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Challenge to community
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News – Archibald coup for the coast Cover - OzHarvest CEO Ronni Kahn News – Russell Morris Talk ’n’ thoughts Community group guide What’s on Wanderlust Wellbeing Living Money Puzzles
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Generations inspire conversation
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Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor THIS month I came across some valuable thoughts from Gosford (NSW) Anglican priest, Father Rod Bower. Fr Bower, recognised for his billboard signage, spoke at the Communities in Control conference and called, postelection, for communities to come together. He told Pro Bono News that creating a deeper sense of belonging for everyone in our communities was one of the biggest challenges we all faced as Australians. “If we actually look for and discover each other’s humanity, we will discover that we share common humanity in a common place and that we can be part of a deeper sense of belonging,” he said. I was thinking much the same thing as I wrote this month’s special feature and looked into evidence behind polls that portrayed a divide between older and younger generations. What I found was a global effort to promote inclusiveness from American university students creating card games through to the partnership between Gympie’s (Qld) Aged Care Facility Cooinda and the
University of Sunshine Coast offering student accommodation with an innovative new program. Data collection is often the first building block used in community constructions, but it can also be used to create stereotypes that have little benefit for anyone, and – as election results proved – polls mightn’t quite get the point. Intergenerational projects fly in the face of superficial assessments. Prompted by her 60th birthday, Tracey Johnstone took a look at her own and other’s personal circumstances. Tracey’s honest reflections will likely provide food for your own thoughts. In terms of mind and body, this month we have a number of first-person accounts in areas of arthritis, stroke and eating. Trust you enjoy the read, Gail
CONTACT US General Manager Geoff Crockett – 0413 988 333 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 1300 880 265 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Sue Germany – 0408 286 539 sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au 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 southeast 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.
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It’s only the third time in 98 years the Archibald has come to the Central Coast
WINNER: Tony Costa, with his oil on canvas titled Lindy Lee, of the leading contemporary Australian artist and Zen Buddhist.
Photos: AGNSW / Mim Stirling
Archibald coup for the Coast
GOSFORD Regional Gallery is one of just six venues to host this year’s touring exhibition of the Archibald Prize finalists. It’s only the third time in its 98 years that the Archibald has come to the Central Coast. It’s definitely a coup for the gallery, with curator Sarah Samild saying most regional galleries in NSW vie for the honour of hosting Australia’s favourite, most prestigious and controversial portraiture prize. “It’s a wonderful opportunity – people love
seeing it in their own region and it’s a tribute to the calibre of our facility to have it here,” Sarah said. The sheer size of many of the paintings means just having the space to display them all properly is a feat in itself. All 51 finalists (of a record 919 entries) will be showcased, with public programs and events run during the exhibition from November 15–January 12 to be shared closer to the time. First awarded in 1921, the Archibald is also one of Australia’s oldest art awards, judged by the Trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW, with subjects this
Packing Room Prize winner Tessa Mackay’s Through the Looking Glass, a portrait of actor David Wenham. year more diverse than ever, no politicians, and almost as many female as male artists represented. This year’s winner (and a former three-time finalist) is Tony Costa,
with his oil on canvas titled Lindy Lee, of the leading contemporary Australian artist and Zen Buddhist. “The challenge for me is to trap the energy of my
sitter – the emotional feeling over and above the physical reality,” the 64-year-old said. The almost equally sought-after Packing Room Prize went to Tessa Mackay’s oil on linen of actor David Wenham, titled Through the Looking Glass. “Aware of my fondness for sitting, people watching and general daydreaming, Tess had a very clear vision of what the look, feel and purpose of the portrait should be,” Wenham said. He admitted he had no idea how she was going to pull off something of the complexity she suggested, with windows
within windows, multiple reflections and numerous light sources, but from November, you can judge for yourself if she managed to do it. The Archibald Prize is just part of the newly released Gosford Regional Gallery Winter/ Spring Program, which also sees the return of the Gosford Art Prize, for the first time including an Aboriginal Art prize. It should reinforce the latest Tripadvisor rating of the gallery and its Japanese garden as the number one attraction in Gosford. See centralcoast.nsw.gov. au/galleries. 6888536af
Alison Houston
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Food found to feed the
The OzHarvest ethos is ‘take what you need, give if you can’ Tracey Johnstone Gail Forrer AUSTRALIA’S first “rescued food” supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, has opened in Sydney. It’s just another one of the “firsts” created by OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn and highlights her zeal to end food wastage on a worldwide scale. The 66-year-old former South African said she felt compelled to start the social enterprise after working in the hospitality industry and seeing first hand the enormous amount of unnecessary food waste. “On the one hand I set up OzHarvest (which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it directly to more than 1300 charities) to make sure that good food feeds hungry people,” she said. “At that time I didn’t understand the scale of the problem. Now that we
do, we have a huge global mission.” Research reveals Australia’s shocking food wastage figures. According to the Federal Government’s National Food Waste Strategy 2016-2027 position statement, we produce 7.3 million tonnes of waste each year. Taking this down to a figure an individual can grasp, that’s 298kg per person. Some 2.5 million tonnes of that waste is generated by households. The government aims to see Australia halve those numbers by 2030. Ms Kahn’s passion for the OzHarvest project is underpinned by these mind-boggling figures, and an indomitable desire to feed the hungry. Her business acumen was honed running a successful corporate events company. In 2004 she started with one van in Sydney. In 2005, after having the laws changed to make it
FIGHT FOOD WASTE: OzHarvest founder and CEO Ronni Kahn. safe for companies to donate surplus food, the national food waste rescue organisation now rescues and rehomes 180 tonnes of donated perishable food each
week from more than 3500 food donors, including supermarkets, hotels, airports, wholesalers, farmers, corporate events, caterers, shopping
centres, delicatessens and cafes, restaurants, film and TV shoots and even boardrooms. “While our purpose is to nourish our country, it certainly extends globally
Photo: Livia Giacomini
in that we have to shift and change behaviour so that a third of all food does not go to waste and that there is enough food produced to feed all the hungry people on our
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planet planet. And we have to make sure it gets to them.” Ms Kahn said that each year in Australia, four million people needed some kind of food support. “That is unconscionable in a country that is as exquisite, beautiful and abundant as ours,” she said. “So I think I have a job for the rest of my life.” How does OzHarvest work? Seven days a week, paid OzHarvest drivers and assistant volunteers collect food in their yellow-branded vans that criss-cross Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth, plus in several regional areas. This food is then delivered free of charge to more than 1300 charitable organisations. Most is delivered directly to the charities on the same day it is collected, with surplus food stored overnight in OzHarvest coolrooms and going out the next
morning. Some of the food is kept back by OzHarvest chefs to use in the cooking for a cause program that turns rescued food into cooked meals, which is then delivered to charities. All sorts of charities benefit, including women’s refuges, community centres, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, homeless support services, soup kitchens, the Wayside Chapel in Sydney, the Red Cross and schools. The latest OzHarvest project and Australia’s first rescued food supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, is based on a “take what you need, give if you can” philosophy. Relying largely on the generosity of donors, volunteers and corporate support, next on the expansion agenda is the new OzHarvest Food Truck which will be available for corporate, community and private functions and for helping feed communities in need around Sydney. OzHarvest also runs the educational programs
One of the OzHarvest vehicles that transports donated food for repurposing. NEST and Nourish. The curriculum-aligned FEAST education program for primary school students is currently being piloted. OzHarvest hopes to roll it out this year, starting in NSW. “We literally can change the life of a youth who might have been, and I use this word very seriously, discarded in that they have never had a
positive learning experience, never succeeded in anything,” Ms Kahn said. “They go through our Nourished training program and graduate and they say that we have opened a door they never knew existed.” The Nourished program takes at-risk youth aged 16-25 through an accredited Certificate II in
Hospitality or Kitchen Operations. The free program, which is run in Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, is a stepping stone for participants into the hospitality industry. It equips them with a range of skills including cooking, coffee making and food safety. “It’s those moments, and they happen almost every day, that keep me
Photo: OzHarvest
totally passionate and driven to make OzHarvest as impactful as possible,” Ms Kahn added. “The excitement and passion of doing what I do has never left me.” And it’s that passion for change that the fully energised 66-year-old wants other senior Australians to take on and apply within their communities.
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Morris proves he’s still The Real Thing Alison Houston WITH a career spanning 50 years, 70-year-old Russell Morris is still bringing us new songs as he headlines the Central Coast’s Winter Blues and Jazz Festival on the weekend of July 13-14. The free event will also have the return of favourite Emma Pask, as well as performances by Caiti Baker, 19-Twenty, Chase The Sun, Geoff Achinson, Muma Jane Blues Band and more. “We have a great and varied line-up that will make it almost impossible not to move your feet,” council manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, said. “The Entrance is the flagship venue for the event but locals and visitors can enjoy the music and soak up the
atmosphere at venues in Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi, Wamberal and Avoca Beach,” Mr Cannard said. Morris has confirmed he and the band will perform songs from his newly released Black and Blue Heart on the Coast, as well as old favourites. Originally made famous by 1969’s psychedelic The Real Thing, and with six top-20 hits through to Wings of an Eagle in 1973, Morris was inducted into the Aria Hall of Fame in 2008. But it wasn’t until his surprise hit blues album, the history-based Sharkmouth in 2012 that he really returned to the forefront of Aussie music, closely following it with Van Diemen’s Land and Red Dirt – Red Heart to complete the trilogy. This year’s Black and Blue Heart is another surprise – to the man
himself as well as his fans. “I thought I would write some generic blues songs, and what came out was completely different,” he said. While usually sticking to one style and theme, Morris said in this case “a whole array of music came out of me... and I couldn’t seem to control it”. He decided to “go with the flow” and what he came up with impressed Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning and the band’s American producer Nick DiDia (also producer of Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam). The resulting album is exactly what Russell wanted, an “edgy sound” with a garage-style rawness to it which had it debut at No.12 on the ARIA Album Chart and No.3 on the Australian
HEADLINER: Russell Morris’ latest album Black and Blue Heart, which will be part of his song card at the Central Coast’s Winter Blues and Jazz Festival, is a surprise follow-up to his blues trilogy. Photo: Contributed Artists album chart, behind only Hilltop Hoods and Dean Lewis. So, to cheer on a fellow senior who is still showing the younger generation what’s possible, grab a chair or picnic rug and join the up to 10,000 people enjoying the great music,
stalls and amusements, and perfect Coast backdrop at the Winter Blues and Jazz Festival. It’s on 10am-4pm at Memorial Park, The Entrance, with other venues including Waterfront Plaza, Diggers, The Entrance Hotel,
Bateau Bay Hotel, Breakers Country Club, The Greens The Entrance, Mingara Recreation Club, and Avoca Beach Hotel. Phone (02) 4350 5555 or go to centralcoast.nsw .gov.au/whats-on/council /winter-blues-jazz-2019.
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Become a Dementia Friend Alison Houston IT DOESN’T take a lot to be a Dementia Friend, just a little education, awareness, and a change of mindset. Central Coast Dementia Alliance chair Jodi Livesley is proud of what the group has been able to achieve in little over 12 months since its inception. Already, CCDA’s Community Action Plan has been recognised by Dementia Australia with the Central Coast included on its map of Dementia-friendly Communities. Now the group is encouraging Coast residents to play their part by visiting the website dementiafriendly.org.au, watching the informational videos and registering to become a Dementia Friend. “It doesn’t have to be formalised training, it’s gaining that valuable insight, and understanding what the world might look like through the eyes of someone living with dementia – the barriers they face, their day-to-day
experiences and different aspects of life it affects,” Jodi said. “We would love for the Central Coast to have the highest population of Dementia Friends across the country.” The aim, Jodi said, was to support people with dementia to live a highquality life with dignity, meaning, purpose and value in their community, and to ensure they were treated with respect, care and empathy. Inclusion Jodi stressed the importance of inclusion, and people living with dementia continuing to be “active participants in their own lives” as well as having appropriate services available. “People with dementia want to be accepted for their individuality, their value to family and community and their retained capacities, and not be defined by their condition,” she said. Each dementia-friendly community will look different, but may include businesses that provide accessible services, including staff who know how to communicate
DEMENTIA FRIENDLY: Central Coast Dementia Alliance chair Jodi Livesley is proud of what the group has been able to achieve in 12 months, and there is more to come. effectively with people living with dementia. “With a little bit of knowledge and compassion, we can support people in making situations better which may be awkward or confusing for them... just having someone to walk beside them and reassure
them can have a huge impact.” As an example, Westfield Tuggerah has established a Quiet Hour each Tuesday from 10.30-11.30am, when the centre dims lights and music, and keeps shop noise to a minimum to provide a more relaxed
atmosphere for people living with dementia and others affected by sensory input. Thanks to Ability Links, Westfield Tuggerah also hires sensory headphone kits, and Event Cinemas has developed adult sensory screenings as part of its Quiet Hour offering. “It’s phenomenal, and they have had a wonderful response,” Jodi said. When it comes to jobs, dementia-friendly employers can provide support to keep people in paid employment and in volunteer positions for as long as possible, allowing them to continue to thrive in the working environment. Socially, the possibility of memory cafes is being investigated, but choirs, sporting and social groups can also be welcoming and inclusive of members living with dementia. “People who have a purpose, are engaged and socially connected have a far better outcome than those who become embarrassed, disconnected and isolated,” Jodi said.
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Education The CCDA is also engaging with primary schools to implement programs to help children better understand dementia and support grandparents who may be experiencing it. It also recently held the Coast’s first clinical dementia forum, attended by about 140 local health and community professionals, learning about the latest research, timely assessment and diagnosis, the lived experience, response strategies and risk reduction. “The CCDA is a group of really passionate people and I am really excited and proud of what we have been able to achieve and the things we are working to achieve... we have big world aims,” Jodi said. The Coast group has been so successful that it is now helping other areas to implement their own Dementia-friendly Action Plans. For more, and go to dementia.org.au or phone 1800 100 500, or phone Jodi on 0429 075 430.
