Seniors Northern NSW, June 2020 by seniors

June, 2020

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JUNE, 2020//

Winds of change Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor THIS month we lead with Kathryn Greiner, a woman who, both in private and public spheres, has her finger on the pulse of older Australians. At 73, Greiner is not keen on being described as one of the “elderly’’. The word elderly seems to have come from another time – long before this generation of older people reaped the benefits of modern medicine and lifestyle. COVID-19 has also placed aged people in front of the debate because of the initial perception there were some who considered the virus an older people’s problem. However, the Prime Minister has said: “Every Australian matters. It doesn’t matter whether they have just been born or are approaching the end of their lives – every Australian matters.” Certainly, the intergenerational

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solidarity shown through many and various acts of community kindness has supported the value of older adults during this difficult time. Sadly, I also have to inform you that due to fast-changing world events in technology and including the COVID-19 virus, this will be the last issue of Seniors News (in print and digitally). Senior News staff is a small team of dedicated professionals who have endeavoured to provide inspiring, practical and entertaining reading aimed at empowering the older person. I trust that in some way this has been achieved. Finally, to our readers and advertisers, thanks so much for all your support. It has been a pleasure working with you. Gail

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. Responsibility for election material in this paper is taken by Gail Forrer, cnr Mayne Road & Campbell Street, Bowen Hills, QLD 4006.

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Stretching the friendship Inspiring intergenerational TV experiment set for broader use THE enormous success of the ABC television series Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds has led to researchers looking at how this intergenerational experiment can be offered in the broader community. There have been similar projects conducted through other aged care facilities, but few are known to exist in the non-residential seniors’ community. With support funding from the University of NSW’s Ageing Futures Institute, project co-leader, Dr Stephanie Ward from the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) senior research scientist Dr Ruth Peters, will investigate how to bring older adults and

young children together for learning activities. “We were all initially inspired by the television program, which I was on,” Dr Ward said. The geriatrician found the key outcomes from the show were purpose and connection. “I could see the way that the experiment gave the adults a sense of purpose and how important that was, for some of them, in changing their health and their attitudes,’’ Dr Ward said. “The sense of connection is incredibly important for all of us at any age but can become more difficult to maintain at an older age.” It underpinned a great deal of the transformation the TV show researchers and viewers saw. “It reminded us all how

UPLIFTING CONNECTION: Resident Stuart enjoys a visit from Jax and Michaela in a scene from the TV series Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds. Pictures: ABC-TV

incredibly resilient and resourceful older and younger people are and what magic can happen when you bring the two generations together,” Dr Ward said. “Coming out of that, we want to look at what is sustainable and feasible in the longer term for intergenerational projects and what will be useful for

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adults living in the community with children living in that community.’’ Dr Ward added: “We saw in the television show how beneficial it could be but we need more evidence to find the best way to do this.’’ While the TV show was based on four-days-a-week interaction, the researchers are considering a shorter format.

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community-based older populations.‘’ The multidisciplinary Intergenerational Integration Initiative project will look at the best way to deliver a similar project to what was conducted in the aged care home but within the broader senior community. Dr Peters said: “We want to bring together older

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The decision will hinge on the feedback they receive from an Australia-wide survey, which they want anyone aged 18 and over to complete. “We want to know what people think about intergenerational interaction, what’s best, what’s the facilitators, the barriers and how can we deliver this type of interaction going forward,” Dr Peters said. The survey is available online at coghealth.net.au/ the-intergenerationintegration-project. By the end of this year, the project team hopes to have resources available on how groups can conduct face-to-face intergenerational interactions on an ongoing basis. Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds screened for five weeks as part of a sevenweek experiment to see how the company of youngsters could improve seniors’ lives.

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JUNE, 2020//

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Long life after Nazi ordeal Centenarian grateful for help to avoid deadly camps Alison Houston THERE were times when Marie-Louise (Marlies) Green didn’t think she would make it to 25, never mind 100. Her warm smile belies the hardships and horrors she witnessed, having been born to a Jewish family in Essen, Germany, on May 22, 1920, just 13 years before the Nazis came to power. Her secret, she said in the lead-up to her 100th birthday celebrations at St Andrew’s Retirement Living and Aged Care, Tallebudgera, was to “keep smiling, keep busy, keep laughing, enjoy everything in moderation … and lots of sleep”. “It’s also important to get active every day – I walk every day, which I picked up from my parents, who took me hiking in Switzerland as a child.’’ However, listening to Marlies speak in an oral history interview with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2002, it is clear that an empathic heart and having inherited her parents’ strength have a lot to do with it as well. She said she did not speak much about her experiences, but was recording her story then because “The world should know what happened … “I always thought after the war that people might have learned and it would never happen again, but I was quite wrong because you see it happening not just for the Jews but in other countries. The cruelties go on forever.’’ Farewell Germany Marlies recalled an almost idyllic childhood, completely free of discrimination, despite being the only Jews in their area. “We felt as German as anybody else,” she said. But in early 1934, with the rise of Hitler, her school, fearing closure, threw out all the Jewish students. “That was really the first time I felt different,’’ Marlies

WELL-LIVED LIFE: Marlies Green celebrates her 100th year at Tallebudgera's St Andrew's Retirement Living and Aged Care ... always grateful for the help that saved her life during World War II.

said. Faced with everincreasing rules about where Jews could and could not go, and after her brother was bashed by a group of boys for being Jewish, her parents decided to leave Germany for rural Holland. Holland is occupied When Holland was then occupied by the Nazis from May 1940, shops and restaurants were closed to Jews, they were forced to wear yellow stars on all their clothes and travel restrictions began. Dutch resistance was quickly snuffed out when, having attempted to boycott the new travel rules, the Nazis “picked out about 100 men and shot them” in punishment. Living in the countryside, Marlies and her brother

found work on farms because farm workers were needed to feed the German army. Even so, in August 1942 they were summoned to attend Westerbork transit camp – the first stop for many on their way to concentration camps. They were lucky to be

production. “… it was good for me and my brother, but leaving all the others behind was a dreadful feeling,” she said with tears in her eyes. Marlies still treasures that piece of paper, saying: “This is my most precious document, which gives me the permission to leave the

