dehydration and the benefits of drinking water, as described above, then brainstorm ideas about when more drinks of water could be included in the regular routine. Perhaps having a cold thermos of water by the lounge chair will

help. Adding ice to water can give it an inviting tinkle on hot days.

Iced teas such as lemongrass tea or peppermint tea can be refreshing. These are not diuretic and do not need added sugar. A jug of iced tea can be made up at the end of the day and left in the fridge overnight.

Another idea is to link the desired habit of “drinking more water” to an established habit.

For instance, each time you wash the dishes, drink a glass of water with the reminder “I’m washing my insides too.”

If dehydrated, it’s best to have small sips of water often rather than one huge drink, until your symptoms ease.

Left unchecked, dehydration can lead to dizziness, falls and hospital admissions. If you have any concerns, seek medical advice.

Kendall Morton is Director of Home Care Assistance Sunshine Coast to Wide Bay. Call 5491 6888 or email kmorton@ homecareassistance.com

Your quality time starts now

A vibrant community awaits

From Moreton Bay to the Sunshine Coast, enjoy a quality lifestyle in a Stockland Halcyon Community. With resort-style facilities, low-maintenance living and luxury finishes, move into a new home from $559K*. Tailor your over 50s lifestyle to be the start of something exceptional.

Call 1800 050 050 or Halcyon Communities

*All photographs, illustrations, statements, pricing and information in this advertisement, are for illustrative purposes only and are based on information available to and the intention of Stockland at the time of creation November 2022 and are subject to change without notice. No diagram, photograph, illustration, statement or information amounts to a legally binding obligation on or warranty by Stockland and Stockland accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person who relies on them either wholly or in part. Indications of location, distance or size are approximate and for indicative purposes only. Subject to change.

CARAVANNERS ON THE ROAD TO GOOD TIMES

inclusive. The rallies are usually one week with stays at caravan parks and showgrounds.

Occasionally members travel for an extended period further afield visiting a number of different locations on roving rallies.

FORMED in 2002, the Coolum Caravan Club welcomes members from all areas of the Sunshine Coast.

Meetings are held monthly at the Mudjimba Community Hall, and visitors are always welcome.

The current membership of about 25 caravans, travels to various parts of Queensland and northern NSW once a month from February to November

Trips are fun and great friendships are formed. Activities include sightseeing local areas and attractions, a morning walking group, and a meal at a local venue. There are also special meals within the group, such as one pot dinners, camp oven, and jaffle iron meals.

Group activities include disc bowling, finska, board games and quizzes and, of course, Happy Hour, around a campfire when possible.

If you have a caravan and would like to join or seek further information call Arthur 0414 360 554 or Janet 0413 286 159.

CALOUNDRA FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

PAULEEN Cass, a retired university research administrator, active participant in the online genealogy community, blogger, experienced family historian and CFHRI Member, will be guest speaker at the next meeting of the Caloundra Family History Research group.

Her topic will be “Copyright, Privacy and Ethics”.

General meetings are on the third Thursday of each month and feature interesting local guest speakers. All are welcome to join either in person or via Zoom.

The next meeting is on March 16, 1.30pm at the CFHR rooms, Corbould Park, via Gate 2, Pierce Avenue, Caloundra. Register at hello@caloundrafamilyhistory.org.au

LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE

NOOSA Bridge Club’s next beginner’s course of bridge lessons begins March 20, in the clubrooms at 3 Wallace St, Noosaville.

The course is over eight weeks and the cost of $80 includes a copy of Paul Marston’s “Introduction to Bridge”. The course covers basic concepts and includes sessions of supervised play.

Noosa Bridge Club is a friendly, dynamic club with lots of events and regular sessions including a Saturday session for weekday workers.

Many members in their 80s and 90s play regularly.

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

For more or to register call 5447 1341, email info@noosabridge.com or visit noosabridge.com

COME AND TRY FOLK

NOOSA Folk

Dancers are offering free “come and try” sessions every Friday in March, covering traditional and modern, easy and moderate dances from countries around the world. The welcoming group provides physical and social wellbeing through world dance and has been dancing together for fun and fitness for almost 30 years.

All welcome to join in. Come and try on Fridays 10am-11.45am, at the Catholic Parish Hall, Moorindil St, Tewantin. Register by phoning Philippa 0417 780 016 or just come along in comfortable shoes.

GENEALOGY Sunshine Coast workshops coming up on March 25, are “Using DNA tools” on 9.30amnoon and “Finding newspaper articles on Trove” 1pm-3.30pm. Workshops are in the meeting rooms near the Nambour swimming pool.

•

Karin Glenning, Margo Miranda, Julie Scott and Kerry Rutter with teacher John Gill.

BUDERIM VIEW Club elected Antoinette O’Connor president (second from right) and a new committee at its first lunch meeting of the year.

The club raises money for The Smith Family and the Learning For Life program in all its activities and currently supports seven students.

Anyone interested in attending an event or joining should email gai3@ optusnet.com.au or call 5476 7163.

New Program Officers Hilary Wheeler and Lorraine Lintott.

MAROOCHYDORE View club has recommenced lunches on the fourth Friday of each month. The first for 2023 was the AGM. Learning Club volunteers were thanked and all enjoyed connecting with View club friends.

The club supports the education of 10

PROBUS OUT AND ABOUT

ON A hot day, 54 members from Probus Club of Nambour 90 travelled to Tewantin for morning tea and then cruised the Noosa River between Tewantin and Noosa.

The waterways were alive with vessels, from luxury cruisers to sailing boats, houseboats, jet skis and smaller craft. The commentary on the area and its history was very interesting.

children through The Smith Family scholarship program for disadvantaged children.

Members enjoy a monthly morning coffee, a mid-month outing and guest speakers at each club lunch.

New Program Officers Hilary and Lorraine are coming up with great activities such as restaurant outings, a Picnic in the Park to celebrate International Women’s Day, bus trips and shows.

Visitors and new members welcome. Call Claire 0416 119 053.

GLASSHOUSE Country View Club’s February lunch meeting welcomed an interesting talk from Maree from Story Dogs. This self-funded organisation started in 2009 in NSW and is now nationwide with more than 600 volunteers who help about 3000 school

After the 90-minute trip it was off to Tewantin Bowls Club for lunch and lots of good fellowship.

Nambour 90 Probus meets on the fourth Monday at the Palmwoods Bowls Club. To join in call Bill 5441 1364.

PROBUS Club Caloundra 86 members (pictured) enjoyed fun and friendship when they got together at a café in Noosaville before embarking on a cruise

children each week to gain confidence and ability in reading by reading to dogs.

The next lunch meeting is on March 15 at Glasshouse Country RSL, 1 Reed St, Glasshouse Mountains.

The club currently supports five Learning for Life students.

Anyone interested in attending an event or joining should call Adrienne 0408 486 124 or Janet 0448 845 303.

of the Noosa River with a commentary and lunch. This month’s outing is to QCamel Farm at Bells Creek.

Probus was founded by Rotary for active retirees of all ages, and is not a fundraising club. The motto is fun, friendship and fellowship.

Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month, 9.30am,Rumba Resort, 10 Leeding Tce, Caloundra. Plenty of free parking.

To join, call Geoff 0480 184 730.

Club member Esther thanks guest speaker Maree

The value of exercise in managing Parkinson’s

An estimated 219,000 Australians live with Parkinson’s disease. TRISTAN HALL discusses the role exercise can play in managing the condition.

Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological degenerative condition of the brain after dementia and affects a person’s control of body movements.

Symptoms include tremors, slowed movements, stiffness, balance problems, altered speech and difficulty with fine motor skills such as writing or holding a cup of coffee.

Parkinson’s has less well-known symptoms too that can occur up to a decade before the motor symptoms. These include sleep disturbance, constipation and loss of sense of smell.

It is caused by a loss of dopamine-producing cells in various parts of the brain. This occurs over many years. Adequate dopamine helps the body move in the way you instruct it to move.

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s, however exercise plays a vital role in managing the condition and can slow its progress.

The Parkinson’s Outcomes Project, an international research program, found people with Parkinson’s who start exercising earlier for a minimum of 2.5 hours a week show less decline in quality of life than those who start their exercise regime later.

Exercise has neuroprotective benefits. It improves the way your brain uses the available dopamine and lifts your mood. Parkinson’s presents differently in different people, so any exercise program needs to be tailormade to suit your circumstances.

In general, some activities that can offer symptomatic relief and possibly slow the progress of the disease include walking, cycling, boxing and tai chi.

Walking and cycling can be done on stationary equipment if this is safe. The repetitive movement can reduce the freezing which is common in Parkinson’s.

Some exercises are targeted at particular symptoms. For instance, resistance training builds muscle strength which will help you walk and stand more easily.

Yoga can help with flexibility and balance. Dance classes can boost aerobic function and counteract depression which is another symptom of Parkinson’s.

Regular aerobic exercise can improve cardiovascular health, breathing performance and blood pressure.

With a regular exercise routine, it’s common to experience less pain, better sleep and improved metabolism. Fatigue is another common symptom of Parkinson’s. Most forms of exercise can help with this.

If you or a loved one with Parkinson’s are thinking about how exercise may help, seek an accredited exercise physiologist who can design a personalised, safe and effective exercise program.

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

FIT HAPPENS With Tom Law

I WAS speaking to a casual friend – you know the sort of friend you pass on the morning walk or jog. You may know their name, but the friendship is generally located in the area you meet on your morning exercise.

The gentleman is probably in his late 60s. When I asked how he was, he mentioned a sore foot and also said he was not jogging as far as he used to. We talked about getting his foot checked out and he mentioned he had been through a series of tests, including physio, but to no avail. His way of treating the annoying injury was to reduce the length of his jogs in the morning and to rest up a couple more days.

Conventional treatment and even diagnosis had failed him, so he was doing what he considered the best for his body based on his own experience. The point of the story is that sometimes we need to listen to our own body as well as get

professional help, but in the end, we have a say in the treatment and remedy particularly when conventional medicine seems stumped.

So my casual friend has been offered cortisone injections, but considering the problem is not fully diagnosed, he declined and is now working on his own plan of rest and ice.

At this stage of life, aches and pains can’t be explained fully. Doctors are reluctant to mention the aging process or use it as an excuse, but we know that the body can ache in many places without any effort or load placed on it.

When specific treatment is not prescribed and we are left to deal with our aging bodies we also have a choice of doing nothing because of the discomfort or working with our issues.

In the end, all any of us can do is our best.

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

Small steps to clean, green motoring

Toyota is soon to launch the all-electric bZ4X in Australia which, writes BRUCE McMAHON, tempers the company’s careful approach to battery electric vehicles.

Now Toyota Australia plans to launch at least three EVs in three years, starting with the bZ4X SUV late this year.

This is a mid-sized, five-seat SUV with sharp style and underpinnings shared with the forthcoming Subaru’s electric Solterra.

Prices and specifications for Australia are yet to be announced but a semieducated guess would have the electric Toyota starting somewhere around $65,000.

To emphasise commitment to EVs, Toyota will spend $20 million at Australian dealers for charging and service facilities at some 232 sites.

While highly successful in the business of car making, Toyota has long been cautious, and in the worldwide scramble to pepper showrooms with electric vehicles, it appears to have been stuck in the slow lane.

But maybe the wheel-dragging is not without reason. Maybe there’s more to the future than just BEVs.

Late last year, outgoing Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda defended the company’s strategy and electric vehicle development plans.

“Just like the fully autonomous cars that we were all supposed to be driving by now, BEVs are just going to take longer to become mainstream than the media would like us to believe,” he said.

He compared Toyota to a store selling a mix of vehicles to folk with different needs. Its corporate vision was to provide “freedom of mobility for all’.

Fuel cell electric vehicles using hydrogen to make electricity were in that mix as were hybrid-electric cars, a technology spearheaded by Toyota since the first Prius of 1995.

Toyota Australia’s Sean Hanley says all this demonstrates the company’s determination to be part of the solution in combating climate change. Toyota is committed to bringing electric vehicles to Australia, understanding these will play an ever-increasing role in helping the company and customers get to net-zero carbon emissions.

“We also know it will take many years for the significant challenges facing EVs to be overcome, including battery material shortages, less than adequate charging infrastructure and the ability to

meet diverse customer requirements such as towing,” Mr Hanley said.

“That’s why it’s just too early – and too risky for the environment and our customers – to put all our eggs in the electric vehicle basket.

“Toyota will therefore maintain our strategy of developing as many technologies as possible – battery EVs where they are most appropriate and other electrified powertrains where that makes the best use of scarce battery cells.”

By 2030 Toyota globally planned to release 30 new EVs and lift EV sales to 3.5 million a year, investing $87 billion, utilising all manner of technology –battery-electric, hybrid, fuel-cell or any future technologies down the track.

And from this side of the showroom, Toyota’s approach toward clean and green motoring makes a deal of horse sense.

Full-on battery electric vehicles are not yet living up to all the hype.

Having quickly filled tanks and then driven hydrogen-fuelled electric Toyotas more than a decade ago – keeping well up with Los Angeles freeway traffic – we’d suggest there needs to be more recognition of other zero-emission solutions.

A Bra For Every Woman

KEEPING AUSTRALIANS SAFE AND INDEPENDENT IN THEIR OWN HOMES

Bathrooms Built With Care

We will design and re-create your existing bathroom so that it meets current and future needs as you age with the aim of living safely and independently in your own home

Unsafe and/or inaccessible bathrooms can mean the difference between staying in your family home or moving into supported accommodation.

Our Service can provide an assessment by an Allied Health Consultant so that your bathroom meets your specific needs now, and in the future.

WE ARE SUNSHINE COAST LOCALS AND WE ONLY USE THE BEST TRADIES AVAILABLE IN THE AREA

“AAB listened to my concerns, considered my abilities and my wish to remain living at home. They provided me with a staged plan to future-proof my ageing. Now my family doesn’t worry about me falling or slipping in the bathroom.”

–

JOHN MANNING

WHEELCHAIR

COMPLIANT WITH MODERN DESIGN

“David and his team have done work for me for the past twenty years. I have found him to be reliable, honest, and efficient, and have always been happy with the work that he’s done.”

– DAWN FRANKLIN

“Dad lives alone and we were worried about him and how he was managing. AAB were professional, open and practical. They worked well with dad, and made the whole experience stress-free. The project was completed on time and on budget.”

– GINA SMAREGLIA

LOOK OUT FOR LOKI OF THE MONTH

THE 4 Paws Animal Rescue refuge for homeless dogs and cats on the Sunshine Coast has hit CAT-pacity and is looking for help to find homes for some special felines.

Meet Loki, a handsome and friendly nine-yearold male.

He has long hair so grooming on a regular basis is required.

Loki is going to be a “permanent foster” as due to a recent urinary tract infection, he will require regular medication and vet care – but 4 Paws Animal Rescue will pay for Loki’s vet fees for the rest of his life.

He just needs a loving and caring forever home.

All 4 Paws animals are vet checked, microchipped, wormed, flea treated and de-sexed.

A not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers, 4 Paws Animal Rescue cannot survive without foster families who take in animals, giving them unconditional love, training, nursing and rehabilitation so they are ready for adoption.

If you could give Loki the new home he desperately needs, visit 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au for more information.

Employee

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:

InDi is a 13.5 year old female Staffy rescued from the local pound. She will make a loyal and faithful companion for a retired couple who wants her to be with them a lot. She is toilet trained and has a lovely happy and affectionate nature.

InDi still loves a walk and has wonderful basic obedience. Adopt her for $200.

Beaudie is a 2.5 year old domestic male short hair cat. Beaudie is friendly and loves a cuddle. He doesn’t like loud noises so is best suited to a quieter home. He is housetrained and tidy.

Adopt him for $125

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

DOGGONE IT, WHO’LL LOOK AFTER MY PETS WHEN I’M GONE?

As we grow older we live with the expectation, or hope, that our children and grandchildren will outlive us, so we make provisions for our progeny in our wills. But what about our other faithful companions? I’m talking about pets.

By LUCINDA DEAN

ACCORDING to the RSPCA, Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world – 69 per cent of Aussie households own pets with dogs being the most popular companion (48 per cent) followed by cats (33 per cent).

But who will look after your furry friends when you’re gone?

And should you leave instructions about what your dog likes to eat, which neighbourhoods she likes to sniff out or how she loves to roll over for a tummy tickle?

The Public Trustee Queensland is calling on all Queenslanders to consider making a will and to appoint someone to look after their pets.

“Talking about advance life planning can be confronting but it’s essential to plan ahead,” says Public Trustee Samay Zhouand.

“By making a will or giving someone enduring power of attorney to look after your affairs if you can’t, you can ensure your wishes will be taken into account.”

If you don’t have someone reliable to look after your pets when you’re gone, consider registering them with RSPCA’s Home Ever After program.

RSPCA philanthropy specialist

Aileen McGregor-Lowndes said the program was the perfect option to help rehome pets if owners could no longer look after them.

“It’s really important to make a will and leave instructions about how you want your pet cared for – and by whom – so your wishes are taken into account.

“If you want the RSPCA to care for and rehome your pet, it’s a good idea to register your pet with us so we know about their needs, personality and preferences – everything from their favourite food to how they like to be cuddled,” she said.

“We’ll also need a copy of the instructions in your will to make sure your wishes are followed and to complete the registration of your pet.”

For more information visit rspcaqld.org.au/how-you-can-help/ leave-a-gift-in-your-will/home-everafter-program

IMPORTANCE OF PERSONAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS

MILLER Sockhill Lawyers specialise in many areas of law including commercial law, family law, property law and succession law.

In terms of succession planning, Miller Sockhill has more than 50 years experience in preparing personal legal documents.

This refers to a will, an enduring power of attorney and an advance health directive. These documents are what every adult should have regardless of age, wealth or health status.

ADVANCE HEALTH DIRECTIVE

An advance health directive document allows you to give direction about your future health care and makes your wishes known to both family and health care providers.

Importantly, it removes the obligation for family to make difficult decisions about your health care because you have already done it for them.

ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY

An enduring power of attorney document, often referred to as a “living will” enables you to appoint a person you trust as your attorney.

The attorney can be given the power to handle both your financial affairs and health matters.

You can specify whether the power is

to begin immediately or at a time in the future.

WILL

No doubt most know that a will is a document utilised to specify your wishes for your assets and the administration of your estate after your death.

BINDING DOCUMENTS

For personal legal documents to be binding, there are certain requirements. Importantly, for any of these documents the person executing the document must fully comprehend what they are signing.

A person’s capacity to understand the document is often what leads to challenges to the validity of the document.

Contact the team at Miller Sockhill Lawyers 5444 4750 if you require assistance with personal legal documents or other legal matters.

DOWNSIZING CAN BE RIGHTSIZING

By LESA MACPHERSON

needs. If possible, consider a retirement village with co-located aged care. It can literally be a life-saver.

DOWNSIZING has become an often over-used term and does not necessarily reflect all the retirement living options available.

Also, in many cases, it can open up all kinds of worries and concerns.

Often, sadly, the very people who are lonely and isolated can be those most likely to benefit from a lifestyle “upgrade” and a home maintenance or financial pressure “downgrade”.

“Rightsizing” (a term coined by Rachel Lane) can be the result – a home that best suits your lifestyle. There are many options available.

Consider the cost of moving, possible renovations, and whether stamp duty is applicable or not. Weigh these against the many modifications to your home you would need to have to make as you age.

Then compare that to the purchase of a retirement village unit styled to your

As children of “rightsized” parents who have moved to retirement living we have found the extra funds freed up by “downsizing” provided an added security for our parents, and a well-deserved outcome for their later years, as well as help towards providing for adequate aged care.

It allowed travel and for them to stay independent and socially engaged longer.

Weigh up whether staying at home is the right lifestyle investment for you.

If you decide it isn’t, ensure your move to a retirement village includes legal and financial advice about ingoing costs (purchase), then ongoing costs (management fees, general services charges) as well as outgoing costs (exit fees, renovation costs etc.).

Be sure to get specialised advice about these costs provided by an elder law expert, and not a generalist lawyer.

There is a list of 24 helpful hints about choosing the right retirement village on the Elder Law website.

Sunshine Coast Elder Law is expert in retirement living options and the legal consequences. Call 1800 328 952 or visit sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au

CHOOSE CAREFULLY WHEN APPOINTING YOUR EXECUTOR

By GEOFF LYONS

CHOOSING the right executor is critical.

An executor should be someone you know and trust, and who you are confdient will be able to effect your will in a timely, efficient and uncontroversial manner.

An executor is not obliged to accept appointment and can simply decline without giving reasons, therefore, before an executor is appointed, he or she should be consulted.

A back-up executor should always be appointed in case the initially appointed executor is not able to act as a result of death or incapacity.

It should go without saying that when choosing an executor consideration should be given to the executor’s relationship with the beneficiaries and in certain circumstances, it may be appropriate to appoint an entirely independent person (such as a solicitor or accountant) who is able to make decisions objectively and free from emotion.

If planning to appoint your own children as executors, consideration should be given to the relationship between them.

In certain cases, it may be appropriate to appoint an independent person rather than choosing some but not all of the children, which may well give rise to resentment on the part of any child who is left out.

Being an executor can be very demanding, in both a practical and emotional sense.

The person appointed must be appropriately equipped to deal with whatever may arise, including the prospect of stressful and protracted litigation which unfortunately does occur from time to time.

Visit Geoff Lyons Solicitors at glyons.com.au for more advice.

HOW DO I CONTEST MY PARENT’S WILL?

By CHLOE TRIPPICK

THE LAW in Queensland and most other states and territories allows for family members, dependents and sometimes relatives to contest a will if they have not been adequately provided for or they think that they have been overlooked.

A claimant has as little as six months from the date of death to make a claim on the estate. This is a very important matter, among others, to be considered by a potential claimant.

Proper advice should be obtained to give light to the proper quantum of adequate provision.

If a will is contested and the matter does not settle (the vast majority of these sorts of claims settle out of court) then the court will hear all of the evidence and make a decision.

The “loser” of the case is normally ordered to pay the legal costs of the other party but this is a discretionary matter for the court.

There are a number of ways to dispute the validity of a will and by far the main grounds for this type of dispute is that the will-maker did not have the mental capacity to make a valid will.

The treating doctors of the will-maker normally give evidence on this topic and generally, the court gives a heavy weight to their evidence.

To mitigate the risk that a person may make a claim against the estate, it is best that the will-maker makes adequate provision for any spouse/de facto partner, children or stepchildren and other people financially reliant on them.

There is no exact amount of money that makes up adequate provision as each person’s circumstances are different.

Advice should be obtained from a competent lawyer in that regard.

If considering contesting a will, contact Ryans Solicitors estate lawyers 5445 1213 for an obligation-free consultation. Visit ryansolicitors.com.au

MAGPIE Elizabeth Day

Reviewed by Jan Kent

AT FIRST this book seems to be composed of an exploration of developing relationships of the three main characters, based around the theme of the yearning for a baby.

However the compelling and completely unexpected twists in both the plot and the characters are intriguing and ensured I could not put this book down until the satisfying, though slightly bland, conclusion.

Key figures are cleverly crafted and changes in relationships are masterfully developed by the author.

Elizabeth Day adeptly shifts the focus from player to player, viewing the same series of events from their varied perspectives, leading the reader to doubt their own interpretation – cunning yet unnerving at the same time.

I highly recommend this book if you are engaged by a psychological thriller – it should not disappoint.

THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS

Jodi Picoult

Reviewed by Jo Bourke

HAVE you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you had made a different decision? How often have we heard an older person say, “If I had my way over, I would have done it differently”? Jodi Picoult is no stranger to tackling challenging subjects and this novel combines her passion for Egyptology with her character’s huge conflict in loyalty to her partner and daughter.

Central character Dawn is a professional Death Doula (yes, that’s the opposite of a Birth Doula and is increasing in popularity). When Dawn survives a plane crash and is offered a free ticket by the airline, she makes a snap decision to return to the archaeological site she left suddenly years before.

There are so many facets to this story. Jodi Picoult’s research is second to none and explores the ancient ways of dealing with death with reference to an ancient Book of Two Ways. It is a confronting story, challenging the reader to look deep inside one’s being and beliefs. The surprise ending still has me wondering. An interesting read.

LIMBERLOST

Robbie

Arnott

Reviewed by Annie Grossman, Annie’s Books on Peregian

farms, and he is saving for a small boat to take him out into the waterways to fish, and to investigate the legend of the “mad whale”, a legendary man-killer.

THE KISSING HOUSE

Michael Pert

Reviewed by John Kleinschmidt

THIS is a spy thriller with a difference. Set in East Timor in 2001, the story invokes memories of pro-Indonesian savagery, a resurgent militia and a secret war between Indonesia and Australia.

The author has a background in military intelligence which provides authenticity to a fascinating fictional story. A long list of brilliantly-described incredible characters and locations draws the reader into a fast moving plot involving murder and counter-intelligence.

Pert’s writing is easy to read, descriptive but not padded and the plot provides many twists and turns that are largely unpredictable.

A compelling story well worth reading and I look forward to more from this author.

This is the third book from the local author S. R. White featuring Detective Dana Russo. I have enjoyed all of them. They are just a bit different to the usual Aussie outback crime stories that we have become used to over the past few years.

In this one Dana is sent to solve a couple of murders in the remote outback settlement of Unamurra that a previous team of detectives had been unable to unravel.

She is under a great deal of pressure from her boss but is assisted by a terrific character, the local policeman, Able Barella.

As with his previous books, White left me with no idea how this story was going to develop or end, but I really loved the journey.

I am looking forward to see how the Dana Russo character develops. She is terrific.

HOW TO KILL A CLIENT

Joanna

Jenkins

Reviewed by Lea Dodd, of Rosetta Books Maleny

Robbie Arnott is a brilliant young Australian author who has been celebrated around the country for his past two novels, Flames and The Rain Heron. His lyrical new novel set in Tasmania is unmistakably Australian.

Young Ned hunts rabbits, which are a major problem on the surrounding

Ned has grown up with the story of a whale being harpooned in the brain, and becoming violently mad. His beloved older brothers are away at war, Ned being too young to join up, so he spends much time alone and strives to help on the farm.

Limberlost is a rite-of-passage novel and Ned is such a beautifully-drawn character. The novel is simple yet immensely satisfying, rich in language, with a wonderful sense of place.

How do you solve a murder when just about everyone has wished the victim dead?

Gavin Jones is the in-house counsel for a law firm’s biggest client, so he’s accustomed to a life of being schmoosed. But his misogyny and boys’ club attitudes have made him

Security,

unpopular with many. When he’s found dead, the firm’s biggest concern is how the partners will continue to fund their lavish lifestyles without his favour.

Jenkins shines in this debut legal thriller, a fast-paced and often witty read.

Her years of experience as a Brisbane lawyer are evident in this story of corruption and revenge. Having begun my career in just such an environment, I loved the raw honesty of this book and you’ll love to hate many of the characters.

Gut health in the pink with zinc carnosine

Complementary health practitioners frequently encounter gastrointestinal disturbance disorders. TRUDY KITHER discusses new ways to improve and correct these while treating symptoms and diseases long term.

Estimates are that more than 40 per cent of the world’s population suffers from some type of functional gastrointestinal disturbance.

The exhaustive list of digestive disorders and diseases can include, but are not limited to ulcers, halitosis, heartburn, reflux, oral thrush, bile acid malabsorption, digestive insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, dysbiosis, haemorrhoids, diarrhoea, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), dyspepsia, gastritis, nausea and vomiting, coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease.

You may have been told that it is “just something you will have to live with for the rest of your life”. Meanwhile, you may be prescribed pharmaceutical medications that don’t fix your underlying issue. Consequently, it only masks the problem, giving a false sense of security that the case is being solved.

Zinc-L-carnosine (ZnC) – also called Polaprezinc, is a chelated compound that contains zinc and L-Carnosine.

Being a relatively new molecule, ZnC has been associated with multiple benefits and is now shown to have superior health benefits to taking either zinc or carnosine alone.

Zinc is required for over 200 enzymatic reactions in your body. In other words, zinc is an essential mineral your body needs.

It is found in meat, shellfish,

eggs, cheese, tofu, legumes, seeds and nuts.

Several studies support ZnC’s benefits in healing other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, restoring the gastric lining, enhancing the skin and liver, and improving taste disorders.

ZnC promotes the restoration of a healthy gastric lining in people with peptic ulcers while improving the taste for those with taste disorders. In fact, ZnC is best known for its approved use in Japan to manage stomach ulcers. This is most likely because

of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions.

As many as 70 per cent of NSAID users (anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve or reduce pain, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and steroidal medications), reportedly experience intestinal mucosa injuries, such as lesions, erosions, ulcers, heartburn, and reflux.

ZnC is also a safe and well-tolerated additional therapy to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. Patients with chronic liver disease show impaired metabolism of this mineral and higher than average levels of iron and copper. At the same time however, they will usually display low levels of zinc, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, and selenium.

ZnC is traditionally used in western herbal medicine as a demulcent (anything capable of soothing or protecting inflamed mucous membranes from further damage).

It can help to eradicate H.

pylori, soothe irritated tissues, relieve symptoms of heartburn and dyspepsia, soothe gastrointestinal membranes, and support a healthy immune system and wound healing.

Thankfully, there are now exceptional practitioner-only products that natural medicine practitioners have available to them. These products contain ZnC and are effective, safe, and tolerable. They soothe the symptoms at while healing.

When combining ZnC with other essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs, the efficacy of ZnC can be a life-changing and effective treatment with long-lasting, excellent results.

When taking products such as these, do so under the supervision of your natural healthcare provider to receive maximum results.

Trudy Kither is a naturopath, herbalist, and iridologist at Nature’s Temple Wellness Clinic. Visit naturestemple.net

Taking time out to relax and unwind could be one of the best things you do for your heart, writes BONNIE BAYLEY.

WHEN thinking of unhealthy habits that could harm your heart, eating processed foods, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, drinking too much alcohol and being overweight usually springs to mind.

But there’s another serious risk factor that’s also within your power to change – psychological stress.

While we intuitively know that stress isn’t great for our health and wellbeing, science is fast backing this up with some compelling data to show just how harmful it can be.

In a recent paper published in JAMA Network Open, researchers tracked the psychosocial stress levels of 118,706 people aged 35 to 70 years without prior cardiovascular disease, over an average follow-up period of a decade.

They considered psychological stress levels at either home or at work, stress from adverse life events (such as loss of a job, retirement, marital separation or divorce, bereavement) and financial stress.

Higher stress levels were “significantly” associated with mortality, as well as with cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Adding to the evidence, the worldwide INTERHEART study found

that work and financial stress and general stress from major life events is associated with an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction.

Moreover, the study found a “dose response” relationship – that is, permanent stress, was riskier for a person’s heart health than periodic stress.

In another study, researchers from Linköping University in Sweden measured levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the months preceding a heart attack, by analysing hair samples, corresponding to one to three months of hair growth.

Even after adjusting for other well-known cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cortisol levels remained a strong risk factor.

Chronic stress can trigger unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, drinking, poor food choices, and decreased exercise and sleep. But, beyond that, chronic stress appears to have its own physiological impacts.

Occasional stress is unavoidable and in fact, bursts of it can arguably be useful, but what’s certain is that chronic, long-term, poorly-managed stress doesn’t do your heart, any favours.

Visit hearthq.com.au

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS TREATMENT TRIAL

THE Rheumatology Research Unit in Maroochydore is recruiting for a clinical trial assessing the safety and efficacy of a new treatment that may be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterised by a persistent immune response that can affect many joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness.

The new treatment being investigated is using live bacterial therapy. Bacteria are naturally found in the digestive track and are a research focus for their important role in many health conditions such as regulating inflammation.

If you are aged 18 to 80 years, and

KEEP AN EYE ON GLAUCOMA

GLAUCOMA is an eye disease that causes irreversible vision loss. There are different types of glaucoma, but the most common develops slowly and without symptoms. Without screening, it is often undetected until the disease reaches an advanced stage.

Anyone may develop glaucoma, but the incidence increases with age. People at higher risk of developing the disease have a family history of glaucoma, have high eye pressure, are over 50, have

have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you are invited to take part in this study investigating a potential new treatment.

Participation is expected to last up to 16 weeks:

• 12-week treatment period

• 4-week follow-up period

• 5 study visits and one phone call

Participants can expect reimbursement of costs for out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel; free studyrelated medical care; and you may gain access to new treatments before they are widely available.

All visits are out-patient only and this study has been approved by an independent ethics committee. Register interest at surveymonkey. com/r/RheumatoidArthritisTrial

diabetes, have been on a prolonged course of cortisone (steroid) medication, have had an eye operation or eye injury and experience obstructive sleep apnoea. Currently, there is no cure. Management is often with the use of eye drops, laser treatment, surgery or a combination of all three. Early detection is paramount, as sight lost cannot be restored.

Sunshine Coast Ophthalmologists. Call 5470 2400.

Cataracts and Dry Eyes

A cataract is any clouding of the lens of the eye. It acts in the same way the lens in a camera to help focus light rays on the light-sensitive nervous tissue a the back of the eye – the retina. Cataracts can be removed surgically and replaced with an artificial lens. At Best Practice Eyecare we use the latest generation premium lenses. There are no better lenses available anywhere in the world, ensuring you the best possible outcome.

Dry eye syndrome is a general term for the breakdown of the tear film that protects the eye’s front surface. Dry Eye Syndrome causes chronic, tired, uncomfortable, watery eyes. At Best Practice Eyecare we offer Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment for Dry Eye Syndrome.

Our team will carefully examine your eyes and plan your treatment.

INDUSTRY EXPERTS

HAEMATOLOGY

The severe consequences of not severing...

I often advise clients a change in their marital circumstances is a definite ‘trigger’ to update their estate planning –particularly if there has been a relationship breakdown.

In Queensland, land can be owned either as ‘tenants in common’ or ‘joint tenants’. This is a very important distinction and can result in significantly different outcomes on the death of one of the property owners.

The effect of owning land as joint tenants is that, upon the first joint tenant to pass away, the deceased joint tenant’s interest in the property automatically passes (by right of survivorship) to the surviving joint owner. That is, the property will not be dealt with by the Will of the first joint tenant to pass away and will not form part of the deceased joint tenant’s estate.

The last thing you might be wanting is for ‘the ex’ to receive your interest in the family home. As a joint owner, you can however ‘sever’ the joint tenancy, ‘dividing’ the title into separate parts, with your share being controlled by your Will and gifted to who you intend. The consent of the coowner is not required.

The type of ownership of property is a key estate-planning consideration.

Surgery should be the last resort in relief of joint pain

Pain in the joint can be caused by many different conditions, and one of the most common is osteoarthritis.

The pain caused by osteoarthritis can often cloud a patient’s judgment when it comes to seeking advice and treatment.

It can feel like there is no help available, or there is so much information but none of it makes any sense. That can often result in poor decision making or incorrect treatment of your symptoms.

A very effective way to treat osteoarthritis is with a correct diagnosis and the right education provided by a health professional.

Talking to a specialist will enable you the best possible treatment options to help with managing your pain.

Often it is recommended to seek treatment with an allied health professional, such as a dietitian or physiotherapist.

Surgery should always be the last option to treat joint pain.

With the right tools and education, surgery can be delayed or even avoided.

I would recommend speaking to a specialist about your joint pain today.

Remember to never be afraid to ask questions.

Take bowel cancer screening seriously

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of new-diagnosed cancer in Australia and will affect about 1 in 13 people in their lifetime.

If found early, 99 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully.

Australia has developed a robust screening program for people at average or near average risk of bowel cancer, with a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) recommended every two years for people aged between aged 50-74 years.

This screening program is effective and should be an essential part of everyone’s health checks. Unfortunately, when bowel cancer is detected at later stages, there is a significant drop in the survival rate.

Being aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer also has an extremely important part to play in early detection.

If you see blood in your poo, have obvious changes in your bowel habit, experience weight loss that you can’t explain, are feeling extreme tiredness for no reason or have a lump or swelling in your abdomen, you should get in contact with your GP.

If you have a family history of bowel cancer, you should also have a discussion with your GP about how it affects recommendations for screening and surveillance.

For more information on bowel cancer and screening programs, visit bowelcanceraustralia.org

CAPTURE THE LIFE STORIES BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

WHEN a family member dies, many people find themselves left trying to piece together the gaps in their family history, often with only sketchy details and basic facts available.

Caroline Jamieson’s experience after the death of her parents inspired her to form Your Life Your Words.

Professional writers condense a lifetime of stories into a memoir with all the richness, history and adventures told in the person’s own words.

Your Life Your Words makes the process immediate and simple through a series of face-to-face interviews at home, so they can relive the moments and events that shaped their life.

“It’s something anyone can access right now for their loved one,” Caroline says. “Not everyone has the ability to write, and in recognising this, we’ve collated a team of professional writers who can skilfully weave details, memories and personality together to really capture the essence of the person.”

Your Life Your Words also offers professional videography enabling the client to relax and share their feelings over a glass of bubbly or a cuppa.

Anyone can celebrate and document their life’s journey to share with their loved ones today and the bonus is that the memoir becomes a legacy for children and grandchildren.

“Our children want to know our stories,” Caroline says. “They want to learn about what touches our soul, what things we hold dear, the challenges and joys we have experienced. These memories need time and space to unfold.”

Having listened with an empathetic ear, writers then retell complex and emotionally challenging stories that require context and sensitivity.

“As a nation, we’re realising the value of our stories – to learn, be inspired or gain a deeper appreciation of the forces that shaped our own life,” Caroline says.

“Your Life Your Words has a unique place in the growing cultural zeitgeist around genealogy. What better way to ensure memories live on than by having them recorded forever through the words of the person who lived them?”

Visit yourlifeyourwords.com.au

3, OCEAN CENTRAL, OCEAN STREET, MAROOCHYDORE

KRUGERLAW.COM.AU

DR HONG SHUE MEDICAL ONCOLOGIST SUNSHINE COAST HAEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY CLINIC. 10 KING STREET, BUDERIM 5479 0000, SCHOC.COM.AU

GEMLIFE MORETON BAY RESORT COMING SOON

NEW over-50s lifestyle resort GemLife

Moreton Bay, an ecological paradise of 149.41ha of bushland full of native birdlife, will put homeowners in touch with the beauty of nature.

Set among parklands, groves of trees, wildlife-rich wetlands, conservation area trails, lakes, koala habitat corridors, and open green space, GemLife Moreton Bay will offer an exceptional master-planned community.

GemLife Director and CEO Adrian Puljich (pictured) said the development –GemLife’s largest to date – would be the first over-50s lifestyle resort of its kind in Australia.

“It will be a true coastal retreat, a resort with unmatched levels of privacy and open space,” he said. “The geography of the site creates a serene and sustainable paradise for our new eco-inspired over-50s resort. Residents will be able to immerse themselves in a world of natural beauty,

surrounded by lush green landscapes punctuated by seven private lakes.”

Homeowners will be able to unwind in spacious and comfortable energy-efficient homes with no rear neighbours, while enjoying state-of-the-art amenities and stunning views.

Lifestyle facilities at GemLife Moreton Bay will include a country club facing a 9ha lake, the resort’s largest, complete with a bridge-jetty across to an island.

“Add to that architect-designed recreational precincts with a health club and a lifestyle pavilion, and residents will have limitless options for fitness and fun,” Mr Puljich said. Stage One will be released later this year.

Register to receive launch updates at gemlife.com.au/gmbti

acre property, and weekly fees in both an over-50s resort and retirement village.

“The figures showed it would cost us an extra $30 a week to live in an over-50s resort but the huge array of facilities meant better value for money,” they said.

GAYE LINES UP HER LIFE’S FIRSTS

THERE are lots of firsts happening in Gaye Applegate’s life – for the first time in 50 years she’s single; the 66-year-old is about to become a grandmother; and by the end of the year, she will move into her firstever brand-new build.

Gaye (pictured with family) is already attending social gatherings and has made friends with other women in a similar situation who were drawn to the over 50s community at Stockland’s Halcyon Nirimba, within the master-planned Aura development on the Sunshine Coast.

“When you are recently separated, you don’t want to be isolated so moving into an over-50s community means there’s always plenty to do and you can mix with people when you want to,” she said.

Her son Bradley and daughter-in-law Lauren, have been living nearby in the suburb of Nirimba for the past three years.

“I will be able to jump on my bicycle and ride down to see them and the baby and it will only take me a few minutes to get there,” Gaye said.

Gaye hasn’t yet bought the bicycle but she’s already picturing the outings. It will take her only 45 minutes to cycle to the main street in Caloundra, and she can meet others who like to ride in the Saturday morning bike-riding group, even before she

moves into her new home.

Gaye is in the process of buying furniture and choosing the décor for her Avoca two-bedroom home.

Picturing her new home and the amenities including a five-star club house and a fire pit with views to the Glasshouse Mountains, makes her happy.

“I will be able to sit there and say: ‘this is my new start; this is my new home’.”

Aura is Stockland’s 2400ha masterplanned community with more than 200km of walking and cycling paths, and green recreation areas. It is just 90km to Brisbane and a 20-minute drive to Caloundra beaches.

Call 1800 050 050 or visit stockland. com.au/halcyon-communities

BIG DECISION LEADS TO A DOWNSIZING WINNER

AFTER their retirement from the Defence Force, Tina and Dean Austin (pictured) spent a lot of time making the decision to sell their large, family home and move into an over-50s lifestyle community.

It was important for the couple, avid travellers, to find a retirement living option that suited their way of life and finances.

Now residents of Amber at Living Gems in Logan Village, they considered rate prices, cost of pool and spa maintenance, cost of mowing their half

After making the decision, they began visiting lifestyle resorts from the Gold Coast to Hervey Bay, and finally settled on Amber by Living Gems over-50s lifestyle resort in Logan Village, as it represented better value for money.

Pet-friendly, it has facilities such as a heated mineral pool, lawn bowls rink, indoor 10-pin bowling, pickleball court, billiards, darts, library, movie cinema, stage for shows, café and golf simulator.

The resort has three home models –Snowy, Logan and Maroochy – and no expense has been spared on the interiors.

With a price range of $565,000$575,000, the resort is not only stunning, but cost effective for downsizers looking to upstyle their retirement.

Call 1800 317381 or visit livinggems. com.au/amber

SUPPORT HELPS MAKE A HOME SWEET HOME

HAVING a roof over your head is essential, but it’s equally important to feel comfortable and safe in your home.

“I was really appreciative of my public housing opportunity but with my disabilities, every day was a trial,” says NDIS client Sally.

“I battled to get in and out of the shower and cooking lost all its pleasure as it was just so hard to manoeuvre my way around, so I did less and less around the house which was not good for my general wellbeing.”

On the recommendation of a friend, Sally got in touch with an NDIS support coordinator at Suncare and soon, life was looking up.

With support from her NDIS package

and occupational therapists, a new home was found for Sally, who is grateful and excited to be moving in soon.

She will then have a full home assessment to ensure all appropriate assistive technologies are made available. This may include minor modifications in certain rooms to ensure accessibility and safety.

“I wouldn’t have known this assistance was available if it wasn’t for Suncare and their support coordination,” she said. “There is so much information out there, it is difficult to understand it all. I cannot wait to move in and get back to cooking and to enjoying my house.”

Call Suncare 1800 786 227 or visit suncare.org.au

LADY SINGS THE MAROONS MUSIC FROM THE GREAT SOUTHERN LAND

BUDERIM Male Choir opens its 2023 concert season with a celebration of Australian music, stories and verse.

Concerts at Beerwah and Buderim will take the audience on a journey from early contact with First Nations people, through transportation, bushranging, settlement Federation and world wars to the modern era. Special guests will entertain with bush

BAG A BARGAIN

ballads and poetry reading, including Banjo Paterson favourites.

The choir’s performance will include Nambour Town – an example of songs popular in the early years of Federation.

Beerwah Community Hall

March 11, 2pm. Buderim War Memorial Hall, March 18, 2pm. Visit buderim malechoir.org.au or call 0478 589 517.

CLUBS UNITE FOR STAMPS

CALOUNDRA and Sunshine Coast Stamp Clubs are getting together to host a regional Stamp Fair with other clubs from around southeast Queensland as well as professional stamp dealers.

Visitors will be able to view and purchase stamps and philatelic items and there’ll be lucky door prizes and raffles.

Sunshine Coast Stamp Club will have a bargain table to find the stamp or set of stamps to help fill a gap in a collection.

FOLLOWING the success of Are You Lonesome Tonight, Opera Queensland takes a deep dive into the Queensland songbook to celebrate some of the most loved artists in Lady Sings The Maroons.

The Saints, Gladys Moncrieff, Savage Garden and Harold Blair are a few who inspire Lady Sings the Maroons.

A mixtape for a road trip from Brisbane to Cunnamulla, Mount Isa to Cairns, Lady Sings the Maroons tells a story about the art of making a great song and the artists who write them.

Featuring the voices of Jess Hitchcock, Irena Lysiuk and Marcus Corowa, the production is now touring and will be part of the Festival of Outback Opera in May.

The Events Centre, Caloundra April 28, 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets from $45. Bookings: Call 5491 4240 or visit theeventscentre.com.au

THE annual St Vincent de Paul Book and Plant sale is coming up with plenty of great bargains, including fiction, nonfiction and children’s books, DVDs, CDs, and jigsaw puzzles as well as many indoor and garden plants.

All proceeds will help St Vinnies

BLUES SIDE OF JAZZ

THE Jazz & Blues Collective presents Mood Indigo, with the Robyn Brown Quintet playing songs from the blues side of jazz.

Their extensive repertoire covers early blues, swing standards, latin, bebop, soul jazz and self-penned originals. Robyn’s particular passion is the early jazz/blues singers.

Millwell Road Community Centre, 11 Millwell Rd East. Maroochydore. April 2, 1.30pm-4pm. Doors open 1pm. More call Graeme 0417 633 734.

support those going through difficult times due to homelessness, domestic violence, and high rental costs.

Kawana Catholic Community Centre, Nanyima St, Buddina. March 24-25, 8am-3pm; March 26, 9am-1pm. Call Maria 5478 2954

A TASTE OF BROADWAY

THE Nambour community choir, SingSpire Chorus presents A Taste of Broadway, a variety concert featuring guests Karen Law and Singergy Kids.

The program will feature songs from some of the world’s most popular musicals. Afternoon tea is included and funds raised will benefit Lily House.

NLC Auditorium, McKenzie Rd, Woombye. March 25, 2pm. Tickets $20 or $25 at the door Bookings: trybooking.com/CFSJQ More: call 0401 270 476.

Caloundra Stamp Club will host a large multiple lot auction.

Many people who have old collections at home will be able to meet an expert club member or a professional dealer for an estimate of value or advice. Refreshments available and there’s ample parking and disabled access.

Kawana Community Centre, Naminya St, Buddina. March 18, 8.30am-3.30pm. Free entry.

MARCH INTO MARCH

THE Sunshine Coast Concert Band presents March into March, an afternoon of great music to raise funds for Maroochy Men’s Shed and Rotary.

Tickets include afternoon tea. Kawana Community Hall, Nanyima St, Buddina. March 11, 2pm

Tickets $20 at the door. Visit sccb.org.au

"Hi my name is Brenda. Have you ever considered writing the story of your life? As a mind exercise or for your loved ones?

I had a terrific experience! Here's how ... Contact Caroline at Your Life Your Words. You will be surprised how easy your project will become real" Brenda White

"I wasn't sure what to expect with this process, but I have really enjoyed it. (My writer) was so professional and easy to talk with and I was just so impressed with how they were able to pull together my memories into such a good story ... (My writer) did amazing research and captured my thoughts so well, including about my wife who is not with us anymore, I was so pleased how the writer included her ... and the insight and nuances were so well done, I absolutely love my memoir and I am so impressed I will be giving a copy to all my family members". Colin

Baxter OAM

Have you ever thought about writing your Life Story?

Many people do, but never get around to it.

You can easily share your life story with your loved ones today!

Sip champagne or a nice cup of tea with your very own personal, professional writer and enjoy a relaxing time meandering down memory lane in the comfort of your own home, as you revisit your unique life of joys, challenges, adventures and achievements.

Your talented and empathetic writer will open the door to your heart, to let your story come to life.

All you have to do is talk and your heartfelt memoirs will be created.

If you choose to, you may also have a special video recording taken with you speaking directly to the ones you love the most.

Your memoirs and video are priceless gifts for yourself, your loved ones and generations to come.

We can also provide our services to couples.

DON’T MISS THE BOAT WHEN HOLY SHIP DOCKS

LOCAL producer Riley Cope is excited to announce that after a sell-out tour of the east coast, the hit musical Holy Ship is returning home to the Sunshine Coast.

A funny, action-packed, adults-only musical, it is set on board a cruise liner.

A witty script brings together musical hits and lovable characters performed.

Get ship faced, “somewhere beyond the sea” and enjoy the laugh-out-loud, sometimes risqué, fictional cruise trip to Aruba, Jamaica, Bahamas and beyond.

The popular production has undergone a revamp and promises twice as many laughs with new scenes, songs and the return of lovable characters.

The show is written by Mr Cope of Cope Creative and incorporates lavish sets and costumes.

The Events Centre, Caloundra. March 23 and 24, 7.30 pm; March 25, 2pm and 7.30pm. Tickets $59; concessions $55. Bookings theeventscentre.com.au

SCSO CLOCKS UP THE FIRSTS AS CURTAIN RISES ON 2023

SUNSHINE Coast Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) raises the curtain on 2023 with Film Inspiration – the powerful pieces that inspired famous film music, or inspired film composers.

These include masterpieces such as Apocalypse Now, The King’s Speech and Schindler’s List, as well as music that inspired compositions for films such as Moonraker and ET.

The first concert of 2023 is also the first for new conductor, Dr Fletcher Mitchell, following the retirement of long-time conductor Adrian King.

It will also be the SCSO’s first concert at its new home. During the past three years, the SCSO has more than doubled in both player membership and audience size.

The Events Centre, Caloundra March 25, 7 pm. Tickets $49, concessions $39. Bookings: The Events Centre Box Office 5491 4240, sunshinecoastsymphonyorchestra.com or theeventscentre.com.au

From left, Imogen Cope, Riley Cope, and Kirra Johnson

New low-cost airline broadens travel horizons

The travel landscape is about to change dramatically for families in the regions who want an affordable holiday or simply to see more of each other. DOT WHITTINGTON talks to the brains behind Bonza during the emerging airline’s first flight into Victoria from the Sunshine Coast.

Wellcamp, and the Whitsundays.

Essentially, this means point to point travel without the need to fly to a capital city for an often expensive connecting flight to a regional centre – or driving.

“It’s about connecting the country,” Tim says. “Australia’s demographics have changed in even the past three to five years. Half the population no longer lives in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. A lot of people have moved to regional centres that have a population of 100,000-plus yet these centres connect to the state capital but few other places.”

For example, there are 12 to 15 flights a day between Rockhampton and Brisbane, but to get to the Sunshine Coast, if you can find a connection at all, it is going to be very expensive.

are slimline, allowing more room for legs. They have also been designed with a concave back to give the valuable extra centimetre or two for knees. The head rest is adjustable in all directions and there’s a USB point and a power point.

But the bottom line, Tim says, is not just about doing things well, but being able to recover and handle things well if something goes wrong.

Technology has been harnessed to solve the problem of not knowing what’s going on that drives travellers up the wall.

Tim Jordan is laid-back yet enthusiastic and knows his business inside out. He’s the CEO and founding force behind Bonza, the new independent “Allstralian” airline.

Connecting regional cities in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, Bonza is aimed squarely at the leisure market.

Its schedules and routes are designed to work for holidaymakers and family visits more than business travellers or, as Tim puts it, “it’s about the many not the few”.

“It’s flying from A to B without the C –connections, complexity and cost,” he says.

And there’s no doubt that Bonza is price stimulated. Tim is adamant that if a flight takes only an hour, the cost should be about $50. Currently it’s closer to $200.

“If it’s $70 people will do it; if it’s $270 they won’t,” he says. “We are creating a new market. Business travellers will fly, but the rest choose to drive because it’s too expensive, especially when it is to regional centres.”

Forget the long drive, Bonza makes it

feasible to pop up and visit the kids in Cairns for a wedding anniversary celebration, or the grandkids in Rockhampton for a birthday party.

“A three-day trip becomes possible,” Tim says. “Rather than head off for two weeks once a year, it will be affordable to visit three or four times a year for a few days at a time.”

Bonza is about connecting regional centres with direct flights – 93 per cent of its routes are not currently served by any airline. It will be operating 27 routes from 17 destinations (some are still subject to regulatory approval).

This is about unserviced and underserviced regional destinations – from the Sunshine Coast it’s possible to fly direct to Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Newcastle, Tamworth, Albury, Mildura, Tullamarine and Avalon, the jumping off point for the Spirit of Tasmania from Geelong.

Or in Queensland, to Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Toowoomba

And Sunshine Coasters wanting to go to Cairns or Mackay, have to drive to Brisbane and catch a flight from there. The only other option is to drive or find a stopping service up the coast, which is also going to be very expensive.

“People want to explore beyond the capital cities,” Tim says.

Bonza will have two planes and a spare based at its Sunshine Coast headquarters. There will be another two at Tullamarine in Melbourne, which is the only capital city in the initial 17 destinations.

It is the first time Australia has had an independent carrier since Virgin bought Tiger Airways in 2013 and for the consumer this means choice. It’s independent and not the low-coast wing of a major airline so can set its own priorities.

But while ticket prices are budget, comfort and service are premium.

Bonza has a new Boeing 737 fleet and has paid a lot of attention to comfort, so that you can cross your legs or reach the bag under your seat without having to be a contortionist.

This, Tim explains, is because the seats

“We have always got backup should a flight have to be cancelled and if things were to go really wrong, we can respond instantly,” he says. “If there’s a mechanical issue we can immediately let passengers know another plane is on the way, and send a voucher online to get food and a drink while waiting.

“It’s not about the good times but how you handle the bad times. We have to deliver and surpass on our promises.”

One piece of advice Tim offers intending travellers is to pass through security immediately and have coffee on the other side as for some regional airports the biggest plane they have seen is a 70-seat turbo-prop.

“We come to town with 186 seats but it’s the same security point, so all we can say is please go through security on arrival at the airport or as soon as you check in your bags – which is 90 minutes before we fly – and get your coffee after security,” he says.

“We will learn a lot quickly and we know that not everything will work and we might have to change some things, but without exception, we will be using technology for communication and customer focus.

“It will be a quality experience, regardless of the price you pay. We are not cutting corners,” he says.

Bonza’s Tim Jordan

Bucket list beauty beckons in South Africa

As a travel show presenter, SCOTT McRAE explored and experienced some of the best destinations on the planet but, he writes, an all-time favourite is South Africa.

destination. Here is a short list of some of the highlights of the second largest continent on the planet:

CAPE TOWN, THE MOTHER CITY. Cape Town is a natural beauty, and sitting like a proud parent looking over its children is the colossal Table Mountain.

I am not sure what is more incredible, the cable car ride to the top or the majestic view once you reach the plateau.

Australia, Europe, America, Asia and Russia – each has special attributes to brag about, something that leaves you with a special memory or maybe a moment when the breath is knocked right out of you, because of something you have seen, experienced or even tasted.

But Africa, in particular its southernmost corner has such a strong heartbeat, it moves to a rhythm.

It has a vibe that seems to encompass and embrace you.

It is exciting and from the moment you arrive its welcome takes you in. Varied topography, mind-blowing natural beauty and cultural diversity are just some of the elements that make it a true “bucket list”

Okay, the view wins hands down, and when the clouds roll over the top and fall gently over the sheer cliff edges – The Tablecloth as it is aptly named – lets you know that the first course of your African enchantment has just been served.

Add visits to The Cape, Boulder Beach, Robben Island and the Kirstenbosch Gardens and you will understand what the Cape Town fuss is about.

JOHANNESBURG, JOBERG TO HER FRIENDS.

Joberg and Soweto are colourful, intriguing and vibrant. Some parts are considered a little unsafe, but this is the case in many destinations throughout the world.

Travelling in a small group with our

own transport and local guide gives the best possible homegrown knowledge, while feeling comfortable and safe.

The history, music and artisan features of these areas are not to be missed and will give a different outlook and understanding than what is often portrayed.

FRANSCHOEK, WESTERN CAPE WINE COUNTRY.

Enjoy the fruits of centuries-old vineyards and admire the Cape Dutch architecture that is surrounded by the mountainous and magical landscape prominent in this region. On a day out on the wine tram tour, experience the hop on-off experience of

the trams and buses and tastings of some of South Africa’s premier wines.

Have a picnic lunch in the gardens of Sir Richard Branson’s Mount Rochelle Estate on the slopes of the Franschoek Mountains.

SABI SABI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, THE JEWEL IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CROWN.

Obviously, to visit South Africa and not have the safari experience would be nonsense. I have visited Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve many times and the reasoning is simple – Sabi Sabi has a spiritual connection to its surrounds that you feel from the moment you are picked up at the Skukuza airport by one of the staff (family).

It oozes from their love of their place in life and what makes it special is a very real empathy for the environment, its wildlife, the staff and their families and ultimately their guests. It’s your home in the bush.

It also helps that it is a 5-star experience that delivers the Big 5 at the same time.

I intend taking small group tours to South Africa at least twice a year, starting this month.

Visit scott@thetravellingguy.com

Luxury in the wild at Earth Lodge.

The spectacle of Sabi Sabi game reserve

With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

1. What is 60 per cent expressed as a fraction?

2. What does the French phrase “café au lait” mean?

3. What is a chignon?

4. In what state or territory of Australia is the Galilee Basin?

5. During the pandemic, what did the acronym RAT stand for?

6. Complete the Biblical quote: “money is the root ...”

7. Who was the only US president to never live in the White House?

8. Which planet was orbited by the satellite Sputnik 1?

9. “Eat Fresh” is the slogan of what fast-food chain?

10. What lemon drink has a name meaning “alone”?

11. What metric distance is colloquially known as a “click”?

12. What zodiac sign has a bovine animal as its symbol?

13. After what queen was Queensland named?

14. Find the adverb in the sentence: “The cleaner washed the dirty floor slowly”.

15. In what season do Queensland state schools end their year?

16. What was the surname of the brothers in the Bee Gees?

17. How many wings do arachnids have?

18. Who wrote Nelson Mandela’s autobiography?

19. What singer had a hit with Working Class Man?

20. What is the correct spelling of the 2023 Australian Open Tennis runner-up: Titsipass, Tistipas, Tsitsipas?

1. Three-fifths; 2. Coffee with milk; 3. Hairstyle; 4. Queensland; 5. Rapid Antigen Test; 6. Of all evil;

7. George Washington; 8. Earth; 9. Subway; 10. Solo; 11. Kilometre; 12. Taurus; 13. Victoria;

14. Slowly; 15. Summer; 16. Gibb; 17. None; 18. Himself; 19. Jimmy Barnes; 20. Tsitsipas.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

26 Property managers become inefficient by not working in areas dominated by swingers(8)

27 Tilt knob(4)

28 People from London stop rowing docked yacht’s dinghies(10)

DOWN

2 Welcomes spirit as something sent from the heavens(9)

3 Intel got upset with technician finally revealing information(7,2)

4 Sound receiver is pointed away from broken radiotelephone(3-4)

5 Stomach problem irritates gent so badly(15)

6 Number four in rugby union allowed a run(7)

ACROSS

1 One who tests children exposed to mutant allergen(10)

7 Research centre filled with male sheep(4)

10 Rotten surfie, carrying old PC, arranged sporting events(8)

11 Dependant, in opposition to a girl, moved back(6)

12 One’s kimono is clothing northerner(6)

13 Trust reformulated cleaner containing iodine(8)

14 Gear carried by dweeb on grass?(4)

15 English reader had a meal with voting group(10)

18 Brake, exposed to air, is replaced with an entirely new version(10)

21 Journey with king wearing crown(4)

22 Wayward sled softly ploughed into outlying rock(8)

24 Device that measures velocity is not seen in edited episodes(6)

25 Target group, with restrictions lifted, prepared for a longdistance race(6)

8 Clergyman beheaded for malicious burning(5)

9 Busy person, possessed by evil, murdered judge(7)

16 Pulled back is looked at by a doctor again(9)

17 Tiger had messed up right selection of driver(5,4)

18 Slave, imprisoned by the girl, lifted top up(7)

19 Look into international show not totally sticking to traditions(7)

20 Discussion put into changing side(7)

23 Deposit of valuable ore found outside grand house(5)

WORDFIND

QUICK CROSSWORD

No.

9-LETTER WORD

P H

Today’s Aim:

E A E L R

10 words: Good

15 words: Very good

21 words: Excellent E M

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

7 Popular aquarium fish (5)

8 Agreement (9)

13 Pleasure (9)

14 Relate in some way (9)

15 Immediately (2,3,4)

17 Inactivity (7)

18 Blasphemous (7)

21 Indigenous people of Central America (5)

23 Of the nose (5)

24 Ships (5)

No. 068

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

HINDU

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

LAKES

Puzzles and pagination © Pagemasters Pty LTD. pagemasters.com