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TAFE NSW’s Certificate I in Information, Digital Media and Technology course is being held at dozens of locations across New South Wales, starting next month. A specialised dementia carer from Umina, Mandy Calderon is putting her new computer skills to use at work. “I wanted to be able to further my career and knew I needed to gain a lot more knowledge about computers,” Mandy said. “Before, I was fine with emails and Facebook. Now, I’m so much more confident with a computer in many ways. I’m using my skills already. “After class I always try to come back home and practise on my computer, and if I forget how to do something, I check in the handout the teacher gives
us in each class.” Mandy said she had learned so much and was pleased to be doing the course, which she said was great for work, whatever your occupation, but also generally. “We have retirees in class too, who want to do photos and send emails to family and organise things for enjoying their retirement,” she said. “It’s also nice to show friends and family the work I’ve done. “For example, I’ve become faster at typing. “You’re never too old to go to TAFE and learn. “I have met some lovely people of different ages on this course and hope to keep in touch with them when it finishes. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to get with the times whether we want to
or not. “Everything is changing and we really need to understand computers.” The course includes instruction in operating a personal computer, using word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, communicating and searching securely on the internet and the use of digital devices. The course duration varies depending on the campus. Some courses are 10 weeks, run in eight-hour sessions each week. Others are for 36 weeks, with two-hour sessions each week. Eligible students can attend for free. To register, go to tafensw.com.au or phone 131 601.
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Sign up for great deals
STARTING this month, NSW has introduced the Senior Savers Card which is available to all NSW residents 60 years and over. The Seniors Savers Card provides access to discounts and deals on products and services offered by more than 7400 participating businesses, ranging from local hairdressers, cafes, tradespeople and lawyers, to national mobile phone providers and supermarkets. To be eligible, you must be a permanent resident of NSW, aged 60 and over, work more than 20 hours a week or over 1040 hours during the year. The eligibility is not means tested and there is no fee for this card. The Seniors Savers Card does not include NSW Government rebates and transport concessions. Seniors will be able to convert to a Seniors Card and get access to
DISCOUNTS AND DEALS: Apply online for the NSW Seniors Saver card to help cut costs. Photo: shapecharge transport concessions as soon as their working hours are reduced to 20 hours or less (on average across a 12-month period). The new card is an addition to the Seniors Card program and extends benefits to the growing number of seniors who are still working after age 60, and therefore not yet eligible for the Seniors Card. The introduction of the NSW Seniors Savers Card is a way for the NSW
Government to recognise the contribution of these people. The card will offer them some immediate relief from the growing cost of everyday living. To apply, go online to service.nsw.gov.au, go to a service centre or phone 137 788. You can also download the Seniors Card app from service.nsw.gov.au/ transaction/nswseniors-card-program-app where you can see the discount directory.
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Try taking a walk in my
Is there a growing disconnect between generations – or not? IN TERMS of respect, a recent report headlined Societal Views on Seniors in Australia revealed a disconnect in perceptions between younger (18–44) and older (60-plus) Australians. The younger generations felt misunderstood, while senior Australians felt under-appreciated. The survey carried out by Aveo showed that 68 per cent of millennials felt seniors were treated with respect, while in contrast 53 per cent of seniors disagreed. A December 2018 report by National Seniors Australia, Respect for Age: Going, Going or Gone? Views of older Australians, highlighted the thoughts of its members and noted that about 43 per cent of them agreed that older people deserved the respect of younger people because of their age – which meant 57 per cent did not agree. Additionally, the popular satirical online publication The Betoota Advocate (60 per cent of readers are under 34) took a tongue-in-cheek approach to perceived differences, with its story headlined Baby Boomers happy for nothing to be done about climate change until after they die. A paragraph from the article said: “This particular generation – also known as The Baby Boomers – have been heavily criticised over the past 30 years for their inability to look past their own retirement, which many of them believe should have been the day they turned 55. However,
despite their sense of entitlement, many refuse to leave their highpowered positions in the corporate sector and free up the crowded housing market by retiring to the coast or country.” Yet, in the face of these surveys, statistics and satires, is there any solid evidence to fight back and call this “fake news”. Is there evidence to support a “connect” rather than a “disconnect” between older and younger demographics. Ninety-two-year-old nursing home resident Gladys Biles does not think there is anything to be envious about in either generation. “We had our own problems,” she said, citing the Great Depression and World Wars. On the other hand, she saw the younger people now tackling high costs of education and housing. She said she felt respected by the younger members in her family. Her 62-year-old daughter Jenny has three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a regular visitor to her mother and volunteers ironing time at the facility. She feels much the same way – good and bad points in both demographics. Twenty-seven-year-old Clare Grant, a regular visitor to her grandmother in a Bendigo nursing home, echoed the same sentiment. Additionally, in recognition of the importance of harmonious intergenerational relationships, a number of innovative initiatives ranging from housing to leisure games have been
BONDS: As longevity increases, new ways of communcation are sought between young and old.
A recent report – Societal Views on Seniors in Australia – outlines a disconnect rather than a connect between older and younger demographics. Photo: Artecke launched. Due to begin in July, the University of Sunshine
Coast (USC) and Cooinda Aged Care Centre in Gympie, Queensland, will
be trialling an intergenerational living arrangement.
The trial came about through need and serendipity. In 2017, at the same time Cooinda Aged Care was building new accommodation, Cooinda CEO Robyn Kross and USC staff attended a meeting at the Gympie council. When USC staff expressed an interest in extending their campus but noted they were hindered by a lack of student accommodation, Robyn put forward the possibility of using their soon-to-be older rooms. Since then a feasibility study looking at nursing students paying a nominal rent to live in the older rooms in exchange for social activity with the residents has been completed, and earlier this year the idea further evolved when Robyn
Congratulations to our Winners Congratulations to the winners of our April The Chaperone Screening giveaway. John McDonald Judi Adams Roslyn Mayes
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generation’s shoes
Family and community gatherings can bridge generational gaps. attended a Gold Coast seminar featuring Gea Sijpkes, head of the Humanitas retirement home in Deventer, Netherlands.
The Cooinda/USC model is loosely based on this intergenerational living model which began in 2012 and has since expanded to two more
Aubrey Downer
Residential Aged Care
Dutch aged care facilities. The desire to bring generations closer inspired America’s Stanford Centre of Longevity to theme its
2019 Design Challenge around “ways to promote intergenerational relationships and contributions from all generations”. Here are the top three
ideas: The So You Think You Know Your Grandma team from Berkeley University (California) developed a card game specifically targeted at breaking down barriers between members of different generations. The unique approach combines elements of both storytelling and game dynamics to engage players who may have differences in mindsets, views and perceived stereotypes. Stanford University’s team, the Family Room, created a user-friendly app that helps families capture and share the histories of their older loved ones through high-quality audio stories. This approach allows people with varying technology comfort levels to access the app via telephone, web interface or smartphone. In third place was Pillow Fight from Yu7anZE University in Taipei, which created an innovative video game platform using pillows as game controllers. The team demonstrated how the simplified controllers allowed very young and very old players to play together, creating shared laughter and experiences. The High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia has recognised the loving bond between older and younger Australians and its new campaign features young children urging their grandparents to have their blood pressure checked. Spokesman Professor Markus Schlaich asked: “What better way to encourage our ageing population to make that step than the concern of their cherished grandchildren?” In terms of retirement
villages, Aveo Group head of care Darren Sonter said careful thought and consideration was put into various areas of its accommodation style. “The health benefits of leading a socially rich life are well known and we understand that we have an important role to play in ensuring there are plenty of opportunities for our residents to interact and socialise throughout their senior years with friends and family of all ages,” Mr Sonter said. “A number of our communities benefit from regular visits from local schools where the generations can bond over a shared love of music and game playing, whereas some of our communities feature a community area or a TV or media room where residents can enjoy a movie with family.” Ultimately, increased longevity has given rise to more living multigenerations than ever before. In addition, corresponding conversations have driven disparate viewpoints, considerations and surveys. In 2011, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 531,000 people were living with “other related persons” in the family household. By 2036, the ABS predicts this number will rise to 781,000. Society is adjusting to these new demographics with fresh ways of negotiating relations, lifestyle and accommodation. It will take time, but certainly there appears evidence of a desire from many and varied parties to acknowledge generational differences while working towards respectful and thoughtful exchanges.
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Single, childless and sixty What does the future hold? Tracey Johnstone THE journey to my 60th birthday has been momentous with lots of good times mixed in with a fair share of the ordinary. Turning 40 was a time to celebrate a busy life and loads of great friends. Turning 50 brought on the fear of menopause. Sixty is turning into a time of reflection; some decisions need to be reached, and unreached goals accepted. The most confronting decision is what will my life be like going forward. Single and childless – who will take care of me when I am older? My friends will be old with me. My siblings are both older than me by five and nine years. If I marry again, my partner is likely to be old, like me. So, what do I do? With no solid answers at hand I turned to a few of my friends who are in similar circumstances to see if I could learn from their approaches to ageing. Ian He’s lived in Thailand for about four years. Back in his old home town of Sydney he only has an uncle left alive. “I will probably stay in Thailand and live day by day,” he said. “As long as I keep my health I will have a good time. I am doing more fitness training than I have ever done in my life.”
CELEBRATING 60: Gary Schulz, Shaaron Walsh and author Tracey Johnstone. Ian is determined to age at home. “If I am still in Thailand, I will still rent and hopefully I can find some old lady to do the shopping and cooking for me. “I’m not anti-euthanasia,” he added. “I am happy to pull the plug when I think it is ridiculous.” Deborah The Melbourne resident has both her siblings living in New Zealand and their children don’t talk to Deborah. Recently she bought a low-set townhouse in a small enclave, which she
equates to living in a retirement village, so she could age at home for as long as possible. Without children, Deborah doesn’t know what to do with the money she has worked hard to save. Checking into a private high-care facility, if necessary, is a feasible option she believes. “I smoke and drink, so it might not be a problem. I might just drop dead,” she said. Deborah will keep working and accumulating for as long as possible and then “I am going to spend my money on me”,
she said. Shaaron The Sydneysider thinks all the time about where she wants to live and how active she needs to be to stay healthy. “But I haven’t structured anything as I don’t think any of us likes to feel that we are moving in that direction,” Shaaron said. “I like to think I am a bit immortal and can stop the clock a bit.” In the meantime, she is conscious about keeping active and fit. Gary He’s been single for a long time and living alone
in a rental unit. Since a close friend bought into a retirement village, Gary has been considering his game plan. “I have no bloody clue how it’s going to work,” he said. “I don’t have too many assets. “At the end of the day my super, which ultimately will be the backbone of it all, isn’t enough to even put a deposit on because of how life has dealt out the cards.” If he gets sick, Gary’s first response is employ a carer. “At this point I don’t have anyone within 2000km of me,” Gary
said. “It’s just one of those things that they will have to turn the switch off.” He doesn’t plan to retire at 65. “I am going to keep going until I can’t move anymore. Work’s been my hobby. I might cut back the hours, but between work and the club, that’s my life.” My friends’ comments are food for thought, but while they haven’t given me clarity on what I will do in my old age, they have brought me closer to wanting to live a happy, healthy and engaged future.
Look out for options and enjoy your retirement Henri Rennie I’VE noticed that blokes who retire often fall into one of two categories. The busy ones. “I don’t know how I ever found time to go to work!” And the bored ones. “Now what do I do?” Provided they manage their stress levels, the busy blokes tend to last longer.
The bored blokes often die first. Maybe they’re so bored they don’t care. I knew a guy who spent his days in the cafeteria in the building where he used to work, sighing and reading the paper. He died in a few months... and the cafeteria food wasn’t that bad. Many blokes have drunk themselves to death within a year or two because they’ve done nothing more than prop up a bar most of the time. If retirement is looming,
MIND AND BODY: Keeping active is key. have a plan. Not just a list of “things to do around the house” – unless the house is in
really bad shape that list won’t occupy you for as long as you think. Try out a few hobbies till
you find one you like. Woodwork, painting, making model boats... whatever. Had an interesting life? Got stories to share? Write them down. You can find an editor to help polish them up if you want to try getting them into print. Investigate self-publishing – it’s a much better option than it was a few years ago. There’s sport. Golf, bowls, archery, walking, football. Something appropriate to your level of fitness.
If your ‘regular exercise’ throughout your working life has been walking to the bus stop, it’s not a good idea to launch straight into a marathon. Whether you play, or volunteer to help in other ways, being part of a group, even if it isn’t a team sport, can be good for the mind and spirit as well as the body. For more of Henri’s thoughts and tips, download the regular podcast A Quiet Word: Conversations About Men’s Health.
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Rural housing New report highlights increasing difficulties
Gail Forrer Group Editor THE latest report from leading community housing provider Horizon Housing is shining a light on the lack of appropriate housing in rural areas, deeming it largely unable to meet the needs of our ageing population. The My Home, My Place report, funded by the Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, is the first of its kind to examine the housing needs of older people living in key rural communities. Focusing on the Maranoa region of Queensland, the report
Talk 'n' thoughts
FACTS ❚ 73 per cent of older rural residents received no advice about ageing in place. ❚ 64 per cent want modifications to be able to stay in their homes. ❚ 50 per cent did not know how to arrange an assessment for home modifications. ❚ More than 27 per cent lived in a home that was older than 50 years. The My Home, My Place report is the nation’s first research study to understand and address housing needs of older people in rural areas.
COUNTRY LIVING: For older Australians in rural areas, it can be difficult to maintain a home. Photo: freemixer uncovered broader issues for exploration in rural towns across the country that face similar harsh environmental conditions and associated housing design challenges. The report found more than 65 per cent of rural residents live in detached homes or on more than 2ha, exposing them to unique liveability challenges when compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Horizon Housing CEO Jason Cubit said despite more than 96 per cent of participants intending to
age in place, the regions were not equipped to allow them to do so. “For ageing Australians living in rural areas, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a home in an environment where searing temperatures, drought and other extreme factors are expected,” Mr Cubit said. “More than 64 per cent of our participants wanted modifications to their existing home to allow them to remain there safely as they age, yet 73 per cent are not seeking advice on how to
do so. “We also found that over half did not know how to arrange an assessment to access modifications to remain in their home. “A surprising and unexpected finding from this report was that 13 per cent of the older people we engaged with were a couple caring for a child, grandchild or grandchildren. “This has significant implications for their future housing needs as they age.” Mr Cubit said the survey findings were vital as they paved the way for future nationwide research to address this important area and inform the development of future
‘‘
Older people living in our rural towns face unique challenges. accommodation solutions for older people living in rural and remote areas across the country. “Housing is an integral part of a person’s wellbeing. The concept of home is fundamental to a person’s identity and for older people there is a sense of pride that comes with living independently,” he said.
