Northern NSW, February 2017

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Seniors Northern NSW

February, 2017

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2 Seniors Northern NSW

IN THIS EDITION Feature: David & Kristin Williamson .....................page 3 Live and Let’s Save .............................................. page 10 NSW Seniors Week feature ......................... pages 13-28 Travel ............................................................... page 30-33 What’s On ...............................................................page 35 Puzzles ....................................................................page 37

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

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

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

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Stretch your mind at Seniors Festival

HELLO readers and welcome to a jam-packed edition of useful, practical and entertaining articles.

Because of the nature of my job, not a day passes when I do not read a varied number of accounts that have contributed to someone’s 100th birthday. When they’re asked to share their secret of longevity, they often talk about eating, drinking or exercise habits.

If you have an appetite for daily news, then you might have picked up on some too; for instance one centenarian shared her secret of throwing down a daily dose of bacon, another Scotch, another chocolate.

I won’t keep going because there is a commonality amongst these factors – that is, they’re just the things health experts tell us to give up, or at least devour in moderation.

The only explanation I can think of is that these long-living humans consider daily

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

consumption low on the moderate intake scale.

However, in the maintenance of healthy ageing there is another factor that reaps great benefits and that is happy relationships - with family, friends, community.

This month our front page features David and Kristin Williamson.

This year they celebrate 45 years of marriage, an ever-extending line-up of grandchildren and artistic pursuits.

I have featured David and Kristin for two reasons, one because they are a couple of very happy people who consistently volunteer much of their time and expertise to Australia’s creative community and their own close-knit family.

Secondly, because

Valentine’s Day was celebrated this month, that makes February the month of love. Although our readership is united under the banner of Seniors, I realise the uniqueness of each reader and in this issue as we always do, I have endeavoured to reflect our diverse audience with a varied range of relationship stories.

Certainly, David and Kristin exude the happiness factor, but they are far from alone. In this edition we feature the volunteers who work in museums and other worthy foundations.

In common with all these people is their desire to reach out beyond their home and support others, in the process they reap the reward of new friendships, knowledge and the feeling of contributing to the wider community.

But, at times, for some of us, no matter what the motivation, it can be a little difficult to reach out and explore what’s

available. This month we feature the annual Seniors Festival (week), where community groups and national initiatives such as Telstra’s Tech Savvy lessons, are highlighted in such way you really have the opportunity to try new experiences. The huge amount of events showcased between March 3 - March 12, really is a great opportunity to broaden your horizons.

In this edition, we endeavoured to ensure we have listed as many events as possible in the Seniors Festival Week calendar. It’s a simple guide to what’s on in your area, so I trust it can as act as an easy-to-read and efficient guide as you navigate your way through this week.

Positve ageing could be called a ‘buzz phrase” at the moment. But it really does underpin the foundation of an active and healthy older age.

Stay happy, stay kind and always be curious.

Gail

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Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 3

When David sang My Funny Valentine ❝

Forty-five years of marriage and a new play coming right up Jim Fagan

DAVID Williamson is 75 this month. He’s at the age when he could be putting his feet up at his ocean front home at Sunshine Beach, Queensland, and enjoying the fruits of a career spanning nearly 50 years as Australia’s lauded, and leading, international playwright.

He certainly has enough grandchildren to play with.

He and his author/ journalist wife Kristin have just come home from California where they welcomed their 12th into the world.

But no, David is busier than he has ever been.

He is currently adapting Rupert, his 2013 play about Rupert Murdoch, for US cable television. It is a six part miniseries and he has finished part one. He also has a Hollywood movie in development but he wants to keep it under wraps for now.

His new play Odd Man Out opened in Sydney last month and Noosa Long Weekend festival director, Ian Mackellar, is bringing it to Noosa (Queensland) in March as a publicity and fundraising precursor to the festival.

“I’ve had a very lucky life,” he told Seniors when we called to wish him a happy 75th which is on February 24.

“I’m one of those rare playwrights who gets just about every play he writes produced. I get such a kick out of constructing something, seeing it come

to life with good actors and then the big buzz of watching the audience react.”

And even after household name productions like Don’s Party, The Club, The Removalists, Travelling North and 25 screenplays for hugely successful movies like Phar Lap and Gallipoli and Emerald City the need for the “buzz” is clearly still there.

David went to high school in Bairnsdale Victoria and attributes his career path to a teacher, Alan McLeod.

“He brought Shakespeare to life for me. The basic human emotions of love, hate, revenge, ambition, all of these things are timeless,” he said.

“He steered me to being a playwright by making drama seem interesting, relevant and a real exploration of human nature which it is.

“I started by writing some university material in the 60s and, oh my goodness, there you go, I’m still going.”

Twelve years ago he developed a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.

“I had them both and they seemed to alternate.

It was stress related. I was working too hard and I went from being a four cylinder car to a three cylinder car,” he said.

“I went on effective medication and I was able to live with it. The fibrillation still reappears

Kristin would feel very bereft if I didn’t find some good red roses on Valentine’s Day.

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL: David and Kristin Williamson in Los Angeles in December celebrating the birth of their 12th grandchild with family and friends, and above, David and Kristin with grandchildren in Sydney last Christmas.

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

from time to time but I have a new lease of life now.

The work hasn’t ceased and, fortunately,

audiences are still coming in numbers.”

David described how he and Kristin met during rehearsals for The

Removalist at La Mama Theatre in Melbourne.

“I was looking for a replacement lead actor and suddenly this

gorgeous woman turned up. The problem was we were both married to other people at the time.

“We’ve been together 45 years and I’ve just dropped her off in Hastings St to have lunch and go shopping with two of the grandkids.

Something must have been right about it.”

David believes romance is “important in your life.

“Kristin would feel very bereft if I didn’t find some good red roses on Valentine’s Day. It’s been a bit of a scramble sometimes but I’ve always managed it.

It’s part of our calendar and I try and take her out for a nice dinner.”

The interview ended just as Kristin arrived home. I mentioned Valentine’s Day and she recalled how she and David were in a Chinese restaurant in Umina on the NSW coast.

“There was an electric organ and David started playing and singing My Funny Valentine.

“Our teenage children were mortified but the restaurant people applauded.

Our friend, actor John Bell, who was with us, was astonished.

“He hadn’t seen the exhibitionist side of the quiet playwright before that night.”

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4 Seniors Northern NSW

It’s your choice Old school rules expanded to let you live your life your way Suni Golightly

WHEN IT comes to relationships, old school rules may still apply, but so do a range of new ones. It used to be that relationships had certain rules: male and female relationships were the norm, the male made the first move, you were engaged for a certain amount of time, marriage and children followed.

Pretty soon you were celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary.

But times have changed says social commentator Bernard Salt.

“Back in the 60s it was mum, dad and the kids and that was pretty much it,” he said.

“Over the past 20 years we’ve seen the emergence of a range of different relationships and lifestyle options, for example the gay culture is now celebrated.”

Relationships that were once taboo – older women and younger men, gay and lesbian partnerships,

living together and not making it official, and even choosing not to have a relationship – are now more commonplace.

❝

... older women and younger men, gay partnerships, living together and not making it official are now more commonplace.

Increasing awareness of other people’s lifestyles or preferences, perhaps through greater connection on social media, is behind our change of attitude, believes psychotherapist and relationship counsellor Shirley Hughes of Life Makeovers.

Feminism, as well as the Age of Aquarius, also saw a loosening up of old

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

HAVING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP ❚ Remember that, even though you are a couple, it’s healthy to have different interests or even opinions.

You don’t have to agree on everything, even if you agree to disagree. ❚ It doesn’t hurt anyone to say sorry, or to be the person who ends an argument by compromising. ❚ That said, it’s important to know what needs you consider “essential” in a partnership and expect your significant other to honour those needs. You also need to maintain healthy boundaries. ❚ It’s never too late to begin discussing old issues that are still bothering you, as well as the new ones that will inevitably come up. ❚ It’s true you should never go to bed angry with your partner. Ask yourself, will this matter in five years’ time?

MARRIAGE OVER THE YEARS POSITIVE CHANGE: Relationships like that of Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart are now no longer considered taboo.

PHOTO: FRAZER HARRISON

rules, she said.

Then there were television shows like Sex and the City, where sex before marriage and sexual freedom of women was considered completely acceptable.

Men, too, can “play the field” without it being thought immoral, except in strict religious terms.

The frenzy that surrounded Demi Moore’s marriage to Ashton Kutcher, not forgetting the widely reported liaisons of stars such as Madonna, Mariah Carey and Sandra

Bullock with men younger than themselves, also changed attitudes.

Recognition that loneliness is not tied to relationship status means more people also feel comfortable with living alone.

Says Eric Klinenberg, the author of Going Solo, a book about living alone: “People who live alone do get lonely.

“But so do people in marriages.”

The old adage “each to their own” is the rule of thumb today.

❚ According to the Bible, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines — and men have taken multiple wives in cultures throughout the world, including China, Africa, and among American Mormons in the 19th century. Polygamy is still common across much of the Muslim world. ❚ The first recorded evidence of marriage contracts and ceremonies dates to 4000 years ago, in Mesopotamia, where marriage served as a means of preserving power. In ancient Rome, marriage was a civil affair governed by imperial law. ❚ In 1215, marriage was declared one of the church’s seven sacraments, but it was only in the 16th century that the church decreed that weddings be performed in public, by a priest. ❚ Thanks to feminism, marriage law had become gender-neutral in Western democracy by the 1970s.

At the same time, the rise of effective contraception fundamentally transformed marriage. Couples could choose how many children to have, and even to have no children at all. If they were unhappy with each other, they could divorce. ❚ Marriage is now seen to be more about love and that has opened the door to gays and lesbians claiming a right to be married, too.

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Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Looking for love Adam’s online search for sixth wife Tracey Johnstone

AFTER spending almost 18 months coming to terms with the death of his fifth wife, Adam* decided he needed to get himself back into the dating scene.

He noticed a surfing friend of his always seemed to have a different girlfriend.

“I asked him, where the bloody hell do you meet these girls?” Adam said.

“He then told me about this website.

“You see, I don’t drink so I don’t go to clubs, so I got onto it.”

Adam was 59 at the time and knew he wanted to spend his life with a companion, and maybe even fall in love again.

“The only reason you are on these sites is because you are looking for a partner,” Adam said.

He registered with RSVP.com, chose a current photo of himself and used the Window to love: Men are also finding online romance.

site’s template to complete his personal details.

Adam had three dates, but none of them were compatible.

Then he met Shirley* in October 2004. They were married in May the following year and have lived a happy life for 11 years.

Adam, 72, said he really doesn’t know where someone of his age can meet single people other than online or at a local club, and if you aren’t a drinker, he recommends a club isn’t the best place to be. (* Names have been changed)

Northern NSW

Seniors 5

6 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Ambassador urges Aussies to ‘think big’

BIG PICTURE: Tweed Shire Ambassador, Iain Finlay with Citizen of the Year and Paralympic triathlete, Bill Chaffey.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

Use our vision to secure a better world Yvonne Gardiner

AUSTRALIA has got to start “thinking big”, says Tweed Shire Australia Day Ambassador Iain Finlay in his keynote speech.

He suggests a solar energy project on the scale of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

A respected author, journalist and humanitarian, Iain said such a project could provide vast new energy supplies, hugely expanded infrastructure in the centre of the continent and significant social and economic benefits.

“If we want to survive and prosper as a nation, we’ve got to think in visionary terms,” he said.

“Every single day a kilowatt of energy falls on every square metre of land, and that sort of solar energy is being tapped by countries all around the world on a growing, increasingly economic scale.

“We are the best country in the world to harvest solar energy.”

As part of his address, the Tumbulgum resident also reflected on the indigenous history of the Tweed.

He said the divisions between rich and poor had grown, and that Australia needed a more egalitarian society.

“We’ve got to hang on to the Australian ideal of the ‘fair go’,” he said.

Community all-rounder Doug Stinson picked up the title Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year.

He established the first

Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year Doug Stinson says volunteering is “a great thing to do”.

PHOTO: GRAHAM BROADHEAD

Tweed Volunteers of the Year, Kingscliff Business Chamber president Mark Humphries, and Murwillumbah VIEW Club president Shirley Kuhnell.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

Byron Shire Citizen of the Year Chris Hanley, founder of the Northern Rivers Writers Centre which ran the first Byron Bay Writers Festival.

This event now has an annual turnover of $1 million.

PHOTO: PATRICK GORBUNOVS

Cancer Council NSW’s Relay for Life in Ballina and has attended every year since 2003.

He has also been involved with numerous community groups including the Lions Club of

Lennox Head, Lennox Head Surf Club, Alstonville Tennis Club, Alstonville Soccer Club and the Ballina District Community Services Association.

“There are so many good people out there,” he told The Northern Star.

“People are doing good things constantly in our community.

“I meet so many inspirational, wonderful

people.

“Cancer is a terrible disease but for some reason it just brings out the best in people.

“I really want to encourage people to take up volunteering. It’s a great thing to do.”

Other Australia Day Awards in the Northern Rivers went to: Lismore Citizen of the Year – Barbara Boorman.

Ballina Senior Citizen of the Year – Beatrice Gray.

Byron Shire Citizen of the Year – Chris Hanley.

Richmond Valley Citizen of the Year – Brian O’Farrell.

Kyogle Citizen of the Year – Roslyn Knights.

Kyogle Senior Citizen of the Year – Vic Walters.

Woodenbong Citizen of the Year – Nan Krarup.

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

seniors festival week

Northern NSW

Seniors 7

Seniors at the festival You will definitely find a niche in this program

hobby demonstrations will also be on show.

The free expo runs from 9am–3pm at Ballina RSL, River St. Contact Sue Bell on (02) 6687 7963 for details.

Banora Point Community Baptist Church is hosting a free three-course luncheon and entertainment on three days during the seniors festival on March 6, 8 and 10, from 12–2pm.

Bookings are essential by phoning John Bashford on (07) 5523 1122.

And Tweed Regional Museum is hosting Grandparents’ Day on Saturday, March 4, from 10am–4pm.

Grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy vintage games and dress-ups in the museum courtyard, and reminisce while exploring historical objects on display.

No bookings are necessary for this free activity.

Find an event during NSW Seniors Festival at www.nswseniorsfestival. com.au.

Yvonne Gardiner

NSW Seniors Festival, from March 3 to 12, is packed full of exciting activities.

In the Tweed Shire, check out a country music concert, or The Best of the Bee Gees show at Twin Towns Service Club.

Enjoy a morning tea at the Burringbar School of Arts Hall, try out aquatic fitness, walk the heritage trail at Tumbulgum and try croquet at Murwillumbah.

The full Tweed program can be found at www.tweedseniors.com.

Carrying the slogan "Let’s Do More Together", the seniors festival includes events featuring everything from art, music, entertainment and technology, to sport, recreation, health and good nutrition.

There’s a wealth of experiences to help

PLANNING: Seniors Expo organisers Sue Bell, Margaret Ball and Warren Hastings Harris will present a full program of activities at the Ballina RSL.

stimulate the mind, reinvigorate the body and enrich everyone’s life.

U3A Ballina Byron will host a Seniors Expo on Friday, March 3,

including educational and leisure activities with displays from

seniors’ service providers.

Dancing, craft and

Tech savvy Telstra is coming to the festival

Seniors News

to learning how to access online information and services so that they can improve social engagement.

The beginner courses introduce seniors to the internet, android tablets and iPads.

From there the courses focus on understanding and managing internet access costs, learning about staying safe online before taking seniors through everything they need to know about email, smartphones,

tablets, online shopping,banking and social media.

The next level up is where seniors learn how to share photos online and gain more in-depth knowledge about online banking and shopping.

Often seniors just need a little guidance and a safety net know-how.

Using hand-outs, videos and learning beside fellow seniors, the path to better knowledge can be smooth.

The Tech Savvy Seniors

If you like what you’re reading, why not advertise here?

We’d love to share your stories and promote your business to readers just like you. This is the perfect opportunity to share what your business has to offer to those who are most interested. Don’t miss your chance to reach our readers!

Embracing Ageing

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course are hands-on, jargon-free, suitable for a complete beginner or for someone with basic knowledge and paced to suit the learning ability of each group.

Most of the courses offered by local centres and councils are free or low-cost to attend.

These courses really are all about helping seniors explore and become comfortable with the communication tools, and having fun in the process.

To find out more about advertising ors Northern NNSW and in Senio s Coffs and Clarence Seniors call media sales consultant Sue Germany 0 880 265 or get in touch at on 1300 Sue.Gerrmany@seniorsnewspaper.com.au

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SAVVY SENIORS: It's time to get connected with the help of the Telstra Tech Savvy Seniors program.

PHOTO: RORY SHEAVILS

IT’S time to learn how to connect using the latest technology to gain access to a whole new and interesting world.

Telstra is coming to the NSW Seniors Festival party with their Tech Savvy Seniors courses offered in and across the state.

The program goal is to help seniors understand the internet and the newest in technology.

They get to learn how to use computers and phones before moving on

8 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Watching our waters Marine Rescue gives volunteers opportunities SAVING lives on the water – that’s the slogan that drives Marine Rescue volunteers.

At the Point Danger branch, 81 members keep the service operational seven days a week.

Unit Commander Glenda Ashby is on call 24/7 and has been involved since 1999.

She was recently dubbed the Gold Coast’s Volunteer of the Year.

“I never owned a boat or had anything to do with a boat,” she said.

“I walked past and I was at a loose end.

“I started off as a radio officer.

“Personally I’ve been given a lot of opportunities.

“It’s just giving back to the community.”

The average age of volunteers at Point Danger Marine Rescue is 60 to 65 years.

And more volunteers are being asked to step forward.

“We can offer volunteers a beautiful view and plenty of tea and coffee. We need your time and commitment,” Glenda said.

“Everyone’s trained in whatever position they hold. The training level is of a high standard. A lot of it is on-the-job training.

“We are volunteers and are expected to act very professional.”

Men and women aged 18 years and above are welcome to join.

Computer skills are handy for radio duties, and volunteers on the rescue vessels need to be fairly fit.

Volunteers are expected to do at least two five hourly shifts a month in the radio room.

Fundraising occupies a lot of the branch’s time, and a retail shop is on-site.

Point Danger unit receives a subsidy from Marine Rescue NSW which comes from the renewal of boat licences from RMS, as well as grants and donations.

Three rescue vessels have to be maintained.

Summer is a busy time of year for Marine Rescue, monitoring both recreational and commercial vessels.

Volunteers respond to problems like running out of fuel, battery failure, house boat fires and injuries to trawlermen.

“The biggest thing is to educate boaties to log on and off with us,” Glenda said.

“If they are overdue, we can contact them first.

“Last Sunday, we had 100 boats out and 50 logged in with us.

“The service is free – it doesn’t cost them anything.”

GREAT VIEW: Point Danger Marine Rescue radio operator Gary Burch and unit commander Glenda Ashby keep an eye on coastal traffic.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

The Point Danger branch has been established for 51 years.

In the NSW Northern Rivers region, Marine Rescue operates at Brunswick Heads, Cape Byron, Ballina,

Evans Head, Iluka/Yamba and Wooli.

SAFER BOATING The MarineRescue app connects boaties with the Marine Rescue controllers.

Maritime museum houses rich history Yvonne Gardiner

VERY little of the history of the Ballina settlement remains along the length of the Richmond River.

The river once teemed with activity as the major transport link for the region.

Past decisions such as the one made by CSR (Colonial Sugar Refineries) to dig a canal around Ballina to ease the passage of cane to the Broadwater mill still shape the lives of locals.

Ballina was the third busiest port in NSW after Sydney and Newcastle, shipping out timber, dairy products, sugar, horses, pigs and canned produce. The city was

also a centre for shipbuilding and ship repairs.

Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum exists to “fill those gaps in people’s understanding” and preserve that history, says president Richard Greaves.

“The museum provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see and learn about the rich history of the Port of Ballina and activities which were integral to development of industry along the length of the Richmond River.

“It is important to preserve our history so that the present generation as well as those who follow us will

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be able to experience the physical nature of our history and to provide a context for historical events.

“I think the museum is a rich source of historical material and a focus for the community, many of whom like myself were not born in the area.”

In 1983, the not-for-profit museum started in the old pilot’s cottage where the Ballina Information Centre now stands.

A move to its present site and two extensions later, the museum is now drawing up plans for a third extension which will bring the pilot boat PV Richmond into the museum.

Doctor Home Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday: 6.00pm – 8.00am Saturday: Noon – 8.00am Sunday & Public Holidays: All day and all night

Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum volunteers (from left) Andrew Chapman, Ron Herbert and John Reid look over the pages of history.

PHOTO: YVONNE GARDINER

“In regard to future planning, our current project in conjunction with Ballina Shire Council is to enclose the structure which houses the historic riverboat MV

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1300 2255 47 Or visit www.doctoronduty.com.au for more information www.facebook.com/doctorondutyaust

Florrie and develop a display which features the vessel and the Port of Ballina,” Richard said.

“We are also looking to increase the number of our volunteers.

When you log on, Marine Rescue knows where you’re heading and when you’re due to return, so volunteers can start a search if you’re not back when expected.

“Interested people could drop in to the museum and have a chat about what we do and collect an application form.”

The Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum is located in Regatta Ave, along the banks of the picturesque Richmond River.

It opens seven days a week from 9am–4pm.

Displays include: navigation, communication, fishing, local history, women in the navy, fate of the HMAS Sydney I, submarines and significant events in maritime history.

Guided tours can be arranged for groups (booking required).

Call (02) 6681 1002.

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Yvonne Gardiner

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 9

Wellbeing

Staying together for longer Tracey Johnstone

KEEPING older Australians and their pets together is the goal of the national lobby group, Pets and Positive Ageing, which is the first of its kind.

The voluntary organisation is a specialised advocacy group which is helping to find ways for domestic pets to stay with their elderly owners at home or in retirement villages, in hostels, at independent living units and in low care areas of nursing homes.

President Jan Phillips said the organisation realised from very early days that pets and ageing was a national issue.

Since 2012 it has confronted and challenged the issues surrounding when older Australians need to move to supported accommodation and the vexing problem of what to do with their pets which can stop people from moving to more suitable accommodation.

Ms Phillips said PAPA is continually engaging with several animal welfare and in-home pet support programs across Australia.

Its community consultations have led PAPA to offer, “practical initiatives such as

promotion of support services in other states, holding public forums on key issues, talking to key senior groups and service providers, and mentoring community organisations looking to emulate the PAPA programs,” Ms Phillips said.

The group’s newest campaign is focused on pet support becoming one of the standard services offered to home and community care clients within home care packages.

❝

...mentoring community organisations looking to emulate the PAPA programs.

— Jan Phillips

Other PAPA projects on the table for 2017 are developing advice on end-of-life for pets, promoting the use of emergency or home alone contact cards, and opening discussions on taking dogs into public places and onto public transport.

For more information, go to www.petsand positive ageing.com.

This is the first story in a series on Pets and Positive Ageing.

PET SUPPORT: PAPA president Jan Phillips with her dogs Kirsty and Mintie.

PHOTO: DI JOHNSTONE

Submit your photos, stories, events and notices online. Look for the ‘share your event or story’ box on our home page. Visit us at seniorsnews.com.au

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It’s Good to Share

10 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Live and let’s save

Love don’t cost a thing...

Valentine’s Day is just one day, but it makes February the month of love. Perhaps this is the month you add the extra onto ordinary and do the little things that can make such a difference to an everyday relationship all year long. Indeed, we can all keep the fire burning in our relationship without using a “Day” as the main reason to indulge, so if you would like to show your appreciation for your one and only, here are some less expensive and more personal ideas for any day of the year.

BE THRIFTY AND THRIVE NICKY NORMAN ★DANCE CLASS THERE are local classes available to learn how to salsa, samba or tango to name a few.

Ignite some passion and fun and reconnect with your partner, this could be a new experience.

Some restaurants have free learn to dance classes available too.

★LOVE PACK MAKE a list of some of your partner’s favourite things and put together a love pack that not only shows that you know what they like but you know that they will appreciate and use the items.

Some suggestions can be pamper products, alcohol, favourite cheeses and sweets. ★TAKE A DRIVE GRAB a picnic basket filled with goodies and a blanket or fold-up chairs and drive to a special location.

Switch off from the

world and wine and dine at a local park or scenic lookout and enjoy your day together. ★COOKING CLASS LOOK at what cooking schools or restaurants have to offer in your area and cook a meal together.

This then gives you the opportunity to sit back and appreciate your creation and each other, over a drink and a chat. ★GET ACTIVE It’s important to stay healthy and exercise, so do it together. Go for an early morning ride, swim or take a walk at sunset.

The way to bake a Persian Love Cake Servings 16 people, prep time 15 minutes, cook 60 minutes.

Ingredients 3 cups almond meal, blanched; 1/2 cup desiccated coconut; 1 & 1/2 cups coconut sugar; 1/2 cup (120g) butter, softened; 1 tsp salt; 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 cup sheep’s

milk yogurt; 4 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground cardamom; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 cup pistachios, roughly chopped; 1 cup creme fraiche, thick cream or yogurt for serving.

Instructions You will need a 23-25cm springform cake tin for this recipe.

Preheat oven to 160C (fan-forced), butter a 23-25cm springform cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper, in a large bowl combine the almond meal, desiccated coconut, coconut sugar, butter and salt and mix until it resembles breadcrumbs. Spoon half

of the mixture into the cake tin and gently press it evenly over the base.

Add the eggs, yogurt and spices to the almond mixture and beat until well combined. Pour over the base and smooth the top. Bake the cake for 60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Add cream/yogurt to serve.

Creating with love THE ABILITY to cook is a lovable trait in a person, whether it’s home-made pasta or just making a really yummy piece of cheese on toast.

There is quite simply no restaurant in the world that will light you up in the eyes of a significant other in the same way as a meal you’ve prepared yourself.

With this in mind, I have put together a few ideas for a fail-safe homespun romantic meal!

The “home made is always better” rule applies to most things in our romantic lives.

I have designed a menu that will be truly special and simple with minimal time in the kitchen.

The first thing to do is set the mood.

Buy some nice wine or special drink, nip out into the garden and pick some fresh flowers or foliage, light the candles and turn on some soft music.

HOME COOKING CHRISTINE PERKIN Now get out your best glassware and crockery and set the table.

You’re ready.

Simple Prawn Cocktails are easy and can be made ahead of time. I like to use a glass for serving this dish or you can use a small bowl.

Oven-baked Chicken and Mushroom Risotto is easy as it can cook while you’re having your entrée, just ensure all your preparation is done beforehand.

If you have room for dessert, Toblerone Mousse is such an easy way to impress, always a delight and not too heavy.

Finish with a good coffee and some beautiful

SILKY SMOOTH: Delicious Toblerone mousse.

home-made chocolates.

PRAWN COCKTAILS

■ 12 fresh cooked prawns ■ Iceberg lettuce ■ 1 mango sliced – optional ■ 1 avocado sliced – optional ■ Lemon juice Cocktail sauce Make your own with 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.

Just mix ingredients

together and taste then adjust accordingly.

Slice lettuce and place in serving dish add prawns, layer mango and avocado and squeeze lemon juice over salad then drizzle with dressing and serve.

OVEN-BAKED CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM RISOTTO

■ 50g unsalted butter ■ 1 large onion, finely

LOVE: Show it with a little extra care and attention.

chopped ■ 500g chicken mince ■ 2 cups (440g) arborio rice ■ 1 cup white wine ■ 1L liquid chicken stock ■ 1/2 cup (50g) grated parmesan, plus extra to serve ■ 100g sliced mushrooms ■ Few sprigs of thyme ■ 3 slices chopped bacon ■ 1 cup rocket leaves ■ Olive oil, to drizzle ■ Salt and pepper to season Step 1 Preheat oven to 170°C and place a five-litre ovenproof dish in to heat.

Step 2 Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat, add onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft.

Add bacon, brown then add chicken and cook for 2–3 minutes.

Add mushrooms and cook until starts to colour, then add the rice and cook, stirring for one minute.

Add wine and stock and bring to boil, then add thyme. Pour everything into the preheated dish.

Cover tightly with a lid or foil and place in the oven for 15 minutes.

Remove and give everything a good stir,

then cover again and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes.

By this time all liquid should have been absorbed. If not, return to the oven uncovered for a further five minutes.

Step 3 Remove and add parmesan, rocket and basil, and season with salt and pepper.

Sprinkle with extra parmesan and drizzle with olive oil.

TOBLERONE MOUSSE

■ 2 x 110g Toblerone chocolate (or milk chocolate if you prefer) melted ■ 2 cups of beaten cream ■ 2 eggs separated Melt chocolate, cool slightly, add egg yolks one at a time and mix, then add cream.

Beat egg whites until stiff then fold though chocolate mix.

Grab a piping bag or plastic bag and cut corner off so you can pipe into glasses.

Chill overnight.

Garnish with a raspberry or flaked chocolate.

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 11

All Things Legal Euthanasia Debate Opens Up Legal Can of Worms

There appears to be a shift in the national conscience with respect to legalising euthanasia – the term is given to assisting the death or suicide of a person who is suffering from a terminal illness or medical condition. Recent moves by the Victorian and South Australian State Governments have led to a possible scenario of some States or Territories in Australia allowing euthanasia within their State borders. The euthanasia debate has gained national publicity through various high profile members having personal experiences where they openly favour euthanasia.

Andrew Denton, a famous Australian comedian and entertainer, gained national prominence when he publicised the painful death of his father.

Mr Denton stated recently “I set out to try and answer the question, why are good people being left to die of bad deaths? 18 months later, having spent thousands of hours talking with people on all sides of this debate, I remain shocked at the level of suffering and trauma across the community in the absence of these laws”.

TEMPORARY HOME: Ballina Community Men’s Shed members move their gear into a perfect space at Smith Dr. YVONNE GARDINER

Building new friendships Yvonne Gardiner

AFTER a long search, Ballina Community Men’s Shed has found a suitable home that will meet their needs.

Long-term plans for a permanent facility, however, are ongoing.

Team leader Graham Eggins said the shedders had been looking for suitable workshop space since moving out of the Southern Cross School last October.

Early this month they secured a two-year lease and moved into a 20m x 9m shed at 38B Smith Dr, Ballina.

“This Smith Dr workshop will improve public access, comfort and efficiency for our operations and allow more varied activities,” Graham said.

“It means we’ll have a clean, fresh place to work.

“All this will attract and grow new membership while the new facility is planned and constructed.

“We’ll be developing a woodwork workshop.

“Some of the things we make are coffee tables,

breadboards, bird boxes, dog kennels and bookcases.

“We also make things to order. We are non-profit so everything goes back to the Men’s Shed.”

The Ballina Community Men’s Shed has been established since January 2010.

Current membership is about 45 and the aim is to recruit many new members during the next 18 months.

Graham enjoys the Men’s Shed activities because of the camaraderie.

“People do worthwhile projects together. They’re able to share their skills with others,” he said.

“We also do social outings together. There’s strong friendships in the group “Men’s Shed is about health. Members have to be safe when they come here.

“Whatever you do, it needs to be done properly, to the standards.”

Plans for a new purpose-built facility on crown land managed by Ballina Jockey Club at

Ballina Racecourse are under way.

“The group has been seeking for five years for an adequate facility where it can grow and diversify further into metalwork, basic mechanical, painting, electronics and computers, model building and space for a lounge, office, meeting room, etc,” Graham said.

“The design could be built in stages.

“If we had the money, we could conceivably start this time next year.

“In December, the State Government announced that the Ballina Community Men’s Shed had won a capital grant of $66,000 through the Community Builders Partnership Grant fund.

“Application is being made to various funding bodies – government, private foundations, corporate bodies and philanthropic groups.”

Ballina Men’s Shed members meet Monday and Wednesday from 8am–12pm.

For more information, phone Graham on 0416 004 013.

However, the pro euthanasia lobby has not had it all their way. There are just as compelling arguments opposing any change to the current laws concerning euthanasia. As it presently stands, anyone causing or helping a terminally ill person to die can be charged with offences ranging from murder to assisting suicide. Many of these offences have lengthy prison terms as penalties. The anti euthanasia lobby believes that it is an impossible burden to place upon doctors and medical staff to make the decision about ending someone’s life when they are suffering from a terminal condition or illness.

They believe that if someone is suffering in these circumstances, they should be allowed to receive the best palliative care available so as to ease their pain and suffering at the end of their life struggles. Both camps have well reasoned arguments in favour of their respective positions and are unlikely to agree on a compromise.

Leaving aside the philosophical positions of the parties, it remains the choice of the person suffering from the terminal illness to decide how they want to be treated by their doctors and supported by their families. The only document that legally goes close to this is described as an “Advance Health Directive”. This has also been referred to as a ‘living will’. Although there is a prescribed form for such a document in Queensland, there is no such recognised form in New South Wales. An Advance Health Directive is a document which any person over the age of 18 can complete and sign in order to provide directions to their family and their treating medical practitioners as to how they wish to be treated in the event of certain circumstances. The Queensland prescribed form sets out the person’s wishes in different scenarios in the event of the person: 1. suffering from an incurable illness; 2. being in a coma;

3. being in a persistent vegetative state; 4. being seriously ill or injured and are unlikely to recover to the extent that they can live without the use of life sustaining measures.

It then prescribes whether the person requires resuscitation, assisted ventilation, artificial hydration, artificial nutrition and antibiotics.

There is also a provision in the form stating: I request that:Everyone responsible for my care initiate only those measures that are considered necessary to maintain my comfort and dignity, with particular emphasis on the relief of pain.

Any treatment that might obstruct my natural dying either not be initiated or be stopped, Unless required for my dignity and comfort as part of my palliative care, no surgical operation is to be performed on me.

There is also provision in the form for stating whether you refuse to consent to blood transfusions and other types of surgical invention which are consistent with certain religious beliefs.

This form is the closest that you can get to being on the legal side of euthanasia. It is as far as you can legally go to instruct your medical practitioners to treat you when you are suffering from these various types of conditions. It has long been the practice of treating medical practitioners to take patients’ terminal medical conditions into account when prescribing pain relief but the uncertain legal issues must place some pressure upon treating doctors and creates some fear of prosecution.

Unfortunately, until the State and Federal Governments can implement laws to legalise euthanasia, families are stuck with the current legal framework which prevents any type of assisted suicide or death no matter what the circumstances of the person involved. It certainly assists the person suffering from a terminal illness if they complete an Advance Health Directive.

However, the form needs to be discussed with your treating General Practitioner and witnessed by them. We have found in the past that there are many doctors who advise their patients that it is a waste of time completing the Advance Health Directive form as most treating doctors in hospitals follow a certain path when it comes to treatment and that they have little or no understanding of the contents of an Advance Health Directive.

We suggest you discuss these issues with your treating General Practitioner and your Lawyer.

You should ensure that you obtain advice from Lawyers who are experienced in this complicated area of law.

Attwood Marshall Lawyers have experienced Lawyers in this area who regularly provide advice with respect to Advance Health Directives and Enduring Powers of Attorney. Please contact our Wills and Estates Department Manager, Donna Tolley on direct line 07 55068241, email dtolley@attwoodmarshall.com.au or call 1800 621 071. We offer a free initial consultation in this area.

Freecall

1800 621 071 Visit our website attwoodmarshall.com.au Coolangatta | Kingscliff | Robina

6437446ae

Victoria seems to be the next State to tackle the vexed issue of euthanasia following a change of mind by Premier Daniel Andrews, after his father recently died of cancer. Wills and Estates Partner, Angela Harry looks at some of the legal issues arising from this focus on Euthanasia Laws.

12 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Talk ‘n’ thoughts Hurdles, highjumps and solutions

From little things big things grow FIVE months ago I published the first of these stories in Seniors Newspaper ‘Talk n thoughts’ section, and I have since noted there is plenty of talk going on with Australian committees, working groups, governments and private interests.

On the other hand some not-for-profit building companies such as Brisbane Housing Company or the Tiny Homes Foundation are flat out with fundraising and building appropriate housing. I have also published a story on Sydney’s Paramatta Council, which is taking a look at alternative housing models through a house sharing initiative.

However, right now demand far outweighs available accommodation, and as the older demographic increases so does the urgency of this issue.

Nevertheless, in a decent society there are always people who, rather than sticking their head in the sand, raise their hand and take solid initiatives in the quest for affordable housing for the older person.

Here, I introduce you to Linda Mina, whose own experience led her to set up an online housing site, and Anglicare North Coast NSW chief executive

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

officer Estelle Graham, leader of a group who has gone to work to raise affordable housing construction funds.

■ House sharers Gold Coast resident, 68-year-old Linda Mina, has set up Facebook groups to help older people find share housing. She said her inspiration for creating the Seniors Share Houses Facebook groups evolved from personal experience.

❝

apartment, meant she had to consider alternative housing styles.

“I remembered the share houses from my youth and decided to check Gumtree. I found most were seeking younger people.

“Luckily, I did eventually find a flatmate of similar age and interests and we became close friends.”

Linda’s career background was in community development and with that knowledge she took a further step and created a specific space just for seniors to advertise when seeking or offering share accommodation.

“You may wonder ‘why Facebook?’, because it

GR8CLEAN is a (not for profit) specialist cleaning service for Ballina, Alstonville, Lismore and Byron Bay residents.

“At 60, due to ill health, I retired. My children had moved out and I was left with a mortgage struggling to make ends meet,” she said.

“I decided the only way to afford any sort of life was to sell my house and rent.”

However, a look at the price of rentals and the realisation that her pension wouldn’t even cover a one-bedroom

might not be considered senior-friendly,” she said.

“However, it is free to use, has the capacity to reach many people, and libraries and community groups are now offering courses in the use of social media.”

Linda’s Facebook site Seniors Share Houses Gold Coast has been running for about 18 months and she told me it had helped many find their

perfect flatmate (and friend).

“There are currently 550 members and growing,” she said.

This month, due to its success, she has developed a similar Sunshine Coast group. In a little over a week Seniors Share Houses Sunshine Coast had grown to 60 members and has several adverts for people seeking and places to share.

You can search for and join Seniors Share Houses Gold Coast, Seniors Share Houses Sunshine Coast and Seniors Connect on Facebook.

■ Anglicare North Coast Anglicare CEO Estelle Graham said the North Coast area reached from Port Macquarie to the Queensland border and while on the surface this area represented a sunny holiday destination, there was a problem with affordable housing.

Ms Graham said high rental costs were exacerbated by increased demand from the influx of road construction workers, and homes, formerly permanent rentals, reassigned to the Airbnb pool.

She also pointed to research by Sandy Darab and Yvonne Hartman from the School of Arts and Social Sciences at

PHOTO: PAUL VASARHELYI

HAVE YOUR SAY: Email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or go online to www.seniorsnews.com.au.

PRACTICAL WORK: Anglicare North Coast CEO Estelle Graham is behind a business to support affordable housing.

Southern Cross University, Lismore, and their studies on the housing situation of older women in the Northern Rivers area.

In an article for **ProBono (16/11/2016) the researchers said they had found a “massive problem”. They went on to describe the issue as “a sleeping giant”.

In an effort to generate affordable housing funds, Ms Graham said in December last year, Anglicare North Coast launched the Gr8Cleaning business. GR8CLEAN is a specialist cleaning service for Ballina, Alstonville, Lismore and Byron Bay residents. It does specialised work such as air conditioner cleaning and pressure cleaning of houses/offices, driveways and footpaths.

The not-for-profit is run by qualified and trained Anglicare North Coast employees and all profits from GR8CLEAN help Anglicare North Coast continue to provide vital services.

■ **Extract from ProBono article: Hartman says they found that baby boomers, as they come to retirement, are really finding it difficult.

“As they come to the end of their working lives and because of their

backgrounds with women’s role as carer, and the way it was structured in the last century, women tend to come to the end of their working lives without the same financial resources as men, due to gender inequality in wages etc.,” Hartman said.

“Even women when they divorce, and get a very good settlement with the house, most of them can’t actually maintain it or keep the payments up and many lose their home and end up renting and that just becomes untenable when they only have a pension to rely on.

Additionally, she says many of the women won’t seek help until they are in a “very, very bad situation” because “they are ashamed that they don’t have anywhere to live and are reluctant to go to service providers until they’re in a bad way”.

GR8CLEAN Visit the website gr8clean.com.au or call (02) 6642 4345. *https://probono australia.com.au/ news/2016/11/ homelessness-olderaustralian-womensleeping-giant/ (16/11/2016)

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Even heroes need a break sometimes

Seniors 13

With 70 years of award winning experience in residential and in-home care, we know what goes into being a full time carer.

Award winning residential and in-home care whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388

14 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Time for something new THIS year the theme of the 2017 Seniors Festival (formerly NSW Seniors Week) is “Inclusive Communities”.

There’s always room in life for new experiences, in this edition, we encourage you to check out our Seniors calendar, pick something normally outside your comfort zone and take the opportunity to try something out of the norm. Have you ever thought about a certain creative project, a

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

sporting activity, alternative health or technology, you would like to know more about?

Seniors Week is all about welcoming you to fresh experiences, now’s the time to put your thoughts

into action and feel the excitement of fresh discoveries.

The value and meaning of the Senior’s Week theme, Inclusive Communities, lies in realising its opposite, which is, isolation and exclusion. Inclusive Communities promote choice, support and of course, inclusion. In particular at this time of year, the government supports these options through investment in social infrastructure and

social capital, in this case much of the support is channelled through to local, grassroots groups who take the opportunity to extend and share their knowledge, entertainment and friendship during the 2017 Seniors Festival period.

The numerous and diverse range of events held during the 10-day NSW Seniors Festival , between Friday, March 3 to Sunday, March 12, is an initiative to bring all

seniors together to embrace and celebrate this marvellous age.

Besides, providing some great entertainment, it is hoped various events reflect some of the festival week’s message which include: Empowering our demographic to stay connected and contribute to our communities; To live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing; Bring together

local community organisations to produce multicultural, intergenerational or lifestyle events for senior community members; Harness opportunities for seniors to continue to participate in activities outside the festival and encourage opportunities for seniors to continue to learn.

Go on, don’t hold back, have a go and enrich your life.

Enjoy, Gail

Creative techniques to improve your wellbeing THE Whiddon Group’s Director of Research and Creative Ageing Expert, Karn Nelson, shares her insights on the links between creativity and wellbeing, and tips on how to use these techniques at home.

At Whiddon, we use the term creative ageing broadly to include arts and crafts, music and song, dance, theatre, animal therapy, storytelling, writing, cooking and gardening.

The reason it works is that creative expression engages many different parts of the brain, and it is enjoyable, which means that you are more likely to keep on doing it.

Neuroscience confirms that our brain’s capacity for creative expressions does not diminish with age, in fact, it can grow.

We’ve found that getting people involved in creative activities and groups is a highly effective way of tackling social isolation and loneliness, reducing anxiety and depression, and improving capability and cognition. Our trial of HenPower, a creative ageing and socialengagement program based around keeping and caring for chooks has resulted in much-improved

FRIENDS: Resident Aub says having Priscilla to look after helps him stay motivated to be active and spend more time outside.

Keeping company with feathered friends during activities.

PHOTO: KERRY WILSON

quality of life for the residents that get very involved. For one resident, Aub, having chickens in the home gave added purpose to his day and helped him regain a previous level of physical activity by giving him a reason to spend time outside and walk around.

Our tips for healthy ageing: ■ Get creative – You don’t need to be ‘naturally’ creative. Anyone can get involved in and enjoy creative activities – music, singing, art, mandala meditation, puzzles, even gardening and cooking involve creative expression. These activities build confidence and can have a big impact on positivity, wellbeing

could be finding new interests or maintaining existing hobbies, going to social groups and events, caring for a family pet, going on outings with family and friends, or even having a meaningful

and happiness.

■ Stay connected – Loneliness and social isolation can have huge impacts on health, engagement and wellbeing. Find ways to connect with people,

❝

Anyone can get involved and enjoy creative activities – music, singing, art, mandala meditation, puzzles, even gardening and cooking... places, interests and things that matter to you and encourage family and friends to do the same.

It’s important to understand that being social and keeping connected looks a little different for everyone; it

conversation with someone.

■ Be physically active – Keeping active is important at all ages and exercise is beneficial for both your physical and mental wellbeing.

Having a reason to keep

The perfect match

active or spend time outside in the garden, as we saw in our HenPower trial, helps with the motivation for this.

This could be going for a walk to catch up with family or friends, spending time in the garden, walking a pet or going for a swim.

■ Exercise your mind – Brain training is a hot topic and we frequently hear about activities to keep the brain active.

Whiddon offers a program called Chat, Stories & Tea, a social program that uses non-medication based approaches to slow cognitive decline.

Techniques from the program can also be used at home to help engage a family member or friend –

use plenty of sensory stimuli, such as music, pictures, things to hold and play with to help encourage conversation and memories to flow.

Avoid asking direct questions, as this can be intimidating and instead use imagination to encourage conversation to build confidence.

■ Find meaningful activities – Participating in meaningful activities helps us feel positive, purposeful and accomplished.

These activities may change as we grow older and it’s important to help a family member find what’s meaningful and enjoyable for them – pursuing an old hobby, or finding a new one, volunteering, mentoring others and finding ways to give back.

Caring for another being or living thing, human, animal or plant can have an enormous impact on feeling that we are contributing and valued, which is why pet therapy is so powerful.

To find out more about Whiddon’s award-winning aged care services and creative ageing programs visit www.whiddon.com.au or chat to us on 1300 738 388.

At Whiddon, we pride ourselves on our wonderful qualified and dedicated staff always going the extra mile to support our clients at home, living fuller and more independent lives for longer.

Award winning residential and in-home care whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 15

Calendar of events FRIDAY, MARCH 3

★Seniors Week Expo 9am–3pm U3A Ballina/Byron Inc will hold its inaugural Seniors Week Expo at the Ballina RSL Club, River St, Ballina.

The expo will showcase U3A’s educational and leisure opportunities for seniors, with displays, workshops and information sessions.

Other seniors service providers have also been invited to take part.

The expo is a free event and there will be prizes to be won for attendees. ★Fashion parade 2pm U3A Tweed Coast Inc will hold a fashion parade and afternoon tea.

We welcome a $2 donation for a delicious afternoon tea. A selection of new season garments from local boutique Maddie & Lil will be shown. This event is open to everyone, no need to book, just come along and enjoy the fun, social atmosphere celebrating being a senior. Uniting Church Hall, 24 Kingscliff St, Kingscliff. Contact: Lorraine on 0457 936 202 or website www.tweedcoast.u3anet.org.au/wp. ★Learn how to play mah jong 1–4pm FABS (Fun Activities Banora Seniors) Banora Point Community Centre, cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drs, Banora Point. Free.

Learn how to play mah jong with tuition available, then continue by joining the mah jong group that meets at the centre each Friday. Bookings are essential.

Contact: Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw .gov.au. ★Country music concert 7–10pm MURWILLUMBAH Autumn Club, 16 Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah. Free.

Enjoy a friendly night with old-time and modern country music, sing-along. Lucky door prizes, raffle, and supper will be served. Bookings essential on 02 6672 2262. ★Murwillumbah Library 10am CIVIC Centre, Murwillumbah. Free.

Join us for a morning of memorable moments in time with an enjoyable presentation by library staff. Morning tea will be provided. Bookings essential on 02 6670 2427. ★Nla dance 9–10am KINGSCLIFF Community Hall, Marine Pde, Kingscliff. Cost $5.

A fun and easy to do movement practice for all body types. Moves all the joints of the body in a healthy and sustainable way. Draws simple steps from dance,

FAMILY FUN: Grandparents’ Day at the Museum, Saturday, March 4 at Tweed Regional Museum.

martial arts and yoga. Great cardio, flexibility, strength, balance, agility and mobility. One hour of movement to soulful music, done in bare feet.

Contact: Taryn on 0410 960 806 or email taryn111@hotmail.com. ★Seniors technology help 9.30am–2.30pm WOLLUMBIN High School, North Arm Rd, Murwillumbah. Free.

Students from Wollumbin High School will assist seniors with their technology questions ranging from mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Bookings essential on 02 6672 5121.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

★Grandparents’ Day at the museum 10am–4pm TWEED Regional Museum at 2 Queensland Rd, Murwillumbah.

To celebrate the NSW Seniors Festival, Tweed Regional Museum is hosting Grandparents’ Day. Together, grandparents and grandchildren can enjoy vintage games and dress-ups in the museum courtyard, or reminisce while exploring historical objects. Free, no bookings necessary. Contact: the museum on 02 6670 2493 or trm@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Banora Tennis Seniors Festival program 2–4pm BANORA Tennis Club, Club Banora, Leisure Dr, Banora Point. Free.

An afternoon to observe Tweed District Tennis Competition Division 2. An opportunity to play social tennis with members and other seniors. Afternoon tea and barbecue to follow play.

Bookings are not required.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5

★Opening Ceremony – Tweed Seniors Festival, Tweed Seniors Committee 11am BANORA Point Community Centre, cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drs, Banora Point. Free.

Entertainment by Jed Stone as well as FABS Singing for Fun and ukulele group.

Tweed Seniors Achievement Awards Presentation. Morning tea provided.

Bookings preferred for catering purposes. Phone Thursday or Friday on 07 5523 2030.

MONDAY, MARCH 6

★Seniors Festival lunches 12–2pm BANORA Point Community Baptist Church, 19–21 Corporation Circ, Banora Point. Free.

A three-course meal with entertainment.

Bookings essential: phone John on 07 5523 1122 or email jb@optusnet.com.au. ★Celebrating Seniors Morning Tea 10am BURRINGBAR School of Arts Hall, 1 Old Pacific Hwy, Burringbar. Free.

Come and enjoy entertainment, information, home-made morning tea and a chance to catch up with friends and locals. Contact: Rosemary on 02 6677 1357. ★Nia dance 9–10am KINGSCLIFF Community Hall, Marine Parade, Kingscliff. Cost $5.

A fun and easy to do movement practice

Coral Allan, 98 thrill-seeker

for all body types. Moves all the joints of the body in a healthy and sustainable way. Draws simple steps from dance, martial arts and yoga.

Great cardio, flexibility, strength, balance, agility and mobility. One hour of movement to soulful music, done in bare feet. Contact: Taryn on 0410 960 806 or email taryn111@hotmail.com. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club, 4 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads South. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Discussions with experienced family historians. Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Solar power transition, Tweed Shire Council 11am–12pm HARVARD Room, Tweed Head Administration Office, 21 Brett St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Are you new to solar and battery technology or want to learn more? Join this information session to find out how to make the most of solar at your place.

Catch up on the latest innovations in battery storage. Bookings essential on 02 6670 2400. ★Seniors tech skills 10am–4pm THE Buttery, 1454 Kyogle Rd, Uki. Free.

0ne-on-one tuition: computer basics; internet searching and security; file management; ancestor research; mobile phone use;enhancing images; using a USB; create a website; using YouTube; calendar making; word tips and tricks; scam awareness; social networking.

Bookings essential on 0475 333 168 or email ctc.uki.nsw@ gmail.com. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc, 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays. ★Dance for everybody 12pm A FUN movement program of dance, exercise, tai chi and yoga designed to enhance co-ordination, health and wellbeing. For people with physical limitations. Can be completed either sitting or standing. At Cudgen Leagues Club, 3 Wommin Bay Rd, Kingscliff. Free.

Bookings essential: Virginia Woods on 0409 576 285 or CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

At Whiddon, we pride ourselves on our wonderful qualified and dedicated staff always going the extra mile to support our clients at home, living fuller and more independent lives for longer.

Award winning residential and in-home care whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388

16 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Calendar of events FROM PAGE 15

wwvirginiawoods@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

★Happy light exercise 9.30–11.30am U3A Twin Towns invites you to come along to observe or join in our happy light exercise class followed by a fantastic yoga class at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall corner of Florence & Powell Sts, Tweed Heads. Free.

Light exercise is a gentle workout to music; toning the body from head to toe while yoga teaches you to improve your breathing and muscle tone. Other classes include tai chi for arthritis, ukulele, topical issues, table tennis, languages, card making, calligraphy and art.

Phone: 07 5534 7333 or after hours 0405 445 164. ★Seniors Festival morning tea 10am CRABBES Creek Community Hall, 29 Crabbes Creek Rd. Cost $5 donation appreciated.

A morning tea will be provided with a performance by the students from Crabbes Creek Public School. To register: 02 6677 1592 or email: regrobo@yahoo.com.au. ★Open Day, FABS (Fun Activities Banora Seniors) 1–3pm BANORA Point Community Centre, cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drs, Banora Point.

Come along to the centre to see what the FABS program has to offer – varied interest groups: exercise; qi gong; stretch your mind; scrabble; scrapbooking; mosaics; mah jong; card playing; AA; jewellery; singing for fun; plus more. Contact: Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Family history ■ 9.30am Kingscliff Library, Turnock St, Kingscliff.

Free.

If you’re interested in family history, book in for a one-on one session and discover how the library can help you research information. Bookings essential on 02 6674 1607.

■ 9.30am Murwillumbah Library, Civic Centre, Murwillumbah, Free.

Interested in family history? Book in for a one-on- one session and discover how the library can help you with researching your family history. Bookings essential on 02 6670 2427. ★Safe social networking using facebook 9.30–11.30am POTTSVILLE Beach Neighbourhood

GET MOVING: Happy Light Exercise on Tuesday, March 7 at U3A Twin

Centre (PBNC), 12A Elizabeth St, Pottsville, Free.

Workshops are designed to educate participants on using facebook safely, focusing on understanding and maintaining individual privacy settings.

With companies devising new ways to harvest personal information there is a need for consumers to take control and make informed choices about what information is collected. Bookings essential: 02 6676 4555 or email info@pbnc.org.au. ★Information for deniors 1–4pm SENIORS Information Hub, Banora Point Community Centre, cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drs, Banora Point. Free.

Visit the hub to access information on what is available for seniors in the local area. There will be a home support assessor from the regional assessment service from Community Options Australia on site to answer any questions you may have about getting help at home through the Commonwealth Home Support Program. Bookings are not required. Contact: Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@ tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Creating a dementia-friendly community 10am–12pm ST JAMES Anglican Church, St James Anglican Church Hall, 41 Pearl St, Kingscliff. Free.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW will speak on dementia in our community. Morning tea will be provided followed by discussions on developing practical skills for our community to support people living with dementia, and a plenary session:

Towns.

“Where to from here?” This is a dementia-friendly event welcoming people living with dementia, carers and family. Bookings are not essential. ★Aquatic fitness ■ 9.30–10.30am. Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah. Free.

Fun, energetic and motivating workout in the pool. Suitable for all levels, including non-swimmers. Bring swimmers and a towel. Check with doctor if it is suitable to participate in this exercise program.

■ 7.45–8.30am. Aquatic Fitness, Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, cnr Cudgen Rd and McPhail Ave, Kingscliff. Free.

Fun, energetic and motivating workout in the pool. Suitable for all levels, including non-swimmers. Bring swimmers and a towel. Check with doctor if it is suitable to participate in this exercise program.

■ 9.15–10.15am. Aquatic Fitness, Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, Heffron St, South Tweed. Free.

Fun, energetic and motivating workout in the pool. Suitable for all levels, including non-swimmers. Bring swimmers and a towel. Check with doctor if it is suitable to participate in this exercise program. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club, 4 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads South. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Discussions with experienced family historians. Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Seniors tech skills

Spring chicken?

10am–4pm UKI Community Technology Centre, The Buttery, 1454 Kyogle Rd, Uki. Free.

One-on-one tuition: computer basics; internet searching and security; file management; ancestor research; mobile phone use; enhancing images; using a USB; create a website; using YouTube; calendar making; word tips and tricks; scam awareness; social networking. Bookings essential to 0475 333 168 or email ctc.uki.nsw@ gmail.com. ★Light exercise and yoga 9.30–11.15am U3A Twin Towns Inc. St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Florence St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Observe or join in a light exercise class followed by yoga. Bookings are not required. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc, 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays. ★Dance for everybody 9.30–10.30am AUTUMN Club, 16 Tumbulgum Rd, Murwillumbah. Free.

A fun movement program of dance, exercise, tai chi and yoga designed to enhance integration of body and mind based on health science. Participate from seated or standing. Bookings essential to 0409 576 285 or email wwvirginiawoods@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8

★Seniors Festival lunches 12–2pm BANORA Point Community Baptist Church, 19–21 Corporation Circ, Banora Point. Free.

A three-course meal with entertainment.

Bookings essential to John (07) 5523 1122 or email jb@optusnet.com.au. ★Laughtercise class 11.45am–1pm MURWILLUMBAH Community Centre, Nullum St, Knox Park, Murwillumbah.

Cost $3.

Laughtercise is great fun and does wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Sandy Hunter is a certified Laughter Yoga teacher and has a passion for laughter exercises for your health and happiness.

Come along, have fun and have a laugh.

Bookings are not required. Contact: Wendy Constantine on 02 6672 3003. ★Understanding retirement income streams CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

At Whiddon we believe in caring for the whole person. It means ensuring that the older people we support can still enjoy doing the things that matter to them.

70 years of award winning residential care whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 17

Calendar of events FROM PAGE 16

2pm KINGSCLIFF Library, Turnock St, Kingscliff. Free.

Join Sandra Dowling from the Department of Fair Trading for a talk on understanding retirement income streams. Bookings on 02 6674 1607. ★Technology assistance 10am–1pm SENIORS Information Hub, Banora Point Community Centre. Free.

Learn to use technology – computer, tablet, mobile phone – more effectively. Sessions are one hour duration, however, ongoing lessons can be requested.

Bookings are essential to Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Heritage Trail Walk and Historical Photo Display 9am WALKERS meet at Tumbulgum Hall, cnr Riverside Dr and Government Rd. Free.

A flat, easy 60-min escorted walk following the Tumbulgum Heritage Trail, suitable for all abilities.

Following the walk participants are welcome to have a cuppa and view historical photos. Wear walking shoes and bring a water bottle. Contact: Sue on 0413 081 974, suebreck@hotmail.com. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Discussions with experienced family historians. Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Rock ‘n’ roll and ballroom dancing exhibition 11am for 12pm start TWIN Towns Friends Association Inc. South Tweed Community Hall, Heffron St, Tweed Heads South. Cost $10.

A rock ‘n’ roll and ballroom dancing exhibition, followed by a light luncheon.

Bookings essential to Doreen Welsh on 07 5524 1841 or 0409 720 130 or email doreenfriends1@ bigpond.com. ★Seniors concert and sing-along 10.30am TYALGUM Community Hall Inc. 1 Cudrigan St, Tyalgum. Free.

Morning tea followed by free concert and sing-along with local Tweed Coast artists.

There is a free bus to this event from Tweed and Murwillumbah.

For bus pick-up point and times phone Auriel Bartrim on 02 6679 3569.

Bookings essential on 0439 722 851 or tyalgumcommunityhall 1908@gmail.com.

EXPLORE: Heritage Trail Walk and Historical Photo Display, Wednes day, March 8 at Tumbulgum Hall.

★Seniors tech skills 10am–4pm UKI Community Technology Centre, The Buttery, 1454 Kyogle Rd, Uki. Free.

One-on-one tuition: computer basics; internet searching and security; file management; ancestor research; mobile phone use; enhancing images; using a USB; create a website; using YouTube; calendar making; word tips and tricks; scam awareness; social networking.

Bookings essential on 0475 333 168 or email: ctc.uki.nsw@gmail.com.

Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc. 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9

★Memory Lane morning tea 10am–12pm AUSTRALIAN Red Cross HACC Activities Room, Heffron St, South Tweed. Free.

Share your story with students from North Coast TAFE and enjoy morning tea with Red Cross. Bring a photo to tell about your life and times. Bookings appreciated but not essential to Jane Wells on 07 5524 5799 or email jwells@redcross.org.au. ★Family history research 9.30am MURWILLUMBAH Library Civic Centre, Murwillumbah. Free.

Interested in family history? Book in for a one on one session and discover how

the library can help you with researching your family history. Bookings essential on 02 6670 2427. ★Safe social networking using facebook 9.30–11.30am POTTSVILLE Beach Neighbourhood Centre (PBNC) 12A Elizabeth St. Free.

Workshops are designed to educate participants on using facebook safely, focusing on understanding and maintaining individual privacy settings.

There is a need for consumers to take control and make informed choices about what information is collected.

Bookings essential on 02 6676 4555 or email info@pbnc.org.au. ★Technology assistance 10am–1pm SENIORS Information Hub Banora Point Community Centre, cnr Leisure and Woodlands Drs, Banora Point. Free.

Learn to use technology – computer, tablet, mobile phone – more effectively.

Sessions are one hour duration, however, ongoing lessons can be requested. Bookings are essential to Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club, 4 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads South. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Discussions with experienced family historians. Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Creating a dementia-friendly

Alex is 90 and still growing

community 9.30am–12pm (QLD) TWIN Towns Uniting Church, Coolangatta. Free.

Donations are appreciated.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW will speak on dementia in our community.

Morning tea will be provided. This is a dementia-friendly event welcoming people living with dementia, carers and family. Bookings are preferred on 0432 140 005 or email debra.pinkerton@gmail.com. ★Seniors tech skills 10am-–4pm UKI Community Technology Centre, The Buttery, 1454 Kyogle Rd, Uki. Free. One-on-one tuition: computer basics; internet searching and security; file management; ancestor research; mobile phone use; enhancing images; using a USB; create a website; using YouTube; calendar making; word tips and tricks; scam awareness; social networking.

Bookings essential on 0475 333 168 or email ctc.uki.nsw@gmail.com. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc. 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

★Seniors Festival lunches 12–2pm BANORA Point Community Baptist Church, 19–21 Corporation Circuit. Free.

A three-course meal with entertainment.

Bookings essential to John on 07 5523 1122 or email jb@optusnet.com.au. ★Open Day, FABS (Fun Activities Banora Seniors) 9.30am–2pm COME along to the centre to see what the FABS program has to offer –varied interest groups: exercise; qi gong; stretch your mind; scrabble; scrapbooking; mosaics; mah jong; card playing; AA; jewellery; singing for fun; plus more. Banora Point Community Centre. Contact: Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Technology assistance 10am–1pm SENIORS Information Hub, Banora Point Community Centre. Free.

Learn to use technology – computer, tablet, mobile phone – more effectively.

Sessions are one hour duration, however, ongoing lessons can be CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

At Whiddon we believe in caring for the whole person. It means ensuring that the older people we support can still enjoy doing the things that matter to them.

70 years of award winning residential care whiddon.com.au 1300 738 388

18 Seniors Northern NSW

Have look in your garage and find some collectables IF YOU are trying to work out what to do with the old items you have hidden around the place, why not turn them into cash.

WHAT’S TRENDING NOW? ■ Cyclops bikes – Circa 1970s or anything in that era including: vintage skateboards, dragstar pushbikes & surfboards.

■ Cars – GT Falcon and Monaros ■ Baked enamel signs Beware of reproductions.

■ Vinyl records ■ Coin operated rides HOW IS AN ITEM VALUED? To work out an item’s value go online e.g. eBay, Gumtree) and you can compare your items with similar ones to work out what to charge, or pay.

HOW TO BUY AND SELL ITEMS As there are few true vintage shops around, most collectors attend Swap Meets and go online.

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

An abundance of activities OLDER Tweed residents can enjoy more than 80 life-enriching activities during the annual Tweed Seniors Festival from March 3-12.

The festival encourages the Tweed region’s many seniors to involve themselves in new activities and meet new friends, offering a wide range of things to do from swimming to mah-jong and from historic walks to new technology workshops.

As one of the state’s leading retirement destinations, the Tweed’s Seniors Festival has earned a growing reputation over many years. The community supports the 10-day event and its varied program of functions and activities.

The 2017 program, compiled by the Tweed Seniors Committee with support from Tweed Shire Council, includes active and passive outings.

MAKING A SPLASH: Seniors enjoying the benefits of Aqua fitness classes. Try it at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre in Murwillumbah during the Tweed Seniors Festival.

People wishing to stay mentally agile can enjoy mah-jong lessons, workshops on family history and retirement investment strategies, new technologies or safe social networking techniques.

Tweed Shire Council services and facilities will host a large number of events, including Grandparents Day at Tweed Regional Museum, digital photography workshops at Tweed Regional Gallery and

family history sessions at the libraries.

Try aqua fitness at the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre, get advice about solar power or enjoy a tour and light lunch at the picturesque Tweed Valley Cemetery.

The full Tweed Seniors Festival program is available at www.tweedseniors.com.

Printed copies from Tweed Shire Council offices, libraries, community centres and local clubs.

Take control of your choices for a final resting place Enjoy a free tour of the stunning and serene Tweed Valley Cemetery grounds in Eviron.

Learn about burials and interments and the choices you can make.

Wednesday 8 March 2017, 10am to 1pm, light lunch provided. Part of this year’s Tweed Seniors Festival.

Bookings are essential, call (02) 6670 2435 or email cemeteries@tweed.nsw.gov.au

Looking for energy savings at your place?

Join this free information session to find out how to make the most of solar at your place. Catch up on the latest innovations in battery storage.

Workshop 1

Workshop 2

Monday 6 March 11am – 12pm Harvard Room Tweed Heads Administration Office 21 Brett Street Tweed Heads Call (02) 6670 2400 to RSVP by Friday 3 March.

Find out more at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Energy

SeniorsWeek2017

Friday 10 March 11am – 12pm Canvas & Kettle Meeting Room Murwillumbah Civic Centre 10–14 Tumbulgum Road Murwillumbah

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Hyperbaric treatment boosts cancer recovery GRAFTON’S Brian, 69, credits treatment at the Wesley Centre for Hyperbaric Medicine in Brisbane with saving his life.

Brian was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate tumour in August 2009.

It was so bad his prostate was removed in February 2010.

The surgery worked, until his PSA levels rose at the end of the year and he underwent eight weeks of radiation to correct it.

All was well until January 2014, when he experienced blood clots and blood in his urine, plus a constant pressure on his bladder and the need to go to the toilet frequently, and he knew something was wrong.

Brian and his wife researched potential solutions. Their internet search led them to the Wesley Centre for

HAPPY PATIENT: A grateful Brian during hyperbaric treatment.

Hyperbaric Medicine.

Patients are treated with 100% pure oxygen in a chamber set to an increased atmospheric pressure designed to boost oxygen levels in the blood stream and help with healing.

Two weeks into treatment, Brian said he still had some bleeding

and issues of frequency – then disaster hit.

He collapsed from blood loss at his hotel near the centre and was rushed into emergency.

A urologist was called, who diagnosed a ruptured blood vessel in his bladder. Surgery to seal off the area was performed and Brian restarted his hyperbaric treatment.

Brian underwent 39 “dives” in the chamber post-operation, during which time his bleed decreased and eventually stopped.

“I doubt I would be alive today if it wasn’t for the treatment,” Brian said.

Now, in 2017, Brian’s again fighting prostate cancer. Despite the challenges, Brian said he is hopeful about the future and thankful for the extra time and quality of life hyperbaric treatment has given him.

Life-changing device for people with low vision THE OrCam MyEye is a new wearable reading device that sits discreetly on your reading glasses. It is designed to assist anyone who struggles to read, recognise faces or objects and helps them to become more independent, particularly for people with failing vision.

OrCam MyEye is making an enormous impact all around the world and creating a great deal of excitement for everyone working in the low vision field.

Most importantly there have been many people with low vision that have discovered how powerful and life-changing OrCam MyEye can be.

Quantum RLV is the distributor of OrCam in Australia and chief executive Tim Connell said he was astounded at the response so far.

“I have been working in this field for over 30 years

hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats •non-healing and infected wounds ulcers

•diabetic ulcers (prevention of amputation)

•anaerobic Bacterial infections

•radiation injury (bleeding, urgency from the bladder or bowel, dry mouth and radiation burns)

•Bone infections (osteomyelitis) •osteoradionecrosis (orn)

Seniors 19

BETTER VISION: Customer Jan Read using OrCam MyEye.

and I have never seen a product make such an impact in such a short period of time,” Mr Connell said.

“It is very exciting to be at the beginning of what is definitely a whole new era for accessing information.

“We have people from 16 right through to 95 years of age who have found that OrCam is simple to use and that it really works, opening up their world of reading again.”

Quantum customer Jan Read, from Narrawallee in New South Wales, has been partially sighted for a couple of years and is an OrCam user.

Jan spoke to us recently about the most exciting

little to no out of pocket expense

travel subsidies available for nsW residents

experience with her OrCam. “I am now reading lengthy magazines and newspapers – a highlight is reading the local newspaper, which is a particular joy for me as I can keep in touch with my local community, a vital activity for anyone living in a rural town,” she said.

Jan has found that by using the point-and-read feature of OrCam it is much easier and far more comfortable to read and helps minimise the pain and discomfort of her arthritis.

To try OrCam, phone 1300 883 853 or email info@quantumrlv.com.au.

For more information visit www.orcam.com.

treatments covered by most major health funds

Call our experts today on 07 3371 6033

Ground Floor Suite 53, Sandford Jackson Building, 30 Chasely Street, Auchenflower 6537088aa

THE FUTURE IS HERE!

Changing the lives of people who can’t read!

OrCam MyEye! A discreet portable device mounted on the frame of your eyeglasses reads any printed text! Will also recognise faces and products and announce them.

Try it today!

CALL 1300 883 853

• or email info@quantumrlv.com.au to arrange a demonstration!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please send me a FREE large print Sight Support Catalogue

NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE:

STATE: EMAIL:

P/CODE:

www.quantumrlv.com.au

6537502aa

Post this slip to (no stamp required): Quantum RLV, Reply Paid 612, PENNANT HILLS NSW 1715

20 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Calendar of events FROM PAGE 17

requested. Bookings are essential to Lyn Porter on 07 5523 2030 or email lporter@tweed.nsw.gov.au. ★Nia dance 9–10am KINGSCLIFF Community Hall, Marine Pde. Cost $5. A fun and easy to do movement practice for all body types.

Draws simple steps from dance, martial arts and yoga. One hour of movement to soulful music, done in bare feet.

Contact: Taryn on 0410 960 806 or email taryn111@hotmail.com. ★Sharing Memories in a Digital World Tweed Regional Gallery, 2 Mistral Rd, Murwillumbah.

■ 10.30am.

Artist talk with photographer Damien O’Mara. Free.

■ 11.15am.

Photography workshop. A practical session using your camera or smartphone to take images around the gallery.

■ 1pm.

Social media workshop. Learn more about ways in which you can share images and stay connected in today’s digital world. Facilitator: Ellie Beck, social media influencer.

For all events, bookings essential on 02 6670 2790 (Wednesday to Sunday 10am–5pm) or via email tweedart@tweed.nsw.gov.au.

Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Discussions with experienced family historians. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Seniors tech skills 10am–4pm UKI Community Technology Centre, Free.

One-on-one tuition: computer basics; internet searching and security; file management; ancestor research; mobile phone use; enhancing images; using a USB; create a website; using YouTube; calendar making; word tips and tricks; scam awareness; social networking.

Bookings essential on 0475 333 168 or email: ctc.uki.nsw@gmail.com. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc. 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

★Australian Hearing Bus 8am–12pm (QLD time)

COOLANGATTA Senior Citizens Centre, 2 Gerrard St, Coolangatta. Free hearing tests. No appointment necessary. www.hearing.com.au. ★40th birthday celebrations, sausage sizzle and car boot sale 8am–2pm (QLD time) COOLANGATTA Senior Citizens. 2 Gerrard St. Free.

Car boot sale spaces $10–20. Insurance cover for stallholders required. Bookings for car boot sale spaces essential to Renae Barron on 07 5536 4050. ★Croquet – Come and Try Day 1–5pm MURWILLUMBAH Croquet Club, Brisbane St, Knox Park. Free.

Come along to try croquet. Mallets can be provided. Afternoon tea provided at 3pm during the break. Bookings are essential: Jan Neely on 0407 723 087 or email: jangorneely@yahoo.com.au. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree with experienced family historians.

Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc. 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf

St, Tweed Heads. Free.

Discuss our classes: art; pen and ink; current affairs topical discussion; or languages including French, Spanish, Italian and more; geography with travel and book club; tea and talk literature; poetry and plays.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

★Senior Citizens Day chocolate bingo 2.30pm BURRINGBAR District Sports Club, Fourth Ave, Burringbar. Free.

Bingo with chocolate prizes followed by afternoon tea. Email burringbarsports@bigpond.com. ★Family History Open Week 10am–3pm daily TWEED Gold Coast Family History & Heritage Association Inc. Family History Research Room, South Tweed Sports Club. Free.

Discover how to research your family tree. Special membership offer during Seniors Festival. Contact: Marion on 07 5524 8531. ★Awareness event 9am–1pm U3A Twin Towns Inc. 2 Tweed Mall, Wharf St, Tweed Heads.

Free. * DISCLAIMER: Please note that while every effort is made to ensure accuracy, all events are subject to change and we do not accept responsibility for this.

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Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 21

Retirement living your way AS THE demography of the Northern Rivers ages (gracefully) the need for the public to access quality information about aged care, retirement living and related matters is becoming imperative.

Almost 40% of the North Coast population is over 45 and by 2020 over half of the Australian population will be over the age of 50.

This mature- age market requires access to specific information, products and services that can be challenging to navigate, which is why the North Coast Seniors Expo is vital.

This year’s Seniors Expo boasts a jam-packed program that delivers the no nonsense information you need to prepare for your retirement.

From aged and retirement care to health, leisure and financial services and promises to be your one stop shop including free and

SPOILT FOR CHOICE: Seniors will have a jam-packed program to discover at the 2017 North Coast Seniors Expo.

PHOTO: ANGEL NIETO

confidential information provided by government agencies such as Fair Trading and Centrelink who will help you understand your financial options, financial planning principles, tax and social security implications, superannuation, investment choices, fair trading and more.

The focus of the North Coast Seniors Expo will be to bring the senior community together with local services and businesses offering our over 55s the resources and opportunities to help inform their choices and access appropriate services and community groups through

information booths and presentation/workshop style activities.

There are a number of raffle prizes including two memberships from Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre, $100 voucher with Simes Bros Coaches, IQ Walking Stick and handles from Hilton

Beck Investment, a basket of goodies donated by Home Instead Senior Care and a hamper donated by the Lismore Farmer Market.

■ Full exhibitor list* Expo Gold Partners Oak Tree Retirement Village & Uniting Plus Alzheimer’s Australia; Apia; Australian Hearing; BaptistCare; Binney Family Funerals; Bloom Hearing Specialist; BreastScreen NSW North Coast; Centrelink; Clarence Care + Support; Cooper Wealth Management; Crowley Care Services; Disability Aged Information Services; East Lismore Bowling Ladies; Fair Trading; Goonellabah Sport & Aquatic Centre; IQ Stick; Home Instead Senior Care; In your Interest Financial Planning; Lismore Home Modification Services; National Hearing Care; Niagara Therapy; Northern NSW Local Health District

(Falls Prevention); Oak Tree Retirement Village; RSL Life Care; Simes Bros Coaches; Simplicity Funerals; U3A Northern Rivers Lismore; United Protestant Association; Uniting; The Whiddon Group.

■ Presentations* from Expo Gold Partners Oak Tree Retirement Village & Uniting Plus Alzheimer’s Australia, Binney Family Funerals, Bloom Hearing Specialist, Centrelink, Clarence Care & Support, Cooper Wealth Management, Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre, Home Instead Senior Care, IQ Walking Stick, Niagara Therapy & The Whiddon Group.

Contact: Event coordinator Molly Patch on 02 6621 5916 or secretary@northcoast national.com.au. *Correct as at February 14, 2017

22 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

seniors

Byron Bay’s prime aged care home, Byron Aged Care is located only 3 minutes to the town centre and 5 minutes to the beach. This 41-bed home offers high quality care and accommodation for older Australians.

Key Features:

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• Individual ensuite rooms • Newly renovated spacious living areas • Home style kitchen for resident & visitor use • A cosy library with fireplace • Expansive internal courtyards • 24 hour nursing support • Safety with keypad coded entry • Lifestyle program with community outings • Access to medical professionals including medical practitioner, physiotherapist, speech pathologist and more

Physical Address: Byron Aged Care, 1 Butler St, Byron Bay, NSW 2481 • Phone: 02 6685 6728 • Email: admin@byronagedcare.com.au Web: www.byronagedcare.com.au

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 23

Innovative insurance product for over 50s FUTUREWELL Independence Insurance is excited to announce the launch of a new insurance product specifically designed to cater for the care needs of Australians aged 50 and over.

It is the first insurance product in Australia designed specifically to enable older claimants to receive cash benefits that can pay for care while they are alive.

Usually products for this target group such as funeral insurance plans will pay only upon death.

This new product offers consumers a viable alternative or supplement to existing funeral policies.

FutureWell Independence Insurance was developed by Future Well Insurance Pty Ltd and

it is issued by AIA Australia.

The insurance helps provide policy holders with the financial freedom to make choices about care solutions and other related costs, in the event of a chronic health condition caused by sickness or accident, or a defined accidental serious injury.

The product also offers a death benefit to help clear final expenses.

It is estimated that more than 8 million people in Australia are aged over 50 years, and while Australians are living longer than in previous generations, the infrastructure is unprepared for the repercussions: “Australians now have to look at a range of

❝

FutureWell Independent Insurance offers claimants the financial freedom to spend their benefits on the most suitable care solutions for them.

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options if they wish to have choice, control and flexibility on services specific to ageing,” explains Grant Thomas,

managing director at Future Well.

Research conducted by FutureWell in 2016 found that many Australians are

worried about the physical, social, logistical and financial impacts of caring for themselves or ageing loved ones.

Besides wanting to receive care in their own home, remaining independent and not becoming a burden on their partner and family, one of the key concerns mentioned is the desire to be in control of their care plan.

“FutureWell Independent Insurance

offers claimants the financial freedom to spend their benefits on the most suitable care solutions for them.

This could be in-home care such as domestic support, personal care or home nursing, home modifications, or mobility equipment – really anything they wish,” said Mr Thomas.

Australians interested in FutureWell Independence Insurance can apply over the phone, if they are aged between 50 and 69 years.

Once the policy is in place, if they continue to pay their premiums, they can hold the policy for the rest of their lives.

To find out more information, website: www.futurewell.com.au or phone 02 8222 6140.

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24 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Make active normal GET wet or stay dry, or do both at one of the 23 Staying Active centres throughout NSW, which are offering activities specifically designed to get over 50s moving as part of their normal daily program.

As long as they are reasonably active, anyone can participate in the exercises being offered under the program, which is funded by NSW Health.

Aquatic and Recreational Institute executive officer Louise Magee said the Staying Active program activities range from aqua aerobics and water workouts to gentle exercise circuits and land-based circuit classes, walking groups and more.

“It depends on each facility and what they have access to in terms of their own facilities on site,” Ms Magee said.

In some cases, the centres will also run some classes down the road at the local hall.

“These classes are breaking down the barrier of the assimilated age group.

“They all love being in a group, among their peers rather than going to the gym and rocking up where there could be 20-somethings wearing their leotards and six-packs,” Ms Magee said.

Men are actively encouraged to join in.

If they don’t want to put on their Speedos and join the aqua aerobics, there are always other choices such as gym-based activities.

In several centres, NSW Health’s funding supports staff training in conducting age-specific classes for seniors so they can offer exercises appropriate to a specific age group.

The Staying Active program also encourages centres to get social with events often held at least one a month.

“In a lot of cases they

❝

They all love being in a group, among their peers rather than going to the gym.

OVER 50S: NSW Health want residents to make good health, a normal part of their life.

PHOTO: AQUATIC AND RECREATIONAL INSTITUTE

will get guest speakers, nutritionists, occupational therapists, people from beyondblue, just talking

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about the various issues that this generation are faced with,” Ms Magee added.

The cost of participation varies across the centres.

The average cost is

about $9 per class and seniors discount applies said Ms Magee.

All funded centres are encouraged to offer sustainable programs that can provide an ongoing revenue source for the centre and longevity of this healthy initiative.

Ms Magee reports since the program was started six months ago there has been an uptake in participation numbers across most centres showing over 50s want to good health to be a part of their lives.

To find a venue in your local area: arinsw.com.au or www.activeandhealthy. nsw.gov.au.

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Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 25

Aids for aged care in his lap!

I started to think what if he was trying to make himself a cup of tea, how would he pour the hot water from the kettle into the cup, especially given he was struggling to even lift his cup to his mouth.

Like me I bet that you hadn’t even thought about this! I’m also guessing that you might not even be aware that two handled mugs exist.

Genius right? Two handles for each hand, protecting each hand from the hot mug, also providing extra strength to lift the mug. What about a kettle tipper stand? Great gadget, no need to lift a hot kettle.

Two very simple tools

that can make a simple task simple again.”

The range of aids includes: ■ Daily Living Aids Here at the Aged Care Store we aim to make your life easier. Our Daily Living Aids make tasks like making a cup of tea easy again. Take a look at our kettle tipper and dignity mug! Just two products that could make your day better.

■ Mobility Range We have a variety of options to make sure you can get out about and remain an active member within the community.

■ Patient Care Range If you are providing in-home care this range will make care at home

KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Live freely at any age with daily living aids.

just that little bit easier for you.

■ Orthotics Range To keep your feet comfortable.

■ Braces and Supports To ensure that you have no excuse to remain active. If you are suffering

The meaning of ‘positive ageing’ “POSITIVE ageing” is a term used to describe the process of maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy, and engaging fully in life.

Ageing is often associated with many rewarding experiences.

It is, however, also a time when significant changes might occur.

For example, some people experience changes in physical functioning, social networks, employment, and bereavement can become more common.

As people age it is natural for them to move in and out of periods of positive ageing. But those who age positively enjoy a better quality of life.

■ Maintaining a positive attitude The way you feel about yourself and the ageing process can affect how you view life and the extent to which you are involved in activities and the opportunities life offers.

If you can make choices and have control over important aspects of your life, and take part in and

enjoy activities, you are more likely to feel good about yourself.

■ Staying connected Social interaction and relationships with others are associated with positive ageing and feeling optimistic about life.

Maintaining social networks through membership of clubs, engaging in voluntary work and keeping in touch with family encourages interaction with others, prevents isolation and promotes good mental and physical health.

from arthritis we also have a range of suitable supports to help ease some pain.

■ Exercise and Therapy Range To help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Everyone should have

PHOTO: CATHY YEULET

the chance to remain independent in the comfort of their own home.

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AT THE Aged Care Store, we specialise in providing daily living aids to help you or your loved one stay independent for longer.

We carry the most popular and trusted brands in aged care living to ensure that you will find exactly what you are looking for.

“I was having a cup of tea with a neighbour, who is managing pretty alright for an 80-year-old male.

But what I noticed as he sipped on his tea was that his hand was shaking. It was at that point that I realised, I had overfilled the cup with hot liquid, but most importantly, he needed to use both hands to steady the cup, before it landed

At the Aged Care Store we specialise in providing daily living aids to help you or your loved one stay independent for longer.

We carry the most popular and trusted brands in aged care living to ensure that you will find exactly what you are looking for.

Check out our: • Daily Living Aids - Here at the Aged Care Store we aim to make your life easier! Our Daily Living Aids make tasks like making a cup of tea easy again. Take a look at our kettle tipper and dignity mug! Just two products that could make your day better.

• Mobility Range we have a variety of options to make sure you can get out about and remain an active member within the community; • Patient Care Range if you are providing in-home care this range will make care at home just that little bit easier for you; • Orthotics Range to keep your feet comfortable; • Braces and Supports to ensure that you have no excuse to remain active. If you are suffering from Arthritis we also have a range of suitable supports to help ease some pain; • Exercise & Therapy Range to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Everyone should have the chance to remain independent in the comfort of their own home!

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26 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Meet the festival Tracey Johnstone

AN ECLECTIC group of five ambassadors is encouraging all New South Wales seniors to do more together in March during the NSW Seniors Festival.

Robina Beard OAM, Reverend Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Kumar Pereira, Graham Ross and Aunty Sandra Lee are inspiring festival ambassadors, who have been drawn from all sections of the community.

Each of them shares with us what they are looking forward to most in their lives.

ROBINA BEARD OAM

FITNESS: Robina Beard OAM. PHOTOS: NSW SENIORS FESTIVAL

Ms Beard was Madge the manicurist in the Palmolive dish-washing liquid television commercial of the 1970s.

“What I’m looking forward to is being able to teach lots of people in my exercise classes and my tap dancing class to have a great joy of life, to love dancing and to get to

Kumar Pereira is known for his time on MasterChef.

know their bodies and keep looking after them,” she said.

REV DOROTHY MCRAE-MCMAHON

Rev McRae-McMahon has worked in international aid and community development.

In 1997 she came out as a lesbian and led a successful campaign to have homosexual ministers accepted in the Uniting Church.

“The thing I look forward to most in my life is working with volunteers,

Aunty Sandra Lee is passionate about preserving and celebrating Aboriginal culture.

especially for the free local paper, which we produce, the South Sydney Herald, for the inner city of Sydney,” she said.

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Mr Pereira became a household name in Australia in 2011 thanks to MasterChef.

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 27

ambassadors GRAHAM ROSS VMM

Mr Ross has been sharing his tips and passion for gardening for 50 years.

He started the Garden Clinic radio show on 2GB and then joined the television series Better Homes and Gardens in 1995.

“I am looking forward to growing something I can eat and, even better, share,” he said.

AUNTY SANDRA LEE

Graham Ross loves to share his knowledge and passion for gardening.

He volunteers, teaching the disadvantaged and seniors with disability to prepare nutritious, low-cost meals.

“I am looking forward to teaching even more people, particularly the seniors, to do the same,” he said.

Aunty Sandra is a Boorooberongal, Darug elder and traditional owner, who was born in Blacktown and is passionate about preserving the heritage and culture of the Darug people for all Australians to share.

“My people have been here for thousands of years,” she said.

“What I would like to do next year is to work with the Aboriginal people in Blacktown, Mt Druitt and help them to trace their families back as far as they can go.”

The ambassadors are tasked with encouraging seniors to participate in the festival.

Festival spokesperson Lee Huuskes said, “They will do this primarily through promoting the campaign’s key messages and its values through the media and sharing their skills, experiences, stories and tips.”

He expects festival visitors will get the chance to enjoy the company of the ambassadors at a number of events.

The 59th NSW Seniors Festival is on from March 3–12.

Across the state there will be a range of art, music, entertainment, recreation, sport and health events that encompass this year’s themes of staying connected, contributing to the community, living active and healthy lives, getting involved in multicultural, intergeneration and lifestyle events and continuing to learn.

Reverend Dorothy McRae-McMahon works with volunteers.

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28 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Health

A word from Kerry Little

Did you know that ‘Heat Stress’ has been classed as one of Australia’s top natural killers accounting for more deaths than floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms combined?

Manager, Care+Support Services

All the best for Seniors Week 2017.

First of all I would like to introduce my service and my team. As Manager of Clarence Care + Support for the past 3 years I have had the pleasure of seeing our service grow and work with the community to provide a diverse range of programs. This includes Home Care Packages, private services and in home and community support.

Our Home Care team is led by Karen Waterhouse who as a registered nurse working in the community for many years ensures that quality and expertise is provided to our staff and customers.

Karen believes that ‘needing help is the easy part, getting the right help is harder!’

Karen stated that, ