Northern NSW, November 2019 by seniors

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INSIDE PROFILE EX-POLICE COMMISSIONER CHRISTINE NIXON FINDS NEW WORLDS OF GIVING IN RETIREMENT

ENVIRONMENT ELECTRIC CAR, SOLAR PANELS, PROTESTS: MEET ONE LADY WHO HAS GONE GREEN

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11 - 18 JULY 2020 Want to enjoy the festive season twice this year? Spend a week on Norfolk Island with its stunning scenery, sandy beaches and jagged cliﬀs. There is so much to see and do - and all at your own pace. We’ve included some great accommodation options, a hire car so you can explore, some fabulous tours that you won’t want to miss, plus plenty more to do on the Island. Enjoy a festive delicious Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, fun trivia and Carols at Paradise Hotel & Resort. Chase away those winter blues and have some fun. Call us now to secure your accommodation.

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WELCOME

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News - As simple as Do Re Mi Profile Story - Christine Nixon News - Cente is all about love News - The grey behind the green News - Cooking up fun show Feature Story - Syd Kirkby What’s on Wanderlust Community group guide Wellbeing Living Puzzles

Community news and local events

Wellbeing and tips for good health

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Pioneering legends Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor THIS month we feature explorers and pioneers of land, mind and electric cars! Besides the great youthful achievements of our featured profiles, these people have also moved into mature age and transformed their skills to suit the times. In my books, this part of our lives offers fresh opportunities to re-assess our lifestyle and what really matters, to speak up or change our minds or indeed, just settle down. For me, it’s remaining curious besides recognising and happily remaining open to change. Margaret McDonald is certainly driven by future environmental concerns for her children and grandchildren. Journalist Alison Houston spoke to Margaret about how she fared during an extensive trip in her new Hyundai Kona. While many of us pay lip service to climate change, among other things, Margaret has installed solar panels on her home, moved to a vegetarian diet three days a week and uses her ‘keep’ cup for coffee in order to reduce her carbon footprint. Tracey Johnstone speaks

to another trailblazer, Christine Nixon, the first woman to be appointed a police commissioner, about her life after work. Frankly, in her community service endeavours, she seems as energetic as ever. The story of legendary Antarctica surveyor Syd Kirkby and his Antarctic adventures, including great pictures, is published across a two-page spread.His explanations and insights describing his pioneering explorations in this wild and beautiful part of the world are awe-inspiring. In our Living section, Tracey Johnstone has taken an in-depth look at something many of us suffer from — loneliness. Her feature tackles the subject head-on and talks about how we can reach out and possibly change directions. I hope you enjoy the read.

General Manager Geoff Crockett – 0413 988 333 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 1300 880 265 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Sue Germany – 0408 286 539 sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au 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 “Northern NSW Seniors Newspaper”. The Seniors Newspaper is published monthly and distributed free in northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland. The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications. Published by News Corp Australia. Printed by News Corp Australia, Yandina. Opinions expressed by contributors to Seniors Newspapers are not necessarily those of the editor or the owner/publisher and publication of advertisements implies no endorsement by the owner/publisher.

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NEWS

As simple as Do Re Mi New council role looks at doing death much better

Tania Phillips IN HER 20s Helen Carter was part of Do Re Mi – a band whose music and lyrics were open, honest, innovative and started discussions. Well known for the song Man Overboard, they sang about things that weren’t usually talked about in songs played on the radio back then in the early ’80s. Now, more than 30 years later in her new role at Tweed Shire Council, the bass player, backing singer and songwriter is hoping to do something similar. Helen is the new Tweed Shire Council Cemeteries business manager working to improve cemetery services and to “do death well” – letting people know what options are available and making the subject of death and funerals more open. “It’s a new role, introduced by council, with an aim of really having a look at how we can do death better,” Helen said. “I oversee the operations of all the cemeteries in the shire. “There are three active ones, i.e. there are still places for people to be buried or interred and there are eight historical cemeteries. “A lot of that is about maintenance and

INFORMED DECISION-MAKING: Helen Carter (centre, above) in her role as Tweed Shire Council's Cemeteries Business Manager. LEFT: Helen on stage with the re-formed Do Re Mi for a series of concerts earlier this year. Photos: Contributed gardening but the bit I get excited about is what do we do to improve our council’s service to the community.” Helen said that included looking at different options for using Tweed’s cemetery land and maybe even repatriating some for planting trees as memorials rather than just mowing it down for granite and angels. “The thing is we won’t be getting rid of granite and angels, but we will be saying, now you’ve got a choice,” she said. “I think our community

is very environmentally aware and so as people learn and become more informed, they may choose more environmental options.” For Helen, who went to university when the band split in 1989 and then started a career in management, her latest job is an extension of what she has been doing for the past two decades. It has also come at a time when she and lead vocalist Deborah Conway have reconnected and reformed the band – adding three other women to their line-up when the

two founding male members weren’t available. Helen initiated and managed the reimagining of Do Re Mi, featuring Deborah and herself, along with Julia Day (drums), Bridie O’Brien (guitar) and Clio Renner (keys). Their performances at the By the C festival shows and other headline gigs received great reviews from critics and fans alike and the women haven’t ruled out further shows next year when their busy schedules allow.

And while her new career may seem a long way from the live gigs and recording of her previous life, it’s not as far as you think. “In the band we performed and, I hope, made people happier. I know those shows at the beginning of the year made people really happy,” Helen said. “All throughout my other career in aged care, disability services and mental health services you’re seeing this kind of strain and hurt and grief the whole time and trying to squeeze out a little bit

of joy for people and make sure there’s a good amount of social justice out there. So, coming to the cemetery almost seems like a logical conclusion.” Helen said she knew little about the funeral business until applying for and getting the job in July this year but since then she has done a lot of research. She believes death and dying are things that should be open for discussion – even if it is just sitting around the table talking about what songs you’d like to have at your funeral. “My role is to facilitate and curate, if you like, work with people so that when they do have to make decisions, they’re well informed, they’ve thought about it before they get there, maybe years before,” Helen said. She said the not-forprofit organisation Ground Swell (thegroundswell project.com) aimed to improve death literacy by talking about it and offered a “final check list and your emotional check list”. Helen believes talking about death and taking some responsibility over what will happen when we die could “help us come to terms with the fact that we are going to die” and could ultimately make things better for our families who often have to make “all the decisions on their own at a really bad time”. More info @: tweed.nsw.gov.au/ cemeteries

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PROFILE STORY

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Trailblazer

Christine Nixon up for a challenge Tracey Johnstone

ANOTHER LIFE: Former police commissioner Christine Nixon has taken on fresh challenges in her retirement. Photo: David Crosling

CHRISTINE Nixon is a woman of conviction who has stood in the line of fire in so many ways. She’s an outstanding changemaker and leader with a deep sense of community who at age 66 is facing her own and her family’s realities of ageing. Ms Nixon was the first woman in Australia to be appointed a police commissioner, taking on the role in Victoria in 2001 and holding it for eight years. She climbed up through the ranks, never wavering from her belief that her gender was irrelevant in relation to her ability to be a leader... but the appointment still came as a surprise. “I was shocked,” she said, having previously applied unsuccessfully for both the South Australia and the NSW police commissioner jobs. “I figured I had a lot knowledge and skills,

experience and exposure. My father was the one who encouraged me to think about Victoria. “I never thought a NSW police officer would get to be the police commissioner in Victoria. “It was very public, very high profile; it was a tricky job.” And the support of her father wasn’t always there. When she decided to enter the NSW police force aged 19, it was against his will. “In those days there were very few opportunities,” she said, with the job choices for women mainly secretarial, nursing or teaching. “University was out of the question for many reasons,” she said. “I wasn’t really taken by the options and my father was a police officer. And I was tall enough, just.” She had to wait several months before she was accepted in October 1972. In those days the NSW police had a quota of only 130 women. There were many highs

and a few low points in her outstanding career. “Few women are in high-profile roles, so you are very likely to attract a lot of attention and a lot of heat,” Ms Nixon said. “Until we get to a point where a woman in a senior position is not anything unusual, and I think we are a long way from there, then you know you are going to get criticised. Part of it is knowing it’s going to happen. Sometimes you have stuffed it up and sometimes you are just being blamed.” Working Monday to Friday has finally stopped for Ms Nixon after 38 years on the police force and 15 months working as Chair of the Victorian Bushfire Reconciliation and Recovery Authority. But that doesn’t mean she has stopped working per se. She took her own advice of thinking about what was going to happen next before she made the decision to leave the force.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

PROFILE STORY

with much more to do ‘‘

... but I did know lots about people who are poor and need support “I decided I wanted to be involved in some not-for-profit organisations and I thought I would sit on some boards, perhaps for companies,” Ms Nixon said. “I also decided that I knew a lot about women’s leadership, and I wanted to encourage women to think about taking up management and leadership positions.” Most recently, she completed the role of Chair of the national organisation Good Shepherd Microfinance, which she started in 2012. The sisters of Good Shepherd of Australia and New Zealand wanted a much greater focus on their no-interest loans, and they asked Ms Nixon

Former Victorian police commissioner Christine Nixon reflects on the tragic Bourke Street attack, six months on. Photo: Aaron Francis to set up the organisation and chair the board. “I told them I didn’t know a lot about microfinance, but I did know lots about people who are poor and need support and shouldn’t be

exploited,” she said, with the organisation now providing about 30,000 loans a year. “The loans are available to anyone across Australia who are pensioners,” she said

proudly. Ms Nixon’s current roles are chair of Monash College in Melbourne and a councillor and deputy chancellor at Monash University. She also leads conversations on

women’s leadership as a result the Women Leading book she co-wrote with Professor Amanda Sinclair and presents to conferences and events on organisational change. She has about 18 months to go on current commitments and then will turn her focus back to advocating for reducing violence against women. “While I was in the police, I spent a lot of time working with community organisations about family violence,” she said. “I am also a patron of Family Violence Centre and I am on the university advisory group.” Ms Nixon’s life is anything but ordinary, yet the way she has coped with the stresses of life in the past and present is not dissimilar to many of us. In Sydney, her ageing father of 92 is steadfastly still living at home since losing his wife to dementia three years ago. Ms Nixon’s brother lives nearby, and she talks to her father daily and visits often. “You have to do some thinking about the future

but certainly I know a vast amount of people finish up dying in their own homes, not in a nursing home,” she said. Her life at home in a country town outside of Melbourne is happily filled with mosaics, painting and drawing. The backyard has two sheds: one for her creative work and another for her husband John Becquet’s work on technology interests. “What has driven us where we are now is a need for a community around us,” she said. It’s giving her the chance to become reconnected to people, something she really values. Ms Nixon recognises we are all living in a state of flux but that doesn’t mean that people like herself can’t still effect positive change. She has chosen not to go down the politics pathway, but instead use her leadership skills and community awareness to help create positive change elsewhere during what she calls the next phase of her life.

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Cente is all about love

Club overcomes hits and misses for ultimate success Tania Phillips PLAYING tennis at her family property near Chinchilla in Queensland as an eight-year-old, Joan Nicoll couldn’t have imagined that seven decades later she’d not only still be playing but also have a tennis centre named after her – twice. The Joan Nicoll Tennis Centre was officially opened at Terranora on October 27, three days after Joan’s 79th birthday. It was a bittersweet moment for the woman who has been involved with Terranora tennis for 40 years – most of those as coach – and came just over two years after the original centre burned down. “It burned down in 2017 – November 3 – we were all devastated,” Joan said. “It had only been open 12 months before it burned down. “But we had a reasonable level of

‘‘

To use the clubhouse as a normal clubhouse again is great

insurance and we were able to hold fundraisers and now it’s all pretty much finished – we have shade sails to go in but to be able to use the clubhouse as a normal clubhouse again is great.” Not that tennis ever stopped at the Terranora club – the courts were left unharmed by the devastating fire and, with the help of the Tweed Shire Council which put up a shed so members could “make a cuppa” and port-a-loos, the club kept playing. “We still had the courts and people still went to play,” Joan said.