“The My Home, My Place report reinforces the fact that older people living in our rural towns face unique challenges, yet most of the available programs and services focus on urban areas. “It’s critical that government and service providers work to address the issue of the housing needs of older people in these regions. “The My Home, My Place project is an important leap towards identifying, understanding and addressing the unique and very real challenges faced by seniors in rural areas. “We have a significant presence in Queensland’s Maranoa region, with 45 per cent of tenants in the area over 55. Our oldest tenant is 95 and still living independently.” The aim of the research and work in regional communities is to set a benchmark for other housing providers across the country to continue to deliver affordable, appropriate and sustainable housing solutions that respond tocommunity needs.
If you witness, suspect, or experience elder abuse, call the National Elder Abuse phone line for information, support, and referrals.
1800 ELDERHELP (1800 353 374) WE’RE LISTENING. YOU’RE NOT ALONE. Elder abuse may involve physical harm, misuse of your money, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect.
If you require immediate assistance in an emergency or life threatening situation, contact Triple Zero (000).
A collaboration between the Australian, state and territory governments. Authorised by the Australian Government, Canberra.
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
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Aged care innovator wins Telstra business award Tracey Johnstone INNOVATION in aged care housing has been recognised at the top level with NewDirection Care’s Natasha Chadwick awarded the 2019 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Award. The founder and CEO of NewDirection Care has developed a “people first” model of care which has at its core five values individuality, community, relationships, respect and empathy. Translated into the real world, Ms Chadwick has taken those values and turned them into a blended community at Bellmere on Brisbane’s northside which opened in late 2017. “A lot of people talk about ‘person-centred care’,” she said. “To me that is almost a dirty word because in our industry, everyone says they do it but they don’t.
CONGRATULATIONS: Telstra Australian Business Women's Award 2019 winner, NewDirection Care's founder and CEO Natasha Chadwick. “We work on the basis of individuals. If I look at you as an individual and everything that makes up your life and then look at
how I can continue to provide those things for you so that you can continue your individual life within a new
community, that’s what it means to us. “When we say individuality; if I have always woken up at 10am
then that’s what continues to happen when I move here to my new home, and then my day starts “There is not this wake up at 6am so you can get to breakfast at 8am sort of thing. It’s your life and it’s the way you want to live that life.” Bellmere is an inclusive community. “We take anyone who is requiring aged care services or who has younger onset dementia,” Ms Chadwick said. “It is a big task for us that we make sure that we get the blend right for our residents and if it’s not right, then we move them and do all the things that make sure it’s right for them.” The “microtown” is its own little dementiafriendly village with 17 well-appointed shared houses each accommodating seven ACAT-assessed residents, meandering streets and
shared outdoor spaces. Each house has a backyard, front porch, barbecue and fence. The village also incorporates a retail precinct, which is open to the broader community, and has a wellness centre with a GP and dentist, a music studio, corner store, hairdresser and cafe. “All those services the general community use on a daily basis,” Ms Chadwick said. “We have lots and lots of people, even small groups such as mothers’ groups, use the cafe on a regular basis. We watch the interactions.” Her team has found the openness of that area seems to be breaking down the community’s fear of being around those living with dementia. Ms Chadwick said the second NewDirection Care venue was planned for the Sunshine Coast within three years.
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Drawing on Mary Poppins link Tracey Johnstone FOR 54 years, the mousy illustrator Mary Shepard retained an extraordinary relationship with the domineering PL Travers, the author of eight Mary Poppins books. Little is known about Shepard, who helped to bring the story of Mary Poppins to life with her simple line drawings. University of Southern Queensland researcher, Associate Professor Margaret Baguley, is on a mission to discover more about the relationship between the author and illustrator. Her research is taking her to the State Library of NSW in Sydney, to EH Shephard’s archives at the University of Surrey, and finally to the archives at Princeton University. It was Shepard’s father, EH Shepard, who Travers first asked to illustrate her children’s books. He had illustrated Winnie the Pooh and Wind in the Willows, but was already fully committed to working for Punch magazine. An illustrated Christmas
card by his daughter, who had attended the Slade School of Fine Art, propped on a mantelpiece then caught Travers’ interest. Its style was just what she wanted for her first book, which was published in 1934. “When PL Travers started writing she realised that she needed an illustrator,” Dr Baguley said. The result was simplistic drawings. “PL Travers wanted the essence of who Mary Poppins was,” Dr Baguley said. “They are not in colour. They’re very sparse. “The actual illustrations are based on a wooden peg doll. PL Travers wanted (Mary Poppins) to have a sensuality that men would be attracted to, but not have her drawn in a sensual way.” The images seem to talk back to Travers the way Shepard seemed never able to do verbally. “In the second-last book, Mary Poppins and Cherry Tree Lane, Shepard transposes her own face onto Mary Poppins,” Dr Baguley said.
MARY POPPINS: Associate Prof Margaret Baguley is researching Mary Poppins illustrator Mary Shepard. Dr Baguley wants to bring Shepard’s voice out of the shadow of Travers by revealing the little features that Shepard subtlety included in some of her later illustrations. “Because Travers was so domineering in terms of how Mary Poppins should be portrayed, as Mary Shephard became more experienced and more confident, she
started to do things like that,” Dr Baguley said. Throughout her adult life, Travers did everything possible to leave behind her Australian heritage, which started in Maryborough, then Allora and south to Bowral, before she moved to England in 1924. Luckily for Australians, many of her literary papers ended up in the
State Library of NSW. “I think she tried to sell them, but no one would buy them,” Dr Baguley said. “It has some of the illustrations that aren’t held at Princeton. “In the margins of the illustrations are all the decisions that Mary Shephard and PL Travers made.” Dr Baguley expects her
research findings will be published online before the end of next year. The Mary Poppins House in Herbert St, Allora, is open to visitors. For anyone wanting to view the Mary Poppins archives at the State Library of NSW, go to sl.nsw.gov.au/researchand-collections for access details.
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Community notes
Community group guide TO ALLOW for readers’ requests for the publication of more neighbourhood news, please keep notices short and to the point (100 word maximum). If you would like to submit a photo ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size and of faces, in a nice bright setting. Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.
WYONG WRITERS
LOCAL writers meet monthly to encourage and develop their writing skills, meeting on the fourth Saturday of each month. Arrive by 1.15pm for a 1.30pm start. Our next meeting will be on July 21. No meeting in December. Located at Woodbury Park Community Centre, 1 Woolmers Crescent, Mardi. For inquiries phone Mei-Ling Venning (president) on (02) 4333 7489 or email meilingvenning @hotmail.com or go to wyongwriters.org.
CHILDREN’S
MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
COME along to a Christmas in July theme coffee morning with entertainment by The Minstrels Choir. Trading table, raffle and lucky door prizes. Raising funds for today’s scientists for tomorrow’s children. On Friday, July 12 at 10am. Donation: $10 per person. Located at the East Gosford Progress Hall (corner of Henry Parry Drive and Wells Street). To book, phone Elizabeth on (02) 4328 1107 or tickets can be purchased at the door.
ENJOY THE BENEFITS: Get a free dose of tai chi at Memorial Park, The Entrance, every Thursday from 10am.
VIEW CLUBS
VIEW stands for for Voice, Interests, Education of Women and is a valued part of The Smith Family raising money for The Learning For Life sponsorship and education of disadvantaged Australian children and young adults. Brisbane Water Evening WORKING for the Smith Family, we hold our monthly dinner meeting in the Function Room at the Grange Hotel, Renwick
ENRICHING SURVIVORSHIP
PROGRAM
FREE Enriching Survivorship program starts on Saturday, August 3-September 21 from 10am-noon at Gosford. This free community healthy lifestyle program for cancer survivors and their carers, family and friends. The program is open to the community regardless of where or how recently treatment was completed. The program introduces survivors to a range of
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speakers or members anticipation and interesting discussions. We also have outings, friendship morning teas, along with raffles. Joining our VIEW Club is a perfect opportunity to meet with other like minded women and establish new friendships. For more, phone Kathie on (02) 4393 0647 or 0413 424 949.
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Street, Wyoming on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm for 7pm. New members and visitors are most welcome. Phone Valda on (02) 4325 1688 or Helen (02) 4367 5670 for more information. Toukley WE MEET on the second Friday of the month at Club Toukley RSL at 10.30am. We have lucky door prizes, raffles and a two-course lunch for $25, followed by guest
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SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019 nutrition information, involvement in physical activity and practical information and discussion about adjusting to life following cancer treatment. It provides participants with the opportunity to connect with others on a similar journey to help people to adjust to the changes following cancer treatment. Benefits: Increase physical activity, improving fitness and strength; Improve dietary habits; Reduce levels of fatigue; Improve sleeping habits; Improvement in mood. Registration is essential, email enrich@nswcc.org. au or go to cancercouncil. com.au/enrich.
PROBUS CLUBS
Wyee OUR club held its very successful AGM in March, with most of committee positions filled by very enthusiastic members. We have already hit the ground running with our usual picnics each month, a visit to Davistown RSL by train, ferry lunch and then back home. Peter Mace, a very enjoyable and interesting guest speaker, entertained us at our April meeting. Our banner, as you see above, was donated by a friendly signwriter. We use
COMMUNITY our banner at our picnics, where we still play quoits, bocce and some of us feed the ducks. Not happy with that, however, he then went about making a smaller banner which we can use at our meetings and bus trips. Our next outing was a visit to NSW Parliament House for a tour of the Legislative Chamber, followed by high tea, which was a great day and enjoyed by all who attended. Next on the Agenda is a Soup and Damper Picnic in June. With much more fun to follow. For further information about having fun at our “Fun Club”, phone Jeff on 0416 127 148.
gov.au/whats-on/ council/ winter-park or phone the Events Team on (02) 4350 5555.
WINTER IN THE PARK
TOUKLEY OVER 50 TABLE TENNIS
CELEBRATE winter on the Coast in Kibble Pk from Saturday, July 6-20. Winter in the Park is a Central Coast Councilsponsored holiday experience for locals and tourist. Offerings include an igloo village, ice carvings and sculptures, cupcake classes, live entertainment, stage shows, free craft activities, carnival rides and more. For the full program go to centralcoast.nsw.
TERRIGAL ANTIQUE FAIR
HELD just three times per year, the Terrigal Antique and Vintage Fair is on again at Terrigal Scouts Hall over the weekend of July 20-21. There are always new stalls to join the favourites, and a great variety selling authentic vintage wares, quirky retro and kitsch, vintage, collectibles and old coins, mid-century, rustic farmyard relics, vintage clothing and accessories, fine china and silverware. Please phone 0410 122 650.
DENNIS Makerling, three times Australian table tennis champion will be demonstrating and playing on Monday, July 1 at 6.30pm in the Centennial Hall at Toukley 50+ Learning and Recreation Centre, 1A Hargreaves Street Toukley. Visitors welcome. To play $4.50. Phone Richard on (02) 4393 6318.
FREE TAI CHI
EVERY Thursday from 10-11am you can get a
free dose of tai chi at Memorial Park, The Entrance, thanks to Central Coast Council. Tai chi is a Chinese health system based on slow, gentle low-impact movements, known to improve blood pressure, balance, reduce stress, asthma, arthritis, stimulate the immune system and more. So why not see what it can do for you? Come along next Thursday.
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CLASSICAL GUITARISTS: The Grigoryan Brothers will perform at The Art House Wyong on August 13.
SHIRL’S SING-A-LONG
COME along every second Tuesday of the month from 10.30am-12.30pm at the Greens Bowling Club, located on the corner of Park and Warrigal Streets, The Entrance. Morning tea and lunch can be purchased at the club. For more information, phone Shirl on (02) 4332 8813.
DYING WITH DIGNITY NSW, CENTRAL COAST
VOLUNTARY assisted dying is legal in Victoria, let’s make New South Wales next. Non-members are welcome. For more information about meetings, go to centralcoast@dwd nsw.org.au or phone (02) 4369 8053.
For one night only at The Art House
BROTHERS Slava and Leonard Grigoryan will bring their artistry to The Art House Wyong on Tuesday, August 13 at 8pm. With a repertoire spanning centuries, continents and genres, amazing telepathy and the ability to draw emotion from every note, the Grigoryan Brothers are justifiably regarded as Australia’s finest classical guitarists. It’s not uncommon to hear painters, sculptors, writers and musicians speak of how their art flows through them, not from them – they are mere conduits. And so it is for the
Grigoryan Brothers whose performances are marked by an intangible connection to the soul of the music they play. For this performance, Slava and Leonard honour the composers and arrangers past, present and future who have provided the framework for their performances, and the fuel for their fire. The show will include pieces from classic composers, plus their own compositions. For tickets and more information, phone (02) 4335 1485 or go to thearthousewyong. com.au.
QUALITY LIFESTYLE AND CARE OPTIONS FOR SENIORS Personal care in a home like environment
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• Private spacious rooms with own on suite • 24-hour care • Access to many allied health services • Regular GP visits • Variety of recreational activities • Freshly cooked meals prepared on site • Hairdressing Salon on site • On site cafe for residence and families to enjoy
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NEWS
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
TUGGERAH LAKES PRIVATE HOSPI BETTER HEALTH, RIGHT HERE ON TH The Central Coast’s newest hospital has officially opened in Kanwal, directly opposite Wyong Public Hospital. With over $31 million invested in facilities and equipment, and after more than 18 months of construction, Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital opened its doors to its first patient on Monday 6th May. “We are so excited to have opened the doors of our state-of-theart facility for the people of the northern end of the Central Coast,” said Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital CEO, Laura Barnett. Located in the fast growing area of Kanwal, Tuggerah Lakes Private occupies a prime location on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Craigie Avenue.
Tuggerah Lakes Private has already attracted high quality specialists and surgeons from across the Coast, Sydney and Newcastle, and will include 3 operating theatres, day and inpatient beds, specialist Consulting Rooms, Pathology and Radiology services, and an on-site café. General and Laparoscopic Surgeon, Dr Simon Ghosh, is one specialist that has welcomed the new development. “I’ve operated in many hospitals in Australia and I’m so pleased to see a facility of this standard here at the northern end of the Central Coast. I’m looking forward to working with such a great team.”
