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FEATURE

GUIDE TO FESTIVALS ALL OVER AUSTRALIA FEATURE

ROB MUNDLE

CLIMATE CHANGE FROM A LONG PERSPECTIVE

- the voice of sailing

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JOURNO, AUTHOR AND YACHTSMAN SHARES A LIFE OF CHANCE AND ADVENTURE BELLA ITALIA

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NEWS

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DECEMBER, 2019//

INDEX 3 4 8 10 13 18 19 23

Profile - State Member for Lismore Cover story - Rob Mundle Community Notes Entertainment - What’s On Travel - Wanderlust Wellbeing Money Puzzle

13 Travel the world through our Wanderlust pages.

Fitness:18

On board for summer Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor THINK Christmas, think Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

It’s Boxing Day and you’re relaxing on the lounge, feeling slow from the heat and festivities.

You turn on the tele and there it is: the reassuring vision of sailors and their great white racing yachts.

The media commentators bring to life the personalities and the challenge, while the aerial photography just about puts us on board.

Along with making new memories, we remember the great moments, like winning the America’s Cup, and the very bad moments when good men lost their lives at sea.

So to put us in the mood of summer and all that goes with it,we give our front cover over to yachting personality Rob Mundle – and what a read. Tracey Johnstone (herself a lifelong yachtie) spoke with Rob and recorded his tales of exciting nautical

adventures.

Back on land, music festivals have become a favourite on Aussie calendars and to assist your planning, we have put together a doublepage spread listing some of the most popular.

Extremes of heat, fires, floods and drought have put climate change front of mind and reporter Alison Houston has spoken to Professor Roger Stone.

If your keen eye has noticed something a little different about this publication and you are wondering exactly what it is, wonder no longer. Due to printing requirements our paper has undergone a small change (3cm) in size.

Seniors News wishes our readers a safe and happy Christmas.

Enjoy, Gail

SENIORS

CONTACT US General Manager Geoff Crockett – 0413 988 333 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 1300 880 265 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Sue Germany – 0408 286 539 sue.germany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Northern NSW Seniors Newspaper”.

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

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\\DECEMBER, 2019

Experiences pay off Life lessons a valuable tool as MP speaks up for seniors

‘‘

“Most people age well, yet there can be challenges.

Tania Phillips

Legislative Council, Janelle, who had been an official observer at the 1999 independence referendum in the thenEast Timor, took up a post with East Timorese foreign minister Jose Ramos-Horta, staying as his chief political and legal adviser.

She served three years, assisting to rebuild the country and staying with Ramos-Horta through his election as Prime Minister and then President, resigning in 2007 to come

back home to the Far North Coast.

“My experience in TimorLeste (East Timor) was like no other,” she said. “I learned a lot about leading through crises, state building, governance and humility. I came home ready to take on Canberra and did.

“I secured many services and infrastructure for our local area, long neglected, and many great policy outcomes ...

Water Trigger legislation to protect us from harmful coal

seam gas mining and much more.

“My extensive and diverse life experience has enabled me to be an effective representative in my constituency and in Parliament.”

Janelle is now the State Member for the region she loves – overseeing it at a difficult and changing time.

“The impact of the bushfires is being felt sharply already, with the loss of some business,” she said.

“It is compounded by the drought. We just have to pull together and ensure government is supporting our communities well in areas that make an economic difference.

“I am very active in this area, advocating constantly to the ministers and shadow ministers, with some successes.

“We also must determine how we support productive full-time farmers, most older citizens, who feed us and the world.

“Being older with extensive life and parliamentary experience gives me skill and freedom to advocate fearlessly for what needs to be done for my electorate.

“This experience and freedom equips me to work across and around government, with my own Labor Opposition led

by Jodi McKay, and with the Coalition Government led by Gladys Berejiklian.”

Janelle said she saw many challenges for those over 55 in her own electorate.

“Most people age well, yet there can be challenges,” she said. “Age discrimination – that means missing out on jobs and invisibility.

“Preparedness for retirement – superannuation. With super tied to work, it disadvantages many older people, especially women.

“Access to timely, dignified and affordable home and residential care (is another challenge.”

Theatre to celebrate half century next year THE Lismore Theatre Company will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year and is inviting the Lismore region’s seniors to get involved in its 2020 season.

Group president Sharon Brodie said there was plenty of room for those over 55 at the theatre company.

“There is a role for everyone at LTC. Whether it be on stage in Bette Guy’s play Soft Murder, scheduled for March, or helping with sets, lighting or costumes in one of our other scheduled shows, such as Educating Rita directed by David Addenbrook, we’d welcome you,” Sharon said.

Members range in age from teenagers to those in their 80s, all with valued roles in the company.

Directors Bette and David, wardrobe mistress Sylvia Clarke, publicity officer and actor Jenny Dowell and regular actor Vilma Giacomini are all proud and active seniors.

“Anyone with technical skills in lighting, sound and electrical areas or with carpentry abilities is always highly sought after in community theatre too,” Sharon said.

“We’d also welcome those with design and online skills.”

To celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020, the company will hold some special events in August in its home, Rochdale Theatre, on Ballina Rd, Goonellabah.

In the past year, airconditioning has been installed in the theatre, the supper room and backstage to make the 88-seat venue more comfortable.

For more information about becoming involved, contact the theatre through www.lismoretheatrecompany. org.au.

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SHE may have been State Member for Lismore for less than a year, but Janelle Saffin is no stranger to politics.

In a life of constant learning and changing that has seen the 65-year-old work for the fledgling Timor-Leste government as well as represent the North Coast as both the Federal Member for Page (2007-13) and a member of the NSW Legislative Council (1995-2003), becoming the State Member for the region was probably almost inevitable.

Born in Ipswich, Queensland, Janelle moved to the Northern Rivers at the age of 24.

“I felt called to politics,” she said. “From childhood I always stood up for the underdog.

Kindness in politics I consider to be essential. My mum says I am kind. That has served me and my community well.

“As a community activist I succeeded in securing and improving services, many nonexistent in rural and regional areas. I was surprised at the lack of effective representation by local MPs, albeit nice fellows.

“After leaving school in my early teens I had plenty of jobs, from abattoirs to factories and the checkout. Young people could get a job then. They cannot now, without experience and credentials. This needs to change.

“I went on to gain teaching and law qualifications, educating myself.”

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Nautical life is in Mundle’s Aussie blood Established author sailing into his 18th book CONTRIBUTED THERE’S a nautical song playing in the background as author Rob Mundle AM talks about his latest book.

The ocean-racing machine’s rigging is swaying above, while below the hive of activity on the Sydney waterfront edges towards its climax on Boxing Day. This is where Rob is most at home. He’s been the face of Australia’s bluewater sailing scene for close to 51 years.

The 73-year-old has already recorded the maritime history of Australia’s big-ship adventures in Bligh: Master Mariner; Cook; Great South Land; Flinders; and The First Fleet.

His latest book is a detailed account of the 75 years the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has run the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

It’s a Boxing Day tradition to be on the shores on Sydney Harbour or glued to the television to watch the live-action start of the iconic race. Multimillion-dollar yachts with professional crews line up against weekend warriors prepared to take the ultimate challenges of testing themselves and their yachts against nature and each other.

Rob knows this Everest of bluewater sailing extremely well. He’s “gone south” three times and authored the international best-selling book Fatal Storm, which gave a deep insight into the devastating 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, where six lives and five yachts were lost.

Writing about Australia’s maritime adventures has proven an appropriate fit for the former journalist. While researching Under Full Sail, Rob discovered his greatgreat-grandfather, George Valentine Mundle, was the

Rob Mundle and crew on the English yacht Firebrand at the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in Miami in 1971. They raced to Nassau and then when cruising back to Bermuda “got hammered the Bermuda Triangle”. So, the copy boy master of ainclipper ship that

brought cargo and migrants to Australia.

As famous names and fabulous experiences roll off Rob’s tongue, a picture emerges of a writer who has been “kissed on the bum by a butterfly”.

Rob left school with no idea what he wanted to do, but he did know he was good at writing his old school compositions and had an interest in world affairs.

“I loved reading the newspaper every afternoon,” Rob said. “One day I was reading the Daily Mirror and I said to Mum, ‘I am going to ring them and see if they have any jobs’ without having any clue of what sort of job. I just loved the whole thought of a newspaper environment. A week later I was a copy boy.”

He came home after the first day and declared to his father that he was on his way to becoming a journalist. “It was as simple as that,” Rob added.

One work day he was walking upstairs to the Sunday Mirror office when a blonde woman by the name of Blanche d’Alpuget stopped Rob and asked him whether he could fill in as the yachting writer while she went on holidays.

“I just about kissed her on the spot,” Rob said. “It was one of those freakish things about everything unfolding in your favour.”

suddenly also became the Sunday edition sailing column writer.

When Rupert Murdoch started The Australian in 1964, he moved a group of copy boys and journalists to Canberra to help put the new publication out. “I went down as a copy boy,” Rob said. “It was very exciting standing in the print room next to Rupert when the first edition of The Australian came off the presses. It was an adrenaline pump for everyone.”

While journalist Anna Torv, who later became Rupert’s second wife, was keen for Rob to stay in Canberra, the lure of better sailing options in Sydney drew him back to the big smoke.

Soon after his arrival in Sydney, Rob was offered The Australian’s first Sydney bureau journalist cadetship.

He also got to keep his Daily Mirror sailing column.

In 1971, the chance to travel to America to see the big-boat competition and write about it was supported by his editor, Neal Travis, who offered Rob a retainer to keep filing stories while abroad. “Suddenly, I had kicked another goal,” Rob said.

He finally returned to Australia and got caught up in trying to make money out of selling little Laser dinghies, which became an Olympic Games class.

BLUE WATER VOICE: Author Rob Mundle.

Round about then, Rob and an American friend, Lisa Halaby, who was in Australia training as an architect, were towing Rob’s yacht Waikikamukau back from a regatta in Queensland.

When Rob drove the trailer under a low bridge it became stuck, much to the angst of the drivers behind.

Lisa quickly leapt onto the truck bonnet and leant on the mast, so Rob could fit the load under the bridge.

“People were cheering and car horns blowing; people had never seen anything like it,” Rob said. “That girl dangling from the end of the mast, that absolutely delightful lady, went on to become the Queen of Jordan.”

But, “once journalism is in your blood, it’s there forever”, Rob remembers.

He was drawn back in by Kay Cottee’s husband, Peter Sutton, who was working on the Channel 10 Sports Week with host Ray Warren, as a sailing reporter.

“I (also) got to be weatherman on prime-time

Pictures: Contributed

news,” Rob said. The news editor then decided to send Rob to Newport, Rhode Island, to cover the 1983 America’s Cup. “My world and the whole world of sailing changed when Australia won the Cup,” Rob said. “I was on air that day, live and worldwide, for eight hours and 10 minutes. Apparently, that

‘‘

I have been blessed all the way through.

Rob Mundle still stands as a record for live television.”

The butterfly was still working hard at that time for Rob. He met Keith Williams in Newport and they hatched a plan to bring an international sailing regatta to Keith’s Hamilton Island. It started in Easter 1984. Rob has been involved in that

event ever since, even when the island was purchased by Bob Oatley.

Rob has now written 17 books, including Sir James Hardy’s and Alan Bond’s authorised biographies.

He’s 18th book, The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, is for sailors and non-sailors.

Available in bookshops from this month, the book is full of sailing history and entertaining anecdotes.

“There’s the story of thunder, raw meat and earrings; they were very colourful characters in the ’60s around the race,” Rob said. “If you want to know their real names, you will have to buy the book.”

He’s taking time off from the last “massive effort” to reflect on his life.

“If another good title bobbed up, I would love to do it,” Rob said.

“Spontaneity is a wonderful thing in life. Just going with the flow; it’s essentially what I have done all along.

“I have been blessed all the way through.”

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SENIORS

Looking after the talent Medico to the stars who began his training as a 10-year-old Tania Phillips FROM a 15-year-old honorary ambulance bearer, to becoming one of the earliest male mid-wifery nurses in the state, to a 40year career with the ambulance service including being part of the Lismorebased helicopter staff, and add in a five-year stint with a reality television program – Kingscliff’s Col Benstead has watched the ambulance service evolve, particularly on the North Coast.

He’ll continue to do that in the future but it will be from the sidelines as the long-time ambulance officer hung up his hat earlier this year.

And while it will give Col more time to stand up paddle board, ride his bike, go to the gym and spend time with his kids and

grandkids, his retirement marks the end of an era of sorts in the Tweed Valley.

His grandfather Ted set up the ambulance service in Murwillumbah in the 30s, while father Albie started a branch in Kingscliff a couple of decades later, before Col joined what had become a family business.

“I had seven years of nursing before I got into ambulance – so 1972 I started hospital-based training at RPA in Sydney, lived here but I wanted to go to Sydney,” the ultra-fit 67year-old explained.

“I came from an ambulance background and started three years of working as an honorary bearer as they called them in those days, with my dad here at Kingscliff unpaid before that. They were using people who were selfemployed, one guy was an

DIVERSE: Col Benstead reflects on his career.

electrician, one was a school teacher, one was a bit of a travelling salesman. They were people who could, on short notice, drop tools and help my dad who was the

Picture: Supplied

only officer.” And with the honorary officers not always available, his father turned to Col to help. “So as a 15year-old I was being dragged out of bed at all hours of the

morning,” he laughed. It was a grounding that showed him that he was destined to have a medical career.

“I did my first first aid certificate at 10 years of age out at Tyalgum because Dad was working out of Murwillumbah ambulance and he was running a course out there and he said: ‘You should come out’ and I’m going, ‘I’m 10’, what else am I going to do?’ There was no smart phones back then, there was black and white telly or reading books. I just got fascinated with anatomy.

“You had to know a fair bit of anatomy and physiology back then, you had to know a lot of the bones of the body, you had to know pressure points for putting pressure on arteries to stop bleeding past them.”

Though he first decided to become an ambulance officer like his dad and grandfather, his father was adamant there wasn’t a lot

of security in the job at the time and so instead he turned his interest to nursing.

After his seven years, he moved to the ambulance system and since then he has held a wide variety of roles at all levels in Sydney, Newcastle and on the North Coast. Always one to try new things, when a friend asked him to come and do some work on a television show, he jumped at the chance – working looking after the crew on the American version of Survivor for five seasons.

It was a job that took him to some of the most remote parts of the world, working in Panama twice as well as Fiji, the Amazon and Thailand.

“It was challenging...only two doctors, two nurses and two paramedics looking after 250 people 24/7 in some ordinary conditions.

“That was challenging in many respects.”

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Community group guide

SENIORS

Community notes

WE welcome your community notes and pictures. If you would like to submit a photo please ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size. Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.

TWEED HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

POTTSVILLE CROQUET

THE members of the Tweed Hospital Auxiliary would like to wish everyone in the community a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We would also like to thank everyone who has supported the auxiliary in the past year as well as the volunteers who have worked so hard to raise funds to purchase equipment for the local hospital.

The Sunday Bingo sessions at the Tweed Heads Bowls Club will continue over the Christmas break.

Sessions start at noon every Sunday, with great cash prizes to be won.

There will be no meeting in January. The first meeting for the year will be on Monday, February 3, at 1.30pm in the auditorium of the Tweed Civic Centre.

OUR vice-president Brenda is hosting our Christmas luncheon at her home and everyone is so looking forward to this. The number of members participating in Fun Croquet at Pottsville is very encouraging. Our members and visitors enjoy the social fun golf croquet even with the very dry conditions of our courts and at present only two hoop positions are turfed.

However, we do hope this situation changes in the next few weeks with a working bee organised to dig out, place in cricket pitch soil then top with instant turf in the remaining hoop positions. Of course, we also hope there will be some drought-breaking rain. Brian comes along to give us coaching. Jump and stop shots are now more prevalent and learning new skills makes the game more enjoyable.

We are always keen to welcome new players. We can also give suggestions on where to purchase your mallet - from us or have one made. Cost to play, for visitors, is $5. After three games we ask the visitor to become a member for $50 a year and pay $3 to play each day and we usually have a cuppa. Our play days are Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30am. There is no play between December 12 and February 4.

PROBUS CLUBS Banora Point WE meet on the fourth Monday of each month at the South Tweed Sports Club at 10am. We are a mixed club and have interesting speakers, as well as an outing each month.

Cost $5. Last month John and Amanda Dowie presented the Shen Fun performing arts company.

They are reviving the true Chinese culture with music and costumes. For more information, phone Annette Finch on (07) 5523 4016.

IN STEP: Yamba Topliners line dance club members (back row) Pam, Beth, Leanne and Lexie; and (front row) Jenny, Kim and Roze (front row).

Picture: Contributed

YAMBA LINE DANCING THE annual concert for the ladies’ October tournament was held at the Yamba Golf and Country Club. The dinner, with entertainment spectacular, is a highlight of the tournament and is filled with a variety of local groups. Yamba Topliners preformed again this year and completed the concert with two exhibition dances.

What followed next was a full dance floor with the ladies totally engaged in learning a line dance. The ladies followed the instruction extremely well and the floor was full of what we hope are new linedancing addicts. The DJ then worked his magic and we all danced the night away.

Adult line-dancing classes are held at Yamba Golf Club every Thursday morning in the auditorium. Class time is from 10am-12pm for beginners to intermediate.

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would like to learn a new skill, or if you are new to town or want to revisit your old skills, come along and have a go. Phone Beth on 0408 685 087, email yambatopliners@gmail.com or check out our Facebook page.

FIBROMYALGIA AND CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME INFORMATION AND SUPPORT GROUP WE meet on the first Friday of every month at 10:30am at the HACC Community Centre, cnr Heffron Street and Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South. All welcome. For more information phone Bronwyn on (07) 5593 9319.

VIEW CLUBS Coolangatta/Tweed OUR club will return in February 2020 and we are once again proud to present another wonderful celebration of International Women’s Day. This event will be held on Monday, March 9, at 10am for morning tea at the South Tweed Sports Club, Minjungbal Drive, South Tweed Heads. Cost is $16 and an excellent program of inspirational speakers is guaranteed. They include Linda Robertson, who will speak on the potential of stem cells for the treatment of incurable neurological diseases and also on her volunteering work in remote areas; Natalie Trengrove, a veteran of children’s theatre, actor, director and writer with the Tweed Theatre Company since its inception; and a Learning for Life student presently receiving

sponsorship through VIEW clubs of Australia.

Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the program and a trading table will be available. For bookings, phone Secretary Janice on (07) 5524 5707.

Twin Towns Day WE CELEBRATED the festive season of goodwill by ending 2019 with a marvellous and joyous luncheon with members and their friends. The event was helped on by entertainer and singer extraordinaire Rhydian, whose range of music and Christmas songs was right in the correct time zone for all who attended.

Our club is very proud of the amount we were able to send down to our chosen sponsor, The Smith Family, whereby we support seven Learning for Life students ranging from six years of age to 19. These young people regularly send us reports on their progress with their lifestyles and education. The club is now in recess until the first Thursday in February and compliments of the season are extended to all. Further information on our Twin Towns Day VIEW Club can be sought from president Kathie on 0407 709 629 or Freda on (07) 5524 1357.

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR EVENT Home Instead Gold Coast and Northern Rivers will work with the local Ballina Public Primary School, which will be decorating and delivering Christmas cards to St Andrew’s Aged Care in Ballina. About 80 children will deliver more than 120 cards they have made for

the residents across the two days. A Christmas carol performance with light refreshments was held on December 9 from 10.3011.30am and December 11 from 10.30-11.30am at St Andrew’s Village Ballina, 59 Bentinck St.

COUNCIL AWARDS TWEED Shire Council has won the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for Organisations at the 2019 Green Globe Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate sustainability leadership and environmental protection in NSW. The annual Green Globe Awards are NSW’s premier environmental awards, recognising and celebrating collaboration, partnerships and projects that encourage others to achieve positive change and protect our environment.

To find out more about the council’s Sustainability program, visit www.tweed .nsw.gov.au/Sustainability Program.

TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY Visitors to the Tweed Regional Gallery will have the opportunity to view the Australian War Memorial exhibition For Country, for Nation, the memorial’s first exhibition dedicated exclusively to exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories of military service.

The landmark exhibition features 48 works of art by more than 30 artists, including new works commissioned by the memorial especially for the exhibition.

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TOP TIME: Twin Towns Day VIEW Club president Kathie enjoying the Christmas luncheon celebrations with “Mary Claus’’, Mandy.

Picture: Contributed

Gail and Chantelle from Twin Towns Day VIEW club celebrate the festive season in style.

Memorial Director Dr Brendan Nelson said For Country, for Nation was one of the most significant exhibitions developed by the memorial in recent times.

“It is hard for nonindigenous Australians to

exhibition recognises the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their valuable and selfless military service.

It is a story that is little known, but one that deserves to be told.”

Suzanne Myers, acting

imagine the world as indigenous Australians saw it, but we must,’’ he said.

“They have served in every conflict this country has engaged in and they continue to do so with pride and professionalism, which is nothing short of inspiring.

“This exhibition is an opportunity to honour their service.’’

Tweed Regional Gallery director Susi Muddiman (OAM) said: “We are proud to bring this powerful and nationally significant exhibition to the region. The

Picture: Contributed

head of exhibitions at the Australian War Memorial said For Country, for Nation would guide visitors through six different themes designed to tell the story of Australia’s indigenous service history.

“Unlike other exhibitions

at the memorial, the stories will be told from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with many shared through first-person voice,” Ms Myers said.

The exhibition continues until February 9, 2020.

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DECEMBER, 2019// 31, 8pm-6am; pool party: Wednesday, January 1, 10am-4pm; recovery party: 6pm-1.30am-3am. For more details, head to website www.tropicalfruits.org.au.

The venue is Lismore Showgrounds, Alexandra Pde, North Lismore. Phone (02) 6622 6440, email fruits@tropical fruits.org.au, or see www .facebook.com/ tropical fruits.

What’s on CARLOTTA: I’M NOT DEAD YET, DARLINGS AUSTRALIAN icon, political activist and living legend Carlotta is back with more stories and songs from 50 years on and off the stage. Carlotta has led an extraordinary life: good times, bum times, she’s seen them all and she’s still here.

She’s accompanied on piano

by Helpmann Award winner Michael Griffiths. Join us before the show in the forecourt from 5pm for the Tropical Fruits Festival opening soiree. The Queen of the Cross is back at the Lismore City Hall on Sunday, December 29, at 7.30pm.

TROPICAL FRUITS 2019 NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL AT THE end of each year, the region’s LGBTIQ family comes together from across the globe for the annual NYE Festival. The festival includes an opening street parade through the Lismore CBD to City Hall on

QUEEN OF THE CROSS: Australian icon, political activist and living legend Carlotta.

Picture: Contributed

December 29 with a jampacked soiree following, New Year’s Eve party and fireworks on December 31, an art exhibition, cafe, pool

party and recovery party on January 1, camping and more. Parade: Sunday, December 29, 4.30pm; NYE party: Tuesday, December

EXHIBITION: DESIGNED TO INSPIRE CRAWFORD House Museum’s next exhibition is Designed to Inspire, a collaborative project between the museum’s Frock Club and Alstonville High School Technological Applied Studies. Showcasing beautiful frocks, the exhibition continues until January 31 during Crawford House Museum opening hours (Friday 10am-4pm; Sunday 1-4pm). Cost: $3 adults, $1 school-age children. Contact details: (02) 6628 1829 (Fri and Sun), 10 Wardell Rd, Alstonville.

ENTROPY - BRISBANE BALLET Entropy is the final season for 2019 for Brisbane Ballet,

with three works that demonstrate how entropy works at an emotional and physical level in the universe. Saturday, December 21, 1.30pm. Visit the Byron Theatre for more.

BALLINA CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL & CAROLS THE Ballina Christmas Festival and Carols this year has announced Chang Po Ching from The Voice as the main performer for the event. Celebrate Christmas with rides, jumping castles, farm animals and food options. The festival starts at 5pm. The Carols and Christmas experience begins from 6pm. Entry is free, but to win one of 10 $99 Play Quest Entry Vouchers, RSVP over at www.northcoast.life/ Christmas. RSVP is not essential, but helpful as there is limited space for the 6pm carols session. For details see northcoast.life/ Christmas/. Life Church, 65 Southern Cross Dr, Ballina.

THE MUSEUM PROJECT THE Museum Project consists of a selection of photographs by American photographers, generously donated to Lismore Regional Gallery in 2016. Established

SENIORS

by artists and curators Robert von Sternberg and Darryl Curran, the project promotes the collection and exhibition of contemporary photography by art museums and universities internationally. Images span from the 1970s to the present day. The Museum Project starts Christmas Eve. Monday: closed; TuesdayWednesday, Friday-Sunday: 10am-4pm; Thursday: 10am-6pm. Entry: $5 donation.

FIONA O’LOUGHLIN – GAP YEAR MUCH-LOVED comedian and 2018 I’m A Celebrity …

Get Me Out of Here! victor Fiona O’Loughlin comes to the Tweed to bring you Gap Year on Friday, December 20, from 8pm at Twin Towns. O’Loughlin brings her inimitable bone-dry humour to the stage.

Crowned the Queen of the African Jungle in 2018 on Ten’s hit show, O’Loughlin won hearts with her harrowing road to recovery.

Gap Year is O’Loughlin at her finest. A gifted raconteur, she shares the raw journey that followed her near-fatal coma. But this is no sob story.

Share the Good News If you’ve got big news, a heart-warming story or community event coming up, spread the word and share it online with Seniors!

Opening Doors to the Seniors Lifestyle

Visit seniorsnews.com.au today!

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Ballina players strut stuff on a bigger stage Duo show off fledgling sport at A-League break Tania Phillips BALLINA’S fledgling Walking Football competition has received a major shot in the arm with two regular players getting to strut their stuff on a much bigger stage.

Scott Lynch and Henri Rennie found themselves part of the halftime entertainment in an ALeague game between the Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City at Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe.

They played for a

combined side taking on Bayside United in a demonstration match during halftime in the national soccer league game.

It was a big change from their regular Thursday evening match at Saunders Oval in Ballina, where any crowd would be friends, family and the odd seagull.

Instead, Lynch and Rennie were on the field in front of 9000.

Although they played well – and Rennie scored the opening goal – there was no fairytale finish as Bayside

came back to win 3-1.

However, according to Rennie, it was still a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fledgling sport, which came to Ballina earlier this year and it is hoped will spread to other areas around the North Coast.

“Walking Football is a great opportunity for people who otherwise may feel their sporting days are behind them to get out and be active,” he said.

“We’ve got players who’ve had heart surgery,

UP AND DOING: Henri Rennie (left) and Scott Lynch (yellow sleeves) in action against Bayside United.

Picture: Contributed

knee replacements, or just thought they were too old to keep up, competing and enjoying being part of a team.”

Of course it’s the social element that is one of the sport’s biggest attractions and since earlier this year

men and women of all ages and levels of experience have been heading to Saunders Oval each Thursday from 6pm to play, stay fit and make new friends.

“Even in a game like this, in such a competitive arena,

the spirit of mateship between the players on both sides was terrific,” Rennie said.

For more information, contact Paul Connellan on 0412 692162 or email John Galletly at john_galletly57@ hotmail.com.

Passion meets precision in NRSO’s memorable performance TAKE wonderful music from two of the world’s finest composers, played by the leading community orchestra in our area and conducted by a man who has lived with this music all his working life, and the audience knew they were in for a real treat.

Add to that mix an experienced soloist, the pianist Vicky Hong, and we

had an NRSO concert to remember: Romantic Landscapes.

The dramatic opening chords of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture took us into the turbulent musical world of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus – a world of violence, murder, heroism, cries for mercy and ultimately tragic death. The NRSO rose to the mayhem

splendidly, giving us a very rousing start. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 20 in D Minor (K466) followed, a complete change of mood, though there is also drama enough.

It was beautifully played by Hong, with wonderful contrasts of light and shade.

The second half was Beethoven’s Symphony No 3, the Eroica. The fact it is well known doesn’t make it

any easier to play, and the fast passages are very quick indeed.

The easy option for the conductor would be to slow the speeds and give his players a more comfortable ride. But Camillio Manricks wisely conducted it as Beethoven intended, to the limit of what was possible in 1803 – and to a large extent in 2019. This gave the

audience a thrilling ride in the outer movements. The orchestra rose to the challenge and played these movements with dexterity and precision.

The Funeral March had gravity and dignity, benefiting from the strong dark tone of the lower strings. Overall, a dramatic and exciting performance, full of energy and passion,

richly deserving the standing ovation from an appreciative full house.

The NRSO goes from strength to strength. It carries no passengers and attracts musicians from a wide area, of all ages, who are fiercely loyal.

For more information, email info@nrso.com.au or go to nrso.com.au.

– Mike W

YES, I want to make my support count this festive season!

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The ethereal interior of the spectacular Sagrada Familia.

‘‘

Gaudi’s special touch is evident everywhere you roam throughout Barcelona

PRIME POSITION: Situated 173m above the Barcelona port, the Castell de Montjuic provides sweeping views of the city below. In 2007, the castle came under the ownership of Barcelona City Council and as a result now belongs to all the citizens of Barcelona.

Pictures: Graeme Wilson

The La Boqueria markets are full of colourful fare.

It’s party time in Barcelona!

Graeme Wilson IT’S not every day that you get to fly into Barcelona to celebrate your 60th birthday … in fact, you only get one shot at it.

So as the plane touched down at El Prat airport I was determined to grab my bag and hit the ground running.

My big day had started somewhat disastrously in Paris where a combination of city-wide transport strike and highly flawed decisionmaking on my part resulted in a $200 Uber airport fare.

So for this day to be memorable for the right reasons, the pressure was on

Barcelona to turn on the charm. The result was never in doubt. Fast forward several hours to a spectacular rooftop bar and as I took in the glorious sunset-drenched views, the French faux pas was long forgotten.

During my first day on Spanish soil, a casual wander along the famous Las Ramblas mall and on to Passeig de Gracia had already offered an introduction to the artistic brilliance of Antoni Gaudi.

The multi-coloured Casa Batllo was originally designed as home for a wealthy aristocrat, but these

days attracts millions of visitors as a museum.

Gaudi’s special touch is evident everywhere you roam throughout Barcelona and among other highlights of my three-night stay were tours of the iconic La Sagrada Familia, a Roman Catholic temple started in 1882 and finally due for completion in 2026, and the Gaudi House Museum.

Throw in a relaxing day on the beach at Platja de la Barceloneta, a romantic evening dinner overlooking the marina, expansive views from the hilltop Castell de Montjuic…and a tasty paella or three…and Barcelona ticked all the boxes.

When you’re looking to celebrate in style, it’s pretty hard to beat sunset drinks in the somewhat exclusive rooftop bar at Barcelona’s Majestic Hotel.

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Toast to historic Cowra MARJ OSBORNE

IF THERE’S one town in New South Wales that proclaims peace, it’s Cowra.

When we visit, it’s tranquil, the Lachlan Valley stretching out before our view, the town surrounded by vineyards, farmland and waterways.

But this land holds a more troubled history. On a gentle slope overlooking the town, a camp was set up during World War II to hold Japanese, Italian, Korean, Chinese and Indonesian prisoners of war. It was an extensive camp holding more prisoners than the number of Cowra residents at the time.

About 2am on August 5, 1944, more than 1000 Japanese war prisoners attempted to escape, in the largest POW breakout in modern military history.

During the escape and ensuing manhunt, four Australian soldiers and 231 Japanese were killed. The remaining escapees were recaptured.

It’s chilling to stand on the site today, picturing the scenes of chaos in the darkness of night, as a replay of the events unfolds, broadcast by loudspeaker from the guard tower beside us. It’s a tale of desperate men striving to maintain their honour and the few brave soldiers who tried to withstand the attack.

Not far away, the only Japanese war cemetery in Australia houses the graves of those prisoners who perished, now lying in peace

beside the graves of Australian soldiers. It’s a place of tranquillity, a light breeze blowing as we wander beneath the Japanese maples. The site, tended by the RSL, is often visited by Japanese dignitaries on their visits to Australia.

The area’s significance to Japanese-Australian relations was further reinforced when the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre was later built on Bellevue Hill to commemorate these events.

Initially viewed as a tourist attraction, the gardens have become a symbol of reconciliation between Japan and Australia.

Funded largely by the Japanese Government as a sign of thanks for the respectful treatment of their war dead, with further funding from the Australian Government and private entities, the garden was designed by worldrenowned designer Ken Nakajima and opened in two stages, in 1979 and 1986.

The “strolling’’ gardens were designed in the style of the Edo period when Japan was united under one shogun.

We have just missed the annual Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival held each September), a major event in Cowra’s tourism calendar, but the springtime gardens are resplendent with foliage, their rocky hillsides, manicured hedges, waterfalls, lakes and streams representing the Japanese landscape.

Mr Nakajima said it was

SORROWFULLY SIGNIFICANT: The site of the World War II POW camp at Cowra, where chaotic scenes played out.

the best garden he had ever made, and upon his death his ashes were placed at the top of the garden overlooking his masterpiece.

Today, visitors to Cowra seek not only to learn about its war history and gardens, they also come to taste food and wine from the area.

The Quarry Restaurant is the only Cowra restaurant situated among the vines.

Settle in and enjoy a glass of local wine with good food.

The first vines had been planted in Cowra when the first settlers arrived; however, many early settlers moved to Mudgee as it was a

more prosperous town.

Although you can visit cellar doors by yourself, we took the Cowra Wine & Forage Tour to enjoy a carefree taste of the region’s wines.

Without the hassle of driving and finding wineries on country roads, this group tour ensured that we met producers at the farm gate.

Whether you visit Cowra to enrich your knowledge of history or to further your enjoyment of food and wine, the town is only a four-hour drive from Sydney.

For more information, check out visitcowra.com.au.

The resplendent Japanese Garden at Cowra.

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Fascinating villages can be seen all along the train line.

VISUAL FEAST: Special views abound during the day trip from Bergen.

Photos: Shirley Sinclair

A window into Norwegian life.

Line up for the Flam Railway Shirley Sinclair ONE of the world’s most scenic train journeys takes only a leisurely 60 minutes but is worth travelling to the other side of the globe for.

Norway’s Flam Railway can be experienced in a day trip from Bergen – the cruising capital on the west coast.

When we were unable to fit the much-talked-about Nordic wonder into our itinerary on a recent Holland America Line Scandinavian cruise, we made the effort to fly back to Bergen from our Amsterdam base for a few days and completed the rail journey as a last hurrah.

To maximise our day, we rolled slowly out of Bergen train station on a rainy Saturday (the city takes the V1 - SENE01Z01MA

title of rainiest in Europe, being situated between seven mountains) at 6.50am – the first train headed for Myrdal, 106km away, to make the connection with the Flam Railway.

Bergen is known as “the gateway to the Norwegian fjords”, located in the middle of the Sognefjord in the north and the Hardangerfjord in the south.

So the Bergen Railway is its own surprise packet of panoramas. Even on this eerily misty morning, the mirror-image reflections of mountains, trees, collections of homes and boathouses on the fjord are impressive.

After many more passengers get on at Voss, we finally arrive at Myrdal: the upper terminal of the Flam Line.

It may be July and well

into summer in Norway but the passengers are rugged up and snow is still found in crevices and dips in the mountains touching the sky above the station, which lies at 866.8m above sea level.

The cloud cover creeps lower here, almost embracing us as we wait.

The 20.2km journey, with 80 per cent running on a gradient of 5.5 per cent, takes an hour one way at a top speed of 45km/h.

The Flam Rail line hugs the typical Norwegian scenes, bringing the outdoors inside. We feel like we can almost touch flowing streams.

But the exclamation point is the first glimpse of Flamsdalen Valley and Flam village, with a population of about 400 people in Aurland municipality.

FAST FACTS The Flam Railway, or Flamsbana, was built over the course of 20 years at a cost then of about NOK 20 million. (about $3,210,000). It runs from the valley floor of the Sognefjord – the longest fjord in Norway and second longest in the world.

Along the way, we have the opportunity to take photos of the Flamsbana trains as they head back to Myrdal and the quaint homes of Lunden, and stop for a snack by the turquoise waters of Flamselvi.

The Flam River brought the first tourists to Flam – mostly English lords and

their families who came 150 years ago for salmon fishing.

The stretch of the river is now part of the Fretheim Farm, which holds fishing rights. The original bridges, giving fishermen easy access to the river, were built in 1910-20 but were restored in 2017 after a flood destroyed the originals.

We’ve taken many long and short rail trips over the years but as a window to Norwegian life and its majestic scenery in one day, Flam Railway deserves all its accolades.

The Flam Railway The Flam Railway opened for freight and goods transport on August 1, 1940, and to passengers in 1941. It became an important transport artery for the Sogn district, linking villages along the Sognefjord to Bergen

and Oslo via the connecting Bergen Railway. Until the Flam Railway was completed, access to villages in the area could only be via the fjord or on foot and horseback over the mountains. Try to get a seat on the left when heading from Myrdal to Flam, and from Flam to Myrdal if doing the full trip. Head to www. vy.no/en for rail tickets.

Various tour companies such as Norway in a Nutshell include the Flam Railway as part of their package deal.

Go to www.visitflam.com for more information.

Where to stay Thon Hotel Orion, Bradbenken 3, Bergenhus, Bergen. Go to www.thonhotels.com/ourhotels/norway/bergen/thonhotel-orion.

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Sound ideas

Living

Whether it’s close to your home or at an idyllic Tracey Johnstone

There's a smorgasbord of music festival choices on the high seas.

Photo: Contributed

IN ANY month in Australia there is a selection of festivals in obvious and less than obvious locations.

They are being held in your own backyard or somewhere along the grey nomad road.

Music along with local produce, craft, culture, dancing, poetry and workshops often make up these events. And there are the old friendships to be rekindled and new friends to be made as seniors enjoy all that these festivals have to offer.

Here are just some to tantalise you: Woodford Folk Festival (QLD) HELD in Woodford, just north of Brisbane, the 34th festival will be six days and six nights of fun with more than 2000 local, national and international artists, musicians and presenters. It begins each year with the iconic opening ceremony and closes with a spectacular fire event on New Year’s Day. It’s Australia’s largest gathering of artists and musicians. The festival experience is deep, rich and colourful.

December 27-January 1.

Info: woodfordfolkfestival.com.

Port Fairy Folk Festival (VIC) THE four-day event has music, theatre, visual arts, spoken word, interactive workshops and street theatre. The historic coastal town attracts more than

100 acts from across the globe. March 6-9. Info: portfairyfolkfestival.com.

National Folk Festival (ACT) IT’S Australia’s longestrunning major folk festival, with 180 acts over five days.

The best and brightest in folk from around the globe converge on Canberra, with world-class performers hand-picked from 14 countries including Japan, Portugal and Italy, and a strong local component.

April 9-13. Info: folkfestival.org.au.

Fleurieu Folk Festival (SA) FLEURIEU presents a variety of folk music, dance, spoken word, culture and workshops. The music genres included are folk (folk/rock, folk roots, acoustic folk, indie/folk, folk/pop, alt/folk and contemporary/folk), country and bluegrass, singer/songwriters, world music, jazz (gypsy jazz) and blues. October 23-25. Info: fleurieufolkfestival.oztix.co m.au.

Gympie Muster (QLD) HELD in the Amamoor Creek State Forest, what was once a community fundraiser has grown to a four-day camping and country music festival attracting Australian and overseas musicians. Along with taking in the music, visitors can enjoy dancing classes, music workshops, a chilled Sunday session, bush poetry and more. August 27-30. Info: muster.com.au.

White Cliffs Music

Festival (NSW) HEAD 95km north of Wilcannia or 200km east of Broken Hill to the festival site. Its annual country music weekend festival is relaxed and welcoming.

The 2020 performers will include Adam Harvey, Andy Toombs and The French Family. May 15-17. Info: whitecliffsmusicfestival.co m.au.

Fairbridge Festival (WA) IT’S an annual three-day family-friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, Celtic, a cappella and world music in a trafficfree, self-contained, bushland, heritage-listed village. About 100 acts perform at this magical escape within just an hour’s drive of Perth. April 17-19.

Info: fairbridgefestival.com.au.

Groundwater Country Music Festival (QLD) GOLD Coast streets, parks, bars and restaurants come alive as 12 stages host more than 110 live performances. The annual Queensland Tourism award-winning event is on July 24-26. Info: groundwatercmf.com.

Tamworth Country Music Festival (NSW) TAMWORTH has it all when it comes to country music. Over 10 days, 700 performers will play across 120 venues. Hundreds of buskers provide a wide range of entertainment each day. The pinnacle event is the Country Music Awards, when the who’s

Embrace the Internet!

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Visit facebook.com/seniorsnews or seniorsnews.com.au

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for revellers interstate spot, year-round festive fun awaits who of Australian country music gathers with fans to see who wins the famous Golden Guitars. January 1726. Info: www.tcmf.com.au.

Big Red Bash (QLD) WITH the 2020 event already sold out, it’s probably a good time to go online to secure your tickets for 2021. Held 35km from the Outback town of Birdsville, it’s the most remote rock music festival in the world. The festival is held on the striking red sands of the Simpson Desert in front of Big Red, a 40mhigh sand dune that provides a spectacular natural amphitheatre setting found nowhere else in the world. July 2020.

Info: bigredbash.com.au/ bigredbash.

Stone The Crows Festival (NSW) HELD at the Australian Clay Target Association grounds in Wagga Wagga, it’s the ultimate over-50s and grey nomads festival of music and fun. There’s a talent quest, workshops, bush poetry, markets, seminars, crafts and the Australian Disc Bowls Championship. In 2020, Normie Rowe and Belinda Marks head up the stellar list of performers. April 10-16.

Info: www.stonethecrows .com.au.

Blues on Broadbeach (QLD) FOR four days each year, one of Australia’s largest free music festivals features more than 70 top blues, folk, soul and rock artists from Australia and around

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the world. May 14-17. Info: bluesonbroadbeach.com.

Lord Howe Island Rock Fest (NSW) THE backdrop is stunning and the music for all ages.

This annual festival of free concerts and entertainment is the perfect reason to head to Lord Howe to explore the island during the day and party away the nights. It starts on Saturday at 5pm with dancing in the streets.

Sunday is a day to chill and explore. Monday features a music trivia night. Tuesday is 1960s and ’70s music.

Wednesday afternoon it’s music at Ned’s Beach, where the whole community joins in.

Thursday is open mic, with guests supporting the locals as they perform before the visiting musos finish the night. Friday is the closing night with a fireworks show.

The music starts with the local schoolchildren and then gets louder and livelier as the night progresses. Be warned - the island accommodation is limited so book in early. March 2128. Info: lordhoweisland.info.

Blues and Berries (NSW) COFFS Harbour is the place to be in November.

The festival showcases the region’s amazing growers, fantastic produce and a lineup of great musical talent.

It’s a jam-packed program.

November. Info: bluesandberries.com.au.

Byron Bay Bluesfest (NSW) AT ITS permanent home

at the spectacular 120hectare Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, just 11km north of Byron Bay, the Bluesfest in 2020 will have 200 performances across multiple stages over five 12hour days, with up to 6000 visitors expected. There are five licensed bars, more than 100 food and market stalls and plenty of entertainment for all ages.

In 2020, the performers list is impressive with Crowded House, George Benson, John Butler and Dave Matthews Band among the outstanding acts. April 9-13.

Info: bluesfest.com.au.

Bellingen Fine Music Festival (NSW) CLASSICAL, contemporary jazz and world music are now on the program at Bellingen. There are concerts, busking, workshops and superb food and wine. The venue is about 30 minutes’ drive from Coffs Harbour. Last year’s performers included David Helfgott, Joseph Tawadros (with James Tawadros) and Ensemble Q. September. Info: bellingen musicfestival .com.au.

Festival of Voices (TAS) CHORAL singers from all over the world gather in Hobart to perform, teach, learn, listen and connect.

Audiences are encouraged to take part and find their voices. The free Big Sing Bonfire event in Salamanca attracts up to 5000 people.

In between the choral events are performances by

ISLAND VIBE: The Lord Howe Island Rock Fest provides a picturesque chillout with a Wednesday afternoon concert at Ned's Beach.

Photo: Contributed

cabaret artists, actors, and jazz and contemporary singers from Australia and overseas. July 1-16. Info: festivalofvoices.com.

National Multicultural Festival (ACT) THE weekend festival of culture and music includes a parade that has everything from beautiful exotic costumed dancers and marching cultural bands to magnificent floats.

People flock to the Canberra streets to what is a sea of vibrant colour and sound as 2000 performers from the local community and international groups dance. February 21-23. Info: multiculturalfestival .com.au.

Blue-Water Festivals JOIN Royal Caribbean Cruises for its on-water festivals. There is Cruisin’ Country (Sydney, October 5) with Lee Kernaghan and 50 other artists, Bravo Cruise of the Performing Arts with Anthony Warlow and Ruthie Henshall (Sydney, October 13), and Rock the Boat with Suzi Quatro and Jon Stevens (Brisbane, November 24).

Info: royalcaribbean.com/ aus/en?country=AUS. Other festival ideas: Parkes Elvis Festival (NSW). January 8-12. Info: parkeselvisfestival.com.au.

Agnes Blue, Roots and Rock Festival (Agnes Water, QLD). February 21-

23. Info: agnesbluesand roots.com.au.

Top Half Folk Festival (Alice Springs, NT). June.

Info: alicespringsfolkclub.com.

Ballina Country Music Fest (NSW). November.

Info: ballinacountry music.com.

By The Banks IndieFolk Festival (Albury, NSW). November. Info: bythebanks.com.au.

Wirrina Bluegrass Festival (South Australia). November. Info: wirrinabluegrass.com.

Australian Festival of Chamber Music (Townsville, QLD). July 31August 9. Info: afcm.com.au.

18

WELLBEING

DECEMBER, 2019//

Weights lift quality of life

Wellbeing Age no bar to simple way to ease aches, boost spirits Nick Rizzo GROWING old can be a difficult and scary process.

Improving the experience of ageing, the health of the older populations and the quality of life is a valuable endeavour.

When these objectives are achieved, it can empower older adults and the elderly to live a fuller, more engaged and active life.

Pain-free living Thankfully, training helps improve the overall quality of life. One way is by reducing the level of general aches and pains as well as disorder-specific pain.

That is exactly the point.

Reducing pain levels allows for greater ease of movement, fewer

SENIORS

GET ACTIVE: Experts say weight training is a crucial aspect of improving older adults’ quality of life.

restrictions when moving, and in general, feeling better with less negative stimuli coming from your body.

Mental and emotional On top of being able to move around with less pain,

improving strength and muscle through weightlifting improves health-related factors. This can improve physical capabilities as well as the emotional and mental state.

Now with these improved physical functional capabilities you are able to lead a more engaged and active lifestyle.

Being more active, engaged and having more

Photo: Contributed

social interaction is the golden ticket that improves mental and emotional health on various levels.

Weight training also innately improves mental, emotional and cognitive

health through biological mechanisms that enhance the quality of life. l Urinary incontinence Other areas of quality are less obvious: for example, urinary incontinence.

Twenty-five million adults in the US suffer with urinary incontinence and 75-80 per cent of those are women.

Twenty-three per cent of women over the age of 60 struggle with incontinence.

Frail older women who struggle with this issue and who underwent weight training had a 50 per cent reduction in daily leaks.

Verdict The benefits of weight training are many: a more engaged and active lifestyle; less pain; improved cognitive, mental and emotional health.

Weightlifting is a crucial aspect of improving the quality of life of older adults and the elderly.

- Nick Rizzo is the director of training and fitness at RunRepeat.com.

Research’s deeper insights reveal keys to anxiety-easing sleep REST ASSURED: Research is pinpointing how getting more deep sleep can boost our mental health.

Photo: File

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EXPERIENCING anxiety because you have missed out on a good night’s rest isn’t anything new, but researchers can now explain how it can be reduced.

The new study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, looked at what phase of a person’s sleep pattern can help reduce anxiety. It established a casual neural link between sleep and anxiety.

Scientists from UC Berkeley identified the importance of the sleep phase NREM, or non-rapid eye movement, and its ability to ease an overactive brain. It’s the deepest stage of a person’s sleep and it restores the brain’s prefrontal mechanism, which regulates our emotions.

“Of societal relevance, we establish that even modest night-to-night reductions in sleep across the population predict consequential day-

to-day increases in anxiety,” the study reported.

“These findings help contribute to an emerging framework explaining the intimate link between sleep and anxiety and further highlight the prospect of

... even modest night-to-night reductions in sleep ... predict consequential day-to-day increases in anxiety. non-rapid eye movement sleep as a therapeutic target for meaningfully reducing anxiety.”

Sleep has two main phases: rapid eye movement (REM) and NREM. When you

are in REM sleep, your eyes move rapidly, your blood pressure and heart rate go up, and your brain becomes highly active.

REM sleep is when most dreaming happens. It’s thought to be important for learning and creating new memories.

When you are in NREM sleep, you go through four stages. In stage one you are in transition between being awake and asleep, and you wake easily. In stages two, three and four your eye movements stop, your body temperature falls, and you are deeply asleep.

Adults usually spend about one-fifth of the night in REM sleep and the remainder in NREM sleep.

It appears the non-medicated remedy to reducing anxiety is getting a better quality of sleep every night.

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FEATURE

\\DECEMBER, 2019

19

How to weather change We must dig in with a global approach, says climate expert Alison Houston IT’S without question the hottest topic of the moment – climate change.

But with 50 years of experience in meteorology and climate science, University of Southern Queensland’s Professor Roger Stone says we are looking at the problem the wrong way.

To begin with, he says, we can dispose of arguments as to whether current high temperatures and drought conditions here and in other areas of the southern hemisphere are the result of predicted weather patterns or climate change – it’s both.

The same unusually warm sea temperatures in the Central Pacific and cool temperatures in the Indian Ocean, giving us the El Nino effect, cause the reverse weather patterns in Europe and the Americas, resulting in record lows and flooding there.

“The world is usually out of balance with rainfall – when we’re having droughts in Australia, they are often having floods in the northern hemisphere and vice versa,” Prof Stone said.

El Nino is part of a predictable periodic weather pattern, occasionally resulting in prolonged events like that experienced in Australia in 1991-95 – so people who say they have seen it all before are correct … to an extent.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT The difference, Prof Stone says, is that climate change is making the impact of these seasonal climate patterns far more severe, protracted and more common.

Because Australia has the most variable rainfall of any nation in the world – with variability increasing, especially in northern Queensland – we are very much affected by climate change.

Prof Stone said the United Nations Commission for V1 - SENE01Z01MA

TIME FOR UNITY: United Nations Commission for Agricultural Meteorology president and USQ Centre for Applied Climate Sciences director Professor Roger Stone says we need to be less parochial and look globally in addressing climate change.

Picture: Contributed

Agricultural Meteorology, of which he is president, brought together the work of climate science teams, including climate prediction models associated with agriculture and drought, from countries around the world.

This provided a global picture of weather and seasonal climate events, how these affect countries, and how we can learn from each other.

The key, he said, was “to have greater preparedness for when these events – drought, severe storms and flooding – occur”.

That meant convincing governments to think long term about climate and its effect on our lives.

THE POLITICS The climate problems we are experiencing globally due to greenhouse gas pollution in the atmosphere, Prof Stone said, would take at least 20 years to improve as a result of changes in our behaviour.

Having worked in government before becoming USQ Centre for Applied Climate Sciences director, he said some governments and politicians on both sides of the political divide were more willing to

listen to environmental and climate concerns than others.

Part of the difficulty was that with each change of government and change in bureaucratic department heads, policy attitudes shifted, knowledge was lost and so little ongoing progress was ever achieved.

“The minute it starts raining, drought is taken off the agenda and becomes something for another day, so the next time it happens we are caught without answers again,” Prof Stone said.

However, with the country now clearly looking “so bad”, with “massive rainfall deficits” and unprecedented fires, he believes alarm bells are ringing that this is a climate crisis, and we cannot afford to defer making long-term decisions.

But degenerating into political name-calling, fingerpointing and protesting for more to be done about greenhouse gases within Australia, he said, achieved nothing.

It was akin to burning the village witches in the Middle Ages, believing they had caused hailstorms.

“We are being too

parochial in the way we think about climate change,” Prof Stone said.

“This is a global climate system we are working with, and the greenhouse gas emissions are almost entirely due to the northern hemisphere – they are responsible for 95 per cent.

“What we do in Australia has little effect (1 per cent of global emissions).”

That meant, he said, that while we needed to continue to do the right thing environmentally within Australia, we also needed to stop blaming ourselves and instead “ask our friends, particularly in the US , China and the European Union, to change what they are doing and set clear targets (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions)”.

“That’s where the real action has to be, and that’s the tougher question – how we, as a tiny nation, are going to influence the global picture, because we are very much on the receiving end of this,’’ he said.

“We need to have a bigger voice on the global stage.”

TOLL ON THE LAND Those arguably hardest hit by the effects of climate change, including drought, associated fire, storm and

flooding are, of course, our farmers.

“The first thing we know is that farmers only make a good profit three years out of 10,” Prof Stone said.

On average, they will have three really bad years and four average.

He said that contrast in results would increase, and while good seasons would return, farmers needed to be more attuned and responsive to weather and climate conditions than ever.

Many farmers, he said, watched very closely in autumn, when for instance El Nino patterns generally ended, before making decisions on whether to destock or increase stock, and what to plant.

“In the future they are going to have to be very responsive and opportunistic to capture the good years when they are there,” Prof Stone said.

Some, he said, for example, had swapped from wheat crops to chickpeas, which were more drought resistant (where markets allowed), and to innovative plant-breeding programs such as stay-green wheat and sorghum that had also been developed.

THE FUTURE Events such as the devastating fires in NSW and Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria, Prof Stone said, had already overtaken debate.

The question is, where will it end, and how can we improve our future outlook?

Prof Stone said extremist views polarising the community could only do more damage.

We needed to work together to take a stand to influence those responsible for large-scale global emissions.

Long-term planning and policy were the answer, both to find power alternatives and to cope with existing climate-related threats.

As individuals, that meant contacting and lobbying our politicians, including state and federal local members, agriculture and environment ministers and shadow ministers and party leaders, to talk with their international equivalents and reinforce the need for greater responsibility and prompt long-term policy action against large-scale emissions.

ENVIRONMENT A THREAT TO OUR HEALTH AND LIVELIHOODS THE effects of climate change are already farreaching.

There are calls for Australia to move quickly to develop national policies and infrastructure to deal with the growing health impacts.

Labor Health spokesman Simon Bowen recently highlighted at Sydney University: “Changing climate zones, desertification, ocean acidification, ecosystem collapse: these impacts threaten our food supply, our economy, our security and, of course, our health.’’

The AMA in August formally declared climate change a health emergency, following similar statements by their counterparts in Britain and America.

AMA president Dr Tony Bartone pointed to higher mortality and morbidity from heat stress – a major issue for the elderly.

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AN EXCITING A NEW ERA

More compact. p More stories. Easier to read.

Your favourite newspaper is changing for the better

We’ve changed in size!

Lately, you might have noticed our new, easier-to-read size. But even though we’ve changed the size of the paper, we’ll continue to bring you more of the local stories that matter to you.

With our new look and feel, and more local news than ever before, we’re fitting all of it and more into one simple size.

We’re excited about the changes! It’s all part of our commitment to covering the length and breadth of our great state, and our mission to make your favourite paper even better.

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SHARES

\\DECEMBER, 2019

How to find your missing money

21

Money

What to do if you could be a lost shareholder Dianne Charman AMP ACCORDING to the Australian Shareholders Association there is currently more than $1.1 billion of unclaimed money lying dormant in Australia.

A lot of this money comes in the form of lost shares.

When it comes to small investors, it’s very common for shareholders to lose touch with the companies they invest in – more than 150,000 small investors have forgotten about $451 million worth of shares.

Otherwise known as “lost shareholders”.

Lost shareholders are people who own shares but the company has exhausted all means to contact them or pay their dividends. In many cases, investors – most of whom are likely to now be retirees – provided the company with a postal address, bank account or email address that is no longer valid.

Sometimes a company loses track of shareholders when they divorce or move house and don’t update their contact details with it.

Also, physical addresses have changed over the years. For example, some

‘‘

There are 352 lost Johns, 322 lost Peters and 100 lost shareholders called Margaret. roadside mailboxes in rural areas are no longer valid postal addresses. Some people have forgotten they own shares.

AMP, which has the thirdlargest shareholder base in Australia, recently launched a campaign to find 43,000 “lost” shareholders and connect them with their holdings and $13 million worth of unclaimed dividends.

The average lost AMP shareholder is a 63-year-old man. There are 352 lost Johns, 322 lost Peters and 100 lost shareholders called Margaret. Thirty-seven thousand lost shareholders are Australian while 4600 are New Zealanders. Most either live – or have lived – in New South Wales (12,000), Victoria (10,000) and Queensland (6700).

AMP has launched a

website – findmyampshares. com.au – that allows people to use their date of birth to see if they, a family member or client (in the case of financial advisers, solicitors and tax agents) own a stake in AMP. The website also helps people to then claim their shares and any dividends they’re owed.

AMP is not the only company looking for lost shareholders. Telstra (1.3 million shareholders) followed by CBA (830,000) have the first and secondlargest shareholder bases in Australia.

LOCATING LOST SHAREHOLDINGS

If you think you may have forgotten shares with another company, these guidelines from the Australian Shareholder Association may help: • Contact the relevant company.

• Contact the responsible state government department as the unclaimed money may be either registered with that department or, depending on the time that has lapsed, held by the department.

It’s important that if you discover you have lost shares, make sure you contact the company’s share registry and provide your new details.

AMP has recently launched a campaign to find 43,000 lost shareholders and reconnect them with their holdings and $13 million worth of unclaimed dividends.

Picture: FILE

It’s also worth trying to search for lost shareholdings through the Australian Government website moneysmart.gov.au.

The ASIC website contains details of how to claim your money. The unclaimed money form will step you through all the information you need to provide to ASIC. The

company will be contacted

by ASIC once you have submitted your form.

Dianne Charman, of Jade Financial Group, is an Authorised Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 89 051 208 327, AFS Licence No. 232706.

Any advice given is

general only and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.

Because of this, before acting on any advice, you should consult a financial planner to consider how appropriate the advice is to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Consider overseas markets for a bigger slice of ‘selfie’ pie IT’S official – Australia’s army of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) makes up one of the biggest likeminded group of investors on the Australian sharemarket.

Collectively, SMSFs – or “selfies’’ – own about 20 per cent of the local sharemarket. As a combined group, that makes them very powerful indeed.

But mum-and-dad funds aren’t in shares for the power.

It’s no secret that Aussie shares offer two key benefits that make them well suited to super funds – regular dividend income and the potential for long-term capital V1 - SENE01Z01MA

growth, both of which can be lightly taxed. Oddly, though, many selfies are cooling on direct shares.

A recent report by Investment Trends found SMSFs have about 35 per cent of their portfolio in direct shares, down from almost 50 per cent five years ago.

It’s not a sign that selfies are bailing out of shares altogether.

Many are moving their money out of directly held shares, and into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other diversified products.

That’s not always a bad thing.

I’ve come across research showing do-it-yourself funds often con-

centrate their sharemarket investments in just two main sectors – finance and resource stocks.

This can leave your retirement savings highly exposed to possible shifts in these industries.

The added appeal of ETFs is that the fees are extremely low, so they can be a cost-effective way to diversify your SMSF investments.

The Achilles heel of SMSFs is that many focus their investments on Australia. The big hurdle among selfies is a lack of understanding about what to invest in, or how to invest, overseas.

There are a variety of ways to in-

vest globally. This can include ETFs, ASX-listed shares with overseas revenue and actively managed funds.

Whatever you can invest in here in Australia – be it property, shares, or fixed income – you can also invest in internationally. The trick is to minimise the costs.

So, how do the returns compare? Well, bearing in mind that overseas shares don’t have the same tax-friendly benefits such as franking credits that apply to home-grown shares, the returns on international shares stack up well. Over the past three years,

overseas shares have dished up returns of 15.71 per cent compared with total returns (including dividends) of 12.57 per cent for Aussie shares.

For five and 10-year periods, global shares have notched up gains of 13.09 per cent and 12.63 per cent annually respectively, compared with 8.47 per cent and 8.34 per cent for Australian shares.

— Paul Clitheroe is chairman of InvestSMART, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

22

CLASSIFIEDS

DECEMBER, 2019//

SENIORS

Call or place an ad online 13 11 13 or buysearchsell.com.au

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

PUZZLES

\\DECEMBER, 2019

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9 10 11 12

13

14

15

16

17 18

19

20

21

22

23

24 25 26 27

SUDOKU

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

Across 5 Which conservative sect settled in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s? (5) 8 What small animal is an Erinaceus europaeus? (8) 9 What is the nickname for the gold statuette given as an Academy award? (5) 10 Which German composer ended a performing career in 1832 when he broke a finger? (8) 11 If you are posting a letter in England in 1860, the pillar box is probably what colour? (5) 14 What form of Buddhism emphasises the value of meditation? (3) 16 What hooded cloak was once worn by soldiers? (6) 17 How many sides has a hendecagon? (6) 18 What insecticide was once widely used to combat malaria? (1,1,1) 20 Which Russian nuclear submarine foundered in 2000 with the loss of 118 crew? (5) 24 Which US nuclear submarine foundered in 1963 with the loss of 129 crew? (5) 25 What is a group of sheaves of grain stood on end in a field? (5) 26 In which 1959 film did Hayley Mills make her film debut? (5,3) 27 Nairobi is the capital of which country? (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

30/11 Down 1 What word can be preceded by sea and tea? (5) 2 Which state produces a quarter of the US’s potatoes?

(5) 3 What are microbes commonly called? (5) 4/6 In 1983, which Dad’s Army actor said in his selfcomposed obituary in the Times that he had conked out?

(4,2,8) 7 Death Valley is below it; Lake Tahoe is above it. What?

(3,5) 12 What is a long, narrow French loaf called? (8) 13 Which 1995 film was the first fully computer-generated feature film? (3,5) 14 Americans call it “zee”. What do we call it? (3) 15 What divides a tennis court? (3) 19 Which flower was named in honour of Swedish botanist Anders Dahl? (6) 21 What is the top or bottom supporting post of a stairrail? (5) 22 Which English locksmith (Jeremiah ____) patented a “pick-proof” lock in 1818? (5) 23 What were formerly called roentgen rays? (1-4)

DOUBLECROSS 5

6

7

8

23

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

9

10

11

12

13

14 15

19

16

20

17

21

18

22

23

Down 1. Wary (8) 2. Hold to be true (6) 3. Dreadful (4) 4. Cheaply (colloq) (3,1,4) 5. Turn aside (6) 6. Pealed (4) 11. Painfully thin (8) 13. Pass (8) 16. Prohibited (6) 18. Shun (6) 20. Afresh (4) 22. Simple (4)

Across 7. Excessively pious (13) 8. And so on (2,6) 9. Nervous (4) 10. Young men (6) 12. Choice (6) 14. Family (3) 15. Operational (6) 17. Profited (6) 19. Chess piece (4) 21. Time without end (8) 23. Industrial action (7,6)

SOLUTIONS

5x5 O R D E R

A C U T E

T H E S E

ALPHAGRAMS: DEFER, ELVERS, FLIRTED, GREMLINS, HEADLAMPS. GK CROSSWORD Across: 5 Amish, 8 Hedgehog, 9 Oscar, 10 Schumann, 11 Green, 14 Zen, 16 Capote, 17 Eleven, 18 DDT, 20 Kursk, 24 Thresher, 25 Stook, 26 Tiger Bay, 27 Kenya.

Down: 1 Chest, 2 Idaho, 3 Germs, 4/6 John Le Mesurier, 7 Sea level, 12 Baguette, 13 Toy Story, 14 Zed, 15 Net, 19 Dahlia, 21 Newel, 22 Chubb, 23 X-rays.

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 7. Sanctimonious 8. Et cetera 9. Edgy 10. Youths 12. Option 14. Kin 15. Usable 17. Gained 19. Pawn 21. Eternity 23. General strike.

Down: 1. Cautious 2. Accept 3. Dire 4. For a song 5. Divert 6. Rung 11. Skeletal 13. Overtake 16. Banned 18. Ignore 20. Anew 22. Easy.

Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions are sequential. For example, if the five-letter solution starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so on.

FREED REVELS TRIFLED MINGLERS LAMPSHADE

5x5 S

O O

U

C D

I S

T

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

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

E T

R

E

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

TODAY: Good 18 Very Good 27

niggle null riel rile rill rule ruling ugli uglier

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only

E G

T O N I C

WORD GO ROUND

V1 - SENE01Z01MA

S T U D S

DOUBLECROSS

SUDOKU

ALPHAGRAMS

M PEN

O s s i M t ’ n o D d l ts So

O W NO men t r a p 3A

! y a d o T n I e v o ut!

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