GAME ON: Terranora Tennis President Rob Nienhuis, left, and NSW Tennis CEO Lawrence Robertson with Joan Nicoll at the opening of the Joan Nicoll Tennis Centre at Terranora. It is the start of a glorious future for the club (with the help of extra security this time around) and hopefully the end of a struggle to survive after the original Terranora

Lakes Country Club closed more than two decades ago. “We were on shaky ground for a few years,” Joan said. “The owners (at the

time) had us on a month’s lease. We only had a month to get out if it was sold – it’s a long haul.” However, despite the hardships, it’s obvious that coaching at Terranora

has been a passion for Joan – one she misses (mostly). “I love coaching, I still wish I was younger and could be more involved,” she laughed.

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NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

The green behind the grey Alison Houston MARGARET McDonald is a pioneer of sorts — one of a relative handful of Australians who own fully electric cars. An RMIT ABC Fact Check report in June found just 0.2 per cent of new cars sold in Australia are electric and we have the lowest sale rates of any developed OECD country. Concerned about the environmental future for her children and grandchildren, and inspired by attending last year’s Sydney’s Antidote festival of ideas, action and change, Margaret, from Erina on NSW’s Central Coast, took delivery of her new Hyundai Kona in August. She has also installed solar panels in her home and moved to a vegetarian diet three days a week in order to reduce her carbon footprint. The 74-year-old also demonstrated at the school climate change protest in The Domain, has reduced her plane travel and become more aware of recycling. That includes never buying bottled water and rejecting takeaway coffee unless she has her ‘keep cup’ with her. “I just think about my grandchildren and what an awful thing we are leaving for them,” Margaret said. With too many politicians having ignored the environmental consequences of fossil fuel reliance and the need to invest in alternatives, she said she believed it was up to every individual to do what they could. Recognising the prudence of waiting until the cost of electric cars came down and there was greater infrastructure available, Margaret

CHARGING AHEAD: Margaret McDonald recharges her Hyundai Kona at Euroa, Victoria, where a different system to NSW requires you to download and use an app to recharge. Photo: Alison Houston nevertheless decided that with limited driving years ahead, and change unlikely until more people purchase the cars, she would take the step to electric. “I feel a little glow when I go out, knowing I am not causing any pollution,” Margaret said. And she allows herself the occasional snigger as she watches the rising petrol prices to which she is now completely immune. Margaret also is electricity bill-free, with the 20 solar panels she has installed in her home providing three times more electricity than she

uses, and contributing back to the grid. But she admits, the initial outlay for both the panels and the car were significant, and a lot more planning is required to travel long distances to ensure a suitable recharging stop is available. Margaret said her SUV-style Kona was about $65,000, but has a far greater range (450km) than the smaller alternative Ioniq (230km). With a charger installed in her garage, she has not had a problem getting around the Coast — recharging only twice in five weeks — but decided

in September to test out a longer distance, driving to Bacchus Marsh in Victoria to visit her sister, a round trip of 2288km. She discovered the Plugshare app which allowed her to type in the vehicle make and her destination and showed all suitable charging stations along the route. Much like mobile phones, she said, not all chargers suit all cars, with many aimed at the more expensive Tesla brand. She explained there were three ways to charge an electric car: a DC fast-charger takes 30-60

minutes depending on how low the battery is; an AC charger takes nine hours to fully charge; and the portable charger (suitable for any household socket) takes 24 hours to recharge. The NRMA has installed free DC fast-charging stations near parks and tourist information centres in country areas, and the RACV at highway service stations (requiring a ChargeFox App to use). However, Margaret said she was surprised to find large towns like Wagga Wagga and Goulburn did not have chargers to suit her car, while in Canberra you had to apply for a

swipe card which can take 5-10 days. Another issue which Margaret hadn’t counted on was that the car’s range changes with the environment, so travelling at high speed and climbing the escarpment from Nowra to Jugiong drained her battery far faster than general driving. “I was panic-stricken for a while,” she said, but remembered an article she had read and slowed her speed sufficiently to get to the charge point with about 50km to spare. “As I had drained the battery to such a low point, it took 60 minutes to re-charge so I took the opportunity to have a cup of coffee and lunch,” she said. She reflected that this was another bonus of the electric car, forcing her to take rest stops rather than continuing driving tired as she might otherwise have done. She did run into other problems on the way, including using the Victorian app, but said the return journey was uneventful as she had become accustomed to the process. “It was quite an adventure and a bit stressful at times but that is mostly to do with the lack of infrastructure,” Margaret said, with ranges of 170-265km between chargers. For everyday driving around the Coast, she said the electric car was comfortable, easy to use, so quiet she sometimes forgot it was running, and had no exhaust or heat from the engine. She has no regrets about her purchase, and says for the sake of a little extra planning and keeping an eye on the range, it is a positive step for the future.

Woolies’ zero-waste containers WOOLWORTHS is introducing a zero-wastage food delivery system that delivers grocery essentials in reusable packaging. From mid-2021, grocery shoppers will be able to receive products from their favourite brands in reusable containers, delivered right to their doors. The system will allow customers to sustainably consume a variety of commonly used products such as washing

detergent, shampoo, juice or ice cream in customised, brand-specific, durable packaging that is delivered in a specially designed reusable shipping tote. How Loop works Once they shop in-store or place an order online, Woolworths customers will receive their durable products, offered in upgraded reusable packaging, in Loop’s shipping tote which has been designed to be

durable enough to safely transport shopping. When finished with the product, consumers place the empty food containers into the Loop totes and go online to schedule a pickup from their home or drop it off at a nearby Woolworths store. Loop will clean the packaging so that each product may be safely reused and replenished as needed at the consumer’s request. Woolworths general manager of Quality, Health

and Sustainability, Alex Holt said customers were increasingly telling them they wanted products that were good for them, and good for the planet. “We are pleased to be working with innovative partners like TerraCycle to lead the way in offering new and cutting-edge solutions to cut down on plastic waste. “Helping bring Loop to Australia is a further step in our long term ambition to reduce our impact on the environment and

LESS WASTE: The fight to reduce waste has taken another step forward with Woolworths introducing a new system for shoppers to receive products. Photo: Woolworths

support a circular economy.” Woolworths are inviting customers to register their interest to be

involved in the initial Loop trial at woolworths.com.au/ shop/discover/ sustainability/loop.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

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NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Cooking up fun show Good humour high among his favourite ingredients Tania Phillips HE WAS the oldest ever competitor on The Great Australian Bake Off but Dennis Mews, 71, still well and truly left his mark on the show. Eliminated in week three of the fourth season currently screening on Foxtel, the British-born former school teacher was responsible for the moment in the show that judge Matt Moran said would go down as one of the funniest things ever on Australian television and cemented Dennis as an audience favourite. After completing his final showstopper challenge – an edible biscuit box filled with 12 biscuits, Melbournebased Dennis told the judges he was pleased that his creation stayed together. “I’m very pleased I got to construct it without collapsing, if I may say, my last two erections have been a big disappointment,” he dead-panned in front of the judges. He laughs when it’s mentioned: “I’ve been in a bit of trouble at home since that went to air – we didn’t think it would be in the final edit. “I was baking for nine hours through the course of two days and that has to be distilled down to five minutes’ television time. “Maggie and Matt had to go away and compose themselves.” Dennis, who won over the audience with his quick quips and cheeky nature, said he was

Dennis in action during biscuit week.

Photo: Stuart Bryce

BAKED HUMOUR: The Great Australian Bake Off's oldest ever competitor Dennis Mews.

The contestants in The Great Australian Bake Off of 2019. determined from the beginning to have fun – something he hopes was obvious about his time in the “shed”. However, while he didn’t want to go out in the first week, he believes he was probably eliminated at the right time.

“I was up on the Gold Coast when I first found out I’d been selected for Bake Off – we were away on holidays for three weeks so I wasn’t able to prepare as much as some of the others,” he said. In fact, he had only prepared his bakes for the

first three weeks and would have had to have a major rethink for week four’s vegan week. “I didn’t know what a vegan was, I’m still not too sure, I might find out this week,” he quipped. Baking is an obvious passion for the

self-confessed perfectionist now, and one of the many new activities he has taken up since retiring in 2008 and moving to Australia in 2012 to be closer to his grandchildren in Melbourne. “A friend said to me when I was going to retire that if you don’t know what you’re going to do then don’t retire. “But he was wrong – for me retirement has been just the beginning,” Dennis said, explaining it had opened up a lot of new opportunities and brought him closer to his wife of 50 years. “She does my things and I do hers. “I like running and orienteering and she only took them up at 65 but she’s better than me now.”

Hearing from judges Matt Moran and Maggie Beer. While he followed his wife into baking, the competitive side of it came after a visit to the Royal Melbourne Show a few years ago when a sudden downpour saw he and his family sheltering in the baking pavilion for a few hours, where he discovered show baking. His competitive nature took over and Dennis decided to give the local Whittlesea show a go and that was it. This year he picked up two golds at the Royal Show and is currently preparing bread and other bakes for Whittlesea again. So what now after Bake Off? “My wife is interested in getting me cooking savoury food,” he said. “She’s trying to turn me into a MasterChef competitor but I’m not so sure.”

They’re Russian to entertain you THE Mullum Music Festival is well known as an event of diversity and discovery with all sorts of interesting, musically and culturally diverse acts gracing the 12 stages over the four days of the festival. This year, the Festival’s 12th is no different, with 70 acts taking part in the event from November 14-17 at venues all over Mullumbimby. However, while acts will come from near and far for the event, one of the more unusual acts

doesn’t have far to travel at all – not that you would know. On the surface, Dustyesky may look like they have just left the villages of mother Russia to head south but appearances are deceiving in this case and the 28 bearded men, singing the songs of the Red Army and traditional Russian folk songs in handsome four-part harmonies, can be found sharing a beer in Mullumbimby each week. Not that you’d know it if

you try to interview them – but that mix of humour, love and respect for what they do is what has made them festival favourites from Woodford to the Melba Spiegeltent and WOMADelaide and everywhere in between. But Mullumfest is their spiritual home, according to group spokesman Mark Swivel, who doggedly sticks to his on-stage persona. “We love being able to walk home from the gig,” he deadpans. “Maybe stagger.

“Mullum Music Fest is the best festival in Australia. “Everyone has fun, it’s safe, the food and drink are great and we are all friends.” For Dustyesky, who Mark said featured members of all ages: “We’re timeless, some boys on pensions, others still live with their mothers” it’s kind of where it all began. For more information, go to mullummusicfestival.com.

RED SALUTE: The rousing music of Dustyesky from "Mullumgrad" will be at Mullum Music Festival.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

NEWS

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FEATURE STORY

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

‘Yes’ to a life of huge challenges

IMMENSITY: The vastness of the Antarctic made Syd Kirkby feel small as he set out with his dogs, sledges and two comrades. Photo:

Courtesy of Syd Kirkby.