Tuggerah Lakes Private caters for multiple specialties, including Orthopaedics; Ear, Nose and Throat; Gastroenterology; General Surgery; “The construction project undertaken Colorectal; Gynaecology; Urology; over the past 18 months has involved Plastic Surgery; Vascular Surgery and a multitude of local suppliers, Dental. community leaders, school children and Doctors. It is truly a hospital built The new hospital has also created over 50 jobs, with a huge amount of by local people, for local people,” interest from local residents. said Mrs Barnett.
“We have received over 300 applications for the positions that have been advertised so far. It’s wonderful to be providing employment opportunities for highly skilled professionals and experienced staff locally,” said Mrs Barnett.
WORLD CLASS HEALTH CARE Part of the Healthe Care Australia group, Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital will complement the range of private surgical, medical, mental health and rehabilitation services currently on offer further down the Central Coast, at the group’s other established hospitals – Brisbane Waters Private Hospital and Gosford Private Hospital. Brisbane Waters Private is widely recognised as a surgical, mental health and rehabilitation hospital on the Woy Woy Peninsula. Its recent $11 million redevelopment and the introduction of new Surgeons, Psychiatrists and Rehabilitation Specialists has further enhanced its reputation as a world class private
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
NEWS
ITAL E CENTRAL COAST
NOW OPEN
The Central Coast’s newest hospital for: • • • • •
Orthopaedics Gastroenterology General Surgery Gynaecology Urology and more
hospital facility, providing dedicated services and programs locally. Gosford Private Hospital has been recognised as a leading private hospital on the Central Coast for over 35 years. Recognised globally for their recent work around improving their patients’ experiences, the hospital specialises in hip and knee
replacement surgery, neurosurgery and general surgical procedures and is home to the Gosford Private Heart Centre, specialist Endoscopy Centre and the Coast’s only private Maternity Service.
Learn more about the three Healthe Care Central Coast hospitals at: Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital tuggerahlakesprivate.com.au Brisbane Waters Private Hospital brisbanewatersprivate.com.au Gosford Private Hospital gosfordprivate.com.au
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ENTERTAINMENT
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Paint your way to a healthy life Alison Houston JEUNE Swoon (the artist pseudonym of June Killington) at 61 discovered recently just how good art makes her feel, and wants to share it with others. With a set of cheap watercolour paints from the $2 store, the Woy Woy grandmother, who suffers from Lyme Disease, started experimenting. Having moved on to better paints and gifted and sold the results to family and friends, she now has her own page on Etsy, selling greeting cards of the paintings she does. “I just had this spate of creativity,” June said. “Every year I reinvent myself... it’s not something I think about but I’ve just always got to have something new to stimulate me, and colour in my life.” And colourful her life has been, with June
COLOUR AND WHIMSY: Jeune Swoon, aka June Killington, has found painting is a great way to take her mind off her health. selling vintage gear in English markets during the 1970s and becoming involved in the punk scene with Billy Idol and Adam Ant, before going on to a stint of theatre acting and stand-up with the likes of Steady Eddy in Australia, as well as being involved in animal rights activism. Having been bitten by a tick in a park on the Gold Coast six years ago, June found it difficult to accept the debilitating effects of Lyme Disease, including
pain, memory loss and exhaustion. But she says painting has made a real difference. “I am now limited in what I can do after a very active lifestyle but I’ll never stop and nor should anybody else my age,” June said. “Painting for me has been a great joy – I love colour and whimsy – and I think it could help other people who are stuck at home and unwell because
it’s something I can do even lying on my bed,” she said. June said focusing on the colours and designs took her mind off her health and gave her a feeling of accomplishment. “I love giving people the cards I’ve created myself... it’s something personal... as well as selling a few and making a bit of money,” she said. She recently donated a box of her greeting cards
to Bupa Bateau Bay for their June fete, happy to feel she could make a difference for others. June’s anecdotal experience is backed by research, with Harvard Medical School reporting that expressing yourself through art can help people cope with depression, anxiety, cancer, dementia and other health problems. It has also been “linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience
in healthy older people”. And the beauty of it is, it’s not skill or talent-dependent, with art therapists stating it is the process, not the product which counts. You can find Jeune Swoon on Facebook and Etsy, and there are a host of art and craft classes and groups accessible through 50+ Leisure and Learning Centres, Seniors and community clubs... or just pick up a paint kit and begin.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Singer hits jackpot as Kenny Alison Houston KINCUMBER’S Graham Toole reckoned he had hit the jackpot when, at 60, he was called up in January to sing as Kenny Rogers with the Las Vegas Legends at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. The US-based Legends are just that in musical tribute circles – legends – with the longest-running show in the world and a full cast of singers, dancers and a live band. With ‘Kenny’ unexpectedly out injured, Graham had nine days to learn four songs and a duet before taking to the stage for 22 shows beside Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Donna Summer and Cyndi Lauper – or at least the closest thing to them. “It was world-class,” he enthused. While it was a little surreal being on stage with these stars of the 1960–1990s, living and dead, Graham has made a career out of singing the songs of the greats. In the past 12 years he
Graham and his family in the mid-2000s playing the streets of Tamworth (from left) Rebecca, Leonie, Graham, Julius and Ashleigh Toole.
TRIBUTE: Graham Toole has won acclaim playing the music of Kenny Rogers. has performed tributes to Glen Campbell, John Denver and Kenny Rogers. These days he tours with his daughter Ashleigh, 26, who takes on the songs of Linda Ronstadt... and he couldn’t be more proud. “When I stand there on stage and hear her sing Don’t Fall in Love with A Dreamer, and I look out at the audience, it is just jaw-dropping for them... it’s a wonderful feeling... she makes me feel like an amateur,” Graham said of
their duet. It’s not just parental bias – Ashleigh was hailed by Marcia Hines as having one of the finest, strongest voices she had heard when she made Australian Idol’s top 10 in 2009. It’s in her blood, with Graham having grown up in a musical house; his mum played piano and his dad sang alongside himself and his five sisters, all going through classical training and eisteddfod competitions.
“Music’s always been my passion,” Graham said. At 12, the same year he discovered guitar, he joined an old-time dance band. At 16, Graham won a talent competition to be the curtain-raiser for a young John Williamson back in his Old Man Emu days of the early 1970s, and he was on his way. In 2004, he was recognised with the Frank Ifield International Spur Award for his potential global country music appeal, individual style and professionalism. Wife Leonie also sings and writes and, for 10 years, he and his young family sang in the streets of Tamworth.
While the couple has penned and recorded an album, Graham said these days he was happy singing some of country music’s greats. “It’s been a brilliant opportunity to play wonderful songs that everyone knows... that’s the fun part: we encourage people to join in,” Graham said. “The music transcends through the ages, they are just such well-crafted songs.” Increasingly he finds second and third generations coming to the concerts, with grandparents eager to share the music they grew up with. As for favourites, he said that was too hard to
choose, with the melody in one, or a phrase in another clicking with him in particular situations. “And that’s what it’s like for audiences too... one line in a song can just take them back to that special time in their lives,” he said. This month, Graham and Ashleigh will join with the talented Dean Bourne, of Roy Orbison Reborn, in the We’ve Got Tonight show, playing at Laycock St Theatre on June 29 (adults $59.95, phone 4323 3233). Graham and Ashleigh will also play at The Doylo, Doyalson on Saturday, July 27. Cost $39. Go to doylo.com.au or phone (02) 4390 0622.
XMAS IN JULY SECRET SANTA RAFFLE FRIDAY 19TH & 26TH JULY XMAS IN JULY DINNER CONTACT THE CLUB FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
We will discount for groups bookings in Spinners.
Spinners - Monday Steak and Schooner Night $15.00
Spinners - Tuesday Lunch and Dinner 2 Meal for $22.00
Wednesday Night Raffles 5.30pm POKER THURSDAY AT 6.30PM Courtesy Bus available. (New Bus and New timetable)
Friday Night Raffles 5.30pm BINGO -
SATURDAYS 1.30PM ONLY $13 TO PLAY 10 Club games, BGS Rewards, 15 Cash games, 1 Jackpot Sheet
Sunday Lunch and Dinner Lamb Shanks with Mash & Peas $18 M $22 NM
Open Mic coming soon, 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month
Cnr Margaret St, Wyong | 02 4359 7444 www.clubwyong.com.au
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS or go to the website www.symphonycentral coast.com.au.
What's on
PHOTOGRAPHY ON SHOW
Alison Houston
CRESCENDO
FOR a mix of jazz, pop and singalong each Wednesday from 10.30am–12.30pm, go along and enjoy the sounds of Crescendo at Killcare Beach Surf Kiosk. The band has been performing for the past three years overlooking Killcare Beach, so grab yourself some morning tea and enjoy the free music.
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
FROM dusk on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, Lake Macquarie puts on a light show with dozens of boats lighting up the night skies and calm waters in the Float Your Boat regatta. Boat owners are encouraged to decorate their vessels in lights and themes and take part in a parade around the Lake with $4000 in prizes up
LIGHT UP THE LAKE: It's Vivid on the water as from dusk on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29, Lake Macquarie puts on a light show with dozens of boats in the Float Your Boat regatta. for grabs. The flotilla parades each night start from Marmong Point Marina at 6pm, heading on the first night to Toronto, Coal Point, Fishing Point and Wangi Wangi (9pm), and on the second to Warners Bay, Eleebana and Valentine to Belmont (8.30pm). Spectators are invited to join foreshore celebrations featuring live music, food and entertainment. Go to lakemac.com.au/floatyour-boat.
anniversary celebrations, join a day of food, wine and entertainment on Saturday, June 29. This family-friendly day from 10am–4pm will include live music. Established at Ettalong in 1979, with Cinema Paradiso following in 1999, this unique dining precinct has more than 50 boutique shops in its Mediterranean-inspired village atmosphere. Go to galleriaettalong beach.com.au.
ETTALONG FOOD FAIR
Central Coast Symphony Orchestra is performing this tribute to Russia on Sunday, June
As part of the The Galleria's 40th
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
An unmissable WWII thriller starring theatre legends John Bell & John Gaden
| AUGUST 6-7 DIPLOMACY A stunning combination of Irish music, dancing, by Cyril Gély | Produced by Ensemble Theatre
storytelling & song
30. Music comprises Tchaikovsky’s The Voyevoda, Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite and a special solo by 16-year-old Sebastien Hibbard of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No1. The Year 12 student at Central Coast Grammar School is a Rising Star student at the Sydney Conservatorium and received the William McIlrath Music Scholarship for the past four years. The concert is at 2.30pm at the Performing Arts Centre, Central Coast Grammar School. Cost is $35 for seniors, $40 for adults. Phone (02) 4365 8497
UNTIL October 30, check out the amazing Art of Ageing digital photography exhibition at Gosford Hospital, featuring seniors reaping the benefits of leading active and fun-filled lives. The exhibition celebrates and champions the incredible contribution seniors make every day to their families, their communities and the state. It’s at Gosford Hospital. The exhibition is a NSW Government initiative to challenge people’s views on ageing and the experiences of older people. There will also be an Exposure 2019 outdoor photographic exhibition in Gosford’s Kibble Park until Friday, July 19, which showcases the works of 10 amateur and emerging photographers who tell a story through their images.
NAIDOC WEEK
NAIDOC Week is July 7–14, with this year’s powerful theme being Voice. Treaty. Truth. Coast Community Connections has a NAIDOC Family Day on
Tuesday, July 2, from 10am–1pm, with bush tucker and indigenous culture including art, craft, music, and dance. It’s free at Peninsula Community Centre, 93 McMasters Rd, Woy Woy. Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has its annual family fun day on Wednesday, July 10, with rides, barbecue lunch, netball, entertainment, kids’ and Elders’ activities and more. It’s at Barker Park, Wyong, from 10am–2pm. Go to @Darkinjung on Facebook.
WINTER EXHIBITION
WARM your heart at the Central Coast Art Society’s colourful Winter Exhibition in the Community Gallery at Gosford Regional Gallery. There’s no time to waste, as it’s only on from Friday, July 5 to Wednesday, July 10. Members will show off their work in various mediums, gifts will be available for sale, and a pastel by Leeanne Livens will be raffled. Official opening is 6–8pm on July 5 with guest Cr Chris Holstein. Go to artcentralcoast. asn.au or phone Judith on 0407 448 574 or Fran on 0408 217 869.
A stunning night of music by Australia’s finest classical guitarists
GRIGORYAN BROTHERS AUGUST 13
www.thearthousewyong.com.au 02 4335 1485 | 19-21 Margaret St, Wyong
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Stepping out on the Kepler Walk in the park for hiking novice PAGE 32
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
PLAN TO VISIT FLORIADE
TRAVEL BRIEFS
CANBERRA’S spring gardeners are at work planting the first Floriade bulbs at Commonwealth Park. The colourful celebration of spring will this year run from September 14 to October 13. The theme is ‘World in Bloom’, which visitors will see reflected in flowerbeds and entertainment programming. Info: visitcanberra.com.au
GRACE KELLY AND PRINCE RAINIER III FIRST MEETING EXHIBITION
ON UNTIL October 15 at the Palace of Monaco is an exhibition dedicated to the first meeting between the American actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The exhibition Monaco, 6 May 1955. The Story of a Meeting is organised for the 90th anniversary of Grace Kelly’s birth. Designed as a photographic tour through the palace state rooms, the exhibition follows in Grace Kelly’s footsteps. Info: palais.mc/en/ museum-and-visits/ the-state-apartments1-26.html.
LIGHTS, CAMERAS, BOLLYWOOD AT MADAME TUSSAUDS
BOLLYWOOD has come to Sydney’s Madame Tussauds. Guests can step backstage and join Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Shah Rukh Khan on a movie production set, where they take the starring role in favourite Bollywood film scenes. Then it’s time to master a Bollywood dance routine in the rehearsal studio,
JAPAN GASTRONOMY TOURS
PALACE MEETING: The Palace of Monaco is hosting an exhibition remembering when Prince Rainier III first met Grace Kelly. grab an outfit and head centre stage and into the spotlight for the performance of a lifetime. Info: madametussauds. com.au/sydney/en/ whats-inside/lightscamera-bollywood.
ALASKA’S INSIDE PASSAGE BY TUGBOAT
FOR tourists with a hankering to wake up to birdsong and the smell of the forest, there’s a 10-day inside passage cruise aboard the
107-year-old coastal tugboat Swell. Swell is a fully restored, 88-foot tugboat. She has six private cabins with ensuite baths, a cosy salon, ample deck lounges, hot tub and an open wheelhouse. Operated by Maple Leaf Adventures, the slow-travel trips for 12 guests feature up-close experiences of whales and brown bears, walks through the rainforest, and zodiacing among icebergs.
