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2 Seniors Central Coast

Welcome

In this edition

Cover Story: Andy Thomas .....................................Page 3 Wellbeing .........................................................Pages 13-15 Money......................................................................Page 25 Travel ..............................................................Pages 26-30 What’s on ................................................................Page 31

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 Manager Kristie Waite – 1300 880 265 kristie.waite@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Sue Germany – 0408 286 539 sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Now online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Central Coast Seniors”.

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

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

The extraordinary timeline of change HELLO readers, This month our cover page features Adelaide-born astronaut Andy Thomas. If ever there was a dramatic story showcasing the extraordinary pace of technological advances and their implementation into daily life, then it belongs to Andy.

The experiences of the 66-year-old now Houston USA resident, range from memories of ice being delivered to neighbours to fill the family’s icebox to rocketship launches and walking in space.

While most of us have not walked in space, according to our age, we could all draw up an interesting timeline detailing our own experience of technology change.

For a start, I’ll share a bit of mine. I’m 60 years old and my first-grade writing materials consisted of a slate and a slate pencil, the next year they were replaced with paper and lead pencil, but it was one marvellous day

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

when I saw the bright, gaudy colours that issued forth from ‘Neo Magic’ pens (I think this was the beginning of ‘fluoro’ colours).

Television broadcasts were in black and white and the news of colour made life feel, well, very much improved. Manual typewriters turned electronic – who remembers the IBM Selectric?

I think seatbelts (as we know them) were yet to be made, let alone legislated as compulsory.

There were plenty of cars on the road that could be labelled ‘rust buckets’, hardly the case these days.

And talking of TVs, how about the invention of the all-in-one television, radio and record player. By the

time I started to seriously navigate a kitchen, the microwave oven arrived and it seems around the same moment I was typing away on a word-processor, that, looking back featured quite user-unfriendly programs.

Today, as I watch my four-year-old grandchild deftly use her iPad, I wonder what sort of changes she will experience and perhaps communicate, in a yet-to-be-known media.

This edition also features this year’s Senior

❝

Today, as I watch my four-yearold grandchild deftly use her iPad, I wonder what changes she will experience... in a yet-to-be known media.

Australian of the Year, the eminent scientist Dr Graham Farquhar. He said he felt a sense of responsibility to voice his views on Seniors’ issues including seniors in the workplace.

“The challenge is how to make better use of their experience and talent without necessarily reducing prospects for younger people to get a job.”

He closed his acceptance speech, with, as journalist Tracey Johnstone said, “an evocative life outlook”.

He said: “To me the most important things in life are to struggle to improve, to struggle to be honest, and to struggle to re-evaluate one’s prejudices.” I agree.

I trust you enjoy our varied stories on health, wealth and happiness and don’t forget to checkout our stories: www.seniors news.com.au or drop into Facebook at www. facebook.com/seniors news.com.

— Cheers, Gail

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Cover Story: Andy Thomas

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

CHANGING WORLD: Dr Andy Thomas.

PHOTO: NEWS LTD

JOURNALIST TRACEY JOHNSTONE ANDY Thomas’s feet are now firmly on the ground, but it wasn’t so long ago he was setting records as the first Australian-born NASA astronaut.

Dr Andy Thomas AO participated in four space flights, spending over 177 days in space including one space walk, and four months living in zero gravity on the Mir space station.

But back on the ground in his birth city of Adelaide for a short visit, the 66-year-old shared his practical take on what life has been like and what he sees are the challenges ahead.

Dr Thomas has seen dramatic changes around him since leaving the Adelaide suburb of Fullerton after finishing his University of Adelaide doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1978.

In his early student years slide rules were the only tool available for

calculation. “By the time I finished post-graduate, we had calculators,” Dr Thomas said.

“The other was computers. We had huge computers which we would submit programs in with punch cards; you would have a shoebox full of cards. Then you would wait a few hours to get a response out. Now, of course, you have more computing power on your desktop than we could ever have imagined back then.

“I can also remember when I was very, very young, the neighbours having ice delivered to their house because they didn’t have a refrigerator; they had an ice box. And I can remember the milkman would come in the middle of the night to leave milk, and he used a horse-drawn cart to deliver to the neighbourhood.

“I have (also) seen a lot of changes in technology over my lifespan.”

Dr Thomas was back in Australia over the Christmas holidays to visit his elderly mother, who still lives in Adelaide.

While helping her with her care Dr Thomas became

Need a

acutely aware of the challenges facing older people, not only in Australia.

“Commercial enterprises are becoming totally reliant on computer systems and internet access,” Dr Thomas said.

“For example, if you want to run a bank account today you have to have a cell phone.

“I get very frustrated by this. I think it’s very presumptuous for banks, for example, to assume that everyone has a cell phone. Some seniors aren’t comfortable with a cell phone and don’t want one, and are entitled to that, yet you have these organisations that immediately assume you have to have a cell phone for any kind of transaction.”

He has been confronted by the challenges of food packaging while shopping for his mother. “They are packaged in ways that are almost impossible to get into and that provides huge challenges for elderly people,” Dr Thomas said.

As for the shopping experience, with “bricks and mortar” stores

Central Coast

Sky high man is acutely aware of earthly challenges

decreasing as online shopping becomes the norm, “I think that is going to be a challenge for senior people because they’re not necessarily comfortable buying through the internet,” Dr Thomas said. “They are accustomed to walking the aisles of the grocery story, for example, and trying things on and picking what they want.

That’s going to be relegated to the past and I think it’s going to be a big challenge for a lot of people.”

He also laments the lack of evidence-based thinking and the amount of fake news among the broader community. “We don’t teach rational thought that comes with scientific education,” Dr Thomas said.

Dr Thomas wants Australia’s grandparents to turn this around. “I urge everyone to encourage their children and grandchildren to study science. You cannot survive (in the modern, technology world) without having some understanding of science and mathematics.

“We have a culture

where we don’t ascribe enough value to evidence-based thinking.

You have these extraordinary fake news stories getting perpetuated through the internet which gain traction even though they are utter nonsense. Some politicians in the US are very schooled at exploiting this; we have a president that exploits it.

“I think it’s really important that we teach people to value evidence-based thinking, empirical evidence and respect for facts, true facts, not fake news,” he added.

He also encourages Australia’s younger generations to aim high.

“The sky isn’t the limit, based on my own experience,” he said. “I encourage young people to follow their dreams and bring them to reality because I think it’s important they have hope for the future.”

Dr Thomas remains resident in America as his wife, Shannon Walker, 53, is also a NASA astronaut.

She flew eight years ago and wants to fly again next year.

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“If you are in the space fight business, you have to be in Houston, Texas, if you want to be an NASA astronaut,” Dr Thomas said. “So, for the immediate future I will be staying in Houston to support her.

“I retired from the agency about three years ago,” he said. “I had four great flights, four more than I ever thought I would get, so I have no complaints.”

Dr Thomas still retains a keen interest in Australia’s progression in space programs. He said he was one of many voices that in recent years has pushed the Federal Government to form a national space agency to collect satellite data, for communication, and for environmental, strategic and national security monitoring.

“Space is the modern, critical infrastructure that countries need in order to function in the modern world,” Dr Thomas said.

“I have pushed very hard for Australia to embrace that and have an in-country capability and infrastructure built around the space sector.”

4 Seniors Central Coast

News: Senior Australian of the Year

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Australia’s top senior in 2018 Seniors News

THE man seeking to find the answers to food security, Professor Graham Farquhar AO, is 2018 Senior Australian of the Year.

Dr Farquhar was completely surprised by the Australia Day announcement which was awarded for his lifelong work in helping to reshape the world’s understanding of photosynthesis, which is the basis of life on earth, through his work on how the world will feed growing populations into the future.

He has been researching how water efficient crops can protect food security in a changing climate.

Notably, he has worked on developing strains of wheat that can grow with less water.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Farquhar, 70, acknowledged how lucky many of fellow seniors are.

“We can, on average, live longer and more healthily and thereby contribute more. We can be creative. We can struggle for honesty. And, we can deal with failures.

We are all lucky because of our ability to embrace creativity and hence progress as a nation,” he said.

“Creativity is not limited to the arts or science. It can be applied to most activities I can think of.

“I would like to see in Australia, that values creativity of all kind – scientific creativity of course, but also technical, sporting, artistic, organisational creativity.”

Dr Farquhar feels a sense of responsibility to use this year to voice his views on these and other issues seniors feel strongly about.

While he recognises he needs to do some background research on seniors in the workplace, Dr Farquhar’s initial view is that Australia should be making much better use of the talents of seniors.

“In terms of energy and intellect, and also experience, that quite often gets lost,” Dr Farquhar said.

“The challenge is how to make better use of their experience and talent without necessarily reducing prospects for younger people to get a job because we don’t want

to do that.

“There are some jobs where volunteers can be working on a casual basis which has no legal implications, but for jobs that require some sensitivity, I think we need to clarify what exactly is the role of the senior person who is volunteering. It may be that it’s not a problem.

“I do see a lot of talent that’s not being used and I am imaging, why not? It struck me it could be a bit awkward for large organisations to manage.

“But, I am going to talk to a few of those organisations and just find out whether I am dreaming.”

Dr Farquhar’s challenge going forward is his availability due to commitments around his 2017 Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences which will take him on a lecture tour to the US and England, plus a side tour to Turkey.

He also has his continuing research work at the Australian National University in Canberra.

“I think it’s happening,” Dr Farquhar said.

“I’m not sure what my colleagues think with me swanning around, winning

TOP SENIOR: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with 2018 Senior Australian of the Year, Dr Graham Farquhar AO. PHOTO: SALTY DINGO

medals while they carry on at the fort. I have to make sure I balance my time better than I have been doing recently.”

He still has on his 2018 resolution list to join a Golden Oldies dance class, but as he has accepted a number of speaking invitations his other resolutions will sit

on the backburner.

“I do feel there are one or two things that I might be a catalyst with,” Dr Farquhar said.

“I am not saying I will be original or creative myself, but at least I hope I can help those that are creative in this area have a voice, and I can speak up on their behalf.”

The scientist, who is described as having a “childlike joy of discovery”, closed his awards speech with an evocative life outlook.

“To me the most important things in life are to struggle to improve, to struggle to be honest, and to struggle to re-evaluate one’s prejudices.”

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Local Story

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 5

AUTHENTIC: A section of The New Empire Ballroom Ragtime Dance Orchestra, which will play Music of the Anzacs at Gosford RSL from 2pm on Sunday, April 15.

Big name and bigger talents make the sounds of past era

JOURNALIST ALISON HOUSTON IT’S a mouthful of a name, but it’s unique in Australia and chock full of young talent playing the tunes of a bygone era – The New Empire Ballroom Ragtime Dance Orchestra.

Founder Barney Waters, now 70, has been playing music since he was eight, in symphony orchestras, concert bands, musicals and choirs.

He developed the New Empire group eight years ago to play the music which he said he had

always loved – 1895-1920s Ragtime and 1920-1933s Hot Jazz.

While playing with the Central Coast Symphony Orchestra, he approached a number of young musicians about the idea, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The orchestra comprises 18 musicians aged 15-24, with occasional “ring-ins” of more experienced players to fill in gaps.

Together they successfully produce “an authentic recreation of the music that would have filled the ballrooms, dance halls and radios at that time”.

About 100 musicians have taken part over the

❝

I’ve had people say, ‘if you could cut it back to six or eight people’ … but that wouldn’t do the music justice.... years, with many going on to professional careers.

“These kids are dynamic – I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved,” Barney said.

And it hasn’t been easy, with Barney determined the orchestra will be paid professionals, and many unwilling to book such a large orchestra.

“I’ve had people say ‘if you could cut it back to six or eight people’... but that wouldn’t do the music justice,” he said.

Others expect the band – despite its professionalism, instruments and equipment and 1920s costumes – to play for free, something Barney said they would only do for charity.

“We could play every weekend if we wanted to play for free,” he said.

“You’ve got to draw the line somewhere.”

But what makes the music appealing to young people, who in many cases have never heard it before, and in others think it’s original Michael Buble

material?

According to Barney, it’s partially the challenge of the music itself and of continually learning new pieces, which they have to sight-read.

“If you look at any of the big bands, the musicians have all started off in smaller groups like this – you have to learn your craft,” he said.

“And we’ve had some absolute rippers of musicians; some amazing violinists.”

You can hear The New Empire Ballroom Ragtime Dance Orchestra perform Music of the Anzacs – memorable tunes from the Great War such as I’m For Ever Blowing Bubbles and I Wonder Who’s

Kissing Her Now – at Gosford RSL from 2pm on Sunday, April 15.

For details, phone The Gosford RSL (02) 4323 2311 and is located at 26 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford.

Tickets are available at the Gosford RSL reception for $15.

To find out more about this wonderful orchestra you can go to the website www.newempireorchestra .com or check out their Facebook page or you can listen to them on YouTube.

For bookings or further information regarding The New Empire Ballroom Ragtime Dance Orchestra, phone Barney Waters on 0410 420 748.

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6 Seniors Central Coast

Local Story

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

If not on January 26, then when should we? ❝ Alison Houston

AS DEBATE continues over the future of Australia Day, the question for First Fleeters Central Coast branch president John Haxton is, if not January 26, then when?

“If we change it to another day, then what is the significance of that day?” he asked.

John is proud to trace his ancestry back five generations to two First Fleeters, a seaman and a convict.

He believes we can’t and shouldn’t rewrite history, and that means Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on January 26, when the First Fleet of 11 convict ships arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788 and Captain Arthur Phillip raised the flag to signal the beginning of the colony.

