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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Challenge to community
INDEX 3 4 6 8 12 13 20 22 24 25 26 27
News - Students share the love Cover - OzHarvest CEO Ronni Kahn News - Chasing elusive history News - Surfing into stand-up fun Community group guide Wanderlust Wellbeing Living Money Reviews What’s on Puzzles
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Generations inspire conversation
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Community supporting local clubs
Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor Hello friends, This month I came across some valuable thoughts from Gosford (NSW) Anglican priest, Father Rod Bower. Fr Bower, recognised for his controversial billboard signage, spoke at the Communities in Control conference and called, postelection, for communities to come together. He told Pro Bono News that creating a deeper sense of belonging for everyone in our communities was one of the biggest challenges we all faced as Australians. “If we actually look for and discover each other’s humanity, we will discover that we share common humanity in a common place and that we can be part of a deeper sense of belonging,” he said. I was thinking much the same thing as I wrote this month’s special feature and looked into evidence behind polls that portrayed a divide between older and younger generations. What I found was a global effort to promote inclusiveness from American university students creating card games through to the partnership between Gympie’s (Qld) Aged Care Facility Cooinda and the University of Sunshine Coast offering student accommodation with an
innovative new program. Data collection is often the first building block used in community constructions, but it can also be used to create stereotypes that have little benefit for anyone, and – as election results proved – polls mightn’t quite get the point. Intergenerational projects such as ones I have written about fly in the face of superficial assessments. They seek common bonds rather than differences, echoing much the same sentiments as Fr Bower’s. Prompted by her 60th birthday, Tracey Johnstone took a look at her own and other’s personal circumstances. Tracey’s honest reflections will likely provide food for your own thoughts. In terms of mind and body, this month we have a number of first-person accounts in areas of arthritis, stroke and eating. Travel-wise we explore the Orkney Island with retired journos Yvonne and John Gardiner. Trust you enjoy the read, Gail
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 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 southeast Queensland. The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications. Published by News Corp Australia. Printed by News Corp Australia, Yandina. Opinions expressed by contributors to Seniors Newspapers are not necessarily those of the editor or the owner/publisher and publication of advertisements implies no endorsement by the owner/publisher.
Author celebrates the joy of ageing Tania Phillips
BYRON Writers Festival has "been on the agenda" for a while for author Joanna Nell, and with a best-selling book to her name she is finally on her way. The author of The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village will be part of the well-known festival to be held from August 2-4 this year. The festival is three days of storytelling literature and big ideas in the beautiful coastal setting of Byron. Joanna is one of more than 140 guest writers and thinkers who will
Joanna Nell's book. converge on Byron for the festival, which is now in its 23rd year and renowned for its relaxed, friendly vibe, beachside location and compelling conversations. Genres are many and varied including environment, the arts, crime, social issues, poetry and politics as well as memoir and fiction. This year’s guests will
include Kurdish-Iranian refugee and award-winning writer Behrouz Boochani who will appear via livestream from Manus Island, best-selling author Marcus Zusak (Bridge of Clay), New York-based author and journalist Min Jin Lee (Pachinko), health and environment advocate Damon Gameua (2040), ABC journalist Leigh Sales (Any Ordinary Day), Benjamin Law (Growing up Queer in Australia) and beloved children’s author and illustrator Alison Lester (Magic Beach). For Joanna Nell, the trip north from Sydney to appear at the festival is part of the whirlwind that has surrounded her since the success of her funny, moving, heart-warming tale of love and community spirit – The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village.
She has had a roundabout journey to literary success – born in the UK, she studied medicine at Cambridge and Oxford universities and now in her 50s has lived in Australia for the past 15 years. Her short fiction had won multiple awards and been published in various journals and literary anthologies. But still the Sydney-based GP with a passion for women’s health and care of the elderly admits she is still pinching herself at the success of her first novel. And why not – there are certainly few novels like it revolving around the life, loves and self discovery of 79-year-old widowed pensioner Peggy Smart and the women of her coastal retirement village. Living on Sydney’s northern beaches, Joanna was ultimately inspired to
GUEST WRITER: Best-selling author Joanna Nell. write the story of an older protagonist after watching the older swimmers at Pittwater in Sydney and wondering about their lives. She said she hoped the book dispelled some of the "misconceptions surrounding ageing" and gave an optimistic view. Event details: Byron Writers Festival from
August 2-4 at Elements of Byron. Byron Writers Festival is a non-profit member organisation presenting workshops and events year-round, including the annual Festival. For the full line-up of writers and program of sessions, go to byronwritersfestival.com.
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Students share the love It was party time for Beryl King when she celebrated 90 years
Tania Phillips BERYL King was queen for a day at St Anthony’s Primary School Kingscliff last month. A much-loved canteen volunteer, Beryl has been at the school three times a week for almost a decade so when she celebrated a milestone birthday on May 18 her “St Anthony’s Family” were out in force. “The highlight of this week has been the unbelievable milestone of our beautiful canteen worker extraordinaire Beryl King,” deputy principal Mick Kennedy told the school population. “This lovely woman, who is admired and loved by all in St Anthony’s Community, turned an amazing 90 years old. We have been blessed to have had the presence of her at our school for many years.” Beryl, who had a party with friends and family on
her birthday on the Saturday, was honoured with a celebration by her young customers on the Monday. She said she moved from Lismore to the Tweed to be close to her daughter and eldest granddaughter and decided to help at her great grandson’s school nine years ago. Even though he has moved on to high school in Murwillumbah, Beryl is still a much-loved fixture at the canteen and right-hand woman to canteen manager Ellen. “I couldn’t wish for a nicer place to be – I’m here Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” she said. “I love helping people, I wish I could do a lot more but that’s life.” No stranger to the food service industry, Beryl, who was born in Casino in 1929 and has lived mainly around southeast Queensland and northern NSW, left school at 14, starting her first job at a cafe in Redcliffe during
LOVED BY MANY: Beryl King was honoured for her tireless work at St Anthony’s Primary School, Kingscliff. World War II. After marrying in her 20s and having two daughters, she moved around before settling in Lismore more than 30 years ago. After working at cafes, she retired and eventually found herself employed at the Uniting Church Coffee Shop where she worked until the move to Tweed. “I still have a lot of friends in Lismore,” she said, adding that she still
kept in touch with them and several had come over for her party. And while most 90-year-olds probably wouldn’t want to be doing canteen, Beryl loves it and also loves when the kids introduce her to their parents while she’s out shopping. It has also helped her as she coped with the grief of losing her eldest daughter Elaine two-and-a-half-years ago
to brain cancer. The school loves her too, with principal Lynne Pull explaining they had asked her to accept a little money for her work but she wouldn’t hear of it. Instead, the school finds ways to spoil her including throwing a special assembly for her on the first Monday after her birthday. Mr Kennedy said it was quite a morning.
“Students performed a number of songs dedicated to Beryl and gifts were presented to show the admiration we all show to this wonderful woman,” he said. “We hope that Beryl will continue her dedicated service to our school for many years to come because the common phrase of the wonderful day was consistently: ‘what would we do without her!’”
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Food found to feed the
The OzHarvest ethos is ‘take what you need, give if you can’
AUSTRALIA’S first “rescued food” supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, has opened in Sydney. It’s just another one of the “firsts” created by OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn and highlights her zeal to end food wastage on a worldwide scale. The 66-year-old former South African said she felt compelled to start the social enterprise after working in the hospitality industry and seeing first hand the enormous amount of unnecessary food waste. “On the one hand I set up OzHarvest (which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it directly to more than 1300 charities) to make sure that good food feeds hungry people,” she said. “At that time I didn’t understand the scale of the problem. Now that we
do, we have a huge global mission.” Research reveals Australia’s shocking food wastage figures. According to the Federal Government’s National Food Waste Strategy 2016-2027 position statement, we produce 7.3 million tonnes of waste each year. Taking this down to a figure an individual can grasp, that’s 298kg per person. Some 2.5 million tonnes of that waste is generated by households. The government aims to see Australia halve those numbers by 2030. Ms Kahn’s passion for the OzHarvest project is underpinned by these mind-boggling figures, and an indomitable desire to feed the hungry. Her business acumen was honed running a successful corporate events company. In 2004 she started with one van in Sydney. In 2005, after having the laws changed to make it
FIGHT FOOD WASTE: OzHarvest founder and CEO Ronni Kahn. safe for companies to donate surplus food, the national food waste rescue organisation now rescues and rehomes 180 tonnes of donated perishable food each
week from more than 3500 food donors, including supermarkets, hotels, airports, wholesalers, farmers, corporate events, caterers, shopping
Photo: Livia Giacomini
centres, delicatessens and cafes, restaurants, film and TV shoots and even boardrooms. “While our purpose is to nourish our country, it certainly extends globally
in that we have to shift and change behaviour so that a third of all food does not go to waste and that there is enough food produced to feed all the hungry people on our
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planet planet. And we have to make sure it gets to them.” Ms Kahn said that each year in Australia, four million people needed some kind of food support. “That is unconscionable in a country that is as exquisite, beautiful and abundant as ours,” she said. “So I think I have a job for the rest of my life.” How does OzHarvest work? Seven days a week, paid OzHarvest drivers and assistant volunteers collect food in their yellow-branded vans that criss-cross Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth, plus in several regional areas. This food is then delivered free of charge to more than 1300 charitable organisations. Most is delivered directly to the charities on the same day it is collected, with surplus food stored overnight in OzHarvest coolrooms and going out the next
morning. Some of the food is kept back by OzHarvest chefs to use in the cooking for a cause program that turns rescued food into cooked meals, which is then delivered to charities. All sorts of charities benefit, including women’s refuges, community centres, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, homeless support services, soup kitchens, the Wayside Chapel in Sydney, the Red Cross and schools. The latest OzHarvest project and Australia’s first rescued food supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, is based on a “take what you need, give if you can” philosophy. Relying largely on the generosity of donors, volunteers and corporate support, next on the expansion agenda is the new OzHarvest Food Truck which will be available for corporate, community and private functions and for helping feed communities in need around Sydney. OzHarvest also runs the educational programs
One of the OzHarvest vehicles that transports donated food for repurposing. NEST and Nourish. The curriculum-aligned FEAST education program for primary school students is currently being piloted. OzHarvest hopes to roll it out this year, starting in NSW. “We literally can change the life of a youth who might have been, and I use this word very seriously, discarded in that they have never had a
positive learning experience, never succeeded in anything,” Ms Kahn said. “They go through our Nourished training program and graduate and they say that we have opened a door they never knew existed.” The Nourished program takes at-risk youth aged 16-25 through an accredited Certificate II in
Hospitality or Kitchen Operations. The free program, which is run in Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, is a stepping stone for participants into the hospitality industry. It equips them with a range of skills including cooking, coffee making and food safety. “It’s those moments, and they happen almost every day, that keep me
Photo: OzHarvest
totally passionate and driven to make OzHarvest as impactful as possible,” Ms Kahn added. “The excitement and passion of doing what I do has never left me.” And it’s that passion for change that the fully energised 66-year-old wants other senior Australians to take on and apply within their communities.
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Chasing elusive history
Ancestry hunt turns into a spy mystery Tania Phillips
THEY say every family has a secret and for Byron Bay mortgage broker Lance Innes the secret is so big and so strange that it’s little wonder it caught the interest of television producers. Lance, who moved to Byron in September last year to spend more time with his daughter, is one of six Australians taking part in the new SBS documentary Every Family Has A Secret – and his secret is a beauty. Premiering on June 25, the three-episode series from the team behind Who Do You Think You Are? and hosted by Noni Hazlehurst, sees six everyday Australians discover the truth about their family’s past. For Lance it was a chance to find out more about the father he never knew who left when he was just 18 months – a man with more aliases than he had wives (and he had four). A man who had dealings with the Philippines president, Castro’s right-hand man, and even came under the notice of Hoover and the FBI. “It’s a ridiculous story,” Lance admitted. “I have a friend who is a producer on Australian Story, and I contacted her and said: “I have this crazy story, what do you think?”” She loved it but they didn’t have the budget to do it justice. She instead directed Lance towards a friend involved with the SBS show, who jumped at the chance to tell the story. And what a story it is.
FASCINATING TALE: When Byron Bay’s Lance Innes started searching to find out more about his father, he uncovered a fascinating story. A man calling himself John Wayne Gorsy arrived in Australia in 1956. Over the next three years he married, had two children, and then abandoned his family and simply disappeared. Lance was only 18 months old. He subsequently discovered his father had four wives and nine children spread across three different continents – families that until recently didn’t know of each other’s existence. His father used numerous aliases throughout his life and was named in recently declassified FBI files. Lance is determined to uncover who his father really was. “There are still 100 pages of FBI files (about his father) that aren’t declassified,” he said. While Lance knew some of the story before filming
Lance Innes and some of his siblings. started, he said there was a lot the researchers uncovered as well. There is still a lot to learn and a lot he might never learn. “As much as it opened more questions than it answered, it knitted in a
lot of things I already knew and has given me closure in certain areas,” Lance said. “Our surname is Gorsy, and I thought we were Russian but his father was from Hungary and mother was Slovakian.
“I didn’t know anything about how he died, but I have more understanding now on a practical level.” Knowing that his father died of heart failure in his late 40s, Lance can now answer questions about his own medical history
when asked by a doctor – something a lot of us take for granted. For Lance, finding a new extended family and meeting his siblings has allowed him to feel “more like a man” and “more well-rounded” after growing up with just the stories and relations from his mother’s side. It has also given his daughter and his sisters’ children lots of new cousins to get to know on social media and helped fuel his interest in investigating his family history further back beyond his father, which will include a pilgrimage to Auschwitz with his wife later this year. “This was rooted in the past, but it’s now about the future,” he said. Lance’s episode of Every Family Has a Secret will screen on SBS on July 9 at 7.30pm.
Join the Vikings for wintry fun
Viking traders Bob and Kath Harper. Photo: Contributed
THE winter solstice is coming and so are the Vikings. The Lismore-based medieval re-enactment society Rognvald’s Lith will hold a Viking Village celebration at Jolley Field, at the corner of Uralba and Dawson Sts in Lismore, from 10am to 4pm on June 22 and 23. The event is being held to celebrate the winter solstice. A gold coin donation will be seized by warriors at the gates. And while a Viking
re-enactment group might seem like a game for young men or women, for Bob Harper, 72, and his wife Kath, 50 plus, it’s a great way to leave their full-time jobs and modern life behind for a while. Bob and Kath fill the role of traders in the Rognvald’s Lith group – Kath making traditional Viking glass beads and Bob making Viking coins. “We’re historical glass bead and coin makers,” Kath said. “Our Viking beads and coins are handmade historical
reproductions and are referenced. The beads have origins not only from Scandinavia but as far away as Turkey, Egypt, Russia and England. “Why did Vikings covet glass beads? Basically, it was a sign of wealth. Similar to us today, they liked to wear jewellery. Jewellery can also define us such as a Christian cross – Thor’s hammer. Glass beads are like a visual story of where the Vikings had been and who they had traded with.” The duo started off
doing re-enactments on their own at the Abbey Festival 24 years ago. During one of their years at the Abbey Festival, they discovered that one of the re-enactment groups was from their current home town of Lismore and decided to join. Viking Village solstice on June 22-23 at Jolley Field, Lismore from 10am-4pm. Cost: $2. Email rogslith@bigpond.com or go to facebook.com/ VikingVillageSolstice.
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Surfing into stand-up fun Tania Phillips HE IS well known in the Gold Coast and North Coast surfing scenes, but sports events promoter Sean McKeown is about to stand up for cancer research. Sean is one of 10 Tweed locals who will take part in the Stars of Tweed Shire Comedy Club to be held at Babalou in Kingscliff on June 20 under the watchful eye of Mullumbimby-based comedian Mandy Nolan. The event, hosted by the Cancer Council, aims to raise money for cancer research. The volunteers from all walks of life and all ages, from 19 to well into their 50s and early 60s, have been taking part in a six-week workshop at Cudgen Leagues Club with Mandy. They have learned the secrets of improvisation, joke structures, performance techniques and topic development as well as one-on-one writing sessions. For Sean, who runs the Australian Longboard Surfing Open at Kingscliff each year, the event is both something a little different and something he will be able to use in his everyday life. “Cancer is something that has touched all of us. There wouldn’t be one person in Australia that hasn’t had their family or friends affected by cancer,” he said. “It’s just something that when the opportunity came up, I didn’t think I was much of a comedian
or anything, I thought hey this will be good – not just for the Cancer Council and raising some awareness and money for them but it’s good for me as well. Just getting up in front of people and talking gives you more self-confidence.” It has also been a lot of fun, Sean admitted. I’m having a blast,” he laughed. “I’m an event manager, I run community events, mainly sports events, and with that we have to actually get up and speak and give presentations in front of the community, whether it’s sponsors talking about opportunities, whether it’s at presentations, handing out trophies or just talking to everybody. It’s something that is an everyday part of what I do work-wise. “I see the benefit being that it will make me a better speaker. It will throw a bit of light-heartedness into what I talk about and certainly, with doing community events, it’s all about having fun. “This will help when I’m doing presentations – to make them just a little bit more humorous.” For Sean there has also been an intensely personal reason for taking part in the event. “People who know me know I have had a few health issues over the years which led to me blowing out size-wise,” he said. “I lost self-confidence as I got bigger. The fact that I’m now addressing that both physically and
STAND UP: Mandy Nolan (centre) and volunteers including Sean McKeown (far left). mentally is something that is really good for me going forward. “At this stage I’ve lost 40 kilos and I’m hoping to lose another 40 within the next 12 months. “But I’m feeling pretty good, I’m healthy, everyone is saying I’m looking better – they could be lying but who knows?” It’s also been a good chance to network and get to know others from the Valley. “I cannot believe the diverse range of people who have stepped up to help the Cancer Council with this project. It’s been fantastic,’’ Sean said. “The people I have met through it ... we’ve got the celebrity to the stars Andrew, we’ve got 19-year-old Aspie (Asperger’s) Inari who is
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an absolute crack-up – she’s worth the price of the admission alone. None of us are actually delivering jokes as such, we’re just talking about life’s experiences and it’s the way we’re presenting them, finishing with a little punchline. I think for most of the crew that are there it’s working well.” Mandy Nolan has been an icon in the stand-up community for more than two decades but her skills don’t stop there. Apart from being a four times published writer, she has travelled Australia to sell-out crowds, closed out at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, guest featured on ABC and SBS television, and currently writes a weekly column for
a local newspaper. Her humour is sharp, honest and speaks to a diverse audience where she has rubbed shoulders with and entertained the likes of Olivia Newton John, Jimmy Barnes, Julia Gillard and Julie Bishop. Mandy believes she has the experience and secrets to make any student a successful comedian and find their authentic voice. Cancer Council NSW community relations coordinator Hannah Naime said of the event: “Cancer Council believes in a cancer-free future and there are things that we can all do every day to help make this happen, starting with joining us.” Every year in NSW alone, more than 48,000 new cases of cancer are
expected to be diagnosed, and the impact on families, carers and communities is significant. For more information or tickets, go to facebook.com/tweed shirecomedyclub
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Try taking a walk in my
Is there a growing disconnect between generations – or not? IN TERMS of respect, a recent report headlined Societal Views on Seniors in Australia revealed a disconnect in perceptions between younger (18–44) and older (60-plus) Australians. The younger generations felt misunderstood, while senior Australians felt under-appreciated. The survey carried out by Aveo showed that 68 per cent of millennials felt seniors were treated with respect, while in contrast 53 per cent of seniors disagreed. A December 2018 report by National Seniors Australia, Respect for Age: Going, Going or Gone? Views of older Australians, highlighted the thoughts of its members and noted that about 43 per cent of them agreed that older people deserved the respect of younger people because of their age – which meant 57 per cent did not agree. Additionally, the popular satirical online publication The Betoota Advocate (60 per cent of readers are under 34) took a tongue-in-cheek approach to perceived differences, with its story headlined Baby Boomers happy for nothing to be done about climate change until after they die. A paragraph from the article said: “This particular generation – also known as The Baby Boomers – have been heavily criticised over the past 30 years for their inability to look past their own retirement, which many of them believe should have been the day they turned 55. However,
despite their sense of entitlement, many refuse to leave their highpowered positions in the corporate sector and free up the crowded housing market by retiring to the coast or country.” Yet, in the face of these surveys, statistics and satires, is there any solid evidence to fight back and call this “fake news”. Is there evidence to support a “connect” rather than a “disconnect” between older and younger demographics. Ninety-two-year-old nursing home resident Gladys Biles does not think there is anything to be envious about in either generation. “We had our own problems,” she said, citing the Great Depression and World Wars. On the other hand, she saw the younger people now tackling high costs of education and housing. She said she felt respected by the younger members in her family. Her 62-year-old daughter Jenny has three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a regular visitor to her mother and volunteers ironing time at the facility. She feels much the same way – good and bad points in both demographics. Twenty-seven-year-old Clare Grant, a regular visitor to her grandmother in a Bendigo nursing home, echoed the same sentiment. Additionally, in recognition of the importance of harmonious intergenerational relationships, a number of innovative initiatives ranging from housing to leisure games have been
BONDS: As longevity increases, new ways of communcation are sought between young and old.
A recent report – Societal Views on Seniors in Australia – outlines a disconnect rather than a connect between older and younger demographics. Photo: Artecke launched. Due to begin in July, the University of Sunshine
Coast (USC) and Cooinda Aged Care Centre in Gympie, Queensland, will
be trialling an intergenerational living arrangement.
The trial came about through need and serendipity. In 2017, at the same time Cooinda Aged Care was building new accommodation, Cooinda CEO Robyn Kross and USC staff attended a meeting at the Gympie council. When USC staff expressed an interest in extending their campus but noted they were hindered by a lack of student accommodation, Robyn put forward the possibility of using their soon-to-be older rooms. Since then a feasibility study looking at nursing students paying a nominal rent to live in the older rooms in exchange for social activity with the residents has been completed, and earlier this year the idea further evolved when Robyn
Congratulations to our Winners Congratulations to the winners of our April The Chaperone Screening giveaway. John McDonald Judi Adams Roslyn Mayes
Stay tuned to the paper and our website for the latest Seniors News Giveaways Visit seniorsnews.com.au/competitions 6985417aa
Gail Forrer
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
NEWS
generation’s shoes
Family and community gatherings can bridge generational gaps. attended a Gold Coast seminar featuring Gea Sijpkes, head of the Humanitas retirement home in Deventer, Netherlands.
The Cooinda/USC model is loosely based on this intergenerational living model which began in 2012 and has since expanded to two more
Dutch aged care facilities. The desire to bring generations closer inspired America’s Stanford Centre of Longevity to theme its
2019 Design Challenge around “ways to promote intergenerational relationships and contributions from all generations”. Here are the top three
ideas: The So You Think You Know Your Grandma team from Berkeley University (California) developed a card game specifically targeted at breaking down barriers between members of different generations. The unique approach combines elements of both storytelling and game dynamics to engage players who may have differences in mindsets, views and perceived stereotypes. Stanford University’s team, the Family Room, created a user-friendly app that helps families capture and share the histories of their older loved ones through high-quality audio stories. This approach allows people with varying technology comfort levels to access the app via telephone, web interface or smartphone. In third place was Pillow Fight from Yu7anZE University in Taipei, which created an innovative video game platform using pillows as game controllers. The team demonstrated how the simplified controllers allowed very young and very old players to play together, creating shared laughter and experiences. The High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia has recognised the loving bond between older and younger Australians and its new campaign features young children urging their grandparents to have their blood pressure checked. Spokesman Professor Markus Schlaich asked: “What better way to encourage our ageing population to make that step than the concern of their cherished grandchildren?” In terms of retirement
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villages, Aveo Group head of care Darren Sonter said careful thought and consideration was put into various areas of its accommodation style. “The health benefits of leading a socially rich life are well known and we understand that we have an important role to play in ensuring there are plenty of opportunities for our residents to interact and socialise throughout their senior years with friends and family of all ages,” Mr Sonter said. “A number of our communities benefit from regular visits from local schools where the generations can bond over a shared love of music and game playing, whereas some of our communities feature a community area or a TV or media room where residents can enjoy a movie with family.” Ultimately, increased longevity has given rise to more living multigenerations than ever before. In addition, corresponding conversations have driven disparate viewpoints, considerations and surveys. In 2011, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 531,000 people were living with “other related persons” in the family household. By 2036, the ABS predicts this number will rise to 781,000. Society is adjusting to these new demographics with fresh ways of negotiating relations, lifestyle and accommodation. It will take time, but certainly there appears evidence of a desire from many and varied parties to acknowledge generational differences while working towards respectful and thoughtful exchanges.
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Community notes
Community group guide TO ALLOW for readers’ requests for the publication of more neighbourhood news, please keep notices short and to the point (100 word maximum). If you would like to submit a photo ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size and of faces, in a nice bright setting. Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.
BEGINNERS LINE DANCING STARTING NOW
FREE lessons for novice beginners. Learn to linedance for fun, relaxation and exercise. All ages, don’t need a partner, phone 0403 225 313 or go to dallaslinedancers.com. Classes: Friday 9.30am Beginners; 10.30am Early Intermediate at the Pottsville Community Hall, 1 Tweed Coast Rd (opp Ambrose Brown Park) Pottsville.
LISMORE OVER 50S LEARNING CENTRE
WE OFFER a range of art and exercise classes for mature age people. Most classes are held at the Lismore Heights Bowling Club, 181 High St, Lismore Heights. New members are always welcome. For more information, phone Barbara on 02 6624 2237, 0401 503 732 or see our facebook page: “Over 50s Learning Centre Lismore”.
PROBUS CLUBS Banora Point
RETIRED? looking to meet new people? We meet on the fourth Monday of each month at the South Tweed Sports Club at 10am. Cost $5. We are a mixed club and have interesting speakers, as well as an outing each month. Our speaker this month is naturopath Dr Sandi Rogers and will be held on Monday, June 24. Phone Ron or Annette on 07 5523 4016. Hastings Point WE WILL meet on Tuesday, June 18 at 10am at Tricare, 87 Tweed Coast Road, Hastings Point. The main speakers will be Greg Hopper and Andrew Fyfe, Trade Travel representatives, who will give a TV presentation on trips overseas and other tours with combined Probus Clubs in Northern Rivers NSW. Visitors welcome. For more, phone 02 6670 4072.
U3A
Tweed Coast WE HAVE over 40 stress-free courses that can get you learning, thinking, reading, writing, singing, moving, dancing
BAREFOOT BOWLERS: Kirra-Tugun Probus Club members enjoyed an excellent breakfast at the Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club, followed by a quite enjoyable morning in the sun – barefoot but comfortable. – and lots more. The membership fee is $40/calendar year for as many courses as you wish. The fee is halved if you join after June. Our term dates match those of NSW schools. No course prerequisites apply. You’ll be interacting with like-minded people; it follows that long-term friendships are often an unsought bonus. More at tweedcoast.u3a.org.au or phone Doug on 07 5524 3846. Twin Towns IF YOU’VE ever wanted to learn to sing and love the songs of the 70’s U3A Twin Towns has a wonderful new course just for you. Come along to our new Choir Singing course and discover the joy and benefits of group singing. As well as having fun the deep breathing associated with singing helps reduce stress levels. Tuesdays from 11.15am-12.15pm. For further information phone 07 5534 7333 or email u3a1office@gmail.com.
VIEW CLUBS
Coolangatta/Tweed WE ARE celebrating our 29th Birthday at the
South Tweed Sports Club on Thursday, June 20 from 10.30am for 11am start. Cost: $26 for two course luncheon. Our theme “Let’s Rock n Roll” with entertainer Greg Ware. All ladies are very welcome to come and join us on this fun day. There will be a trading table. For bookings/apologies phone Elaine on 07 5524 4461 Monday prior to our meeting. VIEW support the Smith Family’s learning for life program helping disadvantaged Australian children reach their full potential in Education. Twin Towns Day OUR next luncheon will be on Thursday, July 4 at the South Tweed Sports Club 10.30am for 11am. Two course luncheon is provided for cost of $26. Guest speakers are a great attraction. All monies raised will be for the education of our club’s 7 learning for life students selected by the Smith Family. For further information, phone Kathie on 0407 709 629 or Freda 07 55241 357.
FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES BYRON SHIRE
WE ARE once again holding our annual Book Fair on Saturday, July 13 from 9am-5pm and Sunday, July 14 from 10am-1pm at the Byron Surf Club. Offering quality second hand books across many genres: fiction, non fiction, children’s, art, history to name a few. Also the annual monster raffle which includes exceptional local products. FOL is a not for profit organisation, a major fundraiser supporting the Byron, Lennox and Mullumbimby libraries with much needed library equipment and other resources. Also, those who want to part with their special used books, especially children’s and art books, phone Janene on 0407 855 022 for more information on collection.
TWEED SHIRE LIBRARIES
Beating pain and arthritis naturally: Join experienced health professional Danielle Watson to learn more about how diet, lifestyle, food as medicine, natural supplements and
complementary therapies can affect pain and arthritis. Bookings essential. Monday, June 17 11am at Tweed Heads Library, phone 07 5569 3150. EFT for Health and Well-Being: Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping” is clinically proven to be extremely effective in reducing your stress levels. Master EFT Practitioner, Nelle Flynn, will teach you the basics of EFT and how to use it in your everyday life to become healthier in mind and body. Bookings essential. Thursday, June 20 from 10am at Murwillumbah Library, phone 02 6670 2427; Friday, June 21 from 10am at Kingscliff Library, phone 02 6674 1607. How to combat food addictions: Join health healing specialist Peter Murphy as he discusses the science of the mind and a quick technique which can be used to switch off the desire for unhealthy foods. Bookings essential. Monday, June 24 from 10am at Tweed Heads Library, phone 07 5569 3150. Wills, Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardian - Are you prepared?: Everyone should know about preparing a Will, making a Power of Attorney or appointing an Enduring Guardian. The NSW Trustee & Guardian will be presenting a free one hour information event about planning ahead. Bookings essential. Thursday, June 27 from 10am at Murwillumbah Library, phone 02 6670 2427; Thursday, June 27 from 2pm at Kingscliff Library, phone 02 6674 1607.
COMMUNITY EDITION
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Stepping out on the Kepler Walk in the park for hiking novice PAGE 15
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS hours in an Igloos On The Pier. The private igloos have stylish furnishings and curated food and drinks menus. The cost includes a minimum spend for the menu. If you don’t reach the minimum spend the balance will be charged as a hire fee. Available to book until August 31 at 8am, 12pm, 3.30pm and 7pm. Info: pieronesydneyharbour. com.au/igloos-on-the-pier.
TRAVEL BRIEFS GRACE KELLY AND PRINCE RAINIER III FIRST MEETING EXHIBITION
ON UNTIL October 15 at the Palace of Monaco is an exhibition dedicated to the first meeting between the American actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The exhibition Monaco, 6 May 1955. The Story of a Meeting is organised for the 90th anniversary of Grace Kelly’s birth. Designed as a photographic tour through the palace state rooms, the exhibition follows in Grace Kelly’s footsteps Info: palais.mc/en/ museum-and-visits/ the-state-apartments1-26.html.
LIGHTS, CAMERAS, BOLLYWOOD AT MADAME TUSSAUDS
BOLLYWOOD has come to Sydney’s Madame Tussauds. Guests can step backstage and join Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Shah Rukh Khan on a movie production set, where they take the starring role in favourite Bollywood film scenes. Then it’s time to master a Bollywood dance routine in the rehearsal studio, grab an outfit and head centre stage and into the spotlight for the performance of a lifetime. Info: madametussauds .com.au/sydney/en/ whats-inside/lightscamera-bollywood.
TUGBOAT ALASKA’S INSIDE PASSAGE
FOR tourists with a hankering to wake up to birdsong and the smell of the forest, there’s a 10-day inside passage cruise aboard the 107-year-old coastal tugboat Swell. Swell is a fully restored, 88-foot tugboat. She has six private cabins with ensuite baths, a cozy salon, ample deck lounges, hot tub and an open wheelhouse. Operated by Maple Leaf Adventures, the slow-travel trips for 12 guests feature up-close experiences of whales and brown bears, walks through the rainforest, and zodiacing among icebergs. Info: MapleLeaf Adventures.com.
BIG SAVING ON FIJI CRUISING
BOOK before June 30 and save 25 per cent on cruise fares and no single supplement on all Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s three-, four- and seven-night Mamanuca, Yasawa Islands and remote Discovery cruises.
DISCOVER A PINK LAKE
PALACE MEETING: The Palace of Monaco is hosting the exhibition, remembering when Prince Rainier III first met Grace Kelly. As well as being immersed in Fijian culture, enjoy daily snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, relaxing on white sandy beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters. The sale offer is for travel before March 31, 2020. The cost for the three-night cruise starts at $1196.25 per person twin share (normally $1595 per person twin share), with solo occupancy fares starting at $1496.25 per person (normally $1995 per person). Info: captain cookcruisesfiji.com
PLAN TO VISIT FLORIADE
CANBERRA’S spring gardeners are at work planting the first Floriade bulbs at Commonwealth Park. The colourful celebration of spring will this year run from September 14 to October 13. The theme is World in Bloom, which visitors will see reflected in flowerbeds and entertainment programming. Info: visitcanberra.com.au
POLAR HURTIGRUTEN SALE
CHIMU are offering up to 25 per cent off Hurtigruten cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Patagonia during the 2019/2020 season. The sale is on until June 26 and available to Chimu clients. Travellers can see Antarctica and the Falkland Islands from as little as AU$7594 for a 17-day itinerary, easily one of the best value Falklands cruises currently available. Info: phone 1300 720 564 or go to chimuadventures.com.au.
MICRO-ART AT ART SERIES
HOTELS
ONE of the world’s biggest, or smallest art exhibitions is on until July at eight of Accor Art Hotels in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Over 40 micro artworks from artists around the globe can be discovered when hotel guests are given a magnifying glass at check-in and encouraged to search for every micro art piece around the hotel. Info: artserieshotels.com.au
JAPAN GASTRONOMY TOURS
NEW tours from Walk Japan celebrate the ritual of bathing in onsens hot spring baths, and savouring fresh seasonal delights. Each five-day, four-night tours focuses on its relaxing, restorative and therapeutic onsen hot spring baths, and its wonderfully unique and delicious cuisine. The leisurely, guided walking is over easy terrain with distances each day limited up to 10 kilometres. The Onsen Gastronomy tours are limited to 12 people. Guests are immersed (or, get to be immersed) in the traditional Japanese way of bathing and every evening stay in a delightful local inn, almost always with their own onsens. Info: walkjapan.com.
ALPS SUMMER WITH SIR RICHARD
HEAD to the Swiss Alps this northern summer and book in at The Lodge, Sir Richard Branson’s mountain retreat in Verbier. Between June 14 and September 22, The Lodge takes individual room bookings. Stays at The Lodge are inclusive of meals and drinks. Verbier is a five-minute
walk away and offers a wealth of designer boutiques for shopaholics looking for some retail therapy. The Lodge has an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, spa, a steam room, a party room, two bars and an award-winning head chef. Rates start from CHF940 (about AUD$1354) per room, per night based on two adults sharing and guests staying four nights or more will be treated to their final night for free. Info: phone (02) 9965 7299 or email info@inspiredluxury. com.au.
D-DAY EXHIBITION
THE Australian War Memorial’s D-Day exhibition, which is on until September, explores the remarkable story of Australia’s involvement in the invasion of Normandy. It tells the story of June 6, 1944 when the Allied forces stormed ashore the heavily defended beaches of northern France, supported by 24,000 glider-borne troops and paratroopers aboard 1,200 transport aircraft and 700 gliders. The Australian story has items from the National Collection, including: textiles, photographs, diaries, letters, models, artwork, and digital displays. Info: awm.gov.au
SPRING GARDENS UK TOURS
GET in early to book for Chelsea Flower Show, Cotswolds and Welsh Gardens in spring 2020. Explore iconic gardens and beautiful English, Welsh & Cotswold countrysides with these small group tours. The tours on offer for May 2020 are - Private Gardens of Devon, Somerset & Cornwall & Chelsea Flower Show, Chelsea Flower & Dublin in Bloom Shows and
Seine River Cruise including Chelsea Flower Show Info: botanica.travel or phone 1300 305 202.
SAIL BY THE CABIN
THE holidays are designed for couples and singles to enjoy travelling an all-inclusive crewed yacht for the price of a single cabin. With spacious cabins, double bed and private en-suite, Sail by the Cabin is a premium yachting experience. Experience the Caribbean’s British Virgin Islands, Belize and St Lucia. Prices start from $7191 for the British Virgin Islands, $5330 for Belize and $6348 for St Lucia. Info: moorings.com.au/ yacht-holidays/crewedcharter/by-the-cabin.
USA PADDLEWHEEL RIVERBOAT JOURNEYS
SAVE up to US$1600 per couple if you book by July 31 on 20 iconic river cruises aboard two of the grandest paddlewheel ships ever built – the American Queen and the American Empress. The price for eight-night river cruise includes pre-cruise stay, drinks with dinner and shore excursions American Queen is the largest river steamboat built. It’s a fully working recreation of a classic steam paddlewheeler. It plies the waters of the Mississippi River. The American Empress is the largest, overnight riverboat west of the Mississippi, offering journeys along the Columbia River in the US Pacific Northwest. Info: cruisetraveller. com.au/aqsc.
IGLOOS AT SYDNEY HARBOUR
IT’S hot idea for winter in Sydney; spending a few
WEST Australia’s famous ‘bubblegum’ pink Lake Hillier is located offshore on Middle Island, part of the Recherche Archipelago and close to Esperance which is about eight-hour drive or a 1.5-hour flight from Perth. You can see the lake by boat, but one of the best ways to take in the spectacle is from the air on a scenic flight with Goldfields Air Services. Info: goldfieldsairservices.com.
WHEN IN LONDON
CELEBRATE the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s births with a season of events and displays at the Victoria and Albert Museum until September 1. Displays include a new addition to our jewellery collection – Queen Victoria's stunning sapphire and diamond coronet, now on display. Info: vam.ac.uk.
NEW MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES
VIKING has launched six new Mediterranean 2021 cruise itineraries which include the new port of call, Istanbul in Turkey. The new cruises are combinations of two or more of Viking’s existing Mediterranean itineraries for 15, 22 and 29 days. Info: phone 138 747 or go to vikingcruises.com.au.
SNOW FUN
PERISHER is offering a ‘buy early and save up to 30% this winter’ deal. Ski or snowboard across Perisher Valley, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega. Booking seven or more days in advance helps you save on lift, lesson and hire. Info: perisher.com.au
DARWIN ARTS FESTIVAL
AUGUST is the time to visit the Top End for the Darwin Arts Festival, on from August 8-25. It combines outdoor festivities with cabare, theatre, dance and visual arts. Info: darwinfestival.org.au.
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Our fall guy finds his feet
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It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s famous All Blacks
Spectacular Kepler Track well worth the effort for novice
Graeme Wilson I WAS almost 1500m high on my first ever multi-day hike and I had a serious wind problem. And not the sort I’d overheard others experiencing in our bunk room the night before. A 100km gust had just swept me off my feet and crashed me to the rocky ground on the most elevated section of New Zealand’s Kepler Track. It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s world-famous All Blacks rugby gladiators. As I gazed up from the razorback ridge at the stormy skies above, life had looked better, and I had the moment of reflection I knew would come on my inaugural venture into the world of serious hiking. My body and pride were equally bruised and when faced with such adversity we have two choices – retreat to safety or embrace the challenge. I took a deep breath and chose the latter, and I’m so glad I did. Completing the 60km four-day/three-night Kepler walk was quite likely the greatest physical achievement of my life. I’d trained reasonably consistently in the lead-up to the Kepler with regular half-day hikes and
twice-weekly 50km bike rides, but the lycra and lattes didn’t really prepare my legs for the challenge of transporting both me and my 15kg pack up and into the clouds. I believe it was a mixture of pride and fear of failure that helped propel me forward when the going got tough. It also helped that the amazing scenery along the way quickly has your mind turning away from thoughts of the enduring physical battle, and when it’s not the flora taking away whatever breath is left in your lungs, it’s the dainty little waterfalls cascading off the rugged hillsides and tumbling gracefully into space. I’ll also highlight that pain is temporary, but the special sights experienced along this four-day walk will live in the mind forever. Those memories begin forming the moment you step on to the track on the shores of the picturesque Lake Te Anau. But the reality is that when planning your assault on the Kepler, the challenges begin much earlier than those first bold steps along the undulating trail. While the hike itself is undoubtedly arduous, it’s testing enough simply securing hut bookings for
BREATHTAKING BEAUTY: The four-day Kepler Track walk will leave you wanting more. the three nights. On the day the bookings open, you need to be logged on to the website early to snatch up beds the moment the process goes live. It’s akin to getting tickets to an Ed Sheeran concert. And then there’s the equipment selection. Nancy Sinatra was clearly a hiking advocate as she sang about the importance of having boots made for walking. Trust me, no one wants to be climbing rocky peaks in boots made for anything else. It’s a given that you’ll burn through the calories on a four-day hike, so planning for the re-fuelling process holds great importance. Unsurprisingly, there’s no cute cafes or craft beer bars along the track, although I did note
numerous ideal locations for pop-up coffee carts. #ideasman Dried food is a staple on the menu and despite its initial resemblance to something you’d serve up to the family moggy, I was pleasantly surprised that the addition of a little boiling water returned it to something close to its former glory. When it comes to holiday accommodation, I’ll readily admit I’m traditionally the kind of guy who enjoys a little room service and the occasional spa. Pre-hike banter highlighting the possibility of long drops and enforced bedtime spooning involving hirsute international backpackers with questionable hygiene had me a little worried. I needn’t have been concerned. The three huts on the Kepler all have
Photos: Graeme Wilson
KEPLER TRACK FEES AND BOOKINGS Bookings open on June 13 at 9.30am (NZ time) for the Great Walks season from October 29, 2019 to April 30, 2020 Visit the NZ Department of Conservation website (www.doc.govt.nz) for full details on booking huts and campsites. International visitors: • Adult (18+ years): $130 per person, per night • Child (17 years and under): $130 per person, per night flushing toilets, and the rhythmic sounds of the inevitable snoring from bunkmates just acts as a bedtime lullaby. No recounting of a Kepler walk is complete without mention of the constant threat posed by mosquitoes with wingspans the size of small aircraft. To stop and pause near any still waterway is to invite a kamikaze-like attack from the bloodthirsty beasts.
But at the end of the day, a few itchy bites are a small price to pay to enjoy some of the most spectacular natural scenery this world has to offer. Taking on the Kepler was no walk in the park (ok, strictly speaking it was) but it’s only strengthened my desire to explore more. Everest may be a mountain too far, but never say never…
The forest floor resembles a plush carpet.
A soaring native kea takes in the picturesque views.
Living the dream...author Graeme Wilson.
Flying the flag at Hut 1 on NZ’s glorious Kepler Track.
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Prehistoric stone circle the Ring of Brodgar was built between 2000BC and 2500BC.
INCREDIBLE INGENUITY: The Italian chapel built by prisoners of war in World War II.
Photo: Yvonne Gardiner
Village sites older than
Do some armchair touring and visit the Orkney Islands with intrepid travelling duo, and happy retirees, Yvonne and John Gardiner
THE incredibly beautiful and isolated Orkney Islands would have changed little since the Picts, Celts and Vikings stepped on their fertile ground. Blessed with stunning views and outstanding landscapes, the remarkable islands northeast of the Scottish coast safeguard extraordinary architectural treasures of historical global significance, some older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids. One of the best-known village sites, Skara Brae, rests on a beach and is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village. Thought to be more than 5000 years old, the eight turf-covered cottages give a fabulous glimpse into Neolithic life, including the beds they slept in. Nearby and also open to the public is Skaill House, owned by local laird William Watt when he discovered Skara Brae in 1850. The Orkneys, a group of more than 70 islands and islets, can be bitterly cold and windy. In chillier seasons it’s essential to
This 5000-year-old village, Skara Brae, was uncovered by a winter storm in 1850. pack thermals and warm coats. Not to be deterred, however, humans have been on the islands for about 8800 years. We visited at the end of October and stayed in a hotel beside the harbour
at Kirkwall, the islands’ capital. The first day we could hardly turn a corner without being blown backwards. A slight breeze and warm sun greeted us the following day while we explored the
incomparable Standing Stones of Stenness, of Neolithic origin and thought to be the oldest “henge” site in the British Isles. Nearby is the prehistoric stone circle
Photos: Yvonne Gardiner
the Ring of Brodgar, built between 2000BC and 2500BC. Photos cannot fully capture the mystical wonders of these two heritage sites. While the popular Stonehenge in the United
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St Magnus Cathedral, founded by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.
The Viking Harald Fairhair annexed Orkney to Norway.
pyramids, Stonehenge The atmospheric Ring of Brodgar in the heart of Neolithic Orkney, West Mainland.
Overlooking Orkneys’ capital Kirkwall from the roof of the St Magnus Cathedral.
Kingdom is now fenced off to the public, visitors can enter the ring of standing stones at the older Ring of Brodgar and experience their awesome majesty at close quarters. Twenty-seven stones remain in the circle, surrounded by a ditch. They sit in peaceful countryside with beautiful views taking in the sea, lochs, deep-pile green grass, massive skies, cows, sheep and little stone cottages. The place is magical. In Kirkwall, chief among the attractions is St Magnus Cathedral, a massive red sandstone place of worship built by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.
90 in the Orkney Islands. Sheltering in the tomb for days during bad weather, the Vikings had made their mark by carving words into the stone. Looking from the outside like a big mound of earth covered in grass, Maeshowe tomb is accessed down a low, 10m-long passageway. It’s an incredible stone structure with one central chamber plus smaller chambers. At Winter Solstice, the sun’s rays line up with one of the chambers. Wildlife is another main reason for visiting these remote islands to the north of Scotland. We were lucky enough to see newborn seal pups
I joined the “upper floors” guided tour to the bell tower, roof chambers and the parapet below the spire, which offered glorious views of the harbourside town. Opposite the cathedral, a well-stocked museum gives an insight into Viking, Neolithic and medieval history. As if we hadn’t soaked up enough of the Orkneys’ heritage, the Iron Age village Broch of Gurness and the tidal island Brough of Birsay yielded their Viking and Pictish settlement remains. A great surprise was to see Viking graffiti from the 12th century at Maeshowe, the biggest Neolithic tomb of about
at Windwick Bay, although missed out on otters, orcas and puffins which are common at certain times of the year. The Orkneys’ modern history is as fascinating as its ancient past. We visited Scapa Flow where the Germans scuttled their fleet after the Armistice in 1918. During World War II in 1939, HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U-boat in the same waterway. Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered a block wall (the Churchill barriers) to be built by Italian prisoners-of-war right across the harbour channels. Those same prisoners also crafted an exquisite
Seals laze on the beach at Windwick Bay. Italian chapel out of Nissen huts, which is lovingly cared for to this day and hosts weddings and christenings. So much to see in the Orkneys, and all those adventures made us hungry. Black pudding and haggis were on the menu, but in the three days we
were there I chose more traditional dishes like slow-cooked lamb and vegetables, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and delicious wild-caught salmon. Followed by the best apple crumble I’ve ever tasted. I wonder if the Vikings and Picts ate this well!
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Go troppo in tropical north THERE are several very inviting visitor options in North Queensland from luxury accommodation to romantic glamping on the Great Barrier Reef and an exciting new indigenous musical event.
MASTER REEF GUIDES
THE first official interpreters for the Great Barrier Reef have graduated. They are armed with stories and facts to give visitors the best possible reef experience. The Master Reef Guides can introduce you to a citizen science project or explain the intricacies of life on the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Go to gbrmpa.gov.au /our-partners/ master-reef-guides.
LUXURY ECO-LODGE
SET among the World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Daintree National Park on the banks of the Mossman River, the Silky Oaks Lodge offers river snorkelling, driving safaris, indigenous guided walks and the Healing Waters Spa. Go to silkyoakslodge.com.au.
ROMANCE ON THE REEF
COUPLES can get cosy after dark on the reef in a new deluxe two-person swag on Sunlover by Starlight. The glamping experience on the Moore Reef pontoon is popular with couples wanting to say their vows on the Great Barrier Reef and spend their wedding night under the stars. Go to sunlover.com.au.
INDIGENOUS
FOR SHANGRI-LA
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: The view from Dundee's Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium.
CHOIR JOINS ART FAIR
ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander voices will sing in their languages at Cultural Heights, a new event at the 10th Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.
Indigenous artists from across Queensland exhibit at the prestigious fair on July 10–14. Go to ciaf.com.au.
DINE AT AN AQUARIUM
WATCH schools of sharks and fish swim by at the newly opened Dundee’s Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium. Dishing up Australian beef and seafood, Dundee’s can be included as part of
the new VIP Premium Experience, which features a behind-thescenes tour and feeding of a cownose ray. Go to cairnsaquarium.com.au.
ROOM UPGRADE
COOL, neutral tones with a splash of nautical blue set the scene for a relaxed stay at the Shangri-La Hotel at The Marina Cairns. The hotel has recently completed a refurbishment of its rooms. The waterfront bar and restaurant has also been revamped and named The Backyard. Go to shangri-la.com.
DON’T MISS
YOUR CHANCE! SENIORS WEEK QUEENSLAND 2019 will be held from August 17 to 25 across our great State.
At Seniors News we’re keen to make sure every reader knows all there is to know about the local events, activities, services and products on offer to them during the one week a year when the spotlight is well and truly turned their way. If you have a community event to share, please email the details to editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au
Alternatively, phone Mark 0431 411 099 to find out more.
6947124eg
If you’d like to find out more about advertising in the Seniors Week lift-out in this paper – please email mark.smith@newsregionalmedia.com.au
19
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
NORFOLK ISLAND
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Includes return flights including all taxes, return airport transfers on Norfolk Island, 7 night’s accommodation at Castaway in a Garden Room, full breakfast daily, dinner each night (includes some themed dinner shows), car rental daily and a comprehensive touring schedule plus leisure time to enjoy the parks and beaches, shopping and crystal clear lagoon.
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20
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Wellbeing
Depression treatments
CBT can be used as an effective depression treatment A PROMINENT clinical psychologist says that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – which teaches skills for identifying and modifying dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and behaviours – is the leading evidence-based treatment for depression. In addition, CBT helps to break unhealthy habits that lead to, and maintain, major depressive disorders. Dr John Kearney, Director of Psychological Services at Wesley Hospital Kogarah, said CBT – or ‘talking therapy’ – is a well-established treatment for depression. “CBT is an increasingly popular approach for treating major depressive disorders and has proven to be as effective as – or even better than – antidepressant medications for many types of depression. Dr Kearney said while people with depression
can make great improvements with CBT – for it to be effective, it is important to be proactive and take practical steps. Dr Kearney reveals six ways that cognitive behaviour therapy can help treat major depressive disorders. 1. Develop new ways to manage unhelpful and negative thought patterns Chronic stress and worry can lead us to develop a mental filter in which we automatically interpret situations through a negative lens. CBT can teach you skills to manage negative and unhelpful thoughts more effectively, firstly by learning to shift your focus away from them and, secondly, by reappraising them. For example, if you are highly self-critical, CBT will teach you to challenge stress-producing thoughts by asking questions such as: “Would I be saying
SUPPORT: Tips to manage depression. these things to someone else in this situation?” You can then replace these thoughts with more constructive alternatives. Regularly practicing this skill will assist with managing strong emotions in response to stressors. 2. Restore activity levels One of the maintaining factors in depression is the reduction of physical activity and the vicious cycle that can follow. This can lead to further loss of enjoyment and achievement, contributing
to a lower mood. Activity scheduling and graded task assignments are a crucial part of CBT and help to rebuild activities that bring a sense of pleasure and achievement. 3. Master relaxation techniques When the amygdala – the part of the brain that is primarily responsible for emotional processing – is activated, it can trigger the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, the reflex that gets your heart pumping in reaction to a threat.
Relaxation is one of several skills taught in CBT that helps counter the physiological effects of this response. One way to practice relaxation is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Working from your legs upwards, systematically tense and relax your muscles. Hold the tension for 10 seconds, then release. This skill is known as Progressive Muscle Relaxation and can help you contextualise stressful situations and is transferable to other facets of life, including work, study and relationships. 4. Reduce insomnia Research has shown CBT can significantly reduce insomnia in patients with depression. If you struggle with sleep, CBT for Insomnia, sometimes called CBT-I, is an effective treatment for chronic sleep problems. By recognising and changing thoughts and behaviours that cause or worsen sleep, this type of therapy can
eliminate negative thoughts that keep you awake. This is important, as a good night’s sleep can increase emotional resilience and help with managing everyday stressors. 5. Increase your problem-solving ability As CBT takes a practical problem-solving approach to issues, it teaches skills that can be applied to other problems in your life. Through a series of sequential stages, your therapist will assist you in developing new empowering skills in determining and implementing solutions to your everyday problems. Ultimately, it will refine and focus your problem-solving skills, enabling you to learn more about your own thought patterns, emotions and behaviours. 6. Make improvements to your lifestyle, especially physical activity and nutrition These include maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise.
Fitter for gym life TAILORED fitness sessions for older Australians is being offered by Gymnastics Australia and delivered at clubs and in Aged Care venues. Fitter for Life (FFL), which has received funding from Sport Australia’s Better Ageing program, is a program designed to improve an older person’s mobility, strength and co-ordination in a social and fun environment. Seniors can attend their local gymnastics club or club coaches can come to Aged Care venues for the FFL sessions. It’s currently being offered in NSW, Queensland and Victoria. Brooke Irvine, Gymnastics Australia’s General Manager Participation and
Club Services said individuals are assessed by a coach who will work out tailored exercises. From there, Seniors participate in group sessions plus break-off sessions for individual activities. “They work on common activities such as walking up and down stairs, hanging out the washing, bending down or reaching up into cupboards –all of the activities are built around daily routine,” Ms Irvine said. If you aren’t sure, Come ‘N Try days are offered by several gym clubs. To find a club offering FFL, go to fitterforlife.org.au or talk to the State coordinator – QLD Katie Stewart on (07) 3036 5614.
Gymnastics Australia's tailored Fitter for Life program is currently being offered in Queensland. .
PUSHING THROUGH: sufferer Paulley.
PsA Ray
Fight against psoriatic arthritis INFLAMMATORY joint and skin condition sufferers have access to TALTZ, a new psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment. This means Sydneysider Ray Paulley, 73, who has been living with PsA since his mid-40,s has another treatment option. When he started experiencing symptoms of PsA, Ray’s doctor mistook it as gout. PsA is a life-long condition that causes inflammation of the joints, due to an overactive immune system that mistakenly targets the body. This causes the joints to become painful, stiff and often swollen.
For Ray, finally a rheumatologist diagnosed him with PsA when he was in his 60s, but it was only after the long delay led to irreparable damage to his joints. Ray has struggled with being in pain every day since and dealing with frustrations of doing simple daily tasks such as not being able to put on his own socks in the morning. He has also experienced lesions around some of his joints, but feels lucky that the skin symptoms have not been as bad as his joint pain. Keeping healthy and exercising complements
Ray’s treatment regime and helps him to feel the best he can. An avid long-distance cycler, Ray has been riding for 13 years, and plans to head to the Northern Territory this year. The recent TALTZ listing means PsA patients will only have to pay the PBS co-payment price of $40.30 for a standard script, or $6.50 for concession card holders, to access the treatment. PsA can range from mild to severe, based on the impact it has on a patient’s quality of life, including daily tasks and impaired physical and mental function. For patients with
co-existent disease, residual skin lesions from psoriasis (PsO) can contribute to the disease burden. “We know that half of patients with psoriatic arthritis, who also have mild psoriasis, actually consider their psoriatic arthritis to be severe,” rheumatologist, Professor Stephen Hall said. “It’s not surprising that if people are struggling with two-or-more problems, rather than just one, life can be far more difficult.” While some PsA symptoms are manageable without treatment, in most cases, patients will require ongoing medication.
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
WELLBEING
21
Single, childless and 60 Tracey Johnstone THE journey to my 60th birthday has been momentous with lots of good times mixed in with a fair share of the ordinary. Turning 40 was a time to celebrate a busy life and loads of great friends while at 50 it was all about menopause. Sixty is turning into a time of reflection; some decisions need to be reached and unreached goals accepted. The most confronting decision is what will my life be like going forward. Single and childless - who will take care of me when I am older? My friends will be old with me. My siblings are both older than me by between five and nine years. If I marry again, my partner is likely to be old, like me. So, what do I do? With no solid answers I turned to a few of my friends who are in similar circumstances to see if I could learn from their approaches to ageing. Ian He’s lived in Thailand for about four years. Back
CELEBRATING 60: Gary Schulz, Shaaron Walsh and author Tracey Johnstone. in his old home of Sydney Ian only has an uncle left alive. “I will probably stay in Thailand and live day by day,” he said. “As long as I keep my health, I will have a good time. “But I am doing more fitness training than I have ever done in my life”. Ian is determined to age at home. “If I am still in Thailand, I will still rent and hopefully I can find some old lady to do the shopping and cooking for me. “I’m not
anti-euthanasia,” he added. “I am happy to pull the plug when I think it is ridiculous.” Deborah The Melbourne resident has both her siblings living in New Zealand and their children don’t talk to her. Recently she bought a low-set townhouse in a small enclave, which she equates to living in a retirement village, so she could age at home for as long as possible. Without children
Deborah doesn’t know what to do with the money she has worked hard to save. Checking into a private high-care facility, if necessary, is a feasible option she believes. “I smoke and drink, so it might not be a problem. I might just drop dead,” she said. Deborah will keep working and saving for as long as possible and then, “I am going to spend my money on me”, she said. Shaaron The Sydney-sider thinks
all the time about where she wants to live and how active she needs to be to stay healthy. “But I haven’t structured anything as I don’t think any of us likes to feel that we are moving in that direction,” Shaaron said. “I like to think I am a bit immortal and can stop the clock, a bit.” In the meantime, she is keeping active and fit. Gary He’s been single for a long time and living alone in a rental unit.
Since a close friend bought into a retirement village, Gary has been considering if that should be his game plan. “I have no bloody clue how it’s going to work,” he said. “I don’t have too many assets. At the end of the day my super, which ultimately will be the backbone of it all, isn’t enough to even put on a deposit on because of how life has dealt out the cards.” If he gets sick, Gary’s first response is employ a carer. “At this point I don’t have anyone within 2000km of me,” Gary said. “It’s just one of those things that they will have to turn the switch off.” He doesn’t plan to retire at 65. “I am going to keep going until I can’t move anymore. Work’s been my hobby. I might cut back the hours, but between work and the club, that’s my life.” My friend’s comments are food for thought, but while they haven’t given me clarity on what I will do they have bought me closer to wanting to live a happy, healthy and engaged path towards 70.
New report highlights rural housing woes Gail Forrer Group Editor
THE latest report from leading community housing provider Horizon Housing is shining a light on the lack of appropriate housing in rural areas, deeming it largely unable to meet the needs of our ageing population. The My Home, My Place report, funded by the Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, is the first of its kind to examine the housing needs of older people living in key rural communities. Focusing on the Maranoa region of Queensland, the report uncovered broader issues for exploration in rural towns across the country that face similar harsh environmental conditions and associated housing design challenges. The report found more than 65 per cent of rural residents live in detached homes or on more than
FACTS ❚ 73 per cent of older rural residents received no advice about ageing in place. ❚ 64 per cent want modifications to be able to stay in their homes. ❚ 50 per cent did not know how to arrange an assessment for home modifications. ❚ More than 27 per cent lived in a home that was older than 50 years. The My Home, My Place report is the nation’s first research study to understand and address the housing needs of older people in rural areas. implications for their future housing needs as they age.” Mr Cubit said the survey findings were vital as they paved the way for future nationwide research to address this important area and inform the development of future accommodation solutions for older people living in rural and remote areas across the country. “Housing is an integral part of a person’s wellbeing. The concept of home is fundamental to a person’s identity and for older people there is a sense of pride that comes with living independently,” he said. “The My Home, My Place report reinforces the fact that older people living in our rural towns
face unique challenges, yet most of the available programs and services
focus on urban areas. “It’s critical that government and service providers work to address the issue of the housing needs of older people in these regions. “Thanks to the funding from the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, the My Home, My Place project is an important leap towards identifying, understanding and addressing the unique and very real challenges faced by seniors in rural areas.
“We have a significant presence in Queensland’s Maranoa region, with 45 per cent of tenants in the area over 55. “Our oldest tenant is 95 and still living independently.” The aim of the research and work in regional communities is to set a benchmark for other housing providers across the country to continue to deliver affordable, appropriate and sustainable housing solutions that respond to community needs.
No Gap Eye Surgery 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.
Dr Emanuel Svoboda
Servicing the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers 6 Scott Street, Coolangatta Qld 4225
(07) 5506 6777
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Talk ‘n’ thoughts
2ha, exposing them to unique liveability challenges when compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Horizon Housing CEO Jason Cubit said despite more than 96 per cent of participants intending to age in place, the regions were not equipped to allow them to do so. “For ageing Australians living in rural areas, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a home in an environment where searing temperatures, drought and other extreme factors are expected,” Mr Cubit said. “More than 64 per cent of our participants wanted modifications to their existing home to allow them to remain there safely as they age, yet 73 per cent are not seeking advice on how to do so. “We also found that over half did not know how to arrange an assessment to access modifications to remain in their home. “A surprising and unexpected finding from this report was that 13 per cent of the older people we engaged with were a couple caring for a child, grandchild or grandchildren. “This has significant
Dr Meon Lamont
22
LIVING
Living
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
5-star vertical living
The Stellar is set to reach new heights in retirement living BRAND INSIGHTS NOW is your chance to experience luxury retirement living in a class of its own. Be the first to view Serene The Stellar – an exclusive seven-level tower, hosting only nine brand new prestige apartments - including never before seen, three full floor, three bedroom penthouse apartments and six boutique two bedroom residences, in addition to two new levels of exclusive resident facilities. Now is the time to secure the lifestyle you have dreamed of! The Stellar poses opulent, modern apartments featuring high end fixtures and showcasing spectacular views in the heart of a vibrant beach city. This magnificent development encompasses all of the
reasons Vertical Living has become the retirement alternative – location, security, convenience, accessibility, independence, functionality and a multitude of advantages unparalleled in traditional retirement communities. Enjoy a complete fivestar lifestyle experience, making the most of all that Serene Luxury Retirement has to offer. Whether that be embracing the aesthetics of the private international art collection throughout, attending the new art studio and state of the art auditorium and cinema, or partaking in a tasty treat with friends in the on-site cafe. Revel in your retirement and turn-key living options - take time out to enjoy reading a book on the Rooftop Sky Garden or by the indoor fireplace in the library, have a game of pool in the new Sports Lounge, or explore your
SERENE LIVING: Residents can take time to enjoy reading a book on the rooftop sky garden or by the indoor fireplace in the library at Serene The Stellar. healthy body and healthy mind by utilising the Wellness Centre featuring a heated lap pool, spa, exercise pool, gymnasium and a variety of exercise
classes all taken by a qualified personal trainer and tai chi instructor. This is the lifestyle you have been waiting for. Serene The Stellar is
now taking expressions of interest and booking pre-sales appointments for completion August 2019.
Get online and learn through TAFE NSW TAFE NSW’s Certificate I in Information, Digital Media and Technology course is being held at dozens of locations across NSW, starting next month. A specialised dementia carer from Umina, Mandy Calderon is putting her new computer skills to use at work. “I wanted to be able to further my career and knew I needed to gain a lot more knowledge about computers,” Ms Calderon said.
“Before, I was fine with emails and Facebook. Now, I’m so much more confident with a computer in many ways. I’m using my skills already. “After class I always try to come back home and practise on my computer, and if I forget how to do something I check in the handout the teacher gives us in each class. “I’ve learned so much and am definitely pleased I’m doing this course. It’s great for work, whatever
your occupation, but also generally. “We have retirees in class too, who want to do photos and send emails to family and organise things for enjoying their retirement. “It’s also nice to show friends and family the work I’ve done. For example, I’ve become faster at typing. “You’re never too old to go to TAFE and learn. I have met some lovely people of different ages
on this course and hope to keep in touch with them when it finishes. “At the end of the day, we’ve got to get with the times whether we want to or not. Everything is changing and we really need to understand computers.” The course includes instruction in operating a personal computer, using word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications, communicating and
searching securely on the internet and the use of digital devices. The course duration varies depending on the campus. Some are for 10 weeks, run in eight-hour sessions each week. Others are for 36 weeks, with two-hour sessions each week. Eligible students can attend for free. To register or for more, go to tafensw.com.au or phone 131 601.
NSA calls for pensioner deeming rates to be cut LEADING advocacy organisation National Seniors Australia has called for deeming rates to be cut in line with record low interest rates announced by the Reserve Bank. Deeming rates have not been adjusted since 2015 despite interest rates falling from 2.25 per cent to the current record low of just 1.25 per cent. Pensioners relying on income from bank deposits are getting hit twice, firstly from reduced income from deposit investments and then by again by deeming rates that don’t reflect lower interest rates but which
are applied against income to determine the level of pension they will receive. National Seniors chief advocate Ian Henschke said it was almost impossible for pensioners to generate income from bank deposit investments that matched the rate of income they were deemed to be earning. “For example, one of the big banks today is offering a term deposit rate of 2 per cent for amounts above $50,000 and the interest paid only at the end of the term. “However, a single pensioner is deemed to be earning 3.25 per cent
HARD: Pensioners relying on income from bank deposits will be hit twice. for the same amount, an amount the bank is offering just 2 per cent on. “This is why pensioners are contacting us saying the government needs to cut the deeming rate,” Mr Henschke said. He said it was time the
government reviewed deeming rates to bring them in line with interest rates. “Current deeming rates are now significantly out of alignment with the lower income generated by bank deposit investments,’’ he said. “However, seniors’ eligibility for the age pension and the pension amount they receive is still subject to those deeming rates. “It is not fair to apply a deeming rate that was set in 2015 to a pensioner’s bank deposit income which has dropped significantly as a result of the RBA’s decision to cut
to a record low.” Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision in 2015 to lower the official cash rate to what was then an historic low of just 2.25 per cent, the government reduced the deeming rate as well. Announcing the decision, the then Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said: “This additional investment will mean more in the pockets of pensioners.” “As Prime Minister, Mr Morrison should again act and review the growing deeming gap and the financial hit it is having on pensioners,” Mr Henschke said.
For more information contact Rebecca in the Sales Office to book your exclusive tour on 07 5536 6820 or go to sereneliving.com.au.
Online hip pocket savings service THE NSW Government is helping ease the cost of living with more than 70 rebates and savings. The online Savings Finder will help you find savings relevant to you. There are six simple questions to start with that won’t take long for you to answer and which provide some background information on yourself so that the system can show you a personalised list of savings. The list covers energy and utilities, driving, public transport, health, recreation, home and more. Go to questionnaire.cost ofliving.service.nsw. gov.au/questionnaire complete the questions and check out the range of savings opportunities.
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
MONEY
23
Your guiding light BRAND INSIGHTS
Nicole Davis from Lighthouse Conveyancing.
WE CHAT with Nicole Davis, your Northern Rivers contact for retirees selling the family home to finance the next chapter. Tell us about yourself. I am a proud mother of two residing in the Northern Rivers. For me, home is the anchor for a family, that special place where our fondest memories are made. I am passionate about property and helping people realise their property dreams. Being a conveyancer is the perfect career choice. What exactly is a licensed conveyancer? Put simply, I am licensed with the Department of Fair Trading to assist clients with the legal aspects of a property transaction and provide legal transfer of title. In a broader sense, I see myself as a lighthouse, that steady light guiding my clients through the buying or selling process. What qualifications and experience do you have in the conveyancing field?
I have an extensive background in all things ‘property’ and hold a Bachelor of Law and Arts. I have worked as a general practice solicitor and in the real estate industry. I moved into the conveyancing profession when I relocated to the Northern Rivers and now am the principal of Lighthouse Conveyancing NSW. My breadth of experience is my greatest asset in understanding how to best serve my clients, which is why we are an online and mobile service available from 7am–7pm Monday to Saturday. What types of property do you mainly specialise in? I am experienced with residential, rural, off-the-plan, strata and community title transactions with an emphasis on keeping the process simple and stress free. What’s new for you? E-conveyancing is the new frontier in my industry. As of July it will be mandatory for all NSW property to be settled
online using a platform called PEXA (Property Exchange Australia). Some of my clients express concerns about electronic settlements. I have been transacting on PEXA for several years and am very experienced with the process. Reassuringly, online settlement ultimately means less risk to buyers and sellers as important information is verified and updated in real time and the actual settlement process occurs simultaneously with the transfer of title to the purchaser and release of settlement money to the vendor’s bank account. Are you noticing any seniors housing trends? The grey nomad travellers, over 50s lifestyle communities or hassle free units seem to be popular lifestyles choices, with retirees selling the family home to finance the next chapter. How can you assist our readers, the local over 55’s? The family home is usually a person’s most valuable possession and placing that asset in the hands of another requires
trust. Generally people are unfamiliar with the conveyancing process. I step them through it and provide clear, plain-English advice and guidance, which empowers them to make informed decisions with their sale or purchase. Being mobile means I can meet with clients in the comfort of their own homes, which is particularly good for those who have limited transportation or mobility challenges. We also have a special fixed fee of $990 so there are no surprises with Lighthouse Conveyancing NSW. What important contributions have you made to your industry? I look after the best interests of my clients and ensure that their transaction is a smooth, stress-free and enjoyable process for their peace of mind. For more information, contact: Nicole Davis, licensed conveyancer – Lighthouse Conveyancing NSW, 8/7 Cooper Street, Byron Bay. Phone 0432 304 030.
Buying or Selling for retirement purposes should be enjoyaBle, not regretful Let Nicole Davis and her team guide you through the contract process
Our online and mobile service means we come to you 7am to 7pm Monday to Saturday Ask about our special rate info@lighthouseconveyancing.com www.lighthouseconveyancing.com
Phone Lighthouse Conveyancing NSW • 0432 304 030 7002887aa
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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Money
Farewell finance stigma
Face up to financial fear and care for your money
not licensed, walk away,” Adrian said. The next step is to “interview the advisor, check that they are talking in terms you understand, that you feel comfortable asking them questions, get full answers, that they take a holistic approach to your needs, are not simply promoting one product and that you are empowered to know what’s going on”. But we also need to improve our knowledge in order to make informed decisions, and Adrian’s advice is to seek several sources. For now, go to moneysmart.gov.au.
Alison Houston OUR lack of financial knowledge is making seniors more vulnerable to scams and asset loss, and more likely to outlive our savings. Like politics and religion, finances is a topic we traditionally aren’t meant to speak about for fear of offending someone. But with his recent study showing financial illiteracy in over-55s at “dangerous levels”, that’s a culture we need to change, according to Bond University Associate Professor of Statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp. The study involved more than 3400 National Seniors Australia members, across a broad spectrum of socio-economics, ages and sexes. Only 7 per cent of respondents correctly answered all three simple investment questions (included here) as part of the study, and one-third got all three questions wrong. Older women were most at risk of making bad financial decisions, while people who were unmarried, suffered poor health and the most elderly all recorded poor results. Education level, occupation and home ownership also played a part. Worryingly, over 70 per cent of respondents said they never talked about finances with family and friends.
MONEY SMART: Bond University associate professor of statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp says there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finances, but we need to learn and discuss more. “We need to get away from that stigma of talking about money and open up discussion so we can learn from other people’s knowledge and experiences, positive and negative,” Adrian said. It was also important in any relationship that the people involved knew how to access the necessary financial information in case of emergency. While 50 per cent of study respondents reported joint control of finances, Adrian said often tasks were unquestioningly divided up between partners, so one looked after everyday expenditure while the other oversaw big-ticket items such as savings accounts, mortgage, loans, insurance and superannuation. “If something happens,
you need to at least know where to go and how to access the information you need in relation to those papers and information,” he said. Discussing finances with older family members to ascertain their financial knowledge and where they stand was also important, he said. But how do you open that conversation? “Very carefully,” he laughed, adding that it was important to recognise the other person’s knowledge and not imply that you had all the answers. Recognise they might be embarrassed if they are struggling financially and not want to be a burden or lose their independence. You might even start by talking about a financial
issue you are interested in to get their advice and gauge their understanding. His number one tip is talking to a financial planner. Unlike the general “one-size-fits-all” advice you may get from the TV, newspapers or internet, a good financial adviser looks at each person’s individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis. The amount of money you will need in retirement, for instance, depends greatly on your health, lifestyle, debts, any financial legacy you want to provide, and your appetite for or adversity to risk. But after all the revelations of the Banking, Insurance and Financial Services Royal Commission – not to
mention exposes on current affairs shows – who do you trust? A good place to start is the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) MoneySmart website, Adrian said. This provides independent information on how to choose a financial planner and allows you to check details including that they are qualified and licenced, where they have worked and whether they have been the subject of any ASIC disciplinary action. It also provides general budget and retirement planners, interest, loan and superannuation calculators, tips on building your wealth, managing your money, debt help and scams. “If a financial planner is
■ CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE Q1: Which of the following investment options is most likely to lead to a loss of money over a one-year period? (A) Conservative/Cash. (B) Growth/High Growth. (C) Balanced. (D) Don’t know. Q2: Which of the following investment options is least likely to lead to a loss of money over a one-year period? (A) Conservative/Cash. (B) Growth/High Growth. (C) Balanced. (D) Don’t know. Q3: If you had a choice between receiving $10,000 now, or a greater amount one year from now, what is the minimum amount you would need to receive in one year to choose this option instead of $10,000 now? ANSWERS Q1: (B) Growth/High Growth. Q2: (A) Conservative/Cash. Q3: Varies depending on financial circumstance, but at least 10,250 (to cover the cost of annual inflation plus a buffer).
Managing negative equity risk and strategies OVER the past few years, the term ‘negative equity’ has barely rated a mention. In a booming property market it didn’t seem like a problem. But figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia show a growing number of Australians run the risk of being in the red with their home equity. Negative equity occurs when you owe more on your home loan than the property is worth. It’s a disheartening situation, and it can happen for a variety of reasons.
One of the most common factors used to be spending a fortune in home renovations, especially when they turned a modest house into the best in the street. But it’s the downswing in the property market that’s driving the threat of negative equity today. According to CoreLogic, prices in Sydney and Melbourne have dropped by 14 per cent and 10 per cent respectively since the market peaked in 2017. For anyone who got into
Mortgage and real estate property investment. the market with a small deposit, the possibility of owing more than their home is worth is very real.
On the plus side, the RBA says that over the past five years, the vast majority of home buyers
purchased their home with a deposit of at least 20 per cent. Since 2017 less than one in 10 buyers has had a deposit below 10 per cent. This has helped to shelter the bulk of recent home owners against negative equity, with the RBA saying it’s an issue that affects only 2 per cent of home owners nationally, though some reports suggest a figure as high as 10 per cent. That said, negative equity is a big problem in some of the mining-driven
areas of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, where as many as 60 per cent of home owners can be in negative equity. The risk for lenders is that home owners are more likely to default on their mortgage when they have negative equity. Paul Clitheroe is chairman of InvestSMART, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.
SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
REVIEWS
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NEW BOOKS: Ralph and Kathy Kelly's tragic story, Too Soon Too Late.
A remarkable story IT’S the extraordinary and honest story of Australian couple Kathy and Ralph Kelly, who turned their own family’s tragedies into a remarkable crusade that’s helping keep all our children safer. On a winter’s night in July 2012, Kathy and Ralph Kelly received a phone call no parent wants to receive. It was the emergency department of a Sydney hospital telling them their eldest son Thomas, 18,
had been coward punched by a stranger within two minutes of getting out of a taxi in Kings Cross on his way to a private 18th birthday party of a friend. Two days later they were told their son had suffered catastrophic head injuries resulting in brain death and advised there was no other option but to switch off his life support. In the aftermath of their son’s death, Kathy and Ralph became the public face of the campaign to
end the drunken violence that plagued Sydney’s major nightspots. Along with premiers Barry O’Farrell and Mike Baird they helped institute the lockout laws that have been a major factor in the reduction of alcohol-related deaths and injuries in Darling Harbour, Kings Cross and Sydney’s CBD. Published by Allen & Unwin. Too Soon, Too Late RRP $32.99.
Time to age well into the future WHAT does it take to have a healthy and joyful old age? Researchers say it’s not too late to make changes at 50 to get the ‘retirement years’ we want. But what should we change and how do we do it? Annabel Streets and Susan Saunders spent their 30s climbing the career ladder, having children and caring for elderly parents – all at the same time. By their 40s, they were exhausted, stressed, sleeping too little and rushing too much. They began to ask
whether the prolonged ill health and dementia suffered by their parents was their inevitable future too – could they do anything to avoid requiring their own children to care for them in old age? Thus began The Age-Well Project. With
incredible tenacity, Streets and Sanders read 50,000 scientific research papers on all aspects of ageing to find what advice cutting-edge research can offer us on how to ensure the longer lives we’re living are healthy and happy. Putting their findings into practice, they found that the lifestyle changes they made were having incredible benefits on their health and wellbeing now – as well as for the future. The Age-Well Project is published by Hachette Australia. RRP $32.99.
Thrilling new read TOM Clancy’s Enemy Contact, written with Mike Maden, is thrilling, edge-of-the seat reading as Clancy continues his Jack Ryan series. It starts on a remote island off the coast of Argentina. A team of elite counter- terror commandos prepare to assault a newly-discovered Hezbollah hideout. What they don’t expect is to be brutally ambushed themselves; slaughtered with no survivors. Back in Washington DC,
the growing obstruction in the Senate has reached crippling levels as a crucial treaty to strength NATO in Eastern Europe is inexplicably blocked. Suspecting that key politicians may have been compromised, but aware of the explosive consequences of making such accusations in public, the US President dispatches Jack Ryan Jr to Poland to investigate. In Warsaw, Jack partners with beautiful and brilliant Polish agent Liliana Zaleski, and it’s
not long before they find evidence of a tangled web of corruption. But what Jack and Liliana don’t realise is that this conspiracy stretches further than they could ever have imagined. Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $32.99.
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WHAT’S ON
Tania Phillips
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
LISMORE Theatre Company’s next production, Steel Magnolias, opens on July 5. This bitter-sweet award-winning play by Robert Harling chronicles the lives of six women who frequent Truvy’s Beauty Spot in Chinquapin, Louisiana. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1989 film of the same name. Lismore Theatre Company’s production of Steel Magnolias is directed by Sylvia Clarke (director of Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Lipstick Dreams). The cast includes well-known talented and experienced local actors Jacquie McCalman, Elyse Knowles, Jenny Dowell, Sinead Fell, Lisa Walmsley and Sharon Brodie. At Rochdale Theatre, Ballina Rd: July 5-20 (Friday and Saturdays 7.30pm, Sundays 2pm). For bookings, go to lismoretheatrecompany .org.au.
JIMMY DEAN COMES TO TWEED
A small town music festival of discovery
sets off a series of confrontations that smash their delusions and expose bitter disappointments. Tickets: tweedtheatre.com.au or at the Murwillumbah and Tweed Tourist information centres, at the door and 1800 674 414.
WALKING FOOTBALL PLAYERS WANTED
WALKING Football players wanted in the Northern Rivers region. This is a modified non-contact version of soccer designed for the over 50s. Maintain an active lifestyle in a fun and sociable way. Male, female, former soccer players and newcomers are all welcome. Phone Paul (0412 692 162) or John (0473 430 429)
RAISE THE ROOF CHOIR
EVERYONE is welcome to come and throw themselves into the joy of singing. They sing gospel music from the African American tradition, bluegrass, soul, and sometimes eco-soul adaptations, to celebrate Planet Earth. This is a community choir with weekly sessions in four locations across the Northern Rivers. Monday, Nimbin 6-8pm; Tuesday, Suffolk Park 11am-1pm, Brunswick Heads 6-8pm; Wednesday, The Channon 11am-1pm. Choir is on all year round including school holidays and public holidays. Cost: $80/$70 concession for five weeks or $19 casual. Phone: 0417 277 211.
TEA WITH THE MAD HATTER
THE Tweed Coast View Club will hold a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Wednesday July 31, 10am for a 10.30am start. The event will be held at Kingscliff Uniting Church Hall, 24 Kingscliff St. RSVP by Wednesday July 24, cost $15, all proceeds go to Tweed Coast View
30TH YEAR: The cast of Lismore Theatre Company’s Steel Magnolias. Club to help support their three Learning 4 Life Students through The Smith Family. Contact president Therese Connor on 0266 761 469, email tweedcoastview @gmail.com.
GALA CONCERT WITH MOORAMBILLA VOICES
FEATURING specially created choral work by three of Australia’s leading emerging composers and Lismore young composer Tilly Jones, the show, on June 21 at e Lismore Town Hall is part of this year’s Lantern Festival. The program includes a unique audience interactive piece featuring smart phones. Led by Michelle Leonard OAM, Moorambilla Voices’ teenage ensemble MaxedOut will perform with their stunning Taiko drums and join workshop participants from the Lismore Schools’ Festival Choir and the Northern Rivers Youth Jazz Ensemble, Young Singer Song-Writer winner Freya Cotterill. Go to lismorelantern parade.com.au.
LIONS DEN
TICKETS are now on sale for The Lions Den in
Concert with Showband at Twin Towns, Tweed Heads on Wednesday, August 21 at 11am for a matinee show. In their latest production The Lions Den feature the music of the Legends of Doo Wop in a celebration of the legendary boy bands of the 20th century including The Four Tops, The Temptations, Bee Gees, The Beatles and the Four Seasons. Bookings on 1800 014 014 or online via Twin Towns.
PIRATES OF PENZANCE AT THE PLAYERS THEATRE
COME to Ballina from mid June until July 7 for this production by Gilbert and Sullivan. The ESSGEE version (Simon Gallagher version) will be presented with a four-piece live band. Peter Harding takes on the Jon English role as the Pirate King. All performances at 8pm except for Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets available online on the Ballina Players Theatre website or at Just Funkin Music in River St, Ballina ($2/ticket booking fee).
THE PLATEAU MARKET – MAKE IT, BAKE IT, GROW IT
THE Plateau Market will be held at the Alstonville
Plateau Bowls and Sports Club on Saturday, July 6 from 8am to 1pm. It will feature great stalls and a chance to enjoy the sun and mingle with the locals.
TINTENBAR UP FRONT
TINTENBAR Up Front on Friday, July 12 from 6.30pm gives performers of all kinds – musicians, poets, comedians, dancers, whoever – the opportunity to strut their stuff in a wonderful old hall. Head along just for the show or take the night off from cooking and book in for Bev Singh’s Indian Banquet before the show. Engaging performances, warm audiences.
PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ
DIG out the sequins and slip into dancing shoes. It’s time to head back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Back by popular demand, following the huge success of their 2017 debut Australian tour and direct from London, Puttin’ On The Ritz is coming to Lismore City Hall, June 23 at 7.30pm. Adult $89.90, child $84.90, concession $84.90. Lismore City Hall, 1 Bounty St. Phone 02 6622 0300 or go to boxoffice@norpa.org.au.
BELLO Winter Music has announced yet another phenomenal line-up for 2019 ensuring that their fifth annual festival will go off with a big Bello bang! With over 70 artists set to descend on the small NSW town of Bellingen during the July school holidays from Thursday, July 11 to Sunday, July 14 and it looks as if this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. Bello Winter Music is a boutique family friendly festival that takes place within existing venues in the town during one of the cosiest months of the year. The event has proved popular ever since its inception due to its relaxed intimate vibe, diversity of line-up, environmental edge and unexpected quirks including one-off performances that encourage surprise collaboration between artists. The event has sold out each year, reinforcing the backing it has received from patrons and performers alike. Tickets for the musical adventure that is Bello Winter Music are now on sale but be quick as the festival sells out each year, go to bellowintermusic.com or phone 02 6684 6195.
Brian Nankervis of Rockwiz at Bello Winter Music. Photo: Kurt Petersen
6942033ak
TWEED Theatre company’s latest production, Come Back to the Five and Dime Jimmy Dean, will be held at the Tweed Civic Centre from June 21 to July 7. The story takes place in a small-town Dime store located in west Texas. Disciples of James Dean are gathering for their 20th reunion. Now all middle aged women, they reminisce about their experiences as teenagers during the time that James Dean filmed Giant. The play has many flashbacks to their youth until a familiar stranger
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
Live events staged at 1000 seat historic heritage theatre with wonderfuL acoustics, air conditioning, comfortabLe seating and superb Line of sight.
Home
a taste of ireLand
the robertson brothers
soweto gospeL choir
dami im
an afternoon at the proms
the mccLymonts
tenori
tuesday 2nd JuLy 2019
saturday 20th JuLy 2019
saturday 27th JuLy 2019
saturday 3rd august 2019
sunday 27th october 2019
thursday 31st october 2019
friday 22nd november 2019
of the
Big Live Shows
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SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019
G E N E R A L K N O W L E D G E
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DOWN 1 Who wrote the play Hedda Gabler? (5) 2 What was a member of a pre-Christian order of priests in Gaul, Britain and Ireland? (5) 3 From Arabic folklore, what evil demon eats stolen corpses and children? (5) 4 What Japanese system of combat means “empty hand”? (6) 6 What is the medical name for baldness? (8) 7 What system of assistance to the needy in Britain was in force from 1597 to 1947? (4,4) 12 What is the medical name for blood poisoning? (8) 13 What is ascorbic acid also known as? (7,1) 14 What is one circuit of a race track? (3) 15 Panaji is the capital of which state of western India? (3) 19 What French-made guided missile is used in sea warfare? (6) 21 What hot drink is high in protein, carbohydrate and fat? (5) 22 What are folded or rolled filled tortillas? (5) 23 “Thomas Atkins” on specimen forms led to which generic name for a private in the British Army? (5)
Across 5/8/9 Which 1935 song by Pattie and Mildred Hill is the world’s most frequently sung song in English? (5,8,2,3) 10 What type of anaesthetic is sometimes used in childbirth to produce a loss of sensation below the waist? (8) 11 What is the feminine form of “beau”? (5) 14 A section of a journey (3) 16 Which Lady is said to have ridden naked through Coventry in the 11th Century? (6) 17 Which Native American people of the Great Lakes region are also known as Chippewa? (6) 18 What is the vibrating ball in a referee’s whistle called? (3) 20 Which country did New Zealand’s All Blacks defeat 14517 in the 1995 Rugby World Cup? (5) 24 On which US river is the Hoover Dam? (8) 25 What is a communication sent via computers? (5) 26 What wine bottle holds the equivalent of four normal bottles? (8) 27 In which month was Julius Caesar killed? (5)
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SUDOKU
Fill the grid so every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
QUICK CROSSWORD 1
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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.
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T R
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H R
MAPLE RED CAB HER CAPE DUG EARTH I BLED MORE
E
S
C
S
Note: more than one solution may be possible.
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SOLUTIONS
alert altar alter earl fall faller falter fatal fell felt feral fetal flare flat flatware flaw flea flew late later lateral leaf left real tala tale tall taller teal tell trawl wale wall wallet WATERFALL weal well welt
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H E R D S
QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Plot 8. Ameliorate 9. Skittish 10. Toss 12. Lupine 14. Denial 15. Strata 17. Sleuth 18. Text 19. Sure-fire 21. Belongings 22. Huge. Down: 2. Lacklustre 3. Tact 4. Decide 5. Wished 6. Pretence 7. Begs 11. Smattering 13. Inaction 16. Assign 17. Shrink 18. Tube 20. Fish.
BLACKOUT
ALPHAGRAMS: AMPLE, BRACED, CHEAPER, DAUGHTER, EMBROILED.
Solution opposite
S L E E T
Find a finished crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.
A T T I C
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 21 Very Good 28 Excellent 34
DOUBLE CROSS
L I T R E
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WORD GO ROUND
L T
SUDOKU
5x5
S T O P S
L
Down 2. Drab (10) 3. Diplomacy (4) 4. Come to a conclusion (6) 5. Longed (6) 6. Sham (8) 7. Implores (4) 11. Sprinkling (10) 13. Inactivity (8) 16. Allocate (6) 17. Contract (6) 18. Pipe (4) 20. Angle (4)
GK CROSSWORD Across: 5/8/9 “Happy Birthday To You”, 10 Epidural, 11 Belle, 14 Leg, 16 Godiva, 17 Ojibwa, 18 Pea, 20 Japan, 24 Colorado, 25 Email, 26 Jeroboam, 27 March. Down: 1 Ibsen, 2 Druid, 3 Ghoul, 4 Karate, 6 Alopecia, 7 Poor Laws, 12 Toxaemia, 13 Vitamin C, 14 Lap, 15 Goa, 19 Exocet, 21 Cocoa, 22 Tacos, 23 Tommy.
A A
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WORD GO ROUND
Across 1. Scheme (4) 8. Improve, make better (10) 9. Nervous (8) 10. Throw (4) 12. Wolf-like (6) 14. Refusal (6) 15. Layers (6) 17. Detective (6) 18. Words (4) 19. Certain, guaranteed (4-4) 21. Possessions (10) 22. Massive (4)
H E I F E R H M E L T D O W N
O X R E K H L H X W W J E H H
J P R I S E Y A C H I E V E M
I E J G A S G Z E E T R I A C
S L U N G H A I L M C Y S T S
U N R K E A L R S B H J B O U
T R A C E U A P S E Q B J W D
O J N A A S I I A K P A P X S
P B I C R O P A L G R E L A Y
I D U U B F U Q E H E G E H L
C O M P E T E D G E D I B L E
P C V J D S N S C E A X E I G
R E S I D E N T E O T Y I N G
B A W D Y P U J U Y O L A N M
K N O W N S I M P E R J N E T
BLACKOUT
Work out which squares need to be deleted to reveal a completed crossword. Solution opposite
DOUBLE CROSS
H S E X P E L I R U F E I G N E S G R E G A M A E X C E L L H T W I T C D E Y O V S W H E A T N S
T O P R R A N I C E E S O L A P P A S A L E H P R E P L A U D S Y
I C O U M P E F T E D E E E D I E B L E
R K C E A N S O I W D D Y E S N N U I T M P E A T O R Y E I A N N E G T
NORTHERN NSW
JUNE, 2019// SENIORS
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