Info: MapleLeaf Adventures.com.
BIG SAVING ON FIJI CRUISING
BOOK before June 30 and save 25 per cent on cruise fares and no single supplement on all Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s three, four and seven-night Mamanuca, Yasawa Islands and remote Discovery cruises. As well as being immersed in Fijian culture, enjoy daily snorkelling, kayaking,
paddle boarding, relaxing on white sandy beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters. The sale offer is for travel before March 31, 2020. The cost for the three-night cruise starts at $1196.25 a person twin share (normally $1595 a person twin share), with solo occupancy fares starting at $1496.25 a person (normally $1995 a person). Info: captain cookcruisesfiji.com.
NEW tours from Walk Japan celebrate the ritual of bathing in onsens – hot spring baths – and savouring fresh seasonal delights. Each five-day, four-night tour focuses on its relaxing, restorative and therapeutic onsen, and its wonderfully unique and delicious cuisine. The leisurely, guided walking is over easy terrain with daily distances limited at up to 10 kilometres. The Onsen Gastronomy tours are limited to 12 people. Guests are immersed in the traditional Japanese way of bathing and every evening stay in a delightful local inn, almost always with their own onsens. Info: walkjapan.com.
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Go troppo in tropical north THERE are several very inviting visitor options in North Queensland from luxury accommodation to romantic glamping on the Great Barrier Reef and an exciting new indigenous musical event.
MASTER REEF GUIDES
THE first official interpreters for the Great Barrier Reef have graduated. They are armed with stories and facts to give visitors the best possible reef experience. The Master Reef Guides can introduce you to a citizen science project or explain the intricacies of life on the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Go to gbrmpa.gov.au /our-partners/ master-reef-guides.
LUXURY ECO-LODGE
SET among the World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Daintree National Park on the banks of the Mossman River, the Silky Oaks Lodge offers river snorkelling, driving safaris, indigenous guided walks and the Healing Waters Spa. Go to silkyoakslodge.com.au.
ROMANCE ON THE REEF
COUPLES can get cosy after dark on the reef in a new deluxe two-person swag on Sunlover by Starlight. The glamping experience on the Moore Reef pontoon is popular with couples wanting to say their vows on the Great Barrier Reef and spend their wedding night under the stars. Go to sunlover.com.au.
INDIGENOUS
FOR SHANGRI-LA
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: The view from Dundee's Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium.
CHOIR JOINS ART FAIR
ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander voices will sing in their languages at Cultural Heights, a new event at the 10th Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
Indigenous artists from across Queensland exhibit at the prestigious fair on July 10–14. Go to ciaf.com.au.
DINE AT AN AQUARIUM
WATCH schools of sharks and fish swim by at the newly opened Dundee’s Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium. Dishing up Australian beef and seafood, Dundee’s can be included as part of
the new VIP Premium Experience, which features a behind-thescenes tour and feeding of a cownose ray. Go to cairnsaquarium.com.au.
ROOM UPGRADE
COOL, neutral tones with a splash of nautical blue set the scene for a relaxed stay at the Shangri-La Hotel at The Marina Cairns. The hotel has recently completed a refurbishment of its rooms. The waterfront bar and restaurant has also been revamped and named The Backyard. Go to shangri-la.com.
93.3FM The Home of Hits and Memories
Volunteers are always welcome at 93.3FM. Call 02 4325 1950 to register your interest. or email us on info@fiveoplus.com.au
‘40s ‘60s
‘50s ‘70s
‘80s
Radio Five-O-Plus
Your Station, Your Music
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Enjoy a huge range of the greatest music of all time. Radio Five-O-Plus is the community station broadcasting all your favourite tunes from 1945 to 1985 – 24 hours a day!
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
‘‘
Prehistoric stone circle the Ring of Brodgar was built between 2000BC and 2500BC.
INCREDIBLE INGENUITY: The Italian chapel built by prisoners of war in World War II.
Photo: Yvonne Gardiner
Village sites older than
Do some armchair touring and visit the Orkney Islands with intrepid travelling duo, and happy retirees, Yvonne and John Gardiner
THE incredibly beautiful and isolated Orkney Islands would have changed little since the Picts, Celts and Vikings stepped on their fertile ground. Blessed with stunning views and outstanding landscapes, the remarkable islands northeast of the Scottish coast safeguard extraordinary architectural treasures of historical global significance, some older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids. One of the best-known village sites, Skara Brae, rests on a beach and is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village. Thought to be more than 5000 years old, the eight turf-covered cottages give a fabulous glimpse into Neolithic life, including the beds they slept in. Nearby and also open to the public is Skaill House, owned by local laird William Watt when he discovered Skara Brae in 1850. The Orkneys, a group of more than 70 islands and islets, can be bitterly cold and windy. In chillier seasons it’s essential to
This 5000-year-old village, Skara Brae, was uncovered by a winter storm in 1850. pack thermals and warm coats. Not to be deterred, however, humans have been on the islands for about 8800 years. We visited at the end of October and stayed in a hotel beside the harbour
at Kirkwall, the islands’ capital. The first day we could hardly turn a corner without being blown backwards. A slight breeze and warm sun greeted us the following day while we explored the
incomparable Standing Stones of Stenness, of Neolithic origin and thought to be the oldest “henge” site in the British Isles. Nearby is the prehistoric stone circle
Photos: Yvonne Gardiner
the Ring of Brodgar, built between 2000BC and 2500BC. Photos cannot fully capture the mystical wonders of these two heritage sites. While the popular Stonehenge in the United
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St Magnus Cathedral, founded by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.
The Viking Harald Fairhair annexed Orkney to Norway.
pyramids, Stonehenge The atmospheric Ring of Brodgar in the heart of Neolithic Orkney, West Mainland.
Overlooking Orkneys’ capital Kirkwall from the roof of the St Magnus Cathedral.
Kingdom is now fenced off to the public, visitors can enter the ring of standing stones at the older Ring of Brodgar and experience their awesome majesty at close quarters. Twenty-seven stones remain in the circle, surrounded by a ditch. They sit in peaceful countryside with beautiful views taking in the sea, lochs, deep-pile green grass, massive skies, cows, sheep and little stone cottages. The place is magical. In Kirkwall, chief among the attractions is St Magnus Cathedral, a massive red sandstone place of worship built by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.
90 in the Orkney Islands. Sheltering in the tomb for days during bad weather, the Vikings had made their mark by carving words into the stone. Looking from the outside like a big mound of earth covered in grass, Maeshowe tomb is accessed down a low, 10m-long passageway. It’s an incredible stone structure with one central chamber plus smaller chambers. At Winter Solstice, the sun’s rays line up with one of the chambers. Wildlife is another main reason for visiting these remote islands to the north of Scotland. We were lucky enough to see newborn seal pups
I joined the “upper floors” guided tour to the bell tower, roof chambers and the parapet below the spire, which offered glorious views of the harbourside town. Opposite the cathedral, a well-stocked museum gives an insight into Viking, Neolithic and medieval history. As if we hadn’t soaked up enough of the Orkneys’ heritage, the Iron Age village Broch of Gurness and the tidal island Brough of Birsay yielded their Viking and Pictish settlement remains. A great surprise was to see Viking graffiti from the 12th century at Maeshowe, the biggest Neolithic tomb of about
at Windwick Bay, although missed out on otters, orcas and puffins which are common at certain times of the year. The Orkneys’ modern history is as fascinating as its ancient past. We visited Scapa Flow where the Germans scuttled their fleet after the Armistice in 1918. During World War II in 1939, HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U-boat in the same waterway. Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered a block wall (the Churchill barriers) to be built by Italian prisoners-of-war right across the harbour channels. Those same prisoners also crafted an exquisite
Seals laze on the beach at Windwick Bay. Italian chapel out of Nissen huts, which is lovingly cared for to this day and hosts weddings and christenings. So much to see in the Orkneys, and all those adventures made us hungry. Black pudding and haggis were on the menu, but in the three days we
were there I chose more traditional dishes like slow-cooked lamb and vegetables, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and delicious wild-caught salmon. Followed by the best apple crumble I’ve ever tasted. I wonder if the Vikings and Picts ate this well!
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Our fall guy finds his feet
‘‘
It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s famous All Blacks
Spectacular Kepler Track well worth the effort for novice
Graeme Wilson I WAS almost 1500m high on my first ever multi-day hike and I had a serious wind problem. And not the sort I’d overheard others experiencing in our bunk room the night before. A 100km gust had just swept me off my feet and crashed me to the rocky ground on the most elevated section of New Zealand’s Kepler Track. It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s world-famous All Blacks rugby gladiators. As I gazed up from the razorback ridge at the stormy skies above, life had looked better, and I had the moment of reflection I knew would come on my inaugural venture into the world of serious hiking. My body and pride were equally bruised and when faced with such adversity we have two choices – retreat to safety or embrace the challenge. I took a deep breath and chose the latter, and I’m so glad I did. Completing the 60km four-day/three-night Kepler walk was quite likely the greatest physical achievement of my life. I’d trained reasonably consistently in the lead-up to the Kepler with regular half-day hikes and
twice-weekly 50km bike rides, but the lycra and lattes didn’t really prepare my legs for the challenge of transporting both me and my 15kg pack up and into the clouds. I believe it was a mixture of pride and fear of failure that helped propel me forward when the going got tough. It also helped that the amazing scenery along the way quickly has your mind turning away from thoughts of the enduring physical battle, and when it’s not the flora taking away whatever breath is left in your lungs, it’s the dainty little waterfalls cascading off the rugged hillsides and tumbling gracefully into space. I’ll also highlight that pain is temporary, but the special sights experienced along this four-day walk will live in the mind forever. Those memories begin forming the moment you step on to the track on the shores of the picturesque Lake Te Anau. But the reality is that when planning your assault on the Kepler, the challenges begin much earlier than those first bold steps along the undulating trail. While the hike itself is undoubtedly arduous, it’s testing enough simply securing hut bookings for
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY: The four-day Kepler Track walk will leave you wanting more. the three nights. On the day the bookings open, you need to be logged on to the website early to snatch up beds the moment the process goes live. It’s akin to getting tickets to an Ed Sheeran concert. And then there’s the equipment selection. Nancy Sinatra was clearly a hiking advocate as she sang about the importance of having boots made for walking. Trust me, no one wants to be climbing rocky peaks in boots made for anything else. It’s a given that you’ll burn through the calories on a four-day hike, so planning for the re-fuelling process holds great importance. Unsurprisingly, there’s no cute cafes or craft beer bars along the track, although I did note
numerous ideal locations for pop-up coffee carts. #ideasman Dried food is a staple on the menu and despite its initial resemblance to something you’d serve up to the family moggy, I was pleasantly surprised that the addition of a little boiling water returned it to something close to its former glory. When it comes to holiday accommodation, I’ll readily admit I’m traditionally the kind of guy who enjoys a little room service and the occasional spa. Pre-hike banter highlighting the possibility of long drops and enforced bedtime spooning involving hirsute international backpackers with questionable hygiene had me a little worried. I needn’t have been concerned. The three huts on the Kepler all have
Photos: Graeme Wilson
KEPLER TRACK FEES AND BOOKINGS Bookings open on June 13 at 9.30am (NZ time) for the Great Walks season from October 29, 2019 to April 30, 2020 Visit the NZ Department of Conservation website (www.doc.govt.nz) for full details on booking huts and campsites. International visitors: • Adult (18+ years): $130 per person, per night • Child (17 years and under): $130 per person, per night flushing toilets, and the rhythmic sounds of the inevitable snoring from bunkmates just acts as a bedtime lullaby. No recounting of a Kepler walk is complete without mention of the constant threat posed by mosquitoes with wingspans the size of small aircraft. To stop and pause near any still waterway is to invite a kamikaze-like attack from the bloodthirsty beasts.
But at the end of the day, a few itchy bites are a small price to pay to enjoy some of the most spectacular natural scenery this world has to offer. Taking on the Kepler was no walk in the park (ok, strictly speaking it was) but it’s only strengthened my desire to explore more. Everest may be a mountain too far, but never say never…
The forest floor resembles a plush carpet.
A soaring native kea takes in the picturesque views.
Living the dream...author Graeme Wilson.
Flying the flag at Hut 1 on NZ’s glorious Kepler Track.
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Japan’s enchanting delights to Japan, and is as old as Japan itself. Interestingly, a larger number of wedding ceremonies are held in Shinto style. Death, however, is considered a source of impurity, and is left to Buddhism to deal with.
BRAND INSIGHTS
WHILE Japan has become a bucket-list travel destination for many Australians, we are often asked about the key attractions, so we’ve selected are a few of the highlights we treasure.
SUMO WRESTLING
CHERRY BLOSSOM
Every spring and lasting for only a week or two, the country comes alive in clouds of delicate pink and white as cherry trees blossom with new life. The season is undoubtedly the highlight of the Japanese calendar, and has been celebrated for hundreds of years. It is hard to predict when they will be at full bloom, as it is weather dependant.
BULLET TRAINS
The internationally acclaimed Shinkansen was quickly dubbed globally as the Bullet Train when the first 515km of original line between Tokyo and Osaka opened in 1964, just before the start of the Tokyo Olympic Games. With speeds of up to
FULL BLOOM: Every spring and lasting for only a week or two, the country comes alive in clouds of delicate pink and white as cherry trees blossom with new life.
320km/h and almost 3000km of railway throughout Japan, the Shinkansen has carried more than 10 billion passengers with an incredible safety record. Another incredible invention has been Maglev, railway based on magnetic levitation. Electromagnets levitate the train slightly above the tracks and without friction of typical rail. It’s these magnets that
create the thrust that moves the train.
MOUNT FUJI
No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to the country’s most symbolic geographical landmark, revered since ancient times, culturally, spiritually and physically. At 3776m high, Mt Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 2013.
It’s not always easy to see this dormant volcano though, as the mountain can be shrouded in clouds for days or weeks. It seems, on average, autumn and winter are best for visibility, with early morning also key.
SHRINES, TEMPLES Two of the most common historical buildings you will find in Japan are temples and shrines, with more than
2000 in Kyoto alone, there are literally millions of different sizes and significance scattered throughout. Being Buddhist, temples have monks and many Buddhist statues. Being Shinto, shrines are easy to identify as they generally have a welcoming large, often red sacred gate. While Buddhism came from India via China, Shintoism is indigenous
Sumo is Japan’s national sport and it is the only country in the world where it is practised professionally. This unique style of wrestling originated as a Shinto religious ritual over 1500 years ago to ensure a bountiful harvest and to honour the spirits. It is considered a trial of strength in combat and the rules are relatively simple – the first wrestler who has any part of his body touch the ground or who steps out of the ring is defeated – matches can last for only seconds. Phone Cruise Express to secure your place on our next escorted trip to the cherry blossoms in April 2020 on 1300 766 537. Visit us at Suite 2/26-30 Karalta Rd, Erina.
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New Zealand Rail and Sail
Escape to the Islands of Hawaii
March to the Northern Lights
The Blossoms of Japan
This fully escorted unique journey begins with a 12-night cruise from Sydney onboard Celebrity Solstice. From Auckland, enjoy a 2-night heritage railcar experience and much more! October 2019 - 16 nights from $4,790pp twin share
Capture the spirit and soul of Hawaii with Norweigan Cruise Line, perfect for the whole family. Includes return airfares and free bonuses including a choice of a free beverage package. January 2020 - 11 nights from $5,499pp twin share
This fairytale, snow-clad world with mighty mountains, epic fjords and the spectacularly famed Northern Lights. Join this fully escorted journey. Includes economy class airfares. March 2020 - 15 nights from $7,990pp twin share
Immerse yourself in the timeless traditions, colourful customs and inspiring icons. Includes return economy class airfares and a 9-night cruise onboard Diamond Princess. April 2020 - 18 nights from $9,990pp twin share
Suite 2/26-30 Karalta Road, Erina
T: 1300 766 537
wwww.cruiseexpress.com.au
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
An invitation to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo BRAND INSIGHTS IT’S Easy Tours has proudly been purchased by family owned and operated Queensland business, Palmer’s Coaches. They have expanded from one vehicle in 2012 to 37 vehicles across Central Coast and southwest Queensland. New owners and operators, Rick and Kim Palmer, have engaged Alyssa Blenkey and Scott Wootton to manage It’s Easy Tours based in Gosford. Both Scott and Alyssa have extensive experience in the coach, bus, transportation and logistics industries within Australia – delivering services to national and international companies to the highest standard. It’s Easy Tours believe that the journey is just as important as the destination. They are all about
providing safe and fun travels, in five star luxury vehicles with experienced personable drivers. From the Coast to Country, from three hours to three weeks, they have a journey to suit all walks of life. Fundraising is a new addition to their tours, they have shopping tours, Boy’s Day Out, food and brew tours, garden tours plus many more. There’s exciting dates coming up for festivals and concerts throughout the year. Look out in 2020 for the spectacular Tasmanian tour, departing in February this year, the 15-day tour will introduce you to Tasmania’s most popular tourist attractions, where every corner the coach turns, will look like a new picturesque postcard. We will bring more information about this tour very soon. On October 18 or 19 of this year, depart the Central Coast and travel
UNFORGETTABLE DAY TRIP: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is heading to Sydney featuring over 1400 performers. Grab your friends and enjoy a great day out on a fun coach tour. to Sydney to see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returning home the same day. The Tattoo has only ever left Edinburgh Castle four times. The show is 90 minutes of breath-taking performances from the Pipes and Drums of the
Scottish Regiments and Military and civilian performers from elsewhere in the UK and around the world. The cast involves up to 1400 performers. With its unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre set against
the backdrop of a floodlit Edinburgh Castle, the tattoo is a vivid and intensely emotional display and unfailingly enthrals, symbolising the event that everyone holds dear in their heart. For pricing and booking inquires, please call
Alyssa, Scott and team at It’s Easy Tours. IT’S EASY TOURS: Shop 5A, 153 Mann Street, Gosford. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9.30am-2.30pm. Phone (02) 4325 8000 or go to itseasytours.com.au.
Under New Management 3 Day Yulefest in the Blue Mountains
Departing: Saturday 3rd August 2019 Staying in the Blue Mountains, at the famous Carrington Hotel with a formal festive 5 course gala dinner evening and amazing entertainment. Visit Scenic World, Mount Tomah & the Village of Leura. Tour Price: $880.00 per person twin share Departing: Friday 20th September 2019 See the magnificent tapestry display of tulips as well as many other varieties of colour at the Floriade and visit the forever solemn and moving War Memorial, we can also take in the views from Mount Anslie. We also take in the sights and sounds of Floriade with a Lake Burley Griffin Cruise and stop at the Canberra Tulip Gardens. Tour Price: $695.00 per person twin share
2 Day Bowral Tulips
Departing: Wednesday 2nd October 2019 Join us for a 2 day getaway travelling through Kiama and the Blowhole. Visiting the Bowral Tulips, Fairground Follies and Berrima Tour Price: $420.00 per person twin share
Give us a call for our latest Day Tour Brochure
Shop 5A Gosford Central Plaza 153 Mann Street GOSFORD 2250
Telephone: 02 4325 8000
6 Day Western Victoria and the Art Silo Trail
Departing: Monday 4th November 2019 Head to the western Victorian town of Horsham and celebrate the rich heritage and true spirit of the Wimmera-Mallee region through Australia’s largest outdoor gallery. Journey the trail of large-scale mural portraits painted onto grain silos by international street artists that have brought life back to these rural Victorian communities. Enjoy nature’s art as well with a visit to the magnificent Grampians National Park. *All Breakfast Lunch and Dinners included* Tour Price: $1288.00 per person twin share
5 Day Cherry Festival - Young & Harden
Departing: Thursday 5th December 2019 Enjoy a 4 night stay in the beautiful town of Harden, visit Young, enjoying cherry pie and the chance to pick your own cherries, watch the Parade down through the town and enjoy the 70th National Cherry festival atmosphere. Tour Price: $1315.00 per person twin share Holiday inclusions: Home pick-up for Central Coast on 3 day or more holidays, 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
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3 Day Canberra Sights and Floriade
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
WELLBEING
Treating depression CBT can be used as an effective depression treatment A PROMINENT clinical psychologist says that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – which teaches skills for identifying and modifying dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and behaviours – is the leading evidence-based treatment for depression. In addition, CBT helps to break unhealthy habits that lead to, and maintain, major depressive disorders. Dr John Kearney, Director of Psychological Services at Wesley Hospital Kogarah, said CBT – or ‘talking therapy’ – is a well-established treatment for depression. “CBT is an increasingly popular approach for treating major depressive disorders and has proven to be as effective as – or even better than – antidepressant medications for many types of depression. Dr Kearney said while people with depression
can make great improvements with CBT – for it to be effective, it is important to be proactive and take practical steps. Dr Kearney reveals six ways that cognitive behaviour therapy can help treat major depressive disorders. 1. Develop new ways to manage unhelpful and negative thought patterns Chronic stress and worry can lead us to develop a mental filter in which we automatically interpret situations through a negative lens. CBT can teach you skills to manage negative and unhelpful thoughts more effectively, firstly by learning to shift your focus away from them and, secondly, by reappraising them. For example, if you are highly self-critical, CBT will teach you to challenge stress-producing thoughts by asking questions such as: “Would I be saying
SUPPORT: Tips to manage depression. these things to someone else in this situation?” You can then replace these thoughts with more constructive alternatives. Regularly practicing this skill will assist with managing strong emotions in response to stressors. 2. Restore activity levels One of the maintaining factors in depression is the reduction of physical activity and the vicious cycle that can follow. This can lead to further loss of enjoyment and achievement, contributing
PUSHING THROUGH: PsA sufferer Ray Paulley.
Wellbeing eliminate negative thoughts that keep you awake. This is important, as a good night’s sleep can increase emotional resilience and help with managing everyday stressors. 5. Increase your problem-solving ability As CBT takes a practical problem-solving approach to issues, it teaches skills that can be applied to other problems in your life. Through a series of sequential stages, your therapist will assist you in developing new empowering skills in determining and implementing solutions to your everyday problems. Ultimately, it will refine and focus your problem-solving skills, enabling you to learn more about your own thought patterns, emotions and behaviours. 6. Make improvements to your lifestyle, especially physical activity and nutrition These include maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise.
open 7 days
Fight against psoriatic arthritis INFLAMMATORY joint and skin condition sufferers have access to TALTZ, a new psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment. This means Sydneysider Ray Paulley, 73, who has been living with PsA since his mid-40,s has another treatment option. When he started experiencing symptoms of PsA, Ray’s doctor mistook it as gout. PsA is a life-long condition that causes inflammation of the joints, due to an overactive immune system that mistakenly targets the body. This causes the joints to become painful, stiff and often swollen. For Ray, finally a rheumatologist diagnosed him with PsA when he was in his 60s, but it was only after the long delay led to irreparable damage to his joints. Ray has struggled with being in pain every day since and dealing with frustrations of doing simple daily tasks such as not being able to put on his own socks in the morning. He has also experienced lesions around some of his joints, but feels lucky that the skin symptoms have not been as bad as his joint pain. Keeping healthy and exercising
to a lower mood. Activity scheduling and graded task assignments are a crucial part of CBT and help to rebuild activities that bring a sense of pleasure and achievement. 3. Master relaxation techniques When the amygdala – the part of the brain that is primarily responsible for emotional processing – is activated, it can trigger the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, the reflex that gets your heart pumping in reaction to a threat.
Relaxation is one of several skills taught in CBT that helps counter the physiological effects of this response. One way to practice relaxation is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Working from your legs upwards, systematically tense and relax your muscles. Hold the tension for 10 seconds, then release. This skill is known as Progressive Muscle Relaxation and can help you contextualise stressful situations and is transferable to other facets of life, including work, study and relationships. 4. Reduce insomnia Research has shown CBT can significantly reduce insomnia in patients with depression. If you struggle with sleep, CBT for Insomnia, sometimes called CBT-I, is an effective treatment for chronic sleep problems. By recognising and changing thoughts and behaviours that cause or worsen sleep, this type of therapy can
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complements Ray’s treatment regime and helps him to feel the best he can. An avid long-distance cycler, Ray has been riding for 13 years, and plans to head to the Northern Territory this year. The recent TALTZ listing means PsA patients will only have to pay the PBS co-payment price of $40.30 for a standard script, or $6.50 for concession card holders, to access the treatment. PsA can range from mild to severe, based on the impact it has on a patient’s quality of life, including daily tasks and impaired physical and mental function. For patients with co-existent disease, residual skin lesions from psoriasis (PsO) can contribute to the disease burden. “We know that half of patients with psoriatic arthritis, who also have mild psoriasis, actually consider their psoriatic arthritis to be severe,” rheumatologist, Professor Stephen Hall said. “It’s not surprising that if people are struggling with two-or-more problems, rather than just one, life can be far more difficult.” While some PsA symptoms are manageable without treatment, in most cases, patients will require ongoing medication.
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Inclusive home unit a first
Centre a showcase of a more accessible future for housing BRAND INSIGHTS WHAT if instead of stairs being the norm, ramps which everyone can use became the accepted everyday access, and stairs were an optional extra. It’s this sort of inclusive thinking which led Mobility 2 You owner Nicole Dehring-Loveridge to create a purpose-built Inclusive Technology Centre at Erina. It’s the first privately operated centre of its type in Australia – a one bedroom house fitted out with a full range of equipment and appliances specifically for those with ageing, mobility, and disability challenges. But this is no clinical showcase; it has been designed as a home, to be aesthetically pleasing and to show visitors what is possible. “It’s quite exciting, because it allows you to see first-hand how these products would actually
look in your own home,” Nicole said. “It shows that products can be functional and practical, meet clinical needs as well as being aesthetically pleasing, so they don’t have that facility feel.” That’s important in encouraging people to actually get the products they need, rather than risking falling, for instance, or avoid having a white plastic shower chair in the bathroom. It’s also part of Mobility 2 You’s focus on recognising everyone’s unique individual requirements and ensuring that their customers’ daily independence, dignity and comfort are paramount. Nicole said, for instance, a ceiling hoist need not be unsightly, a bed can be fully functional and adjustable like a hospital bed without looking like a hospital bed, and blinds can be fully automated. “What we want is for people to walk in and say,
CLEVER DESIGN: Cupboards that come down to your level of reach are one of the innovations in the new Inclusive Technology Centre at Erina. ‘that is such a nice room’, regardless of their needs,” she said. Included in the kitchen are cupboards that can move down to bench level and return as required, stone kitchen benchtops that can be lowered to suit someone in a wheelchair or raised for
someone standing. In the bathroom, Caroma has a specific aged care range including sensor taps, and there are metal shower chairs that fold away attractively, and nicely designed rails. Even lighting, Nicole said, could be worked remotely in the home,
with no need for the constant white light of a hospital environment or, at the other end of the spectrum, dull light. “Some of these products you just won’t see anywhere else,” Nicole said. “We are really passionate that everyone
should feel included. “It’s such a key factor for someone who doesn’t have some of the abilities which are often taken for granted in designing a house. “So whether you need to modify your existing house, are downsizing, moving into a retirement village, or building and want to be proactive in thinking about what you may need in the future, this will allow you to see what is possible.” Physiotherapists and occupational therapists are bringing clients to the centre, and it would be open 10am-2pm Monday-Friday for individuals to visit, or by appointment. The new Erina home is at 247 Central Coast Hwy, just around the corner from the Mobility 2 You shop at 2/12 Aston Rd, which also boasts a warehouse full of goods, including lift chairs, toilet aids, scooters, wheelchairs, walking aids, and reach and grip aids. To find out more, phone (02) 4367 5751 or go to mobility2you.com.au.