Legendary surveyor’s awesome achievements Alison Houston

THE universal reaction to first experiencing Antarctica is “awe and wonder”, according to one of the country’s trailblazers, Syd Kirkby AO MBE. The 86-year-old retired surveyor, recognised by the Australian Museum as one of our 50 greatest explorers and by The Australian newspaper as one of our 10 greatest adventurers, said he had seen people “actually incapacitated by awe, they were just so overwhelmed by the grandeur, scale and magnificence”. And despite wintering (1956-57, 1960-61 and 1979-81) and summering there (1961-62, 1962-63 and 1964-65 and 1979-80) as part of Australia’s Antarctic program, undertaking extensive sledging journeys for exploration and mapping, and returning in later years with tourists, he said Antarctica remained fascinating and incomparable. Syd is recorded as having explored and mapped more of the Australian Antarctic Territory than anyone else – much of it by dogsled in temperatures to minus 70 degrees Celsius. He established the most easterly, westerly and southerly astrofixes in the Australian Antarctic

Territory and with two comrades became the first and only people to explore the Prince Charles Mountains on the ground more than 60 years ago. While he has not personally noticed any climate-related environmental changes over the years in Antarctica, he said “it behoves us to treat the planet with complete circumspection and care because that is the right thing to do” rather than continuing with our “profligate and careless use of resources”. Living on the edge Syd said he had never felt any enmity or opposition from the continent, as some people articulated, but it was certainly not an environment to be taken lightly. He recalled winds so strong they had picked up and blown a cable-tied DC3 plane over 12km, and spending months in a 2m x 1.5m tent, hundreds of miles from Mawson station, with just a handful of dogs and two comrades, knowing that a simple tear in the fabric could mean they perished. “Knowing there is no salvation except as a result of your efforts and those of your two comrades is a very privileged feeling,” he said, comparing it to the bond of fellow soldiers or those united by natural disaster. He said he had learnt a

lot “as a 22-year-old kid” working with former Second World War servicemen including Battle of Britain veterans during his first winter in Antarctica. “They knew themselves, and they knew about bravery and honour and comradeship,” he said. “To run like billy-oh trying to keep up with those men and then realise after a few months that they treated you just like one of them was pretty heady stuff … mind you, you’re not like them at all.” However, Syd had fought his own battles to be there. He overcame childhood polio and being told he would never walk again through his own determination and his father’s dedication and gruelling exercise regime. Syd described the comradeship between sledgers as “probably closer than most family relationships”, because so much time was spent in complete dependence on each other, traversing terrain knowing that “no feet have ever been where your feet are”. Working with the sledge dogs, which he described as “wonderful and beautiful animals”, he said was also a privilege, although “a fairly sweaty and hardworking privilege”. However, he admitted it was also a gruesome

Syd Kirkby in the Australian Antarctic Territory. Photo: Courtesy of USC activity. “It was dirty, filthy, brutal, and often a death sentence for the dogs, but it worked at a time and place when nothing else would,” he said. Although in his earliest expeditions about 85 per

Award-winning portrait of Syd Kirkby by Tom Macbeth. Photo: Courtesy of

cent of Antarctica was unexplored, Syd does not see himself as an adventurer, with the label “explorer” sitting more comfortably with him. “An adventurer is someone who does things for the gratification of the

Tom Macbeth

thrill; I and the people I worked with are some of the most rational people on Earth – you have to be to survive,” he said. But having worked in both Antarctica and, at the other extreme, in the Great Sandy Desert with

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SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

FEATURE STORY

A long sea voyage on very rough seas in a small ship meant not being sick was a major preoccupation for about 10 days journeying to Antarctica, Syd Kirkby said. Photo:

Courtesy of Syd Kirkby.

“I have practically never seen anyone not ennobled by Antarctica and Antarctic service,” Syd said. “It demands a great deal of you and you step up to that – you look at your comrades as giants,

territory covers nearly 5.9 million sq km, about 42 per cent of Antarctica and 80 per cent of the total area of Australia itself – as Syd said, “a serious bit of real estate”. However, what he marvels at is that Australia gained this land at a time when we still only existed as a colony. He regards the 1959

Antarctic Treaty as “remarkable”, its essence contained in a few short lines in Clause 4, which states that no unilateral action by any power will affect existing territorial claims. That ensures there can be no “territorial ructions” or power plays, as feared in the Cold War days and just as likely during

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some of the last Aborigines living completely traditional tribal lifestyles in the 1950s, he said: “I have certainly been blessed to work in wondrous places”. Places which bring out the best in people.

Syd Kirkby said he did not see himself as an adventurer but an explorer. Photo: Courtesy of Australian Museum

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I have practically never seen anyone not ennobled by Antarctica and Antarctic service

and they are tough as goats’ knees yet as concerned as any mother.” He recalled his team running beside or behind the sledge typically 20 nautical miles (38km) a day – on one memorable occasion covering 67 nautical miles (123km) because they were heading home. ■ The Antarctic Treaty and Honours Syd spoke to Seniors newspapers prior to a lecture on The Getting of Australian Antarctica at the University of the Sunshine Coast in association with Royal Geographical Society of Queensland. Australia’s Antarctic

today’s political turmoil, to put the land or the scientific work carried out there in peril. And for Syd, that is paramount. “I’m intensely aware of my good fortune … It’s been a great life,” he said, adding a salute to the wives and families who had made it possible for all those who worked in Antarctica “doing these hair-brained and immensely dangerous things” at a time when it was very unusual for women to have to cope with raising a family on their own. “And the majority did it bloody brilliantly,” he said. They and all his fellow comrades and mentors, he said, stand beside him every time he talks about or accepts an award for his work in Antarctica. Syd has been honoured with a number of Antarctic landmarks in his name – Mount Kirkby, Kirkby Glacier, Kirkby Shoal and Kirkby Head – and following the Polar Medal (1958) and his MBE (1966), was awarded in 2018 both an Order of Australia Medal and the Australian Geographic Society’s highest honour.

Dr Meon Lamont

NEWS

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Goal is nothing puzzling Healthy minds, a few laughs Tania Phillips PUTTING together the pieces of a new life has led a group of Alstonville residents to become part of a puzzling new club. The Jigsaw Club, which meets each Tuesday at 1pm in Alstonville Uniting Church meeting room, is a way to exercise your brain, develop new social networks and just have a bit of fun, according to group organiser Meredith Yardley. Over coffee and cake or tea and biscuits, Meredith said the group shared the challenge and a lot of chat. “Every week three jigsaws are laid out to be worked on,” she said. “Any not finished at the end of the day are carefully rolled up on pieces of felt, to be continued in a week’s time. “When a puzzle is completed, the people

SOCIAL AND CHALLENGING: Henri and Wendy put their minds together to work on solving a puzzle. who have been working on it select a new one from

the stock always kept on hand.”

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The club is part of Meredith’s ongoing HappinessWorx program – her overarching business, which also encompasses Intentional Laughter, Hypnotherapy, and the Science of Happiness. She’s studied the latter through UCLA (Berkeley) to add to her training in the other two disciplines. Meredith is a certified Laughter Yoga leader through both the International Laughter Yoga University in India and Laughter Yoga Australia. “Loneliness is one of the worst feelings a person can have,” Meredith said. “A club like this enables and encourages people to get out and mix for a few hours each week – to meet others and chat over a shared pleasure. “The social aspect of the group is every bit as important as the mental exercise of the puzzles themselves. “There is a lot of good medical evidence to show that people who keep their minds active live happier for longer.” Meredith and husband Henri share a love of doing jigsaws together, and the club’s initial “stock” came from their personal collection. Since then more puzzles have been bought, or have been donated. Some members of the group have brought along jigsaws of their own to

share, or to get help on solving a particularly stubborn puzzle. A small entry fee of $5 covers tea, coffee and snacks as well as other costs. For more information, contact Meredith Yardley on 0434 076 183, email Meredith@meredith yardley.com or phone Henri Rennie on 0419 840 406.

Photo: Meredith Yardley

‘‘

The club is part of Meredith Yardley’s HappinessWorx program

Members of Alstonville-based Jigsaw Club enjoy their latest puzzles.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

NEWS

Retiring into rental stress

Jacqueline Nielsen and Fatima Amershi UNIVERSITY OF QLD, MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENTS AUSTRALIA enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the world with one in seven individuals aged 65 and over. However, recent studies have found that a growing number of Australians are facing an uncertain housing future owing to fractured communication between government policies, particularly the Age Pension and Commonwealth Rental Assistance Programs (CRA). As a result, the “golden years” lacks lustre for many older adults, with 24 per cent of Australians aged 65 and over living below the poverty line, having an annual income of $22,300 per year.

Beth, 94, has recently been forced to uproot her life and move from her house in Sydney to a small unit in Brisbane following the passing of her husband as she could not afford her house anymore without her husband’s pension. She currently receives $933 a fortnight on the Widow’s Pension, however, this is still not sufficient to cover her rent of $1158 a fortnight. As a result, she is having to spend $300-400 a month out of her savings, forcing her to sell her car and take public transport, impacting her ability to access the community. “I couldn’t afford the car anymore so I had to take the bus … carrying groceries on there was far too hard for me so sometimes I went without.” Unfortunately, Beth’s story is not an uncommon one faced by today’s pensioners.

DECREASE IN SOCIAL HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP The Australian Housing Report cited that the social housing stock is not keeping pace with the demands of low-income renters, forcing many to rent privately. The rising cost of private rentals is

depression and stress for many pensioners. AGE PENSION AND CRA IS INADEQUATE TO SUPPORT A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING A recent report by the Benevolent Society found that living on the Age Pension whilst living in private rental

‘‘

Maximum Age Pension rates of $460/week for singles and $698/week for a couple unaccounted for within the Age Pension and CRA payments, resulting in 48 per cent of pensioners experiencing rental stress. On average, rental costs across major states is $330/week. Given the natural physical changes that come with age, finding suitable options with longer term tenancy and home modifications is challenging to come across at an affordable price. This perpetual insecurity combined with the stress housing costs are the source of anxiety,

accommodation is the biggest indicator of poverty among older Australians. ■ At a glance, when considering the 2019 Age Pension and CRA rates published by the Department of Human Services, the maximum available payments are: • Maximum Age Pension rates of $460/week for singles and $698/week for a couple • Maximum CRA of $68/week for singles

and $64/week for a couple According to a 2019 Annual Superannuation Report Australia, these numbers are not adequate to support a comfortable lifestyle (defined as purchasing basic living needs and occasional recreational activities) which was calculated to be $831/week for singles and $1,174/week for couples. As a result, pensioners are having to resort to drastic measures to pay for rent. They have been reported to sacrifice basic living needs including food, heating or cooling, medication and visits to the doctor, thus decreasing their quality of life.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE? Older Australians like Beth play a key role in building strong and healthy communities, contributing almost $39 billion each year in unpaid caring and volunteer work. To succeed in making change and improving the quality of life for older Australians, it is

necessary to build upon supports in communities across Australia. Rental stress and financial insecurity do not have to be the way of the future for elderly Australians. ■ 1. Go to: fixpensionpoverty.org.au/ to find out more and join the Benevolent Society and National Seniors’ ‘Fix Pension Poverty Campaign’. This campaign aims to help reduce inequity among older Australians. ■ 2. Sign the petition to support Everybody’s Home ‘Fix the System Campaign’ on https://everybodyshome. com.au/petition/ which is lobbying to increase CRA payments. ■ 3. Lastly, continue to raise awareness among your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers. ■ This project is part of the ‘Social Change in Occupational Therapy’ course. If you have any comments, queries or concerns, please contact the course co-ordinator at t.aplin1@uq.edu.au.

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NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

The best of Bublé tribute

‘‘

What's on

Kernaghan brings his Backroad Nation tour to Twin Towns

ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Lee Kernaghan heads to Twin Towns in November. Tania Phillips

LEE KERNAGHAN – BACKROAD NATION TOUR TWEED HEADS

LEE Kernaghan brings his Backroad Nation tour to Twin Towns on November 29 and 30. The extensive run has included 45 shows in the past year right across the country with Twin Towns among some of the last shows for this year.

AUDITIONS FOR SOFT MURDER

ROCK VALLEY HALL CHRISTMAS BARBECUE

THE annual Rock Valley Hall Christmas Barbecue and Twilight Markets are on again, November 30. There will be market stalls, barbecue dinner, Santa for the kids, and great prizes. The free event will be held from 5pm at Rock Valley Hall. For more information contact Betty Olivieri on 02 6629 3329.

JANICE CROUCH EXHIBITION

JANICE Crouch is passionate about Christmas and started creating Christmas ornaments for the tree, walls and doors more than 40 years ago. Janice loves creating, designing

and hand-making her ornaments out of simple materials, such as pegs, shells, nuts, etc, whatever she can find – she also adds bling. These unique, individual one-off handmade ornaments make great wall and/or door hangings. It’s safe to say that in Janice’s home it is Christmas all year round. Visit Janice at Creative Artisans Gallery (shop 8), Wigmore Arcade, River St, Ballina, from Wednesday, October 30, when locally made unique Christmas decorations will be on exhibition and on sale.

BALLINA PLAYERS ARE WICKED

SPEND the night enjoying local theatre at its best with Ballina Players’ production of Wicked – the Untold Story of the Witches of Oz! Friday, November 15. To book and select seats visit the Ballina Players Theatre.

BALLINA PLAYERS WHITE RIBBON

WALK

WALK along River and Cherry streets to the new Ballina Indoor Sports Centre to help end domestic violence in the town on Friday, November 22, from 2pm. At the centre there will be guest speakers to highlight the need for collective action to stop violence against women. The walk is run by the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond and the Ballina Domestic Violence Liason Committee. Phone 0401 956 996.

HARRISON CRAIG SINGS ELTON JOHN LOVE SONGS

AUSTRALIA’S Prince of crooning and love ballads, Harrison Craig, returns in 2019 to embark on a national tour honouring the emotional, intimate and soulful love songs of the great Sir Elton John, playing the Lismore Town Hall on Friday, November 29. For more, go to norpa.org.au.

THE ANIMALS

THE Animals return this November, playing Twin Towns on November 16, bringing with them more than 50 years of iconic rhythm and blues rock. Founding member and drummer John Steel will be joined by Mick Gallagher, the band’s original keyboardist, Danny Handley on guitar and vocals and Roberto Ruiz on bass and vocals, as they perform all the classic hits, We Gotta Get Out Of This Place, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood, Boom Boom, The House Of The Rising Sun’and more.

KINGSCLIFF TRIATHLON

FOR a hit out or for fun. Join the group in stunning Kingscliff for a fun, family friendly triathlon at one of Australia’s premier coastal sporting destinations on November 24. Kingscliff Triathlon, 61 Marine Pde. Phone 1300 282 949, email kingsclifftri @nxsports.org or go to kingsclifftri.com.au.

Ballina RSL Club, Saturday, December 21. Tickets are available on 02 6681 9500 or go to ballinarsl.com.au.

SMOOTH: Front man and comedian Rhydian Lewis.

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BETTE Guy will be directing her play Soft Murder, at Lismore Theatre Company’s Rochdale Theatre, in March 2020 and auditions are to be held on Saturday, November 23, between 10am- 2pm at The Workers Club in Keen St. There are several male roles with a variety of ages required. Older men are welcome to audition. There are also two roles for females, between 25 and 40 years.

Bring a one-minute piece to perform, although the audition will consist mostly of improvisations. Please bring a notebook of some kind. Phone Bette on 02 6628 2034, 0401 344 827 or betimagine@gmail.com.

FOR one show only at the Ballina RSL Club, this is a spectacular show celebrating the songs and the story of Michael Bublé. International front man and comedian Rhydian Lewis, leads his Amazing Big Band “The Residuals”, to bring you one of the finest Tributes to this musical sensation. Rhydian and his band are fast becoming Australia’s answer to the likes of Michael Bublé and Frank Sinatra. With sold out shows a regular occurrence, be sure to check out this magical touring show. The show includes a stellar line up of Bublé’s biggest hits including, “Home”, “Everything”, “Lost”, “Sway”, “Save The Last Dance For Me”, “Feeling Good” and more. Come laugh, hear stories and be moved by some of life’s truly touching music, performed by one of Australia’s finest bands. Special guest star Melissa Western performs some of Bublé’s finest duets with Rhydian. Come along and enjoy this heart-warming and humorous evening for Bublé, Christmas and music lovers.

Live events staged at 1000 seat historic heritage theatre with wonderfuL acoustics, air conditioning, comfortabLe seating and superb Line of sight.

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SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

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Snapshots of travel options

NATURE’S BLISS IN KARUIZAWA

LOCATED just 90 minutes by train from Tokyo is the mountainside resort Hoshinoya Karuizawa. It is rich in greenery and life, and the Picchio Wildlife Research Center runs numerous nature walks and tours for you to spot some magnificent bird species. At the foot of the mountain is Tombu no yu, where you can relax in both an indoor and open-air bath while taking in the spectacular view. As night falls, you can hear the clatter of guests donning their yukata and geta clogs, making their way for a soak in the meditation bath. A limited offer is available for three-night stays from October to December. Info: hoshinoya.com/ karuizawa/en.

FLINDERS RANGES TOUR

FLINDERS Ranges Odysseys has launched a new three-day Flinders Ranges Outback Tour beginning April 3, 2020. This twice-weekly tour offers exclusive accommodation and

BLISS: Hoshinoya Karuizawa's Mizunami Room in summer. incredible food and wine, all while discovering the spectacular and rugged scenery of Wilpena Pound and the magnificent Flinders Ranges. Departing from Adelaide, guests will explore the 540 million-year-old

Flinders Ranges in air-conditioned Mercedes Benz vehicles, in small, intimate groups of up to eight and accompanied by a local tour guide. Info: kangarooisland odysseys.com.au.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW

IMAGINE a Coach Tour that combines the history and culture of Melbourne with the spectacular scenic beauty of the Dandenong Ranges and the Great Ocean Road. This is Coastal Variety Tours 13-day trip to the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show which departs March 21, 2020, including home pick-ups from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast. This tour will take you via the Pacific Hwy to Coffs Harbour, Sydney, NSW south coast, Bega and Lakes Entrance, arriving at Melbourne for the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and most-loved horticultural event – the international flower and garden show. Your Melbourne tour is not complete without

experiencing the beautiful mountain scenery while travelling aboard the Puffing Billy Stream Train and spectacular Great Ocean Road. There’s more to this tour and it’s well worth discovering for yourself by phoning Coastal Variety Tours for the full itinerary on 07 33436722

FIELD OF LIGHT EXTENDED

THE Field of Light at Uluru has been extended indefinitely. The exhibition called Tili Wiru Tjuta Nyakutjaku, or “looking at lots of beautiful lights” in local Pitjantjatjara, is made up of more than 50,000 slender stems crowned with radiant frosted-glass spheres over an area the size of nine football fields. Each evening, guests enjoy the Field of Light Uluru and each morning before sunrise, AAT Kings operates Field of Light

Hoshinoya Karuizawa's rice terrace.

Sunrise. Info: ayersrockresort.com.au/ fieldoflight.

MORE TOURS IN JANE GOODALL COLLECTION

G ADVENTURES has added its Dr Jane Goodall-endorsed collection of wildlife-focused tours for 2020 with 12 more adventures in Indonesia, Botswana, Belize, north-west USA, mainland Ecuador, the Arctic and Antarctic, and other destinations. All trips in the collection are endorsed by the UN Messenger of Peace, whose institute protects endangered species through conservation strategies that incorporate the needs of local communities, with the understanding that helping people saves wildlife. Info: gadventures. com.au/ jane-goodall.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

Facts about airline points

TRAVEL TIPS: Savvy travellers should check on rewards credit card deals, airline cabin upgrades and new airport lounges. Photo: Wavebreakmedia Ltd

THE point hackers are behind one of Australia’s largest independent platform of airline rewards experts, Point Hacks (pointhacks.com.au). Here are some points around earning and redeeming airline rewards points . Point Hacks reveals some fallacies around airline rewards programs: 1. You can earn points when you buy flights with points. Unfortunately, purchasing most reward flights with your points will not earn you points. This applies to every frequent flyer program. Flights purchased using frequent flyer points, otherwise known as Classic Flight Rewards on Qantas and Reward Seats on Virgin Australia, will not earn you any points. 2. Points Plus Pay is good value. Through Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, you can purchase award flights outright with your Qantas Frequent Flyer

points, or you can purchase flights using a mix of points and cash (called ‘Points Plus Pay’). There is more seat availability when you use Points Plus Pay to purchase a flight, but this kind of redemption hugely devalues your points and is considered poor value: at a rate of around 0.7 cents per point. For a good value redemption, you should be looking between 1.5-14 cents per point, depending on your class of travel. 3. You can upgrade most ‘cheap tier’ flights with points. This is false as you can generally only upgrade on certain tickets. For instance, Qantas’ discount economy — the cheapest Economy fare, also known as Red e-Deal or Sale fares — will only let you use points to upgrade on domestic flights, not international. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia offers upgrades on all domestic Economy fares but for Business

upgrades on international flights, this is only available to Velocity Gold or Platinum members who have purchased the more expensive ‘Freedom’ fare. A saver upgrade from Sydney to Brisbane would be 10,000 points, while an outright Business redemption would be 13,800 points. Short-haul international flights from Australia (Fiji, Samoa, Bali or New Zealand) only allow upgrades from flexi fares. 4. Frequent flyer points will never expire. Not so. Points do expire. Some frequent flyer programs, such as Qantas and Velocity, have a ‘soft’ expiry for points (the points expire if they haven’t had any activity within a specific timeframe), whereas others such as KrisFlyer and Cathay Pacific Asia Miles have a ‘hard’ expiry (the points expire after a set time, regardless of whether points have been earned or used in the account).

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Ho Chi Minh City

VIETNAM

7 night cruise on board the new Emerald Harmony 2 internal flights included 2 night Halong Bay cruise 2 nights Hanoi, 3 nights Hoi An, 1 night Hue, 2 nights Ho Chi Minh City, 3 nights Siem Reap • Exclusive ‘You’re Invited’ program includes a cyclo ride through Dai Noi, visit to a unique family owned silk factory • 47 superb meals including highlight dinners

6,595

GROUP DEPARTURE AVAILABLE

Siem Reap

(EWHH)

• • • •

per couple*

21 DAY GRAND TOUR OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

From

(EWVS)

per couple*

Hanoi

Hue

HALONG BAY CRUISE

Danang 3 Hoi An

Siem Reap 3 CAMBODIA Phnom Penh EMERALD 7

Mekong River

HARMONY

Ho Chi Minh City

E: allabouttravel@bigpond.com www.allabouttravel.travel ATAS A10619

Conditions Apply. All prices based on per person twin share. Valid on new bookings only. For FULL conditions, refer to Evergreen’s brochures & website. Not valid with any other offer. All prices based on land and cruise components only. Prices based on EWVS based on 19/8/20 departure in a category D suite includes Dollar Discount and Early Payment Discount for full payment 6 months in advance. EWHH based on 19/8/20 departure in a category D suite includes Dollar Discount and Early Payment Discount for full payment 6 months in advance. A non-refundable booking deposit of $100 per person per cruise/tour is due at time of booking. A second non-refundable deposit of $900 per person per cruise/tour must be paid within 48 hours of making a booking. Valid for bookings with deposits until 31/12/2019 and subject to availability at time of booking or until sold out. Surcharges may apply on credit card transactions. Prices, dates, taxes and availability correct as at 17/10/19 and subject to change. Evergreen Tours (a division of Scenic Tours Pty Ltd) ABN 85 002 715 602. EVA919 *

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Rare view... Rembrandt is among the famous Dutch painters whose work is on display at Museum Square.

Bikes, bikes and more bikes. Special storage areas are available to the thousands of commuters.

BLOOMING LOVELY: The canals are pretty enough in their own right, but the frequent floral touches just add another level of beauty to Amsterdam.

It’s time to get on your bike to start exploring Graeme Wilson BIKES and bongs…these are my lasting impressions of Amsterdam. Oh, and windmills. And canals. And art. It’s taken me 60 years to navigate my way to the city of tulips, but it was well worth the wait. As a regular recreational cyclist, this city is made for me. Everywhere you go you’re surrounded by bikes of all shapes and sizes, and their proliferation seems to mean power to the pedallers. So none of the road rage associated with venturing out on Australian roads, where so often it’s an angry car v bike showdown. Live and let live seems to be the Dutch motto, and that suits me just fine. A leisurely pedal out to the historic windmill

Water features everywhere around Amsterdam... here it leaps skywards outside the Rijksmuseum.

The traditional wooden shoes (clogs/klompen) are an important part of Dutch heritage and are still worn in rural areas today.

village of Zaanse Schans (see Wanderlust cover) was a highlight of my three-night Amsterdam adventure. No helmet required, so it was a ride on the wild side with the wind in what

All your senses are alive in Amsterdam, but your nasal passages in particular certainly get a workout as you wander along the winding canals and alluring laneways. I’m not one to partake

little remains of my hair. My normally dormant arty side also came alive in Amsterdam, with a visit to the Van Gogh museum providing a great insight into this master of the easel.

in such things, but the distinctive aroma of cannabis is a regular reminder of the relaxed drug laws here. Perhaps fortunately, these accompanying pictures aren’t scratch

and smell, but hopefully they paint many thousand words of praise. If you ever get the chance to visit this unique city, pack your padded bike shorts and get ready for the ride of your life.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

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Activities range from a Segway Safari along bush tracks to a flying fox zip line

STILL GREEN: O'Reilly's Mountain Villa survived the recent bushfires and open for business.

O’Reilly’s is ready for you Phil Hawkes IT’S late October on a beautiful clear mountain-fresh day at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Lamington National Park, the traditional land of the Yugambeh people. In the lobby I overhear a conversation between a couple from Brisbane and the receptionist. “We’re lucky to be here,” says the wife. “This morning my mother told us we should cancel our booking as the place had been burnt down in the recent bushfires, so we made a phone call and found that wasn’t true. So here we are.” Yanina and Apoorva at the desk say they’ve

heard this comment from a number of guests, and there’s been much confusion caused by dramatic scenes on TV. Later, at the manager’s daily guest briefing over afternoon tea (where appropriately, lamingtons are served), Brendan Long explains that in its 93 years of existence, O’Reilly’s has not been damaged by bushfires because it’s in the Gondwana subtropical rainforest area dating back millions of years, unscathed. Tragically, the Binna Burra lodge and other properties across the range were destroyed, the difference being those sites also contain eucalypt and sclerophyll forest which is prone to bushfire events. The

Lost World Spa Couples Treatment Room.

village of Canungra (the jumping off point for the road into O’Reilly’s) was not damaged although it was used as a base for fire-fighting authorities. Still, the false perception exists that the whole Scenic Rim area was burnt out; local businesses are just getting back on their feet and visitation is very welcome. Back at O’Reilly’s, an Advanced Eco-Tourism resort, there’s much to enjoy in the clean air nearly 1000 metres above sea level, away from the coastal humidity. Ideal weather for walking, so I set off with another couple on a leisurely two-hour return hike to pretty Moran’s Falls where there’s a picnic area, good for a BYO lunch. There’s

historic interest there too, being the site of a bark hut where the O’Reilly brothers first lived when they moved here to establish a dairy farm in 1911… but that’s another story. Apart from a number of different walks up to seven hours (a bit too much for me, I’d admit) there’s plenty to do at the resort, ranging from a Segway Safari along bush tracks, highly recommended, to a flying fox zip line experience down a valley which certainly gets the adrenalin moving. Less strenuous is a billy tea tour to a lookout by 4WD, with damper and a few yarns to accompany the magnificent views over the green mountains. No fire damage here.

Sunset from the summit of Moran Falls.

Photo: Ryan Fowler Photography

The highlight for me is the 6.45am bird walk. Armed with a camera and bird seed, we stroll quietly along the Booyong track where many different rainforest species including king parrots, Regent bower birds and the inevitable bush turkeys appear on cue, posing for happy snaps and a bit of birdsong. Our knowledgeable guide Sylva even seems to know many of them by name; she’s obviously a dedicated bird whisperer. Back at the dining room, a substantial breakfast awaits and having given the birds just small handfuls of seed, everyone is overcompensating by diving into the hot and cold buffets with abandon, fuelling up for

Shane O'Reilly.

another day’s activities. Just down the hill there are a number of separate villas and the Lost World Spa with an infinity pool, an excellent place to soothe tired muscles after all that walking. And good news for campers: according to Shane O’Reilly of the retreat’s owning family, the Green Mountains camp ground is being completely redeveloped adjacent to the resort with new facilities, giving visitors another option for accommodation in one of Queensland’s most beautiful mountain rainforests. For more info, go to oreillys.com.au * Phil Hawkes was a guest of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Resort

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Great days of rail travel

A train lover buys and renovates unused trains Tania Phillips THERE is something romantic and nostalgic about overnight train journeys – the chance to unpack once and just sit back and enjoy the sound of the train and the sights out the window. For many of us over 50 it takes us back to the days of summer holidays and school trips when getting anywhere without being crammed into the back of the Holden station wagon meant getting on the train. And for those growing up in the southern states, that meant taking the glorious old Southern Aurora – something you can do again thanks to the Vintage Rail Journeys company. According to company CEO and self-confessed train lover Simon Mitchell, the Southern Aurora sleeping carriages have been restored to their sparkling 1960s condition and reinstated back into service under the new name of Aurora Australis. “We have kept the carriages in as close to original condition as we could,” Simon said. “Mid-century vintage is very ‘on trend’ right now and as custodians we are proud to be able to maintain the heritage of these carriages.” While the company has, where possible, kept the vinyl wallpaper along with features such as the original light fittings, there has been some modernisation. “However, we have updated the share bathrooms in the single compartment carriages, removed ashtrays and added modern

TRAVEL BRIEFS

SPLIT YOUR GHAN JOURNEY

GUESTS travelling on the three-night, four-day Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide can split their journey in Alice Springs, giving them the chance to explore further afield. From June to August, expedition guests can spend three days in Alice Springs before re-joining The Ghan and continuing south to Adelaide. The new nine-night Territory Tour package has been curated that highlights the best of the Northern

conveniences such as USB sockets,” Simon said. The Southern Aurora provided an overnight shuttle service from Sydney to Melbourne (and return) until the mid-1980s. Considered first class in its day, the Southern Aurora provided air-conditioned luxury to its passengers. Simon himself had been a passenger in the carriages in the past, joining train trips run by the Canberra Railway Museum, so when the Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT) went into receivership he knew he had to do something to return them to service. “I have always been interested in trains and rail heritage,” he said, “and I felt strongly that we needed to put the Southern Aurora train back together and allow people to enjoy travelling on her again.” The trains are now back on the tracks, with the company developing a Golden West Trail Tour which does a loop that transports passengers from Sydney and takes in the Hunter, Dubbo, Orange, Werris Creek and the Blue Mountains, mainly aimed at those of us who still remember what it was like to ride this iconic train or wished we had. “We have found that the over-55s have a real nostalgia for train travel,” Simon said. “In the 1960s, the Southern Aurora was a first-class train used by travellers to go from Sydney to Melbourne and back. “At the time, travelling on the train was aspirational and in talking with passengers for our Territory. In includes three nights on The Ghan Expedition and three nights in Alice Springs. It features a sunset tour with Darwin Harbour Cruises, a day trip to Litchfield National Park and a guided tour of Alice Springs. Prices start from $3999 per person Gold Service twin share. Info: journeybeyondrail.com. au/territorytour or phone 132 147.

BRING YOUR IRISH NAME HOME A NEW exhibition at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin, is celebrating Irish family names and paying tribute

VINTAGE RESTORATION: A chance to enjoy the nostalgia of train-travel.

Photo: RailGallery.com.au (C)

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Mid-century vintage is very ‘on trend’ right now The Southern Aurora - now renamed Aurora Australis.

Photo: RailGallery.com.au (C)

rail tours, the train is still held in high regard.” The first Golden West Trail Tour set for April 1-5 next year sold out within three months and tickets for September 9-13 are

now selling well. “We have developed the Golden West Rail Tour mainly for the over-55s – it is an iconic five-day and four-night itinerary over 1500km that we think

everyone will enjoy,” Simon said. “Starting in the heart of Sydney, we have off-train experiences that include the always popular Riverboat Postman and

to Irish people who emigrated. The Power of the Name exhibition is adding the names to an interactive exhibition in the museum, showing the spread of Irish emigrant names throughout the world. By collating the names of people who moved from Ireland, EPIC is giving millions of people of Irish descent an opportunity to reconnect their ancestor’s name with their homeland. The experience in 20 galleries, is located on the banks of the River Liffey. It features stories of love, triumph, adventure and adversity, the museum tells the

story of the Irish diaspora across the globe, the impact they have had, the contributions they have made and the influence they have had globally. People can add their name to the exhibition via the EPIC website (epicchq.com/names). As well as their names, the exhibition will include where they emigrated from and the year they left.

travel operator, specialises in tailor-made luxury adventures across Africa for travellers who have time, curiosity, and passion to spare. Some travellers just want to kick back and relax on sabbatical; others to give back by supporting preservation of wildlife and local communities; and still others to revel in wonder and discovery, gain new skills, or throw themselves into adventures from tracking gorillas, to sleeping in the Kalahari’s salt pan with the San Bushmen, to training for a Marathon with a Kenyan runner. Info: tasafaris.com.

TRAVEL SABBATICALS IN AFRICA

TRAVEL for a month or for two years; Timeless Africa Safaris, a South Africa-based boutique

also some out of the way places in NSW that you may not have experienced before.” For further information and a full itinerary: Go to: vintagerailjourneys .com.au to book or call 1300 421 422.

PARTNER FLY FREE WITH WENDY WU TOURS

WENDY Wu Tours 2020 is offering a fully inclusive combined Japan and China tour, a journey to Japan’s southern region fully inclusive tours to Eurasia and the five ‘Stans’ of Central Asia – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and partners. Guests need to book before December 16 for travel in 2020. Info: wendywutours. com.au or phone 1300 727 998.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

Community group guide

Community notes

WE welcome your community notes. If you have news and photos you would like to share, then please email them to us at: editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The NSW Government is committed to protecting seniors from online fraudulent activity. We have been notified that there is an unauthorised Seniors Card website charging a fee for a NSW Seniors Card. The NSW Government is working closely with other State Government agencies to ensure the protection of seniors. Applying for a Seniors Card is free. Individuals wanting to apply for a NSW Seniors Card or NSW Senior Savers Card, should go to seniorscard.nsw.gov.au.

TWIN TOWNS & DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB

WE WILL next meet on November 11 at 10am (NSW time). Doors open at 8 .30am. Benching will be accepted until 9.15am. Remember to wear your badge. Trading, Cutting and Seed tables will commence selling at 8.45am. Morning tea (bring a mug), raffles, library, newsletter will be available at the meeting. Guest speaker will be: Tracy Foster from Lindisfarne School, talking about the ‘development of the school garden’ their amazing initiatives and their future direction of gardens and children. New members and visitors welcome.

TOASTMASTERS

WE INVITE you to visit Tweed Valley Toastmasters on the first and third Wednesday of most months at 9.45am at Cudgen Leagues Club, Kingscliff, where we improve our communication skills via

personal story telling. For more, email Gary at 2018onwards @gmail.com.

CASINO & DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP INC.

AT THE November monthly meeting of the Casino & District Family History Group, the guest speaker will be Sherry Walker from the Community Health Education Groups (CHEGS). CHEGS has been operating since 1979 and delivers low cost physical activity for older adults in Northern NSW. Sherry will talk to us about our aging process and there is no doubt that we will all relate to what she has to say and that there will be something worthwhile for each of us to think about. The meeting will commence at 9.30am on Wednesday, November 13 in our rooms at the School of Arts building in Walker Street. Phone 02 6662 8114 for further information during our opening hours Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10am-2pm and Wednesdays 12-4pm.

TWEED COAST CFS/ME/FMS SUPPORT GROUP INC

FIBROMYALGIA, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Information and Support Group meets on the first Friday of every month at 10.3 am at the HACC Community Centre, Cnr. Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South. All welcome. Phone Bronwyn on 07 5593 9319.

NSAA

Gold Coast South-Twin

MEMBERS REPRESENT: Ladies from the Coolangatta/Tweed VIEW Club (from left) Joan King, Di Lutze, Penny Thorpe and Beverley Robertson, attended the VIEW Clubs of Australia National Convention. Towns Branch SERVING from Tallebudgera to The Tweed, we will hold our next General Meeting on Friday, November 29 at 10am (QLD time) in the RSL Sub Branch Anzac Room of the Twin Towns Resort. Phone Tom Hughes, Public officer on 07 5513 0665. If you served in any Forces of the Commonwealth “between” 1951 -1972 then why not join us and re kindle the camaraderie you experienced during your Service. New Members welcome.

ROTARY CLUB OF CURRUMBINCOOLANGATTA -TWEED INC.

DO YOU want to Grab some Fantastic Bargains? Or Sell some of your Unwanted Items? Come to the Rotary Car Boot Sale on the second Sunday of each month between 6am and 10.30am in the carpark at the Stocklands Shopping Centre in West Burleigh Heads. No special stand required just sell from your car boot. Hundreds of cars, thousands of goods on sale and plenty of eager buyers.

There will be a Rotary Sausage sizzle, Bacon and Egg breakfast wraps and even a gourmet Expresso Coffee Van. A large part of the carpark is under cover so weather is not usually an issue. Organised by the Rotary Club of Currumbin-CoolangattaTweed and all proceeds go to local charities. H The CurrumbinCoolangatta- Tweed Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at 6pm in the Gusti Italian Restaurant at Twin Towns Services Club. Visitors are more than welcome to attend or you can contact the Secretary via email rotarycct secretary@gmail.com or mobile 0421 576 816.

VIEW CLUBS

VIEW stands for Voice Interests & Education of Women and is a national organisation boasting more than 15,000 members dedicated to supporting children’s education charity The Smith Family. Coolangatta/Tweed MORE than 620 women from around Australia came together recently at the Sunshine Coast for a long weekend combining passion and purpose for

the VIEW Clubs of Australia National Convention. VIEW was established in 1960 and we now proudly sponsor more than 1380 students through the Learning for Life Programme. Four ladies from Coolangatta/Tweed VIEW Club were able to enjoy this informative convention which is held every two years. We were delighted to learn that in 2021 National Convention will be held in Adelaide. For more information about VIEW Clubs in your local area, go to view.org.au or phone Di Lutze on 07 5590 9119. OUR next luncheon is on Thursday, November 21 at the South Tweed Sports Club at 11am for 11.30am start (DST). All ladies are very welcome. We meet on the third Thursday of the month. Our guest speaker this month is Toni Cameron (Jack Evan’s daughter) from the Porpoise Pool. Reminder of our trading table all donations will be welcome. Apologies/Bookings phone Carolyn 07 5524 7265 Monday prior to our luncheon.

TWEED HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

ARE you looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon? The Tweed Hospital Auxiliary holds Bingo sessions every Sunday from noon in the Tweed Heads Bowls Club. The Thursday evening sessions have been discontinued. There are great cash prizes and lots of fun to be had. Funds raised go to purchasing equipment for the Tweed Hospital. So why not come along for a good time and also support the local hospital.

ART EXHIBITION

SOLO art exhibition by local pastel artist Terri Bradley, will be held from December 2 to 13, weekdays 9am to 4pm. It is being held at GCCC Community Centre at Kirra Hill behind the Iron Eagle. The exhibition is of pastel paintings and all are for sale. Terri will donate 10% of all sales to Four-Paws Australia who rescue injured animals and nurse them back to good health. Buy a special Christmas present and help a worthy cause.

The diary that can save lives with your support WITH National Breast Cancer Awareness Month coming to an end, now is the time to help save lives by supporting the 2020 Australian Women’s Health Diary. The diary has become a much-loved addition to the lives of many thousands of women and last year raised $950,000. All proceeds support breast cancer trials research that is identifying new treatments and prevention strategies research that could one day save your life or the

life of someone you love. Deaths from breast cancer have fallen 30% over the past 20 years which is largely due to new treatments like Herceptin, Exemestane, Letrozole and Tamoxifen identified through the Breast Cancer Trials research program. This diary is truly saving lives. But we still have a long way to go. Every day in Australia, 53 people are diagnosed with breast cancer and they begin a journey which not only affects them but

FUNDRAISER: The popular Australian Women's Health Diary. All proceeds support breast cancer trials and research.

will impact their family and friends. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the number of people diagnosed is increasing. Continued research is needed to ensure every person gets the treatment they need to survive. Lisa Wilkinson, The Project co-host and proud ambassador of the diary said “The researchers at Breast Cancer Trials are working tirelessly, nationally and globally, to give more people access

to breast cancer clinical trials and to prove the new treatments needed to save every life, from every type of breast cancer”. For over 40 years, Breast Cancer Trials has been leading the way in saving the lives of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia and throughout the world. Their significant breakthroughs have been possible thanks to the Australian Women’s Health Diary and the support of the many Australians who buy the diary.

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Every day in Australia, 53 people are diagnosed with breast cancer Priced at $18.95 and sold at newsagents, Woolworths, Post Offices or online atwomenshealth diary.com .au.

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Wellbeing

Tracey Johnstone AN OLD friend mentioned in a recent email to another school friend that I had just moved to town and was feeling lonely so could I be included in a reunion lunch. Turns out, the email wasn’t supposed to have me copied in. When I read it, I felt quite miffed that I was seen as being lonely. It might have been true, but the public labelling of me in this way without me ever saying that as such left me feeling lousy. There is a strong stigma associated with admitting you are lonely, Dr Barbara Neves, a senior sociology lecturer at Monash University, has found. “Particularly in later life,’’ she said. “This is because some older people already feel so stigmatised, so patronised because they are old and frail, and so loneliness adds another layer to a comprised sense of personhood and dignity, particularly in a society obsessed with being young.” But, is it that I am just alone rather than lonely? Al: “I never allow myself to (be) LONELY! Occupy your mind with activity that you’ve always wanted to do while you can. I love being on my own (not lonely).” Being alone is often when we choose to be by our self. Loneliness is something quite different. It’s not something that we can see; it’s a feeling, and it’s subjective. It comes from a lack of companionship, a sense of neglect, feeling as though you don’t belong. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare puts it simply: “Having a lower level of social

contact than desired.” According to the AIHW, older Australians are at an increased risk of social isolation due to a number of environmental factors, primarily the loss of physical or mental capacity or the loss of friends and family members. It estimates that about one in five (19 per cent) of us are socially isolated. The highest rates occur in the largest urban regions and in sparsely populated states and territories. Margaret: “Groups are fine for some people…thankfully I don’t need them.” But what about Al and Margaret’s natural social needs? Humans are social animals and we need to belong. By forming meaningful relationships, we can stave off many major and costly health issues including depression, anxiety and possibly the onset of dementia. “Loneliness increases the risk of dementia by more than 40 per cent for older people,” Dr Neves said. ❚ Reach out Queensland University’s Professor Alex Haslam argues that we all need groups in our lives, but there is one very important component to groups that can make them work for you, and that is meaningfulness. “The critical thing that gets people out of loneliness, or drives them into it, is loss or gaining valued group memberships,” he said. Just spending time around other people isn’t necessarily the answer. If the people you are with aren’t valued by you, it can make things worse. “The critical thing is

Friends are vital

GET-TOGETHERS: Being part of something is a good feeling. being a member of meaningful groups. “It’s not just about not having anyone to talk to; it’s about not being part of these groups that take you out of yourself or individuality.” Let’s face it, how often does some bright spark suggest you join this group or that group while not fully understanding what type of connection you really need? So, being forced into a group isn’t necessarily the answer for you. You need to achieve a sense of being connected to that group and that means finding people who think the way you do. “The key message is that you should join groups, not which groups should you join,” Prof Haslam said. “Any group is good for you as soon as you can identify with it and it works for you. “It’s the

meaningfulness of the group that matters, not the nature of the group,” he added. Ted: “You can choose to be lonely or not lonely. That said, you can be lonely in a relationship too. If I was to be lonely, I would rather be lonely on my own than in a bad relationship.” It’s the quality of relationships that is important as well. You need to surround yourself with people who mean something to you. That might be many or just one or two, but the critical choice is ensuring they complement you and allow you to be who you are. ❚ Change direction The first step is to realise loneliness is not your fault Dr Neves says. “It’s a social issue, not just an individual issue.” Chari: When my husband passed away

eight years ago, my life went from being super hectic to nothing doing. I learned how to keep myself busy by volunteering, watching movies, joining several groups of friends for regular lunch outings, and most importantly, I learned to do things on my own and enjoy it rather than wait for someone to do things with me. I still do feel lonely sometimes but that’s OK.” Secondly, you need to determine who you want to spend time with. “Trying to go around negative behaviours and being more open to quality time with others is crucial,” Dr Neves said. Her next tip is to find out what social activities are happening in your neighbourhood or retirement community, and that interest you. “It’s where you can meet people with similar interests,” she said.

Photo: Cecilie_Arcurs

Pat: Best thing ever when I joined a VIEW Club. You can also look at where you can share your experience and knowledge within a volunteer role. “Volunteering and helping others can help with our own feelings and can help us see the value in ourselves,” Prof Haslam said. “Everyone has a role to play in helping to address loneliness. In our research we have found that helping other people is one of the best ways to stave it off yourself.” He says viewing your neighbour as someone who you can share common group membership or a sense of identity with, consequently developing “us-ness’’, is a valuable “way to interact with them and the way you perceive them and the CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

The Kominsky Method of fine friendship Tracey Johnstone I HAVE just discovered the Netflix series The Kominsky Method which stars Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin and Sarah Baker. If you have Netflix, this is a must-see show. If you don’t – find a friend who does. It’s just started Season 2, but take the time to work your way through Season 1, so you get the

background to this wonderful storyline about acting coach Sandy Kominsky and his best friend and agent Norman Newlander who keep each other laughing as they navigate the ups and downs of getting older. And wait until you meet drinks waiter Alex – no spoiler alert here. You have to watch the show to enjoy the moment. In his youth Sandy was a renowned actor but now

he teaches at his own acting studio known as the Kominsky Method. As for his friend Norman, his wife recently passed away and he struggles to deal with her death. The experts call it raunchy, witty, irreverent – I call it simply a pleasure to watch. The pair have their work cut out for them handling life and men’s health issues as they progress on a hilarious and real ageing journey.

PLEASURE TO WATCH: Alan Arkin (Norman Newlander) and Michael Douglas (Sandy Kominsky) in the Netflix series, The Kominsky Method. Photo: Michael Yarish/Netflix

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

WELLBEING

part of good health

GOOD COMPANY: Pets can be a great comfort. FROM PAGE 24 expectations you have around them”. “Beyond joining a group, you can also look at the relationships you have and see how you can make them better for you,” Dr Neve says. “And be open to new

relationships.” Another idea from Beyond Blue is pets, particularly dogs, who provide constant companionship and unconditional love, and need to be kept active. They give you a purpose of getting you out of your home even when you’re

Photo: Jevtic

feeling down, forcing you to be more active and opening opportunities for you to connect with others in your community. If you are still feeling lonely, then Dr Neves recommends you talk to a social worker or your GP. ❚ Social prescribing

The Royal College of General Practitioners reports in its 2019 General Practice: Health of the Nation that psychological issues such as depression, mood disorders and anxiety “again appear as the most common health issue managed by GPs”. In the UK, GPs are being encouraged to connect these patients with relevant social services. “Its impact is a bit mixed precisely because you are often imposing solutions or groups on people and doing that in a not very structured way,” Prof Haslam said. On a recent episode of the ABC show The Drum, former AMA president Kerryn Phelps explained the challenges around this type of health support approach as GPs are often only able to allocate 20 minutes for a consultation. “I think there is an artificial divide between psychological and physical illness,” she said. “The two almost always coexist. Somebody might present with trouble sleeping or a headache or

some other somatic condition or physical symptom, whereas the underlying or coexisting condition is one of anxiety or depression or difficulty with life circumstances. And, of course, the GP is the first point of call and should be for someone suffering from any kind of health condition.” The burden lies with the GP who Dr Phelps says would find it almost impossible to provide sufficient support to a patient within a 20-minute consultation, especially when a patient does not express their psychological issue until the last minutes of an appointment. In Australia, University of Queensland’s Associate Professor Genevieve Dingle is leading The Ways to Wellness Social Isolation Project research team which is testing this social prescribing concept, where patients are referred to a link worker and on to non-medical group programs in the community. Prof Dingle’s team are examining the effects of this social prescribing project with a view to

developing a model that can be implemented across Australia. ❚ Tackling the conversation head-on Talking to others about being lonely is hard. Often those that matter most to you will divert the conversation away from what you are trying to voice rather than listen to what you have to say. If this keeps happening, there are free phone services you can contact so your concerns can be heard. “Although we are talking about strategies that people can take at the individual level, it is important to think about our social responsibility,” Dr Neves said. “One thing that is extremely important is more initiatives to destigmatise loneliness and deconstruct the idea that loneliness is associated with a personal weakness.” If any part of this story raises concerns, phone Lifeline 131 114, Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 or Red Cross Telecross, 1300 885 698.

Mutual support and meaningful connections THE team at Lively are young, enthusiastic and energised and ready to roll out their innovative intergenerational home-care service. The management group of four in their early 30s, led by Lively founder Anna Donaldson, are bringing to the aged-care space a new model for delivering in-home support which is a fresh, youthful approach Ms Donaldson says is sometimes lacking in the industry. “It’s about young and older people coming together and supporting each other in an enthusiastic and energetic way on both sides, and recognising both young and older people can be lively and have a whole lot to contribute and offer,” Ms Donaldson said. The not-for-profit organisation has been operating in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for about four years, offering technology help to 700 older Australians. Last month it expanded its operations, after running

a pilot, launching its home-care service model in Melbourne. The service is based on the Netherlands’ Buurtzorg low-cost model which uses a local team of helpers who are established in a local community and work directly with people in that area with the autonomy to self-manage as a team, but supported by a central office. “Teams can then pop up anywhere around Australia in the near future rather than us growing to become a huge organisation,” she said. Ms Donaldson says the new business aims to address youth unemployment and underemployment while also tackling social isolation among older Australians, and the disconnection and ageism between the generations. “We train and employ job seekers in the 18 to 25 age bracket to work with older people in their local communities, providing support and

NEW MODEL: Lively’s newly launched home care service is working to build reciprocal relationships. Photo: Lively services that help older people maintain social connection and general wellbeing,” she added. “Through the process we try to facilitate and encourage the formation of meaningful relationships and friendships between the older and younger people where they are learning from the older people’s knowledge and experience, and breaking down some of the stereotypes, attitudes

and preconceptions young people might have about older community members.” The young workers are selected based on their attitudes, values and mindset instead of just their qualifications. Lively put them through an introductory course which Ms Donaldson says is about establishing an empathy and awareness of the people they will be working with.

“And (we do) some foundation work around their communication and interpersonal skills, and the skills they need to manage themselves in this environment,” she said. “We give them a lot of autonomy to be connected with the older clients and work with them to self-manage how they work together and support each other. “Through the training we impress on them the responsibility and

expectations of their role.” This approach is an innovative way of creating a new entry point for young people moving into working in aged care. “It gives them an introduction to the sector and a sense of how rewarding it is, and build their motivation to take on more training and qualifications.” The services provided will be basic support that doesn’t include personal care and support with mobility. The workers will be paid for doing simple tasks like gardening, shopping and jobs around the house The workers are paid through the Home Care Packages program. It’s a two-way relationship where both generations value getting to know each other, Ms Donaldson says. “We are trying to build reciprocal relationships where there is a sense of exchange,” she said. “The older person is contributing to the younger person rather than just receiving care and support.”

WELLBEING

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

‘‘

Wearing a hat is critical. Aim for a wide brim rather than caps.

IN BRIEF

FUNDING BOOST FOR WA PALLIATIVE CARE

DEMENTIA Australia welcomes the announced $17.8 million funding boost for palliative care in Western Australia. Maree McCabe, CEO Dementia Australia, said the funding would help provide improved support and services for all Western Australians in need of palliative care, including those living with dementia. From the funding boost, $9 million will be used to provide an additional 10 in-patient palliative care beds in northern metropolitan suburbs. Community-based services across both metropolitan and regional Western Australia will be expanded to better meet demand via $6.3 million of the funding.

PROVIDER CALLS FOR LEADERSHIP

SUN SENSE: The scalp is a high-risk site which, if neglected, can lead to some nasty outcomes.

Photo: thodonal

Scalp protection tips Tracey Johnstone YOU may be very aware of regularly applying sunscreen on our face, hands, arms and even our legs, but what about taking care of your scalp? Dermatologist Dr Yan Pan says it’s an area of the body that is often neglected. “Hair loss can affect both genders,” Dr Pan said. “With females, as

they age, there will be thinning and increased parting of their hair on the scalp. It’s a risk that people should be aware of.” The scalp is a high-risk site which if neglected, can lead to some nasty outcomes. Protection ■ Wearing a hat is critical. Aim for a wide brim rather than relying on baseball caps. ■ Avoid relying on a visor for protection.

■ Treat wearing a hat like you treat putting on sunscreen; put it on as you head outdoors, particularly if you are going outside for an extended time. ■ Be aware of the UV index which you can find through the Sunsmart app which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. ■ Use sunscreen with a SPF factor of 30+, broad spectrum and is water-resistant. Apply 20

minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. ■ Make sure the sunscreen you are using hasn’t expired. Detection ■ It can be hard to successfully self-examine your scalp health, so ask your partner, friends or hairdresser to look for you. ■ “Sometimes the skin cancer can be in hair-bearing areas which can be tricky to

self-assess,” Dr Pan advised. ■ If there is anything you are worried about, talk to your GP. They can then refer you to a specialist, if required. Skin examination “I think you should have your skin examined annually by your GP,” Dr Pan said. “For high-risk patients, it should be done more regularly.” For more information, go to www.sunsmart.com.au

Functional in-home dementia design

DESIGNING functional spaces in a home can help address the complex needs of people living with dementia. In his submission for the 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease International Annual Report, Associate Professor Colm Cunningham, a director of the HammondCare Dementia Centre, says being able to “see and sense” is vital as unfamiliar environments and situations within a home can cause a person to become stressed and confused. Prof Cunningham suggests design should include: ■ Kitchen — reduce clutter by clearing benches and workspaces of occasionally used

items and leaving out things that are needed every day, such as tea and coffee-making items. ■ Noise — reduce distracting noises from both radios and televisions. ■ Calm — create a calming space where the person has favourite and familiar items and to which they can retreat if feeling tired or overwhelmed. ■ Lights — adjust light levels, remembering that people with dementia and older people generally benefit from more light. ■ Signs — use signs and cues that reduce confusion or uncertainty such as in the kitchen; pictures work well as the ability to read words may be lost.

A NOT-FOR-PROFIT aged care provider has called for strong leadership to tackle workforce issues, with a Minister for Ageing sitting on Cabinet demonstrating a powerful commitment to Australia’s ageing popluation. Speaking at the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Sandra Hills, CEO of Benetas and also a member of the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council, said there was much work to be done and this could not be done by the Workforce Council or providers alone. When asked by the counsel assisting if the Department of Health was providing enough leadership, Ms Hills responded with: “No, more leadership would be welcome.” The Aged Care Workforce Industry Council is charged with delivering 10 of the 14 Strategic Actions identified in Australia’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy,

TRAINING IN DEMENTIA CARE FOR WORKFORCE

DEMENTIA CARE: In-home design, including better lighting and using contrasting colours, are keys to managing patient needs. Photo: simpson33 ■ Colour — Introduce contrasting colours where needed as they can help people to understand the room and situation to find their way. “For example, having

contrasting bed linen so the bed is more obvious and a different colour top and bottom sheet that contrast to the floor makes finding and getting into bed easier

and can be the difference between needing assistance and getting into bed independently,” Prof Cunningham suggests.

DEMENTIA Australia is again joining broader calls for the government to implement national mandatory dementia education for the aged-care workforce. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said that ensuring the aged-care workforce was trained with skills that respond to the needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers was of vital importance to the quality of care provided to the growing number of Australians living with dementia.

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

LIVING

Living

AWARD WINNER: Communications Alliance Chief Executive Officer (from left) John Stanton and Southern Phone Company Managing Director, David Joss.

Innovative phone doesn’t need internet connection BRAND INSIGHTS SOUTHERN Phone’s phone-only solution for seniors is making waves in the industry. Next Home Phone took out the Innovation-SME category at this year’s Australian Communication Industry Awards — ACOMMS — which were held in August. Next Home Phone is the leading solution for seniors who just want to keep their home phone

and their existing number in an NBN world that wants them to change. It allows them to keep their existing home phone without needing an internet connection. This not only saves them the complexity of switching to NBN but also saves them money. “We are so proud to have won this industry innovation award,” said Southern Phone managing director David Joss.

“The migration to NBN can be confronting for many and the change from a traditional home phone service to Voice over IP even more so. “Next Home Phone serves a need in the market by providing a solution for those who just want a home phone that is activated in minutes, is simple and well-priced.” Since 2002, Southern Phone has deliberately placed a strong business

and service focus on older Australians who don’t want or need super-fast internet packages but are very keen to maintain simple, affordable and reliable communications. Next Home Phone was developed not to win awards, but to solve a specific problem being faced by Australian seniors, which is having to implement a broadband connection just to maintain their home phone experience.

“Southern Phone has a strong history of servicing the needs of Australian seniors,” Mr Joss said. “We’re very proud of this simple solution targeted at addressing such a clear need across Australian communities.” For more information about the Next Home Phone, go to southernphone.com.au or phone 13 14 64.

‘‘

Next Home Phone serves a need in the market by providing a solution for seniors.

Free advice on seniors’ rights and options in care MEET Mikal Wade-Ferrell. He offers free advice to help seniors in North NSW find better care plans. What can a senior do if they feel they are being overcharged for their care packages? I would suggest shopping around for a better care plan with another provider and make sure that provider is prepared to include all the extra services you need. When comparing the different providers it is difficult to compare “apples with apples” as

they all have different names for a multitude of charging scenarios. I recommend you get a quote, for a total cost of everything that is not a service directly to you, as a percentage of your package. This will let you know what is left as usable funds. The next thing to compare is the actual billing rates. I know of a provider charging out their cleaners at $59.95 per hour, but paying them less than half (more profit to

the provider), some charge travel costs to get to you, the client, before you even start your service. Can you help someone who is unhappy with their current care package? Yes. I can assist anyone on a package to get a better range of services at a far cheaper cost, which gives the client more usable hours per week for their needs to be met. What are some other common issues with care packages and how can you help? 1. Under-servicing – where

clients are not getting enough of what they need from their package because so much of it is wasted on administration costs etc. 2. Not getting the variety of services needed, for example – podiatry, physio therapy, gardening, etc. Simply put, anything that keeps you safe, secure and independent in your own home. 3. Continuity of care – most of the people I talk to complain about getting a different carer each time and that the service time can vary not only of the

time of day, but even the day each week. They are led to believe that is just the way it is and nothing can be done about it. Are there costs involved for someone to receive your assistance? No. I offer an obligationfree service on seniors rights and options within the Home Care Systems to the client. How does one contact you? Phone 0488 864 525 (04888-MIKAL) or send an email to mwficm@gmail.com.

FREE ADVICE: Contact Mikal Wade-Ferrell.

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

Money

LABOUR FORCE: More workers means more people with incomes but could result in lower wages growth if there are not enough jobs available.

Photo: gilaxia

Household debt hits hard

AUSTRALIA has the world’s second-highest level of household debt. We know it, we worry about it, and there is increasing evidence it is changing our way of life. Hovering around 120 per cent of GDP — that is everything the nation produces in a year — Australia’s household debt is second only to Switzerland, and we’re not too far behind the Swiss. It wasn’t always like this, with that debt burden almost trebling in the past 28 years. But not all of that housing debt has simply been used to buy homes — many people have been cashing in on the rising value of their properties over the past two decades. Even for

people who don’t buy and sell a home, and stay in the one place, between 30 and 40 per cent of these people are increasing their debt from one year to the next. This spending could take many different forms such as renovating the home, going on holiday, or buying a new car. Reducing interest rates, as a guaranteed way of increasing demand, appears to be no longer working to help. The Reserve Bank has been learning this the hard way, with three interest rate cuts this year, on top of personal income tax cuts, so far having little positive effect on retail sales or the unemployment rate. About the only thing the rate cuts have done to

date is boost house prices, but it isn’t clear yet whether that will be enough to restart that cycle of rising equity, more debt and increased spending, or even whether that would be a desirable outcome. High levels of household debt tend to create cautious consumers but we’re not just saving money by spending less, we’re also trying to work more. There is an increasing number of older Australians who are yet to pay off their mortgage and as a result are more likely to remain in the workforce. It isn’t just older people working more — women are also increasing their participation in the labour

market. From participation rates around 51-52 per cent in the early 1990s, a record 61.2 per cent of women aged 15 and over are now in, or looking for, employment. The necessity for two income earners in the household has grown quite a lot over time as it is very difficult to service a mortgage home loan these days if you don’t have two income earners in the family. Higher labour force participation is generally considered good for the economy — more workers means more people with incomes, more spending, more taxes paid. But, if there isn’t enough work to go around, then more people competing for fewer jobs

can mean lower wages growth — exactly what we’ve seen for the past few years. The ultimate flow-on from continued high debt levels is the risk of a financial and economic crisis if Australia’s overseas creditors get nervous about our ability to repay what we owe them on time and in full. High levels of household debt and the flow on effects it causes is a concern for financial markets and will impact at some point in time on a range of different asset classes. It could be wise to speak with your financial adviser to ensure you are properly structured and appropriately invested through this stage of the investment cycle.

For more, contact Mark Digby at Maher Digby Securities Pty Ltd - Financial Advisers – AFSL No. 230559 (see advert Page 3). Ph: 07 5441 1266 or go to maherdigby.com.au This document was prepared without taking into account any person’s particular objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not guaranteed as accurate or complete and should not be relied upon as such. Maher Digby Securities does not accept any responsibility for the opinions, comments, forward looking statements, and analysis contained in this document, all of which are intended to be of a general nature. Investors should, before acting on this information, consider the appropriateness of this information having regard to their personal objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend consulting a financial advisor.

Fee size has big savings impact Paul Clitheroe AN ANNUAL investment fee of 1.5 per cent sounds small but it can carry a big punch. Over the past 30 years, for instance, Aussie shares have delivered returns averaging 9.2 per cent annually. If you’d invested $100,000 at the start of that period in a managed fund (like your super) with an annual fee of 1.5 per cent, you’d now have $896,508. It sounds impressive,

right? However, if you had invested that same $100,000 in a fund with annual fees of just 0.5 per cent, your investment would be worth $1,207, 807. That’s an extra $311,000 going straight into your pocket just because of lower fees. It goes to show that it makes better sense to forget about out-performance and concentrate on what you can control – paying the lowest total percentage fee possible. There are three easy

ways to do this. Fold multiple super accounts into a single account Most super funds charge a fixed annual administration fee, so having more than one fund means doubling up on this fee. Consolidate your accounts and get all your money working for you in one place. Know what you’re paying If you use an adviser, ask them for a fee breakdown. Add in the direct fees paid on investments like super. It’s a fair bet you’re paying

more than you realise. Check if product fees are worth it If you invest only in index funds, which aim to mirror market returns, you really shouldn’t be paying much at all. Even if you go for something a little more fancy, aim for annual fees below one per cent – it can be done. Paul Clitheroe is Chairman of InvestSMART, Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

Saving money without the impact of high fees. Photo: LdF

SENIORS \\NOVEMBER, 2019

More local news. Now easier to read.

From next month, you’ll notice our new, easier-to-read size. Even though we’re changing the size of the paper, we’ll continue to bring you more of the local stories that matter. With our new look and feel, and more local news than ever before, we’re fitting more of the news you care about into a handier size. We’re excited about the changes coming. It’s all part of our commitment to covering the news that matters and our mission to make your favourite papers even better.

NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS

NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

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

PUZZLES 3

Across 1 Which Japanese city hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics and has an annual ice and snow sculpture festival? (7) 4 What do we call the costume of a nun or monk? (5) 7 What British nobleman ranks below a marquess and above a viscount? (4) 8 What did Gene Roddenberry create? (4,4) 10 What is a colloquial expression for an amorous glance? (3,4,3) 12 What dung-beetle was considered sacred in ancient Egypt? (6) 13 Where did Sophia Loren spend her childhood? (6) 15 Who was the author of A Spaniard in the Works? (4,6) 18 What wine bottle is about six times the size of a standard bottle? (8) 19 What is a mark left by a whip? (4) 20 Which card game was a forerunner of bridge? (5) 21 What is the white part of an egg? (7)

8 9

10 11 12

13 14 15

17 18

Down 1 In what sport are ﬂying clay targets used? (5) 2 What hard, sharp-tasting cow’s milk cheese is used primarily in grated form? (8) 3 What are groups or series of eight? (6) 4 With whose band did Frank Sinatra make his ﬁrst recordings? (5,5) 5 From what part of the cork oak does cork come? (4) 6 What are the proceeds from a period of selling? (7) 9 Gymnastics was given a new lease of life as a sport by which gymnast at the 1972 Olympics? (4,6) 11 Sir Winston Churchill was born at which palace? (8) 12 Colloquially in the United States, what part of a town is frequented by vagrants and alcoholics? (4,3) 14 What is the capital of Turkey? (6) 16 What material is most commonly used for brush bristles? (5) 17 Which language used to be called Siamese? (4)

31 26/10

SUDOKU

QUICK CROSSWORD

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

DOUBLECROSS

8 9

Find a ﬁnished crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.

11 12 13

15 16

19 20

5x5

ALPHAGRAMS: EXALT, FEARED, GARNETS, HARDWARE, INSINUATE. GK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Sapporo, 4 Habit, 7 Earl, 8 Star Trek, 10 The glad eye, 12 Scarab, 13 Naples, 15 John Lennon, 18 Rehoboam, 19 Weal, 20 Whist, 21 Albumen. Down: 1 Skeet, 2 Parmesan, 3 Octads, 4 Harry James, 5 Bark, 6 Takings, 9 Olga Korbut, 11 Blenheim, 12 Skid Row, 14 Ankara, 16 Nylon, 17 Thai. QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Bars 3. Focussed 9. Reliant 10. Cried 11. Insufferable 13. Reveal 15. Pledge 17. In the long run 20. Hindu 21. Tremble 22. Worsened 23. Alms. Down: 1. Barriers 2. Rules 4. Outset 5. Unchallenged 6. Skilled 7. Dodo 8. Halfway house 12. Keenness 14. Vintner 16. Blithe 18. Rebel 19. Thaw.

A H

C I

S E E R S

N Y

S P

E G G E D

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 18 Very Good 25 Excellent 30

R E A V E

WORD GO ROUND

A I S L E

DOUBLECROSS

B L U E R

SOLUTIONS

SUDOKU

ALPHAGRAMS 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 ﬁve-letter solution starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so on.

LATEX DEAFER STRANGE HER AWARD ANNUITIES

5x5

R I

G A

L R

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

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

E E

SOLUTION

Down 1. Obstacles (8) 2. Statutes (5) 4. Commencement (6) 5. Uncontested (12) 6. Proﬁcient (7) 7. Extinct bird (4) 8. Midpoint in a progression (7,5) 12. Enthusiasm (8) 14. Wine seller (7) 16. Cheerful (6) 18. Dissenter (5) 19. Melt (4)

Across 1. Excludes (4) 3. Concentrated (8) 9. Dependent (7) 10. Wept (5) 11. Intolerable (12) 13. Disclose (6) 15. Promise (6) 17. Over time (2,3,4,3) 20. Indian religion (5) 21. Quiver (7) 22. Deteriorated (8) 23. Charity (4)

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NOVEMBER, 2019// SENIORS

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