I ALWAYS THOUGHT AFTER THE WAR THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE LEARNED AND IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT I WAS QUITE WRONG BECAUSE YOU SEE IT HAPPENING NOT JUST FOR THE JEWS BUT IN OTHER COUNTRIES. THE CRUELTIES GO ON FOREVER. MARLIES GREEN

given a reprieve thanks to a determined neighbour and the farmers insisting to German authorities that the siblings were essential for

camp, and that is what has saved my life, just that little piece of paper.’’ However, her parents were ordered to

Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter, and a month later the children were ordered to join them. The family’s fate Again, Marlies said she and her brother were blessed to find friends who, despite putting their own lives at risk, separately took them in and hid them for the rest of the war – 2½ years. Her parents were not so fortunate, with her mother saying: “If all Jews have to go, I go with them.’’ After the war, she learnt that her parents had died at the Sobibor extermination camp in Poland. Marlies met her mathematician husband, Bert, who worked with Albert Einstein, in Edinburgh, married in Dublin and the pair moved to

Australia for him to start a new department of mathematical physics at Adelaide University. She has two children, Roy and Joanne, of whom she is very proud. Joanne, who was at the 100th celebrations, said her mother always wanted to repay the help she received during the war, and “adopted” anyone new to Adelaide, ensuring they weren’t lonely. “She’s been such a loving mother, grandmother and ‘second mother’ to so many people,” Joanne said. Marlies did return to visit German friends, but admitted: “It was a strange feeling, especially when people came and shook my hand … I wondered what that hand had done.’’ SENE01Z01MA - V1

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Community group guide

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Community notes

Since this is our last edition I would like to say a special thanks to you for taking the time each month to email your community notes and pictures to us. You have made a great contribution to our newspaper. Gail, Editor.

POTTSVILLE FUN CROQUET CLUB INC WE commenced play again, as of June 2. Our days of play are Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am. We are abiding by strict social distancing, by staggering our start times. This may mean short delays but we are sure it is worth it. There are handwashing facilities, hand sanitiser and wipes, and one designated member sets up the courts for play. It is also requested that you have the correct money for the session, which is $3 per member or $5 for a visitor, and that you bring your own mallet (we do have several for purchase). Our club has been operational for more than two years now and it is proving to be most successful. We have 40 members and it has been a tough year over the past summer with drought conditions. However, during all this our members have been willing volunteers to raise much-needed funds – a big thank you to everyone. Our club is excited with the new turf that has been laid on court one and the automatic water system that is now operational on both

courts. This is thanks to our club patron, Councillor Chris Cherry, and a huge thanks to the Tweed Council Parks and Recreation staff for their ongoing support. It has certainly helped to have a strategy plan in place as this enables all parties to work through the forward planning. Members came along to help with the layout of the two courts, plus extensive weeding. Cr Cherry came along as well and looked the part getting her working gear nice and dirty! Everyone was so happy to be able to get out in the fresh air and catch up with other members. Our AGM is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, at 10.30am at the croquet courts, Black Rocks Sports Fields. Discussions will be held regarding membership fees, and a new committee will be voted in. Any member willing to put their hand up to take on a position will be warmly welcomed. Being on the committee can be most rewarding. Stay committed to playing croquet and welcome new members, who are so important to help

WORKING BEE: Pottsville Fun Croquet Club members Stan, Edwina and Tony came along to help with the layout of the two courts, plus do some extensive weeding.

grow our club. For any inquiries, phone Jenny on 0413 335 941.

LOOKOUT CARPARKS OPEN AGAIN

Pottsville Fun Croquet Club members having a laugh while working and weeding. A great day was had by all the volunteers.

BALLINA Shire Council has reopened the Pat Morton (Lennox Point) and lighthouse lookout carparks following the easing of NSW Government COVID-19

restrictions. The carparks were closed last month after NSW Police identified these two locations as problem areas attracting people from

Tweed Councillor and Deputy Mayor Chris Cherry doing her part for a good cause.

outside the Ballina Shire who were not adhering to the Government’s public health order. The decision to reopen the carparks has been made in consultation with the Richmond Police District. Residents are asked to exercise caution when enjoying our beautiful lookouts, by continuing to: stay 1.5 metres from others; practise good hygiene at all times; stay home if you are feeling unwell; leave the area if it is too busy. Potential Ballina Shire visitors are also reminded that non-essential travel, including holiday visitation, is not allowed under the current COVID-19 restrictions. For more information about the council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic go to ballina.nsw.gov.au/ Coronavirus. For more information relating to the NSW Government public order, go to nsw.gov.au/covid-19. SENE01Z01MA - V1

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Testing time to continue Greiner predicts post-pandemic financial pain for seniors Tracey Johnstone MEMO to ScoMo: 70 is not “elderly”, bristles Kathryn Greiner (AO) as she stares down the barrel of the “new normal’’. The chair of the NSW Government’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing and the CRC Longevity Project recognises nothing is the same right now, and nor will it be in the future when Australia, and in fact the world, gets to the other side of COVID-19. “Social change is a pendulum that swings out,” she said. “This time it has swung way out, causing great disruption to our lives. “When that pendulum comes back and things come back to what we now call the ‘new normal’, it will never be in the same place that it was again. We are going to be further down the technological track. “We will have to manage our spending because things will cost a lot more because we won’t have the income we used to have.” Seniors will need to adapt to this new normal. Every aspect of their lives, and those of younger generations, are being impacted by this health crisis and its consequent financial crisis. Inviting seniors to supermarkets at an allocated time, Kathryn says, was a positive move and one she hoped would continue well into the future. However, supermarkets have announced they have stopped the initiative as stock levels have returned to normal. “The concept that our older people deserve a bit more space and time to shop, I think, is a classic one,” Kathryn says. However, asking seniors to do this at 8am is a tough call for many of them, who struggle to be mobile at that early hour. Work changes The call is for the doubling of the JobSeeker (formerly Newstart) allowance to stay even though the Government has said it will

‘‘

I fear ... it will be even harder for somebody over 55 to be maintained in employment.