Inclusive Technology Centre
NOW OPEN IN ERINA Showcasing an inclusive and accessible home environment using Universal Design Principles CArOMA CAre rAnge
eleCtriC HOMe CAre BeD Adjustable Beds | Over-bed Hoists Over-bed Tables Bedside Commodes BEDROOM HOIST
eleCtriCAl lOwering BenCH tOPS AnD CUPBOArDS Electrical Lowering | Cupboards Wheel Chair access stoves Cutlery & Crockery
Ph: 4367 5751
Address: 247 Central Coast Hwy Erina, 2250 Mobility 2 You
Visit our Mobility Showroom, 2/12 Aston Road, Erina
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Opening Hours: 10am – 1pm Mon-Fri or by Appt
mobility2you.com.au
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
WELLBEING
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Quality care on the Coast Expertise and empathy for loved ones BRAND INSIGHTS IT TAKES a huge leap of faith to trust someone you don’t know to take care of your senior loved one. Hiring a professional carer means admitting him or her not only into your loved one’s home but also into your family’s private world. You’ll be entrusting this person with the safety, security, and health of someone you love dearly. Home Care Assistance provides older adults with quality care on the Central Coast, that enables them to live happier, healthier lives at home. Our services are distinguished by the calibre of our caregivers, the responsiveness of our staff, and our expertise in live-in care. We embrace a positive, balanced approach to ageing centred on the evolving needs of older adults by providing our care workers with the expertise and empathy that our Central Coast seniors deserve. We’re committed to the professional development of our carers, so we place a high priority on offering continuous training in the most up-to-date methods of care giving. Our commitment to continuing education is so strong that we created Home Care University, and all of our care workers undergo training in our two exclusive flagship programs: ❚ The Balanced Care Method™ is a comprehensive, scientifically based
LIVE WELL AT HOME: Our services are distinguished by the calibre of our caregivers, the responsiveness of our staff and our expertise in live-in care. method of care that emphasises physical activity, good nutrition, social engagement, and other beneficial lifestyle elements that have been shown to augment the health and wellbeing of seniors. ❚ The Cognitive Therapeutics Method™ (CTM) is a revolutionary brain health program that is particularly helpful for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and
‘‘
We embrace a positive, balanced approach to ageing centred on the evolving needs of older adults cognitive issues. An exceptional accompaniment to the Balanced Care Method, CTM uses fun brain
games, puzzles, and enjoyable activities to target memory function, boost cognitive abilities, and enhance performance
in the language, visual-spatial, and attention domains. How much will my home care package cost? Taking up a home care package is free if you are a full pensioner or your income is below the means-tested care fee. A home care package is a coordinated package of care and services to help you to live independently in your own home for as long as you can.
As an approved provider of the governmentsubsidised home care package, we pride ourselves helping our clients navigate the process to apply for their home care package. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Contact one of our care managers today on (02) 4363 5090.
Women’s home-sharing innovation
HOMING WOMEN: A new choice for shared housing for Baby Boomer women is set to be trialled in New South Wales. Photo: kali9
A NEW approach to home sharing for older women is set to be trialled in Wollongong in the next four months. Researchers from The Australian Centre for Social Innovation have developed a housing concept aimed at successfully matching older women in an affordable and safe living environment that also supports longevity of tenure. Since TACSI is not a service provider, it turned to the IRT Group to assist with the trial developed as a result of working with a group of South Australian Baby Boomers aged 55
and older. “The women helped us to come up with a service concept about how to hear about a service like Homeshare and how do you register, facilitate matching and provide support once people move in,” TACSI social innovator Carla Clarence said. The service will be about helping these women to find an ideal housemate. “It adds to the suite of choices that women have as they choose to live and age well,” Ms Clarence said. “There are two ends of the spectrum. There is
retirement living, which is not what everyone wants or can afford to live in. “The other end is homelessness and crises services for people with complex needs. “Between that, there isn’t a lot of other options or choices to support people to live alternatively.” Through the pilot program, Ms Clarence found both female home owners and renters wanted another choice for how they lived in their older years. The trial in Wollongong will include about 14 women who will live-test TACSI’s initial home
sharing model. They will look at both home-owner with a renter and shared renting, and look closely at what the women want. “It’s about two women, in their individual circumstances, coming together because there is a potential for a really good match,” Ms Clarence said. As a result of this matching process, she expects finances will be shared and social connections made. It is hoped the IRT Wollongong research will lead to the roll-out of a national model delivered through service providers.
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Taking care of the bowel cancer carer Tracey Johnstone REACH out to your friends for support and companionship is the advice of Jan Maling who is caring for her husband who has bowel cancer. Jan, 76, has been living a nightmare for over two years with her husband Neil, 78. The couple met when Jan was 18 and they haven’t been apart since then. When she heard Neil’s original diagnosis, Jan was absolutely dismayed. “He was Stage 3 by the time we got into the system,” Jan said. “Once he got in I can’t fault it. But, getting into the system was very difficult because there was such a bank-up of people needing colonoscopies. Although he was Category 1, which meant he was to be seen within 30 days, it didn’t work out like that.” Jan, who had already been through breast cancer, didn’t have any knowledge about bowel cancer. “I went on the internet. I found reliable sites like Bowel Cancer Australia, Cancer Council Australia and the UK; just researched it everywhere.” Their regular walking group couldn’t help as none them, that she knew, had experience with bowel cancer. “They were all very supportive,” Jan said. The overwhelming demands on both Neil and Jan to attend medical appointments kept
NAVIGATING THROUGH CANCER: Neil and Jan Maling. pushing them to their physical and mental limits. The only thing Jan knew she had to do was to maintain her own social network, keep fit and keep eating well. “I thought I needed to be grounded somehow,” she said. “I needed to have a break from thinking about the devastating news all the time. “If there is different groups of people, you’re
DEMENTIA DISCUSSION
FREE DEMENTIA CARE LEARNING
THIS free online course is for family carers of people person living with dementia. Carers can face a number of really stressful situations that can be difficult to deal with. This course provides advice on connecting with and caring for someone with dementia. It focuses on everyday experiences that are seen as particularly challenging and stressful, such as combining employment with caring for someone living with dementia. The course will shine a
light on some of the stressful symptoms and communication problems associated with Lewy bodies (DLB), as well as covering the challenges of other types of dementia including Alzheimer’s. Over the three weeks of the course participants, you will meet other carers and academic experts who have developed strategies and practical steps that can improve communication – something which is crucially important for building and maintaining relationships, and for effectively negotiating daily life.
not burdening someone with your bad news all the time. You have got to be aware of that too. “It’s no good going along and talking about it all the time. You have got to participate in other things. I knew I had to get some kind of balance.” Jan also found friends who would pick her up and take her to group activities when she was just too tired to drive. “It’s very important to
have interests so that your life doesn’t just revolve around all the medical appointments and taking in all the information you are receiving,” Jan said. “You have got to participate in the rest of what is going around the world otherwise you just crash.” About one million colonoscopies are performed in Australia every year.
Bowel Cancer Australia expects this number to continue increasing as more people age. And, time is of the essence when it comes to getting the test. “What needs improving is getting in their quickly enough and getting the treatment you require,” Jan said. “That is a very difficult process, because, quite frankly, there isn’t enough funding being put into it
so you always have a backlog.” Getting a colonoscopy as soon as possible after the initial diagnosis can improve a person’s chance of survival and less “brutal” treatment. “Take the test. Don’t put it aside. Don’t forget about it. Do it right away,” Jan cautions.
By the end of the course, you will develop a new understanding of the brain and different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with DLB, what a person with dementia is experiencing, challenging situations and behaviours that can cause carer stress and strategies for improving verbal and non-verbal communication. For more information, go to futurelearn.com.
dementia by doing six key things. Those are: getting regular exercise, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. “In the next 30 years, the number of people with dementia is expected to triple,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The new guidelines will also help health-care providers advise patients on what they can do to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia. An essential element of
every national dementia plan is support for carers of people with dementia, said Dr Dévora Kestel, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “Dementia carers are very often family members who need to make considerable adjustments to their family and professional lives to care for their loved ones. This is why WHO created iSupport. iSupport is an online training programme providing carers of people with dementia with advice on overall management of care, dealing with behaviour changes and how to look after their own
health.” iSupport is currently being used in eight countries, with more expected to follow.
FIGHT DEMENTIA WITH HEALTH
THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued new guidelines which clearly state we can reduce their risk of
For more information and support, go to bowel cancer- australia.org.
DEMENTIA IN YOUR FAMILY
Dementia Australia has developed a website for young family members to learn about dementia and how to help an older family member who has the condition. From pre-school to aged 16 and older, and for adults as well, there is helpful information on what is dementia, book, useful links, caring for yourself, helpline numbers and much more. Go to dementiainmy family.org.au.
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
WELLBEING
Changing habits Life was pretty easy until the unexpected happened
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan LIKE most of us in our twenties, I thought I was invincible. I was a social smoker, a night out meant at least four drinks, exercise was not on my radar and my favourite meal was a rich pasta with smoked salmon and cream sauce. Life was fun and busy, and to be honest, I didn’t really give my health a second thought. I was a nurse at the time so in theory, I should have known better. I also have an extensive family history of heart disease, stroke and congenital heart defects, but it was the 1980s and my health habits – or lack thereof – were fairly normal for someone my age. I am now the Chief Executive Officer of the Stroke Foundation, a key health charity in Australia, so it is not easy to confess I have not always lived by the healthy
lifestyle messages I spruik. World Hypertension Day serves as an important reminder for everyone to contemplate their own lifestyle and make a health check a priority. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure and it is the key risk factor for stroke. More than 4 million Australians are living with high blood pressure, and frighteningly, a large number of them don’t even know they have it. Hypertension has no symptoms, but over time, it damages blood vessels, putting people at serious and unnecessary risk of stroke and heart disease. This brings me to my first health scare. When I was 31, I collapsed. Tests that followed revealed I had a heart murmur and a very slow heart rate. This fright changed my path and made me take my health seriously. I was not able to drive for 12 months, so had to get
ON ALERT: Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan. Photo: Melbourne Photography creative about the way I travelled, opting for public transport and walking. One thing led to another. I quit smoking, took up regular exercise, switched from diet drinks to water and incorporated wholegrains and lots of vegetables into my diet. I enjoyed my new stamina and clear mind and even
took on further study as a result. Flash forward to 2016, and I had just started my dream role of leading the Stroke Foundation. I was fit and healthy – or so I thought. I was preparing to launch the Australia’s Biggest Blood Pressure Check campaign, which
included rolling up my sleeve and having a blood pressure check on television. Before we went live, I checked my blood pressure myself. I had not done so for a long time and was shocked to learn it was 160/90, anything over 140/90 is considered high. I put it down to pre-interview nerves at first, but quickly followed it up with a trip to my doctor. Talk about a wake-up call! I was diagnosed with the very condition I was raising awareness of publicly. I myself had high blood pressure and was at serious risk of stroke with no idea! Although I looked fit on the outside, my story demonstrates that none of us is immune to the risk. In my case, my genetics pre-disposed me to high blood pressure. I dread to think how much worse my blood pressure reading would have been if I had not adopted regular exercise, a better diet and quit smoking all those years ago. There is nothing you can do to change your family history, but knowing
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Living your numbers and making positive lifestyle changes to keep blood pressure within a normal range will give you the best chance of living a long and healthy life. It is never too early or too late to make changes, even if that means starting with small steps like putting the salt shaker away and taking the stairs rather than the lift. I am incredibly grateful for the day I learnt I had high blood pressure because it meant I could act to improve it. I am now on medication, I check it regularly and it is within normal limits. I have since run a half marathon to raise awareness of stroke and I feel great. So I encourage you to have your blood pressure checked with your doctor, a pharmacist or on a digital health check machine. No matter how old you are or seemingly fit you may be, it only takes a few minutes and it could save your life. To find your nearest digital health station, go sisuwellness.com.au/ station_location.
MONEY
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Your retirement savings maY have to work longer than You do On average, Australians expect to live to about 81. We expect to start work at about 20 and then retire at 65.Which means that you would have 45 years of work in which to save enough to live on for 16 years of retirement. Our research shows a vastly different picture. Longevity is trending upwards. Life expectancy data changes as you attain older ages: • A couple both aged 65 today has a 50% chance that one will live beyond 90 • A couple both aged 70 today has a 50% chance that one will live beyond 95 So what is becoming more likely is this: • Work for 34 years, Retire at 54, Check out at 91. That would give you only 34 years to finance 47 years of retirement. Of course life may not turn out that way for you and many factors could influence what happens and when, but the point is this. It makes sense to plan for what’s likely rather than just hope for something better. The information contained within, including taxation, does not consider your personal circumstances and is of a general nature only. You should not act on it without first obtaining professional financial advice specific to your circumstances and reading any product disclosure statements. RI Advice Group Pty Ltd ABN 23 001 774 125, AFSL 238429.
Managing your negative equity risk
OVER the past few years, the term ‘negative equity’ has barely rated a mention. In a booming property market it didn’t seem like a problem. But figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia show a growing number of Australians run the risk of being in the red with their home equity. Negative equity occurs when you owe more on your home loan than the property is worth. It’s a disheartening situation, and it can happen for a variety of reasons. One of the most common factors used to be spending a fortune in home renovations, especially when they turned a modest house into the best in the street. But it’s the downswing in the property market that’s driving the threat of negative equity today. According to CoreLogic, prices in Sydney and Melbourne have dropped by 14 per cent and 10 per cent respectively since the market peaked in 2017. For anyone who got into the market with a small
deposit, the possibility of owing more than their home is worth is very real. On the plus side, the RBA says that over the past five years, the vast majority of home buyers purchased their home with a deposit of at least 20 per cent. Since 2017 less than one in 10 buyers has had a deposit below 10 per cent. This has helped to shelter the bulk of recent home owners against negative equity, with the RBA saying it’s an issue that affects only 2 per cent of home owners nationally, though some reports suggest a figure as high as 10 per cent. That said, negative equity is a big problem in some of the mining-driven areas of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, where as many as 60 per cent of home owners can be in negative equity. The risk for lenders is that home owners are more likely to default on their mortgage when they have negative equity. The problem for Australians watching their
home value decline is that the choice of options is limited. You can choose to sell and recoup only a part of the cost of the property – in other words, take a loss. Or you can hang onto your home and wait for market values to rise to the point where they catch up with your outlay. This could take time in the low inflationary times we live in. A third strategy is to make additional payments on your home loan. It can sound counter-intuitive to trundle extra cash into a loan when you’re sailing close to the wind with negative equity. But in our State capitals where values should recover and continue to rise over the long term, it can be a simple way of tipping the home equity scales back in your favour. Paul Clitheroe is chairman of InvestSMART, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.
Worried about the proposed changes and the “noise” in the media? Concerned about your pension going forward? Need to protect your family? Your first appointment is free, so take control, ask for professional advice!
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Call to cut pension deeming rates
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NATIONAL Seniors Australia has called for deeming rates to be cut in line with record low interest rates announced by the Reserve Bank. Deeming rates have not been adjusted since 2015 despite interest rates falling from 2.25 per cent to the current record low of just 1.25 per cent.
National Seniors Chief Advocate Ian Henschke said it was almost impossible for pensioners to generate income from bank deposit investments that matched the rate of income they were deemed to be earning. “For example, one of the big banks today is offering a term deposit
rate of 2 per cent for amounts above $50-thousand and the interest paid only at the end of the term. “However, a single pensioner is deemed to be earning 3.25 per cent for the same amount, an amount the bank is offering just 2 per cent on.”
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
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Bringing up ‘money’ Alison Houston OUR lack of financial knowledge is making seniors more vulnerable to scams and asset loss, and more likely to outlive their savings. Like politics and religion, finances is a topic we traditionally aren’t meant to speak about for fear of offending someone. But with his recent study showing financial illiteracy in over-55s at “dangerous levels”, that’s a culture we need to change, according to Bond University associate professor of statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp. The study involved more than 3400 National Seniors Australia members, across a broad spectrum of socioeconomic groups, ages and sexes. Only 7 per cent of respondents correctly answered all three simple investment questions as part of the study, and one-third got all three questions wrong. Older women were most at risk of making bad financial decisions, while
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Interview the advisor, check they are talking in terms you understand. people who were unmarried, suffered poor health and the most elderly all recorded poor results. Education level, occupation and home ownership also played a part. Worryingly, more than 70 per cent of respondents said they never talked about finances with family and friends. “We need to get away from that stigma of talking about money and open up discussion so we can learn from other people’s knowledge and experiences, positive and negative,” Adrian said. He said it was also important in any relationship that the people involved knew how to access the necessary financial information in case of emergency. While 50 per cent of study respondents reported joint control of finances, Adrian said often tasks were
unquestioningly divided up between partners, so one looked after everyday expenditure while the other oversaw big-ticket items such as savings accounts, mortgage, loans, insurance and superannuation. “If something happens, you need to at least know where to go and how to access the information you need in relation to those papers and information,” he said. Discussing finances with older family members to ascertain their financial knowledge and where they stand was also important, he said. But how do you do open that conversation? “Very carefully,” he laughed, adding that it was important to recognise the other person’s knowledge and not imply that you have all the answers. Recognise they might be embarrassed if they are struggling financially and not want to be a burden or lose their independence. You might even start by talking about a financial issue you are interested in to get their advice and gauge their understanding. His number one tip is talking to a financial planner. Unlike the general “one-size-fits-all” advice you may get from the TV, newspapers or internet, a good financial adviser looks at each person’s individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis. The amount of money you will need in retirement, for instance, depends greatly on your health, lifestyle, debts, any financial legacy you want to provide, and your appetite for, or adversity to, risk. But after all the revelations of the Banking, Insurance and Financial Services Royal Commission – not to mention exposes on current affairs shows – who do you trust? A good place to start is the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) MoneySmart website, Adrian said. This provides independent information on how to choose a financial planner and allows you to check details including that they are qualified and licenced, where they have worked and whether they have been the subject of any ASIC disciplinary action. It also provides general budget and retirement
Money
MONEY SMART: Bond University associate professor of statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp says there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finances, but we need to learn and discuss more. planners, interest, loan and superannuation calculators, tips on building your wealth, managing your money, debt help and scams. “If a financial planner is not licensed, walk away,” Adrian said. The next step is to “interview the advisor, check that they are talking in terms you understand, that you feel comfortable asking them questions, get full answers, that they take a holistic approach to your needs, are not simply promoting one product and that you are empowered to know what’s going on”. But we also need to improve our knowledge in order to make informed decisions, and Adrian’s advice is to seek several sources. Again, the MoneySmart website and links provide a good reputable start, but he urged people to also read books or magazines on the topic to verify what you have read is correct, and talk to other trusted people. He hopes the creation of gamified learning tools, similar to brain-training games, could provide an easy and interesting avenue for people to learn more about finances in the future. For now, go to moneysmart.gov.au.
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REVIEWS
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Remarkable story IT’S the extraordinary and honest story of Australian couple Kathy and Ralph Kelly, who turned their own family’s tragedies into a remarkable crusade that’s helping keep all our children safer. On a winter’s night in July 2012, Kathy and Ralph Kelly received a phone call no parent wants to receive. It was the emergency department of a Sydney hospital telling them their eldest son Thomas, 18, had been coward punched by a stranger within two minutes of getting out of a taxi in Kings Cross on his way to a private 18th birthday party of a friend. Two days later they were told their son had suffered catastrophic head injuries resulting in brain death and advised there was no other option but to switch off his life support. In the aftermath of their son’s death, Kathy and Ralph became the public face of the campaign to end the drunken violence that plagued Sydney’s major nightspots. Along with premiers Barry O’Farrell and Mike Baird they helped institute the lockout laws that have been a major factor in the reduction of alcohol-related deaths and injuries in Darling Harbour, Kings Cross and Sydney’s CBD. They were also instrumental in creating Take Kare Safe Spaces for young people in key nightspots, and they were one of the driving forces behind the introduction of tougher sentencing for ‘coward-punch’ deaths. But their campaigning created a huge toll on their family. Online intimidation, death threats and false
Healthy living in a no-waste kitchen
Thrilling new read
news about the mishandling of donations came from those with a stake in the clubs and businesses that were the financial losers of the lockout laws. When Stuart Kelly, Thomas’s younger brother, went for his first night at University of Sydney’s St Paul’s College, Ralph and Kathy believe the bullying he experienced because of the family’s profile was so traumatising he left university for good the
next day and wouldn’t tell his parents what he’d been made to endure. Five months later, on July 25, 2016, Stuart took his own life. This book is the parents’ story. How they coped with one unimaginable tragedy, only to find it had sowed the seed for another. How in the face of these terrible losses they have found the spirit and the drive to campaign first for a safer environment for all
our children, and for a greater understanding of young people’s self-harm and its drivers. Ralph and Kathy Kelly are the founders of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation. As part of the foundation the Kellys created Stay Kind, a youth suicide awareness campaign encouraging all Australians to care for each another. Published by Allen & Unwin. Too Soon, Too Late RRP $32.99.
TOM Clancy’s Enemy Contact, written with Mike Maden, is thrilling, edge-of-the seat reading as Clancy continues his Jack Ryan series. It starts on a remote island off the coast of Argentina. A team of elite counterterror commandos prepare to assault a newly-discovered Hezbollah hideout. What they don’t expect is to be brutally ambushed themselves; slaughtered with no survivors. Back in Washington DC, the growing obstruction in the Senate has reached crippling levels as a crucial treaty to strength NATO in Eastern Europe is inexplicably blocked. Suspecting that key politicians may have been compromised, but aware of the explosive consequences of making such accusations in public, the US President dispatches Jack Ryan Jr to Poland to investigate. In Warsaw, Jack partners with beautiful and brilliant Polish agent Liliana Zaleski, and it’s not long before they find evidence of a tangled web of corruption. But what Jack and Liliana don’t realise is that this conspiracy stretches further than they could ever have imagined. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $32.99.
ARE you looking for ways to save money in the kitchen? No Waste Kitchen helps you make the most of every meal and keep your kitchen waste-free. And you can save money while helping save the environment. Author Amelia Wasiliev’s book is for anyone conscious of reducing household waste, giving you 140 innovative and easy-to-follow recipes. It’s a beautifully illustrated guide which includes inspiring tips and practical tricks to make the most of every meal and let nothing go to waste.Freeze, store, save and reuse your leftovers for future meals; you'll have a budget- and environment-friendly kitchen in no time. Published by Hachette Australia. RRP$19.99 or eBook RRP$11.99.
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Make the most of every meal and keep your kitchen waste-free.
Time to age well into the future
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Make the second half of your life the best half of your life.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Discover easy ways to a longer, healthier, happier life in this new book.
WHAT does it take to have a healthy and joyful old age? Researchers say it’s not too late to make changes at 50 to get the
‘retirement years’ we want. But what should we change and how do we do it? Annabel Streets and Susan Saunders spent their 30s climbing the career ladder, having children and caring for elderly parents – all at the same time. By their 40s, they were exhausted, stressed, sleeping too little and rushing too much. They began to ask whether the prolonged ill health and dementia
suffered by their parents was their inevitable future too – could they do anything to avoid requiring their own children to care for them in old age? Thus began The Age-Well Project. With incredible tenacity, Streets and Sanders read 50,000 scientific research papers on all aspects of ageing to find what advice cutting-edge research can offer us on how to ensure the longer lives we’re living are healthy and happy. Putting their findings
into practice, they found that the lifestyle changes they made were having incredible benefits on their health and wellbeing now – as well as for the future. Told with empathy and humour, in The Age-Well Project Streets and Sanders share the 50 key lessons they learned, the meals they cooked and the expert tips they uncovered. The Age-Well Project is published by Hachette Australia. RRP $32.99.
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
G E N E R A L K N O W L E D G E
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PUZZLES
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DOWN 1 Who wrote the play Hedda Gabler? (5) 2 What was a member of a pre-Christian order of priests in Gaul, Britain and Ireland? (5) 3 From Arabic folklore, what evil demon eats stolen corpses and children? (5) 4 What Japanese system of combat means “empty hand”? (6) 6 What is the medical name for baldness? (8) 7 What system of assistance to the needy in Britain was in force from 1597 to 1947? (4,4) 12 What is the medical name for blood poisoning? (8) 13 What is ascorbic acid also known as? (7,1) 14 What is one circuit of a race track? (3) 15 Panaji is the capital of which state of western India? (3) 19 What French-made guided missile is used in sea warfare? (6) 21 What hot drink is high in protein, carbohydrate and fat? (5) 22 What are folded or rolled filled tortillas? (5) 23 “Thomas Atkins” on specimen forms led to which generic name for a private in the British Army? (5)
Across 5/8/9 Which 1935 song by Pattie and Mildred Hill is the world’s most frequently sung song in English? (5,8,2,3) 10 What type of anaesthetic is sometimes used in childbirth to produce a loss of sensation below the waist? (8) 11 What is the feminine form of “beau”? (5) 14 A section of a journey (3) 16 Which Lady is said to have ridden naked through Coventry in the 11th Century? (6) 17 Which Native American people of the Great Lakes region are also known as Chippewa? (6) 18 What is the vibrating ball in a referee’s whistle called? (3) 20 Which country did New Zealand’s All Blacks defeat 14517 in the 1995 Rugby World Cup? (5) 24 On which US river is the Hoover Dam? (8) 25 What is a communication sent via computers? (5) 26 What wine bottle holds the equivalent of four normal bottles? (8) 27 In which month was Julius Caesar killed? (5)
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43 1/6
27
SUDOKU
Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
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5x5
ALPHAGRAMS
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.
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MAPLE RED CAB HER CAPE DUG EARTH I BLED MORE
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Note: more than one solution may be possible.
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SOLUTIONS
alert altar alter earl fall faller falter fatal fell felt feral fetal flare flat flatware flaw flea flew late later lateral leaf left real tala tale tall taller teal tell trawl wale wall wallet WATERFALL weal well welt
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H E R D S
QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Plot 8. Ameliorate 9. Skittish 10. Toss 12. Lupine 14. Denial 15. Strata 17. Sleuth 18. Text 19. Sure-fire 21. Belongings 22. Huge. Down: 2. Lacklustre 3. Tact 4. Decide 5. Wished 6. Pretence 7. Begs 11. Smattering 13. Inaction 16. Assign 17. Shrink 18. Tube 20. Fish.
BLACKOUT
ALPHAGRAMS: AMPLE, BRACED, CHEAPER, DAUGHTER, EMBROILED.
Solution opposite
S L E E T
Find a finished crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.
A T T I C
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 21 Very Good 28 Excellent 34
DOUBLE CROSS
L I T R E
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WORD GO ROUND
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SUDOKU
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Down 2. Drab (10) 3. Diplomacy (4) 4. Come to a conclusion (6) 5. Longed (6) 6. Sham (8) 7. Implores (4) 11. Sprinkling (10) 13. Inactivity (8) 16. Allocate (6) 17. Contract (6) 18. Pipe (4) 20. Angle (4)
GK CROSSWORD Across: 5/8/9 “Happy Birthday To You”, 10 Epidural, 11 Belle, 14 Leg, 16 Godiva, 17 Ojibwa, 18 Pea, 20 Japan, 24 Colorado, 25 Email, 26 Jeroboam, 27 March. Down: 1 Ibsen, 2 Druid, 3 Ghoul, 4 Karate, 6 Alopecia, 7 Poor Laws, 12 Toxaemia, 13 Vitamin C, 14 Lap, 15 Goa, 19 Exocet, 21 Cocoa, 22 Tacos, 23 Tommy.
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Across 1. Scheme (4) 8. Improve, make better (10) 9. Nervous (8) 10. Throw (4) 12. Wolf-like (6) 14. Refusal (6) 15. Layers (6) 17. Detective (6) 18. Words (4) 19. Certain, guaranteed (4-4) 21. Possessions (10) 22. Massive (4)
H E I F E R H M E L T D O W N
O X R E K H L H X W W J E H H
J P R I S E Y A C H I E V E M
I E J G A S G Z E E T R I A C
S L U N G H A I L M C Y S T S
U N R K E A L R S B H J B O U
T R A C E U A P S E Q B J W D
O J N A A S I I A K P A P X S
P B I C R O P A L G R E L A Y
I D U U B F U Q E H E G E H L
C O M P E T E D G E D I B L E
P C V J D S N S C E A X E I G
R E S I D E N T E O T Y I N G
B A W D Y P U J U Y O L A N M
K N O W N S I M P E R J N E T
BLACKOUT
Work out which squares need to be deleted to reveal a completed crossword. Solution opposite
DOUBLE CROSS
H S E X P E L I R U F E I G N E S G R E G A M A E X C E L L H T W I T C D E Y O V S W H E A T N S
T O P R R A N I C E E S O L A P P A S A L E H P R E P L A U D S Y
I C O U M P E F T E D E E E D I E B L E
R K C E A N S O I W D D Y E S N N U I T M P E A T O R Y E I A N N E G T
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CENTRAL COAST
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS