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TRAVEL Revealed: Tasmanian cultural adventures, unique Irish accommodation and fun in the Tweed Valley. WELLBEING Watch it! How to keep your eyes in good health. Dangers of alcohol and pills. LIVING Foretold, forewarned The latest scams that are targeting you.
2000: Kevin Coombs carries the torch at the opening of Sydney’s Paralympic Games
KEVIN COOMBS OAM
Still throwing goals for indigenous Australians. The first indigenous athlete to represent Australia in Paralympic or Olympic games talks about his journey as a sportsman, political influencer and hopes for the future.
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TERMS & CONDITIONS *Price is per person twin share. Single Supplement applies. Credit card surcharges apply. Deposit of AUD $500-$800 per person is required to secure tour. Tour requires a minimum number of passengers to depart. Prices may fluctuate if surcharges, fee, taxes or currency change. Prices current as at 2nd December 2019 Uplift Tours and Travel in conjunction with Norfolk Select Marketing ABN: 93 367 366 822 ATAS Accreditations A10619
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06 - 10 JULY 2020 Join us on this 5-day Yulefest short break exploring the very best of this iconic region. This World Heritage Listed area offers some of the most unique scenery and culture attractions in NSW. Enjoy a very special Yulefest dinner, with an atmosphere of Christmas! Relax and enjoy all this iconic Australian Wilderness has on offer. 13 - 23 JULY 2020 The Hawaii Ukulele Festival this year celebrates 50 years and is the largest ukulele festival of its kind in the world. We will experience all the festivities and immerse yourself in a little Oahu sightseeing also. So, come and join us ion this Ukulele Festival where the magic is in the music and the love that we share... 7093241ac
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2 INDEX 04 06 08 10 13 19 21 23
Feature – David Williamson What’s On Community Notes Cover Story – Kevin Coombs Wanderlust Wellbeing Living Money
18 Wild about the west – a region of magical diversity.
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Treasures in spotlight Geoff Crockett Seniors Guest Editor WELCOME to the March editions of Seniors News. Our intrepid editor Gail Forrer is off on a month’s leave, which means I have the chance to guest edit for a few weeks and try not to break anything while she’s gone. Luckily for me our writers have been busy and there are plenty of great stories to share. Tracey Johnstone had the opportunity to chat to Kevin Coombes (AO) about his remarkable journey through life and his ongoing passion for education and reconciliation between Australia’s first people and the broader community. She also caught up with national treasure, playwright David Williamson (AO), who has announced he is retiring from the theatre after 50 years to spend more time with his family, including five children and 14 grandchildren.
His is an amazing story of dedication to his craft, and his body of work will live on forever. On the travel front, Erle Levey spent time in Hobart and came back with some great tips for anyone else looking to visit the city in the future, and intrepid traveller Shirley Sinclair shines a spotlight on the wonders of theTweed Valley region in Northern New South Wales. If you’re looking for ways to connect with your fellow seniors in the region, be sure to turn to our community notes pages where you’ll find a wide array of groups and activities planned for the month ahead where anyone is welcome to come along. Also, check out the Wellbeing, Living and Money sections this month for great tips on topics including eye health, boosting your superannuation and how to avoid scammers. I hope you enjoy this month’s read. Geoff
SENIORS
CONTACT US General Manager Geoff Crockett – 0413 988 333 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 1300 880 265 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Sue Germany – 0408 286 539 sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 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.
Author’s poignant debut work touches hearts.
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In brief
SOUND ADVICE: Wills and estates partner Angela Harry from Attwood Marshall Lawyers with 4CRB Law Talks presenter Steve Stuttle.
Legal eagles hit airwaves to keep seniors in loop “Attwood Marshall Lawyers is a well-established local law firm with significant insight into the important legal issues for the elderly in our community,” Ms Harry said. “In addition to regular community wills days, where we provide our legal services free to prepare a will in exchange for the willmaker making a small donation to a charity, we have committed to a yearlong schedule of Law Talks with 4CRB community radio.’’ Mr Harry said her firm’s experienced wills and
estates team – the largest on the Tweed and Gold Coast – would be interviewed to give audiences valuable insights into topics including superannuation, estate planning, granny flat agreements, deceased estate administration and probate. “We will also be focusing on some of the topical and more controversial issues that can arise in this area, including elder abuse, financial exploitation, contesting wills and voluntary euthanasia,’’ she said. “We hope to help the
listeners to understand the important issues that arise in the making of a will or the appointment of an attorney, as well as answer some of the sensitive legal questions surrounding dementia and end-of-life care.’’ Ms Harry said the controversial topic of the role of two government bodies, the New South Wales Trustee and Guardian and the Queensland Public Trustee, would also be canvassed. There was a strong push by the firm in 2019 for a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the NSW government
organisation. Law Talks will be presented by Steve Stuttle – a senior broadcaster with a wealth of experience in elder issues that impact on the community. He said the program was warmly welcomed for its significant community contribution and easy-tounderstand format. Law Talks can be heard every Friday from 9am (QLD time) and will also be made available to seniors free, online, in written format and can be downloaded on podcasts on a listen-back site.
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LEADING elder law firm Attwood Marshall Lawyers has launched a 2020 series of its successful community radio program Law Talks for community radio station 4CRB. The station caters to older listeners in northern New South Wales and on the Gold Coast. Wills and estates partner Angela Harry said the weekly radio segment on Friday mornings on 89.3FM, in which lawyers are interviewed on a wide range of topics, would be broadcast until February 2021.
Pension changes ON March 20, the wife pension and the widow B pension are stopping. You may transfer to another payment. If you receive the widow B pension on March 19, you’ll transfer to the age pension on March 20. This won’t change the amount you receive. With the wife pension, your age affects whether you can transfer to a new payment or not. If you receive the wife pension and carer allowance on March 19, you’ll transfer to the carer payment on March 20. Your wife pension will stop but you’ll receive the carer payment with your carer allowance. If you only receive the wife pension on March 19, the payment you transfer to depends on your age. If on March 20 you’re 66 or older, you’ll get the age pension; if you’re 65 or younger, you’ll receive the JobSeeker payment. For details visit https:// www.servicesaustralia.gov .au/individuals/services/ centrelink/. Party’s Italian flavour Everyone is invited to the anniversary celebrations at New Italy, Woodburn, for a day of music, dancing, vino and Italian food on Sunday, April 5. The day, which marks the arrival of the Italian settlers in Sydney in 1881, will start at 10am with Mass with Father Slack - to give thanks in light of New Italy’s miraculous escape from the bushfires that surrounded the site late last year. Other highlights will be entertainer Sebastiaan, a talk explaining the history of New Italy and the guided tours of the museum. New Italy is at 8275 Pacific Highway, Woodburn. Phone 02 6682 2622 or go to newitaly.com.au.
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Masterful playwright is bowing out Williamson takes curtain call on high Tracey Johnstone FOR 50 years playwright David Williamson (AO) has had his hand on the pulse of Australian society, crafting a plethora of memorable creative memories. Remember Don’s Party? What about The Removalists, The Club, the film Gallipoli or the Phar Lap screenplay? Even now he has a burst of plays happening, including Family Values, playing in Sydney. In celebration of Williamson’s 50 years in Australian theatre, a revival of the hit 1987 play Emerald City is jointly being produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre. At another Sydney venue is his latest work, Crunch Time, which is on until early April, when it moves north to its Queensland premiere in Noosa in mid-April. But now the writing pen lies dormant on his desk. No more plays. No more films. No more television miniseries. The time has come for Williamson, 78, to pack away his shingle and travel a different journey. There is still plenty of Australian life that he could showcase, but Williamson is adamant it won’t happen through his pen.
Since 1970 Williamson has pursued his dream to introduce to audiences his flawed characters through his stories. As Williamson relaxes in a Sydney coffee shop at the base of the tower that houses his second home, and says: “Thankfully there is a whole generation of new writers who are tackling these issues. They can take it on.’’ His first-performed play was The Coming of Stork in 1970 at La Mama in Melbourne. The journey to that point was convoluted. In his early teens Williamson’s father, who for 47 years worked in a job he hated, told the young fellow he should make sure he worked in something he really wanted to do. Williamson’s mechanical engineering degree at Monash University certainly didn’t captivate him. But what did catch his interest was writing the “pretty rough” engineering and university student reviews. He went back to study for another stint, this time doing a psychology degree. “I could have gone down that career path and quite happily been a social psychology researcher, but at the same time my writing took off,” Williamson said. And as they say, the rest is history. His last work, the play Crunch Time, has just
had its Sydney premiere at the Griffin Theatre, where his first play was performed all those years ago. Crunch Time is due to have its Queensland premiere in Noosa in midApril. In this play Williamson has created Steve, a typical Aussie bloke with a not so unusual dilemma. He’s just retired, handing over the reins of his business to one son. Is this a sign of favouritism? Could this action drive deeper the sense of sibling rivalry between his two sons? His other son hasn’t spoken to Steve for almost eight years. “Luckily there’s been no such thing in our family, at least to date,” he smiles. “It’s a stressful business but one I have loved being in. It’s been thoroughly enjoyable. I have had 50 terrific years in the theatre.’’ The three plays being performed now are all booking well so “getting out now while people are still coming” seems to be a good idea to Williamson. That quiet smile returns when he continues: “I don’t want to be wandering around at 98 wondering why there is no one in the theatre.’’ So, what will he do? Well, there are five children and 14 grandchildren to keep him and his wife, Kristin, busy.