It has been officially celebrated as a public

holiday on that day since the 30th anniversary in 1818.

John is under no illusions that the indigenous people have suffered as a result of white settlement over the years, but he said the benefits of settlement and the prosperity it had brought to Australia should also not be ignored.

“We object to the term invasion,” John said.

“The First Fleet didn’t come in with guns blazing; in fact Governor Phillip was under instructions to be kind to the inhabitants, to be amenable.”

The real failing, he said, was in communication and beliefs of the time which failed to understand a different culture and saw indigenous people as being uneducated.

This was as indicative of the time as the fact

I would much rather see us do as much as we can to help the Aboriginal ....

people were shipped off from their homeland, their families and everything they knew, for as little as stealing a penny or a loaf of bread.

However, he said, as Australians, we all needed to unite to look to the future.

The focus, he said, should be on what we can do to help indigenous people in real terms rather than artificially trying to change a historical date and dividing the nation.

“I would much rather see us do as much as we can to help the Aboriginal people in terms of their health, education and housing,” he said.

“But they have to be involved, provide guidance to government agencies and take control of those services and programs themselves.”

John said while he was proud of his First Fleet links, he was equally proud of the ancestry he had traced to his father’s side of the family, coming to Australia from England in the 1930s.

“Everything had to start somewhere,” John said.

The First Fleeters Australian Fellowship celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Maritime Museum in Sydney on March 10.

If you have links to the First Fleet or are interested in finding out more about the Central Coast branch, it meets at Point Claire Hall on the second Saturday of the month.

Phone John on 4392 1926.

PROUD: First Fleet descendent John Haxton.

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Local News

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 7

Creative precinct opens for artists, history buffs Alison Houston

GOSFORD Community Precinct is “really going to town” this year for its second annual open day.

Events and precinct co-ordinators Lyn Abbott and Gay Brown, from the Central Coast Hand Weavers, Spinners and Textile Arts Guild – or more simply “The Cottage” – said the success of last year’s open day in August had prompted calls of “when are you doing it again?”.

So, from 9am-3pm on Saturday, April 14, the bunting and gazebos will be up and a mini fairground will appear on site, allowing the public to see exactly what goes on at The Cottage, as well as the Central Coast Potters Society, the Makers Studio, Central Coast Family History Society and the Lions Club.

“We all have our own separate days, but this is one to promote the whole precinct as a community,” Ms Brown said.

Each group will have displays, items for sale and demonstrations, including spinning and weaving, a loom to try your hand at, potthrowing, clay play for the kids, a kiln pit, printing and dyeing, and tips on how best to trace your family tree, including the best websites to use.

Ms Abbott became involved in The Cottage when her husband bought her a spinning wheel at a garage sale – she needed someone to show her how to use it.

Eight years later, Ms Brown said, “there’s nothing Lyn doesn’t do – spinning, weaving, felting, knitting, crochet; she does the lot!”

This is The Cottage’s 45th anniversary, and Ms Abbott said much had changed in that time.

Weaving is now more of an art form and is attracting an increasing number of participants, with up to 30 people taking part in the regular Tuesday meetings (quilting

is Wednesdays).

“Weaving’s not just the old scarf anymore,” Ms Abbott said, adding she also creates wearable art, wraps and clothing.

“It’s about colour, texture and whether it’s hand-spun materials or silks.”

And it’s something she says you can do anywhere, with looms now small enough that they can be folded up and tucked in your bag.

“Have loom, will travel,” she laughed.

Ms Brown has been part of The Cottage for about 15 years, and said she found “a camaraderie you don’t get elsewhere”.

Ms Abbott agreed, adding it was a great way for people to get out and meet others with similar interests, and “really lose yourself in creating”.

For those without experience, equipment is available to use on site and take home until you are ready to buy your own, and workshops are also popular, with felting

LOSE YOURSELF: Gosford Community Precinct events co-ordinators Lyn Abbott and Gay Brown encourage everyone to see what’s possible. :

attracting 20 people over the past two Thursdays.

“I think the enthusiasm comes from within the groups – doing something for a combined project or seeing what someone has made, or someone is wearing and thinking, ‘I could do that’ or ‘I’d like to learn that’,” Ms Abbott

said.

Building on last year’s event, the Precinct on Parade will feature models not just showing off clothes created, but pottery pieces, fabric prints and other craft, including decorated lamp shades.

And the Lions Club will

of course provide the all-important sausage sizzle to raise charity funds.

Gosford Community Precinct is at 8-10 Russell Drysdale Street, East Gosford.

To find out more, phone 4325 4743 or go to www.cottagecrafts.net.au.

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8 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Talk’n’thoughts Hurdles, highjumps and solutions

No mistakes, it just happens FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

FOR the past 12 months, I have written many articles to raise awareness on the increasing number of older women experiencing homelessness.

According to a 2014 report commissioned by the Mercy Foundation, Older women’s pathways out of homelessness, researched by UQ academics, “the largest proportion of older women presenting with housing crisis in Australia have led conventional lives and rented whilst working and raising a

family. Few have previously been involved with welfare and other support systems�.

This month, I received a letter that succinctly described the circumstances that landed one woman in a precarious housing position.

Here is an edited extract: “My fear/anxiety is housing or lack of. I need the government to supply more housing.

I am a single female aged 76 and paying for private rental. I have never married and I am living on a pension. Anxiety about my living arrangements has been with me for 20 years when I realised I would not earn any more money in my job.

I have never married or had children, or applied

for a government firsthome loan. I have rented privately for 50 years at different addresses, as owners wanted to sell, I had to move. I do not smoke or drink. I have worked full time for over 50 years with not much sick leave, I am still healthy and well and active. I do have six hours a month paid employment doing data entry which also helps my computer skills. When I was working I tried to get a bank loan to buy a house and was told ‘single female, not enough deposit’. I was not ‘allowed’ to join super until my late 40s.

I did not choose to be single. When you are young and have a partner you can plan your future, which I never did. I just ‘expected’ I would marry

and then it was too late and I was in my 50s when I started to think about retirement and my living arrangements.

Before I left work in Sydney, I researched rental villages and was put on waiting lists. I enquired about housing commission and was told about 15 years wait, if ever.

I decided to move to Queensland when I retired, as living in Queensland is cheaper than Sydney. The costs of removalists over the years I haven’t added up but it would be thousands.

I have been on the housing commission list here for over 10 years and have just been told I may never get accommodation as there is not enough for the homeless. They put

me on the NRAS list which I check regularly and there have been only two or three places suitable but not much cheaper, I feel secure where I am.�

Jeanette Large is one person working towards finding answers to this terrible problem. She has worked in the community housing section in Victoria for more than 30 years.

She is CEO of Women’s Property Initiatives, a not-for-profit provider of affordable, long-term homes for women, and of Property Initiatives Real Estate, a social enterprise established to create a revenue stream for WPI. Ms Large has addressed the issue of older women and housing through the foundation of a new community housing model. This plan is for

affordable housing for women who do not own a home but do have, with some superannuation, say between $100,000 to $300,000.

The model’s finances are accessed through a philanthropic source, commercial loans and a financial contribution from the women. At this stage, Ms Large has secured the funds, however, due to the model undergoing further legal examination to ensure women will receive appropriate ownership in return for their funding and long-term tenancy, the construction start date has been delayed.

However, Ms Large is upbeat about its success and forecasts a start date in the next few months.

The project is taking place in Melbourne.

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

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Central Coast

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10 Seniors Central Coast

Fighting Elder Abuse

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Lake collaborative working for change Lake Macquarie City to tackle elder abuse Tracey Johnstone

It’s never too late to start living a brain-healthy life!

March 12-18 is world Brain Awareness Week which celebrates the latest discoveries in brain research and raises money to study recovery from brain injuries, prevention and treatment of migraines, and improving memory.

Keeping your brain healthy for successful ageing involves four main areas: mental activity, physical activity, social engagement and the control of vascular risk factors. This last area is where your Amcal pharmacist can help you.

Basically, what you need for a healthy heart is also necessary for a healthy brain: omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.

Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil keep cell walls flexible and enzymes working properly.

The mineral selenium is needed for some proteins to function optimally to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Gingko biloba improves blood flow in the brain and helps the nerve receptors work optimally which results in better brain function and less symptoms of depression.

Brahmi protects against oxidation damage and reverses some kinds of memory impairment.

Vitamins C and E are great antioxidants. Vitamin E especially gets into the brain and keeps the cell walls healthy.

Always remember: vitamins, minerals and herbs can affect medications you may already be taking, so it’s important to check with your pharmacist before starting or stopping any complementary medicines.

Folate and Vitamins B6 and B12 keep important amino acids in check so the neurotransmitter chemicals send the right messages and help the brain develop properly.

You only have one brain and it can’t regenerate itself, so look after it! Your Amcal pharmacist is always available to help you optimise your health.

LAST week’s National Elder Abuse Conference discussed the role of local government in combating elder abuse with their community.

Several councils have already partnered with organisations, forming elder abuse collaboratives to provide support services within their community.

In the Hunter region, the Lake Macquarie City Council is committed to raising awareness and action.

It’s taking a two-prong approach to supporting its community.

The council employs two full-time staff in their community planning department – community planner for ageing and disability Jenny Linton-Webb and ageing and disability officer Peta McGrath.

Part of the role of this support unit is to provide community information on suitable elder abuse support services.

❝

It’s our community and that’s what we are all about.

“We have an ageing population and we need to look after them,” Peta said.

“It’s our community and that’s what we are all about.”

The council recently reported 30 per cent of its population is aged 55 and over, and that number is set to grow.

It also supports Peta’s contribution to the Central Coast and Hunter Collaborative which is made up of a core group drawn from aged care providers and professionals.

They then work with a broader group to provide support and information distribution channels.

The collaborative has partnered with the NSW Elder Abuse Hotline and Resource Unit to help it deliver a united approach with consistent messages.

“Last year we held forums across the region to get the message out there to our community and to our service providers about elder abuse,” Peta said.

“We identified that yes it’s an issue in our community and what are we going to do about it.

“These collaboratives are right across the nation,” added a very passionate Peta, who is committed to actively engaging with the over 55s within the Lake Macquarie City Council community.”

The council is also developing its Ageing Population Plan 2018–2021. It will look at how the council can support older residents to access services and facilities and how it can provide opportunities for those residents to connect and be active in our community.

If you have elder abuse concerns, please phone 1800 628 221 or visit www.elderabusehelpline. com.au/about/helpline.

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Special Interest

Central Coast

Seniors 11

Swinging to a ’70s beat An hilarious flashback to the bad-taste and fun of the 1970s

AS IMAGES from the film Swinging Safari started to unveil themselves on the big screen in front of me, the memories came flooding back from when my family were growing up in a suburban Sydney cul-de-sac.

Once I got home from the cinema it was out with the old photo albums and on the phone to the family to reminisce.

I remember the two boys across the road with air guns, a madly barking Alsatian protecting the loud opera singer in the second house up the road, lots of teenage boys and girls to grow up alongside, a small park at the end which everyone played in and used to let off the occasional bunger, and plenty of freedom to visit the neighbours.

We knew we were free to roam and have fun.

In the summer, it was down to the beach all day where we fried ourselves with coconut oil, while we tried to blonde our hair with lemon juice and then peroxide.

Were we surrounded by “rudderless families” as profiled in the retro movie? Since I was in my mid-teens, I don’t really know.

But when I asked my oldest sister what she remembers about the antics of our cul-de-sac families, she very firmly replied, “not for the record”.

She did however remind me of some of the fashion of her friends and their

❝

But when I asked my oldest sister what she remembers about the antics of our cul-de-sac families, she very firmly replied “not for the record”.

There is the shag pile carpet with plastic cover to protect it, almost unbreakable Parker-type furniture with its vinyl seat covers, pearlescent plastic chimes, the beach umbrella with its awful fringe, vinyl records, amber glass tumblers and the very trendy fondue set. Remember the rumpus room? Do we still have them?

They were the best indoor place to play and hide from the parents.

RETRO FUN: Take a hilarious journey down memory lane with the movie Swinging Safari, in cinemas now.

In Swinging Safari the kids thrive in the rumpus room where they hatch some crazy stunts.

The old Fairlane (ours was murky green) and the Kingswood gets a show-in, so does K-Tel and the “free steak knives”, the Avon lady, space food sticks, Chiko Rolls, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kahlua and milk and last, but not certainly not least, cask wine.

The favourite neighbour dog, the over-fed golden Labrador is in there too.

We had one called Bambi.

Once we had fed her she would visit many houses around the cul-de-sac for more of the

same, even though we put a sign around her neck saying ‘please don’t feed me’.

On the way home from the cinema I stopped outside the nearby retro furniture shop to gaze at the contents and shake my head over the prices.

I wonder, just wonder; if we had kept all that wonderful, mad ’70s artwork, clothing, cars and more, we might just have made a lot of money from it now?

At least we could wear it, drive it and decorate with it, and be back in fashion.

Swinging Safari is showing in major cinemas now.

The film Swinging Safari takes a loving look back at the ‘old days’.

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parents which made up a lot of the movie wardrobe – everyone with long hair, halter tops, long dresses, big lapels, chunky earrings, neck scarves, bell-bottom pants, thongs and platform shoes, mission brown and burnt orange colours, men with hairy chests and heavy gold chains and rayon, lots and lots of rayon.

Even the old flammable pyjamas made a showing.

Constantly tucked in around the outrageous Swinging Safari parody with a swingers party that goes very wrong and an exploding whale, is a myriad of 1970s memorabilia; you just need to keep a close eye on everything happening in front of and beside the main movie characters.

12 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Central Coast

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 13

Wellbeing

One politician’s battle to balance work and health Tracey Johnstone

FORMER tennis great in the 1970s and now Federal Government MP John Alexander OAM, works long hours in his public life which puts a strain on his health.

A younger man may not think this is a significant issue, but for the 66year-old, who in a former life was extremely active when competing on the international tennis circuit for 18 years, finding a balance between work and health is important to living a healthy and consequently happy ageing life.

Seniors News spoke with the Member for Bennelong while he was

savouring the short Christmas-time break from Canberra, distracting him from a game of golf with his partner Deb Chadwick, for a chat about keeping healthy in a fast-paced world.

“I’m very good at lecturing people about it, but I’m not very good at doing it myself,” Mr Alexander said.

“Inevitably you do what has to be done at work and then you squeeze in whatever you can as far as maintenance goes.”

The start of every new year he makes a commitment to finding a better health balance.

“This New Year’s Eve resolution was more exercise, less food and

❝

You might be out seven nights in a row.

less alcohol,” Mr Alexander said.

“Then I read everyone has made the same one.”

It’s a tough resolution to achieve as Mr Alexander, like many other MPs, is on the job at least six days and often six nights a week as well.

While many politicians put on weight, Mr Alexander has consciously worked on lowering his weight, even following the 5:2 Diet to trim off the edges of a lifestyle that involves a lot of work functions.

Preserving at least one day a week for relaxation and outdoor activity is a must for him. Sometimes he gets that day, sometimes he doesn’t.

But when he does get a day off, he enjoys his golf or a game of tennis.

Otherwise, he tries to fit in a bit of running, walking and some gym work.

“I am reasonably active, but nowhere near regimented enough because the life of a politician doesn’t give you that standard nine-to-five,” he said.

“You might be out seven nights in a row so when you are and have to work through the next day, you try to catch every minute of sleep you can.”

ACTIVE AGEING: Federal Minister and Member for Bennelong, John Alexander OAM.

14 Seniors Central Coast

Advertising Feature

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

LIVING WITH PAIN 2017 Global Pain Index reveals high cost of pain

PAIN: There is a whole raft of treatment options that are useful for pain management.

PHOTO: KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ

Is codeine change good for pain control?

Tracey Johnstone

MEDICINES containing codeine are no longer available over the counter; instead, a doctor’s prescription for it will be required.

Pain relief products such as Panadeine, Nurofen Plus, Mersyndol as well as cough relief products such as Codral and Demazin, and any generic pharmacy medications carrying codeine will be off the front shelves and moved into the back of the pharmacy.

As a consequence, there will be more people visiting their doctor for pain prescriptions and a greater demand on GPs to do a better job at

managing chronic pain complaints.

Pain Australia’s chief executive officer Carol Bennett sees this change in policy by The Therapeutic Goods Administration as advantageous for the one-in-five Australians who regularly suffer chronic pain.

“I think it has highlighted the extent of the problem and that people are desperate to manage pain in whatever way they can,” Ms Bennett said.

“At the moment what you are seeing is a lot of inappropriate use of codeine and it’s masking underlying conditions.

People are taking it because it seems the go-to thing and it’s easy to get.

“We know it doesn’t address chronic pain and we know it’s not effective.

There are much more effective medications and other treatments.”

Ms Bennett said the next step is for a fully endorsed national plan to consistently manage pain treatment which is one of Australia’s most chronic and expensive problems.

With codeine off the shelves, Ms Bennett expects the community will push hard for that plan to be put in place.

The Federal Government announced at

the end of last month an interim trial program called Pain MedChecks, which is being managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.

The program will facilitate pharmacists, through face-to-face consultations with patients, reviewing the patients’ medication and analgesic use and developing a written action plan, incorporating education, self-management and referral to doctors or other experts where additional support is required.

Pain Australia is also offering information on the range of pain management options,

which it has listed on www.realrelief.org.au.

“We know people who access pain clinics, 80 per cent of them get effective treatment,” Ms Bennett said.

“There is multi-disciplinary, which is the gold standard – physiotherapy, massage and psychology services.

Then there are the medication options. There is a whole raft of treatment options that are useful for pain management.”

To find if your pain medication has codeine in it, go to www.nps.org.au /medical-info/medicine -finder?, and enter the search word codeine.

■ The 2017 Global Pain Index has found that Australian workers took 3.3 sick days for body pain, as well as 1.4 days for head pain in the past year, costing the nation $10.6 billion.

■ Australia ranks highest in the world for weekly body pain (impacting 68 per cent of Australians).

■ One in four (25 per cent) experience both head and body pain on a weekly basis, negatively impacting almost every aspect of their lives.

■ The study puts a spotlight on how pain is decreasing our quality of life, leading to missing out on moments in life, including valuable time with family and friends.

Is pain impacting our careers?

Almost a third (30 per cent) of Australian workers with body pain frequently struggle to concentrate at work because of their pain, and another three in 10 regularly lose motivation (30 per cent).

Pain is taking a toll on family time Half (50 per cent) of Australians surveyed say they have trouble enjoying everyday moments with their family due to pain.

Why are Australians ignoring pain?

Almost all body pain sufferers in Australia (94 per cent) and most head pain sufferers (79 per cent) say they know the cause of their pain, and many have had the cause of their pain diagnosed by a healthcare professional (58 per cent). However, more than four in 10 (42 per cent) say they have self-diagnosed the cause of their body pain.

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Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 15

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16 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Living

The conversation we should have Tracey Johnstone

WE NEED to have a chat about sex for older Australians because it’s time we got upfront about how it can be a positive experience if practised safely.

Feeling better about yourself and improving your quality of life, alleviating depression, increasing life satisfaction and general wellbeing are all important outcomes of an active sexual life for ageing Australians, says researcher Dr Sue Malta from the National Ageing Research Institute and University of Melbourne.

“I think the most important thing is remaining sexual, whether you are partnered or on your own,” Dr Malta said.

“Society has tended to cringe about older people being sexual. A lot of today’s older people grew

up in an era when sex wasn’t talked about, and masturbation was actively discouraged, so a lot of older men and women probably wouldn’t feel comfortable that they can explore their own bodies if they are on their own or with a partner.”

Dr Malta has found that as more older people are getting divorced, they are looking for and entering new relationships.

The advent of online dating has also opened the door to older people realising they can again be sexually engaged. Dr Malta said that this voyage of discovery and enjoyment should include practising safer sex with the help of condoms as sexually transmitted infections are still an issue, even in later life.

Enjoying sex at an older

age can be redefined as people take their physical limitations and disabilities into account.

It doesn’t have to involve intercourse, it may involve “outercourse’’.

“There are all sorts of ways you can have sex,” Dr Malta said. “It’s not just about intercourse; it can be doing other things that give you pleasure and make you feel good.”

Women can find that after menopause they discover a resurgence in sexual feeling.

“It’s not like menopause means the end of your sex life,” Dr Malta said.

“In some ways, it’s just the beginning. Some women during and after menopause might have a heightened sex drive and others who have lost the inclination, regain it. It’s not all the doom and gloom we have believed it

to be.”

Dr Malta also said some women feel they have lost their sexual drive when they no longer have a partner, but in fact it could be dormant and with practice or with the help of stimulating tools, they can rediscover it.

“Research shows that people into their 80s, 90s and beyond can remain sexually active and sexually interested,” Dr Malta said.

She recommends a visit to a sex shop where a range of items are on offer that can assist with sexual experiences, and where she has found the staff are often pleasant, caring and knowledgeable.

A good lubricant is also recommended by Dr Malta.

“There are certain ones that you shouldn’t be using such as petroleum

jelly, and there are some that are better for you depending on what you want them for,” she said.

“If you are using a vibrator, you want one that doesn’t harm the silicone.

“Older women also have to be careful which lubricant they choose, as some of them can be irritating.”

One helpful website is www.joanprice.com which has a lot information including lubricant names.

Her blog address is betterthaniever expected.blogspot. com.au.

Dr Malta wants to develop a website containing information on all issues relating to sexuality and ageism.

While that project waits for funding , Dr Malta recommends www.jeanhailes.org.au and www.andrology australia.org.

SEX AND AGEING: Expert says it's important for good health to remain sexual, whether you are partnered or on your own.

THE SENIORS NEWS FOR YOU Be sure to collect Seniors March edition for all the news you need to know about the upcoming 2018 NSW Seniors Festival taking place from Wednesday 4 April Sunday 15 April.

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seniorsnews.com.au

Melanoma March

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Cover up in March

MELANOMA: John Middleton during his June Simpson Desert adventure. He took his hat off briefly for the photo, but the rest of his skin now remains safely protected from the harsh UV. PHOTO: RPA

Learning the hard way He was diagnosed with an advanced or Stage IV melanoma and quickly admitted for surgery.

As a child John loved his surfing, hiking, waterskiing and lots of motorbiking.

In the ’60s and ’70s, Australians hit the outdoors as much as possible with no concern about what damage could be happening to their skin. John was no different.

Even in his 30s and 40s, nothing changed.

“Once you grow up in that environment, that becomes the norm; it’s

very hard to readjust and change your outlook,” John said.

John acknowledged he had seen and heard the various awareness messages put out into the community by organisations such as Melanoma Institute Australia, but it wasn’t until his melanoma diagnosis that he significantly readjusted his approach to his outdoor activities.

He now keeps to a rule of full skin coverage while outdoors except for the occasional moments in the sun to soak in the

Vitamin D when he will allow some of his skin exposure to UV. “I think it’s an important part of the message; it’s not a 100 per cent block-out as that can also have health issues,” John said.

John is still participating in a MIA research project which is being conducted in conjunction with the USA’s John Wayne Cancer Institute.

All his lymph nodes in his left armpit have been removed while other participants have had only their infected ones

removed.

While the project continues, John is receiving a full body check-up every six months. Once it’s completed he will return to having his check-up done by his GP. John is determined to get on with life and enjoy it, and that is exactly what he is doing.

Last June the resort manager for the bushland Eagle View Resort in northern NSW led a group of friends through the Simpson Desert, using motorcycles and 4WD vehicles.

Join the March for a cure DID you know that every five hours, one Australian will die from melanoma?

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Join together with thousands of people from across Australia for Melanoma March to help end melanoma.

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being held across Australia throughout March 2018.

Visit www.melanoma march.org.au to find a march near you.

Join your local March and help end melanoma.

EVEN though Australia has dropped down the ranking list to second highest country reporting incidences of melanoma, there is still great concern for how we look after our skin.

The over-60s are still recording peak numbers.

Melanoma Institute of Australia chief executive officer Carole Renouf said this is due to many years of over-exposure to UV. “This is before we knew about sunscreen and sun safety,” Ms Renouf added.

She recommends we cover, monitor and act to protect our skin.

Cover up It’s never too late to protect your skin even if you have sun damage from your younger years, Ms Renouf advises.

■ Stay out of the sun at the hottest time of the day; from 11am-3pm.

■ Use SPF 50 blocker, and apply at least 15-20 minutes before going outside.

■ Re-apply the blocker every two hours.

■ Wear a broad-brimmed hat with a brim of at least 7cm, rather than using a baseball cap.

■ Seek shade wherever possible.

■ Wear UV protection clothing when in the sun.

Monitor your skin ■ Know the skin you are in by keeping a regular eye on it.

■ Look for changes, particularly if you have a lot of moles and freckles – colour, size, asymmetry, border, itching or bleeding.

■ Get your skin checked by your GP or a dermatologist.

You can prevent further damage.

“It’s also largely preventable if you use the right sun safety measures,” Ms Renouf said.

Details of the Melanoma March national awareness program and fundraising campaign is at melanomamarch.org.au.

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LIVING a carefree life outdoors without a care in world almost cost John Middleton his life when at age 52, a suspicious mole started to develop on his back.

Luckily John and his wife, Sue, went straight to the doctor to have it checked.

“She told me it wasn’t a good-looking thing,” John said.

“It was changing shape and colour. I certainly knew my years in the sun could be an issue. That’s why I went early on to have it looked at.”

Seniors 17

18 Seniors Central Coast

Living

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Taking the next big step with your overseas lover FINDING love overseas can be an exciting experience, but when it comes to your new love moving to Australia, there are several administrative and legal steps to take.

Migration agent and lawyer Richard Timpson of Timpson Immigration Lawyers describes the process as complicated with relatively significant costs involved.

However, with education and perseverance and the right evidence and claims, love may just conquer the relationship-based visa application process and a visa granted to allow the relationship to continue in Australia.

CAPACITY TO BE A SPONSOR A sponsorship application will be assessed on a person’s capacity to sponsor, their character and history among other things.

“Someone’s immigration history is important, that is whether they have sponsored someone previously or whether they themselves have been sponsored,” Mr Timpson said.

IS THERE REALLY A RELATIONSHIP? Mr Timpson said it doesn’t matter how two people meet – whether online or face-to-face – in addition to being approved as a sponsor, the couple needs to prove the relationship satisfies the Federal Government’s rules.

“It will not be enough from the department’s perspective that the relationship is only online based,” he said.

“It needs to progress to

where the parties meet in person and pursue the relationship for a period of time together.”

Ultimately the relationship needs to be spousal, a de facto partnership or where the parties intend to marry each other.

GET GOOD ADVICE “Whether you are getting into a relationship with someone in Australia, or someone overseas, there are also financial implications,” Mr Timpson said.

“It’s always important that steps are taken to get advice on protecting their financial interests.”

❝

It’s always important that steps are taken to get advice on protecting their financial interests.

This advice should encompass both family law, with the immigration advice provided by a lawyer with registration as a migration agent, or a non-lawyer agent.

Migration and lawyer agents can help an applicant identify if there is sufficient evidence to prove the relationship is genuine and can support an application, as well helping to identify and manage the range of documents that need to be collected and attached to the relationship-based migration application.

ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS An application can be

LOVE: How do you conquer partnership visa application processes for an overseas lover?

lodged directly with the department, but with questions of compliance or interpretation, the department staff tend not to provide advice.

TIME FRAMES Once the application materials are collated and lodged, it can take between 12 and 18

months for the government assessment of applications to be finalised.

If an application is refused, a merits review can be lodged in certain cases and this can take another 12-18 months to be heard.

COST OF APPLICATION

In addition to the migration agent’s fees which are usually detailed in a client’s costs disclosure statement, there are costs for government lodgement, Australian or overseas medical assessments, possibly translation fees and provision of character

PHOTO: JUANMONINO

documents sourced in Australia and from overseas.

For more information, search for migration agents at mara.gov.au, visit the Migration Institute of Australia at mia.org.au and go to homeaffairs at gov.au/trav/brin/part.

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Tracey Johnstone

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Local News

Central Coast

Seniors 19

50+ club doubles membership Alison Houston

HOW does membership of a 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre double in just four years?

Terrigal president Merv Lane believes it’s partly the club’s change of name from senior citizens club, which has opened the door to younger members.

“People have different ideas of what ‘senior’ means, so 50+ allows everyone to know exactly who we are aiming at,” he said.

But it also comes down to the fantastic bunch of people involved in the management committee, volunteers, members and centre assistant, as well as the great range of activities and the meals provided.

The result is a membership of 1100 last year and 77 new members already registered by mid-February.

“People say it has an atmosphere about it they don’t experience anywhere else,” Merv said.

Classes run from 7am-3.30pm, with private hirers using the venue right through to 9pm.

“We encourage people who may be isolated in their homes to become engaged with us,” Merv said.

He cited the case of one gentleman who had lost his wife a few years ago and was now involved in several activities and had most of his lunches at the centre.

“That’s not uncommon,” he said, adding that the most expensive meal was just $6, including tea or coffee.

“Last year we had 36,500 people pass through the doors and the kitchen provided 14,000 meals.”

The activities offered have also become, well, more active, with darts and table tennis making way for yoga, Zumba, jazz and rock and roll dancing, self-defence, indoor bowls and meditation, as well as fortnightly Thursday entertainment, which Merv said often had people up on the dance floor.

Merv and his wife joined the centre on moving to the Central Coast in 2010.

Shortly afterwards he was asked to be scrutineer at the AGM,

and walked out the door as senior vice-president, later becoming president.

Admittedly, he had a pretty good CV to take on the leadership role, having retired as superintendent of the NSW Traffic Services branch after 40 years on the police force.

His greatest achievement, he said, was helping to introduce RBTs from December 1982, which helped cut the road toll from an incredible peak of 1384 in 1978, to where it is today.

That’s despite the huge increase in car ownership and traffic which has occurred over that time.

“Roads and car safety have improved, and we’ve much better awareness of road safety in general, but it gives me great satisfaction to think I played a part in saving lives,” Merv said.

Membership of Terrigal 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre is just $5 per year, with classes ranging from $2-$5.

Phone 4384 5152, email terrigal50plus@ outlook.com, find them on Facebook or the web, or visit the centre on the corner of Duffy’s Road and Terrigal Drive.

PEOPLE POWER: Terrigal 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre president Merv Lane reckons it’s the people involved, as well as a change of name, that has seen membership double in just four years.

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20 Seniors Central Coast

Living

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Over 60 male looking for love Tracey Johnstone

HITTING 60 and being single doesn’t mean you can’t start all over again.

Using some of these tips can kickstart your journey to finding a new companion.

BRUSH UP YOUR OUTLOOK

■ Put pen to paper and list out what are your personal strong points and what you enjoy doing; sport, recreation,

hobbies, general interests.

■ List what you want from a partner: age, interest, passions, religion and whatever else is really important to you.

■ List out what you want to share with a partner.

GET A GREAT PHOTO

■ Tidy up your hair and maybe shave away the five o’clock shadow.

■ Put on a clean shirt and one that makes you feel good.

■ Take off the sunglasses

and get a friend to take a head shot of you that shows off your smile.

LIST YOURSELF ONLINE

■ Get online to find a dating website that you like the look of, is affordable and that you find easy to use.

■ If you aren’t sure, talk to your friends, both male and female.

You might be surprised to find there are several of them who have been

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online and can give you advice on which site to use and how.

■ Don’t lie about yourself when you list your details.

Stay true to yourself.

■ Learn how to keep your profile updated and how to respond to people who show interest in talking to you.

CONNECT LOCALLY

■ Ask around your friends and family about local groups that are open to new people joining in their activities.

■ Check out meetup.com for group ideas – it’s a great way to get active and meet new people, both friends and partners.

■ Ask at your local library for information on local social and fitness groups.

■ Join in and enjoy!

BE HONEST IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS

■ We all want honesty in our relationships so it’s wise to stay true to yourself and to your profile so you can quickly build trust between you and the people you meet online.

■ You don’t have to tell everybody everything, but it’s good to be consistent with the amount of

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information you share.

RELAX

■ Try to find places to meet new people where you also will be comfortable. If you don’t like bars, don’t agree to meet in one.

■ Remember, both of you are going to be on edge and making judgements about each other – just try not to judge too quickly.

■ End your meet-up with an honest farewell, maybe a commitment to talk again.

Even better, ring or message your date in the following 24 hours to thank them for meeting you and let them know if

you want to meet again or not, and then hope they respond.

HAVE FUN

■ Don’t forget to enjoy the experience of meeting new people.

■ Not everyone you meet, either online or in person, is going to be the right one for you. It may take many dates before you find someone who is just right.

But, think on the bright side, imagine how many interesting and varied people you will meet, how many new coffee shops or restaurants you will get to discover, and maybe how many new friends you will make.

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Central Coast

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 21

YOUR CLUBS

Entertainment at doorstep GOSFORD RSL

IF YOU’RE seeking the aromas of freshly brewed coffee in the morning or a delicious afternoon tea, then look no further than Gosford RSL’s Cafe.

Gosford RSL’s Cafe is located at West Gosford and provides a great meeting place on the Central Coast for quality light meals, coffee, cakes and slices.

From freshly made sandwiches, wraps and salads, through to gourmet hamburgers, pizzas and tasty quiches, there is a meal to satisfy both small and large appetites.

You also won’t be able to resist the tempting delights on display in Gosford RSL’s Cafe cake cabinet, including friands, muffins, cheesecakes, fruit tarts, vanilla slices and so much more.

The cafe is open daily 9am-9.30pm. The outdoor terrace is the perfect place to meet with friends

CELEBRATE: Kendall’s offers a unique cocktail experience and delicious small bites.

to enjoy your meal.

The Luminous Brasserie is open daily for lunch and dinner.

The Brasserie offers a contemporary a-la-carte menu and the chef’s daily special selections offer a variety of choices allowing you to always find something new to enjoy.

OPENING HOURS ❚ Lunch 11.30am-2pm ❚ Dinner Sunday to

Thursday 5.30-8.30pm ❚ Dinner Friday and Saturday 5.30-9pm Gosford RSL located at 26 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford. Phone (02) 4323 2311 or email gosrsl@grsl.com.au.

CENTRAL COAST LEAGUES CLUB

THE club overlooks the spectacular Brisbane

Water only one hour north of Sydney or south of Newcastle. The club is in the heart of Gosford, only five minutes walk from the Gosford railway station and bus interchange and the Gosford CBD.

KENDALL’S

THOMAS Henry Kendall was a 19th century Australian author and bush poet, born locally in

Ulladulla.

A lover of nature and the Australian bush, Kendall is most famous for his distinctively Australian nature poems and tales. The recently refurbished small bar named after Kendall, as who better to honour, over a whiskey or two, than a poet? Kendall’s offers a unique cocktail experience with a small

bite and share plate menu.

Planning a get-together with friends or your work crew? Kendall’s is the perfect location for couples and small groups.

Our group bookings cater for spaces for 2-8 people, and our team can arrange the perfect space for any occasion.

We can reserve an area, arrange snacks and give your group a little extra attention.

With the popularity of Kendall’s for after work drinks, casual get-togethers, farewell do’s, birthday celebrations as well as hens and bucks parties; we now have an option to take the stress out of organising your night.

Opening Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm. To book, phone (02) 4325 9888 or email kendalls@cclc.com.au.

Located at the Central Coast Leagues Club, Dane Drive, Gosford.

22 Seniors Central Coast

Neighbourhood News

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Community NSW SENIORS FESTIVAL If you would like to provide information on activities and events for inclusion in our Calendar of Events (March edition), please email your submission by March 14.

Include the event name, date, time, cost, contact and a brief description and location details to Nicky or Chris at communitynotes@ seniorsnewspaper. com.au

WYONG WRITERS

LOCAL writers meet monthly to encourage and develop their writing skills.

Meeting on the fourth Saturday of each month at 1.30pm. Next meeting March 24 at the Woodbury Park Community Centre, 1 Woolmers Crescent, Mardi. Details phone Mei-Ling Venning (Pres.) on 4333 7489 or email meilingvenning@ hotmail.com or go to www.wyongwriters.org.

GOSFORD NTH INNER WHEEL CLUB

CALLING all High Tea lovers. Gosford Nth Inner Wheel Club is holding a Gourmet Pantry High Tea on Sunday, March 4. East Gosford Progress Hall, 10 Henry Parry Drive is the venue. Time: 2-4pm. Cost: $25pp. You will be treated with bubbles on arrival, sumptuous high tea, guest speakers, silent

auctions, raffles and lucky door prizes.

Funds raised will be used to supply comfort bags and quilts for children taken into care by FACS. Bookings essential. Get on the Trybooking website: www.trybooking.com/ 339008.

Details phone Karen on 0412 848 150 or Susan on 0417 412 487.

Gosford Nth Inner Wheel Club is a not for profit service club run by volunteers who use their skills and spare time, to help vulnerable members of our community.

This event is being held to raise funds for comfort bags and handmade quilts that are provided by the club for children taken into care by Family and

Community Services on the Central Coast. In the bags there are items such as toiletries, pyjamas, socks, underwear, pencils, textas, notepads, colouring books, balls, books and a soft cuddly toy.

The quilts are handmade by members and many friends of Gosford Nth IW Club.

The Manager of Client Services of FACS, in reply to our donations, said that these gifts are immeasurable when children and young people are needed to be taken into care.

VIEW CLUBS

VIEW stands for Voice, Interests, Education of Women and is part of The Smith Family and raises

money for Learning For Life sponsorship and education of disadvantaged Australian children.

■ BATEAU BAY

WORKING for the Smith Family, will hold its lunch meeting at the The Entrance Leagues Club (Tigers), 3 Bay Village Road, Bateau Bay on the first Tuesday of the month commencing at 10.30am.

New members and visitors are most welcome. Details phone Lynne 4333 8492 or Heather 4362 8405.

■ TOUKLEY

We meet on the second Friday of the month at Club Toukley RSL at 10.30am. We have lucky door prizes, raffles and

lunch followed by guest speakers or members participation.

We also have outings, friendship morning teas, soup and damper days, raffles and interesting discussions. Come along and make new friends.

Details phone Sandra on 4396 6206.

■ BRISBANE WATER EVENING

WORKING for The Smith Family holds its monthly dinner meeting in the Function Room at the Grange Hotel, Renwick Street, Wyoming on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm for 7pm. New members and visitors are most welcome. Phone Valda on 4325 1688 or Helen 4367 5670.

Public speaking fears conquered building confidence and communication skills so in 1992, I attended my first Toastmasters meeting in Ettalong.

I found members were friendly and supportive towards me. I was so impressed by the whole experience.

In just a few weeks, I could stand and speak more confidently before the group.

Needless to say, attendance at the avian club began to grow as I had now learned how speaking with praise and encouragement could work wonders.

After 25 years of being in Toastmasters I am still actively involved with my three clubs here on the Central Coast.

Mentoring new

members, competing and winning speech contests, attending overseas conventions are just some of my personal achievements.

My greatest pleasure is helping and watching nervous newbies, blossom into experienced speakers.

From job promotions to delivering wedding speeches, and to starting their own business.

I’ve learned that no one is ever too old to gain new skills.

And how much I have improved my public speaking by attending the meetings.

I also learned how to think quickly on my feet.

Growing with confidence can often lead to accepting club roles such

as secretary or treasurer.

Toastmasters have a proud history in helping to develop speaking and confidence skills.

It’s an enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills for retirees looking to improve confidence while meeting new friends.

Greg Gibson, Toastmasters’ Area 24 Director, has seen the positives when speaking with confidence.

“It’s amazing to see the change in people as they progress from meeting to meeting. Their increased confidence leads to roles they never thought possible,” Mr Gibson said.

A big part of Toastmasters is socialising.

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Our meetings are fun as well as entertaining as we listen to many speakers’ life experiences.

On a social side, members often stay for lunch after the meetings.

There are 12 Toastmasters clubs on the Coast. All run the same program, with a variety of days and time to suit everyone.

I have been a member of Coastal Communicators at Doyalson, Erina, Tuggerah Lakes at Bateau Bay.

And still enjoy every meeting, and visiting with other local clubs.

The majority of clubs on the Coast have a diverse age range and we encourage visitors from 18 years to come and see the benefits of Toastmasters.

The program is a self-paced one as everyone learns at a different rate. Why not visit a Toastmasters club near you? You have nothing to lose but your fear of speaking.

Are you interested in

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Over 25 years ago, I took on the role of president of my local avian society.

I was never one to stand and volunteer for anything, but due to the lack of numbers in our club, it was to be me as president or close the club.

After a few meetings, I realised how much I was lacking confidence and communication skills.

Members were losing interest in the meetings and attendance soon dropped dramatically.

That’s when Toastmasters entered my life. I’d often see a notice in the local paper on

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Local News

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 23

Camp Breakaway is calling for volunteers CAMP Breakaway began 2018 with three camps that focused on young carers and siblings and children with autism.

“These are the first of approximately 30 camps we will run this year,” Breakaway’s general manager Terry Hayes said.

“We like to run camps for children during school holiday periods because that is the time of year when many supports are not available and families are needing a break.

“We are able to provide these camps thanks to our many sponsors and to our volunteers who give of their time and skills.

“The success of Camp Breakaway for the past 35 years is due to the number of people who are willing to step up to support people with a disability.

“The difference our volunteers make to these people’s lives is inspiring.

Volunteering at Camp

HELPERS NEEDED: Camp Breakaway is a great place to visit or volunteer.

Breakaway is one of the most rewarding volunteer roles you will find anywhere.

“At Camp Breakaway, people with a disability – many of whom have very high needs and require

considerable care and support – enjoy a break that includes accommodation, meals

and entertainment, personal and clinical care, but more than anything else, it’s about

socialisation and participation.

“The camps are full-on and fun.”

Located at San Remo on 25 acres, Camp Breakaway has put out a call for more volunteers to support the busy 2018 program.

Camp Breakaway is seeking volunteers to fill a number of roles including personal carers, activity co-ordinators, camp managers, nurses (retired or working), dish washers and cleaners, as well as auxiliary members, gardeners and tradesmen.

If you are fit, healthy and care about people, phone Camp Breakaway on 4390 7624 for more information and a volunteer application form or check out the website www.breakaway.org.au.

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24 Seniors Central Coast

Local News

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Three-day festival of blues and barbecues Alison Houston

GIRRAKOOL Blues Festival and BBQ has grown again as it prepares for just its third year at Mt Penang Parklands from March 2–4.

Bruce and Alissa Johnson (Xabc Entertainment) are the force behind the festival, which they said combined “real music, real people and real food”.

High temperatures the first year and rain last year have led to the

adoption of a huge 35m x 40m big top which can hold up to 1500 people, as well as a move further up the park for better drainage.

The festival has also developed to encompass three days, with Friday and Saturday focused on music and Sunday on the barbecue competition, which has multiplied from 11 teams to 36.

And when it comes to the music, there are 18 bands, including three internationals, covering a

huge range of blues and roots from the urban blues of Chicago to Memphis soul, hillcountry, world blues, folk-infused, boogie, funk, blues rock and beyond.

Bruce, 54, said he had always loved Blues music, having been brought up by a jazz-loving father.

But he really turned to music as part of his rehabilitation after a car accident, and that in turn led to promoting and touring artists.

And what better than to

bring it to his own backyard?

Bruce said in the United States, Blues and barbecue were synonymous with good food and good music, and Girrakool reflected that New Orleans vibe while at the same time embracing indigenous culture and music, including the Stiff Gins who sing in traditional language.

He and Alissa are also excited to see British band Z-Star Delta (a two-piece akin to The

Black Keys), Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band from the US, and AJ Dent, whose gospel blues with sacred steel guitar, Bruce said, tugged at his heartstrings from the first time he heard it.

And there’s also a host of Aussie talent, from familiar names like Kevin Borich Express to The Backsliders, Kevin Bennett and the Floood, and the Bondi Cigars.

While their main demographic is 45-65 years, Alissa said there

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was a real family atmosphere and with 40 per cent of the audience coming from outside the Central Coast, it’s also a great boost for the area.

Gates open Friday at 5pm for a 6pm start and music until midnight, continuing Saturday midday to midnight and the barbecues heating up from 10am-7pm Sunday with local bands and kids’ entertainment.

For details and tickets go to www.girrakoolblues. com.au.

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Finance

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 25

Money

Aged Pension acid test FINANCE TONY KAYE

THE new assets test has become an acid test for many who were receiving a part Age Pension.

Almost 90,000 individuals and couples around Australia who previously received a part Age Pension payment completely lost their entitlements in 2017 as a result of the Federal Government’s changes to the pension assets test rules, it can be revealed.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of individuals and couples who were previously receiving a full pension have had their payments reduced.

The revised pension assets test rules introduced last year also mean many Australians who had calculated their retirement income stream around receiving a part Age Pension in the future should seek out professional advice urgently to re-evaluate their financial position.

The Federal Department of Social Services has confirmed to Eureka Report that around 86,600 part rate age pensioners had their pension cancelled directly as a result of the assets test changes that came into effect on January 1, 2017. And, as we head into 2018, more retiring Australians will likely miss out on receiving any level of age pension.

The Federal Government set new

limits on the amount of assets outside of a family home that could be held by couples or individuals before their pension rate was reduced. The amount of pension received is now reduced by $3 per fortnight for every $1000 over the new limits under what is known as the pension taper rate.

THE ASSETS TEST LIMITS

■ SINGLE Home owner $250,000 Non-home owner $450,000 ■ COUPLE Home owner $375,000 Non-home owner $575,000 USING the latest official government data, our research has found that between the end of December 2016 and the

end of June, the number of recipients receiving a part Age Pension under the assets test fell from 486,031 to 321,106, a variation of just over 147,000. The DSS has claimed only part of that difference was due to the actual changes in the assets test, and that no full rate age pensioners have had their pension cancelled due to the assets test changes.

However, between December 2016 and mid-2017, the total number of Australians receiving an Age Pension dropped from 2.57 million to 2.49 million. The number of couples receiving a full or part pension fell by around 61,000, from 1.43 million to 1.37 million, while the number of singles slipped from 1.13 million to

1.12 million.

In terms of assessing the Age Pension under the assets test, the DSS data shows that around 1.18 million recipients are couples owning a home. A further 660,000 are singles owning a home.

These cohorts tend to have the highest value level of assets outside of their homes.

The pension assets test does not apply to the family home itself, but does to its contents and any other assets owned including property, vehicles, caravans, boats, superannuation holdings and funds in bank accounts.

Average superannuation balances at retirement already put many Australians close to or over the new asset test thresholds. But one of the

biggest problems for those in this position is that having higher superannuation retirement savings may actually generate less tax-free income than those who only receive the Age Pension. In other words, having more can equal receiving less.

As such, the changes to the assets test could deter some individuals and couples from putting more money into their superannuation so they can still supplement their income with a pension.

But this is a complex area and it’s definitely worth seeing a financial adviser to assess all your options.

Tony Kaye is the editor of Eureka Report, which is owned by financial services group InvestSMART. www.investsmart.com.au

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Robert and Renchia are happy to visit you if you are unable to come to them.

26 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

T ravel

10

FOOD is an important part of travel and for many it is the main purpose of visiting a country. Ann Rickard believes in embracing the cuisine of the country you are in, forgetting all your usual favourite foods and taking your taste buds out for new experience. Be brave and try, she says.

These are her 10 favourite food countries, but you surely will have your own.

■ CHINA STICK to the familiar if you are nervous, but dumplings, Peking duck, yum cha and stir fries as we know them are taken to a new level of flavour.

For the adventurous, everything is possible.

We’ve braved chicken feet in a Guangzhou restaurant that seated 1000 people, eating everything from what looked like battered spiders to slippery eels.

■ VIETNAM FAMILIAR and fabulous is Goi Cuon, a translucent

best food destinations spring roll filled with minced pork or crab and coriander. Not so familiar but a must-try is Banh Xeo, sizzling fried pancakes with prawns, bean sprouts and egg, wrapped in rice paper with herbs and dipped into a spicy sauce. Steer clear of the wet markets unless you have a strong stomach. Live frogs, snakes and turtles in buckets might disturb us but the locals love them simmered in a spicy sauce.

■ FRANCE IT’S not all Michelin-star dining, although it is quite the experience to sit down in elegant surroundings to confit duck and foie gras.

But the real pleasure comes in finding a rustic bistro (often behind a tabac in a small village) serving three simple but good courses for 15 euros – the lot, including wine.

Then there are the vibrant markets to pick up a pungent cheese, gnarly

tomatoes, marinated olives, an obligatory baguette and maybe an apple tart tatine. Where’s the nearest picnic spot?

■ THAILAND WE’VE eaten five-star here at David Thompson’s Nahm restaurant with its teak and wood panels, but we also love pulling up a plastic chair at a tin table on a footpath while something nearby sizzles in a wok or chars on an open burner. Don’t be afraid to eat on the street, but stick the rule of eating at stalls with crowds of locals, and watch your food being cooked (beware of anything in a food warmer.) For the timid, street food tours with English-speaking guides in the cities and towns will show you the ropes.

■ SPAIN HIT as many tapas bars as possible for lunch and feast on hundreds of varieties of small bites.

Then have a long siesta

and go out to eat at 11pm like the locals do. Paella at one of the waterfront restaurants along the Passeig de Joan de Borbo might be touristy but when you have a towering pan of fragrant, saffron rice filled with moist chicken and fresh seafood in front of you, being a tourist among other tourists is okay.

■ MALAYSIA BREAKFAST on roti canai, a griddled pizza-like dough with a pile of lentils on top, (or an egg if you are conservative.) Eat at least six times a day here where food is king and all the familiar dishes are tastier than we know them: nasi goreng, rendang curry, satays. But a snack on the street of kuey teow, rice noodles cooked over charcoal with chilli, prawns and soy, eaten out of a paper parcel, will make you feel like a local.

■ ITALY ENJOY your pizzas with thin crusts and simple

mozzarella, prosciutto and tomato topping, and eat one all to yourself (locals do) and then take the taste buds out of their comfort zone with insalate di polpo (boiled octopus salad) or trippa (tripe).

Each region has its own trippa recipe but it is often cooked in a tomato and wine broth. Look for cacciucco, a seafood stew in a chilli tomato broth.

■ GERMANY FOOD is not the first thing you think of here, more like beer, but start the day with bread and you’ll know you’ve arrived.

Crusty outsides, soft or dense insides, Germans eat bread with every meal.

Then there are the slow-cooked pork knuckles, smoked meats, sauerkraut… let yourself go but do save yourself for a large slice of Black Forest Cake.

■ SWITZERLAND THIS small land-locked country never blows its trumpet about its cuisine

HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG RIVER CRUISE ANGKOR TEMPLES - HANOI - HALONG BAY From $ 5683 per person twin share.

but some of the tastiest food in the world is here.

Rosti, thinly grated, pan-fried potatoes is a national dish, enhanced with salty bacon and fried egg and raclette cheese (Rosti Valaisanne) and eaten with tangy gherkins and pickled pearl onions.

Finish that off with a Swiss chocolate or two and you’ll know you’re in a country that loves its food.

■ GREECE IN A taverna in the Plaka with views of the Acropolis I once ate a slab of moussaka so rich, I could barely lift my stomach off the ground for two days. But moussaka is a must in Greece, as is stuffed squid, a Greek salad, meatballs and baklava. Octopus, fresh off the boat and cooked over a grill on any Greek Island is going to be a lasting memory.

Read more of Ann’s musings at www.annrickard.com

FLIGHTS INCLUDED 17 Nights accommodation

Depart: 2 July or 6 September 2018

Escape to luxury, 7 nights aboard the boutique river cruiser The Jahan on the Mekong. Explore the temples of Angkor and vibrant Saigon and Hanoi, relax for 2 nights on heritage listed Halong Bay. Vietnam Airlines Economy class flights Sydney - Ho Chi Minh City Siem Reap - Hanoi - Sydney 2 nights Intercontinental Ho Chi Minh City 7 nights Jahan River Cruise 3 nights Sala Lodges Siem Reap 3 nights Apricot Hotel Hanoi 2 nights Auco Halong Bay Cruise

Choice of tour in Ho Chi Minh City All excursions on The Jahan cruise 2 half day tours in Siem Reap Choice of tour in Hanoi All excursions on the Auco Halong Bay All transfers in Vietnam & Cambodia Local tour guides 17 Breakfasts - 9 Lunches - 8 Dinners

Subject to availability, schedule changes and currency fluctuations. Conditions apply.

Shop 6 39 Avoca Drive Kincumber - travellershut.com.au - mail@thetravellershut.com.au

43 63 1699

Travel

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 27

Glenn’s blues and jazz cruise Gail Forrer

BLUES and jazz fans come on down. This is your chance to do a slide riff into the birthplace of jazz and blues with the master of music, the legendary music journalist and historian Glenn A. Baker.

In 2014, Glenn A. Baker, a three-time winner of the BBC’s Rock Brain of The Universe title, label owner and nationally syndicated radio presenter, led a tour to Beatle Week in Liverpool via Hamburg and London.

The tour didn’t miss a trick including visits to famous sites such as George Harrison’s house, Penny Lane and the obligatory pic across Abbey Road. Glenn said the commonality of purpose really brought the tour together, but he was over the moon when various tour travellers called it the trip of a lifetime.

The positive feedback was a key factor in his hosting of the 2018 Mississippi River cruise.

According to the man with the encyclopaedic knowledge of music, the 16-day cruise (June 22-July 10) has a lot of

romance attached to it.

Perhaps the love begins with the American Queen.

The riverboat claims the reputation as the world’s most luxurious and opulent of its kind, a floating palace that glides regally between the banks of the Mississippi River, where memories of Huckleberry Finn and his childhood adventures are scattered through the river’s wilderness along with the soaring emotional melodies that found root in this fertile country.

Glenn A. Baker’s easy conversation and brilliant knowledge will reveal to you the music and its makers when you visit the hot spots such as New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville and many more, including a cruise to Elvis Presley’s Graceland, the Louisiana Delta Museum, The Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studios, Fame Studios, New Orleans Studios and the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in New Orleans.

In each new destination you will be immersed in a musical nirvana, celebrating the birthplaces and historical landmarks of gospel, blues, jazz, bluegrass,

CRUISING: American Queen.

country and rock’n’roll.

Also a two-time Travel Writer of the Year recipient, Glenn has visited more than 120 countries, making him the ideal guide for the American Queen’s voyage into the heart of American blues, rock and soul.

Not only does the cruise explore so much history, but it takes passengers to the haunts of some of the truly pivotal acts of America’s musical history

Glenn A Baker.

– to the Crossroads where the devil and the blues are supposed to have interconnected, to the recording studios where some of the greatest sounds of the twentieth century were captured.

“The cities we’re visiting were at the centre of, and shaped the face of music for decades. On top of that, it’s going to be a huge amount of fun, with like-minded people indulging their passions

and being immersed in the cultures they have long dreamed of.”

TOUR DETAILS The cruise offers fine dining each night with local produce prepared by celebrated American chefs.

On the American Queen, passengers are treated to breakfast every day, along with luxurious five-course dinners with wine and beer included.

The ship also boasts a

vast library and a two-deck-tall Grand Saloon to showcase the cruise’s Broadway-worthy entertainment.

Prices start at $9990 twin share including air fares, accommodation, food and drinks on board the ship, world-class entertainment and access to daily sightseeing attractions.

For details go to www.travelrite.com.au or call 1800 630 343.

Puttingg Fun into Coach Holidays

10 Day Discover Adelaide Departing Saturday 26th May

16 Day Tasmania in Spring

20 Day Alaska & the Yukon Private Escorted Tour

Departing Saturday 20th October

Departing Friday 8th June

Discover Tasmania in Spring .. a beautiful time of year to explore the hidden secrets that Tasmania has to offer.

Travel across on the Spirit of Tasmania with a 2 night stay at Strahan followed by 4 nights in Hobart. Historic Port Arthur, the Huon Valley, Arthur River Cruise and Cradle Mountain are just some of the highlights the tour has to offer.

Tour Price: $4150.00 per person twin share

Designed just for It’s Easy Tours this holiday explores the real Alaska & Yukon. Flying Sydney to Los Angeles into Anchorage to be greeted by our personal guide. Visit Denali National Park, ride the Alaska Rail and explore the gateway to the Arctic in the city of Fairbanks. Travel north through Deadhorse to Barrow for overnight in the Eskimo Village. Travel the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot and cross the Arctic Circle.

Journey along the Alaska Highway to the small village of Tok. Visit Dawson City and Chicken as we travel the 20 Day Outback Highway Top of the World Highway in the heart of the Klondike.

12 Day Airlie Beach & “Australia’s Longest Shortcut” Travel on board the White Pass V Yukon Rail, one of the most spectacular rail journeys and travel the Marine The Whitsunday Departing Friday 31st August Highway Ferry to Haines Crossing and Valdez through Departing Friday 8th June This unique holiday travels through some of the most Prince William Sound and onto Seward.

Escape the winter chill and travel north with a visit to the famous remote areas of Australia: Outback Queensland, the Red Bundaberg Rum Factory and Bert Hinkler Hall of Aviation. Enjoy Centre, Kings Canyon and Uluru. From Uluru head west Tour Price: $13250.00 per person twin 2 nights in Rockhampton and a cruise to Great Keppel Island. joining part of the Gunbarrel Highway constructed by Len share plus, international airfares.

Then onto Airlie Beach for a relaxing 3 night stay including a Beadell and his crew. Visit Docker River, Warakurna and Reefworld cruise and a river & wetland safari experience, before Warburton. Explore the Gwalia Mine, Kalgoorlie and Perth. making our inland travel home.

Tour Price: $7333.00 per person twin share For detailed Tour price: $3259.00 per person twin share including return airfare from Perth itineraries including our 2018 Holiday Guide & latest Day Tours call us Holiday Inclusions 02 4325 8000 Home pick-up for Central Coast & Newcastle passengers, 5-star coach travel with professional and informative coach captain/guide Quality Motel accommodation, 2 course dinners, full cooked breakfasts, all entry fees, attractions, sightseeing and cruises as per each itinerary.

It’s Easy Tours Shop 5A Gosford Central Plaza/153 Mann Street GOSFORD NSW 2250 Telephone: 02 4325 8000 Narrandera & Mildura before 5 nights in Adelaide. Explore the Adelaide Hills, visit the Big Rocking Horse, the National Motor Museum and the quaint village of Hahndorf. Visit the residence of Sir Hans Heysen and enjoy a luncheon cruise along the Adelaide River. Visit Carrick Hill and explore the Barossa Valley, the Whispering Wall and Kapunda. Your journey home will take you into Broken Hill and Nyngan.

Tour Price: $2450.00 per person twin share

6641322aj

02 4325 8000

FREE home pick-up & Return fo r our holida y 3 days & ove r

28 Seniors Central Coast

Escape the winter blues ADVERTORIAL

IMMERSE yourself in an experience of a lifetime.

Our 11-Day Bundaberg and Capricorn tour travels the unique stretch of coastline that encapsulates all the beauty of Queensland beaches, offering breathtaking views with abonus of serenity and tranquillity.

Enjoy the golden days and balmy moonlit evenings with brilliant sunsets and scents of the tropics.

Queensland, beautiful one day and perfect the next, journey through the towns of Kingaroy, Marybourgh, visit the famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery, see the bull statues in Rockhampton and explore the Capricorn Coast.

Experience Great Keppel Island and all its beauty. Our journey continues through Queensland to Mt Morgan, Mt Hay, Miles and Goondiwindi.

Enjoy a fabulous cotton tour then head on to Moree for our final night and a dip in the Artesian baths.

Join us on this fantastic tour, discover new places, meet new people and make lifelong friends.

Departing July 27.

We’ll get you there in comfort, we make all of the arrangements and you get to sit back, relax and enjoy the experience in style on board a Coastal Liner Touring 5 Star Luxury Touring Coach.

When you travel with Coastal Liner Touring, you’re aboard the region’s premier coach company.

We have a simple philosophy: Explore...

Enjoy... Experience, and we are 100 per cent committed to providing value for money as well as first-class touring experiences.

There are value packed tours for the over-55s travel clubs and individual traveller.

For our latest theatre packages, day tours and extended tours refer to page 5.

For more information phone the team on (02) 4392 3050 or (02) 4392 3049 or go to coastalliner.com. au or www.entertainment qtours.com.au.

Travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Unique Grey Nomad caring experience Tracey Johnstone

WHEN you are looking for a new travel experience as you criss-cross Australia, RSPCA Brisbane is inviting you to stop in for a short break and a unique animal encounter.

Its Wacol venue caters to caravan and motorhome visitors with its low-cost, on-site accommodation which can booked for between three nights and two weeks.

Visitors can even bring their own pets with them as long as they fully vaccinated, social and used to being confined by a leash.

RSPCA Brisbane spokesman Michael Beatty said this was a new initiative and was designed to give Grey Nomads an insight to life-changing work that was done every day by the RSPCA. The grey nomads will be required to participate in shifts of between two and four hours each day where their tasks may include general gardening and

maintenance, assistance with laundry or administrative-type tasks.

“They don’t have to volunteer on the weekend,” Michael said.

“Also, the volunteers are supervised.

“There is someone who will allocate tasks. You don’t have to be able to go out and do hard gardening.”

The volunteers won’t be required to work directly with the rescued animals.

“Visitors need special training to do that,” Michael explained.

“They can however help out making toys for the animals.

“A lot of the visitors have also helped out with some of the events we have like our recent Santa Paws.”

Six bays have been created for caravans or motorhomes which have access to water, power, waste disposal, and a barbecue and undercover picnic area.

Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning (07) 3426 9943.

UNIQUE ENCOUNTER: Grey Nomads are invited to stop by RSPCA Brisbane’s Wacol, to stay in its low-cost accommodation and lend a helping hand.

PHOTO: RSPCA QUEENSLAND

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ALL INCLUSIVE Return airfares & taxes • modern coach travel with two door access and panoramic windows • Professional Coach Captain and Tour Guide in NZ • 14 nights hotel accommodation with 4 two night stays • 29 meals including breakfast daily • all sightseeing and attractions. EXCLUSIVE DEPARTURE 20 November 2018.

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*Conditions apply. Price valid ex SYD and includes pre paid taxes (subject to change). **Bonus Tour Inclusions $223 value per couple includes NZ Eyewitness Travel Guide (one per household), plus a Jacket and Cap per person. No other special offers or discounts apply. A non-refundable deposit of $400 per person is required within 5 days of booking. The balance of payment is due 31 August 2018.

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Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Travel

Central Coast

Seniors 29

Explore Brisbane city in comfort Yvonne Gardiner

LEAVING the car safely stowed away for two days while we explored the delights of central Brisbane was an appealing suggestion.

My travelling companion and I had a reunion to attend at South Bank, so it was a great opportunity to rediscover the city.

Staying at central city accommodation like the Oaks Charlotte Towers, on handy Charlotte Street, was the perfect choice.

As sedentary workers tied to computers most of the time, we looked forward to a long stroll.

The car sat in secure, underground parking beneath the 44-storey Oaks hotel.

There was so much to see and do within a 20-minute walk away from the hotel.

Just minutes away is the Queen Street Mall, Myer Centre and all the attractions of a glittering city.

If shopping’s your thing, expect to be spoilt for choice.

A pleasant walk across the William Jolly Bridge opens up the delights of the Performing Arts

Centre, the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Art Gallery beside the Brisbane River.

Brisbane’s old Botanic Gardens, an oasis of calm and tranquillity in a bustling city, are also a short walk away from The Oaks on Charlotte Street.

We stopped for a snack at the garden’s cafe, to reminisce about our first date there 23 years ago.

Among the cool greenery, it’s a perfect place to sit, eat and relax.

Eagle Street Pier, with its many restaurants, bars and casual eateries, is also a fine location to enjoy the city’s best views of the Story Bridge.

Treasury Casino is an entertainment mecca if you want to try your luck, or just bask in the magnificence of this sumptuous, heritage building.

We were in Brisbane for two very hot days in December, so the outdoor plunge pool at the Oaks Charlotte Towers was a big attraction... not just once.

Right next to the pool is an appealing sundeck area complete with barbecue facilities – a perfect, secluded area for

SPECTACULAR VIEWS: Night-time is something special in the big city.

a social gathering.

My travelling companion, being a keen swimmer, took advantage of the gleaming 25m heated indoor lap pool next to the gym, and followed up the dip with a lounge in the sauna.

Whenever we spent time in our one bedroom executive apartment, we couldn’t help but admire the view from the 42nd floor.

Some of the time, we could see as far as the Glass House Mountains in

the distance.

Bigger, two bedroom apartments are also available for families or a few friends.

Guests at the Oaks looked to be of all ages – youngsters there for birthday parties, families sightseeing in the city, seniors like us attending celebrations of all kinds...

Convenience to the city shops and attractions, plus pleasing attention from the hotel staff that makes a guest feel very welcome, puts ticks on

the approval rating.

While the units are fitted out with everything necessary for a comfortable stay – kitchens and laundries included – a well-stocked, upmarket cafe next to the hotel is open most hours of the day.

Brisbane is a place you can return to time after time, because there’s always the latest show, a new exhibition, markets, entertainment, parks, river walks and endless attractions.

Phone Oaks Charlotte Towers, 128 Charlotte Street, Brisbane on 1300 663 477 or visit the website: minor hotels.com/en/oaks.

Check out the special offers, early check-in and late check-out rates.

Oaks Hotels and Resorts are situated in 56 locations across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

The writer was a guest of the Oaks Charlotte Towers.

30 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

The Great Barrier Island night sky.

PHOTO: MARK RUSSELL / SOPHI REINHOLT

■ Come over to the Dark Sky Sanctuary Granted International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification in 2017, Aotea/Great Barrier is the only island in the world to enjoy this status.

The rugged 285sq km island at the

INTERNATIONAL HOBBIT DAY: Visit the magical Hobbiton movie set.

outer edge of the Hauraki Gulf has just 885 permanent residents and no reticulated power (off the grid for real!).

As a result, there is minimal light pollution, which makes for absolutely spectacular stargazing.

Top 5 reasons to visit NZ A NEW year is upon us and for keen travellers it is the ideal time to start planning our new adventures, with New Zealand sitting at the top of many wish lists.

Renowned for its cinematic landscapes, kilometres of pristine

coastline and welcoming locals, the Land of the Long White Cloud also offers a lot of stuff to do.

And whether you’re visiting for adventurous pursuits or you have more refined pleasures in mind, you’ll find five good reasons to start planning

a trip to Aotearoa/New Zealand right here.

■ Indulge in the wine of Aotearoa There are more than 450 wine experiences to be found on New Zealand Wine’s official website www.nzwine.com/en/ visit-us and in 2018 there

HISTORY AND HERITAGE TOURS 2018 There is no better time to join me on one of my 2018 tours., whether my Battlefield History Tour to the historical areas of the Greece and Crete 1941 Campaign, the High Veld of the Boer War Campaign in South Africa, the WW2 airfields of the UK where we also attend a couple of airshows, Vietnam, Guadalcanal in the Solomons or, with me on my History and Heritage Railway Tour of the UK for many days travelling through the glorious English countryside onboard various Historic Steam Trains. Travelling in those heritage carriages where the sound of the whistle and the smoke drifting past the window evokes memories of a bygone age, Steam Train Travel.

UK HERITAGE RAIL TOUR

Tuesday 17 July - Tuesday 31 July

Immerse yourself in the age of steam, visiting many of the greatest heritage railways the UK has to offer. The tour not only includes experiences on some of the great lines and famous engines but also visits to a number of heritage sites, museums, restoration centres.

This special Tour has been planned and developed following many requests from Steam Train enthusiasts.

MONASH – ADVANCE TO VICTORY TOUR Wednesday 26 September – Monday 8 October “I would name Sir John Monash as the best general on the western front in Europe.” - Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery Follow in the footsteps of Gen. Sir John Monash on the 100th Anniversary of the final Australian actions on the Western Front and understand what made him such a great leader, his troops so successful and earned him such respect.

For more information or to register please call 1300 450 436 or visit www.battlefieldhistorytours.com.au

6765181aa

are barrels of compelling reasons to visit New Zealand if you’re viticulturally inclined.

Toast Martinborough, held each November in the Wairarapa region, promises good times among the vines. Or make your way to FAWC, the Hawkes Bay Food and Wine Classic, also in November.

Push the boat right out and set course for Cloudy Bay in the heart of the South Island’s Marlborough region, where the proprietors can arrange everything from a simple tasting to a mouth-watering meal or helicopter wine tour.

Cloudy Bay also offers half- or full-day wining and dining tours aboard a 54ft yacht.

The choice is yours.

■ Watch the Warbirds over Wanaka Celebrating 30 years of spectacles in the sky, Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow is one of the world’s bestloved aviation festivals.

Established by Sir Tim Wallis, a live deer recovery pilot looking for a way to showcase his private collection of WWII aircraft, the biennial event is held in even-numbered years at Easter (March 30-April 1, 2018), attracting up to 50,000 aviation fans.

Wanaka is arguably one of New Zealand’s most picturesque regions.

Framed by dramatic alpine scenery, it is the South Island at its most majestic.

For the air show, roads are closed and nearby towns burst at the seams, while Wanaka Airport buzzes with all manner of aircraft. Watch in awe as aircraft from the pioneer

days of flight astonish with their aerobatics, then marvel as more modern flying machines zoom overhead.

■ It’s a World of Wearable Art in Wellington The World of Wearable Art Awards Show, or WOW as it’s fondly known, is one of the highlights of Wellington’s annual diary and features works by some of the world’s most innovative designers and couturiers competing for prizes worth more than $165,000.

With a range of events, the major drawcard is the showcase of the top entries, the creme de la creme of creations.

WOW has been described as a collision of theatre, fashion and arts, and with 2018 being its 30th year since starting out in a Nelson country cottage, they’ll be pulling out all the stops.

If you can’t be in Wellington in spring (September), but want to experience the WOW factor, visit the WOW Gallery in Nelson, where winners from each season are on display.

■ Happy Hobbit Day at Hobbiton With the birthdays of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins on September 22, International Hobbit Day will be celebrated in style at Hobbiton in 2018.

Festivities on the day include a guided tour of the Shire at dusk. Fans will be escorted through the 4.85ha site, learning fascinating details of how the movie sets were created.

Arriving at The Green Dragon Inn, there’ll be plenty of time to relax in front of open fires and

enjoy traditional Middle Earth ales and ciders.

Then stroll around the Marketplace where individually themed stalls hawk Hobbit wares, local cheeses, breads, cured meats and fresh produce.

All the while, roaming entertainers mingle with guests.

When the buffet is served, pace yourself, as Shire tradition encourages second helpings. To end the night, you’ll wander back along lantern-lit trails – pure magic.

■ Get in training for the Golden Oldies in Christchurch Promising fun, friendship and fraternity, the Golden Oldies games in Christchurch in April 2018 is a month-long celebration of sport with the focus on mature participants.

Featuring basketball, cricket, netball, lawn bowls, squash, softball, rugby, golf, football and hockey, this biennial event attracts sports fans and teams from around the world.

As much about the love of sport as it is about winning, you don’t even have to be a member of a team to take part because many teams are eager for extra players.

Contact the organisers prior to the event and it’s likely you’ll be able to slot into a team.

There’s no upper age limit and participants can be as young as 35.

With 10,000 entrants expected to converge on the city, this will be Christchurch’s biggest participant event ever and also the first time in Golden Oldie history that all the events have been held in one location.

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Entertainment

Central Coast

What’s on Alison Houston

SMILES ON DIALS

IF YOU feel confident around the surf and about getting wet, you can help at the Central Coast branch of the Disabled Surfers Association’s final ‘Smiles on Dials’ for the season at Toowoon Bay on Saturday, March 3.

Volunteers don’t need to be surfers themselves, just help participants to and from the beach and water, and help set up and clean up.

To volunteer, phone Pauline on 0416 332 166 or email pmaniskas@ hotmail.com.

MEET NICK GLEESON

AUSTRALIAN Paralympian Nick Gleeson has packed a lot into his 56 years – and “seen” more than many of us with full sight.

He has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and made it to Mt Everest base camp, slept rough in the Simpson Desert and run the New York Marathon three times.

Blind since the age of seven, he is sharing his story and talking about his new book, The Many Ways of Seeing, at Erina Library on Saturday, March 3 at 11am.

It’s free, but you need to book. Phone 4304 7650.

WOMEN’S WORLD

DON’T forget the fourth International Women’s Day Expo is on at Erina Fair Shopping Centre from 10am-3pm on Saturday, March 3, with information stalls including BPW Central Coast, CWA of NSW, View Club, Soroptimists International Brisbane Water (SIBW), Central Coast Rotary Clubs, the Central Coast Community Women’s

Health Centre, University of Newcastle (UON), TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute and Zonta.

There’s a host of other events through to March 11, so go to ccfestivalwomen on Facebook.

SHE STORY DINNER

MARCH 8 is the day to celebrate being a local woman as She Story hosts its second annual International Women’s Day Dinner from 6pm at The Entertainment Grounds in Gosford.

Special guest speakers are Tara Thompson, Kirby Clark and Julie Goodwin.

While chef Julie needs little introduction, Tara is mum to three girls under five, one of whom, Willow, has cerebal palsy. She created Instagram’s @willows_cpjourney and is co-author of Therapeutic Play Activities for Children.

Kirby is founder of Decks for Change, a skateboarding charity raising awareness for social issues and helping to create skate parks in developing communities.

Tickets are $110, which includes canapes and drink on arrival, a two-course meal, the speakers and dancing the night away.

Go to the website www.trybooking.com.au/ TQLC. Tickets close March 1.

FREE MOVIE

YES, you read it right: Avoca Beach Picture Theatre is hosting two free showings of the documentary Living the Change, which is full of inspiring stories from New Zealand for a sustainable future.

Now, if like me you often think, it would be good to make a change but I’m not sure how, or

MUSIC AND NATURE: The Central Coast Symphony Orchestra and stars’ finale at last year’s Opera in the Arboretum.

PHOTO: CARLOS RAIMUNDO

it’s too hard or too big a problem, this film is full of ideas.

“Being sustainable is not just a nice thing to do, being unsustainable isn’t just a bit unfortunate, it is an existential threat to our species. We actually need to do something about it or... we’re gone.”

Makes you want to see what you can do, doesn’t it? It’s on Monday, March 12 at 3.30pm and Thursday, March 15 at 7pm.

No need to book.

HISTORY TO SCALE

ALICE Homestead, home of Wyong District Museum and Historical Society, is housing a new exhibit of historic scale models, some rebuilt after the 2011 arson attack on the museum, and others constructed by the 4H Research Group and the Rotary Shipbuilders Memorial Project.

Some relate to shipbuilding on the Central Coast, and others nationally. They say this is just the start, but go along

and lend support and check out all the other displays including photos, memorabilia, toys, furniture, machinery and tools.

Entry at 1 Cape Road, Wyong, is just $5 adults.

Phone 4352 1886.

OCEAN WORSHIP

SEE some of the most beautiful and powerful images of the ocean from the earth, sea and sky, of surfers, fishermen, divers and sea life in the Ocean Film Festival World Tour.

It comprises two hours of inspiring, educational and entertaining films of different lengths related to the ocean from independent filmmakers, both international and Australian.

It’s on at 7pm at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre on Friday, March 23. Tickets from $24.50. Book online at www.avocatheatre. com.au.

OPERA IN THE ARBORETUM

IF YOU love opera, there’s

no better place to hear it than among the trees and birdlife of the Pearl Beach Crommelin Native Arboretum on Saturday, March 24.

Presented by the Rotary Club of Woy Woy, this is the 13th Opera in the Arboretum and will feature soprano Greta Bradman, mezzo soprano Deborah Humble, tenor Virgilio Marino, baritone Alex Sefton and special guest Russian-born violinist Evgeny Sorkin, with pianist Francis Greep and the Central Coast Chamber Orchestra.

It’s from 3-5.30pm. Go to www.opera.pearlbeach.com. Adults $70, Seniors $67.

COUNCIL NEWS

Breaking with tradition, I thought there was so much happening at the last council meeting on February 12 that I would share a few pieces of news. ● Firstly, in an effort to increase community confidence in their decisions and

Seniors 31

transparency, council has adopted a new Code of Meeting Practice that confirms webcasting of bi-monthly meetings, finishing times of 10.30pm, community forums once a month and a simplified order of business including a limit of three minutes for councillors to address the meeting. Meetings will alternate between Gosford and Wyong Chambers. ● Council is also releasing documents relating to the future development of the Wyong Employment Zone (including the Central Coast Airport) on its website, and for public viewing at council chambers. Council deferred a decision on budget to the airport and the WEZ for site visits and a full briefing but Mayor Jane Smith said this would not “derail our focus and plans to create much-needed employment opportunities in the growing north of the Coast”. ● Council will review the assessment report for seniors housing and a new bowling club in Woy Woy before it is determined by the consent authority, the Joint Regional Planning Panel, and look at making a submission due to the “significant concern in the community about the proposal” in relation to flooding and parking impacts. ● Finally, council has accepted a donation from the Urasenke Foundation to build a Japanese Tea House in the Japanese Gardens at the Gosford Regional Gallery. Council will take over ownership of the tea house once it has been built, at a cost of around $250,000.

Event Cinemas Seniors Ticket Giveaway

Thanks to the Event Cinemas’ Cinebuzz for Seniors club, we are giving away double passes for seniors to see any movie at their local BCC or Event Cinemas!

To be in the running, simply visit seniorsnews.com.au/competitions to enter online. Good luck!

PLUS, Why not join Cinebuzz for Seniors? It’s free to join and members get $9* standard movie tickets at BCC and Event Cinemas, plus more great benefits. Join now at cinebuzz.com.au

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32 Seniors Central Coast

Commonwealth Games

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Games fever on Coast YOU don’t need to hock the family silver to have a fun time at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

For those lucky enough to have already secured tickets, an amazing experience is assured as world-class athletes from 70 nations come together from April 4-15 at what will be the biggest sporting event staged in Australia this decade.

But there’s also huge opportunities to “share the dream” – as the Games slogan says – for those still pondering the possibility of combining a Gold Coast holiday with the Commonwealth Games.

“It is our hope that everyone – every man, woman and child in the Commonwealth – gets swept up in the excitement,” Games organising committee chairman and former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said.

The 12-day Games, the first time the event has been held in Queensland since Brisbane in 1982 and not in Australia since Melbourne in 2006, will feature more than 6600 athletes across 18 sports and seven parasports.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be the most inclusive Games ever staged.

For the first time at any Games, Olympics included, there will be the same number of gold medals for women as for men.

The Games charter includes a reconciliation action plan and a commitment to the environment and sustainability.

Proof of that already is the GC2018 Queen’s Baton (the Games equivalent of the Olympic torch).

It is made, in part, from recycled plastic collected from Gold Coast waterways and a piece of native macadamia timber sourced from the Hinterland.

After leaving Buckingham Palace last March, with the Queen’s message inside handwritten on a piece of paper made from desert spinifex grass, the baton has travelled more than 200,000km through Commonwealth nations and territories across the globe before arriving in Brisbane on Christmas Eve – coinciding with 100 days to go to the Games.

The baton’s clockwise relay journey around Australia starts in Canberra on January 25,

AQUATIC CENTRE: The 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held on the Gold Coast from April 4-15.

taking in Australia Day celebrations the next day.

It will visit every state before returning to Queensland on March 3 for a final month-long victory lap where the baton will be carried by more than 1800 Queenslanders through 83 communities to its final destination – the Gold Coast’s Carrara Stadium.

There, on the evening of Wednesday, April 4, HRH Prince Charles will read the Queen’s message from inside the baton to officially open the Games.

To see the street-by-street route of where the baton is heading across Australia, go to www.gc2018.com/ qbr#gc2018-qbr-parentmap.

For those not yet on board the Games excitement train, it’s not too late to get involved.

And a Gold Coast Commonwealth Games holiday in April doesn’t need to cost as much as you might think.

Games tickets, some as cheap as $20, are still available across a range of sports including lawn bowls (Broadbeach), track and field (Carrara), table tennis (Oxenford Studios) and hockey (Runaway Bay) – the latter two options being ideal for those who prefer to stay a little further out from the main Gold Coast tourism hubs.

The chance to see medals won and lost is still available in other sports including squash, wrestling and weightlifting – and while they are not traditional viewing for many Aussies, a

BROADBEACH BOWLS: 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games gold medal showdown in any sport is great entertainment and even better when the cost is less than just a few beers.

Tickets to the basketball qualifiers in Cairns and Townsville, which will include the Australian Opals women and Boomers men, are still available for those planning a north Queensland escape in April.

For available GC2018 tickets go to www.gc2018.com/tickets.

Every Games ticket comes with free public transport.

Additional trains will run between Brisbane and the Gold Coast while the recently opened extension to the G-Link line will provide a public transport option from Helensvale through to Broadbeach – passing Games venues on the way including the GC2018 pool, triathlon course, lawns bowls and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre which hosts netball and basketball.

For those who live further afield, Gold Coast

accommodation across all budget ranges is still available and some bargains are expected to pop up as the Games get closer.

While the tourism hubs of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh and Coolangatta are understandably heavily booked, plenty of other accommodation options are available with many just a short bicycle ride or walk to GC2018 competition areas.

The southern Gold Coast, renowned for its enduring ’60s surf culture and laid-back lifestyle, still boasts plenty of motel and apartment accommodation options that come with the friendly atmosphere of yesteryear without the modern-day prices.

One to check out is La Costa Motel at Tugun lacostamotel.com.au – a short drive from the Gold Coast Airport and a 50m stroll to the beach.

The one-level timber hotel has been lovingly restored to its 60s greatness and glamour, inside and out, with guests also having access

PHOTOS: BRADLEY KANARIS

to retro patio furniture and vintage pushbikes.

Retro holiday options exist throughout other precincts on the southern end of the Gold Coast which will host Commonwealth Games beach volleyball at Coolangatta, road cycling and road race walking at Currumbin (both free events) and the southern turnaround point for the marathons at Burleigh Heads.

Burleigh, once a mecca for ’70s-style family camping holidays, is now one of the trendiest precincts on the Gold Coast.

James Street, which runs through the centre of the Burleigh shopping district, is packed with coffee shops, fashion boutiques and quirky antique and craft stores and is now one of the region’s most popular weekend destinations.

While staying at Burleigh might stretch the purse strings for some holidaymakers, a more budget conscious option is just over the headland at the award-winning Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park.

Situated on the banks of the beautiful Tallebudgera Creek estuary, the area is a renowned family friendly safe swimming and fishing hot spot.

While many prime sites at the Gold Coast’s bigger tourist parks have been snapped up for the Commonwealth Games period, selected caravan and camping sites are available at various locations. For more

information go to www. goldcoasttouristparks. com.au.

For those whose budgets can’t be stretched to afford Games tickets, there is so much free activity on the Gold Coast around Games time that can help fill out a few days or even the entire two weeks of the event.

It will cost nothing to grab a fold-up chair and sit on the course to watch world-class athletes go by in the marathons (from the Southport Broadwater to Burleigh and back, Sunday, April 16, 6.10am-noon); the triathlons (Southport Broadwater to Labrador and back, Thursday, April 5, 9.30am-2pm and Saturday, April 7, 9.30am-2.30pm); the cycling road races and individual time trials (Currumbin foreshore and nearby roads to Elanora, Tuesday, April 10, 10am-1pm, 2.45pm-4.30pm and Saturday, April 14, 7.45am-11.15am and 12.30pm-4.45pm) and the road race walks (Currumbin foreshore, Sunday, April 8, 7am-noon).

There’s also the amazing Festival 2018 arts and culture program that runs in conjunction with the Games.

The majority of Festival events are free and will feature top-line acts each night from 7.30pm on stages on the esplanade at Surfers Paradise and Surf Parade at Broadbeach.

There will also be art displays and interactive art on the beach at Surfers Paradise – including 30 simultaneous karaoke stations – and 24-hour art displays along the beach from Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach.

Australia’s most popular holiday destination has undergone an re-invention and it’s the right time for those who think they have “done the Gold Coast” to visit again.

Hosting the Commonwealth Games from April 4-15 has seen a flurry of activity across the Gold Coast which has delivered an infrastructure and facilities legacy that will be a boost for holidaymakers for years to come.

For more information on holidays in Queensland and on the Gold Coast, and Games time accommodation options, go to: teq.queensland. com/destinations/goldcoast or www.destination goldcoast.com.

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Central Coast

Seniors 33

NOW IN CONSTRUCTION. MOVE IN LATE 2018.

LIMITED EDITION LUXURY BEACHSIDE APARTMENTS WELCOME TO YOUR NEW LIFE. IT BEGINS HERE Bathers Beachside is the Peninsula’s newest and most prestigious waterfront development. Designed and developed by Traders in Purple with luxury living in mind, these exquisite residences deliver an unprecedented attention to detail and finishes second to none. Perfectly positioned in a premier waterfront enclave right by the beach on Margate Parade. Each apartment features three large bedrooms, two deluxe bathrooms, contemporary kitchen with Miele appliances as well as spacious living areas and large balconies that encapsulate the breathtaking never-to-be-built-out Moreton Bay views.

A limited number of three bedroom apartments are available from $899,000. Don’t miss out. Secure yours today

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34 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

Let’s save

We’re living in the ’70s HOME COOKING CHRISTINE PERKIN THE ’70s; what a time to be alive. It was when Glam rock was born, the music and the clothes were outrageous with furs and flares being the norm.

Food was starting to evolve with the influx of immigrants into Australia. Our tastebuds started changing.

Takeaway was only available from the local fish and chip shop, then the Chinese and Italian restaurants started to arrive with such incredible flavours and ingredients.

I remember going with mum and taking a large

saucepan to the Chinese takeaway to collect fried rice and dim sims in the early ’70s.

It was such a treat.

Chow mein entered the menu at home along with the delicious apricot chicken, spaghetti bolognaise (still is) and fondues.

The fondues were a must for any dinner party, sweet or savoury, and that is still relevant today.

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

BRIE FONDUE WITH THYME

Serves 8 This is a rehash of the ’70s fondue with today’s ingredients.

The fresh herbs and wine in this fondue add a decadency that masks

how simple it is to prepare.

You can also add in luxurious ingredients like fresh crayfish, crabmeat, sautéed mushrooms, or spinach.

Crisp tart apple slices are good for dipping; you can also use carrot sticks, roasted potato wedges or bread cubes.

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp butter 1 large shallot, finely diced (about 1⁄4 cup) or white onion 1 ⁄2 cup white wine 500g brie, rind removed and cut into 1-inch pieces 11⁄2 tbsp cornflour 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme Freshly ground black pepper Salt 4 medium Fuji apples

COOKING IN THE 70s: Brie and Thyme fondue.

cored and cut into 1-inch slices (about four cups)

METHOD

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally,

until soft and translucent, about three minutes.

Add the wine and quarter cup of water, and bring to a simmer. In a small bowl, toss the brie with the cornflour to coat and then whisk into the wine until the cheese

Peace, love and lava lamps BE THRIFTY AND THRIVE NICKY NORMAN WHAT screams the ’70s more than flares, tube tops, tie-dying, tang, beaded necklaces, disco balls, platform shoes, clogs, cassette tapes, pet rocks, etch a sketch and talking on a phone with a cord?

Each decade has its own colour palette and the ’70s was totally about

chocolate brown, avocado green and burnt orange.

Many homes got groovy with a wall hanging of an owl or some kind of animal print and, possibly, a macrame potted plant hanger.

One of the earliest recorded uses of macrame-style knots as decoration appeared in the carvings of the Babylonians and Assyrians. Fringe-like plaiting and braiding adorned the costumes of the time. Macrame travelled from North Africa to Spain, France and then

on to other European countries. Many Australians were into macrame in the ’70s and

the creative flow of that era.

Materials used in macrame include cords

GET GROOVY: Explore your own creative flair by making a macrame pot plant hanger.

made of cotton twine, linen, hemp, jute, leather and yarn.

completely melts, about two minutes. Stir in the thyme.

Season then transfer to a fondue pot, set out skewers, and let guests serve themselves by dipping bread into the fondue.

Cords are identified by construction, such as a three-ply cord, made of three lengths of fibre twisted together.

For larger decorative pieces, such as wall hangings or window coverings, a work of macrame might be started out on a wooden or metal dowel, allowing a spread of dozens of cords that are easy to manipulate.

If you would like to get mellow with macrame and go back in time some 40 years, check out the free patterns and tutoring videos available online: free-macramepatterns.com/ and youtube.com/user/ macrameschool.

For a modern spin on macrame creations, visit: modernmacrame.com.

93.3FM The Home of Hits and Memories 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!

Volunteers are always welcome at 93.3FM. Call 02 4325 1950 to register your interest. or email us on info@fiveoplus.com.au

‘50s

‘60s

‘70s

‘80s

Radio Five-O-Plus

Your Station, Your Music

6744952aa

‘40s

Puzzles

G E N E R A L K N O W L E D G E

1

2

3

4

6

ACROSS 6 What chewy sweet is made from sugar or honey, nuts, and egg white? (6) 7 What sleeveless jerkin was worn by a knight over his armour? (6) 10 What creatures outnumber all others in the animal world? (7) 11 What dish consists of pieces of meat, fish, vegetables etc, grilled on a skewer? (5) 12 An orchestra tunes to the note A played by which instrument? (4) 13 Which town in Spain is the centre of the sherrymaking industry? (5) 16 What are short repeated phrases in jazz or pop music? (5) 17 Who, with Meg, Jo and Amy, make up the March sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women? (4) 20 What is the darkest part of a shadow? (5) 21 What pungent gas is widely used in refrigeration?

(7) 22 In what units of weight is gold quoted and sold?

(6) 23 Leonardo da Vinci wrote most of his notebooks in what type of script? (6)

5

7

8

9 10

11

12

13 14

15

16

17

18 20

19 21

22

23

SUDOKU

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

Central Coast

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

DOWN 1 Who was the first singer to sell one million copies of a record? (6,6) 2 What is a slang name for a detective in the US? (7) 3 What carried thing is a half- hunter? (5) 4 What durable brownish- yellow cotton fabric was originally made in China? (7) 5 What lively ballroom dance comes from Brazil? (5) 8 Which singer teamed up with Chris Stein to form a hugely successful 70s-80s band with hits including Heart of Glass? (7,5) 9 Which British Isles island has its own currency, stamps, native tongue and the world’s oldest continuous parliament? (4,2,3) 14 What is a Salvation Army meeting hall? (7) 15 Who did Derek Fowlds play in TV’s Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister? (7) 18 What dark wood is used for bagpipes? (5) 19 “Electronic mail” is abbreviated to what? (5)

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.

14

15

17

C

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

21

SOLUTIONS

23

SUDOKU

5x5 A R E N A

P E T E R

E S S A Y

Down 1. Small fields (8) 2. Regulations (5) 4. Unassuming (6) 5. Tight-lipped (12) 6. Decorates (7) 7. Sheep (4) 8. Someone or something elusive (4-1-3-4) 12. Vision (8) 14. Reconstruct an event (7) 16. Brought to mind (6) 18. State of disgrace (5) 19. Large seabird (4)

C U B I C

Across: 1. Part 3. Amicable 9. Dallied 10. Oldie 11. Obsolescence 13. Karate 15. Bolshy 17. Reservations 20. Khaki 21. Keeping 22. Antipode 23. Omit.

Down: 1. Paddocks 2. Rules 4. Modest 5. Closemouthed 6. Bedecks 7. Ewes 8. Will-o’-the-wisp 12. Eyesight 14. Reenact 16. Evoked 18. Odium 19. Skua.

QUICK CROSSWORD

ALPHAGRAMS: KNEAD, LANCED, MOTHERS, NEPOTISM, OPERATORS.

H F

R

S L A T S

515

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 19 Very Good 27 Excellent 34+

A

GK CROSSWORD

G

I I

N

NAKED CANDLE THERMOS PIMENTOS POOR RATES

Across: 6 Nougat, 7 Tabard, 10 Insects, 11 Kebab, 12 Oboe, 13 Jerez, 16 Riffs, 17 Beth, 20 Umbra, 21 Ammonia, 22 Ounces, 23 Mirror.

Down: 1 Enrico Caruso, 2 Gumshoe, 3 Watch, 4 Nankeen, 5 Samba, 8 Deborah Harry, 9 Isle of Man, 14 Citadel, 15 Bernard, 18 Ebony, 19 Email.

N E

WORD GO ROUND

T

WORD GO ROUND

Across 1. Component (4) 3. Friendly (8) 9. Wasted time (7) 10. Senior citizen (colloq) (5) 11. Process of becoming out of date (12) 13. Martial art (6) 15. Obstreperous (6) 17. Doubts (12) 20. Military fabric (5) 21. Retaining (7) 22. Direct opposite (8) 23. Leave out (4)

S

eight feign felting feting fight filing flight fling gelt genii gent gift gilt glen glint hefting hieing hinge ignite ingle legit length lifting light lighten lignite ling neigh nigh night nightie NIGHTLIFE thegn thing tiling ting tinge tingle

22

B

18

19 20

R

T

16

L T

P

L 12

13

3/2

5x5

C 11

Seniors 35

THE SENIORS NEWS FOR YOU Be sure to collect Seniors March edition for all the news you need to know about the upcoming 2018 NSW Seniors Festival taking place from

Wednesday 4 April – Sunday 15 April.

For more info visit

seniorsnews.com.au

6729615iq

Monday, February 26, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

36 Seniors Central Coast

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 26, 2018

“The most moving Anzac experience of all” -The Australian

THE ART HOUSE PRESENTS

AN ATYP PRODUCTION

Based on the State Library of NSW’s jaw-dropping collection of First World War diaries, photographs and letters, A Town Named War Boy is a gripping, humerous and touching play which brings to life the personal accounts of the young Anzacs who set sail for the far side of the world.

THURSDAY 5 APRIL 8PM FRIDAY 6 APRIL 10AM

Tickets from $25 | 02 4335 1485 thearthousewyong.com.au 19-21 Margaret street, Wyong, NSW 2259