Central Coast, October-November 2017

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2 Seniors Central Coast

Welcome

In this edition

Cover Story: O’Reilly’s ............................................Page 5 Wellbeing ................................................................Page 12 Money ......................................................................Page 21 Travel ...............................................................Pages 23-27 What’s On ...............................................................Page 29 Puzzles.....................................................................Page 31

Contact us

Editor Gail Forrer gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Consultant Sue Germany sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Now online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Central Coast Seniors”.

The Seniors Newspaper is published monthly and distributed free in northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.

The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications.

Published by News Corp Australia.

Printed by News Corp Australia, Yandina.

Opinions expressed by contributors to Seniors Newspapers are not necessarily those of the editor or the owner/publisher and publication of advertisements implies no endorsement by the owner/publisher.

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Let’s mix it up and learn from the best GENFRIENDS – I’m always up for word invention and I rather liked this one.

Since, it hasn’t made the dictionary yet, I take its meaning as a positive term for intergenerational friendships.

A recently published report Truth about Age, McCann World Group noted that individual cultures value ageing in different ways, for instance the people of India believe being respected by society is the key to ageing well, while British value a sense of humour, however across the board intergenerational connections promoted a healthy, happy ageing.

With this information in mind, we have presented The Intergenerational Issue. The great thing about intergenerational connection is that depending on the connection or program, friendships can be made, education gained and wisdom shared by two or more generations.

Our cover story features

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

the O’Reilly clan – how they have worked together for four generations expanding their tourism business and nurturing the land for future generations.

We have reserved page 3 to introduce you to Dr Kay Patterson, the Age Discrimination Commissioner. She is a determined woman who has thoughtfully mapped out an agenda to address the issues facing contemporary seniors.

Journalist Alison Houston also reports on the 9th Annual International Arts and Health Conference in Sydney from October 30-November 1.

Convenor Margret Meagher has brought together more than 80 speakers to talk about the

creative arts, including art, poetry, music and song, dance, theatre, craft and cuisine, and their benefit for both youth mental health and those in aged care.

If anyone can prove the contribution music makes to healthy ageing, it’s 89-year-old Harry Haman.

Harry is the voice of Radio Five-0-Plus 93.3FM’s Wednesday afternoon jazz program, the Rhythm Club, but you might also have seen him gigging around the Central Coast, or just hauling his double bass out of the car.

He’s convinced it’s the music – playing, listening, creating and programming – and the friendships that have gone along with it, that have kept him young (story page 8).

We also bring you up-to-date with one of Australia’s most important care-giving institutions Meals on Wheels - which, of course, relies on the generosity of more-able bodied volunteers.

On September 15, Federal Minister for Aged

Care Ken Wyatt announced an additional $8 million in government support for services delivering meals to private homes through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (story page 14).

You may not be aware, but Grandparents’ day is celebrated this month on Oct 25. This means we all have a chance to celebrate in our own way.

For the grandparents, who have had to take on a direct parenting role for their grandchildren it means an opportunity to have their message to the Government amplified.

This year the CWA is conducting a support campaign asking the government for considered recognition of the part these grandparents play in the wellbeing of our society. (story page 4).

So, here’s to all my genfriends - may you be inspired and enjoy the Big Read ahead.

Cheers Gail

Companions choir hits right note for Bazaar Alison Houston

ETTALONG 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre will host its first Bazaar by the Sea on Saturday, October 28. Running from 10am–2pm, will both showcase the arts and crafts enjoyed at the centre and raise money to improve activities and resources. Stalls will include all the usual favourites, such as cakes, jams and pickles, plants, a white elephant stall, art and painting,

JUST FOR FUN: The Companions choir will sing at the Bazaar by the Sea .

handicraft, leatherwork, books, DVDs and toys and even a women’s shed.

The centre has more than 600 members and a full week of activities from $5 annual

membership and as little as $1 per activity, including everything from chess to old-time/new vogue dancing to indoor bowls, line dancing, painting, cards, fitness and yoga to crafts, ukulele, folk art, table tennis and beyond.

Each Friday, the centre’s choir, The Companions, has also been practising, and will showcase their talents at the bazaar, along with the ukulele group. Lonny Edge is the choir

convenor and is looking forward to another chance to perform, with the choir debuting last year at Christmas and having sung at a number of retirement villages.

Lonny was a professional pianist and keyboard player, having trained at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, and played for more than 30 years in South Africa, predominantly in Capetown. In 1992 she established a charitable

group there called The Companions to bring music and happiness to old aged homes.

Today there are more than 66 people still involved in that Capetown group, which was the inspiration for establishing her new choir. Lonny moved back to Australia three years ago and views her home in Blackwall as “like a paradise”. But she’s not putting her feet up, already playing with the five-piece Crescendos

Jazz Band and the Tempo Terrific Brass Band before deciding the centre should have its own choir.

Choir members choose their songs. There’s not even an audition, you just have to enjoy singing. So enjoy The Companions and ukuleles, bag some bargains and enjoy Devonshire tea or a sausage sizzle. The centre is on the corner of Broken Bay Rd and Karingi St. Details: 4325 8222.

93.3FM The Home of Hits and Memories Enjoy a huge range of the greatest music of all time.

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Fighting for Right

Central Coast

Meet the person with you in mind Tracey Johnstone

AGED Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson has set a clear agenda and she plans on using every element of her public sector education experience and network to deliver deep change in issues vital to ageing Australians and the broader community.

“I hope by the end I can say I have made a difference for older people,” the 72-year-old said.

She has another four years with her support team of three to achieve some lofty, but worthwhile goals around her three chosen focus areas – elder abuse, homelessness for women aged 50 to 70, and seniors in the workplace.

■ Elder Abuse Report On June 14 the Australian Law Reform Commission released its 43 elder abuse law reform recommendations to safeguard older Australians.

“There is a lot of momentum around that,” Dr Patterson said.

She is now meeting regularly with a team of five from the Attorney-General’s office to develop a national plan out of the ALRC report and a first-time prevalence study.

“I have said to both the attorney and shadow attorney that I would rather focus on getting this report implemented rather than writing another report.”

Even though the report

Dr Kay Patterson AO.

is about law reform, Dr Patterson said, “There are things that aren’t in the report that I think need addressing later on.”

Registration of Powers of Attorney is a focus area for her. She has also spoken to the Australian Banking Association’s CEO Anna Bligh about finding a practical implementation for this recommendation since the banks have been pushing for this to happen.

■ Homelessness Women who are working, and aged between 55 and 70 and renting, if they become sick or lose their job and can’t pay their rent, they will become homeless.

“I think you need a range of solutions because someone at 55 will have very different needs of someone who is 65. I would like to form a council of women who see this as a major issue and could invest into a property fund so that a person who has a bit of super can buy some equity so her rent is doable on the pension then years down the track.

Women who have been

working have all sorts of resources; they have networks, and when the time comes they may be able to use them.”

For others who don’t have networks and resources, she says it will put downward pressure on social housing.

“Can we use their capacity to work or their super, using different solutions for the different women within that group to give them some housing?”

■ Willing to Work Since the mid-1990s and through to the adoption of the Age Discrimination Act in 2004, Dr Patterson pushed for the removal of the compulsory retirement age.

Her vision now is to see implemented as many as possible of the commission’s Willing to Work report recommendations.

Dr Patterson includes among her concerns about Australia’s older workforce that Australians are living longer than they had imagined they would and a lot of older people weren’t in superannuation from the beginning because it wasn’t portable, which means many of them are approaching retirement with less super.

“And, many companies realise there is a big people dip after the Baby Boomers and there aren’t people coming in to fill those places,” she said.

“Many companies are realising that suddenly they may have a dearth of

Seniors 3

AGEING ISSUES: Dr Kay Patterson has three major ageing issues she will target in the next four years.

PHOTO: TRACEY JOHNSTONE

people and what they’ve got to do is keep their people working longer.”

Another area of focus for Dr Patterson is education.

She is targeting human resources and health students with the aim to get more human relations courses about older people and the positive things of employing older people into education institutions.

“The culture they set now is the culture they will inherit when they are older,” Dr Patterson said.

“If young people coming up behind them in clinical situations or employment, see people dealing with older people in an understanding way that gets the fact they don’t always want to have

full-time job, that’s the culture they will experience. If they don’t do that, they get the culture that currently exists which is less than helpful in understanding the motivation of older people.”

Her next target is the Human Resources Institute of Australia, working with them to ensure professional development around older worker issues.

“I am attending any event they invite me to, to talk to them about what they can do in their businesses and giving them examples of best practice,” she said.

“I feel like I need to be like a bee, running around seeing the best practices and then pollinating them

around the country.”

Her final target is seeing materials developed, similar to those produced for students, that will help industry leaders to become better informed about the value and importance of older workers.

She is looking to groups such as the Institute of Company Directors to get directors to ask questions about diversity.

“If they see older people in their company being looked after, and employing them, or making sure they can transition to retirement, then they are going to be more loyal to that company, because that’s what is going to happen to them.”

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Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

4 Seniors Central Coast

Grandparents Stand Up

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

CWA speaks up for carers

Changes are sought for those who care for the grandchildren

JOURNALIST TRACEY JOHNSTONE THE voice of the Country Women’s Association of NSW is joining the growing chorus of people calling for grandparents as carers of their grandchildren to be recognised as family rather than as foster carers.

Decision makers in government will be targeted as the CWA seeks change around grandparent versus foster carer status and the surrounding rules.

NSW chief executive officer Danica Leys said the CWA had good access to state politicians when they need and want to advocate for change.

“It’s just a matter of how the government chooses to prioritise this issue going forward,” Ms Leys said.

“We will be talking to

other like-minded organisations as well, and seeing if we can, as a collective, get a bit of a push-on with this issue.”

State president Annette Turner will lead the powerful voice of 400 branches statewide, most of whom will take up the role of advocating for change through their local contacts.

Ms Leys said this year’s state conference adopted the grandparent policy as part of the process of looking at the issues around the changing face of families in the bush.

“The grandparents’ position was bought to our conference in May from a Riverina area branch,” she said.

“They had been noticing this issue across their area.

“At the conference the motion passed unanimously.

“It was surprising to me that so many people got up and spoke quite passionately about it, and also spoke from a

GRANDPARENTS: Delegates the CWA NSW’s annual conference where they decided to enter the debate on recognising grandparents as the family of the grandchildren they are looking after, not foster carers. PHOTO: COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

very personal point of view.

“It’s quite surprising how many people are affected by this issue.”

Ms Leys said she

learned from that debate there are a lot of grandparents caring for their grandchildren on either a full-time or close to full-time basis, acting

as the child’s primary carer and often as their parent.

“This is happening more and more across the state,” she said.

Knitting nanas annoy all politicians

The PoinT CafÉ JaPanese Gardens

THE yellow-attired knitting nanas are prepared to stand up, stand out and stand their ground on issues that will help save the land, air and water for future generations.

They don’t fear any politicians in their quest for a better future. Give or take, there are now 40 Knitting Nanas Against Gas groups active in Australia. Each is autonomous, “working more as a web than as a pyramid,” co-founder Claire Twomey describes.

“Most of our active women are in their 60s and 70s,” Claire said.

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There are a few men in the group now, as well.”

The first KNAG group, which was formed in Lismore in 2012, started with protesting gas and coal issues, but subsequent protests by this group and others have taken up climate change issues. In Victoria there’s a KNAG group fighting old-growth logging and in Canberra there is another group protesting children in detention.

The protests take many forms from locking onto machinery and blockading offices to providing information at festivals

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and sitting down at key public locations knitting or crocheting. While they advocate non-violent action, each group or loop make their own decision through consensus on what form of action they will take.

Sitting each week outside of the Lismore office of Thomas George MP, and with their successful protest against Metgasco now a proud memory, Claire and her group of a dozen nanas are knitting and working on how they can support other KNAG groups.

Cover Story: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 5

Behold, the regenerative beauty of the landscape GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

THIRD GENERATION : Shane O’Reilly.

ECO RANGERS: Intergenerational connections grow as environmental knowledge is shared and enjoyed.

Indigenous history in the Lamington region PRIOR to European settlement, the Lamington region was inhabited by Aboriginal people of the Yugambeh language for thousands of years. The Yugambeh group inhabited the Gold Coast and hinterland, roughly between the Logan and Tweed rivers.

The family tribes that lived closest to Lamington National Park hinterland, has been a family owned and operated business since first opening in 1926.

After devoting more than 40 years to the business, the second generation family members, including 84-year-old Big Pete O’Reilly who built the Australia’s first tree-top walk 30 years ago and

are the Birinburra, Kombumerri, Wangerriburra and Migunberri people.

The Yugambeh people were well established with their environment.

They understood seasons, plants and animals and used these to provide a comfortable lifestyle.

Early Europeans relied on trading with the still spends a day a week on the property, retired in the late 1990s, and so charged the third generation with the responsibility of carrying on the business into the new millennium.

Fortunately, this is a family who had foresight and goodwill to care both for themselves and the land.

Aborigines to survive.

After Europeans settlement, the lifestyle of the Yugambeh people was gradually eroded.

However, many are still active in attempt to preserve what still remains, such as preserving the Yugambeh language, and ensuring it is passed on to future generations.

As Shane O’Reilly tells it, when he returned to the property in 1989 after working in an international hotel, his parents and uncle and aunt who ran the property, were ready to retire.

“They were in their mid-50s, worked all their lives, they had a lovely asset but no money. They had put all their money

Thirty-years-ago the tree-top walk was constructed. It is thought to be the first of its kind in the world.

back into the property,” Shane said.

“They could have sold, but they didn’t want to.

“They were happy there.”

With that in mind, he put together a retirement strategy for them and by the mid 1990s they were ready to retire.

Shane spent an idyllic childhood on the land before heading to boarding school.

His intimate knowledge of the land and family photographs allow him to follow the dramatic growth, landscape changes and weather patterns across a century.

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His two children, not yet teenagers, are enjoying a similar childhood and whether they follow in his footsteps is up to them.

But why wouldn’t they.

Shane has said each generation has added their own direction to the retreat, for instance Big Pete O’Reilly’s birdwatching excursion is this year celebrating a 40th anniversary.

While Shane talks about the eco rangers project that provides conservation awareness and time out for the parents.

“It gets kids away from their iPad,” he said.

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TO UNIVERSITY research students the rainforest regeneration of O’Reilly’s property, in Lamington National Park is something to behold.

“It’s highly valued as dairy land that has gone back to rainforest without any replanting,” Shane O’Reilly said.

At 55-years-old, Shane is the third European generation to live on the land.

He speaks in a relaxed tone and notes that the Rainforest Retreat, though now boasting architecturally designed unit, day spa and 25m infinity edge poll is still an unpretentious place.

“The staff are good, the guests are friendly – it’s a relaxed, communal feel,” he said.

The first O’Reilly settled there in 1911, four years later the Lamington Park was declared a state forest.

In 1994, World Heritage status was bestowed on Lamington in recognition of its high biodiversity, and the fact it contains a living museum of the evolutionary steps taken in the development of Australia’s modern day flora. It now includes 20,200 hectares of varying forest types, from temperate Antarctic Beech forest high on the border ranges through the sub-tropical rainforests, to the dry eucalypt forest of the northern escarpment.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, in the Gold Coast

6 Seniors Central Coast

Local Story

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Stamp and coin fair is your chance to uncover treasure

Our very own collectable roadshow on the Central Coast Alison Houston

THE Central Coast Annual Stamp and Coin Fair is becoming the Coast’s miniature version of Collectables Roadshow, with some real treasures found over the past six years, including stamps and coins worth hundreds of dollars “Some people have items or collectables hidden away or forgotten about of which they have no idea the value, if any at all,” said Dennis Sonter, treasurer of Wyong and District Philatelic Society, which runs the fair.

Sometimes the collections are inherited, and Dennis said it was definitely worth talking to club members before putting your family’s stamp albums on the garage sale table.

One woman had been offered $200 for boxes containing her late husband’s stamp albums

but, with the help of the local stamp club, the stamps were sorted and sold in a Sydney auction house for $1700.

Mark Field is the club president and said the fair was also a chance to show the public just how interesting stamp and coin collecting could be.

Collecting since he was about seven years old, and the youngest member of the group at 55, Mark is keen to attract some new blood.

“The great thing about stamps is they can take you anywhere around the world – places you could never afford or hope to travel – you learn about the countries, the cultures and the history.”

Mark reckons he has about 500,000 stamps, but says it’s the quality, not the quantity that’s important, with one of his most interesting collections comprising

Stamp collecting can lead to bigger things … including postcard collecting, and take you anywhere, including back through history.

HIDDEN GEMS: These kangaroo stamps, some of Australia’s first, are highly valued.

envelopes from 1860s England.

It’s the “finds” that keep him interested – not necessarily monetary, but the envelopes, letters and postcards which give a

picture of people’s lives in another time.

“Post marks today are a dying thing, but in the old days you could see where the letter came from and every town it

had passed through,” he said.

Having about 30 active members of the club to talk to and share information between, he said, was important.

“If one of us doesn’t know something, someone else will, or we have the books to look it up.”

The stamp and coin fair is on Saturday and Sunday, November 18–19 from 10am–4pm at Lake Haven Masonic Village,

Post marks tell the tale of where these letters have been.

Stan Gregory Cr, Lakehaven.

The fair features club member displays, eight stamp vendors buying and selling, products, valuations and advice on collecting, and refreshments are available.

The club has two meetings a month – one daytime and one night-time.

For details go to club.philas.org.au/ wyong or call Dennis on 4392 3610 or Mark on 0416 159 890.

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Local Story

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Chromefest party to the classic cars and hot rods Alison Houston

IT’S a celebration of all things classic American – cars, fashion and rock ‘n’ roll.

But there’s nothing dated about the energy and enthusiasm for this slice of history which is Chromefest at The Entrance.

Now in its ninth year, Chromefest runs for three days from October 27–29, and will bring 500 classic cars and hot rods, thousands of visitors and millions of dollars into town. California Cruising Inc started the event and still runs the motoring side, with Central Coast Council taking over the entertainment, but the club’s events co-ordinator Janet Holmesby said it was far more than a car

rally – it’s like stepping into Happy Days.

“It’s not about trophy-hunting, it’s a celebration of the era – the music, the cars and the dancing,” Janet said.

Fred Champkin is one of those bitten by the “classic American” bug, boasting a bright orange 1928 Essex Tourer hot rod, for which he found a matching 1972 caravan, and a purple 1966 Chevy Impala for his wife, Robyn.

“She’d always wanted a purple car and this one came up in Queensland that had been sitting in a shed for five years, so we bought it and resurrected it,” Fred said.

While it’s not a show car as such, Fred said it still got a lot of comments, although not as many as the hot rod and caravan,

which would have people literally hanging out the windows of their cars trying to take photos when they saw it on the road.

It’s the ability to customise the hot rods to exactly what you want so that no two will ever be exactly the same, which Fred said was a big part of the attraction.

“I had always had MGs, but once I met the hot rod fraternity, and saw how diverse it is – there’s just no limit at all to what you can do, and there’s such camaraderie, it’s just great to be a part of,” Fred said.

In the case of his Essex Tourer, it started life as just a body with a six cylinder motor and no roof or upholstery. These days it outshines the sun as a 5-litre V8 auto with

Central Coast

Seniors 7

DYNAMIC: The Swing Katz are among Chromefest entertainers to take your breath away.

PHOTOS: GARY LUKE PHOTOGRAPHICS

UNIQUE: Fred Champkin’s 1928 Essex Tourer is a real head-turner.

removable roof and faultless interior.

While it’s taken a lot of time and money, Fred said it’s an “appreciating asset” with his investment of about $25,000 now worth $57,000.

But it’s not all about shine, with Rat Rods – usually a bit rusty and

made up of old bits of pieces, the latest fad.

Fred said they were a bit of a throwback to how hot rods had evolved after the war years, from people literally finding what they could on old farms and fields and putting them together as something to drive.

There’s a huge program

for this year’s Chromefest, which begins with the official Coastal Cruise of about 300 cars driving from Oakland Ave to Avoca and back to Memorial Park for display from 12pm on the Friday.

There’s retro markets and rock and roll music throughout the rest of the weekend, including dance exhibitions, vintage fashion, crowning of Miss Pin-up Doll and of course cars, cars, cars – including a twilight cruise through The Entrance on Saturday and the Show and Shine, with the full 500 cars on display on Sunday and three stages of entertainment.

To find out more, including when to see UK singer Si Cranston, go to www.chromefest.org.

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8 Seniors Central Coast

Local Story

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Harry’s still jazzed up with Coast life at 89 Alison Houston

IF WE were all as happy, healthy, active and alert as Harry Harman is at 89, we wouldn’t mind getting older nearly as much.

Harry is the voice of Radio Five-0-Plus 93.3FM’s Wednesday afternoon jazz program, the Rhythm Club, but you might also have seen him gigging around the Central Coast, or just hauling his double bass out of the car. He’s convinced it’s the music – playing, listening, creating and programming – and the friendships that have gone along with it, that have kept him young.

He is still in close contact with a number of his playing contemporaries, who meet for dinner or a drink and “tell a lot of lies – a lot of tales about the things that happened … and a few that never really happened!”

His mum gave him his

first jazz record when he was about 16 and, like most teens even in those days, he wasn’t too impressed. But when a friend convinced him some time later to go along to the 1948 Jazz Convention in Melbourne, “it was like a bubble burst” and he’s been hooked ever since. At that time he was playing guitar “very badly” he reckons, but well enough to form the Paramount Jazz Band alongside a bunch of other amateur jazz enthusiasts. When a better guitarist came along, Harry went with the flow when band members suggested he “give the tuba a go”.

He played tuba with the band for the next three years, in which time, unable to find a venue, they decided to create their own and, in 1953, founded the Sydney Jazz Club, with a two pound investment each by four

AT THE CONTROLS: Harry Harman at the desk for his weekly jazz program on Radio Five-0-Plus 93.3FM. PHOTO: PHIL DUFFY

musicians and four jazz fans.

The big buzz in the dance halls of the time was swing bands and vocalists, but they got 150 people along to that first gig and within years the fortnightly gigs proved so

popular they had to move into a two-storey building, with bands playing on each floor and attracting up to 1200 people.

While they would never hit those dizzy heights again, the club operates to this day with a monthly

gig at the Waverton Bowling Club. The problem was, members of the seven-piece band still had jobs to hold down and family demands, so weren’t always available to play, and there were no ready replacements.

So they decided in the mid-1950s to open a jazz school and create their own pool of talent, encouraging young people to become interested in jazz by playing alongside the experienced musicians. But Harry’s musical journey wasn’t over yet. When the Port Jackson Jazz Band was looking for a bass player … Harry learned the double bass.

When he joined Graeme Bell’s All Stars in 1962 and Britain’s Kenny Ball and the Jazz Men were all the rage with the sounds of the banjo, Graeme said “pity you don’t play the banjo, Harry”.

Harry knew what was

coming … he learned and then played the banjo in the band for the next 12 months, until another player left and he was able to return to the tuba and bass.

In 1984, Harry became a founding member of the New Wolverine Jazz Orchestra, which went on to play at the prestigious Edinburgh Jazz Festival in 1993 and do nine tours of the United States up to 2007.

It’s hard to believe having done all this, and earned an OAM in 2010 for his services to jazz, that Harry was actually only a full-time professional musician for five years in the 1960s when he played with Graeme Bell.

He believes the music brings back happy memories for people of their dance hall days.

You can hear him each Wednesday from 12–3pm at 93.3FM.

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 9

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10 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Talk’n’thoughts Hurdles, highjumps and solutions

Science of leading a long life MOMCHILOVSTI, telomeres, epigentics, RADD, lutathione – these words might sound rather out of the ordinary, but as the conversation around longevity expands these words are gathering familiarity.

Dreams of drinking from the fountain of youth have long been part of the human race – but these days dreams are fast being replaced with scientific research.

In 2013, Google announced the creation of CALICO, short for the Californian Life Company.

Its mission is to reverse engineer the biology that controls lifespans.

In 2015, American Liz Parrish experimented with gene therapy to find what she has called a cure for ageing.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

The gene therapy she injected into her body had only been tested on mice.

Two years later she believes certain areas of her body (Telemeres) have been made more youthful.

“We have the opportunity through the booming field of genetics to pioneer the future,” Liz Parrish told a festival on ageing in California conducted by RADD (Revolution against death and dying).

The RADD website explains their vision: “We’re at a unique

turning point in terms of the plausibility of radical life extension. It’s not a new idea. Taoists were interested thousands of years ago. 19th century Russian philosophers talked about physical immortality. Books written in the 1950s and 60s predicted it would happen.

So this is a critical time for people to come together to learn what is happening now and to understand how they can make a difference in their own lives.”

In the late 1990s American scientist J. Craig Venter PhD* discovered and subsequently became the first human to have his complete DNA sequenced.

For his latest project, he has raised $300 million to form a new company,

Human Longevity, which aims to take the DNA information he helped unlock to increase longevity.

Behind this program is the Health Nucleus program – a $25,000 physical examination. The health data from this test is combined with the person’s DNA sequencing and together this data provides a comprehensive health picture of the body.

Australians are also recognised for their longevity studies. This month Professor David Sinclair was named as an industry category winner of the 2017 Advance Global Australian Awards.

David Sinclair PhD is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School .

He is also a Conjoint Professor at the University

of New South Wales and Honorary Professor at University of Sydney.

Dr Sinclair’s research is focused primarily on understanding genes that fight disease and ageing, with a focus on treating the major causes of death and disability.

These include diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Longevity is one of the most prominent areas of scientific research underway today.

This article is just a tiny taste of what is happening in the world and, perhaps, what is just around the corner.

Ageing science: Telomeres: At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNA called telomeres, which protect our genetic data.

Epigenetics: essentially, affects how genes are read by cells.

Glutathione is a very simple molecule that is produced naturally all the time in your body.

Momchilovsti: The area in Bulgaria known as “the village of longevity’’ because of the high number of centenarians living there.

Dr J. Craig Venter is an American biotechnologist, biochemist, geneticist, and businessman.

Human Genome: are are made up of millions of cells each with a set of instructions for making us, like a recipe book for the body.

PLEASE NOTE: AT THIS MOMENT, EXERCISE IS KNOWN AS THE BEST POSITIVE AGEING THERAPY.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or go online to www.seniorsnews.com.au.

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Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 11

12 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Wellbeing Sleep apnoea diagnosis can be start of new life SLEEP apnoea starves your vital organs of oxygen as every night, your airway is cut off until your body jolts you back awake and triggers you into taking a breath.

This disturbs your natural deep sleep and means that you wake up exhausted and often unable to get going.

My first experience in helping people with sleep apnoea was in 2008 when we first started looking after sleep apnoea sufferers.

I met a man who worked in construction two hours from his home, and he would have to stop on the

side of the road for a nap on his way to work as he started to fall asleep at the wheel.

He would get up everyday feeling exhausted and his wife needed to elbow him in his sleep if he had not taken a breath.

He had a overnight study and was diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea and we started him on a month trial of CPAP. He took a while to find the right mask for him, but within the month, we had it sorted and he and his wife were happy that he was finally getting a good sleep each night.

SLEEP BETTER: Find out if you have sleep apnoea by having a sleep apnoea study.

He bought his own equipment and I did not see him for another three months for his next check up.

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Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 13

14 Seniors Central Coast

Worthy Cause

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

MoW gain funding boost Alison Houston

UP TO one million older Australians are under-nourished or at risk of malnutrition, making them more prone to illness.

It’s a scary figure, but it gets even more frightening when you learn that it costs $1000 to keep someone in hospital for a single night. That’s what the government spends to subsidise Meals on Wheels for one person for an entire year in many parts of Australia.

On September 15, Federal Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt announced an additional $8 million in government support for services delivering meals to private homes through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

Mr Wyatt said supporting people to live as independently as possible in the comfort of their own homes was a top priority and acknowledged that volunteers delivered more than a healthy meal.

“The visit is also an opportunity to have a friendly chat and to check on that person’s well-being,” Mr Wyatt said.

“We need to maintain and grow this type of service into the future.”

Australian Meals on Wheels Association president Nelson Matthews welcomed the funding boost, particularly

for services which had been chronically underfunded and forced to raise meal prices to “levels we think are unacceptable”. In some cases that meant charging over $10 per meal for the first time in the organisation’s more than 60-year history, while other services went into the red attempting to keep prices lower, something which Mr Matthews said was simply “unsustainable”.

He said the additional funding would “help stall further price hikes for those who can least afford them”.

The government now intends to contribute a minimum of $4.70 towards the cost of each meal. Some Queensland services had been receiving under $3 per meal in subsidy.

“The government has recognised the massive return in downstream community benefits and health savings it gains through preventative care services like Meals on Wheels,” Mr Matthews said.

He pointed to the UK experience, where hospitalisation rates of malnourished older people increased by over 200% when funding for in-home support services such as delivered meals and social support was cut. So why did it take so long for the Australian Government to identify the

MORE THAN A MEAL: Roger Darlington’s visits from Meals on Wheels make all the difference.

benefits of this service which runs on the good hearts of volunteers and, as Mr Matthews put it, “the smell of an oily rag”?

Why was it refused extra funding earlier in the year, despite the fact it’s estimated that for every $1 the government provides in subsidy, they get $5 back in downstream health savings? When Seniors newspapers spoke to Mr Matthews after the funding announcement, he said funding had passed to the Federal Government from the States in recent years, and there had been a lack of understanding as to

how it operated, that customers paid for their meals and that, because MoW services had developed independently from grassroots community efforts, each service ran slightly differently with slightly different funding.

While the exact details of how the $8 million will be divided have yet to be released, Mr Matthews was hopeful it would address the current inequities and take pressure off local services. “Food is essential,” Mr Matthews said, “but MoW is essential not just for providing a well-balanced

and nutritious meal, but for the care we provide through social contact, monitoring of health and well-being, which is an enormous comfort for customers as well as the families of older people who might otherwise be quite isolated.”

He said in connecting communities and giving people a sense of purpose, MoW provided another service, with volunteers often saying “they get more than they give. from being able to help others.

With families often separated by larger distances and small neighbourhood shopping

strips where people knew each other and met for a chat becoming a thing of the past, Mr Matthews said many older people were more isolated than ever. He urged people to think about this before choosing a frozen food service that would just deliver and leave. He added that care should also be taken because such services were often aimed at weight-loss and were therefore unsuitable to nourish older people whose main problem was often undereating.

MoW delivers more than 10 million meals to more than 120,000 Australians each year.

The 50-50 Rule: Some tips for siblings caring for their ageing parents HOW siblings can best share the responsibility of managing care for ageing parents – introducing the 50-50 rule.

Caring for ageing parents is a very difficult task and can lead to some

sensitive situations between siblings as they navigate the process.

According to Carers Australia, there are close to 3 million unpaid carers in Australia and almost all primary carers are a

family member. Home Instead has developed a guide entitled The 50-50 Rule: Tips for Siblings Caring for Ageing Parents.

“Sharing does not necessarily come easily to siblings.

“They may have squabbled over toys as kids, household chores in their adolescence and now, in later life, they have to consider how to share the responsibility of caring for mum and dad,” Home Instead Senior Care founder Martin Warner said.

Mr Warner has shared his top advice for siblings below: Talk to your parents – “It’s crucial to communicate with your parents and understand their needs.

“Seniors are often fiercely protective of their independence and may even refuse help.

However, if they wish to continue living independently at home throughout their elderly years, it may mean they require the assistance of a full-time caregiver.”

Do your homework – “It’s important for you and your siblings to firstly identify the types of services that

your parent needs. There are a variety of organisations and resources available that can help you meet those needs.

“Both health.gov.au and commcarelink.health.gov. au are good places to start.”

Plan ahead – “Once you’ve identified your parents’ needs are and explored what the available resources are, you can start planning how to share the load. If a parent wants to remain living at home, it will be important to plan for the years ahead and work out whether the duties can be shared by siblings and whether professional help is required.”

Be flexible – “Life is fluid and circumstances change.

“Accept that each of you may not always be able to share the responsibility, and that’s ok.

“It is important not to insist that all caregiving

tasks be split down the middle. The division of care should take into account the family member’s interests, skills and availability.

“The needs of your parent/s will also change over time and this needs to be taken into account.”

Talk to each other – “It’s vital to communicate if you are feeling overwhelmed with the stress of caring for a parent. Carers Australia found that 55% of primary carers spend more than 20 hours a week providing care, which is the equivalent of a second job.

“If you’re struggling to cope, call a meeting with your sibling/s to discuss how they can assist. They might be able to contribute more hours into caregiving or help with looking into private care support options.”

For more information visit www.homeinstead. com.au.

Central Coast

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 15

Help for you to stay in your own home longer IF YOU are receiving government-funded home care or thinking about it, there were beneficial changes in February that will help you. You now have more choice and control over the type of care you want from the government’s Home Care Packages program. You can now choose the care company that is going to give you the things that really matter most to you.

In Home Instead Senior Care’s experience in delivering quality care

services to clients on the Central Coast, these are the top five things people want, need and should be asking their potential new provider about: ■ A personalised plan of care that is tailored to who you are as a person, your specific changing needs and current capabilities.

■ The same trustworthy, compassionate and trained CAREGiver that turns up at exactly the time that you asked for the services. This is

particularly so of clients living with dementia. You want to have the same CAREGiver that they can build a relationship of trust with and who understands their specific needs and how best to engage them.

■ Easy fast access to services through a friendly, local office team who answers the phone knowing who you are and can change or update your care schedule as you wish including after hours changes.

■ A care manager that can help you understand My Aged Care, Centrelink, ACAT and all the other Central Coast services that you could now be dealing with.

■ To ensure that you get the right care at the right time at the right cost. Low monthly management charges, no exit fees – so you receive more hours of care.

Call Home Instead Senior Care on 4342 3477.

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QUALITY CARE: Home Instead Senior Care Gosford director Jasmine Hopcraft.

Confused by My Aged Care, Home Care packages, and CHSP? MANY people are struggling to understand the government’s My Aged Care system and how to apply for care services.

Southern Cross Care’s Tuggerah Home Care office service advisor Debbrah Neiderle said It’s important to understand the differences between a Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).

CHSP: offers specific services at a basic level of care.

Many people start with CHSP. Eligibility for the service is assessed by the Regional Assessment Service then there is a need to find a provider in your area who has service hours and funding available for you.

If you need only a small amount of help CHSP allows you to:

■ Choose from a set menu of basic services including domestic, personal and respite care.

■ Only pay for the services you use.

CHSP is not means tested. The hourly fees are very affordable.

HOME CARE PACKAGES: As your care needs increase, a Home Care package will be essential if you want to live independently at home.

Your eligibility is assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) and you will also be asked to complete a Centrelink Income Assessment to determine if you need to make a contribution to delivering your services.

■ The ACAT assessor will visit you at home or in hospital to review your health and living arrangements.

■ Your application is then

processed and you will be advised if you are approved and the package level you are approved to receive.

■ You will then be placed on a national wait list for a Home Care package. On delivery of the package: ■ You can then select a care provider to deliver your services.

■ The provider you select will send a case manager or service adviser to help

you understand the system and work out a plan.

■ Your Home Care funds belong to you to use and you can decide how to spend them.

■ Once you have a package, it stays in place as long as you require it.

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16 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Central Coast

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 17

YOUR CLUB

Heart of the Coast Updated club promises big improvements

YOUR CLUB: Central Coast Leagues club refurbishment if nearly finished.

to the city, but because of who we are and what we represent.”

In further explanation, Peter said: “As the Heart of the Coast, whether you are a local, a visitor or a business, we promise to provide you with a safe, friendly and exciting environment.

“We look forward to welcoming you, with the same high-level of service, over and over again.”

Central Coast Leagues

your entertainment gateway...

Club was formed in 1954 and throughout its 63 years the club has become almost an institution, a recognised landmark and meeting place for the community of Gosford and the Coast.

The club is about to embark on its next chapter, and in celebration of this momentous occasion, they will host a week of celebration (November 6–11), incorporating Melbourne

02 4362 1104 INFO@OURIMBAHRSL.COM 6-20 PACIFIC HIGHWAY, OURIMBAH

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retaining full flavour and tenderness.

Teppan-yaki is also a visual feast, a theme that is natural to the preparation.

Our talented chefs will amuse you during the course of the teppan-yaki preparation, utlilising their culinary skills with great precision.

THE RESTAURANT IS OPEN: Tuesday to Friday Lunch 12–2.30pm Dinner 5.30–11pm Saturday and Sunday Dinner 5.30–11pm* *Please call and check availability directly with the restaurant before dining to check hours of trade and booking availability.

For information or to book a table call 4325 9880.

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Monster Ham Raffle

coming up in november...

SAT 4 SUN 5 TUES 7 SAT 11 SAT 18 SUN 19 SAT 25

Cup festivities, wine and beer tastings, family footy day with the Mariners and thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes and major giveaways to be won.

The club invites you to join in the fun and to come in and see all it offers.

For more visit www.cclcelebrations.com. au or call 02 4325 9888.

The club is located at 1 Dane Dr, Gosford.

Opening hours are 9am–4am.

ONE of the wonderful restaurants available to diners at the Central Coast Leagues Club is Yume Teppan-Yaki.

They serve delicious Japanese food at reasonable prices.

The teppan-yaki art originated in Osaka more than 200 years ago, and due to its unique art of preparation, is popular across the world.

Our professional chef utilises a cooking art that is unique to the trade, where only the best quality meat, fresh seafood and vegetables are used.

The precision cooking technique is done on a highly heated hot-plate, where it will produce a char-grilled like character while

November 22, 29 December 6, 13 & 20 RS SENIO NCH U SAT L | $16 V $14 M

Over $4000 in hams, porks & turkeys each week Tickets on sale 5.30pm. Draws from 7pm

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CENTRAL Coast Leagues has undergone some major changes over the past few months.

From the colour scheme to the style and comfort of the furniture to the warm fireplace, every detail has been considered in order to deliver a freshly updated and contemporary entertainment venue on the coast.

But for the club, it isn’t just about the appearance, it is also about the experience.

In speaking with the club’s CEO Peter Blacker, we asked him to share his personal vision for the future of the club.

“The club aspires to be recognised as the ‘Heart of the Coast’ and, in particular, Gosford.

“We have adopted this mantra, not just because of our size and proximity

Enjoy the taste of Japanese food Yume Teppan-Yaki

Toy Raffle

Sunday December 3 & 17 $1500 in toys up for grabs each week!

Tickets on sale 3.30pm.

Draws from 4.40pm *This replaces the Sunday raffle

MELBOURNE CUP

in 1950’s style

(02) 4323 2311 • 26 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford NSW 2250

18 Seniors Central Coast

Helping Hand

MELBOURNE CUP AT THE OURIMBAH RSL CLUB

IT’S time to get the bonnets and floral crowns out for another year.

This Melbourne Cup, Tuesday, November 7 at 11am, we are celebrating in classic 1950’s style.

Mr James Band will provide the entertainment. How lucky are we!

The day will be packed with sweeps, lucky door prizes, lucky losers TAB, and a huge list of best dressed prizes.

We’d love to see the best 1950’s inspired hats, outfits, couples... you name it!

■ Seafood platter for two: A special offer, but you need to book ahead. $70 hot and cold seafood platter for two.

Includes a bottle of Beach Hut Wine and a reserved table in the lounge area*.

Must be pre-ordered by 5pm, Friday, November 3. Located at 6–20 Pacific Hwy, Ourimbah.

Book now on 02 4362 4401 or functions@ourimbahrsl. com. *Reserved table near the band for the same

LOTS OF FUN: Melbourne Cup Day at the clubs.

amount of seafood platters (for example two platters equals a table of four).

CENTRAL COAST LEAGUES CELEBRATING

WE ARE inviting our members and guests to celebrate Melbourne Cup Day with us and enjoy a day filled with prizes and giveaways!

Watch the race broadcast on the big screen and cheer on your favourite to Cup victory.

Dress in your finest to take home the prize of best-dressed man or woman or the best fascinator.

Feel like you’re trackside with special “Cup cocktails”, free canapés from 1–3pm,

for Authentic Solutions

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

sweepstakes, draws and a Major Prize of an all-expenses paid trip for two to Melbourne Cup Day 2018.

There’s nowhere else to be on Cup Day, other than Central Coast Leagues, proudly sponsored by Flight Centre Gosford. Free admission.

Details and to book call 4325 9888, the club is located at 1 Dane Dr, Gosford.

FOXY HORNBAGS TRIBUTE

A need to help

JOIN Kath and Kim at our Melbourne Cup two-course luncheon on Tuesday, November 7 starting at 12pm.

Tickets are $45. Book early. Entertainment, best dresses, best hat and watch the great race on the big screen.

At Gosford RSL, call (02) 4323 2311 for bookings and details.

The club is located at 26 Central Coast Hwy, West Gosford. Club opens 9am. TAB open from 9am.

Sweeps and live entertainment from 11am.

The race that stops the nation will be displayed throughout the club.

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FOR ex-serviceman Greg Mawson, there is one thing in life he will do for free and if necessary do it 24/7 without counting the cost.

Greg is President of both the Central Coast District Council of RSL and the Gosford sub-branch.

He is pleased to hold these honorary positions in order to ensure the wellbeing of his fellow ex-service and serving members of the Australian Defence Forces. His passion stems from years ago, when he sought and found help to cope with his own health issues. He credits the support he received with getting his life back on track and since then has endeavoured to share these services with other veterans and serving ADF. “We look after all service personnel, men and women, whether you have been overseas or not,” he said.

He said the defence sub-branch provided support and advocacy services, together with a network of nationwide sub-branches.

Since Veterans Mental Health Week is in October, he said it was time to remind veterans of the care and professional services available to them.

“We’re here to help,” he said.

“Even if you think you are alright, that your problem is small – come and talk to us. It’s better to talk than holding it in.

Trivial or not, it will ease your mind to talk.

“A lot of the current young fellows coming through have suffered psychological damage and often don’t realise it.”

Besides that, he said many young people saw the sub-branch as an old boys club and were reluctant to come through.

“That’s not true,” he said.

“The old days, when they went out the back all

PASSION TO SERVE: Greg Mawson supports his fellow ex-service and serving members.

day for a smoke and a beer are gone.”

Instead, he described the defence forces as “one big family”.

“I still have mates from 1986, who will drop in and see me if they going by.”

According to Greg, if you need help, no matter what the time and reason, sub-branch members are there for you.

“There are about 200 homeless veterans on the Coast,” he said.

Recently, they were able to help a young man with housing and counselling after hearing he was living in his car.

“It didn’t take long and he had somewhere to live and was back on track,” he said.

“We have the resources to reach out to these people, with housing, medical and psychological services.”

The counselling services are often provided by other ex-service people or professionals who specialise in ex-military mental health.

“They understand the military culture and talk

the talk,” Greg said.

Other issues faced by committee members include the perception that the sub-branch is run by old fogies and is not for young veterans and the sub-branch and RSL club are one and the same.

Greg wishes to bust those myths and invites ADF personnel, young or old, male or female to participate in the sub-branch. He said it was also important to know that services were also on offer to ADF family members. Additionally, if a person experiences problems with gambling or drinking and didn’t wish to enter the through RSL club, then members would be happy to meet in another place.

Sub-branch members can help with hospital visits and funeral organisation. The sub-branch is in the Gosford RSL Club. Call the secretary on (02) 4323 3860 for details. For pensions and welfare enquiries, go to www.gosfordrslsubbranch. org.au/pensions.

Neighbourhood News

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 19

Community THE Central Coast Seniors Newspaper would like to offer the Central Coast clubs and community groups the opportunity to submit notices of your neighbourhood news. If you would also like to submit a photo please ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size and of faces, in a nice bright setting. The deadline for the November issue is November 18.

You can email your notices to Nicky or Chris at communitynotes@ seniorsnewspaper.com. au.

GOSFORD CITY WBC

DOT Rothery celebrated her 97th birthday as always, enjoyed her bowls.

Dot also played in Vets Day at Wamberal WBC this September and was awarded Oldest Player of the Day Award. We congratulate Dot on showing us the way to a happy and long life enjoying her lawn bowls and, of course, with lots of friends. Happy Birthday Dot. The club is located at

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Dot Rothery celebrated her 97th birthday with Gosford City WBC.

20 Dane Dr, Gosford.

Details call 4325 9825

TOUKLEY 50 PLUS LEISURE & LEARNING CENTRE

starting 11.30am in the auditorium. The cost of tickets is $15 a head, available from club reception. Lunch 12pm, sweeps, entertainment, raffles, fashion parade by On the Lane Boutique, Toukley. For catering purposes, tickets must be purchased by Thursday, November 26. Details call 4396 5075.

Men's Only luncheon Friday, November 17 starting at 11am in the Memorial Hall. Tickets $10 a head and are available from club reception. Guest speaker Tom Dumpleton. Hear some of the great experiences while travelling around Australia and New Zealand with Wirth's Circus in the 1950s. For catering purposes, tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, November 15.

FIRST FLEETERS CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER

OUR centre is holding a Melbourne Cup luncheon on Tuesday, November 7,

IF YOU are interested in early Australian history or

early family history, you are very welcome to attend a meeting of The Fellowship of First Fleeters who are descendants of those people who arrived in Australia on January 26, 1788 on the First Fleet.

You do not need to be related to a First Fleeter to attend.

Meetings are held at Point Clare Hall (opposite the railway station) on the second Saturday morning of each month at 10am for 10.30am.

Details call Jon on 4311 6254 or John on 4392 1926.

BRISBANE WATER EVENING VIEW CLUB WORKING for the Smith Family holds its monthly dinner meeting in the Function Room at the Grange Hotel, Renwick Street, Wyoming on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm for 7pm. New members and visitors are most welcome. For further details please contact

Valda on 4325 1688 or Helen 4367 5670.

For further information call 4334 3800.

WYONG APEX 40

TOUKLEY VIEW CLUB

THIS is a social group open to all former Apex members and their partners from any Apex Club and are now living on the Central Coast.

The group was formed in 1982 to retain the great friendships made in Apex.

We meet on the last Thursday each month for a dinner, at a restaurant or member's home.

If you would like to catch up with some old friends call Lea or Tom Dumpleton on 4393 2681 for more information.

WE MEET on the second Friday of the month at 10.30am at Club Toukley RSL. We have lucky door prizes,raffles and lunch followed by entertainment. We also have outings and friendship morning teas.

Come along and make new friends. We are a member of the Smith Family raising money for the learning support and education of disadvantaged children of Australia. Details call Sandra on 4396 6206.

INDOOR BOWLS

TOUKLEY& DISTRICTS ART SOCIETY INC.

COME and enjoy a game of indoor bowls at the Central Coast Leagues Club.

We play three times a week (both social and competition games) in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and we would be delighted to welcome new members. If you are new to this activity tuition will be given.

PRESENTS workshop Walbunja Dreaming.

Aboriginal Art techniques

by Nicole McCarthy on Monday, November 6, from 10am–3pm. Please call the gallery on 4392 4666 to book in $40 members/$45 non members.

Where cuisine meets culture Advertorial

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SET amongst the Gosford Regional Art Gallery and overlooking the tranquil Japanese Gardens Gosford, The Point Café is the perfect spot to host your next social or sporting group, birthday celebration, tour group or family event.

From all-day breakfast and daily lunch specials, to a fully stocked cake display made fresh onsite daily, featuring our famous

Hummingbird cake, we have something to tempt everyone.

Our latest special includes a two-course lunch for only $25!

Mention this advertisement and receive a complimentary glass of house wine or soft drink.

The Point Café is known for the freshest food with great coffee and friendly service.

Enjoy a delicious meal then enjoy the surrounds

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of the beautiful gardens that feature a lake, waterfall and seats located among the serene plant and bird life.

Then browse the talents of local artists at the regional gallery with a display of varied artworks to see.

You can tour the Japanese gardens with your bus group, take in a gallery exhibition with a friend or celebrate a fabulous occasion in the café.

Doctor Home Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 6.00pm – 8.00am Saturday: Noon – 8.00am Sunday & Public Holidays: All day and all night

With ample parking, easy walks and wheelchair accessibility, the Japanese gardens is accessible to all.

Call the café to book a table today on 02 4324 8099.

To make a booking for a larger group call 1300 714 332 and let us take all of the stress out of planning your next group event.

We are located at 36 Webb St, East Gosford.

Phone Lines Open: Monday to Friday: 4.00pm Weekends: from 10.00am Saturday and then all weekend

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Call Margaret today for a free, no obligation consultation

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20 Seniors Central Coast

Advertorial

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Love to eat? Like to cook? Need some help?

JOIN our four-week cooking and nutrition program and learn how to make easy, delicious and healthy meals.

No previous experience needed.

Plus it’s a relaxed group session that’s fun.

The program is designed to provide dietary, nutrition and practical cooking skills to ensure general health, adequate nutrition and wellbeing is maintained in older people.

The classes are open to people 65 years and over living in the community.

The program: four weeks cooking class (and eating), light morning tea, a one-on-one dietitian consultation and report, tuition and guidance in the kitchen (it’s hands-on), shopping and ingredient tips and advice.

As a group you’ll prepare a two-course lunch together, then enjoy your meal with one

another in a relaxed environment.

Venue: Bateau Bay Anglican Church Community Centre.

Mondays, November 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Time: 10.30am–1.30pm.

Cost: $40 ($10/week) all inclusive.

What’s included?

■ Four-week program, led by qualified home economist.

■ Nutrition assessment (one per client) and a report/plan by qualified dietitian.

■ All ingredients, utensils and instruction provided.

■ The Wholesome Collective handbook of nutrition guidelines and recipes.

■ Morning tea, two-course lunch each week.

■ Transport (if required).

Numbers are limited – book now by calling 1300 578 478.

Please advise food allergies/intolerances and whether you require transport.

LEARNING TOGETHER: The ADSSI cooking program is designed to provide dietary, nutrition and practical cooking skills to ensure general health, adequate nutrition and wellbeing is maintained in older people.

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Central Coast

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 21

Money

Making your money move

SIX out of 10 Australians own investments outside of the family home and super.

That’s good news.

The only problem is that many people are still putting all their eggs in one, or just a few, baskets.

The latest investor study by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) found 40% of investors admit they don’t have a diversified portfolio.

Almost one in two investors think their portfolio is diverse, yet they hold, on average, less than three different investment products.

Diversification plays a key role in long term investing. To understand why, it can help to think about what goes on at the racetrack, where the bookies always seem to win while the punters are invariably left emptyhanded.

The secret to bookmakers’ success is that they spread their risk by continually changing the odds to encourage punters to back as many different horses in a single race as possible.

This spread of money means the wins should outweigh losses.

Punters, on the other hand, concentrate risk by betting on just one horse in each race.

THINK MONEY PAUL CLITHEROE Unless the horse wins, the punter loses his money.

When it comes to investing, the strategy of spreading your money so you have a little in a broad number of investments, not a lot in one, can strengthen long term returns and minimise losses in much the same way that bookies hedge their bets.

However, a wealth of research shows diversification is a weak spot for many investors.

The ASX found we tend to stick to cash, property and Australian shares. In addition to concentrating risk, this can mean missing out on decent returns earned by other asset classes.

As a guide, a recent ASX/Russell report found residential property topped the league table of returns for mainstream investments over the last 10 years, averaging gains of 8.1% annually. What’s surprising is that over the same period, global bonds (hedged) and Australian bonds were the next best performing investments

with average annual returns of 7.4% and 6.1% respectively.

Aussie shares didn’t even make the top four, earning an average of 4.3% annually over the past decade (though to be fair, this period includes the global downturn when sharemarkets tanked).

Cash delivered woeful returns of just 2.8% annually over the 10-year period.

It’s a compelling argument to consider expanding your portfolio beyond the mainstays of cash, bricks and mortar and local shares.

Investments like bonds, infrastructure (which incidentally returned 13.3% globally over the last year), or international shares (10.6%) can be good additions to a portfolio.

These types of investments can be difficult to access as an individual investor, and a managed investment fund – either listed or unlisted, offers an easy way to expand your portfolio into new areas and reap the rewards of diversification.

Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

SUPER: Far too many Australians are living without enough super.

PHOTO: ARISARA_TONGDONNOI

Super balances set to fall short NEARLY half of Australians aged 50–70 have a super balance of less than $100,000 according to new research from MLC. MLC’s survey of 1000 Australians in that age bracket with super balances under $1m also revealed 33% had $50,000 or less in their super account.

MLC Superannuation customer experience general manager Lara Bourguignon said super was one of the greatest tools Australians had to change the high level of poverty among retirees.

“While these results are concerning, we want to remind people in this age group that it’s not too late for them to take action and better understand their holistic wealth position as they prepare for retirement,” Ms Bourguignon said.

“All Australians should enjoy retirement – regardless of their financial situation.”

ASFA Retirement Standard

The Association of Superannuation Funds today released its June quarter retirement standards update.

The figures show a couple around age 65 will need to spend $60,063 per year to live comfortably, with singles needing $43,695 – up 0.2% from the March quarter.

At a modest level, couples need to spend $34,911 and singles $24,270, up 0.1%.

“The pension is not enough,” ASFA CEO Dr Martin Fahy said.

“Far too many people are living without enough super, especially women. In particular, retirees with health care needs are facing significant increases in costs.

“The costs of electricity and gas and of council and water rates are a serious concern for many.”

Retiree living costs by capital city ASFA examined living costs for retirees by capital city, with Sydney at the top of the list.

Over the last quarter, Sydney saw an unsurprising increase in food costs (3.8%), electricity (12.5%) and health expenses (5.1%).

Darwin, Perth and Brisbane had the lowest overall price increases.

“Australian retirees living at the very basic level are doing it tough meeting costs of living and need help,” Dr Fahy said.

ASFA suggested financial support and literacy be part of the solution to help members sort out their retirement living planning. Ms Bourguignon said that just under of a third of people surveyed admitted they never checked their super balance until well into their 50s.

“By helping Australians boost their savings ahead of retirement, and assisting them for the next five to 10 years, they might not have to miss out on the things they love in life,” she said.

Technology help for SeniorS 1-on-1 help in the privacy of your own home.

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Trainers skilled in Apple, Windows and Android products.

IT 4 Retirees Pty Ltd trainers have police clearances and will deliver help in a straightforward, non-intimidating way, whether you want to learn about emails, contacts, online shopping, Facebook, Skype, apps, back-ups, photography or more.

Please call Christine David on 0401-017-459 to book your first session!

Discounts available for a 5-lesson bundle Learn more at www.it4retirees.com.au

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IT 4 Retirees Pty Ltd provides computer training tailored specifically for mature-aged clients. Get the support you need to demystify your devices so you can use them with confidence!

22 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

AGEING & DISABILITY SERVICES Coast Community Connections Limited (CCCL) is a not for profit organisation committed to delivering high quality services for people of all ages across the Central Coast.

Our Ageing and Disability Services offer supports and services or advise to meet the needs of everyone. We offer a range of accredited supports and services tailored to meet the needs of each individual person to assist them to remain living in their home, including such things as but not limited to: • Support Coordination • Assistance with household tasks • Assistance with self-care • Community access and social support • Transport to appointments • Home modifications and maintenance • Lawn and Garden maintenance CCCL is a register provider of Home Care Packages (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) If you need assistance to access My Aged Care or need assistance at home, call today and speak to our friendly intake team on 4343 1888

Do you neeD help arounD your home?

home modification, maintenance, lawns & Gardens Coast Community Connections has over 20 years experience delivering home modification and maintenance services within the ageing and disability sector.

We offer consultation, Occupational Therapy, specialised expertise, flexibility and a focus on value for money outcomes.

Our consultation practice considers sustainability, support arrangements, informal supports in a Person Centred approach to promote independence.

Before

After

Coast Community Connections Ageing and Disability Services provide Home Maintenance and Modifications under Home Care Packages or Commonwealth Home Support Program to assist you to live in your home longer.

From installing grab rails to building ramps our Home Building Services can help you. Services are also available on a fee for service basis

Needing help at home?

Confused on how to access My Aged Care?

Not sure where to start to get support at home?

Let us help you navigate My Aged Care at one of the following home care information sessions.

Monday 13 November Peninsula Community Centre Monday 13 November Kariong Community Centre

10am-12pm 1pm-3pm

Wednesday 15 November Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre

1pm-3pm

Thursday 16 November Toukley Neighbourhood Centre

10am-12pm 10am-12pm

Tuesday 14 November Wyoming Community Centre

10am-12pm

Friday 17 November Narara Neighbourhood Centre

Wednesday 15 November Green Point Community Centre

10am-12pm

10am-12pm Wednesday 22 November Further sessions to be confirmed. Visit our Berkeley Vale Centredetails. website or callNeighbourhood our office for more

Further sessions to be confirmed. Visit our website or call our office for more details.

Coast Community Connections is a funded provider of the Community Home Support Program.

(02) 4343 1888 I coastcommunityconnections.com.au

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Central Coast

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

T ravel

Seniors 23

10 ACE REASONS TO LOVE TRAIN TRAVEL ANN RICKARD climbs on board a train and gives us her top 10 reasons to love train travel in foreign lands

1. The big train stations, especially in Europe and the UK, are intoxicating.

The atmosphere is electric: the big clocks, the buzz of people going to places we have only dreamt of visiting, the romance, the magic…try finding that at an airport.

2. No check-in. How we hate long check-in queues at airports where it seems every person in front of us has a tonne of luggage and a mammoth problem to solve.

With trains, you just turn up and get on. The recommended time to be on the platform before departure is two minutes (unless it’s the Eurostar, which does require check-in).

3. High speed trains get you there super-fast.

Hurtling through the countryside at 300 kilometres an hour is exhilarating.

4. Arrive in the centre.

Most airports are out of town and require an expensive taxi ride or bus

transfer to get you in the city centre.

With train travel, get off, and you are there right in the heart of London, Paris, Rome, Madrid…. oh, let’s go.

5. Comfort. The inter-city trains have comfortable and spacious seats with head rests, plenty of leg room, power sockets for laptops and electronic devices.

6. Buy flexible passes in Australia before you go and snag a deal. In Europe, a Eurail Global Flexi Pass gives you access to countless trains in 28 countries.

In the US, an Amtrak USA Rail Pass lets you hop on and off as you please. Similar passes apply in Canada and Japan. Flexible? We think so.

7. The dining car. Slip into a booth, have a waiter bring you anything from poached eggs to fillet of beef, depending on the time of day. There is wine, too.

8. Budget restraints?

Pack a picnic to enjoy at your seat. BYO food is expected.

We’ve seen people on trains (mostly in France) enjoy a multi-course lunch complete with wine, finishing with cheese and fruit… all from their backpack.

9. Atmosphere. The stunning architecture of

big train stations, the restaurants, cafes and shops.

In Paris, at Gare de Lyon, the fabled Le Train Bleu restaurant with its gilt and chandeliers and Parisian grandeur is worth a station visit alone, even if you never get on a train.

10. Plan your train journey so you depart or arrive at your hotel check-in/check-out times.

No hanging around with luggage. Speaking of which, travel light…really, you must…getting heavy suitcases on and off trains is not for sissies (or seniors.)

For more information on rail tickets and passes, visit www.railplus.com.au or phone 1300 555 003.

About Rail Plus Rail Plus is Australasia’s leading

international rail specialist. The company provides retail and wholesale travel companies with the ability to quickly and efficiently book and ticket an unrivalled range of train journeys, rail passes and point-to-point tickets on major rail networks across Europe, the UK, Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

24 Seniors Central Coast

Advertorial

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Bowlers have a ball with Road Runners Bowls club tour group visits the Central Coast district THE Northern Rivers District Bowls Association tour group was formed 24 years ago when a Townsville Bowlers tour group visited our district.

Our group has 12 clubs represented, from Evans Head in the south, Lennox Head in the north and Urbenville to the west.

Three of the original bowlers are still with the group and have not missed a tour – Bill and Nancy Nugent and Judy Soward, from Nimbin.

The tour lasts for two weeks and we have covered just about all parts of Australia.

We book into a motel and play nine games of bowls in the fortnight. We have two free days and two tour days of the area.

Generally, we would arrive at a club at 12pm, have lunch, play bowls against

the locals and then have dinner at the club before going back to our motel.

The 2017 tour was to NSW Central Coast.

We stayed at the Ibis Styles Motel The Entrance. The Diggers Club was used for breakfast each day and meals on the free days.

Both the motel and the club are excellent facilities for tour groups.

The clubs we visited were exceptional with food, drink and friendship.

The bowls co-ordinators organised bowlers to match our numbers each time. Roadrunner Coaches transported us to the different clubs and organised our tour days.

The tours were to the Drovers Camp for lunch and entertainment with singing dogs and also a Hawkesbury River Cruise.

GREAT FUN: Northern Rivers Bowls Association tour group enjoyed their recent tour with Road Runner Tours.

Both tours were very well organised and we highly recommend Road Runner Tours.

Our group found out that this great family run bus/tour company was

fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s One Walk.

They are very passionate about the cause because their son,

grandson and CEO Craig was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 18 months. Our bowls group was only too happy to contribute $469.19 to this great cause which now

brings this years raised funds to $3031.30.

Next year we will be going to visit Mackay in August or September.

Rob Montague, secretary.

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Travel

Central Coast

Seniors 25

Fiery ostriches at battle beside the road to Damaraland.

PHOTO: DEBBIE PLUNKETT

Sundowners in Ongava Game Reserve, near Etosha.

PHOTO: JEREMIA Tracey Johnstone

BY DAY 10, my Namibia travelling companions wanted me to use something other than the word extraordinary to describe this vast desert country.

But that was hard as no other word could truly encapsulate the nature of a country gradually emerging into its own since gaining independence from South African in 1990, and finding its financial feet through its natural resources and tourism.

In early August, Wilderness Safaris took me on my first 4WD experience, rolling out of the capital Windhoek in a seven-seat truck with the phone turned off and in the company of three Americans, two of which were professors, a medical specialist from Melbourne, my husband Gary and myself, and the most amazing guide, Jeremia.

The striking landscape unfolded as we soon left the paved highway and started out across the

rolling dry savannah, past craggy hills and into the desert.

Just before sunset, when I was starting to wonder where our camp could be in the seemingly deserted landscape of rocks and then rough sand, appearing before us and nestled under a craggy outcrop was our first glamp.

The permanent tents of the Kulala Adventurer Camp looked out across the pristine desert of red and yellow.

A short distance away was a watering hole for the desert-adapted wildlife to visit.

No amount of photos or words could have prepared me for the beauty, comfort, but also enthralling rawness of this location. It was on that first night, sitting around the camp table, accompanied by white linen, cool wine and interesting company, that I came to realise our guide was going to deliver the most amazing journey.

His depth of knowledge of everything from the stars, landscape, birds,

NAMIBIA: A Himba woman trading local wares outside the entrance to Etosha National Park.

PHOTO: GARY MCCARTHY

Striking Namibia welcomes guests geology, country history and culture was without exception and readily shared. The six of us were back in the classroom and ready to learn.

We started each day before sunrise, catching the first rays as we downed our ample breakfast and welcome cups of tea. For the road, Jeremia had packed cool drinks, plentiful lunch and even a secret supply of dried fruit for snacks. We also learnt not to waste any food, with leftovers collected and handed to people we met along the desert tracks.

The Namib Desert part of our trip took us to south to Sossusvlei and the red

dunes where we climbed the fine edge of one of the steep dunes, only to then have to work our way down its edge to the dry pan below, where it hadn’t rained since 1965.

From there Jeremia, who quickly was nicknamed Hawkeye, took us back north and towards Walvis Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. We were already seeing oryx, springbok, black-backed jackal, wilderbeast, ostrich, zebra, chameleon lizard, meerkats and even cheetahs.

This coastal centre was an interesting diversion from the desert, with its busy port and amazing thick sea fog, but we were

For over 25 years I have been travelling Our next Authentic Vietnam journey is set to Vietnam as a guest of hotels and tour down for March 2018 and I invite you to companies enabling me to see the real join me and my carefully selected team as Vietnam. Our Destination Journeys are we experience the real Vietnam together. a culmination of my experiences that will We’ve chosen hotels centrally located in the enable you to meet the local people, cities and sensational locations with experience the unique culture and savor stunning views in the rural areas. Our the delicious cuisine that Vietnam offers. tour guide Tam will regale you with all you need to know about Vietnam and our Vietnamese Escort Hoang Nguyen is on hand to help us mix and mingle with the local people breaking down the wall between tourism and travelling. Cheers Glenn.

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all happy to get back on the road, heading north to Etosha National Park.

A short stop at Cross Bay, where a massive fur seal colony made for pungent viewing, was our last view of water for quite some time as we headed back inland to Damaraland Camp to view herds of desert-adapted elephants and discover minerals.

A visit to the Twyfelfontein UNESCO World Heritage site, where the rock drawings are between 2000 and 6000 years old, and then onto the Living Museum village were the last memorable moments of our time in the desert before headed

further north.

As the savannah rolled out in front of us, Jeremia told us of Namibia’s battle to save its rhinos.

As we crossed into Ongava Game Park’s Andersson’s Camp, next to Etosha, he told us in the first two weeks of July, already four rhinos had been poached in Etosha.

During our final days of the adventure, we saw white and black rhinos, impala, ground squirrel, lots of guinea fowl and small birds, giraffe, warthogs, more fabulous zebras and elephants, and a lion.

My husband wants to go back there, soon, and so do I.

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Call Glenn at The Travellers Hut for further details and a dossier on our journey.

26 Seniors Central Coast

Travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Canberra it’s up, up and away

PHIL HAWKES finds the nation’s capital has more than enough hot air IF YOU’VE thought of Canberra as a place for “serious” tourism…

Federal Parliament, the Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery and so on, you’d be right.

Those places should be high on every Australian’s bucket list.

But only half right.

There’s another side to the city which is now attracting a new wave of visitors looking for fun, excitement, good food and wine, and lots of activities that will keep you busy with Facebook posts or Instagrams to the rellies back home.

For example, trying hot air ballooning on a frosty winter morning is one way to get the pulse racing. It may sound a bit nerve-racking, but ballooning is statistically safer than driving down the street and it’s a lot

more fun. In the hands of experienced operators such as Balloon Aloft, you get a wonderful bird’s eye view of the city and the picturesque countryside, a joyflight you won’t easily forget.

Ballooning is just for starters. Here are some other fun things to do in Canberra: ■ Stay at Jamala Wildlife Lodge at the heart of the National Zoo & Aquarium.

Here, you can choose a room or suite “close up and personal” with a lion, tiger, bear or cheetah…or next to a shark tank! Our favourite is the Giraffe Treehouse where you can feed the handsome Humbekhali from your balcony.

■ Take a Segway Tour around Lake Burley Griffin, it certainly beats walking and the guides give an amusing commentary.

FABULOUS EXPERIENCE: Feeding Humbekhali while staying in the Giraffe Treehouse at the Jamala Wildlife Lodge.

■ Try your hand at glass blowing at Canberra Glassworks, a unique workspace for glass artists where visitors can get arty and make a glass paperweight under the patient guidance of a professional artist.

■ Visit the new Capital Brewing Company in Fyshwick, an industrial area fast becoming a trendy urban precinct.

Enjoy not only superb craft beers, but tasty food from the famous Brodburger food truck.

■ Spend an hour or three at one of many wineries in the district… the closest to town is Mount Majura Vineyard and if you’re like us, you’ll want more than

Balloon Aloft above Canberra skies.

a sip of their excellent tempranillo.

■ Dine at one of Canberra’s hot eateries, like Italian and Sons, ONA

Manuka (great locally roasted coffee) and Pialligo Estate on the banks of the Molonglo River incorporating a

vineyard, olive grove, market garden and smokehouse for a true chef-hatted gourmet dining experience.

■ Book well ahead for Floriade in September 2018, now in its 31st year and one of Australia’s best known flower and garden shows.

■ Check out Tigerair’s new Brisbane-Canberra flights… the low fares will save you enough money to enjoy more of the fun side of our national capital.

For more details, www.visitcanberra.com.au or www.tigerair.com.au.

The writer’s visit to Canberra was supported

by VisitCanberra and Tigerair.

20 DAY BEST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Choose from 600+ cruises and receive our best offer of the season including:*

1 2 3 4

SIGNATURE BEVERAGE PACKAGE DINNER IN THE PINNACLE GRILL REDUCED FARES FOR 3 /4 GUESTS RD

TH

50% REDUCED DEPOSIT

BONUS OFFER FOR SUITES: Receive the above PLUS US$200 onboard spending money per stateroom

DEPARTURE DATE: 11 APR 2018

SHIP: ms Koningsdam

ARRIVE: Civitavechhia (Rome), Italy

DEPART: Civitavechhia (Rome), Italy

FROM: $4,499* per person, Balcony Cabin *ALL PRICES STATED ARE PER PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY AND INCLUDE TAXES, FEES & PORT EXPENSES and discounts. CRUISE OR ALASKA LAND+SEA JOURNEY ONLY. Fares listed are in Australian Dollars. Explore4 offers are per stateroom based on double occupancy, for 1st and 2nd guests sharing a stateroom and excludes 3rd/4th guests, except as provided herein. Offers are based on Promo(s) KA/KC/JB/NX/NP/UU, are available for new bookings only, apply only to the cruise portion of Alaska Land+Sea Journeys, are not combinable with any other discounts and are not transferable or refundable. Offers are applicable on select 2018–2019 sailings. Subject to availability. Signature Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages, which includes all beverages priced at US$9.00 or lower. Guests must order beverages one at a time and must be 21 years or older for alcoholic beverages. Sharing is not permitted. Beverage management reserves the right to revoke the package if misused and refuse service for any reason, including service of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated guests. Package excludes purchases made in Signature Shops, Mini Bar and In Room Dining, or beverages on Half Moon Cay. Pinnacle Grill dinner: Guests receive one dinner per person. Reservations and dining times will be assigned and a confirmation card will be placed in your stateroom upon embarkation day.

Offer excludes Speciality Dining Events in the Pinnacle Grill such as Le Cirque, De Librije, Master Chef’s Table and Sommelier Dinner. Reduced fares for 3rd/4th guests is based on sharing a stateroom with 1st and 2nd guests, valid on select sailings, and based on Promo Z3. Reduced Deposit is valid for new bookings only. Bookings made on voyages requiring immediate final payment are not eligible for a reduced deposit. Suite offer: Onboard Spending Money is US$100 per guest (US$200 per suite) is non-refundable, transferable, not for cash value, expires at the end of that cruise, and may not be used in the casino. Offers are capacity controlled, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply. Explore4 offers end 17 November 2017. Ships' Registry: The Netherlands.

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Travel

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 27

Gourmet extravaganza

MARGARET River Gourmet Escape presented by Audi has expanded its 2017 program, introducing four new events and chef collaborations, across the four-day food and wine extravaganza set in Western Australia’s spectacular south-west.

The World’s Best Female Chef of 2017, Ana Ros (Hiša Franko), will return to showcase the flavours of Slovenia at the World Discovery Dinner at Voyager Estate presented by Audi, alongside newly appointed executive chef, Santiago Fernandez.

World-renowned wine critic, Jancis Robinson OBE, MW (UK) will lead the conversation on the evening, pouring and discussing an outstanding selection of wines from Voyager Estate and other acclaimed Margaret River wineries.

For the first time, guests will have the opportunity to experience an incredible culinary adventure by helicopter, with WA chef, Paul Iskov.

A scenic flight over Margaret River culminates in lunch made from

foraged and local ingredients, prepared

by Iskov and his team from Fervor.

Upon landing in a secret, secluded location, guests will be greeted with a cocktail of native foraged ingredients, crafted by mixologist Vijay Mudaliar (Native, Singapore).

Fraser Gallop Estate owners Nigel and Dorothy Gallop will once again open the doors of their private Georgian mansion and grounds to guests of Gourmet Escape for The Great Soirée at Fraser Gallop Estate.

Melbourne’s acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Andrew McConnell will collaborate with local chef Aaron Carr to create a selection of canapés, paired with Fraser Gallop’s multi award-winning Bordeaux-style wines on the 165-acre estate in Wilyabrup.

Rising young female chef, Jo Barrett (Oakridge Wines) will join her partner, Matt Stone at the newly opened Amelia Park Winery Restaurant for a special lunch showcasing the region’s finest flavours and locally

SO DECADENT: Quay to the Cellar at last year’s Margaret River Gourmet Escape.

foraged ingredients.

Jo and Matt will partner with the restaurant’s owners, Blair and Renee Allen for the Regional Flavours lunch.

Another not-to-be missed event is O Sole Mio, the ultimate Italian long-table lunch with Italian Michelin-starred chef, Anthony Genovese (Il Pagliaccio, Rome) and George Cooper (Food by the Chef).

Guests will dine among the olive grove of Olio

Bello, a spectacular 130 hectare, certified organic property, which produces some of the country’s finest olive oil.

Guests can also tour the grounds and olivepressing facility, taste the olive oils and enjoy a mini masterclass.

For those looking for a highly coveted Saturday evening dinner, acclaimed Woodlands Wines will be opening their barrel room to host Gan Bei, a chinese

feast prepared by festival first-timer and Michelinstarred chef, Andrew Wong (A Wong, London) and Andrew Bennett (Lucky Chan’s, Perth).

Located in the heart of internationally acclaimed Leeuwin Estate Winery, the Gourmet Village is back bigger and better than ever with more than 120 artisan food, wine and brewing producers over the weekend and for the first time ever, children under 12 receive

free admission.

New events include ‘Giniversity’s’ intimate gin blending masterclasses from The Margaret River Distilling Company, Lurpak’s hands-on cookery school and Meat & Livestock Australia presents The Butcher’s Block in association with Food Network, where the stars of ‘Eat Australia’ Andy Allen and Ben Milbourne explore the fine art of butchery.

Another new and exciting event taking place in the village, The World’s Best Chefs Table, which will see a selection of some of the world’s top chefs take their guests on an exceptional and intimate culinary journey.

Get there with great package offers with Qantas Holidays and Virgin Holidays.

■ Virgin: travel.virgin australia.com/au/ events/margaret-rivergourmet-escape ■ Qantas: packages. qantas.com/events Gourmet Escape from November 16–19.

Tickets available through www.ticketek. com.au/gourmetescape.

Telephone:

02 4325 8000 5 Day King Island

8 Day Great Ocean Road

Extended holidays for 2018 include:

Departing Sunday 4th February 2018

Departing Saturday 17 February 2018 Looking ahead to 2018, we start the year with one of our most popular holidays exploring the magnificent Shipwreck Coast. Our journey begins as we travel to Albury for overnight, then onto the Great Ocean Road spending overnight at Apollo Bay. Plenty of photo opportunities with views of the remaining twelve apostles, London Bridge, the Grotto and Loch Ard Gorge. 3 nights in Warrnambool to visit Flagstaff Hill, Port Fairy and see the Maremma Dogs that protect the little Penguins. Two night shows included are “Shipwrecked” and “Blood on the Southern Cross “in Ballarat.

Tour Price: $1650.00 per person twin share

5 Days Black Opal - Lightning Ridge Departing Thursday 26th April 10 Day Gippsland Gold & Lakes Departing Wednesday 2nd May Including Healsville, Walhalla Goldfields, Wilsons Promontory & Lakes Entrance 10 Day Adelaide Discovery Departing Saturday 26th May 12 Day Airlie Beach & The Whitsunday Departing Friday 8th June

Tour price from: $2950.00 per person twin share 4 Day Barrington Tops Departing Thursday 8th March 2018 Venture to Gloucester for a 3 nights stay Explore Barrington Tops National Park carved out of an ancient Volcano rising to over 1500 metres and down to world heritage listed tropical rainforest visit Thunderbolts Lookout, Blue Pols and the Dingo Gate. Many more surprises in this tour.

Tour Price: $795.00 per person twin share 6 Day Easter in Dorrigo Departing Thursday 29th March 2018 Enjoy a 5 night stay at the Lookout Mountain Retreat Situated on 16 acres and perched on the edge of the Dorrigo Plateau. All meals included along with daily sightseeing tours around the area.

Tour Price: $1395.00 per person twin share

9 Day Phillip Island & Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Call for our latest Day Tours & 2018 holiday book.

Departing Saturday 17th March 2018 Overnight in Cooma before travelling the Monaro Highway through Bombala into Victoria. Visit Orbost on the banks of the Snowy River before overnight in Bairnsdale. Spend 2 nights on Phillip Island, view the little penguins coming into shore and take a tour of French Island.

Visit William Ricketts Sanctuary before 3 nights in Melbourne to tour the MSG, cruise the Yarra and spend time at the Garden show. Enjoy a 5 course dinner on the Colonial Tramcar restaurant and take time at the famous Victorian Markets. Overnight in Yass on our return home.

Tour Price: $1999.00 per person twin share

Holiday inclusions: Home pick-up for Central Coast & Newcastle Passengers, 5 star coach travel with professional and informative coach captain / guide.

Quality motel accommodation, 2 course dinners, full cooked breakfast and all entry fees, attractions and cruises as per each itinerary Shop 5A Gosford Central Plaza | 153 Mann Street GOSFORD 2250 Telephone: 02 4325 8000 | Dublet D Pty Ltd t/a It’s Easy Tours ABN 93 165 847 316

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Flying via Melbourne to picturesque King Island 4 nights at the King Island Wilderness Retreat All Meals and daily tours including King Island Cheese. So much to see and do on this uniquely beautiful island.

th

28 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Reviews Dawn French’s fabulous diary

DAWN French has written a new, non-fiction book.

The reader and Dawn will spend a year together rambling through the days, the months and the seasons of the year to make sense of it.

And have some fun along the way...

“Feel free to write your appointments in it, lists, thoughts and reminders of, say, who to kill, and when, and in what order,” French writes.

“But I’ve also written about age and life as I see it, through the seasons and the months, and I’ve added some places for you to join me in some fun and

FABULOUSLY FUNNY: Dawn French.

PHOTO: TREVOR LEIGHTON

some thinking.

“By the end of the year, I am hoping you will have a fatter, scruffier book that is written by me but totally personalised by you.

“Come on in. The paper is lovely... AND... importantly, Me. You: A

Bucket list ideas big and small WHATEVER your dreams, this book will help you tick them off your lifelong to-do list. We all have a list of things we dream of doing one day, but work, family, school, money, and responsibilities can all get in the way.

If there were no boundaries on what you could experience, what would you do? The Bucket List is a collection of 1000

adventures to be had across every continent, from seeing the northern lights from an igloo in Finland to ninja training in Japan.

The Bucket List is the perfect gift for the passionate traveller: an around-the-world listing of beaches, museums, islands, restaurants, mountains, and more.

Published by Murdoch

Books, Kath Stathers’s The Bucket List is available this month from book stores. RRP $39.99.

Girl’s war-time choices Diary comes with a practical elastic strap to keep all of your papers safe, with a pocket in the back for storing those special mementoes.”

Published by Penguin Books, Me. You: A Diary is released this month and in bookshops and online. RRP $39.99.

THE Girl from Munich is set in worn-torn Germany of 1943 and tells the tale of a young girl’s choices that change her life forever. Growing up in Hitler’s Germany, Charlotte von Klein has big dreams for the future.

But in 1943, the tide of the war is turning against Germany, and Lotte’s life of privilege and comfort begins to collapse around

her. As Hitler’s Reich abandons Germany and the country falls to the Allied forces, Lotte is forced to flee from the unfolding chaos to the country with the darkly attractive Erich Drescher, her Luftwaffe superior. Amid the danger, pain and heartbreak of a country turning on itself, Lotte must forge a new life for herself.

The Girl from Munich is published by Simon and Schuster and available in bookshops for RRP $29.99 and as an ebook for RRP $9.99.

Warm-hearted School Life SCHOOL Life is an entertaining movie that gives an insight into the lives of two teachers who are reaching retirement after 46 years of inspirational teaching in an Irish boarding school.

The observational documentary film follows a year in the lives of John and Amanda Leyden, who work at the majestic Headfort, the only primary-age boarding school in Ireland, and who have shaped the minds of thousands.

But now the unthinkable looms – what would

retirement mean, they muse.

Spanning the ancient and the ultra-modern has been their life and passion and so they’ve challenged the march of time by absorbing the endless supply of young ideas from their wards – but who will keep them young if they leave?

For John, rock music is just another subject alongside maths, English, scripture and Latin, all of which are taught in a collaborative and often hilarious fashion.

For Amanda, the key to

connecting with children is the book and she uses all means fair to snare the young minds.

The children sit transfixed as she takes them on magical journeys with fantastical characters from tales of all kinds.

“If we don’t come here, what will we will do all day?” John asks dryly.

“We’ll sit around doing less and less and become more and more decrepit.”

The highly entertaining and heart-warming School Life film will be in Australian cinemas from November 2.

TEACHER TALE: Amanda Leyden in the documentary School Life.

PHOTO: ANTIDOTE FILMS

From turmoil in the midst of Winter, friendships are created

READ IT: In the Midst of Winter is the The captivating new novel by Isabel Allende.

PHOTO: SIMON & SCHUSTER

NEW York Times bestseller and master storyteller Isabel Allende’s In the Midst of Winter is a beautifully crafted, multi-generational novel of struggle, endurance and friendship against the odds. Amid the biggest Brooklyn snowstorm in living memory, an unexpected friendship blossoms between three people thrown together by circumstance.

Richard Bowmaster, a

❝

Amid the biggest Brooklyn snowstorm in living memory, an unexpected friendship blossoms between three people thrown together by circumstance.

lonely university professor in his sixties, hits the car driven by Evelyn Ortega, a young, undocumented migrant from Guatemala.

But what at first seems an inconvenience takes an unforeseen and darker

turn when Evelyn comes to him and his neighbour Lucia Maraz, desperately seeking help.

Sweeping from present-day Brooklyn to Guatemala to turbulent 1970s Chile and Brazil,

and woven with Isabel Allende's trademark humanity, passion and storytelling verve, In the Midst of Winter is a mesmerising and unforgettable tale.

Allende is the author of international bestsellers The House of the Spirits and The Japanese Lover.

Published by Simon and Schuster, In the Midst of Winter is available in November in bookshops and ebook. RRP $39.99.

Monday, October 23, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Entertainment

Central Coast

Seniors 29

What’s on MAGIC FLUTE

FLAUTIST Jane Rutter has been an Australian and international favourite for decades, and she has now teamed with award-winning bass baritone singer Teddy Tahu Rhodes to present some of the world’s greatest love songs. These stars of the classical world will present Italian opera to Handel, Mozart, Donizetti and Schubert, and from Celtic Canon to Cole Porter and Rogers and Hammerstein. It’s on Thursday, October 26 at The Art House Wyong.

CHROMEFEST

THE annual celebration of all things classic American kicks off at The Entrance from October 27–29 with the usual exciting mix of classic cars, hot rods and rock ’n’ roll. Beat the crowds and see the cars as they cruise from Oakland Ave to Avoca and back to Memorial Park for display from 12pm on the Friday.

Or join the weekend buzz with three stages of entertainment, retro markets, dance exhibitions, vintage fashion, the crowning of Miss Pin-up Doll and, on Sunday, the full 500 cars on display. Go to www.chromefest.org.

SCOTTISH SPECTACULAR

GET your kilts out on Sunday, November 5 as the Central Coast Scots, in conjunction with City of Gosford Pipe Band, Pipe Bands NSW, Central

There’s two stages of entertainment, as well as an art precinct, mural art, roving entertainment from circus troupes, swing dancers, Rollerfit, stilt walkers, and action aplenty on the skate ramp, as well as a Kidz Zone and plenty of food, drink and produce.

JOURNALIST ALISON HOUSTON Coast Highland Dancing Incorporated, and the Gosford Scottish Country Dancers present the inaugural Central Coast Scottish Spectacular. This Scottish Highland Gathering, including kaber and keg tossing, is at The Entertainment Grounds, Gosford and will feature the NSW Pipe Band State Championships, and the Central Coast Scottish National Dancing Titles.

Find them on Facebook.

THE LAKES FESTIVAL

THE Lakes Festival, in its third year from November 10–19. Celebrate the Coasts waterways with sporting, family, cultural, educational, art and live music events on and surrounding the water.

Celebrations are spread across Memorial Park, The Entrance, Picnic Point, McKenzie Reserve at Budgewoi and the foreshores of Canton Beach at Toukley, Ettalong Beach, Gosford Waterfront and Long Jetty. So whether you want to try stand-up paddle yoga or help break a record of the largest number of artists painting outside in one spot, head along. Google The Lakes Festival for the program.

’ALLO ’ALLO

YOU loved it on TV, now ’Allo ’Allo is presented by

ARTASTIC ART

SHARING THE LOVE: Tony Ditcham (one of the Toukley and Districts Art Society Wednesday Academy Group’s mentors) at back, with Sonja Fabian and other members. The society, which is holding its annual art and craft fair on November 18, also runs a Friday Drawing Club which is open to all levels. See their story at www.seniorsnews.com.au.

Wyong Drama Group Fridays to Sundays, November 17–25. The production promises laughs aplenty with café owner Rene Artois and his tone-deaf chanteuse wife Edith, passionate waitresses Yvette Carte-Blanche and Mimi Labonq, smitten German officer Grüber, Herr Flick of the Gestapo and Police Officer Crabtree with his famous “good moaning!”.

It’s co-directed by Howard Oxley and Duncan Mitchell, and stars Howard as René, so go along for a night of laughs.

Federation Gallery, 1 Wallarah Rd, Gorokan. It’s the perfect time to buy a unique Christmas present from the locally made arts and crafts. The gallery has a collection of paintings in water colour, oil, acrylic and pastel, along with hand-painted porcelain and silk, craftworks, pottery, jewellery and hand-painted cards and souvenirs, and you can stop at the café afterwards. Go to www.toukleyartgallery. com.au or call 02 4392 4666.

ART & CRAFT FAIR

HOW can you go wrong with a festival that celebrates man’s best friend? Dogs in the Park, at Memorial Park, The Entrance from 9am–4pm across November 18–19,

TUCKED away in a truly beautiful spot, the Toukley and Districts Art Society’s Art and Craft Fair by the Lake is on November 18 from 9am–2pm, at the

DOGS IN THE PARK

includes the Central Coast DockDogs Club Competition, the Peggy’s Promise Rescue Agility Race Course (which you can join in for a gold coin donation), dog demonstrations, prizes for best dressed pet, trick contests and more, including the chance to raise funds for animal welfare. Find them on Facebook.

STREET FESTIVAL

KASEY Chambers is headlining this year’s Long Jetty Street Festival from 11am–6pm on Sunday, November 19. The final event of The Lakes Festival, and now in its third year, it will cater for 15,000-plus festival-goers, with more stalls, entertainment and services than ever.

VIEW and purchase some wonderful local works by the 18 artists who make up The Artastic Art Group when they hold their open day at Waterfront Estate, 8 Carrak Rd, Kincumber on Saturday, November 25. There will be demonstrations in various media, a Dutch auction, bar from 1pm and the charity raffle includes a framed Piers Bateman landscape, valued at $2500 and a piece by local artist Helen Davies, valued at $800. Funds will go to Aussie Helpers farming charity. The exhibit runs 9am–5pm.

Gates will be open, just follow the signs.

HALF MARATHON

YOU’VE got a month left to get in shape, because the Mingara One Central Coast Half Marathon and 10km Fun Run is on Sunday, November 26.

Staged annually, both runs follow the cycle path from The Entrance along Tuggerah Lake. The course is said to be flat, fast and scenic! Fundraise $250 for the Cancer Council NSW and run for free. Go to centralcoast halfmarathon.com.

Leading a better life through artistic expression Alison Houston

IMAGINE if someone thought enough about your life, your words, to create a play around them and put them on stage.

Or what if a couple of comic entertainers could give a dementia patient back a feeling of empowerment and positively change relationships with their families and carers simply through playfulness?

Could music-making or creating art build resilience and improve mental health for those in nursing homes and retirement villages?

These are just some of the subjects being tackled by more than 80

presenters from across Australia and the world at the ninth annual International Arts and Health Conference in Sydney from October 30 to November 1.

Convenor Margret Meagher said the wide range of arts and health topics encompassed art, poetry, music and song, dance, theatre, craft and cuisine and dealt with aged care, dementia, veterans, prisoners, child and youth mental health and women’s health.

With our ever-growing older population, and dementia affecting one in 10 people over the age of 65, a number of presentations and workshops focus on the

evidence that involvement in creative activities can have a major impact on older people’s quality of life.

David Savill has worked for 20 years at Age Exchange, the leading UK charity specialising in reminiscence theatre, which aims to change perceptions of “how we see older people in our society and how we value them and the lives they have lived”.

By working with groups to draw out their memories of times that were important to them through sensory triggers, artefacts, archive material and photography, they create and stage a theatre piece, often unscripted,

so that the older participant doesn’t have to remember lines, but based on a structured improvisation.

“In performance the older people often just fly, finding new wit, asides, engaging with the audience directly, and sharing their own life experience in an extremely free and immediate way,” he said.

And afterwards, “you can see the older performer glow when they see the audience enjoy and sometimes share in their performed memory”.

But, of course, fading memory is one of the difficulties too often associated with ageing.

Brisbane’s Michael

Balfour addresses social isolation, depression and quality of life for dementia patients through his work with ‘playfulness’.

In the vein of the Clown Doctors, who have been helping kids in hospitals for years, special applied theatre actors engage patients in fun and activity, putting them in the driving seat of what happens, giving them the control they rarely experience as dementia patients.

The results have been outstanding, with families and carers, often caught up in the practical tasks of health care, both reporting changes in the patients as well as in their own relations with them

as they come to view them again as a whole person.

Katrina Rank, from Ausdance Victoria, examines whether Australia is ready for the Senior demand for dance classes, with research confirming its importance for mind, body and spirit, while Sydney’s Ros and Chris Poulos discuss the sense of purpose, personal growth and empowerment, as well as release that elderly participants report after being “prescribed” participation in art by health practitioners.

For more information and details on the conference, go to www. artsandhealth.org.au. #artshealth17

30 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, October 23, 2017

Let’s save

Get crafty with your grandkids

Recipes for kids HONEY JOYS

Ingredients 4 1/2 cups cornflakes 120g butter, chopped 1 1/2 tablespoon honey 1/3 cup caster sugar Method Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced.

Line 12 hole, 1/3 cup capacity muffin pan with paper cases.

Place cornflakes in a large heatproof bowl.

Place butter, honey and sugar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until butter has melted and mixture is smooth. Add to cornflakes. Mix well to combine. Spoon mixture evenly between paper cases.

Bake for 10 minutes or until golden. Stand for 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

PANCAKES

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups milk 1 egg 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups SR flour 25g butter, melted or spray oil Method Whisk milk and egg and vanilla together in a jug.

Sift flour into a bowl.

Make a well in centre. Add milk mixture. Whisk until just combined. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spray with oil or brush pan with butter. Using 1/4 cup

mixture per pancake, cook 2 pancakes for couple of minutes or until bubbles appear on surface. Turn and cook for 2 minutes or until cooked through.

Transfer to a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm.

Repeat with remaining mixture, brushing pan with butter between batches.

Serve with butter and honey. There are so many variations. Try mashing a banana and adding to milk mixture.

PIZZA

Pizza bases/individual bases pita bread or wraps can also be used Tomato base sauce or BBQ sauce Grated cheese Sliced mushrooms Capsicum finely sliced Bacon- chopped Chicken- chopped Prawns Finely sliced red onion Cooked mince steak Pineapple pieces Cover the pizza base with sauce of choice then add a small covering of grated cheese. Start the toppings with meat first then progress with mushrooms, capsicum then onion and pineapple and top with cheese. The secret to a great pizza is to not overload. If you do the pizza will be soggy so less is more. Pop the pizza into a very hot oven and cook for 20 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

BE THRIFTY AND THRIVE NICKY NORMAN small bowl. ★Vaseline. ★Scissors. ★Homemade glue/wallpaper paste. ★Strip of card, approx.

2cm x 25 cm. ★Stapler. ★Masking tape.

To make bowl: 1. Lie newspaper out on the table and create a work area.

2. Blow up the balloon and fasten with a knot and spread plenty of Vaseline all over it.

4. Sit the balloon in the cup with the knot facing into the cup.

5. Brush over some glue/paste with the paintbrush on the top half of the balloon.

6. Cover the top half of

PREPARATION: Paper mache can be a fun activity to enjoy with your grandchildren.

Just keep ahead of the mess.

the balloon (that is covered in paste) with strips of newspaper.

7. Make sure the newspaper is wet entirely with glue - add more if required.

8. Paste the strips horizontally and vertically as this will strengthen the bowl.

9. Cover the ends that

Cooking with the kids I LOVE cooking with kids, they’re so interested in learning how to make the yummy food they enjoy.

Start with something simple like pancakes, fritters or honey joys, then progress to lemonade scones, pizza and rice paper rolls. The rolls may not look perfect when they’re finished but the kids think they are very clever with this healthy option. You can also, depending on the age of the kids, teach them how to prepare the ingredients. You will be very surprised how much kids are capable of at a young age. For stress-free cooking with kids, let

HOME COOKING CHRISTINE PERKIN them help choose the menu beforehand, give them a few options that are suitable and it is best to ensure you have the ingredients for what you are cooking and be organised. Don’t complicate the menu or the kids will lose interest very quickly. Have all the ingredients ready to go measured and portioned and make sure you have a stool or chair available for

3 INGREDIENTS: Delicious Lemonade scones.

them if they are a little height challenged.

Let’s get cooking!

LEMONADE SCONES Moist and fluffy scones, made with only 3 ingredients! Serve warm with jam and cream Makes 10

haven’t been glued down properly with glue.

10. Add at least six layers of newspaper and glue to the top half of the balloon.

11. Leave it to dry. After it is dry, remove the newspaper mould from the balloon.

13. Trim off the rough edges, using scissors.

To make a base for the bowl: 1. Turn the bowl upside down.

2. Make a loop/circle with the strip of card, and staple in place (as a base) and attach the loop with masking tape.

3. Paste on some glue and cover it with newspaper pieces/strips extending up on side of bowl.

4. Once the bowl and base are completely dry it is ready to paint and decorate.

Ingredients 3 cups self-raising flour 1 cup thickened cream 1 cup cold lemonade Method Preheat oven to 200C Combine the flour, cream and lemonade in a bowl and mix until just combined. Do not over mix. Turn out onto a floured surface, and gently pat down to 2.5cm thickness. Use a 6cm round cutter to cut scones. Flour the cutter so the dough doesn't stick. Brush the tops lightly with milk. Place on a lined or greased tray, slightly touching each, and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden on top. Place on rack to cool.

For more recipes go to www.seniorsnews.com.au

What’s

Going On? Are there exciting things happening in your local senior community? Share your story online.

Look for the ‘share your event or story’ box on our home page. Visit www.seniorsnews.com.au

6649140aw

YUMMY: Honey Joys are easy to make and kids love them.

LIKE most French words, papier (paper) mache sounds so much better than its English translation, which means, chewed paper. This can be a fun, low cost activity to enjoy with your grandchildren and impress them with your handy craft skills.

Together you can create a bowl of any size for trinkets in their room, as a gift or as a fruit bowl for the family. The bonus is you should have most of what you need at home.

What you need: ★Recycled paper, like lolly wrappers, coloured paper, envelopes, newspaper, magazines and wrapping paper. The newspaper will be ripped into small pieces/ strips (4-5cms wide and at least 15cms in length). ★Paint and paintbrushes. ★A balloon. ★A wide cup/

Puzzles

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Across 6/7 Who was the loud-mouthed bigot in the 1970s TV series All in the Family? (6,6) 10 Which old disease is on the increase in the US, blamed by some on illegal immigrants?(7) 11 Triticale is a hybrid cereal produced by crossing rye with what? (5) 12 Footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento has always hated his nickname, meaning “little baby”. What is it? (4) 13 An estimated 4,000 of which animal are killed every year by cars and dogs in Australia?

(5) 16 Which airline began with a merger between three small US airlines which flew mail between Florida and Cuba?

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SUDOKU

Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.

17 What was Buffalo Bill’s surname? (4) 20 In India, what polite form of address is sometimes said after a man’s name? (5) 21 In what painting technique is paint applied thickly, showing brush or palette knife marks?

(7) 22 What colour is an aircraft’s “black” box? (6) 23 Who rules a country if a monarch is absent or ill? (6) Down 1 Which famous Spanish-born painter collected and kept all his toenail clippings? (5,7) 2 What is the technical name for the shoulder blade? (7) 3 What spike is driven into a rock crevice to aid a mountain climber? (5) 4 What is the topmost planking of the side of a boat? (7)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6 7

8

9

Insert the missing letters to make ten words — five reading across the grid and five reading down.

Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions are sequential.

For example, if the fiveletter solution starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so on.

U

18

19

22

S

SUDOKU

5x5 T R I C E

I S L E S

R E E D S

Across: 1. Withdrawal 7. Naked 8. Nucleus 10. Absolute 11. Tier 13. Escort 15. Solemn 17. Fund 18. Cataract 21. Reigned 22. Inane 23. Agreements.

Down: 1. Wakes 2. Tiddlers 3. Denote 4. Arch 5. Apelike 6. Uncaredfor 9. Strengthen 12. Donation 14. Cunning 16. Random 19. Amass 20. Ante.

QUICK CROSSWORD

ALPHAGRAMS: INEPT, JILTED, KEEPING, LAMENTED, MUTILATES.

O H

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word.

No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.

TODAY: Good 14 Very Good 18 Excellent 22

Down 1. Rouses (5) 2. Small fish (8) 3. Signify (6) 4. Curve (4) 5. Simian (7) 6. Neglected (7-3) 9. Reinforce (10) 12. Gift (8) 14. Sly (7) 16. Haphazard (6) 19. Accumulate (5) 20. Poker stake (4)

S U G A R

479

U S

E

WORD GO ROUND

W

WORD GO ROUND

T

PEN IT JET LID PINE KEG METAL END STIMULATE

HOUSEWORK owes resow rows serow shew show shower shrew skew sower swore whore whores whose woes woke wooer woos woosh wore work WORKHOUSE works worse

E K

O R

E

SOLUTIONS

23

Across 1. Retreat (10) 7. Bare (5) 8. Core (7) 10. Total (8) 11. Layer (4) 13. Accompany (6) 15. Dignified and sombre (6) 17. Pay for, sponsor (4) 18. Waterfall (8) 21. Ruled (7) 22. Mindless (5) 23. Arrangements (10)

E

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

20 21

I A

16 17

S

A

15

R

GK CROSSWORD

14

T

Across 6/7 Archie Bunker, 10 Leprosy, 11 Wheat, 12 Pelé, 13 Koala, 16 Pan-Am, 17 Cody, 20 Sahib, 21 Impasto, 22 Orange, 23 Regent.

Down 1 Pablo Picasso, 2 Scapula, 3 Piton, 4 Gunwale, 5 Skeet, 8 Rita Hayworth, 9 Pyromania, 14 Babbage, 15 Ross Sea, 18 Sheaf, 19 Ypres.

13

30/9

ALPHAGRAMS

11 12

5 What is also known as claypigeon shooting? (5) 8 In 1946, which star’s picture was taped to the first peacetime nuclear test bomb, at Bikini atoll? (4,8) 9 What is an obsessive desire to set fire to things? (9) 14 Whose (Charles ____) “analytical engine” calculator designed in the 1830s was finally built in 1991? (7) 15 In a southern ocean, which cold water body lies between Victoria Land and the Edward VII Peninsula?

(4,3) 18 What is a tied bundle of reaped grain stalks? (5) 19 Near which Belgian town were major battles fought in 1914, 1915 and 1917? (5)

5x5

A 10

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Central Coast

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32 Seniors Central Coast

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Vietnam OVerland $3,815

3 Week Tour

Vietnam eXplOrer Dep. Jan 28 $2,625

15 Day Tour

sOuth aFriCa

Dep. Mar 12 & May 9 $7865

19 Day Tour

Dep. May 3

Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon & out of Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon and out Flying Qantas into Johannesburg plus 3 flights Hanoi. 19 day coach tour of Vietnam. Halong Bay cruise. Optional extension to Angkor Wat. of Hanoi plus 2 flights within Vietnam. 4 nights within Africa. 2 week tour fro Johannesburg to Saigon, 4 nights Hanoi, 4 nights Hoi An, Capetown. 3 days Victoria Falls. Game viewing CambOdia in depth 1 night Halong Bay with cruise. in Kruger, Hluhluwe & Chobe National Parks. $3,345 15 Day Tour Dep. Jan 30

Flying Singapore Airlines into Phnom Penh. thailand at leisure 14 day overland tour of Cambodia. Small $2680 2 Week Tour Dep. Mar 14 group tour.

Flying Singapore Airlines into Bangkok. thailand & the Chiang mai 6 nights Bangkok, 4 nights beach resort, FlOral FestiVal 2 nights Rose Garden Resort, 1 night River Kwai.

$3,290

2 Week Tour

Dep. Jan 31 india

Flying Thai into Bangkok plus a flight Dep. Mar 22 within Thailand. 4 days Chiang Mai for their $5,265 19 Day Tour spectacular floral festival. 2 days River Kwai, Flying Singapore Airlines into Delhi & out of 4 day coach tour of northern Thailand, 2 nights Bombay plus 3 flights within India. 16 day in beach resort on Gulf of Siam. coach, plane & boat tour of India. 2 days israel & JOrdan Singapore.

Canada & alaskan Cruise $6585

22 Day Tour

Dep. May 7

Flying Air Canada into Vancouver. 17 day tour of western Camada & the Rockies. 8 day Alaskan cruise of the Inside Passage.

aCrOss ameriCa $7,295

29 Day Tour

Dep. May 8

Flying Qantas into New York & out of Los Angeles. 25 Day coach tour right across U.S.A. including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Bryce Canyon, Zion & Grand Canyon National $7995 20 Day Tour Dep. Feb 18 nOrthern Japan garden lOVers’ tOur Parks. 2 days Disneyland area.

Flying Emirates into Amman. 5 day Jordan $6875 15 Day Tour Dep. Apr 16 britain & the Chelsea FlOwer shOw tour including Petra. 12 day Israel tour. 2 day 4 Week Tour Dep. May 22 Flying Cathay Pacific into Tokyo & out of $7986 Dubai stopover.

Sapporo. 14 day tour of central & northern Flying Singapore Airlines into London. 25 day inside Vietnam Japan by coach & bullet train. Tour visits tour of Britain with a day at the Chelsea Flower $3,985 20 Day Tour Dep. Feb 19 & June 4 many spectacular mass displays of colourful Show. Visits to 14 outstanding gardens, many Flying Singapore Airlines into Saigon and out flowers including 3 different cherry blossom castles, country estates & historical sites. 2 day of Hanoi. 18 day coach & air tour of Vietnam. festivals, and also Tulip, Azalea, Moss Phlox Singapore stopover including the spectacular For this tour there is no extra charge for & Wisteria Festivals. Also several outstanding Gardens by the Bay. travellers requiring a single room.

Japanese gardens, museums, art galleries & eurOpean waterways blaCk

Vietnam gOlF tOur $4370

12 Day Tour

historical villages.

sea tO austria

Dep. Feb 20 balkans & dalmatian COast

Flying Cathay Pacific into Saigon & out of $7295 3 Week Tour Dep. Apr 19 Hanoi plus 2 flights within Vietnam. 11 day Flying Qatar Airlines into Zagreb & out of Vietnam tour. 4 rounds of golf at Vietnam’s top Athens. 17 day tour of Croatia, Montenegro, golf courses. Luxury accommodation.

Bosnia, Serbia, Macedonia & Greece plus 2 sOuth ameriCa nights Athens.

$11695 22 Day Tour

Dep. Mar 5 spain, pOrtugal & mOrOCCO

Flying Qantas & Lan Airlines into Santiago.

Plus 5 flights within South America. A superb tour of Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil & Argentina.

3 optional extensions to the Galapogas Islands, the Amazon and Patagonia

$5785

3 Week Tour

24 Day Tour

Dep. June 18

eurOpean alpine tOur 17 Day Tour

Dep. July 14

Dep. Apr 20 Flying Singapore Airlines into Munich & out

of Zurich. 13 day alpine tour of Switzerland, Flying Emirates into Madrid. 16 day tour of Germany, Austria & Italy. 2 day Singapore Spain, Portugal & Morocco. 2 day Dubai stopover. stopover

Dep. Mar 8 $5995

Flying Singapore Airlines into Hanoi & out of Siem Reap plus 2 flights within Vietnam.

19 day Vietnam tour “off the beaten track”.

4 day Cambodia tour with Angkor Wat.

18 Day Tour

Flying Qatar Airways into Bucharest Romanis & out of Munich. 11 day Danube cruise visiting Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia & Austria. Stopovers in Bucharest & Munich.

$5845

Vietnam & CambOdia adVenture tOur baltiCs, russia & sCandinaVia $4875

$6745

3 Week Tour

new Zealand

Dep. May 2 $4,845

Flying Thai into Copenhagen & out of Stockholm. 17 day tour of Denmark, East Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland, & Sweden. 2 days Bangkok.

16 Day Tour

Dep. Nov 21 & Feb 23

Flying Air NZ into Christchurch & out of Auckland. 16 day coach tour of New Zealand, including 4 cruises and the Transalpine rail trip.

The prices listed mainly include return air fares from Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane, airport taxes & fuel levies, good twin share accom., many meals, all transfers, tipping, Australian tour escort & local tour guides.

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