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Cover Story: Little Pattie...........................Pages 3&4 Feature: Anzac Day................................................Page 16 Travel: Discover Australia .............................Pages 17-21 Puzzles.........................................................Page 27

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 Now online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Northern NSW Seniors Newspaper”.

The Seniors Newspaper is published monthly and distributed free in northern New South Wales and south-east 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.

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Life is a colourful, complex tapestry

AHH...the memories, Little Pattie, Normie Rowe, Gough Whitlam.

You will find a picture of each of these inspirational Australians in this edition, and for me with each picture comes a memory, if not of the person, then of the time and culture, defined forever by a unique blend of politics, people, power and of course, music.

In many ways Pattie Amphlett shaped our image of Australia in the 1960s.

She was healthy, happy and upbeat and yet at the same time willing to dive into the harder parts of history, which includes supporting Australian forces in war zones.

Pattie’s interview is an uplifting read about a person who was born with certain gifts and has used them not only to better herself, but also the lives of others, including a whole new generation.

One would have to say: “Go Pattie”.

But we all have different life journeys and this

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month I also give it up to the older adult woman who has owned up to being ripped off by an online scammer who she linked up with on an online dating site.

That’s not to say, this doesn’t happen in person, nothing really stops a con, but this sort of scumbag has certainly found a fresh operating field on the internet.

Thank goodness victims have the courage to speak out.

It is a brave person who speaks their truth, when they feel hopeless and perhaps not blameless.

As with the #metoo campaign, (which I also speak to social commentator Jane Caro about in this edition), it’s up to us to listen and

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Liberal governments on Australians who are members of self-managed super funds and other self-funded retirees who fall outside the age pension safety net.

Besides this print story, there is more online on our website: www.seniors news.com.au.

This month our travel section focuses on Aussie travel and we really have some great holiday ideas; from your choice of transport (have you ever thought of travelling on a cargo ship) to finding food and wine in Victoria and 10 top spots to experience in the Northern Territory.

Life is indeed a colourful tapestry, I trust we reflect that in our stories.

And please for more news check out our website seniorsnews.com and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ seniorsnews.

— Enjoy, Gail

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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

acknowledge their stories, to let them know that it’s not their fault, it could happen to anyone, and also understand their story offers support to other victims and hopefully stops more people from suffering the same crime.

This publication covers a range of sections and we endeavour to provide good information in all of them.

This month we share professional advice on cervical cancer and screening together with a report on how childhood polio sufferers are again coping with this disease.

At the moment we are all talking about hikes in private health premiums and many of us are not just talking about it, we are dropping out of health funds.

More on this on our regular Talk‘n’Thoughts page.

On our Money page, finance expert Tony Kaye discusses economic implications of policies mooted by both labor and

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In this edition

Welcome

Event Cinemas “Breath” Screening Giveaway

Thanks to Event Cinemas, we are giving away double passes to their Seniors morning tea screening of BREATH on Wednesday 9th of May at BCC and Event Cinemas.

BREATH (M) is based on Tim Winton’s award-winning and international bestselling novel set in mid-70s coastal Australia. Two teenage boys, hungry for discovery, form an unlikely friendship with a mysterious older adventurer (Simon Baker) who pushes them to take risks that will have a lasting and profound impact on their lives.

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

Want to buy some tickets to the screening? Cinebuzz for Seniors members can get tickets for just $10* from April 18 and best of all, membership is free! You can join online at eventcinemas.com.au

Visit seniorsnews.com.au/competitionterms for full competition terms and conditions. Promoter is ARM Specialist Media Pty Ltd of 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore Qld 4558. Promotional period 16/04/18 - 27/04/18. Competition drawn 3pm 27/04/2018 at Cnr Mayne Rd and Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Winners announced in Seniors May Editions 2018. Total prize value $80.00 (including GST). Entry is open to all permanent residents of New South Wales, residing in the Northern NSW, Central Coast and Coffs & Clarence Seniors distribution areas. Authorised under Permit NSW/LTPM/17/02038

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Cover Story: Little Pattie

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Petite Pattie’s life is full of giving back

Seniors 3 ALWAYS A STAR: Petite songbird Littie Pattie.

At 69 years old, her music underpins the many new directions she has undertaken in her life Tracey Johnstone

SONGBIRD Patricia (Little Pattie) Amphlett thrives on being busy, whether she is teaching or learning, singing or volunteering, as long as it involves giving back to the world that still loves her.

Music remains at the heart of her life, but at the end of the silken tendrils of her music is a life richly filled with professional and volunteer activities that reflect her intellectual depth.

Pattie’s journey started with a hit record at age 14 before she headed to Vietnam in 1966 at age 17 where the petite singer found herself the youngest person to entertain the troops.

“They’ve got a big place in

my heart,” she says.

Since then she has been to many other countries where there has been conflict.

“We were in convoy in the southern part of Iraq, travelling from one camp to another,” Pattie says.

She was told there was an outside chance of being fired at, but her long-standing trust of the Australian army gave her enough confidence to jump in the front seat of the Bushmaster for the journey of several hours.

Beside her was a 19-year-old solider who was tasked with looking after Pattie’s group.

“We could see where we were going more than the passengers who were in the back, and I didn’t want to miss a thing. I

must have asked this kid Simon a hundred questions about where we were, his life in the army and about his family.”

Once they finally arrived at their destination where the group was performing, Simon rang his family back in Australia.

“I rang my mum and dad last night,” Simon told Pattie.

“I told them about you and how you asked me all these questions, and said your name was Pattie and described what you looked like.

“My dad said you better look after her son and he really lectured me that I had to really look after you because you were very special to him because he was a Vietnam veteran.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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“He was a terrific young man: he never left our side after that,” Pattie said.

Pattie’s music teacher once made her promise she would teach singing, because of her temperament.

More than 20 years ago, she started doing just that and works for four Sydney high schools, including a performing arts school.

“I have learnt so much from them,” Pattie says.

“I learn about life and constantly kept up with the attitudes of young people. Who wouldn’t want to know about young people?

“For all the bagging some people give them, I get to see a terrific side of young people and I can honestly say I know we will be in good hands. They are going to be looking after us and I am really happy with that.”

Pattie, or Miss Patricia as the students call her, has devised a modified curriculum which uses her experience as an ongoing performer, rather than one that is technique only.

“Most of the time I let the kids choose their songs,” Pattie said.

She finds many of the children have been to musicals and often choose songs from those

performances.

“I like imparting the knowledge I have and I genuinely like helping kids get better in what they love to do,” Pattie says.

There are always a few stars among the students, but it’s the “triple threat” ones she really keeps an eye out for – ones who can sing, dance and act at the same time, and do it well.

Back in 1972, Pattie formed a strong friendship with Gough Whitlam. She was part of the group that performed It’s Time for his election campaign.

“I remained close to the principles he espoused, became a Whitlam-ite, and a friend of the Whitlams,” Pattie says.

One of the former PM’s legacies is the Whitlam Institute at the Western Sydney University which pursues the causes he championed.

Pattie sits on its volunteer board which oversees debate on public policy in the areas of equality, indigenous recognition and improving talented Australians’ access to the broader community.

She also sits on the board of the Jessie Street Trust, which was set up in recognition of one of Australia’s 20th century Australian activists, Jessie Street.

Cover Story: Little Pattie

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Former prime minister Gough Whitlam with singer Little Pattie during the election campaign in 1972.

PHOTO: FILE PHOTO

AUSSIE ICONS: Little Pattie and actor/singer Normie Rowe warm up in 1997.

PHOTO: KELLY DAVID

Each year the trust conducts a luncheon which raises funds to provide grants for projects similar to the ones Jessie championed, such as the rights of women and indigenous people, peace and disarmament, and the elimination of discrimination.

Pattie still performs often, mainly at private functions and some festivals, and practises for an hour every day.

“When you teach, you are singing almost every day with the kids,” Pattie says.

“If one day I say I have had enough or it’s time to put my feet up or it’s time not to have such a busy life… I know I will always be active and busy doing things.

“I will always want to do something for other people, too. That’s kind of in my family’s DNA.”

SONGBIRD: Patricia, singing to an audience of Australian soldiers at the Bokah Music Bowl, a temporary stage with a parachute as a shade canopy. She accompanied Col Joye and his band the Joyboys on this and a later tour of South Vietnam in August 1966.

PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Online Dating

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 5

Heartbreaking love scam a lesson for all

She thought she had found man of her dreams Ann Rickard

ONLINE LOVE: Author and survivor Jan Marshall.

PHOTO: CAROL SHEARMAN

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JAN Marshall, now 64, is an intelligent, educated woman who held good corporate jobs in Brisbane and Melbourne.

But five years ago, in a quest to find love through a legitimate online dating site, she was scammed out of $260,000, her entire life savings.

Now facing a bleak future on welfare, Jan is sharing her story to show other seniors how easy it is to be hoodwinked, and to prove that anyone, no matter how smart or worldly you may think you are, can fall victim to professional scammers.

“Scammers target people looking for love,” Jan said.

“I hadn’t had much experience with online dating.

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Jan thought she’d met

the man of her dreams when he contacted her after she’d been on the dating site for just a day.

He told her he was a self-employed civil engineer who travelled the world on projects.

He said he was working in Canada at the time and would shortly be travelling to Dubai for another large project, but was not averse to coming to Australia to meet her at the end of the Dubai job.

Then the “love bombing” started, a barrage of emails and messages showering Jan with attention, compliments and then passionate declarations of love.

“Scammers get you off the legitimate website quickly, saying they would rather communicate with your private email,” Jan said.

“Then they close down

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their profile on the website and all communication is done through your email and Messenger.

“They target you, showering you with compliments and making you feel special, loved.

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“They deliberately generate that, changing the brain state so you will be less anxious, more trusting.”

While many people reading this might wonder at Jan’s naivety and gullibility – and she has had more than her share of people saying ‘how could you be so stupid?’ – the scammers are professional and ruthless, and for someone who has a trusting and

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non-suspicious mind, it is easy to fall prey.

“I did look at Scamwatch,” Jan said of the time she was in the first heady days of emails and SMS messages. “But at the time I didn’t believe anybody could build this level of intimacy and be a scammer.”

By the time Jan’s ‘dream man’ asked for money she was deeply in love, had indulged in cybersex with him, said yes to a marriage proposal and was looking for a property they could buy in Australia to spend their future together.

Jan’s scammer did not ask for money directly, rather a loan to help him with taxes due on product being held in Dubai on the job he was working on. Jan sent her first lot of money through bank transfer, believing it to be a loan. Then came other requests for money, always with plausible reasons why his own money was being held temporarily frozen. He even showed Jan a copy of his bank statement with more than enough money to repay her (a false document, obviously).

“At this stage the scammer will often introduce a ‘family person’ to normalise the element of it,” Jan said. In

Online Dating

her case, it was his teenage daughter who joined in the email and SMS conversations and even asked Jan if she minded being called ‘Mom.’ Jan says in the beginning the scammer will show a photo of himself, but this is always a stolen photo, and he will never allow his victim to see him on Facetime or Skype, making excuses

call centre in Nigeria reading from a well-practised script.

“I do believe it was a gang scenario in Nigeria,” Jan said. “After I’d reported it to the police they said it was likely the money had gone to Nigeria.”

The money Jan sent went in various amounts over weeks, each time her scammer giving reasonable explanations

❝

People think it couldn’t happen to them, but it can happen to anybody. If you are looking for love you put yourself out there, you are vulnerable. about his computer having hiccups.

“The photos are always stolen,” Jan said. “I have since looked at the top 50 photos used by scammers, a lot of them are of men in the American military.”

While Jan was falling in love with the ‘civil engineer’ over dozens of daily emails, texts, phone calls and messages, her scammer was most likely one of a team sitting in a

for his need and stressing it was just a loan until they met when he came to Australia from finishing the project in Dubai.

“I had used all my savings and then taken a further $45,000 in credit card debt and then I took money out of my self-funded super fund which I was (legally) not able to do,” she said.

After Jan had given all she had, her scammer sent a final dismissive

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

message to tell her he was boarding a plane for England and to thank her ‘for everything.’ She never heard from him again.

The heartbreak Jan suffered when she realised her dream man did not exist – and not only had all her money gone but she had incurred fines with the Australian Taxation Office for dipping into her superannuation – is difficult to comprehend.

“The first month after I found out I was deeply in shock,” she said.

“But my feelings (for him) were still so strong if he had turned up at my door, I would have invited him in.”

Now five years later, and without hope of retrieving her money, Jan has taken her heartbreak and turned it into a positive, founding a website and blog, writing a book and talking publicly about her experience to help others, especially vulnerable seniors.

“I am 64 now with very little reserves behind me,” she said.

“People think it couldn’t happen to them, but it can

happen to anybody. If you are looking for love you put yourself out there, you are vulnerable.”

Jan says the authorities are powerless to do anything to trace the scammers and warns that men are just as susceptible as women, with statistics showing close to 50 per cent of

men are looking for the perfect woman. “The scammers have scripts to target men, target everyone,” she said.

Jan Marshall’s book, Romance Scam Survivor: The Whole Sordid Story, is available at www.romancescam survivor.org.

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Seniors 7

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Local Story

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Moving on to Art Trail Yvonne Gardiner

TEN arts-fuelled days are in store when the Murwillumbah Art Trail embraces painting, performance, sculpture, film, dance, street parties, food and wine.

With the theme ‘Moving On’, MAT18 is out to help Murwillumbah economically as well as visually and spiritually.

MAT18 sponsorship manager Suzi Bourke, of Cabarita, is among a team of volunteers staging the celebration.

“MAT18 aims to provide a venue for artists – something all types of artists need,” she said.

“As an artist it is hard to become visible, even though it seems like social media can do everything for all types of business.

“An event really propels interest in creativity and provides a viewing space.

“Creativity is so undervalued but important in our world.

“The value of innovative and creative producers is incalculable. Art provokes, sooths or celebrates – it attends all of the

Creative ways of Murwillumbah emotions and records society unwittingly.

“It is so important but often struggles to justify its value in society.”

MAT18 will run from May 18-27 with a program sure to appeal to a range of ages and types of people.

“It is both family-friendly and mardi gras – depending on which event you attend or whether you just wander the streets’ pop-up galleries,” Suzi said.

“There will be maps provided and town guides wandering the streets.

“Spending a day in Murwillumbah gazing at art for free and sitting down at one of the wonderful lunch cafes in town is a fabulous way to spend the day. The drive to Murwillumbah from any direction is a wonderful scenic tour in itself. If you plan a three-day tour, there are so many places to stop at on the way.”

Suzi encourages retirees to be involved in MAT18 through volunteering.

“I put my hand up after the last trail, suggesting I

could help,” she said.

“It is lovely working with people who are motivated to help a community.

“They are the salt of the earth and beautiful people who don’t seek any returns or glory.”

Suzi has been a practising artist from the age of 10.

“I painted whilst hiding in my parents’ car parked in the back of their takeaway shop in Geelong,” she said.

“I became a secondary teacher of English and attended various short evening courses on different types of creative pursuits but, when I retired and moved to Cabarita Beach, I took up painting again.

“I grabbed a little space under our big outdoor area and set up my easel and paintbox and haven’t moved since.”

The MAT18 website themurwillumbahart trail.com includes recommended accommodation places, the art trail program and bookings to ticketed events.

CRATIVE BLISS: Artist Suzi Bourke promotes the variety-packed Murwillumbah Art Trail for 2018.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

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Neighbourhood News

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ALL THINGS LEGAL Have you had a Car Accident? Beware of Dodgy Claims “Harvesters” Many of our clients have received “cold calls” from dodgy claims harvesters after they have been involved in a car accident, particularly when it was not their fault. Partner and NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, Chris Clarke discusses this alarming practice.

There has been an increasing incidence of so-called “claims harvesters” who are ‘cold calling’ people who have had car accidents in Queensland and badgering them to make a claim for damages for personal injuries against the CTP insurer of the driver at fault. This is the insurance that covers claims for personal injuries that attaches to the registration of all vehicles (‘compulsory third party’ or CTP insurance) and covers the driver at fault.

Although this practice is outlawed in Queensland through the PIPA legislation, the claims harvesters get around this by convincing the unsuspecting car accident victims to use lawyers who are outside the State of Queensland in pursuing personal injury claims. The claims harvesters “sell” the client with the claim to the lawyers for thousands of dollars but this is not usually disclosed by the lawyers to the clients.

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

THE deadline for the May issue of our Community section is May 9. Email: editor@seniors newspaper.com.au

ACTIVITIES AT TINTENBAR HALL

CARPET Bowls are held fortnightly on a Friday 10am-12 noon, April 20 and May 4 and 18.

Contact Marg on 6687 8033 for more information about these activities.

VIEW CLUBS ● COOLANGATTA/ TWEED

OUR next luncheon will be on April 19, we meet on the third Thursday of the month at the South Tweed Sports Club 11am for 11.30am start, cost of two course lunch is $24. The guest speaker this month is Judi Bonsor a deaf interpreter. New members and guests are always welcome. Apologies and bookings: phone Elaine on 07 5524 4461 before Monday April 16.

●TWIN TOWNS DAY

The claims harvesters work for companies which are based overseas (some are located in the UK) and gain access to insurance company databases which contain details of the people involved in these accidents. They enter into arrangements with insurance companies to be the “claims brokers” or assist in the “claims process” dealing with the property damage claim of the vehicle involved in the accident. They obtain details of the people who are involved in the accident and telephone them to convince them into bringing a claim. They promise the unsuspecting clients thousands of dollars in compensation and tell them that it will cost them nothing with “reputable no win no fee lawyers”. After they have convinced the client to proceed with the claim, they “sell” the claim to the lawyers (usually for a minimum of $2000-$3000) who then take on the claim.

WE ARE organising the VIEW Gold Logies with the event to celebrate the club’s 50th birthday and 50 years of supporting The Smith Family. We will have the privilege of

LOOKING ROYAL: VIEW Twin Towns Day clubs' treasurers Lyn and Sharon and members, Diana and Maureen.

having the VIEW national president, Jan Roberts, with us on the day and entertainment by the fabulous George Harvey.

President Beth Fraser invites ladies to walk the Red Carpet and join her for a fun-filled day on Thursday, May 3 at South Tweed Sports Club and the cost is $25. Time: 10.30am for 11am Booking essential, phone Freda on 07 5524 1357 before April 25.

PROBUS CLUBS ● KIRRA-TUGUN

CALLING all baby boomers - The Kirra Tugun Probus Club will probably be the perfect club for you in your

retirement, you are an active retired couple or single, looking for stimulation, fun and friendship. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Currumbin RSL at 10am but have numerous forms of entertainment each week. Phone Rod on 07 5534 1909 or go to probuskirratugun.org.au.

● BANORA POINT

NEW to the area, retired or semi retired? We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the South Tweed bowls club at 10am. We are a mixed club present speakers and an outing each month. April speaker Bev

We know this is true because our firm has recently been approached by several overseas companies located in the UK offering an arrangement where they would refer clients to us on the basis of a payment to them of $3,000 for each valid claim. They stated that they were entering into arrangements with insurance companies to act as their “claims brokers” or “claims managers” and that they had access to literally thousands of clients injured in accidents where they made a claim through their insurance company for property damage. When it was pointed out to them that this practice is effectively outlawed in the State of Queensland, they stated that they had arrangements with lawyers “outside the jurisdiction”.

We have also had firsthand experience of a claims harvesting company known as “Accident Helpline” or ”Australian Injury Helpline” who contacted a staff member of our firm after she was involved in a rear-end collision on the M1 on the Gold Coast. The car that she was driving was owned by a family company and, not only were emails sent to the family company email address attempting to solicit a claim arising from the accident, a “claims harvester” actually rang our office wishing to speak with the person involved in the accident! The phone number for this company was a Sydney number and they were very insistent with wanting to process a claim and refer it to “their lawyers”. They promised thousands of dollars in compensation and that there would be no fees involved. When questioned about how they knew about the accident, they stated that they had obtained this information from the insurance company or the insurance company’s “brokers”.

We caution clients and the public generally about accepting cold calls from these companies who are obviously only in it to generate money from the lawyers who they refer these claims to. It is doubtful that the lawyers would disclose the fees that they are paying to the claims harvesters for the referral of the clients and their ethics must be questionable if they are accepting referrals from such an unethical source.

We suggest that our clients obtain proper legal advice from accredited specialists in this area of law and report any such contact directly to their insurance company. Insurance companies should not release this information to third parties as the data is highly confidential. Furthermore, it is a criminal offence for lawyers to accept these types of referrals from claims harvesters and they could also be prosecuted by the Legal Services Commission.

If you require any further information about Personal Injury Claims please do not hesitate to contact Department Manager Casey Reedyk on direct line 07 5506 8220, Freecall 1800 621 071 or email: creedyk@attwoodmarshall.com.au for a free initial consultation and discuss our ‘no win no fee’ terms. We have a dedicated team of lawyers who specialise in this area of law and practice exclusively in personal injury claims.

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WE WILL hold our next meeting on Tuesday, April 17 at 10am at the Tricare Retirement Community, 87 Tweed Coast Road, Hastings Point. The main speaker will be retired high court judge, the hon.

David Ashton-Lewis, returning due to popular demand to continue his very interesting talk on aspects of the law and his adventurous life.

PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN LIONESS CLUB

WE WILL host a monster Garage Sale on the weekend of May 5 and 6 at the Lions Den in Murtha Dr, Elanora starting at 7am each day.

We have furniture, clothing, books, toys, plants and a sausage sizzle. All proceeds will go to local charities. The annual Biggest Morning Tea will be held at the Lions Den on Thursday May 31 commencing at 10am. Lionesses meet on the first Wednesday of each month at the Lions Den at 1pm with afternoon

TWIN TOWNS & DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB

OUR meeting for May will be on Monday, May 14.

The venue will be South Tweed Sports Club, Minjungbal Drive, South Tweed in the downstairs auditorium. Our guest speaker will be Kathleen Henderson from Kathallan Exotic Plants and Gardens. Cuttings and Trading Tables will commence selling at 8.45am, so come along and snap up a bargain.

Morning tea is available and the general meeting commencing at 10am.

Cost: $3 entry fee paid at the door. Raffles, lucky door prizes and more.

Hope to see you there, bring a friend. For more information, phone Monika Ross on 0412 638 373.

ITALIAN FASHION PARADE AT NEW ITALY

LOVE that Italian style? hooked on linen clothing?

New Italy has just the event for you! An Italian Fashion Parade at New Italy on April 21 at 10am.

Models will be dressed with fashion from Etika

SPECIAL DAY OUT: Members of the Probus Kirra-Tugun Club at Government House.

Etc, Janette King’s fashion boutique fashion in Lismore.

Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary glass of prosecco and antipasto platters.

Bookings essential, phone Etika on 0438 415 153 for more information. All proceeds go towards the upgrade of historic New Italy Museum.

FRIENDSHIP FORCE

TWEED Valley Friendship Force is part of an International Organisation which involves travel to and hosting people from around the world.

The group meets regularly at the Murwillumbah Golf Club and also participates in various social activities.

Enquiries to Carol on 0468 475 285 or Helen on 5613 6641.

U3A ● TWIN TOWNS

WE INVITE you to a free Seniors Week celebration on Tuesday, April 10 with class demonstrations and Art Show at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Florence St, Tweed Heads.

Come along and observe or join in a class including light exercise, yoga or qi gong from 9.30am or sit in on the literature class or music appreciation class from 1.30-3.30pm. All welcome, contact Ruth on 0409 632 420.

● TWEED COAST

FOR our First Friday Forum in May, U3A Tweed Coast presents an interesting talk by Andrew Green representing St Vincent de Paul Society. Andrew is avVolunteer support co-ordinator and will

explain what happens to donations, what “Vinnies” does in the local community and the commitment of the society to recycling and the environment. As always our First Friday Forums are open for everyone and we welcome a $2 donation for afternoon tea. Be at the Uniting Church Hall, 24A Kingscliff St, Kingscliff at 2pm on Friday, May 4.

Inquiries with Dianne on 02 6674 4046 or go to: tweedcoast.u3anet. org.au/wp.

TWEED COAST CFS/ME/FMS SUPPORT GROUP INC.

FIBROMYALGIA, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Information and Support Group meets first Friday of every month at 10.30am at the HACC Community Centre, Cnr Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South. All welcome. Information Bronwyn on 07 5593 9319.

TWEED HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

AS THE Tweed Hospital Auxiliary is looking at new fundraising activities we will not be having our usual fete this year. As a result of this we will not

be needing donations of pre loved clothing and household goods. We would like to thank everyone who has generously donated goods over the years.

SING IN THE MAGIC OF LIFE

REHEARSALS 10-11.30am Thursday mornings, Tugun Village Community Centre with a tea and bikky break in the middle.

We sing lots of different songs, mostly a cappella although sometimes we use percussion and drums.

We also do some sound meditations which really help people find their true voice.

Sound meditations can also help reduce stress, and are very relaxing to do. Cost is $20 or $15 concession. Email Janet Swain: jswain3 @gmail.com or phone 0438 965 397.

TWEED VALLEY WILDLIFE CARERS

HAVE you ever wondered how to become a Wildlife carer?

Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers will answer all your questions and more on Thursday, April 19 from 10am at Murwillumbah Library, phone 02 6670 2427.

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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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Seniors 11

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12 Seniors Northern NSW

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

LIVING WITH PAIN

Help to cope with chronic surgical pain Voice your concerns to your GP as soon as possible Tracey Johnstone

BECOMING better informed on why post-surgery chronic pain occurs could assist you in ensuring this notoriously difficult to treat condition can be managed more effectively.

There are three types of post-surgical pain – acute, chronic and intermediate.

Not unsurprisingly after the trauma of a surgeon cutting into you, it’s highly likely your body will react with acute pain in the first three, five or seven days after that surgery.

Pain expert and director of pain medicine at the Royal Perth Hospital, Professor Stephan Schug said this is primarily caused by nerve injury.

“That’s why bigger and more interventional and traumatic surgery like total knee joint replacement causes so much more chronic pain than hip joint replacement,” Dr Schug said.

The ongoing or chronic pain, which affects between five and 10 per cent of anyone who has been through surgery, often remains difficult for seniors to understand and deal with, both physically and mentally.

Pre-operative risks The risk of chronic pain can depend on several factors – ■ The type of surgery

such as total knee replacement. “Up to 15 per cent of people who have had this operation can have severe chronic post-surgical pain,” Dr Schug said. “It’s much less for a total hip replacement; possibly under 5 per cent. The reason is most likely there is much less tissue and nerve trauma when you replace a hip then when you replace a knee.”

■ Repeat surgery.

■ Once you have an injury or ongoing moderate to severe pain, acute pain after surgery can become chronic.

■ Females have a higher risk of developing chronic pain. “We don’t know why exactly,” Dr Schug said.

“There is a lot of thinking that this has to do with the hormones.”

■ Younger age patients due to the plasticity of the nervous system. “For a 30-year-old, the same surgery causes more pain than for a 70-year-old,” Dr Schug said.

■ If you have long-term chronic pain before an operation, the risk of that pain remaining increases.

“Most people who have a knee or hip replacement, already have chronic pain which has made them have the operation,” Dr Schug said. Their nervous system is already sensitised to pain and they have a much higher risk of developing chronic

UNDERSTANDING PAIN: Chronic post-surgery pain often remains difficult for seniors to understand and deal with, both physically and mentally.

PHOTO: DEAN MITCHELL

pain afterwards.”

■ Psycho-social factors such as re-operative anxiety or a person who is a significant catastrophiser, can increase the risk of post-surgical chronic pain.

Post-operation actions Often the post-operative pain is in response to injury to nerves. Nerve pain is continuously there, but Dr Schug said it can become more obvious when you are lying bed and without the distractions of the day around you.

“Taking a good post-operative analgesic can reduce the risk of

Smith Street Spine Centre

post-operative pain and with joint replacement, getting proper rehabilitation,” Dr Schug added. “It will improve the function of the joint, improve the nerve function and reduce the risk of developing chronic pain.”

Intermediate pain “There are more and more pain clinics, but because there is so much chronic pain, the waiting lists are relatively long,” Dr Schug said. “That is why we are trying to fast track people who come out of surgery with a problem so that they don’t go on the wait list and

have to suffer in chronic pain.”

The new approach is to provide a transitional or intermediate pain medicine service, between acute and chronic, which is aimed at recognising and treating developing nerve pain before a person becomes a chronic pain out-patient.

“If we notice after the initial post-surgery acute pain period there are problems, and we are offering an in-patient acute pain service, then we can offer for a patient to come back to a chronic pain appointment later,” Dr Schug said.

He noted this new approach will be discussed further during this month’s Australian Pain Society conference.

How can you help yourself?

Start with talking with your GP, many of whom are receiving training in recognising and treating chronic pain. The GP may also refer you to a chronic pain clinic.

If you are visiting your surgeon immediately post-surgery, you should voice your concerns directly to the surgeon so he/she can exclude infection and prothesis issues.

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Wellbeing

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 13

It’s a privilege to grow old Find out more about genomic research into Alzheimer’s

WE HAVE all heard the phrase that we are now living with an ageing population.

One (very good) way to look at this is that it means that we can all walk this earth about twice as long as people did only 200 years ago.

What a great achievement of humanity.

This has mainly come about because of better nutrition, breakthroughs in science, better healthcare and we now live in a time that is relatively peaceful.

What luck to have a much greater chance of living a little longer on this lovely little planet.

As we age, we must all realise that we are truly very lucky.

Though, not all aspects of ageing are a walk in the park. Most people have now heard the alarming statistic that one in three people over 85 will have some form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in seniors and is at the front of everyone’s mind

as the population continues to live such wonderful long lives.

To help understand and even find possible ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, many types of studies around the world are attempting to find new pathways of treating this debilitating disease.

Some studies look at the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but the majority have now taken the approach of trying to prevent and/or slow the early stages of this disease.

To help pave the way for future generations, researchers and volunteers are leading us to new breakthroughs in fighting this disease, and a number of exciting steps have been made recently.

With the generous contribution of the public through participating in clinical trials, we are taking steps toward finding a solution.

Soon we may all be the lucky ones who grow old with healthy minds and

RESEARCH AND UNDERSTANDING: Most people have now heard the alarming statistic that one in three people over 85 will have some form of dementia.

happy hearts.

The Genomics Clinical Trials Centre under the direction of Professor Lyn Griffiths (part of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology) is one of the groups undertaking research into Alzheimer’s disease and we are currently running clinical

trials into prevention and treatment of the disease.

We regularly hold information sessions for people who might be interested in participating in our clinical trials.

If you or anyone you know would be interested in participating in clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease, please contact the Genomics Clinical

Trials Centre for more information: Genomics Clinical Trials Centre, Phone 5688 7170 or email: gctcentre@qut.edu.au.

Address: 299 Rio Vista Boulevard, Mermaid Waters, 4218.

Website: research.qut.edu.au/grc/.

You can also access

useful information on Alzheimer’s disease at the following organisations: National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or go to w: fightdementia.org.au Alzheimer’s Association Queensland Phone 1800 639 331 or go to alzheimers online.org ADVERTORIAL

Are you, or someone you know, age 60 to 85 years?

We are researching the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication in people who might be at increased risk for developing memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The EARLY Trial is looking for people who have generally normal memory function in daily life, and who are not being treated for memory problems. Even if you have noticed subtle memory changes, you may still be able to take part.

Please contact the EARLY Trial team today for additional information if you think you, or someone you know, can help us with this important research. By contacting us, you are under no obligation to take part in the trial.

Genomics Clinical Trials Centre, Telephone: 07 5688 7170 Address: 299 Rio Vista Boulevard, Mermaid Waters, 4218 Janssen Research & Development, LLC

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14 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

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Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 15

NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION & SELLING FAST! SECURE YOURS TODAY! Bathers Beachside is the Peninsula’s newest and most prestigious waterfront development.

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16 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

ANZAC DAY

LEST WE FORGET: Casino honours the Anzacs with a march and commemorative service each year.

Armourer calls time in Vietnam War ‘harrowing’ Yvonne Gardiner

PROTECTING his country and the people in it was a prime consideration when Jim Dean joined the Australian Army in 1962.

Six years later, he was sent to the Vietnam War with the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) divisional supply and transport group.

“I was a battalion armourer, I used to fix weapons,” Jim said.

“I kept them going so

Casino RSL Sub Branch president talks about his experiences

they could go shoot the enemy.”

Jim describes his 12 months in Vietnam as a “workshop person”, based at Vung Tau, as “harrowing”.

“Afterwards I went to Malaysia for two-and-a-half years with the battalion,” he said.

“We were keeping the peace. It was the end of the Malaysia skirmish 1973-75.”

Jim served in the army for 25 years, and says it gave him a career.

“I started out with nothing and ended up an engineer,” he said.

“When I came back, I joined 41 Battalion in Lismore – they were reserves – I did 10 years with them.”

Now retired, Jim is the president of the Casino RSL Sub Branch.

He and other branch

members are preparing for Anzac Day 2018, to be held on April 25.

Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is the anniversary of the landing of troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in World War I on April 25, 1915.

Casino sub-branch secretary Owen Newell said most of the current members served in Vietnam and Korea.

“I served in reserves for six years and consider Anzac Day to be extremely significant,” Mr Newell said.

“My father was in New Guinea in World War II. He would’ve been 101 this year.”

Descendants of veterans, schoolchildren and a band will join current and former armed forces personnel in the Anzac Day

commemoration in Casino.

The dawn service starts at 5.30am at the Casino RSM Club, while the march to the main service forms up at Graham Place at 10.15am and finishes at Casino RSM Club.

Hundreds of people are expected to attend each service.

Anzac Day services will be held across the Northern Rivers.

Check with your nearest RSL Sub Branch for service times.

Wartime treasures found at the tip

UNKNOWN SOLDIER: Photo in a frame of a soldier with possibly his mother, found at the Lismore Recovery Centre.

PHOTO: SAMANTHA ELLEY

WESTPAC helicopter volunteer Ken Jolley was making his regular trip to the Lismore tip to get rid of some of the service’s rubbish a few months ago. He came back with a couple of wartime treasures.

“I know the guys down there (at the tip) very well,” Ken said.

“They gave me the (framed) photo of a

soldier with what looks like his mother.

“They also gave me a World War I medal that seems to still be in very good condition.”

The medal Ken was given is a British Victory medal belonging to a Lance Corporal Robert Rees of the Royal Medical Army Corps.

His regimental number was 905 and he was an

acting sergeant in the corps which saw plenty of action during the Great War. If you can shed some light on the owners of these items or their descendants, phone Ken Jolley on 0438 616 733.

Ken is also looking for information about the 145 young Northern Rivers men who perished in the Great War. “We know very little

about these soldiers, but the RSL would love to have copies of their photos and information about their lives in the area prior to going to war,” he said.

“If you are related to any of these fallen Diggers or could tell us about any of them, please get in contact.”

Email sec@lismore rslsb.com.au.

Northern NSW

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

T ravel

Seniors 17

including DISCOVER AUSTRALIA feature

New ways to travel Tracey Johnstone

DISCOVER Australia a different way, transporting yourself along the waterways and highways to the many corners of this magnificent country using transport that isn’t the norm but still offers an exciting experience.

You might have to use a car, coach, plane, cruise ship or train to get to your newest destination, but once there why not book yourself a cargo ship, houseboat, motorcycle, or go cycling or on a walking tour. Better still, why not try a combination of these experiences.

CARGO SHIPS, NO NEED TO DRESS UP The only booking agency around for cargo ship cruising in Australia

2018 TOURS

seems to be Freighter Expeditions. They offer a weekly experience on board the 28-passenger, 80m ship Trinity Bay, which works between Cairns and Thursday Island. The working ship delivers supplies to isolated communities located inside the Great Barrier Reef.

Freighter Expeditions also offers a trip on the MV Malu Titan, which sails from Horn Island for a seven-day round trip, departing on a Sunday.

This ship has only five cabins.

FLOATING HOTELS

Well, you can’t actually travel around Australia on a houseboat, but you can try hiring one in different locations during your tour.

Here are some places where houseboats are

available for hire: About two hours drive from Melbourne in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range is Lake Eildon, with 540km of shoreline, bays and coves to discover.

Just outside of Sydney, head north to the Hawkesbury River where there are at least eight houseboat hire businesses on the stunning waterway. .

Discover Walpole on Western Australia’s far south coast where the tranquil waters of the Frankland and Deep rivers will help calm your travelling soul.

rentals for touring. Here are just a few.

The Victorian business Scenic Wheels has discovery tours plus short and long-term rentals of new and late-model BMWs. BikeRoundOz does several tours plus rentals in Australia for touring on sealed roads and off-road, short and long distances.

They have offices in all capital cities.

Southern Cross Motor Bike Tours are in Darwin.

They offer small group guided tours to locations “where no other operator can”.

RUMBLE HIGHWAYS

GET FIT WHILE TOURING

There are actually a surprising number of companies offering guided and self-guided motorcycle tours, and

Do the distance at leisure and by a healthy method; go cycling. Better still, load your bike up on the

ONLY NATURAL SOUNDS TO SAVOUR

DOWN UNDER COACH TOURS

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6 DAY NEPEAN BELLE CHRISTMAS IN JULY

• 5 Nights Albury • Blue Mt Sightseeing • Canberra Sightseeing • Beechworth Historic Precinct • High Country Sightseeing Adult: $4098 Single Supplement: $1104

• 4 Nights 1770 • LARC Cruise & Ground Tour • Lady Musgrave Is. Cruise • Bundaberg Rum Distillery • Flying High Bird Sanctuary Adults $2578 Single Supplement: $551

• Birdsville Pub & Track • Arckaringa Station • Coober Pedy • Kangaroo Island • Twelve Apostles Adult: $6796 Single Supplement: $1292

• Henry Lawson Centre • Blue Mt Sightseeing • Museum of Fire • Nepean Belle Xmas Lunch • New Italy Museum Adult: $2345 Single Supplement: $425

17 DAY KIMBERLEY, TANAMI TRACK & RED CENTRE Fly/Coach

15 DAY OPALS, SILVER CITY & PROUD MARY

11 DAY FLORIADE & BEAUTIFUL BATEMANS BAY

9 DAY FABULOUS FORSTER & MANNING VALLEY

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Departs: 04/08/18

back of your car or caravan and stop in interesting places.

Cycling Tours has small-group guided and self-guided tours across some fantastic locations.

Each tour includes accommodation, luggage transfers, vehicle support, airport transfers, GPS navigation and cycling equipment.

Australian Cycling Tours has guided and self-guided tours in Victoria and NSW, plus long-distance tours, with everything down to the last detail looked after.

The Melbourne company All Trails organises fully supported tours in various locations around Australia.

Departs: 24/05/18

Departs: 07/09/18

• Lightning Ridge • Lake Argyle & Ord River • Trilby Station & White Cliffs • Tunnel Ck & Windjana Gorge • Back O’Bourke Exhibition Cnt • Willie Pearl Farm • Silverton & Broken Hill • Mimbi Cave Indigenous Tour • Two Nights Proud Mary • Wolfe Ck Crater & Red Centre Adult: $7498 Single Supplement: $2256 Adult: $5398 Single Supplement: $1417

Departs: 05/06/18

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• 3 Nights Canberra • Canberra Sightseeing • Braidwood Guided Tour • Mogo Zoo • Batemans Bay Cruise Adult: $3798 Single Supplement: $965

Departs: 02/07/18

Departs: 10/11/18

Sometimes walking is the best way to discover a new place. Simple to do, cheap, healthy – with a friend, group or on your own. No need to be a mountain climber, just enjoy the great outdoors.

Check out Park Trek.

They specialise in small-group walking holidays, visiting destinations all over the country.

The small-group Australian Walking Holidays team can take you on the Larapinta Trail, Overland Track and many more fascinating trails.

Great Walks of Australia offers guided day and multi-day tours through Australia’s World Heritage-listed national parks. You get to experience incredible nature during the day and luxury during the night.

1800 072 535

33 DAY GREAT NORTH WESTERN ADVENTURE

Departs: 19/07/18

17 DAY CAIRNS, KARUMBA , LAWN HILL & KAKADU Coach/Fly

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• Kuranda Train & Skyrail • Kuranda Train & Skyrail • Undara Lava Tubes • Undara Lava Tubes • Lawn Hill Gorge & Karumba • Lawn Hill Gorge & Karumba • Kakadu NP • Kakadu NP • Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise • Wolfe Ck Crater & Red Centre Adult: $13997 Single Supplement: $4067 Adult: $6730 Single Supplement: $1812 I am interested in receiving your 10 DAY MUDGEE CHRISMAS CAPERS 2018 Coach Touring Brochure.

Departs: 18/12/18 Please add me to your mailing list:

• 4 Nights Mudgee • Bunna Bunoo Olive Grove • Poppa’s Fudge & Jam Factory • Whale Watching Cruise • Bluestill Distillery • Great Lakes Scenic Tour • Mudgee Winery Tour • National Motorcycle Museum • Mudgee Yabbi Farm Tour • Lorne Valley Macadamia Farm Adult: $3197 Single Supplement: $661 Adult: $3698 Single Supplement: $642

Name: _____________________ Address: ____________________ __________________________ P/code:______Ph: ____________ Email: _____________________

SPECIALISING IN SENIOR’S TRAVEL  COMPLIMENTARY DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE (Area Conditions Apply)  FULLY ACCOMMODATED TOURS Down Under Coach Tours, PO Box 149, Maryborough Q 4650  info@downundercoachtours.com.au  www.downundercoachtours.com.au  www.facebook.com/downundercoachtours

18 Seniors Northern NSW

Travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Victoria: Food and Wine

Have you mixed a holiday with a culinary adventure?

IMAGINE learning new cooking skills using local produce and then enjoying the fruits of your labour over a glass of chilled wine.

Regional Victoria offers travellers the opportunity to indulge in the pleasure of using their love of food and taking on new challenges by joining in culinary experiences which go from masterclasses to simple joys. Add in some food festivals, craft markets, the odd sculpture park, fine art galleries and even finer wines, and you have the makings of a wonderful experience.

Mornington Peninsula George’s Boutique B&B & Culinary Retreat offers gourmet hands-on cooking retreats and new half-day classes for small groups.

Half-day classes include Chocolate Unwrapped, Patisserie and seasonal produce.

Tre Gusti at T’Gallant is a ‘three tastes’ cooking class combining food, wine and song in the

winery’s cucina barrel garden.

Daylesford and Macedon Ranges Discover the secrets of perfect wood-fired sourdough bread at the RedBeard Historic Bakery in Trentham.

Spoons Kitchen provides a rustic country-style cooking-class experience utilising fresh local produce that changes with the seasons.

High Country At Rinaldo’s Casa Cucina cooking classes in the King Valley, chef Adam Pizzini shares with students his experience, knowledge and Italian family traditions in a relaxed and informal setting.

And at Pizzini Wines, learn how to make dishes like antipasti and tapas, ravioli and gnocchi, delectable desserts and, of course, The Dinner Party.

Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges It’s where ‘Italy meets

Daylesford offers great food and wine.

DISCOVER VICTORIA: Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove.

the Yarra Valley’. Al Dente Cooking offers a banquet and hands-on informative cooking lesson complete with wine from Sticks Yarra Valley and Italian espresso.

Bella Vedere has cooking classes with charismatic head chef Gary Cooper two days a week.

Great Ocean Road Hands-on cooking classes at Sunnybrae Cooking School in Birregurra run every Monday. Bread baking in

PHOTOS: VISIT VICTORIA

one form or another is covered and the wood oven is often used.

Gippsland The flavours and ambience of Sri Lankan village life are enjoyed at the Claypot Cooking School in Woolamai.

At Culinaire Cooking School, participants actively engage in the food identification and preparation. Lessons range from Seafood Cookery to Basics for Blokes and Girls, to

guest chefs and specialty workshops.

Philip Island At Cleanskin Kitchenware and Larder Store, cooking classes can be either participatory or through demonstration depending on the individual’s preference.

Discover knife skills or Spanish paella.

For more cooking school ideas and to find out more information on any of these regional venues, go to visitvictoria.com.

A country hotel in the heart of the Yarra Valley.

PHOTO: ROBERT BLACKBURN

Murray markets.

River

farmers’

PHOTO: THE MURRAY

NORTHERN LIGHTS FOLLOW THE LIGHTS Exclusive Fly/Cruise/Tour Group Departure January 2019 YOUR EXCLUSIVE GROUP TOUR INCLUDES:

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FILM & INFORMATION NIGHT - Monday 16th April at 5pm at Helloworld Travel Coolangatta—RSVP below.

Coolangatta - Elanora - Main Street Murwillumbah - Tweed City - Tweed Heads To book call 1300 737 544 or email tripaway@helloworld.com.au * Conditions Apply. Credit card Fees Apply. Price valid for Hurtigruten departure from Bergen in January 2019 & Norway in a nutshell package from Oslo to Bergen prior to cruise departure. Full daily tour & itinerary & all terms will be available from your Helloworld Travel Store on confirmation with Bentours with included and optional activities on offer, meals, guided tours, sightseeing, entrance fees & train transport included. All tours & flights subject to availability and $1000 deposit is required within 7 days of making the booking to secure your reservation. Final Payment is due 100 days prior to departure and travel documents will be issued 2 weeks prior to tour departure. Prices do not include tipping for tour guides, drivers or porterage.

* Conditions Apply. Credit Card Fees Apply. Prices correct at time of printing and valid until 30 March 2018. Cabins quoted are based on OUTSIDE STATEROOMS. For Full Terms and Conditions see your Helloworld Travel Agent In-store.

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Travel

Northern NSW

Seniors 19

Discover the wild side along Limestone Coast Explore and indulge in SA SOUTH Australia’s Limestone Coast stretches down the south-west coastline which offers visitors a diverse experience.

The coast goes from the mouth of the Murray River and to the Glenelg River.

Beaches and caves, stunning coastline, delectable local coastal and country food, and famous South Australian wine are there to be seen, touched, smelt and tasted.

The wild coastal scenery, natural wonders and World Heritage site at Naracoorte are an adjunct to the renowned Coonawarra region inland from the coast. It’s the jewel in the region’s wine-making crown and is well-regarded as Australia’s top producer of premium red wines thanks

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: The Oberlisk, a stunning landmark located on the Limestone Coast.

PHOTO: BEN GOODE

to the rich terra rossa soil.

GETTING THERE Fly, catch a coach or drive your way to the Limestone Coast. Mount

Gambier, the region’s biggest town, is approximately 500 kilometres from Melbourne and Adelaide.

ACCOMMODATION There is a wide range of accommodation options from motels, serviced apartments, bed and

breakfast, camping and caravan parks.

IT’S HERITAGE Take in 20 sites of international and national significance including Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake. The Pool of Siloam at Beachport is seven times saltier than the sea.

The megafauna fossils in the World Heritage listed Naracoorte Caves are around half a million years old.

Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop, lives-on in the town of Penola.

COORONG NATIONAL PARK Scenic campgrounds are located on both sides of the lagoon. You’ll need a permit to enter the park.

This is great place for 4WD, fishing, boating and birdwatching. More than 80 bird species live in this series of long, shallow saltwater lagoons. Only towering white sand dunes separate the Coorong from the wild Southern Ocean.

You can explore the park on foot along one of many walking trails, in a kayak, or by four-wheel driving along beach tracks.

WINE REGIONS The coast’s wine industry was founded in 1891. Start with Coonawarra and its red wines before sampling wine from cellar doors in Wrattonbully, Mount Benson and Padthaway.

COAST DELICACIES Salivate over the local honey, native preserves, pickled walnuts and emu mettwurst, plus lobsters and Wagyu beef. Keep an eye out for Eat Local signs.

There are visitor information centres at Beachport, Bordertown, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Penola and Robe which are open every day.

For more information, go www.southaustralia. com.

YOU ARE INVITED to an evening full of travel inspiration featuring AMERICAN QUEEN STEAMBOAT COMPANY & VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY

Presented by: Global Travel and Cruise & Our Touring Collection Date/Time: Venue: Address: RSVP:

5.45pm, 22nd of May In the Global Travel and Cruise/Helloworld office Mantra, Lobby level Twins Towns Resort office@gtac.com.au or ourtouringcollection@outlook.com 1300 366 599 6792926ab

20 Seniors Northern NSW

Travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

NT: The Top End’s top 10 WARM welcomes and laidback living is at the heart of the Northern Territory. But don’t be fooled; there are a lot of great things to do in this amazing part of your Australian backyard.

Fish for silver barramundi Try helifishing for the ultimate barramundi adventure or join one of the many tours from Darwin that go into Arnhem Land, where the fishing is some of the world’s best.

Meet local artists and watch them work Meet Aboriginal artists and watch them create their magnificent artwork. Visit the galleries on the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin or

sit with the Maruku artists near Uluru, or join in the art festivals like the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, Walking with Spirits at Beswick near Katherine or Desert Mob in Alice Springs.

Cruise Nitmiluk at dawn Wake early and cruise peacefully up Katherine Gorge as dawn breaks.

Drift past Aboriginal rock art with the changing colours of the dawn light, mist rising from the water and wildlife stirring on the bank.

See ancient rock art in Kakadu National Park Kakadu’s rock art is world class and one of the reasons for its dual World Heritage status. Visit

Kakadu’s rock art galleries at Ubirr, Nourlangie and Nanguluwur and see their fascinating record of life over thousands of years.

Watch the changing colours of Uluru at sunset Catch an Uluru sunset from one of the viewing areas or join a gourmet dinner, watch it from atop camel or on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle, or you can even do a sunset skydive.

Walk Kata Tjuta domes Take a walk to experience Kata Tjuta’s 36 steep domes which are only a 20-minute drive from Uluru. Choose from three walking trails.

Explore the West Macs

DISCOVER NT: A memorable moment; sunset at Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park.

Swim in the Glen Helen Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge or Redbank Gorge waterholes. Explore the desert country and its escarpments where the walls glow bright red at noon.

Enjoy the Mindil Beach Markets On Thursdays and Sundays during May to October, the Darwin markets have food stalls that serve dishes from every corner of the earth.

Eat on the beach as the sun sinks into the ocean right in front of your eyes.

Swim at Litchfield National Park Just over an hour away

from Darwin, experience the double cascades of Wangi and Florence waterfalls that drop into sublime natural swimming holes, or soak in the tiered rock pools at Buley Rockhole.

Catch Karlu Karlu sunset Plan a sunset stop at Karlu Karlu (the Devil’s Marbles), an hour south of Tennant Creek. The hundreds of granite boulders scattered around a shallow valley turn a fiery red as the sun sets—an unforgettable sight.

For more details on these activities and other Northern Territory travel ideas, go to www.northern territory.com.

PHOTO: TOURISM AUSTRALIA

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Travel

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 21

Heart of Queensland Carnarvon Gorge: so near yet far enough to get away Erle Levey

MENTION Carnarvon Gorge and most people will tell you they would love to go there. But they haven’t. It’s so near to Brisbane and other major population centres of Southeast Queensland yet far enough to leave it for another time.

The roof of Queensland they call it. The range of mountains are so vast and diverse. The rain that falls here gives rise to some important rivers and streams. Five major river systems rise within the park's boundary: the Comet, Dawson, Maranoa, Nogoa and Warrego. Such is the geography of the range that it virtually creates its own climate.

Arriving in late afternoon it was beautiful to see the cloud hanging majestically around the imposing sandstone cliffs … much like you see in the New Guinea Highlands.

It added to the mystery that surrounds the gorge, said to be where there are still trees and plants dating back to the age of dinosaurs. A good introduction to the national park is to attend the 4.30pm briefing at the Wilderness Lodge Discovery Centre.

It was arranged that I join Michelle Whitehouse, of Australian Nature Guides, as part of the guided hike up the gorge the next morning – 7.30am start from the Rangers Centre near the creek.

The tour takes you up the lower gorge to the Ampitheatre, Ward’s Canyon, the Art Gallery and the Moss Garden. It’s the diverse nature of Carnarvon that appeals so much.

The gorge is beautiful in its own right but those

Friendly face wallaby at Carnarvon Gorge.

SPECTACULAR: The entry to The Ampitheatre at Carnarvon Gorge.

Escorted 14-day Italy experience The Ampitheatre at Carnarvon Gorge.

creeks and gullies off to the side hold some real surprises. The soft early-morning mist swirls around the cliff faces and the moisture drips from the trees. The wildlife is incredible. Wallabies and kangaroos feeding on the new shoots of grass beside the walking track.

They are not disturbed by our approach. They treat us as if it was the dawn of time and there is no need to be worried about our intrusion into their domain.

You could see where the echidnas had been digging in the dirt for ants.

Apparently they sense the movement of the ants and listen for them. The rock formations are stunning.

So weathered and pitted.

The trees reaching up towards the sky. The bird calls, the parrots darting through the trees.

As we walk Michelle tells me a major factor of the national park is the geology. Three river catchments interact here and it provides a major intake for the Great Artesian Basin. This is a resource that is millions of years old, the minerals adding to the quality of the water, providing a resource as pure as you could find.

Despite the arid nature of the Queensland Outback the Carnarvon Creek has not dried up in five million years.

To read the full story, go to www.seniorsnews. com.au

including Venice, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast and Rome Departs

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Spectacular landscapes and architectural delight, explore the home of Renaissance and romance. Visit world heritage listed sites and inspiring cities, enjoy lunch and wine tasting in Tuscany and the beauty of Capri and Assisi with much much more.

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*Conditions apply. Subject to availability. Price correct at time of publication and subject to change. Price based per person, twin share. Travel insurance not included. Price based on Brisbane departure, other cities on application.

Single supplement on request. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all overseas travel by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Call now for a day to day itinerary

BREATHTAKING: The view from Boolimba Bluff at Carnarvon Gorge.

PHOTOS: ERLE LEVEY

INSTAGRAM @ourtouringcollection FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/janet.fraser.3557

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22 Seniors Northern NSW

Local Stories

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Memory of water flows Objects depict the story of ‘going through it’ THE work of a local artist which takes a personal and up-close look at the impact of the floods associated with Cyclone Debbie is one of the features of a new display at Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah.

Heather Matthew’s work Preserved Memories is part of a larger project that documents stories of the Tweed’s most recent flood.

Acquired from the exhibition Posts from the Big Flood, part of the Murwillumbah Art Trail in May last year, Matthew’s work is made of objects rescued from the flood waters which devastated

her studio in South Murwillumbah in March/April last year.

Museum director Judy Kean says while some may question why the museum is adding artworks to its collection, those who view the work will understand.

“In this case the work consists entirely of objects – preserving jars and a box – from Heather’s studio, as well as some actual flood water that inundated her equipment,” Judy said.

“Preserved Memories and Heather’s willingness to work with us to tell her story goes to the heart of an experience shared by

many.

“It provides a first-hand account of one person’s journey and offers the museum an invaluable opportunity to collect and preserve physical objects that carry a story of ‘going through it’.”

Preserved Memories and Heather’s most recent work, Silt, made using paper rescued from the flood waters in her studio, will be displayed at the museum as part of the Murwillumbah Art Trail (MAT18) in May. The Tweed Regional Museum, 2 Queensland Road, Murwillumbah.

Phone (02) 6670 2493 for details.

ARTISTIC REMINDERS : Heather Matthew made art from objects rescued from the flood waters.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

All that glitters attracts crowd to the Gemfest EVERYONE enjoys a bit of bling in life, especially those who go searching for precious gems.

Jenny Vryenhoek and her husband decided to take a drive around the Glen Innes/Inverell region some years ago and discovered sapphires.

They later joined Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club to further their knowledge of stones worth looking for and how to process them.

“One of my early finds was a large sapphire at Glen Innes. I put it into a ring,” Jenny says.

“My husband and I developed an interest in fossicking for sapphires.

“We have workshops at the club.

“You can bring your stones and we teach how to cut and polish.

“We’ve got some retired professional people, and they impart their knowledge.”

On May 19 and 20, the club will hold its 28th Lismore Gemfest, an impressive event believed to be the biggest event of its kind in Australia, There will be close to 150 stalls selling everything from rough

Time for the Casino Beef Week

PROMOTIONS supremo Brenda Armfield is as much a part of annual Beef Week in Casino as the cattle and cowboys.

This is her 31st year of involvement and her trademark Mini Moke will be decorated as usual to give Beef Week an advertising boost.

The festival, to be held from May 19-29, is an annual celebration of the iconic Australian beef industry and the rural way of life.

Taking place over 11 days, The Northern Co-Operative Meat Company Casino Beef Week provides entertainment, education and an authentic country experience for the whole family, with more than 100 vibrant events to enjoy. On the program are fashion parades, a rodeo, family fun day and the popular grand parade.

For more information, visit www.casinobeefweek .com.au.

and cut gems to jewellery.

Exhibitors come from all parts of the country and range from amateurs to the most experienced professionals.

Everything from rough stone for cutting, through to finished jewellery in all price ranges, along with mineral specimens, fossils, gold nuggets and meteorites will be on display.

There are gem-sieving activities for children, demonstrations of jewellery-making and other craft activities.

Free parking is available in the Lismore Showground, and visitors from outside the local area can enjoy special deals for camping on site.

Jenny says Gemfest attracts a crowd of 5000 to 6000 enthusiasts.

■ GEMFEST The Gemfest takes place at the Lismore Showground, Alexandra Parade, North Lismore.

It’s open on Saturday, May 19, from 9am-5pm, and Sunday, May 20, from 9am-3pm. Cost $5 adult, $1 child.

Phone Bruce Copper on 6688 8280 for details, or email bruce. copper@bigpond.com.

CRYSTAL CLEAR AIM: Jenny Vryenhoek discovered the lure of crystals, gems and precious stones when she joined Lismore Gem and Lapidary Club.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

LOCAL LEGEND: Beef Week’s best promoter Brenda Armfield.

Northern NSW

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

What’s on

THE Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra would like to invite you to warmly welcome back conductor Nicholas Routley for their first concert this year Enchanting Cello - with special guest soloist cellist, Karol Kowalik. You will not want to miss this exciting pairing of fine musicians that the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra has brought together for the first concert of the 2018 season. The concert will be held at the Tweed Civic Centre, Brett St, on Sunday, April 22 at 2.30pm. Tickets can be purchased online at nrso.com.au, Murwillumbah Music (02) 6672 5404, box office at Tweed Heads Civic Centre or inquiries phone 0478 012 324.

CRAFT FAIR

ILUKA Library will hold a craft fair during the Clarence Valley’s plunge arts and culture festival.

The fair on Wednesday,

YVONNE GARDINER JOURNALIST

yvonne.gardiner@apn.com.au

April 18, from 2-5pm will have craft stalls and demonstrations of craft work. Knitting, plastic canvas work and fibre art are some of the crafts on display. Regular craftspeople also have the opportunity to meet at Iluka Library each Wednesday from 2-4pm for Crafternoons. Iluka Library is at the corner of Duke and Micalo Sts. Phone (02) 6646 6542.

ANZAC DAY

MANY Anzac Day commemoration services will take place in the Northern Rivers on April 25 conducted by RSL Club sub-branches. Ballina RSL Sub-Branch will hold its Dawn Service at the Ballina RSL Memorial at 5.30am, a commemoration service

at the East Ballina cemetery at 9.15am, and the Anzac Day March down River St to the Ballina RSL Memorial cenotaph at 10.30am.

Alstonville RSL Sub-Branch Dawn Service starts at Elizabeth Ann Brown Park at 5.20am, with the commemoration service and parade through Main St starting at 9.30am. Check with your local RSL for other services.

ORCHID SHOW

ORCHID lovers are invited to view exquisite displays with more than 400 orchids when the Woodburn-Evans Head and District Orchid and Foliage Society hosts the popular annual Woodburn “Autumn Mother’s Day” Orchid Show, the biggest of its kind on the Northern Rivers, at Woodburn Memorial Hall on May 12 and 13. The aim of this event is to encourage and educate members and visitors alike in the art of growing orchids to their full potential. There will be

orchid talks during the shows, slide shows and lots of displays. It is also a great opportunity to pick up a bargain on the hundreds of propagated items available. Phone Merilyn on 0401 493 316 or email merilyn.dude@bigpond .com.

MOTHER’S DAY

THE Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday, May 13, is an annual event run nationally to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research. Ballina participants can register to run or walk the 4.5km course and do their own individual fundraising.

Four-legged friends are also welcome on a lead, with prizes for the best dressed male, female and pooch. Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening cancer in Australia. One in eight Australian women and about one in 700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Go to mothersdayclassic. com.au.

MOTOWN GREATS

THE most outstanding live show in Las Vegas, Songs in the Key of Motown, returns to our shores for the sixth time in six years.

This all-singing, all-dancing show with six soul singers pays tribute to the greats of Motown.

Hear the harmonies of the Temptations and the Four Tops, experience the incredibly choreographed dance moves of Martha and the Vandellas, The Jackson 5 and The Supremes, and feel the soul of Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. Ballina RSL, 1 Grant St, hosts the show on Thursday, May 17 from 7.30pm. Cost $50. Book online: rsl.ballinarsl.com.au or phone (02) 6681 9500.

FLOOD PHOTOS

ALMOST 12 months on from the largest flood to hit the Tweed Valley region in recorded history, Murwillumbah artist Rob Olver is exhibiting his photographs documenting the flood and its

aftermath at Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Centre until May 20. Mr Olver has captured the destruction of the natural and built environment, and also the strength and resilience of the local community using black and white medium format film. Of Rivers and Floods is both a commemoration of the flood and celebration of the community that came together in its aftermath.

The gallery is at 2 Mistral Road, South Murwillumbah. Go to artgallery.tweed. nsw.gov.au.

MAN IN BLACK

AFTER a sell-out stint with The Man In Black in Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre at the end of 2017, Tex Perkins is once again reprising his Helpmann Award-winning role – this time for a massive Australian tour.

At Twin Towns Showroom, Tweed Heads, on May 26, starting 8.30pm. Tickets $79. Book online: twintowns.com.au.

THE KING OF TALKBACK RADIO JOHN LAWS ON 2HC AND 2GF With over sixty years of commercial broadcast experience, John Laws asks the hard questions – and cuts through the political spin. For unmissable news, information, entertainment and talkback, Australia relies on John Laws.

Don’t miss the host who calls it like he sees it.

Listen every weekday from 9am – midday.

Coffs Coast 100.5 FM | 639 AM www.radio639am.info

Clarence Valley 1206 AM | 103.9 FM www.radio2gf.com.au

CR114733AA

ENCHANTING CELLO

Seniors 23

24 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Money

Labor wants franking changes

FINANCE TONY KAYE THE spectacular u-turn by the Labor Party on its plan to remove the ability of retirees on the pension who own shares to claim a cash rebate on the tax-paid company dividends is certainly a welcome step.

But it will do little if anything for close to one million Australians who are members of self-managed superannuation funds and many other self-funded retirees who fall outside of the age pension safety net.

If the ALP is elected at the next election, and manages to get its planned legislation enshrined into law, there

is likely to be considerable upheaval in the retirement space as people are forced into selling assets, to shift capital into other areas, and perhaps even to sell and spend up some of their retirement funds to qualify for the age pension.

Indeed, the latter strategy may become the favoured choice of many who are outside of the age pension qualification limits but who actually earn less from their retirement savings than those being paid a part or full government pension.

After pressure from the Federal Government as well as superannuation and financial lobby groups, Opposition leader Bill Shorten went back to the drawing board and came up with a new draft of his plan to tax retirees.

The political olive branch from the ALP is there would be a

“Pensioner Guarantee” on its policy.

That means any pensioners owning shares and receiving either a full or part age pension, a disability support pension, carer payment, parenting payment, Newstart or a sickness allowance, would be able to avoid the planned dividends slug.

SMSFs with at least one pensioner or allowance

recipient also would be exempt from the changes.

The revised plan will reduce the additional revenue Labor’s policy was estimated to make in its first two years from $11.4 billion to $10.7 billion.

But even those revised figures show many Australians benefiting from the current dividends policy will still be caught in the crossfire.

Those people are the trustees and members of SMSFs and other self-funded retirees, who will be bearing the brunt of this proposed legislation.

Actuarial research house Rice Warner says the plan is “extraordinarily bad policy”. These are six reasons why: ■ It is product-specific, attacking SMSFs but no other types of superannuation funds.

■ Labor’s forecast additional revenue figures

do not take into account the major tax changes which took effect from July 1, 2017 and mean retirees with larger balances already face reduced franking credit refunds or an increase in their tax bill.

■ It is easily avoided by a change in asset-allocation, or by partial or full transfer into an APRA fund, so it will not deliver much of the tax claimed.

■ It signals that retirees should shift away from Australian shares to less appropriate assets, weakening our domestic capital market.

■ It will lead to some SMSF retirees earning less and moving to a part age pension earlier.

■ It further weakens confidence in the stability of government policy towards superannuation – even those not directly affected may experience

reduced confidence that saving extra for retirement will be rewarded.

“We accept that there are still many members of SMSFs with very large balances (which Labor ignored when it did its comprehensive review of superannuation),” Rice Warner says.

“If it is deemed that they need to pay more tax, there is a relatively simple solution. Simply have a limit on the total amount allowed to be held in superannuation at retirement.”

SMSF Association CEO John Maroney says many SMSF members receiving a partial age pension will be subject to an “unfair, two-tiered and complex” system.

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

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Northern NSW

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 25

Let’s save

Tasty homegrown tomatoes

HOME-grown tomatoes are the tastiest and they are very easy to grow from either seed or seedlings, provided you follow our simple, step-by-step program.

PREPARATION

Garden Beds: Add one barrowload of 5-in-1, Real Compost or animal manure per square metre to growing area and dig thoroughly into soil.

Sprinkle with garden lime at the rate of one handful per square metre.

Mulch thoroughly.

Raised beds are usually best unless soil is naturally very well drained.

No-dig method: Beds can be built up from layers of organic material topped with compost or potting mix into which seeds or seedlings are planted.

One method is to make a

newspaper base to suppress weeds and then add successive layers of lucerne or cane trash, animal manure, straw, another layer of animal manure and well-made, mature compost into which seeds are planted.

Each layer is about 20 cm thick and must be watered.

Sides can be left open or contained by boards or wire mesh.

Growing from seed: Use a proprietary Searles Seed Raising mix and make shallow holes about 0.5cm deep and 10cm apart. Cover lightly with the mix, firming it down and watering gently.

Thin out seedlings to 3cm apart when they are 2cm high. Plant out when about four weeks old and the same size as bought seedlings.

Growing from seedlings: In hot weather plant out in the late afternoon or evening; about 50cm apart in rows 1.2 metres apart.

Set roots firmly in place, leaving plenty of top growth above the surface and removing any leaves which might be buried.

Dose each plant with a dilute application of SeaMax Fish & Kelp to promote strong root growth.

Put 2m stakes next to each, train one or two shoots up the stake and secure with a soft binding material tied loosely round the stem but not right under the leaf.

Watering Tomatoes: Give plants a good soaking around the roots every other day, keeping the soil slightly moist below the

surface. In extremely hot weather watering once or even twice a day may be necessary; heat stress is shown by wilting.

Overwatering can cause root rot.

A perforated soaker hose or trickle/drip irrigation system is best.

Feeding Tomatoes: Keep soil healthy with regular mulching and applications of 5-in-1 or Real Compost and/or animal manures.

Tomatoes will grow very well in a healthy soil that is rich in nutrients, particularly if boosted with applications of SeaMax Fish & Kelp to the leaves and soil.

Pruning: Not strictly necessary but occasional pruning of top growth will encourage a low, bushy plant.

Pests: Most common pests can be kept at bay

GROW YOUR OWN: Tomatoes grow well in a healthy soil.

with an all-purpose organic spray such as Ecofend Vegetable & Garden.

Always try organic solutions rather than chemical solutions. Fruit can be covered by paper bags just before it starts to colour up.

Diseases: Visible signs are blotches on fruit and/or leaves, wilting of leaves or whole plant, unsightly patterns on fruit,

leaf-yellowing or distortion, sudden collapse of plant.

Most common prevention and control methods are copper-based fungicidal dusts and spray of Mancozeb but seek advice from your garden centre, taking a specimen of the problem with you.

More info at: searlesgardeniproducts. com.au

Staying connected with the free Wi-Fi available MOST of us with mobile phones are on a plan and with a service provider that includes some data.

It is important to not exceed your data usage and be hit with unexpected charges.

One way to avoid this is by taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi available in most public places.

Wi-Fi technology may be used to provide internet access to devices that are within the range of a wireless network that is connected to the internet.

One gigabyte (GB) is made up of 1024MB. The most popular plans offered by mobile phone companies, (unless you

BE THRIFTY AND THRIVE NICKY NORMAN have unlimited usage) are 1GB, 2GB or 5GB of mobile data allowance.

Devices that can use Wi-Fi technology include personal computers, video-game consoles, phones and tablets, digital cameras, smart TVs, digital audio players and modern printers.

Wi-Fi compatible devices can connect to the internet via a WLAN and a wireless access

point. Such an access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 20 metres indoors and a greater range outdoors.

Hotspot coverage can be as small as a single room with walls that block radio waves, or as large as many square kilometres achieved by using multiple overlapping access points.

It’s important to note that your apps can be busy running updates, checking for new emails or backing up content to the cloud like your photos, without you doing anything, therefore, you can be using data without realising.

Be sure to close the windows/opened pages from your phone to avoid this from occurring.

Wi-Fi provides service in private homes, businesses, as well as in public spaces at Wi-Fi hotspots set up either free-of-charge or commercially, often using a captive portal webpage for access.

Organisations and businesses, such as airports, hotels, and restaurants, often provide free to use hotspots to attract customers.

If travelling overseas and you’re concerned about data roaming charges – simply turn your

TAP IN: Wi-Fi provides service in private homes, businesses, as well as in public spaces at Wi-Fi hotspots.

data off or keep your phone settings to Aeroplane mode. This will disable any access to data, yet enable you to still access free Wi-Fi. How to access free Wi-Fi: 1. Tap the Settings icon to open the Settings menu.

Tap WiFi. 2. Select the name (SSID) of your WiFi network from the list of connections.

3. Enter the WiFi password and then tap Join to finish. NB. Some devices might have slightly different settings.

Heritage house refurb to store more treasures Yvonne Gardiner

IMPROVEMENTS to a favourite stopping-off point in Bangalow will soon start after a major funding boost.

Located on the corner of Ashton and Deacon Streets, the Bangalow Heritage House Museum and Cafe has an interesting collection of local memorabilia and historic photographs which provide an insight into the history of the cedar-cutters and

farmers who settled the area.

The house and museum, a base for the Bangalow Historical Society, has attracted a $330,000 grant from the NSW Government.

Society president Vivienne Gorec said that would pay to replace the ramp and front stairs, extend the kitchen and build a new extended display area, including a family computer space.

“I’m interested in getting this room on the

back because it’s going to be a proper display area, with room for travelling exhibitions,” she said.

“He has been excellent in getting this going for us. He deserves the accolades.”

Byron Shire Council owns the heritage house, which was built 94 years ago. It was moved from Brunswick Heads and became a base for the Bangalow Historical Society in 1994 on the site of a preschool.

“We’re not going to waste a cent. Every penny of the grant is going to be spent on this building,” Vivienne said.

The refurbishment will assist in the creation of a public access centre with digital capability so that locals can link to family history records held by the NSW Government at the State Library of New South Wales.

With a bigger house, cafe and museum will come the need for more volunteers.

Cataloguing of the objects is in progress, new exhibitions are in the works, as is a revamp of the collection displays.

Anyone passionate about preserving local history is welcome to volunteer, training will be provided.

Find out more about the history of this town at the Bangalow Heritage House Museum and Cafe, open weekdays from 9.30am-3pm.

For the full story, visit seniorsnews.com.au.

CELEBRATING FUNDING WINDFALL: (left) Byron Shire Council mayor Simon Richardson, Bangalow Historical Society life member Margaret Brown, president Vivienne Gorec, volunteer Tracey Wild and MLC Ben Franklin.

26 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

Reviews

To advertise, call 1300 136 181 or visit finda.com.au Buy & Sell

Motoring

Clothing, Shoes & Accessories

Cars

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BEWARE OF SCAMS

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Be wary if the number in the ad is disconnected.

If the buyer/seller says the number is disconnected because they are overseas, ask for a landline phone number at their current location as well as a mobile phone number.

All contact details of the person buying or selling the car should be verified to ensure they are genuine.

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Buyers should be cautious when dealing with car sellers that are overseas and should always arrange to view the vehicle prior to the transfer of any money.

Tip

Tie up Loose Ends.

Avoid leaving items lying on the floor of your vehicle or in the boot. An unsecured item rolling about during a test drive is unlikely to leave a good impression.

This tip brought to you by www.finda.com.au

CHEER UP: In an hour, you'll be on your way to a happier you.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

The Little Book of Big Happiness ONE of the great purposes of life is to be happy.

If you’re one of the millions of people searching for happiness, stop chasing your tail – it’s already here.

Right here, right now.

You just need the tools to access it.

They can be found in Bernadette Fisers’s The Little Book of Big Happiness.

Written by the best-selling author of The Little Book of Big Weightloss, it’s a simple, down-to-earth guide to tapping into that greatest source of happiness: you.

In this empowering little book, Bernadette shares her practical steps to a joyful life that you can start straight away.

From living in the moment and moving your

body, to getting out into nature and embracing failure, these are real tips for real people that anyone can embrace.

In the space of an hour, you’ll be on your way to a happier you.

Published by Penguin Random House, The Little Book of Big Happiness, is available from mid-April in bookshops and online.

RRP $22.99.

The classic spy thriller A RUSSIAN honey trap agent targets a young CIA operative to uncover a senior-ranking mole at the heart of the Russian Intelligence service.

Dominika Egorov, former prima ballerina, is sucked into the heart of Putin’s Russia, the country she loved, and spat out as the twists and turns of betrayal and counter-betrayal unravel.

American Nate Nash, idealistic and ambitious, handles the double agent, codenamed

MARBLE, considered one of CIA’s biggest assets.

He needs to keep his identity secret for as long as the mole can keep supplying golden information.

Will Dominika be able to unmask MARBLE, or will the mission see her faith destroyed in the country she has always passionately defended?

Red Sparrow is now a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton and Jeremy Irons.

Written by Jason Matthews and published

by Simon and Schuster, Red Sparrow is available now in bookshops and online. RRP $19.99.

Puzzles

Monday, April 16, 2018 seniorsnews.com.au

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

1

2

3

7

4

5

9 10 11 13 14 15

16

17 18

19

20

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

5x5

ALPHAGRAMS

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

Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions are sequential.

For example, if the fiveletter solution starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so on.

B 11

15

16

22

24

E

Across: 1 Florida. 4 Prism. 7/8 Glen Campbell. 10 Nectarines.

12 Shanty. 13 Umpire. 15 Agapanthus. 18 Adriatic. 19 Felt. 20 Teeth.

21 Sternum.

Down: 1 Fagin. 2 Overcoat. 3 Arabic. 4 Peppermint. 5 Ibex. 6 Molière.

9 Pantograph. 11 Eighteen. 12 Sextant. 14 Aphids. 16 Shtum. 17 Brie.

GK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU B U L L S

5x5

O B E S E

O R B I T

E R O D E

S O W E R

Down 1. Illegible scrawl (8) 2. Not suitable (5) 4. Call for help (3) 5. Laundry frame (7,5) 6. Watch closely (7) 7. Throw (4) 8. Bruised (5-3-4) 12. Decorate (5) 13. Totally uninformed (8) 15. Language of a region (7) 19. Wide open (5) 20. Layer (4) 22. Strike (3)

WORD GO ROUND

Across: 1. Shun 3. Psych out 9. Unfolds 10. Oasis 11. Gatecrashers 14. Lid 16. Atoms 17. Eel 18. Maiden voyage 21. Ideal 22. Hostage 23. Retreats 24. Gems.

Down: 1. Squiggle 2. Unfit 4. SOS 5. Clothes horse 6. Observe 7. Toss 8. Black-and-blue 12. Adorn 13. Clueless 15. Dialect 19. Agape 20. Tier 22. Hit.

Across 1. Avoid (4) 3. Mentally intimidate (colloq) (5,3) 9. Takes place (7) 10. Watering hole (5) 11. Uninvited guests (12) 14. Cover (3) 16. Particles (5) 17. Snakelike fish (3) 18. Ship’s debut (6,6) 21. Perfect (5) 22. Captive (7) 23. Goes backward (8) 24. Diamonds (4)

WORD GO ROUND

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word.

No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb.

TODAY: Good 15 Very Good 22 Excellent 27+

QUICK CROSSWORD

ALPHAGRAMS: CAFES, DyNAMO, ExPLAIN, FORENSIC, GLASSwARE.

I T

S

E

FACES MANY Do AxLE PIN FIR CoNES LARGE SAWS

SOLUTIONS

23

531

I

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

21

A A

O O

S

19

20

U

L

17

18

R

aunt aura aural input lunar lupin natural nuptial nutria paua pilau punt puritan purl ritual ruin runt tapu TARPAULIN tulip tuna turn turnip ulna ulnar ultra unapt unit unlit until urinal

14

E

B

12 13

R L

31/3

21

SUDOKU

P N

Seniors 27

DOWN 1 Actor Ron Moody is most associated with which character? (5) 2 What garment is a surtout? (8) 3 The word coffee originated from what language?

(6) 4 What flavour is a humbug sweet? (10) 5 What bearded mountain goat of Eurasia and northern Africa has large backward- curving horns?

(4) 6 Under what pseudonym did Jean-Baptiste Poquelin write plays? (7) 9 What instrument with pivoted levers is used for copying drawings to any desired scale? (10) 11 In inches, how wide is a basketball ring? (8) 12 English mathematician John Hadley and American inventor Thomas Godfrey independently invented what thing used at sea? (7) 14 What insects excrete honeydew? (6) 16 What Yiddish word means silent or noncommunicative? (5) 17 What soft, mild creamy cheese comes from northern France? (4)

ACROSS 1 As a retirement Mecca, which US state trebled in population between 1960 and 1990? (7) 4 What transparent object refracts light into rainbow colours? (5) 7/8 Who has played on recordings by Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Merle Haggard, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and The Mamas & the Papas? (4,8) 10 Transience is the only one-word anagram of what word? (10) 12 What type of song was originally sung by sailors as an accompaniment to work? (6) 13 Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird gained fame as a what? (6) 15 Which flowering South African perennial plant of the lily family is popular for banks and borders? (10) 18 Venice is on a lagoon of which sea? (8) 19 What woollen cloth is made by rolling and pressing to mat the fibres together? (4) 20 What are ground in the habit of bruxism? (5) 21 Technically, what is the breastbone? (7)

6

8

12

Northern NSW

A long walk for Chris honours husband’s legacy

MARATHON EFFORT: Chris and John Woods during a previous Ballina Shire Relay For Life.

BALLINA Shire fundraiser Chris Woods is planning a marathon effort for the Relay For Life in May. She’s aiming to walk for the entire 18 hours of the event to mark her husband John’s legacy.

John was chairman of the relay organising committee for the past three years and passed away in March after a battle with cancer.

Last year Chris had her head shaved at the relay as a fundraiser, gathering donations for an

organisation close to both their hearts, the Cancer Council.

The Ballina Shire Relay For Life 2018 will be held at Alstonville Showground on May 5, starting with kids’ activities and a market at noon and an opening lap for cancer survivors and carers just after 3pm.

The event will continue overnight with entertainment and activities, including a family fun run at 6.30am, free breakfast and a

closing ceremony where the inaugural John Woods Memorial Trophy will be presented to the team with the highest fundraising total.

Relay For Life is a part celebration, part remembrance and part fightback event welcoming everyone, especially those touched by cancer.

Relayers can walk for one lap or as many laps as they can, in teams or as individuals.

Almost everyone takes a break at dusk for the

moving candlelight “Hope” ceremony to remember loved ones lost and walk a lap in silence.

Ballina Shire Relay For Life raises awareness in the community of the impact of cancer and raises vital funds for Cancer Council NSW’s research, prevention, information and local support services.

For info or to register: relayforlife.org.au/ ballina or phone Hannah on 6639 1304.

28 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, April 16, 2018

GOLD COAST

HELLOWORLD TRAVEL

FESTIVAL! SUNDAY 20TH MAY 2018

OVER 40 AIR, CRUISE & TOUR OPERATORS

WITH EXCLUSIVE EXPO DEALS! 16 store locations on the Gold Coast will be represented and plenty of expert advice will be available on the day!

Register in advance at www.helloworld.com.au/Helloworld-Travel-Festival or on the day to be in the draw for some fantastic prizes, including 2 return premium economy tickets flying Singapore Airlines to UK/Europe to be won!

DESTINATIONAL PRESENTATIONS BY: 10:00am Regent Seven Seas

12:30pm Bench Africa

10:30am APT

1:00pm Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

11:00am Insider Journeys

1:30pm Adventure World

12:00pm TAUCK

Where: Date:

Royal Pines Resort, Ross Street, Benowa Qld 4217 Sunday 20 May 2018

Time:

10:00am – 2:00pm

Gold coast Helloworld Travel festival Proudly Supports Gold Coast Life Savers

FOOD TRUCKS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE / COFFEE STATION / GIVEAWAYS!

Ask in store today for more details! to find your preferred Helloworld Travel agent call 13 14 15 or visit helloworld.com.au