reduce it in late September. It is vital for those who are unemployed and are not old enough to qualify for the age pension. “I think the community won’t allow the Government to go back,” Kathryn says. “We are going back to post-Great Depression thinking by government, which is why there has to be a platform to support people who cannot work and who cannot find jobs.” For several years now, there has been a big push to keep older workers in the workplace longer. That will change. Kathryn sees those over 50 struggling even more to find a job or keep an existing one. “I fear we are going to go back to an era where it will be even harder for somebody who is over 55 to be maintained in employment.” Staying home It’s highly unlikely many Baby Boomers who have saved to travel overseas every two or more years will have the cash to spend on their dream adventures. Many will find the value of their investments will have decreased significantly. So too their dividend income. “Where the travel industry has picked up the last four or five years with this ready market, that market has gone,’’ Kathryn says. “And they will have reputational issues to address. Ageism arises While the EveryAGE Counts campaign is working overtime to quell the resurgence of ageist attitudes among the younger generations, the

SOBERING VISION: Kathryn Greiner (AO), chair of the NSW Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing, says life will never return to what it was before COVID-19.

idea posed as a question to Prime Minister Scott Morrison by Leigh Sales on the ABC’s 7.30 show on April 16, about locking down older Australians until the coronavirus crisis passes,

receives an aghast response from Kathryn. “That is absolutely outrageous,” the 73-year-old says. Older Australians can be active, not so active,

needing help or infirm – we are not all the same. “The Government needs to avoid the ageist attitude digging deep into our society,” Kathryn says. “They need to do a report

that shows that the virus did kill people from across the age ranges. “It’s often the ones that have a complicated or an immune-challenged system that causes the death.” SENE01Z01MA - V1

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‘‘

Why retire when you are doing what I’m doing?

APPETITE FOR A CHALLENGE: At 75, journalist Ray Martin has found comedy as the host of new lifestyle satire At Home Alone Together.

Ray’s still right at home at 75 Tania Phillips TELEVISION host and journalist Ray Martin has always kept his personal life private but a new “home show” and COVID-19 lockdown conditions have meant a change of heart. At Home Alone Together, to air on the ABC on Wednesday nights at 8.30, is a satirical look at life under lockdown through the scope of a lifestyle show, with the veteran journalist acting as host and straight man to a group of young comedians. The whole program came together quickly, according to the 75-year-old, with the ABC agreeing and turning the show around in just a few weeks. And while it shocked him to gain the approval of the network quickly, the real boss and person with the power was his wife of 50 years, Diane. A notoriously private person who shielded their two children from the limelight too, Diane wasn’t thrilled to have their house turned into a television set – putting their lives and possessions on show. “It’s a huge breakthrough because I’ve been really private about my family. In the 50-odd years of my

career there have never been photos of my kids. Often with Bert and Patti (Newton) and so on, the children were part of their television persona but my wife is very private,” Ray said. “We had to get her across the line – she doesn’t like the idea of doing a ‘Grand Designs’ in our place, where everyone gets to see your carpets and your paintings and prints. She thinks that’s intrusive. “But we still had to film it here so we have filmed it in the kitchen, the family room and the lounge room and outside and up on the deck, and in my study. It’s been kind of fun.” However, Diane Martin’s approval didn’t come without a little extra convincing on the part of her husband. “My wife is a house and kitchen Nazi, so it means she and I go round on a Sunday night, before we film on a Monday and Tuesday, with a mop and a vacuum cleaner,” he laughed. “She is fussy about a tidy house, and the end result is we’ve never seen the house so spick and span.” With Diane’s approval in place, Ray became the host

and added another show to his long list of television achievements. In fact, even though he officially retired three yeas ago, Ray continues to be one of the hardest-working men in the Australian television industry. In the past three years he has averaged 90 plane trips a year for work, and even now in lockdown Ray has had three television shows on three different networks in a six-week period, including Channel 7 travel show Hello World, which he filmed last year, and a onehour documentary on VC winner Keith Payne produced for SBS with former ABC head of news Max Uechtritz. Ray admits he is a little surprised to be popping up all over our screens at this age – particularly in a comedy show – and in fact many of his friends. spotting the promo during the Shaun Micallef show, thought it was just another of Micallef’s spoofs. “I’d done some stuff with a guy named Dan Illich, who’s the producer of this, and then Chris Taylor from The Chaser, who is the writer.” Illich had put together live

A scene from At Home Alone Together, one of the many projects keeping Ray Martin busy.

satire featuring Ray and several other journalists last year in Sydney, which the veteran journalist described as “a lot of fun”. “I’d done some Chasers with Chris some years back and I did a number of comedy spots for SBS with (satirist) Mark Humphries,” Ray said, explaining he was no stranger to the genre. “They rang up and said we’ve got this new show coming and we think that you’d be absurd enough to be a good host for it. I liked the idea and someone at the ABC must have been smoking something because

they agreed.’’ So what’s next for Ray (other than writing a book on Fred Hollows and using his COVID-19 downside to sort his thousands of photos, fix up his deck and get through the list of jobs Diane has for him to do now he is finally at home)? One thing for sure is he obviously has no intention of really retiring. “No, no there is no stopping,” he said seriously. “Oddly enough, before you rang, I was just watching a documentary with David Attenborough, who turns 94 today – he’s become my role model. To keep doing what

he does at 94 – I’ve got 20 years to go. “Why would you want to retire when you are doing what I’m doing, a show like this or a documentary on Keith Payne etc, etc, as against going out and playing golf or bowls or going down to the leagues club? You’re kidding me – I couldn’t think of anything worse. “For sheer satisfaction, fun, enjoyment and for keeping enthusiastic, I can’t think of anything else. I wouldn’t have swapped being a journalist for anything in the world.” SENE01Z01MA - V1

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FEATURE

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SENIORS VIRTUAL EXPO 2020 ADVERTISING FEATURE

Bringing the expo to you THERE is no getting away from it – COVID-19 restrictions have made life pretty challenging for all of us, as individuals and as businesses. Many of our readers look forward to this time of year when they can get out of the house and head along to a seniors expo to see what’s new among the industries and businesses who count them as customers. For business owners, the expos traditionally offer the opportunity to meet new customers face-to-face and share their products or services. Right now, having thousands of people wander through an exhibition hall is not able to happen. There are still great products and services out there to be showcased though, and that’s where the Seniors Virtual Expo 2020 is

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here to help. For the months of June and July, Seniors News will host an online virtual expo on our website at www.seniorsnews.com.au, where we will share the latest products and services from our advertisers, supported in print with regional advertising most relevant to readers of each of our eight monthly publications. By promoting businesses online and in print, we’re making it easier for readers to contact businesses in the way that suits them best, and making it possible for readers to order products directly from the websites of the businesses involved. For many businesses, online sales have helped to keep them going while their shopfronts are closed. For Seniors, our online

editions (complete with live click-throughs to websites mentioned in stories and advertising) have seen increased interest. And while COVID restrictions closed some of our regular distribution points such as libraries and sporting clubs we’ve found there’s been a jump in demand for our news online. In March, traffic to our website jumped to 325,138 page views for the month and 129,923 unique visitors (as reported by Adobe). Businesses signed up so far include Bite Dental, Algester Lodge, Jubilee Community Care, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Stafford Fashions, Aidacare, Gourmet Meals, Wellways and Van Homes. Follow the expo action at www.seniorsnews.com.au/ topic/virtual-seniors-expo2020.

ONLINE EXPO: There are some great products and services for consumers to view and purchase online and the Seniors Virtual Expo 2020 is able to assist you with that in the comfort of your own home.

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SENIORS

SENIORS VIRTUAL EXPO 2020 ADVERTISING FEATURE

Quality healthcare needs

OPTIMAL HEALTHCARE: Aidacare and Aspire brands are trusted benchmarks for quality and service in the supply of Assistive equipment.

Australia’s leading Healthcare Distributor in our chosen areas of focus providing unparalleled customer service and product excellence as a path to optimal healthcare equipment solutions for our customers” We participate in NDIS,

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brands are trusted benchmarks for quality and service in the supply of Assistive equipment. Our focus on product quality and ongoing services & support has made Aidacare & Aspire trusted brands throughout Australia. That’s why you’ll find us on most Government Healthcare Equipment Contracts and in Supply Agreements with many Private Sector Healthcare organisations. Operating since 1987, Aidacare is one of Australia’s largest Healthcare Equipment and Service providers. Our business has been assisting Australians in the Hospital; Residential Aged-Care; Home & Community Care; and Rehabilitation sectors for over 25 years. “Aidacare’s vision is to be

THE Aidacare Ballina store is operating and available to help all customers. We have adapted to current challenges to supply and deliver on all Essential Services & Products. We supply to seniors in isolation or lockdown due to COVID19. We are able to do inhome trials and deliveries subject to compliance with current guidelines. Showrooms are all Open and managing face-to-face contact in compliance with Government Health Guidelines. Staff have appropriate PPE safety for all, and equipment is thoroughly cleaned and ready for hire or purchase. Servicing and repair of essential equipment continues to be available. Aidacare and Aspire

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Cuisine straight to your door The Posture support bras are perfect for those ladies with health concerns like osteoporosis and arthritis.

Find your perfect fit AT Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore, we specialise in Bras Sizes 6 to 36, Cups A to N and with more than 270 different sizes. We have the largest range of fuller-figured, plus-size and curvy bras in Australia. At our premises we have 1.5x2m fitting rooms in store or we do free virtual fittings, with the use of FaceTime or Skype, with experienced, trained corsetieres by appointment. We have many different styles of bras and swimwear – underwire,

non-underwire, sport, leisure, T-shirt, plunge and front opening, with either posture support or not. The Posture support bras are perfect for those ladies with osteoporosis frozen shoulders, arthritis or just for women who prefer to do their bra up in the front. We are located at 1a/1806 Sandgate Road, Virginia – open seven days a week from 9am-5pm. You can also shop online, at www.brastogo.com.au, or phone 07 3265 1811.

WE DIDN’T choose the name Tender Loving Cuisine by accident. We chose it because our staff love what they do. Our team are experienced and passionate and their dedication shines through the quality meals that are delivered to your door wherever you may live along the Eastern Seaboard. Meals prepared by TLC are easy to order and perfectly proportioned.

The TLC range is delivered in a frozen state to use at your convenience. Each meal is a healthier, nutritious and mouthwatering solution for when you simply haven’t got the time or means to cook. Perhaps you need assistance after an illness or injury? Whatever the reason - a meal made with TLC is for you. Phone 1800 801 200 or go to www.tlc.org.au.

DELICIOUS: Meals are easy to order and perfectly proportioned.

A Vanhome granny flat is a great addition to the backyard.

Fabulous granny flat THE Granny Flat. It’s a staple in Australian housing and accommodation and as common as a tin of Milo in the kitchen cupboard. These secondary dwellings have been popular for decades, with reports showing Aussies are building more and more each year. The issue the majority of the population face with building a granny flat is that they require development or building applications. One Australian company, however, is completely revolutionising the granny flat.

Vanhomes is a family-run business hailing from the Central Coast of NSW which specialises in a one-of-akind, folding granny flat. A Vanhome is a legally registrable and compliant caravan, built on to a series of hinges that allow them to fold out in a matter of hours. They range from 17sq m up to 60sq m and don’t require any building application, so without council approval. They are relocatable and can be set up in half a day as a fully functional granny flat on your property. Visit www.vanhomes.com.au.

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EMPOWERING: An aged care advocate will listen to your concerns and help to identify your rights & responsibilities.

We are here to help SENIORS Rights Service offers aged care advocacy to anyone receiving Commonwealth-funded aged care services. If something goes wrong, we can guide you in raising your concerns with your service provider. Our aged care advocacy services are free, confidential and independent. Aged care advocacy means offering information to people receiving aged care services about their rights and responsibilities, and assisting them to uphold their rights.

An aged care advocate will listen to your concerns and empower you to identify your rights and responsibilities. When you feel disadvantaged, an advocate will assist you to uphold your rights and speak on your behalf to represent your best interests. The advocate will always ask your permission before taking any action. If you are concerned about any aspect of your aged care or service, go to seniorsrightsservice.org.au or phone 1800 424 079.

HAVE you or someone in your care, had a consultation with a health service over the phone or video in the last three months? The COVID-19 pandemic has seen patients of all ages take advantage of the recently introduced remote or ‘virtual’ appointments to help witÍh accessing doctors and other health providers. We would like to know if you think that video and phone appointments have a place beyond COVID-19, especially for people who live a long way from health

services and/or for certain appointments where you don’t need to be physically seen by your doctor or health care provider. Bulk-billed or subsidised phone and video consultations are mostly only available until the end of September. We’d love to hear what you think about having these ‘virtual’ appointments as a longerterm option. Our confidential short survey with your feedback could help shape the future. Phone Alissa Reeve on 0499 088 117 or go to www.ncphn.org.au/share.

VIRTUAL SURVEY: NCPHN would like to know if you think video and phone appointments should remain in place.

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Paying respects in time of restrictions WHILE social distancing regulations have had a major impact on funerals, we can still create meaningful farewells by using special ways to include people who can’t attend in person. Funerals always matter but now they matter more than ever because people may not have had the chance to visit or say goodbye to a family member or friend before they pass away. So they enable us to say what needs to be said, allow our grief to be expressed and allow us to connect with people who would normally reach out. And it’s not just adults who are affected. Being able to say goodbye at a funeral is also important for children. There are several ways the funeral industry is helping families and friends

say goodbye to a loved one while the current COVID-19 restrictions are in place: • Technology is available to live-stream funerals, allowing people to view the ceremony from all over the world. Funerals can also be recorded or filmed so they can be shared on social media. • At the service, empty chairs can be placed to represent family and friends who can’t attend. The name or even a photo of the person who is absent can be placed on the chair. • Collect Facebook, Instagram and email messages and ask the celebrant to read them at the funeral, to represent those who can’t attend. These could also be printed and displayed on a photo board at the funeral or compiled into what would

have been the “order of service” booklet. • Many funerals these days include a DVD photo presentation. Family and friends of the deceased can still create one but ask each family member who cannot attend to send their favourite photos to be included, along with some of the words from friends’ text messages etc. • Photos and messages from people who can’t attend the funeral can be placed in or on the coffin by the funeral director. Children can be encouraged to draw or write special messages, which can be placed in the hands of the deceased or sealed in an envelope inside the coffin. • Use the death/funeral notice or Facebook to tell friends what time the funeral is and ask them to

join you at that time by doing something special to remember the deceased. They could light a candle at home, raise a toast, play a special song, say a prayer together, or cook their favourite meal. • Flowers can be sent to the funeral to represent those who cannot attend. They can be arranged around the coffin or displayed prominently, and card messages can be read aloud as part of the service. • You can organise a drive-by of the family home by the hearse, so people who can’t attend the funeral can be at the front garden to pay their respects. The hearse could stop to allow a minute’s silence and flowers to be placed on the coffin by family members. • A viewing can be held with or without a funeral

Wellbeing

REACH OUT: Bereavement expert Doris Zagdanski.

ceremony. You can speak with your funeral director about an extended viewing time so people who cannot attend the funeral still have an opportunity to say a personal goodbye. For more advice on coping with loss and grief,

go to mygriefassist.com.au. – Doris Zagdanski has been involved in the funeral industry for 30 years, helping families arrange funerals as well as volunteering in bereavement support groups. She is the author of seven books on grief.

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ESCAPE

JUNE, 2020//

Soak up the charms of Kiwi hotspot

SENIORS

BATHED IN BEAUTY: The 15km Tarawera Trail is based around Lake Tarawera, near Rotorua, New Zealand. The trail ends in Mt Tarawera’s shadow. Pictures: Graeme Wilson

Immerse yourself in nature with lakeside walk Graeme Wilson FOLLOWING last December’s tragic eruption on White Island, it was with some trepidation that I contemplated tackling New Zealand’s latest great walk. The 15km Tarawera Trail near Rotorua ends in the shadows of active volcano Mt Tarawera, responsible for the country’s most devastating eruption in 1886. It took the lives of more than 100 locals – completely burying a nearby village – with ash spread across 15,000sq km and the accompanying roar heard almost 1000km away in Christchurch. But with history showing the average space between eruptions is about 1500 years, and zero recent sign of activity, my partner and I set off justifiably confident that this sleeping giant was unlikely to reawaken any

time soon. The free walk starts on the shores of Lake Tarawera, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Rotorua in the North Island, and winds its way around the lake with picnic and toilet facilities along the way. While some choose to make a full day of the picturesque undulating return walk from the Te Wairoa carpark to Te Rata Bay (Hot Water Beach), we decided to spend a leisurely five hours on the one-way trip. That still allowed time for a well-earned relax in the heated lake waters at journey’s end before a 15minute water taxi ride provided a rapid return to our starting point. On arrival at Hot Water Beach, you’re greeted by plumes of steam spiralling invitingly upwards as boiling water from thermal springs creates a naturally heated

shoreside spa. Along the preceding path, short climbs and descents alternate as you work your way from pumice-strewn lakeside beaches to elevated vantage points among the native ferns so famously replicated on the jerseys of New Zealand sporting teams. The Kiwis are justifiably proud of the renowned beauty of their country and we deliberately took our time to stop regularly and take it all in. We encountered just a few fellow hikers on our walk and, of course, the trail has been even quieter in the past few months, with New Zealanders locked down during a highly successful response to contain the COVID-19 virus that has decimated other parts of the world. But the hope is that with both Australia and New Zealand having standout

success in managing the virus, country borders will soon reopen to allow transTasman travel. When that happens, I highly recommend you grab the chance to venture across “the ditch” and enjoy all our near neighbours have to offer – and as a bonus be able to do it in relative peace as the rest of the world remains locked out and watching on in envy.

Here’s cheers to good times at the newly reopened Secret Spot Hot Tubs. It’s the perfect place to fully submerge yourself in the healing waters or just soak your feet while enjoying a glass or two of your favourite tipple.

Rotorua itself is New Zealand’s cultural tourism capital and staying a night either side of your Tarawera walk opens up many exciting opportunities. Maybe take a mountain bike ride in the vast forestry areas, stroll through the awe-inspiring Redwood Memorial Grove, and ride the gondola to the top of Mt Ngongotaha to take in panoramic views of Rotorua

and surrounds. And if Hot Water Beach has you hooked on the soothing qualities of a dip in steaming water, drop into the newly reopened Secret Spot Hot Tubs. Fully submerge yourself in the soothing, healing waters, or choose to just soak your feet while enjoying a glass or two of your favourite beverage. Sweet as.

An abundance of New Zealand’s iconic native ferns adds to the visual feast that is the Tarawera Trail. SENE01Z01MA - V1

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The trail’s short climbs and descents alternate as you move from lakeside beaches to elevated vantage points.

‘‘

The Kiwis are justifiably proud of the beauty of their country and we deliberately took our time to stop regularly and take it all in.

Walk this way for a hike to remember. V1 - SENE01Z01MA

Boiling water from thermal springs creates a naturally heated shoreside spa at Hot Water Beach.

REAL ESTATE

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SENIORS

Older Aussies care

Living

medium-level care and onesixth are providing high-level care in the home. “Caring involves great sacrifice and is associated with poorer mental and physical health,” the report says. Elena Katrakis, CEO of Carers NSW, said the impacts of caring had increased since the COVID19 pandemic, as access to supports had changed due to social distancing. Carers had also felt overwhelmed by a lack of clear information, with some struggling to access the digital supports available and some experiencing significant physical and mental health impacts from increased isolation. “Caring is often provided at the expense of fulfilling carers’ own personal, social,

BRAND INSIGHTS ONE in nine Australians provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who needs support. Many of these are older carers. More than 4000 older carers were surveyed for the Who Cares? Older Australians Do report from National Seniors that was conducted in May 2020. Most commonly, older carers are caring for a partner, a parent or an adult son or daughter. The report findings show that caring is extensive and time consuming, with ‘’carers spending an average of 26 hours per week on caring’’. More than half of unpaid carers are providing high to

Katrakis said. The Australian Government introduced the

Carer Gateway in April 2020 – the biggest carer support reform in Australia in more than a decade. It offers new and improved services for carers, including: support planning, counselling, peer support, carer-directed support packages and respite services, including emergency respite. These services are free for anyone caring for a family member or friend who is living with a disability, a long-term medical condition, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency, and for those who are frail due to age. Carers can access these services by contacting Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm) or going to carergateway.gov.au.

microbes. Using antibacterial products such as a hand sanitiser or household cleaning spray to clean your glasses is not recommended. This is because they probably contain alcohol or chemicals that could damage the lens surface of your glasses. What can I do about increased screen time straining my eyes? There are many studies that associate prolonged

computer use with eye strain and discomfort. Ocular surface dryness (due to infrequent blinking) can result in symptoms. To minimise this, you should take a break every 20 minutes and look at an object 6m away for at least 20 seconds. You can also change your computer display brightness, increase font size and minimise glare with proper lighting.

HELP AT HAND: Carer Gateway makes it easier for you to find help. It's a great idea to talk with Carer Gateway staff to see what services and support are available in your area.

emotional, financial and health needs, and greater support for unpaid family

and friend carers is now available through the new national Carer Gateway,” Ms

Hook-up sight for sore eyes OPSM continues to support the eye care of Australians in light of COVID-19 with the launch of tele-optometry. Those with eye health needs can now book a remote video consultation with an OPSM optometrist from the comfort of their home. Using video-conferencing technology, an OPSM optometrist will ask the patient a series of questions to evaluate their eyesight, make an informed diagnosis and guide them through the next steps, including appropriate management. Peter Murphy, OPSM director of eyecare and

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community, Australia and New Zealand, said: “OPSM wants to ensure that Australians continue to have access to eyecare services in the current health crisis, especially for those in remote communities and aged care facilities, people with disabilities, and essential workers. “Our tele-optometry services will help in two main scenarios. The first is where the patient may have an eye health concern. The second is where the patient may have an urgent need to replace their lost or broken glasses.’’ To better inform people,

Mr Murphy answered some questions about eye health and COVID-19. Can COVID-19 be transmitted through the eyes? Current research shows that the chance of spreading the virus through the eyes is possible, but rare. Multiple studies found only a small amount of the virus in tears of infected individuals. That said, in alignment with the Australian Government Department of Health, you should take all necessary precautions to avoid touching your eyes. Do glasses help protect against COVID-19?

While glasses can provide some protection from COVID-19, that protection is limited to the shielded area of the eye. In alignment with the Australian Department of Health, you should take all necessary precautions to avoid touching your eyes. How should I clean my glasses in this period? COVID-19 is thought to remain on some materials for hours or days. For this reason, it is advisable to regularly clean your glasses. A standard hand soap or glasses cleaning spray that contains detergent should be effective at removing potentially harmful

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REVIEWS

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Suspense builds in steamy series finale THOSE who usually make the pilgrimage to Currumbin Creek’s Elephant Rock for Anzac Day had to change their plans this year due to COVID-19. The spectacular Dawn Service draws people from across Australia to reflect on the sacrifices of our veterans and frontline services in a hauntingly beautiful location, making the area famous. A not-so-well-known event occurred in Currumbin in the 1990s when two old circus elephants were retired to Currumbin Valley. Author Donna Munro lived at Currumbin at the time. Her deep love of animals and a particular fondness for elephants made her intrigued by their plight. The ban of exotic circus animals on the Gold Coast was first made by the city council in 2009 but was later overturned and lifted in 2013. It wasn’t until as recently as 2016 the ban was reinstated. Most of the elephants were retired to a sanctuary in Victoria. Two elephants on a property in Currumbin Valley may have been relocated later, or spent their last days roaming the bush in freedom. Locals recollect it, but with no media evidence, it now seems like folklore, so why not include it in a piece of fiction?

The intriguing story made a unique backdrop for Munro’s latest work of contemporary women’s fiction, Elephant Creek, the Sunshine Coast author’s last stand-alone story of The Zanzibar Moon series. Elephant Creek is described as “steamy romantic suspense’’ set on the Gold Coast.

Emma Jarvis has a dilemma – should she keep dating rock-star handsome Wade or pursue her crush on sexy, silent, probablymarried Noah Cooper? Noah and his Down syndrome daughter, Hope, are due for a fresh start. But a car accident propels Emma into their secretive world. Will Noah put his guard

down long enough to let love back into his life? Emma finds that convincing Noah of a police conspiracy is one thing. Avoiding combusting when she’s near him is a totally different predicament. Noah has enough problems without falling for delightful Emma and her lust-inducing cut-off shorts. His wife’s abandonment. Proving his father’s innocence. And Hope, beginning mainstream school where bullies lurk. When Noah learns his dead brother’s son, Jai, is with Emma’s family, he must cut contact with Emma or lose what’s most precious to him. But when Jai and Hope disappear, can the adults unite to find the missing children in the Australian bush? Will an old circus elephant be the key to bonding them before it’s too late? The sequel to The Zanzibar Moon brings all three books to a final enthralling, emotional conclusion in a stand-alone story filled with passion and heat. “I love including a feisty woman, a gorgeous man, animals, children and family — to tug at readers’ heartstrings. Everyone can relate to loving a child or a pet, and falling in love,” Munro says. – Warm Witty Publishing, RRP $25.99.

Your Support Will Save Local Lives! As a local charity operating at the medical frontline to help save lives each and every day, the team at the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter needs your support now more than ever. By making a tax deductible donation before June 30, you will be part of every mission delivering life changing outcomes for patients in our community. The feeling you get when you see the Rescue Helicopter flying overhead as a supporter is like no other… #WeAreHereForYou DONATE:

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Woman of substance VIVID and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfilment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door to a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. Escaping an abusive marriage, 17-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist – and confidante to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own. Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her name and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down with a high-spirited young girl in tow, a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. But she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those around her.

Shattering experience spurs tips HEIDI Wyeth is no stranger to loneliness. After losing her husband, Mel, to pancreatic cancer in 2017, Heidi says her life stopped: “All I could do was try to survive.’’ Now, with the world to a greater or lesser extent in lockdown, she says many people are facing up to life’s greatest unknown. “While the elderly and chronically ill are immensely vulnerable, global statistics have shown us that no one is truly ‘safe’,’’ she says. “That’s a sobering reality. The sort of realisation that will, I hope, spur people on to take charge of their affairs, just in case the worst does happen.’’ Heidi’s insight comes from personal experience. “My husband and I didn’t think ‘what if’ – it was something we’d deal with in later life. And suddenly it wasn’t. Suddenly it was something we had to deal with then and there.” That spurred Heidi to create Just in Case – a straightforward “what’s what and where’’ covering everything from letters for loved ones to insurance details and your digital footprint. Go to www.justincase book.com.au. RRP $19.99.

JUNE, 2020//

Money

Ride out virus volatility

Mark Digby IT IS normal for markets to act as they are in uncertain times. Of course, this has meant, in the short term at least, a significant decline in share values. These kinds of declines were also seen at the time of the GFC. It is important to remember with regard to investments in shares that in time, when the crisis is over and the world gets back to business, the markets will recover. In the short term, however, for many retirees the significant declines in financial markets have eroded the account balance of their superannuation pensions and annuity portfolio values. Option to reduce pension drawdowns An optional strategy to

SENIORS

GO WITH THE FLOW: The Federal Government has reduced the minimum annual pension payment required by 50 per cent.

manage this phase is to reduce pension payments so as not to dig too deep into the value of their assets. Many pensioners are electing to take this strategy and the Government has made a significant change to

the minimum income payment rates. To assist retirees, the Government has reduced the minimum annual payment required by 50 per cent for accountbased pensions and annuities, allocated pensions

and annuities, and marketlinked pensions and annuities in the 2019–20 and 2020–21 financial years. This means that eligible retirees with enough cash flow to ride out this period of market volatility will not

be forced to sell shares, property or other assets in a falling market simply to comply with the usual minimum drawdown amounts. By preserving more of their capital, they will have more money working for them to capture the market upswing when it inevitably occurs. Option to draw down $10,000 from super This strategy may be appropriate for investors with cash-based assets already built into their portfolio. Any consideration to draw down on super to provide cash flow (also introduced by the Government) should be deeply considered in consultation with your financial adviser. This is not a good time to

draw down on your superannuation investments unless absolutely necessary. – For more information, contact Mark Digby at Maher Digby Securities Pty Ltd – Financial Advisers – AFSL No. 230559 (see advert Page 3). Phone 07 5441 1266 or visit www.maherdigby.com.au, This article 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, forwardlooking 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 adviser.

How to get back on track when shockwave forces a retirement rethink Dianne Charman FOR many, the countdown to retirement can feel like a very long wait. But things don’t always go to plan and could be affected by illness or injury, redundancy... or even a global pandemic. So, here’s how a shockwave might impact your retirement plan, and what you could do to get back on track. Income shock While reduced hours or an unexpected redundancy as you transition to retirement may have little impact on your plans, longer-term income changes, such as

permanent illness or injury preventing you from working, or redundancy five to seven years from retirement during tough economic conditions, can have serious implications for your retirement plans. Help! I’m dealing with a shockwave… It’s normal to be stressed or worried when something unexpected happens. The first thing to do is breathe and regroup. Review your assets and your immediate expenses to discern what needs to be addressed now, and what can wait. From here, it’s important to seek professional advice to help

re-strategise and ensure minimal impact to your longterm plans. If you can, defer leaving the workforce for as long as possible. That could mean working reduced hours, or in a slightly different field. This will allow you to keep earning an income, and slowly add to your super. During a time like this, you may need to adjust your expectations about what retirement will mean for you. Maybe you’d planned to travel, but an injury or international travel restrictions won’t allow it, or you’ll need to retire a little earlier or later than planned. When dealing with

shockwaves and their consequences, it’s also important to prioritise your own wellness. What you can do to protect yourself The key to preventing huge impacts from shockwaves is to have a sound retirement plan. This includes prudent asset allocation, managing the art of insurance, and regular reviews with a professional adviser. Regular reviews give you the opportunity to consider whether your current asset allocation is still the most suitable option for you, a cashflow check-in, considering your work situation, your health and

any other risks, like how you would manage if your partner passed away unexpectedly. This process doesn’t need to be onerous; however, planning for retirement takes more than a couple of years. Ensure you give yourself enough time to enact a plan that will put you exactly where you want to be, and best protect you from any surprises. When things don’t go to plan, it can feel like you’re being dumped by wave after wave. Sometimes, the best thing to do is get out of the water and give yourself a

moment to regroup before jumping back in with a plan to ensure you keep your feet planted firmly in the sand. – Dianne Charman, of Jade Financial Group, is an authorised representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 89 051 208 327, AFS licence no. 232706. Any advice given is general only and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of this, before acting on any advice, you should consult a financial planner to consider how appropriate the advice is for your objectives, financial situation and needs.

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11 12 13

15 17

18 20

22 23

Across 1 A biography of which actor is entitled “Neither Shaken nor Stirred”? (4,7) 8 What soil nematode is a pest of root crops? (7) 9 Which city is the industrial hub of the Ruhr? (5) 10 The precious stone sardius mentioned in the Bible was probably what? (4) 11 What did Benin change its name from in 1975? (7) 12 What precedes the name on a British warship? (1,1,1) 13 The medieval shawm was the forerunner of which wind instrument? (4) 15 Who is the Greek goddess of victory? (4) 17 What is a newt also called? (3) 19 In 1991, who (Boris ____) became the ﬁrst popularly elected leader in Russian history? (7) 20 What is a game played at the opponents’ ground? (4) 23 The Canary Islands are an autonomous region of which country? (5) 24 “Spudding in” is the initial drilling of what? (3,4) 25 What does the word biscuit literally mean? (5,6)

Down 1 Which drink is available as cream, dry or sweet? (6) 2 What do you do when speaking off the cuff? (2,3) 3 A thrombosis is caused by a what in the blood? (4) 4 Who traditionally roam in search of pasture for their animals? (6) 5 What is driven by a mahout? (8) 6 What veil covers the face of a Muslim woman? (7) 7 Which English king won the Battle of Agincourt in 1415? (5,1) 12 Where were the 1952 Olympic Games held? (8) 14 In which city was the De Lorean car factory set up in 1978? (7) 16 Plaster of Paris is made from what mineral? (6) 17 What word from French might be shouted by an audience? (6) 18 Which part of the body is affected by a sty? (6) 21 What large North Atlantic sea snail is harvested for food? (5) 22 What is the highest adult male singing voice? (4)

23 13/6

SUDOKU

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

DOUBLECROSS 6

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

21 22

Down 2. Shabby (4-2-4) 3. Lucid (4) 4. Exactly right (4,2) 5. Fought (6) 6. Newcomer (8) 7. Deal out (4) 11. Wilful (10) 13. Murderer (8) 16. Overcome (6) 17. Clothing maker (6) 18. Untainted (4) 20. Enthusiasm (4)

Across 1. Combines (4) 8. Trainee, learner (10) 9. Upside down (8) 10. Dull pain (4) 12. Heave (6) 14. Military ID (3,3) 15. Against (L) (6) 17. Push (6) 18. Bonus, gain (4) 19. Snowstorm (8) 21. Preposterous (10) 22. Roman cloak (4)

SOLUTIONS

5x5 M E N U S

P R E Y S

ALPHAGRAMS: HALLS, IDEALS, JOSTLED, KNITTERS, LIMESTONE. GK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Sean Connery, 8 Eelworm, 9 Essen, 10 Ruby, 11 Dahomey, 12 HMS, 13 Oboe, 15 Nike, 17 Eft, 19 Yeltsin, 20 Away, 21 Spain, 24 Oil well, 25 Twice cooked. Down: 1 Sherry, 2 Ad lib, 3 Clot, 4 Nomads, 5 Elephant, 6 Yashmak, 7 Henry V, 12 Helsinki, 14 Belfast, 16 Gypsum, 17 Encore, 18 Eyelid, 21 Whelk, 22 Alto.

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.

SHALL SAILED OLD JETS TRINKETS SEE MILTON

5x5 C

DOUBLECROSS

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Adds 8. Apprentice 9. Inverted 10. Ache 12. Strain 14. Dog tag 15. Versus 17. Thrust 18. Plus 19. Blizzard 21. Ridiculous 22. Toga. Down: 2. Down-at-heel 3. Sane 4. Spot on 5. Feuded 6. Stranger 7. Mete 11. Headstrong 13. Assassin 16. Subdue 17. Tailor 18. Pure 20. Zest.

M D

T R

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

N B

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

Y S

TODAY: Good 14 Very Good 20 Excellent 24

itch loch loci scold stoic tich

A D O B E

H I

C A T E R

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

S W A R D

WORD GO ROUND

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ALPHAGRAMS

Enjoy maintenance free living at Oak Tree From lawn care to household repairs, Oak Tree takes

Never been a better time to decide

care of all village maintenance, leaving you with less

For anyone who has been weighing up retirement

to worry about during isolation.

options, they’re finding that now is the time to take

Rest easy

action and secure their future, and we’ve seen a steady

With all the maintenance taken care of, our residents

rate of enquiries since the pandemic spread. The secure,

don’t have to worry about relying on younger family

community nature of our retirement villages is providing

members to look after the garden, fix things around

a welcome reprieve for residents.

the house or check on their welfare. This is particularly

Oak Tree Retirement Villages are committed to

comforting in the current environment, where family members are being advised to keep their distance from older relatives right now. We take care of all that for you, so you won’t have to go without or do it for yourself. There’s genuine comfort seeing the maintenance personnel arrive, knowing that things are just getting done, and our residents can simply focus on what’s most important. At Oak Tree, it’s also reassuring to know that you can still have your own personal space, but that help from

continuing our high-service standards for current and future residents, whilst also keeping our extended community safe. Our Village Managers are available to talk you through any questions or queries you have during this time and are hosting virtual property tours, private inspections and phone/video call meetings with interested buyers. Speak to our friendly team today, about the best solution for you.

To learn more about Oak Tree Retirement Villages

the village manager or a caring neighbour is never far

or for a personal tour call 1300 367 155 or visit

away in times of need.

www.oaktreegroup.com.au

17 Mackellar Place, Goonellabah Call 1300 367 155

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