COASTING IN COMFORT: Retiring Australian playwright David Williamson relaxing at his Sunshine Beach home with his wife, Kristin. Picture: Paul Smith
Williamson will continue to split his time between the family home at Sunshine Beach on the Sunshine Coast and the apartment in Sydney, which is close to two of his children.
Then there is lots of reading to catch up on and enjoying watching other people’s work on the stage and in film. A memoir, perhaps? It’s a strong possibility.
On summing up his incredible 50 years in Australian theatre, Williamson casts his mind to Albert Facey’s book A Fortunate Life. “I can say I have had a fortunate life.”
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BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB
NRSO
COME along on Sunday, March 29, to the Ballina RSL Club Auditorium from 9am5pm for a live music charity day to raise funds for the local volunteer emergency services. There will be country music all day with the Country Music Clubs of Northern NSW plus local talented solo acts. Major raffle first prize is $1000 cash plus four minor prizes valued at $1549. All drawn on the day at 4pm. Multi raffle draws all day. More than $4000 in cash and prizes to be won. Entry is by gold coin donation. Also on Sunday, April 4, at the Boardwalk lounge from 10.45am-5pm. Free entry for live country music with Smokehouse. Contact secretary Keith Holmes on 0400 867 956 or email
NORTHERN Rivers Symphony Orchestra presents Autumn Melodies, conducted by Camillio Manricks. A variety program of lighthearted tunes, musicals and crowd favourites, with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky and more. Tickets: adults $45, concession $40, students $20, children under 18 free (must be accompanied by a concertgoing adult). On Sunday, April 5, from 2.30pm (NSW time) at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre, Brett St, Tweed Heads. For tickets phone Murwillumbah Music on 02 6672 5404. Tickets (cash only) will be available at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre from March 30 to April 3 from 10am-3pm or at the door (cash only). Phone 0478 012 324.
BE AMAZED: Backbone, a Gravity and Other Myths production, is at Lismore City Hall on March 27-28.
NORPA – BACKBONE A HIGH-octane spree of physical virtuosity, Backbone tests the limits of strength: physical, emotional, individual and collective. Backbone is Gravity and Other Myths’ third work. Their latest show Out of Chaos, also directed
by Darcy Grant, achieved huge international success. Backbone is on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, from 7.30pm at the Lismore City Hall, 1 Bounty St. Phone 1300 066 772; go to norpa.org.au. Tickets $20$49.
THE CHOIR OF MAN GET ready for the ultimate feel-good show with this stage-stomping, hit-singing, pint-swigging sensation. It combines live music, highenergy dance and a few surprises, with everything from pina coladas to live pint percussion,
Picture: Darcy Grant
The Choir of Man is packed with all your favourite pub classics, rock ballads and pop hits. The show is on Friday, April 3, from 7.30pm. Tickets $20-$59. NORPA at Lismore City Hall. Go to norpa.org.au for more information.
NORTHERN RIVERS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PROUDLY PRESENTS
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Tickets: Adults $45 - Concession $40 Students $20 - Children under 18 years free of charge (Must be accompanied by an adult) Online at www.nrso.com.au Murwillumbah Music 02 6672 5404 (credit card facility) Box Office at Tweed Heads Civic Centre Mon 30th March - Fri 3rd April 10am - 3pm (cash only please) Tickets also available at the door if not sold out (cash only please) Enquiries & Bookings 0478 012 324
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At The Eye Care Clinic, our eye surgeons and specialists care enough to see you as people, not just as someone with a problem. Dr. Svoboda and Dr. Lamont personally see you all the way through your procedure - right from the first visit till they are totally satisfied all is well. Nor does this high level of care mean that you are charged an arm and a leg. We actively work to keep the costs as low as possible, and provide services including age related macular degeneration, cataract surgery, glaucoma, lid tumours, diabetic eye disease, iritis, laser surgery, dry eyes and lid malpositions. Those who are insured also enjoy the cost saving benefit of our No Gap Policy. What’s more, there’s no need to travel out of the local area for the actual surgery as our surgeons operate in Tweed Heads. When you want someone that takes a sight better care of both you and your health, ask for The Eye Care Clinic. You’ll see we really do care.
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was compered by the highly regarded events organiser Maggie-Anne Leybourne of BAM Promotions. Twin Towns Day WE WILL be holding our monthly luncheon on Thursday, April 2, at 10.30am (DST). Guest speaker will be Rod Preston, who has a huge range of topics he can choose from, and we know from experience it will be an eyeopener. The venue will be the South Tweed Sports Club, which serves a marvellous two-course luncheon. The cost is $27. For bookings phone Kathie on 0407 709 629 or Freda 07 5524 1357.
Community notes
Community group guide TO ALLOW for readers’ requests for the publication of more neighbourhood news, please keep notices short (100-word max). If you would like to submit a photo, ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size and of faces. Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.
TWEED HOSPITAL AUXILIARY
AND SUPPORT GROUP
ARE you looking for a craft bargain? Tweed Hospital Auxiliary will be holding its popular craft stall at the Pines Shopping Centre on Wednesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 2. This is always a good time to pick up a bargain on handmade goods. All funds raised go to purchasing much-needed equipment for the Tweed Hospital.
WE MEET on the first Friday of every month at 10.30am (NSW time) at the Community Centre, corner of Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South. All welcome. For further information, phone Bronwyn on 07 5593 9319.
FIBROMYALGIA CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME INFO
VIEW CLUBS Coolangatta/Tweed WE HELD a very successful function to commemorate International Women’s Day 2020. Some
SENIORS
INSPIRING MESSAGES: The dignitaries and guest speakers who attended the celebration of International Women's Day hosted by Coolangatta/Tweed VIEW Club at South Tweed Sports Club.
TWIN TOWNS & DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB
150 women attended the event at South Tweed Sports Club to hear outstanding and inspirational women presenting a highly varied program that was of tremendous interest to all. Speaker Linda Robertson was called away unexpectedly but arranged for her partner David Walsh to give her address and
WE WILL meet on April 13 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 begin selling at 8.45am. Morning tea (bring a mug), raffles, library and a newsletter will be available at the meeting. Guest
show a wonderful video presentation. Natalie Trengove entertained with stories of her life devoted to children’s theatre and her long association with Tweed Theatre Company and its famous annual pantomimes. Rosie McDermott, past national councillor of VIEW, titled her speech As Women We Have a Voice – Don’t be Afraid to Speak Out, a
confronting and topical subject that was well received. Kathie Diskin, area NJ adviser, provided some excellent statistics on the work of VIEW clubs in our area and the wonderful results achieved. The function was officially opened by Justine Elliot MP with encouraging and congratulatory words to VIEW club members and
TO PAGE 12
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Unwavering Work for indigenous causes inspires Tracey Johnstone
AGENT OF CHANGE: Kevin Coombs (OAM) has been speaking up for the rights of disabled Aboriginal people since the early 1980s. Picture: Contributed
WHEN a journalist described indigenous paraplegic Kevin Coombs’s childhood accident as fortunate, the initial reaction was a fiery slapdown, but then he started to look back. The Wotjobaluk elder’s voice for indigenous recognition wouldn’t have been sought out. “The late Charlie Perkins wanted a disabled bloke who could talk a bit,” Uncle Kevin said. “He said, ‘I understand there is a bloke in Melbourne by the name of Kevin Coombs; I want him’. This was when he was secretary of Aboriginal Affairs in Canberra.” Uncle Kevin was appointed in 1981 as the Aboriginal representative on a committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons. There were 14 people on the committee, all representing different groups. As a result of that working group Uncle Kevin said: “I wanted to get the message through to Aboriginal people what they were entitled to, including grants (under the disability scheme).’’ Speaking to the then minister for health in Victoria, Bill Borthwick,
Uncle Kevin also articulated the need for Aboriginal people to be involved in decision-making around the wellbeing of the Aboriginal communities. Mr Borthwick subsequently opened the door for Uncle Kevin to move from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to the Department of Health. “I was there for 21 years,” he said. “My job was to get hospitals, where there was a lot of Aboriginal people coming in, to have a liaison person working there. We started off with eight for the whole of Victoria.” For his family He might not have been in the Pink Pussycat pub in Melbourne that night more than 50 years ago when he saw and fell in love at first sight with his wife, Linda. They had two daughters – one is a magistrate and the other a vocal advocate for a Victorian Treaty. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria held its first meeting last December. The assembly will decide, alongside the Victorian Government, the ground rules for the treaty negotiations. “I support it,” Uncle Kevin said. “It’s not about me, it’s for our kids and grandkids. “I would like to see a treaty here in Victoria. I
would like to see being recognised by the federal government in the Constitution.” Will anything change? As to a change at the federal level within his lifetime and actionable outcomes from Closing the Gap, Uncle Kevin doesn’t think anything will happen unless there is a “radical PM”. The Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt (AM) announced on February 6 that the Government “is committed to recognising indigenous Australians in the Constitution and will hold a referendum should a consensus be reached, and should it be likely to succeed”. Previously he had signalled wanting a national vote by mid-2021. Only a few days later, on February 12, at the tabling to Parliament of the 12th Closing the Gap Report, Prime Minister Scott Morrison signalled his unwillingness to lock in a specific time commitment, saying: “I am not going to allow any timetables to prevent the successful achievement of this result.’’ So, where does that leave indigenous Australians? On May 26, 2017, The Uluru Statement from the
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voice of Kevin Coombs ‘‘
I wanted to get the message through about what Aboriginal people were entitled to. Heart was made. Turning to the Federal Government, it stated: “We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution.’’ While the conversation continues at the federal level, alongside Victoria, which is recognised as the leader in the charge forward to reconciliation, Queensland and the Northern Territory are pressing ahead on their journey towards reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. As for the other states, there appear to be mixed commitments to turning the conversation around statebased treaties into action. “One treaty for the state?” Uncle Kevin said. “It won’t change me, but it will be good for my grandkids and great-grandkids.” Sporting chance At 18 the wheelchair basketball athlete headed to Rome to compete in his first Paralympic Games. Uncle Kevin was representing Australia, but
had to travel on an honorary British passport. “We weren’t recognised as we didn’t get our rights until 1967; it’s not that long ago.” It was not until 1973 that Gough Whitlam’s Labor government actively assumed responsibility for Aboriginal affairs. Uncle Kevin remembers missing the 1964 Games as he was “chasing women” at the time, but then went on to compete for Australia in the 1968, 1972, 1980 and 1984 Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1974 and at two world championships. Hopeful future The body is weary, but the mind is sharp. At age 79, Uncle Kevin hasn’t quite retired. He’s left behind his 17-year role as an elder with the Koori courts, but he remains on the Melbourne University Murumbarak Committee, which supports Aboriginal students, the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health committee, and at the Broadmeadows TAFE where
Saturday 30 May 2020 Byron Bay to
Broken Head (12km) $60 Lennox Head (24km) $70 Ballina (36km) $80 (includes cap, medal, fruit & water stations & first aid support)
fundraising for the Rescue Helicopter Service
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PROUD MOMENT: Wheelchair basketballer Kevin Coombs at the opening ceremony of the 1960 Paralympic Games. Picture: Contributed
he brings a voice of reason and understanding as an elder, watching over the indigenous students. “You get to see kids go through and come out successful,” he said. Changing the way older
non-indigenous Australians see the First Peoples is something Uncle Kevin thinks can be achieved through knowledge. As Mr Morrison said in his Closing the Gap speech to Parliament in February: “We
must see the gap we wish to close not from our viewpoints, but from the viewpoint of indigenous Australians before we can hope to close it and make a real difference.’’ Uncle Kevin believes that
by sitting down and talking to Aboriginal people, seniors can help to lead a change in the Closing the Gap conversation in Australia. “Talking is a wonderful thing,” he enthused. “You get to know people better.”
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MARCH, 2020// citizens in their own homes and in residential care. It creates companionship and reduces social isolation. If you want to become a visitor, or would like to receive one, contact Northern Rivers Community Gateway on 02 6621 7397.
LEISURE TIME AT ELANORA
WAY WITH WORDS: Tweed Valley Toastmasters' latest monthly winners are Shirley and David, recognised for their interesting prepared speeches and impromptru talks. FROM PAGE 8
speaker will be Rod Preston, on Poppies, Poms and Convicts. New members and visitors welcome. Our club will be holding their Annual Flower and Garden Show on September 5 at the Tweed Heads Civic Centre, Brett St. For more, phone Gwen Barnes on 0468 872 199.
BEGINNERS’ LINE DANCING FREE lessons for novice
beginners. Learn to line dance for fun, relaxation and exercise. All ages welcome, and no partner is needed. Phone 0403 225 313 or go to dallaslinedancers.com. On Friday at 9.30am (DST), beginners; 10.30am, early intermediate. Pottsville Community Hall, Tweed Coast Rd, Pottsville.
TWEED VALLEY TOASTMASTERS WE LIKE to give an award to those who were picked as the most interesting speaker
SOS
of a prepared speech and an impromptu speech each month. Our latest winners are Shirley and David. Our meetings are on the first and third Wednesday at 9.30am for a 10am start at Cudgen Leagues Club, Kingscliff. For more, go to tweedvalley .toastmasters clubs.org/.
COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME THE Community Visitors Scheme is an empowering free service that sends volunteer visitors to senior
WE OFFER classes in art (acrylics, sketching, watercolour, oils), craft (beading, card making, crochet, knitting, patchwork) and floral art, photo bookshop, canasta and mahjong each Wednesday 9am to noon at the Uniting Church, 7 Applecross Way, Elanora. Cost: $5 includes morning tea. Phone Lynda on 07 5598 8849 or Glenys 0457 979 032. Go to elanorauniting.com.au.
PROBUS CLUBS Banora Point WE MEET meet on the fourth Monday of each month at South Tweed Sports Club at 10am. We are a mixed club and have interesting speakers, as well an outing each month. Cost $5. Our speaker for this
month is Patrick Pickett, owner, artistic director and conductor of Queensland Pops Orchestra. Phone Annette or Ron Finch on 07 5523 4016.
AUTUMN FEDERAL EXCHANGE COME along on Saturday, May 2, from 10am to a crop swap at 10.30am at the Federal Park playground, Federal. This is an allweather, all-ages, familyfriendly, cash-free event. Bring along any garden fruit, vegies, herbs, cuttings, seeds, eggs, bulbs etc to swap and share. Help strengthen community connectedness and food resilience. See FB group @The Federal Exchange or email thefederalexchange @gmail.com.
LOCAL MARKETS MANY markets have guidelines that insist the products on sale are handcrafted or homegrown and aren’t available in stores. Kingscliff: Beachside 2nd & 4th Sunday. Pottsville: 1st & 3rd Sunday. Murwillumbah: Showground, 4th Sunday.
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Uki: Buttery Bazaar, 3rd Sunday. Tweed River: (Old Hwy) Chinderah 5th Sunday. Byron Bay: Butler Street Reserve, 1st Sunday. Mullumbimby: Museum, Stuart Street, 3rd Saturday. Bangalow: Showground, 4th Sunday. Brunswick Heads 1st Saturday. Lismore Car Boot: Lismore Shopping Square, 1st & 3rd Sunday. The Channon: Coronation Park, 2nd Sun. Urbenville: 3rd Sunday. Aquarius Fair: Nimbin Community Centre, 3rd & 5th Sunday. Lismore Heritage Park: 5th Sunday 3-9pm. Casino Market & Auction: Public School, 2nd Sunday. Wiangaree: Wiangaree Hall, 2nd Sunday. Ballina: Canal Road, 3rd Sunday. Lennox Head: Lake Ainsworth, 2nd & 5th Sunday. Evans Head: Recreation Reserve, 4th Sunday. Iluka Community: Charles St, 1st Sunday. Yamba: Oval, 4th Sunday.
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Good times shore thing Discover cultural mix making Hobart such a buoyant hub PAGES 16 AND 17
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This very Australian getaway has all the creature comforts you need to unwind.
There’s plenty to admire on the Zodiac Trail. FEEL THE SERENITY: Tweed Valley has much to offer. Pictures: Shirley Sinclair
Get away to the Tweed Valley Shirley Sinclair IT IS so quiet. Quiet as only the Australian bush can be. The unmistakable laugh of far-off kookaburras breaks the prolonged silence. Then a whipbird. Quickly, tranquillity returns, leaving only the slight rustling of leaves around us. From our comfy chairs on the undercover veranda, the break in the eucalypts reveals a herd of dairy cows on their morning graze and a smattering of farmhouses amid grand sprawling trees below, climbing past cleared grasslands and forests to the prized vista: the summit of Wollumbin Mount Warning. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Our arrival the previous afternoon in this rainforest canopy had been met with cloud cover and a smoky haze from distant bushfires over the border in Queensland. But the morning breeze has cleared the air and uncovered the reason behind the name of our villa: Mountain View. But we’re certainly not roughing it in the bush. We’re sampling the hospitality of Mistere Spa and Retreat, Urliup, in
The undercover veranda at the aptly named Mountain View villa.
northern NSW – three spacious, luxury selfcontained villas that offer the privacy and downtime we’ve been craving. This very Australian getaway (pronounced, aptly, like “mist” and air”) has all the creature comforts you need to unwind – from the soft sophistication of the modern four-poster bed, electric fireplace and airconditioning to the bespoke timber coffee table and warm embrace of the spa bath. This is how to get away from it all … without being away from it all. The “secret” retreat in the stunning Tweed Valley is hidden amid 52ha of idyllic,
Soak up the lushness from the Waterfall View villa’s spa bath.
The beautifully appointed Mountain View villa.
pristine rainforest. Yet Murwillumbah is only 10 minutes (8km) away, down and around our mountain road, then a few bends further on to the west. Cabarita Beach – where we came from yesterday – lies only half an hour east.
A flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi and great mobile phone coverage are waiting for you – if you can’t do without them. So are boutique shopping and restaurants in Murwillumbah (and I highly recommend Bacaro
Restaurant Bar for authentic Italian). And you could spend hours playing board games and chess or reading a host of books and tourism information. It’s so much nicer putting down the remote control, leaving the phone in the handbag and tuning in to the wildlife, which can range from “growling” male koalas looking for mates to mountain brushtail possums to shy wallabies, cheeky goannas and water dragons, plus birdlife including owls on lamp posts, exotic parrots and tiny kingfishers. The Urliup villas – Mountain View, Fountain View and Waterfall View – previously were known as
Wychwood but were totally cosmetically renovated to officially open on Remembrance Day (November 11) in 2017. While Fountain View and Waterfall View sit by the perch-filled dam, Mountain View has a beautiful outlook to Wollumbin Mt Warning. After breakfast, we decide to take a stroll on the Zodiac Trail to find our Year of the Water Tiger. It’s one of two pleasant walks that are filled with sculptures and oddities, flowering plants and massive trees. We take our time reconnecting with nature – and each other. And in less than 24 hours, I’m ready to face the real world again. AT A GLANCE: What: Regal Retreats’ Mistere Spa and Retreat. Where: 1110 Urliup Rd, Urliup, NSW. The villas can be occupied by one couple for the ultimate in privacy or by groups and families. Breakfast baskets and barbecue packs are available to buy before check-in. Regal Retreats prides itself on unique Australian accommodation. Info: Visit www.mistere spaandretreat.com or call 0411 052 759 to book. SENE01Z01MA - V1
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Irish luxury through the roof IF it’s luxury you’re after, there are plenty of topnotch hotels across Northern Ireland. If it’s something amazing, unusual or even eccentric, here are seven self-catering options that will fit the bill. 1. Twilight Bunkhouse, Carnlough, County Antrim Cosy indie coffee shop downstairs, comfy getaway upstairs, with views over Carnlough Harbour – or the Braavos Canal for Game of Thrones fans (the harbour was a film location for the HBO blockbuster). The two six-person dorms and two four-person private rooms come complete with kitchen, guest lounge and access to a courtyard. 2. Finn Lough Bubble Domes, County Fermanagh A cosy little bubble to call home deep in the forest of a lakeland resort. These polished, airy and 360degree glass-dome suites, with complimentary Wi-Fi, flatscreens and tea- and coffee-making facilities, mean you can stargaze the night sky on comfy seats or recline on the four-poster bed. 3. Aurora, Bushmills,
CLEAR FAVOURITE: The Finn Lough Bubble Domes lie deep in the forest of a lakeland resort.
County Antrim Hewn from Canadian cedar, this pair of deluxe log cabins comes complete with
supersized beds, wood burners, outdoor hot tubs and private verandas. Just 1.6km from the world-
famous Giant’s Causeway, there are myriad attractions to explore nearby. 4. Quarry Hill Church,
Picture: Contributed
Strangford County Down A unique opportunity to stay in a stunning converted Presbyterian church built in
1846. The spectacular fivebedroom property is at the entrance to the picturesque village of Strangford, overlooking Castleward Bay. 5. Blackrock Beach House, Portrush, County Antrim This superlative holiday home overlooks a Blue Flag beach in the seaside resort of Portrush. The best local bars and fine-dining restaurants are no further than a pleasant stroll along the promenade. This is the perfect base for exploring the Causeway Coastal Route. 6. Waterfall Caves, Limavady, County Londonderry A perfect getaway for a weekend in the outdoors, this quirky subterranean setup lies at the foot of Binevenagh Mountain. The luxury caves sleep up to four. 7. Further Space, Glenarm Castle, County Antrim A distinctive comfort zone in the grounds of a 17th-century castle, these stylish glamping pods are set on a spectacular hilltop site with breathtaking views. Info: ireland.com.
Train of thought is taking off BRAND INSIGHTS WHEN Simon Mitchell came home one day and casually mentioned to his partner of 10 years that he bought a train, he got the rise of the eyebrows that he expected from Danielle Smith. After all, she knew her partner had been a keen railway modeller for years. When he mentioned that the scale of the train was actually 12” to the foot, he finally got the reaction he was looking for! It turns out Mitchell, a retired accountant, had bought seven ex-Southern Aurora sleeping carriages from the liquidators of the Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT). The carriages travelled by rail to Lithgow Railway Workshops, where four twinette carriages were painstakingly restored to operating condition. They V1 - SENE01Z01MA
currently form part of the Southern Aurora fleet at the NSW Rail Transport Museum, Thirlmere, and have gone on a number of rail tours over the past nine months. For at least two of these carriages, it was their first passenger-carrying service since 1994. Mitchell and Smith have also restored a further twinette carriage at the now-reopened Canberra Rail Museum, and two Roomette carriages at Goulburn Locomotive Roundhouse. As a team they have gone on to buy 14 carriages, to be returned to operation. The carriages have been kept in as original condition as possible. Mitchell said: “We’re amazed that the original vinyl wallpaper has survived since 1962. We’ve really grown to appreciate the mid-century vintage appeal of these carriages.’’ The pair’s passion comes
through when they talk about the rail heritage community. “We have had tremendous support from the community, who really want to see the return of this icon of Australian rail travel,” Mitchell said. Trading as Vintage Rail Journeys, Mitchell and Smith recently released two exciting rail tours allowing you to travel for five days and four nights, sleeping and dining on the train and covering 1500km around rural and regional NSW. “We really wanted our guests to see everything possible, so we only travel during daylight hours,’’ Mitchell said. “We stable the train at night at rail stations, and it is quite a challenge finding somewhere to park up a 400m-long, shiny stainless-steel train. “Our guests tell us they want to get out of the city and into the bush, so we
have developed a northern loop (Golden West Rail Tour) and a southern loop (Riverina Rail Tour).’’ Both tours start at the iconic Sydney Central railway station. The Golden West Rail Tour goes north to the Hawkesbury River, the Hunter Valley, Orange and the Blue Mountains and then back to Sydney. The Riverina Rail Tour goes south, along the Illawarra line, up the escarpment to Moss Vale and on to Goulburn. Time is spent in Griffith, Temora (featuring Warbirds Downunder 2020) and the Blue Mountains before returning to Sydney. Mitchell and Smith have sourced caterers from the areas the train will travel through. They have engaged a wine consultant who will travel on the train and assist guests with tastings. The response from the travelling public has
MOVING EXPERIENCE: Simon Mitchell aboard one of the trains in his Vintage Rail business. Picture: Contributed
reflected the desire to visit the bush, with the first Golden West Rail Tour, on April 1-5, being sold out. Tickets for the Golden
West Rail Tour on September 9-13 and Riverina Rail Tour on October 14-18 are on sale now. www. vintage railjourneys .com.au.
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ECLECTIC MIX: The panoramic view of thriving Hobart from Mount Nelson. Pictures: Erle Levey
Art, music add to southern belle’s core appeal Erle Levey THERE’S more to Tasmania than apples, wine and seafood. The island state to the south of the Australian mainland is full of cultural surprises, whether it be art, music or architecture. And as well as the worldfamous Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, there is another link to an even greater journey … a link to man’s landing on the moon. It’s something I quickly discovered after an earlymorning mystery flight from Brisbane in late November. Just pack a jumper, walking shoes and an iPhone, I was told. No need for a passport. That narrowed the destination down to Victoria, South Australia or Tasmania. Arriving at Gate 38, departures were either Melbourne or Hobart. Hobart it was. In a little more than two hours we were off the east coast of this southernmost part of Australia and starting the approach to Hobart International Airport. Even though it’s virtually the start of summer there is a chill in the air on leaving the terminal. And I’m glad there is a woollen beanie to pull on. After all, next landfall is Antarctica. Everything feels fresh. Friendly. After the novel greeting of life-size replicas of the native wildlife at the luggage collection area in the airport terminal, the drive into Hobart is mostly through bushland or rolling farming country. The approach to the Derwent River Bridge opens up the beautiful view of the city on both sides of the glacial-formed river and deep harbour. The backdrop is the majestic Mount Wellington, known as kunanyi by the first people, the Muwinina. Hobart is easy
to love. And to get around in. It’s such a walkable city for the most part. You only need a car for day trips to such locations as the wineries of the Coal Valley, historic Port Arthur Convict Settlement, the wooden boats centre in the Huon Valley or to the summit of Mount Wellington. There is the magnificent Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) to explore, the coastline of Bruny Island and so many walks. You don’t expect it to snow on the first night in summer. You don’t expect to stumble upon an art exhibition opening on your way to dinner. You don’t expect to experience the strings section of a symphony
orchestra playing to a packed house at a brewery. There’s a lot to Hobart you don’t expect … and that’s part of its charm. Hobart is easy to love … even when the weather turns cold and grey. To see the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra at Hobart Brewing’s Red Shed at Mac Point was something to warm the soul. It was simply an 800m walk from the Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel, near Victoria Dock.
Despite the soft rain and chill wind the atmosphere was warm at the brewery. Flannelette shirts and Blundstone boots were the order of the night as the sold-out crowd readily warmed to the unusual blending of an exceptional orchestra in such an industrial setting. Pot-belly stoves inside, open fires in the courtyard and the talk from the bar area added to the sense of occasion. The TSO is based right in the heart of Hobart. It is widely travelled throughout Australia and the most played on ABC Classic FM. Tonight the strings section will be playing everything from Elgar to Lady Gaga. On Saturday night is another sold-out event with the orchestra’s brass section performing at St David’s Anglican Cathedral, about another 800m up the hill in Murray Street. The TSO reaches a broad cross-section of listeners with free outdoor concerts in Hobart and Launceston, and performs in regional Tasmania, schools and community centres as well as these events that started three years ago to reach out to new audiences. As marketing director Sam Cairnduff says, they are looking at different ways to take music out there. “We are going through our most successful period in 71 years. While subscriptions around the country are challenging, ours are going up year on year. “We are pretty much getting right around the state, and around Australia. “A specialty is Australian composers. We have recorded more than any other orchestra. “We have championed a lot of composers. Our
The Cascades Female Factory, a former Australian workhouse for female convicts.
Australian conductors’ workshop is a pipeline for aspiring conductors to build skills.’’ Tasmania’s food and wine are celebrated for their quality, especially its seafood. And there are so many good places to eat in the city. Walking back from the brewery, we stop at the Drunken Admiral, right on Victoria Dock. I had wondered about it, being in such a convenient position. Would it be a tourist place? Friends had all talked about it, including those who had lived in Hobart. Yet fears of it being impersonal were quickly dismissed as soon as we walked through the door. It was a step back in time … to the inside of an old sailing ship with bowsprits, figureheads, heavy timber tables, all sorts of nautical bits and pieces such as
Tasmania Symphony Orchestra Strings at the Red Shed, Hobart Brewing Company.
shackles, ropes and chains, old sails, and gimballed navigation lights. Everywhere you looked was like being in an antiques shop. It was busy … and despite it being a cold night the welcoming was warm. We were happy to sit up at the bar and grab a drink while ordering. The rum barrel behind the bar reminded you of what it must have been like in the time of sail. Bruny Island oysters are arguably the best you will taste, then there’s the scallops, the seafood chowder, crusty bread … and a Tasmanian red. To finish we walked around the waterfront to the floating Van Diemens Land Creamery. The city fronts the River Derwent, so it has not just a nautical past but it is still part of its seafaring culture.
Constitution Dock, famous for the finish of the SydneyHobart Yacht Race, is also home to sailing ships from Tasmania’s past. The sailing vessel May Queen, Australia’s oldest sail trading vessel, is one of only a handful of wooden vessels of her era still afloat in the world. Westward is a fishing vessel that was converted to a racing yacht and claimed handicap victories in the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Races of both 1947 and 1948. Recently, the SydneyHobart pioneer Mistral II has joined the fleet, in preparation for a major restoration to take several years. Being able to virtually walk everywhere in Hobart adds to the intimacy of the city. Such as enjoying the Salamanca Markets of a Saturday morning, on the western side of the
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It’s well worth the walk up to Battery Point for the stunning surrounds and gorgeous views.
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There’s a lot to Hobart you don’t expect … and that’s part of its charm.
The Jackman and McRoss Bakery is a Battery Point highlight – one of the rewards for visiting the area.
waterfront. And then to walk up to Battery Point and places such as Jackman and McRoss Bakery, or on to the Shipwright’s Arms Hotel for a counter meal, particularly of a Thursday for the jazz night. Shippies, as it is known, was established in 1846 and remains a traditional oldschool pub complete with nautical mementos and pictures to celebrate its history. Yet Hobart also has a host of interesting places within easy reach, whether it be by car, tour or ferry. Mt Wellington, the dramatic backdrop to the city, is 1270 metres high, and climbed in 1798 by surgeon and explorer George Bass. You can drive up, walk up or take a bike tour. Yet the weather can change quickly … from sunshine to cloud and scotch mist in minutes. But the view is enormous. Stop at the convict
women’s factory in South Hobart to get a glimpse of the harsh conditions the prisoners found themselves in during the 1800s. Catch the ferry out to MONA, a remarkable art gallery cut into the sandstone cliffs and privately funded by Tasmanian David Walsh. Allow time to discover what’s there as there is a remarkable backstory about how it came about. Although it is not publicly funded it has earned such a name that virtually everyone who goes to Hobart probably experiences it … 400,000 visitors a year. Set in the grounds of Moorilla Winery, the oldest in Tasmania, and on the banks of the Derwent, MONA has made a giant difference to the Tasmanian economy. Art and wine … both need even temperatures and controlled
light to preserve them at their best. MONA was built in 2011 with the philosophy that arts and culture should always be accessible. A bit further out is Richmond in the Coal Valley, the perfect place to wander through the wineries, try the food and sketch the secondmost photographed bridge in Australia. Standing among the rows of grapevines at Frogmore Creek Winery, the shape of the Mount Pleasant radio telescope provides a juxtaposition. Something from the future in such an old landscape. Now run by the University of Tasmania, it had been part of the deep-space research program of the 1960s. It had been the Orroral Valley radio telescope to the south of Canberra and was the first deep-space tracking station. That was before
nearby Honeysuckle Creek and then Parkes, in the central west of New South Wales, became forever etched in history as the sites to relay the first televised pictures of the moon landing … the “one step for man, one giant step for mankind’’. Between mountain and sea, Australia’s southernmost state capital is wrapped up in history, culture, adventure and the natural environment. Hobart is timeless. Such clean air, good food and interesting landscapes. Even the story of Tasmania is somewhat of an adventure. The first reported sighting of Tasmania by a European was on November 24, 1642, by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who named the island Anthoonij van Diemenslandt, later shortened to Van Diemen’s Land.
The square-rigged sailing ship Yukon at Franklin in the Huon Valley.
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Perth’s worth easy to savour IN BRIEF ENJOY all-inclusive Perth touring at its best, featuring the Margaret River, Pinnacles Desert, Swan River lunch cruise, Fremantle, special lunches, a magnificent cruise and more. The Discover Australia tour spans six days in Perth, with flights, Western Australia luxury touring, the cruise, accommodation, breakfast daily, other meals and personalised transfers included. Admire the remarkable moonscape of the Pinnacles Desert, the world-famous Margaret River region, the longest wooden jetty in the southern hemisphere, Busselton jetty and the bohemian port town of Fremantle and enjoy a special lunch cruise down the iconic Swan River. Discover Australia’s packages are wonderful for senior and solo travellers and those with some mobility limitations. The package costs $1532 per person, twin share. Info: www.discover australia.com.au or phone 1800 519 678.
TRY A TASTE OF MEXICO EXPERIENCE Mexico’s distinctive cuisine while travelling through Oaxaca, Puebla, Huatulco and Mexico City. Meander through Oaxaca’s aromatic markets, take to the streets of Puebla to sample the city’s local specialties, indulge in fresh seafood on the beach and take to the streets of Mexico City on a taco crawl to experience a culinary heritage that goes back thousands of years. If you’re after cultural richness, authentic experiences and flavoursome food that’s tinged with fiesta, this Real Food Adventure is for you. In Oaxaca you’ll enter the heart of pre-Hispanic cuisine – taste chillies, chocolate, mezcal and the surprisingly delicious chapulines (grasshoppers). Take a guided “taco crawl’’ through Mexico City’s bustling markets. A Pacific Ocean boating expedition followed by a
The beautiful Margaret River area has so much to offer, with local wine a favourite.
CAPITAL IDEA: Perth is the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding region.
coastal cuisine master class on one of Mexico’s stunning beaches is the perfect way to wrap up your culinary adventure. While Intrepid Travel tries to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. If you have dietary requirements, contact your agent at the time of booking for information on how this may impact on your ability to take part in included activities and meals. You will be covering a fair amount of ground on this trip, so be prepared for some driving. Mexico is a big country, however there’s only one very long bus trip (about nine hours) from Oaxaca to Huatulco. The price for the nine-day trip is $2230 per adult, twin share. Info: www.intrepidtravel. com.au or phone 1300 574 321.
US ROAD TRIP: SEE BEST OF THE WEST SKYSCRAPERS, sequoias and impossibly big skies await you in the US West. This 15-day tour through the urban and natural wonders of California, Arizona and Nevada is perfect for travellers who want to inject a little downtown energy into their out-of-town escapes. In the cities, you’ll traverse the concrete jungle by day with an expert CEO (chief experience officer)
Pictures: Contributed
Revel in the fresh Welsh air on a picturesque walking track. Picture: Contributed
Up-market shopping on Rodeo Drive is an LA highlight.
and overnight in hotels and hostels. You’ll marvel at the Grand Canyon and the giant sequoias of Yosemite before diving into a barbecue dinner and camping. Highlights are stargazing in Los Angeles, marvelling at a Grand Canyon sunset, opting to spend a night in dramatic Monument Valley, taking a chance in Las Vegas, camping under the stars and hiking in Yosemite. Included are accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Info: www.statravel.com.
au/tours-on-sale.htm or phone 1300 735 277.
to St Davids in the south. Travel through rolling hills, rocky mountain passes and along the magical coastline. The tour, rated moderate to challenging, encompasses a range of natural and cultural wonders. Throughout the experience you will be listening to stories of local
history and culture from local guides, with the chance to explore some of the hidden gems of Wales. You will walk to see the limestone and dolomite cliffs at Great Orme’s Head and visit the walled town of Conwy (where you can see “the Smallest House in Great Britain”). Along the way, you’ll see castles, including Castell Dolbadarn and Castell Coch. There is also the chance to enter Carreg Cennen castle, perched on a limestone outcrop. The departure point is in Manchester and from there you travel to the small town of Penrhyn Bay on the northern coast of Wales. Towards the end of the trip there is the opportunity to explore Cardiff with a guided day tour before finishing in London. The price is from $US5310 ($8116) twin share and the tour runs from August 8–20. This trip is paired with Odyssey’s Walking Tour of Ireland and the Lake District, offered to the active mature walker. The number of participants in this tour will be 12 or fewer, with the addition of an Odyssey program leader. Info: www.odyssey traveller.com/tours/walkingwales or phone 1300 888 225.
GO FOR A WALK IN WALES THE Exploring Wales on Foot tour is a small-group walking tour designed for mature travellers. On this 11-night tour, travel by coach across the length of Wales with the chance to walk up to 15km a day. The paths selected will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The tour takes you from Betwys-y-Coed in the north
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Wellbeing LONG-TERM vision disorders affected 93 per cent of people aged 55 and older in 2017-18, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Eye Health Web Report. Of course, there are many eye conditions that affect people at various stages of life and these often depend on genetic, congenital and lifestyle factors. According to Daniel Cornelius from Clearly.com.au, the most common to impact ageing Australians are: • Presbyopia, or “the ageing eye’’, the effects of which we will all experience from the age of about 40 as a normal part of growing older. This condition affects the ability of the eye to change focus from far to near. The onset may vary slightly depending on the lifestyle and environment where people grow up and spend most of their time before the age of 40. • Cataracts: Just like presbyopia, developing cataracts is a normal part of ageing and is not always classified as an eye disease. Cataracts occur when the
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Look health in the eye EYE-CARE TIPS
BE WATCHFUL: Glaucoma is a silent disease that develops slowly, experts say.
crystalline lens of the eye starts to lose its transparency.This condition is dealt with by extraction of the opacified crystalline lens of the eye and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. • Glaucoma – a condition whereby the optic nerve of the eye progressively becomes damaged. This is often associated with high
pressure in the eye. The loss of vision typically occurs in the peripheral sight and often goes undetected. In most cases, this condition can be treated successfully. Unfortunately, glaucoma remains one of the major causes of blindness in the world. This is because the condition has no or very few symptoms in the initial
stages and it is probably the most under-diagnosed of serious eye diseases. • Age-related macular degeneration: This is among the major causes of blindness in Australia. It typically affects central vision. There are two types of age-related macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration
Picture: Contributed
typically progresses very slowly and does not often result in legal blindness. Unfortunately, there are currently no treatments for this condition. • Diabetic retinal disease: There has been a dramatic increase in type 2 diabetes among the ageing population of the world, leading to a radical increase
• Visit you optometrist at least yearly. • Consult your optometrist as soon as you notice a difference in your vision. • Have the right ‘tool’ for the task. In today’s visually demanding world, it makes sense to optimise your vision for specific tasks. • Consider contact lenses as an alternative to wearing your prescription glasses. • Maintain A healthy weight: exercise and diet help prevent diabetes and high blood pressure.
in diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing these retinal complications greatly increase with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes or poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. Managing the risk for related eye disease requires a multidisciplinary approach, with regular screening for retinal disease recommended.
Dementia drink link is targeted CLARIFYING the relationship between alcohol use and dementia is just one of 19 new projects that will share in $1.5 million in grants to conduct groundbreaking dementia research. Dr Louise Mewton from UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA) was awarded a $75,000 Dementia Australia Research Foundation Pilot Grant, sponsored by the Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, and will use the funding to clarify the relationship between low to moderate alcohol use and the risk of dementia. “This world-first study combines innovative, stateof the-art research methods to address two of the largest contributors to the global disease burden: dementia and alcohol use,” she said. “To date, the relationships between these two key causes of death and V1 - SENE01Z01MA
disability have been underresearched and overlooked. It is critical that we have a better understanding of how alcohol use is related to agerelated diseases such as dementia. “This research will uncover innovative avenues for dementia prevention through the development of age-appropriate, evidencebased recommendations on the number of standard drinks per week associated with minimal dementia risk.” The chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Professor Graeme Samuel (AC), said the grants provided support to early and mid-career researchers who wanted to make a difference in the field of dementia. “This next generation of talented researchers will be among those tackling some of the biggest challenges in this field. These grants
CRUCIAL LINK: New research is looking into how alcohol use relates to dementia.
provide vital insights into reducing dementia risk, improving accurate and timely diagnoses and establishing treatment and care options for people who
live with dementia,” he said. “With the number of people living with dementia expected to increase to almost 1.1 million by 2058, research into dementia is
now more urgent than ever. “Further, the broad range of projects supported, including nanotechnology, hip-fracture prevention, enhancing cognition with
Picture: Contributed
exercise and personalising care through music, reflect the increased diversity and quality of research in the dementia space across Australia.’’
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WELLBEING
MARCH, 2020//
SENIORS
Quality of Ted’s life lifts with top care BRAND INSIGHTS IN DECEMBER, Edgar (Ted) and Jean King celebrated a rare but wonderful occasion: their 70th wedding anniversary. “It’s been a good 70 years, hasn’t it, darling?” Jean smiles, patting Ted’s arm. His response says more than words as he returns her smile. Yet there was a time when Jean feared they wouldn’t be here. “Three years ago, we were all booked to go to New Zealand. Ted had a pain in his chest,’’ Jean said. “The doctors suggested an angiogram instead. “Ted had a heart bypass years and years ago, and it had been absolutely marvellous. “This time he got a stent, and it disturbed something and caused a massive stroke. “The doctors said he
would never do anything again.” Ted and Jean moved to Alstonville 10 years ago to be closer to their son, Ian, the Ballina vet. For Ted’s ongoing care needs, BaptistCare Maranoa, Alstonville, seemed the obvious preference. “I live just two kilometres from here. Had he not been as close, I wouldn’t have been able to visit him as I do,” Jean said. Despite the tumultuous time, Jean and Ted felt at home right away. “The staff are marvellous. They’ve been so good to him, and to me. I’m Jean and he’s Ted, we just belong here.” Ted is walking with help from his physiotherapist, communicating without talking, and smiling often. “It gives me every comfort to know he’s so well cared for,’’ Jean said. “I leave each afternoon
ENDURING PARTNERSHIP: In December 2019, residents of BaptistCare Maranoa, Alstonville, Edgar (Ted) and Jean King, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
The Kings on their wedding day in 1949.
knowing he will be well looked after.” While every journey into residential care is as unique
as you are, BaptistCare helps you navigate and understand the options available to you or your
loved one. Finally, people are offered aged care advice made simple. For more information, go
to baptistcare.org.au/aged care or phone 1300 275 227 to speak to our Aged Care Support Team.
Call for better testing of those at viral risk
SICK SYSTEM: National Seniors is calling for more protection for vulnerable people irrespective of their age.
NATIONAL Seniors has come out in support of the strong stance being taken by health departments and others on the threats of COVID-19. The organisation is concerned that a person already identifiable as vulnerable should not have been exposed to the virus in an environment where prevention was possible. “Isolation is too late a measure for people at risk and the risk should be stopped at the first points of access or contact,’’ it said. “Testing of staff needs to be fully implemented so that this doesn’t occur again. “Staff should not be
penalised because they test positive and, particularly, it should not affect their wages and conditions.’’ National Seniors said any vulnerable person living in Australia, whether 95 or five years of age, deserved the fullest protection available. COVID-19 versus influenza National Seniors cited epidemiologist Tom Duszynksi, writing in The Conversation, as saying the coronavirus isn’t a rare “black swan” event but a product of evolution. He says there have been about 40 new, infectious diseases discovered globally since the
1970s, with pathogens often jumping from animals to humans. COVID-19 produces signs and symptoms that are similar to influenza, which makes it difficult to distinguish between the two. COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, body aches, fatigue and, occasionally, vomiting and diarrhoea; both can cause pneumonia as well. “Also, COVID-19 is more contagious than seasonal influenza. The average person, even with mild symptoms, is likely to spread the disease to more than two people. By contrast, the
seasonal flu’s rate is roughly half.’’ Be flu vaccinated Getting the vaccine for the seasonal flu could be helpful for you and for medical professionals, National Seniors said. “Since the signs and symptoms are similar, if everyone were to be vaccinated against the flu, fewer people would have the flu, thus making it easier to detect another disease with similar symptoms. “The faster COVID-19 is identified, the faster public health and the medical community can respond to minimise its spread.’’ SENE01Z01MA - V1
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REAL ESTATE
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Give web fraudsters the flick CYBERSECURITY is a real threat to everyone, from millennials who are afflicted with ‘‘optimism bias’’, through to seniors who lack general cybersecurity knowledge. According to the ACCC, scammers cost Australians half a billion dollars in 2018, via various schemes including internet-enabled theft, fraud, and exploitation, so it is important for those who didn’t grow up with technology to protect themselves from some of the most common types of online fraud. Nick FitzGerald, senior research fellow at ESET, said: “Optimism bias, loneliness, and deteriorating cognitive abilities are key leverage points that scammers use to target their victims. By understanding the potential risks and identifying the signs, those who grew up without technology can better
protect themselves in 2020.” Cybersecurity experts at ESET have outlined some tips to keep all internet users, including seniors, safe from common types of online scams. 1. Be sceptical Never assume that a stranger online is a trustworthy person. Always consider the possibility that any unexpected message may be a scam attempt, noting anything unusual about the message or sender. Additionally, caution should still be exercised if the message comes (or seems to come) from someone well known via email, instant messaging apps or social media. If in doubt, throw it out. 2. Don’t click It’s important to never automatically assume that any material received out of the blue is authentic, no matter how official it looks. One of the most pervasive
online cons, phishing, usually begins with an unsolicited email or social media message in which the fraudster impersonates a trusted entity using social engineering techniques, and attempts to persuade the victim to hand over sensitive data, such as credit card details or login credentials. 3. Say no to ‘freebies’ Fraudsters have also been known to send emails congratulating people on their “win’’ in a lottery or sweepstake that they never entered, or as the apparent only remaining relative of a y wealthy person who is genuinely deceased. Asking for personal details, requesting small payments and instilling a sense of urgency are all signs of a scam. 4. Never wire money to strangers Some $60.5 million was lost by Australians in 2018 to dating and romance fraud. Victims are tricked into
Living
STAY ALERT: Scammers could be lurking behind your next email, so be aware of the signs and never give out your personal details. Picture: Contributed
sending money or personal information to a false admirer, making lonely seniors particularly susceptible. 5. Hang up
Tech support fraud is a common technique where the con artist advises potential victims that their computers have been compromised by malware.
Never give remote access to a device unless you called a help desk directly, even if the caller claims to represent a reputable vendor or your ISP.
The Forum For Your Two Cents Join our exclusive online community, where you’ll find other seniors ready to socialise and share. Seniors online - connecting you to an exciting retirement.
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LIVING
MARCH, 2020//
SENIORS
FAMILY AFFAIR: Author Jacqueline Henry with her mother, Agnes Hough, at the launch of Ms Henry's book, The Whole Heart.
Author tackles grief with a story all about hearts Melissa Seiler
The Whole Heart, the debut work by Jacqueline Henry, explores the different ways in which people are affected by grief.
WHEN author Jacqueline Henry first told a friend she had an idea to write a book about grief, she was met with a little scepticism. “She said, ‘Oh, that sounds a bit dark’– which is why you shouldn’t tell people your ideas!’,” Mhs Henry said. “But it’s not. For me it’s about accepting grief, and grief is the price of love.’’ The Whole Heart tells the endearing tale of a little girl who has lost her grandfather, and seeks help from a man at a repair shop to “fix’’ her heart. That moment of bravery unfolds into a journey exploring the very nature of the human heart, and its different meanings to people riding the rollercoaster of emotions that are grief and heartbreak – and the wish to feel “whole’’ again. Queenslander Ms Henry had spent the best part of 25 years working to realise her long-held dream of being an author.
After originally completing a degree in sociology, she started writing articles and stories in the 1980s, turning her attention to children’s picture books and junior school readers when she had her three sons in the 1990s. “I got rejection letter after rejection letter, and that’s when I thought, I’m taking myself back to uni,” she said. A postgraduate Diploma in Journalism led to a job writing for a community newspaper – where her determination grew stronger. “Everyone I met was doing something amazing … they were artists, or releasing their first book or album, or they were 80 and running for the environment,” Ms Henry said. “I thought, well what am I doing? So I started writing.” The light-bulb moment for The Whole Heart came on a seemingly ordinary journey four years ago. “My son and I play this game ‘what trade is that
truck?’,” Ms Henry recalled. “I was driving along and I was behind this truck. It was old and it had the extension cords, a generator and power tools, things dangling off it … and I was thinking, I bet this is an old guy, I bet he could fix anything except a broken heart. “By the time I’d reached my destination, I had the whole concept in my head.” As for the very personal subject of grief, Ms Henry said it was something she by no means claimed to be an expert on. “When you tell people you’re writing a book about grief, they tell you their story. My observation is, everybody experiences it so differently. “I know people say they’re afraid of making others cry – but I don’t think you can. If you bring up someone they’ve lost and then they cry, it’s because they’re remembering them. It’s a complicated thing. “You can lose someone in different ways – they could move away, they could leave
you, they could die, they could get dementia. As someone said to me the other day, they could be there, but they’re not the person you’ve spent your whole life with.” Launching the book recently, surrounded by family and friends, Ms Henry thanked her now grown-up sons Tom, Will and Harry Husson, and her mother, Agnes Hough, 85, for their “love and light” during the long journey to publication. But perhaps the biggest fan of her book is her threeyear-old granddaughter. “Over Christmas, I read it to her every day, and she loves it. She points to the new heart and says, ‘That’s my heart, Ma, I love that heart’. “When I wrote the book, my dream for it was that someone might hold it against their heart and it might give them a little bit of comfort, thinking ‘Yes, I would rather remember’.” The book is available for purchase at thewholeheart .com.au. SENE01Z01MA - V1
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Five key moves to turbocharge super in retirement run-up FOR many of us, saving for retirement isn’t something we’ve done our entire lives. However, when it comes to your 50s (and beyond), your super becomes more important to you than ever before and the key to retiring comfortably is all in the planning. Here are five easy ways you could boost your super when you’re over 50. 1. Consolidate your super Now might be the time to consolidate your super into one account to minimise fees, reducing your admin time and make it easier to keep track of your balance. Before consolidating super, it’s important to check you’re not going to lose any insurance cover in an existing super fund. 2. Think about debt Typically, retirees want to enter retirement with as little financial stress as possible – which means it’s time to think about debt. There’s a wide range of options on how best to manage debt including the option of starting to pay down debt now, or waiting
until retirement – it depends on the individual circumstances. 3. Increase your super contributions As available cash flow increases – say because the mortgage has been paid off – it might be time to increase your super contributions. Whether you choose to do this through salary sacrificing or a personal taxdeductible contribution, as you come closer to retirement it could be beneficial. to turbocharge your contributions to make the most of your investments. 4) Think about your investment strategy The closer you come to retirement, the better idea you will have of how and when you might like to retire. It’s a good time to assess your investment strategy to ensure it’s working for you and will get you where you want to go. Is your current strategy too aggressive as you move closer to leaving the workforce and have less time to ride the wave of investing?
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Money
5) Review your insurance/beneficiaries As your financial commitments start to slow down, it’s important to reevaluate your insurance needs and any beneficiaries. For some, if the mortgage is paid off and your emergency fund is in a good place, now might be the time to lower your level of cover or extend your waiting period to drop your premiums. Whatever you choose, review your beneficiaries regularly to avoid your benefit ending up in the hands of the wrong person or attracting unnecessary tax. – 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 to your objectives, financial situation and needs.
IT PAYS TO PLAN: Simple measures can help make the most of your superannuation.
Managing inheritance Mark Digby IN AUSTRALIA, special capital gains tax (CGT) rules apply when dealing with assets of a deceased estate. The most common types of assets inherited by a beneficiary that could be subject to a capital gain are property, shares and managed funds. Implications for Australian tax residents Within Australia it is only if you decide to sell the inherited asset at some point that the normal CGT rules apply. V1 - SENE01Z01MA
Inherited Property: CGT outcomes are an important aspect to consider when selling inherited investments. Inheriting a family home may involve CGT when it is sold. This depends on a few factors, such as when it was bought, when it was sold and whether it was used for investment purposes during the ownership period. The sale of the family home may receive the “main residence exemption’’, which means that CGT will not apply. (If you’re a nonAustralian tax resident, CGT may be applicable.)
Inherited shares and managed Funds: Generally these assets can be passed to Australian tax resident beneficiaries and not involve a CGT event; however, the beneficiary will inherit the deceased person’s liability. This means the CGT is calculated on the original purchase price – not the price when these assets were inherited. Other CGT considerations: Generally speaking, if the asset is: • A collectable asset, such as rare stamps, then CGT may apply.
• Personal-use asset such as jewellery, a car or boat, CGT will typically not apply. Capital gain (or losses) on an inherited asset: Several considerations are involved in calculating a capital gain or loss. These can include: • The type of asset, and how it was used before the deceased’s passing. • The deceased’s date of death. • The date the asset was inherited. • Your ownership period, before selling the asset. • Whether you are selling the asset as an individual
Australian tax resident, or not. The CGT implications of a deceased estate are complicated. A financial adviser will be able to assist you in understanding any tax implications of inheriting an asset, based on your personal circumstances, objectives and goals. 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 is not a substitute
for specialist tax advice 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 adviser.
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REVIEWS
MARCH, 2020//
A joyous look into extended family
Take a trip down memory lane
TRACEY JOHNSTONE
STRAP yourself into your favourite reading spot and get ready for a six-month bumpy ride alongside the Casey and Kinsella families in Marian Keyes’s newest novel Grown Ups. If you thought you had a complicated extended family, wait until you have read to the end what Keyes shares. It twists and turns in so many ways that any plans to
Boys will be boys in Aussie film
THEIR OFFSPRING ARE NORMAL KIDS WITH THE USUAL PERSONALITY QUIRKS MOST PARENTS HOPE WILL DISAPPEAR AS THEY GROW OLDER. put the book down and do something else with your day quickly fades when you finish one section and slide into reading the next one. The family tree at the start of the 633-page book is very useful. Until you get to know each character, this tree is invaluable. In short, Grown Ups takes you to Ireland, where there are three brothers who couldn’t be more different. Their wives, and an ex-wife, are smart and complicated at the same time. Their offspring are normal kids with the usual personality quirks most parents hope will disappear as they grow older. The grandparents, or at least one set, are
outstandingly bad – can there really be a couple like this? Some of the language in the novel is new to me – perhaps the Irish influence is the reason? Once you have dived deep into the stories, that
language starts to become familiar. Don’t let it stop you enjoying a great read. I don’t want to tell you much more about the family get-togethers, money and health challenges, conflicts and loves. Perhaps my family isn’t
that complicated after all? Grown Ups in is bookshops now. RRP is $32.99. Marian Keyes has been writing funny, internationally bestselling fiction for more than 20 years.
SENIORS
IT’S simply never too late to live your dream with your mates even if you are all holed up in Hogan Hills Retirement Village. The Australian comedy from director Mark Lamprell (A Few Less Men), Never Too Late boasts an outstanding cast including James Cromwell, Dennis Waterman, Shane Jacobson, Jackie Weaver, Jack Thompson and Roy Billing. The backstory is, it’s been a long time since Caine, Bronson, Angus and Wendell, AKA The Chain Breakers – escaped the torturous Vietnamese POW camp. They now find themselves sharing a new prison, The Hogan Hills Retirement Home for Returned Veterans. Each of the boys has an unrealised dream he wants to achieve before it’s too late. So, once again they band together to devise a plan to escape this new hell. But the rules of engagement have changed; in fact, they can’t even remember what they were and that’s half the problem. Never Too Late is in cinemas from late April.
SIT back, peel down the Choo Choo Bar wrapper and lay some serious colour on your tongue as you reminisce while flicking through the pages of Stuff We Had in the ’50s and ’60s. Welcome to Pam Van Der Kooy’s incomplete collection of stuff from the relevant decades with facts, history, anecdotes and memories to be used as catalysts for readers’ own memories of that time, good or bad, golden or otherwise. From the joys of Cuisenaire rods and Dick and Dora at school, to Pope wringers, TV licences and home haircuts, there’s lots of stuff. When Pam’s father’s book Aniseed Balls, Billy Carts and Clothes Lines: an ABC of Growing Up in the Thirties was published in 2002, one of the most frequent comments she had was that people were going to use it to give to their kids and grandies to show them what life was like. How much better would it be to have space to add your own memories? You can. Boolarong Press; RRP $24.95
Entertaining view into the future of food THIS is a rollicking exploration of the history and future of our favourite foods. When we humans love foods, we love them a lot. In fact, we have often eaten them into extinction, whether it is the megafauna of the Paleolithic world or the passenger pigeon of the last century. Whether it’s chasing down the luscious butter of local Icelandic cattle or looking at the impacts of modern industrialised
LOST FEAST MAKES A CRITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FOOD SECURITY TODAY.
agriculture on the range of food varieties we can put in our shopping carts, Newman’s bright, intelligent gaze finds insight and humour at every turn. Bracketing the chapters
that look at the history of our relationship to specific foods, Newman enlists her ecologist friend and fellow cook, Dan, in a series of “extinction dinners’’ designed to recreate meals of the past or to illustrate how we might be eating in the future. Part culinary romp, part environmental wake-up call, Lost Feast makes a critical contribution to our understanding of food security today. You will never look at
what’s on your plate in quite the same way again. Lenore Newman is the Canada Research Chair in Food Security and Environment at the University of the Fraser Valley. She is the author of the acclaimed Speaking in Cod Tongues: A Canadian Culinary Journey. She divides her time between Vancouver and Roberts Creek, British Columbia. RRP $39.99; ECW Press SENE01Z01MA - V1
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ACROSS 1 Which drug took its name from the Greek god of dreams? (8) 7 What were Carl Perkins’s blue shoes made of? (5) 8 In the Bond film Goldeneye, which dame played M? (4,5) 9 Ja is a South African exclamation for what? (3) 10 In Australian slang, what is a fraudulent or dishonest act? (4) 11 What is a group of lines forming a unit of a poem? (6) 13 Which character in Only Fools and Horses was played by John Challis? (6) 14 Which US state has towns called Livengood, Wiseman and Ruby? (6) 17 Which country was known as British Honduras until 1973? (6) 18 If you nictitate at someone, what do you do? (4) 20 Which river flows through Wales to England, where it joins the Severn? (3) 22 Bee Gees Maurice and Robin Gibb were born on which island? (4,2,3) 23 Which synthetic textile fabric is made from cellulose? (5) 24 What animal is painted on Qantas aircraft? (8)
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Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
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DOWN 1 Which military officer ranks immediately below a lieutenant colonel? (5) 2 What name for the Soviet Union’s troops was dropped in 1946? (3,4) 3 Speakers’ Corner is in which London Park? (4) 4 At what age does one become an nonagenerian? (6) 5 Mau Maus tried to end British rule in which country? (5) 6 In The Merchant of Venice, who is Shylock’s daughter? (7) 7 In English, what is the only one-word anagram of the word English? (7) 12 In medieval Europe, what was a peasant personally bound to his lord? (7) 13 What is a beer factory? (7) 15 Before playing Tarzan in films, what did Johnny Weissmuller gain fame as? (7) 16 What deciduous shrub with funnel-like flowers tolerates dry conditions? (6) 17 Who (___ Reid) starred in the 1968 film The Killing of Sister George? (5) 19 What form of Japanese fencing involves bamboo swords? (5) 21 What is the monetary unit of Vietnam? (4)
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Find a finished crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.
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Down 1. Shortens, reduces (8) 2. Squander (5) 4. Make an offer (3) 5. Deserving scorn (12) 6. Determination (7) 7. Pronounces (4) 8. Return (12) 12. Stir violently (5) 13. Castle (8) 15. Extremist (7) 19. Banish (5) 20. Defeat (4) 22. Crazed (3)
Across 1. Hood (4) 3. Disguises (8) 9. Deceive (7) 10. Unpleasant (5) 11. Without warning (12) 14. Mythical woodland creature (3) 16. Fit out (5) 17. Self-esteem (3) 18. Stubborn, unyielding (12) 21. Frequently (5) 22. Feeling of discomfort or unease (7) 23. Follows, comes after (8) 24. Church seats (4) SOLUTIONS
5x5 P E S K Y
ALPHAGRAMS: GAPED, HASTEN, INFESTS, JINGOIST, KITTENISH. GK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Morphine, 7 Suede, 8 Judi Dench, 9 Yes, 10 Rort, 11 Stanza, 13 Boycie, 14 Alaska, 17 Belize, 18 Wink, 20 Wye, 22 Isle of Man, 23 Rayon, 24 Kangaroo. Down: 1 Major, 2 Red Army, 3 Hyde, 4 Ninety, 5 Kenya, 6 Jessica, 7 Shingle, 12 Villein, 13 Brewery, 15 Swimmer, 16 Azalea, 17 Beryl, 19 Kendo, 21 Dong. QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Cowl 3. Obscures 9. Mislead 10. Nasty 11. Unexpectedly 14. Elf 16. Equip 17. Ego 18. Intransigent 21. Often 22. Malaise 23. Succeeds 24. Pews. Down: 1. Commutes 2. Waste 4. Bid 5. Contemptible 6. Resolve 7. Says 8. Reappearance 12. Churn 13. Fortress 15. Fanatic 19. Exile 20. Loss 22. Mad.
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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
TODAY: Good 19 Very Good 28 Excellent 33
T R I P E
WORD GO ROUND
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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.
PAGED HE TANS FITNESS INTO JIGS THIN KITES
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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.
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All puzzles © The Puzzle Company
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Need support at home? We provide home and support services in the Gold Coast and Tweed regions. Home Care Personal Care Hospital to Home Care Companionship and Support Shopping and Meal Preparation Social Activities Escorting to appointments
The care you need, in the place you want it.
www.sossupport.com.au
PTY LTD
CLEANING
Need a placelift? Specialising in helping Seniors keep their homes tidy in Gold Coast and Tweed Heads regions No more mess Total cleaning solutions Friendly local sta Seniors inquiries very welcome Accredited Aordable Reliable Professional cleaning service to leave your world shining
www.soscleaningservices.com.au
Shop 1/29 Boyd St, Tweed Heads NSW 2485 Office: 07 55 36 1773 After hours: 0414 749 020 7149427aa 7149427aa
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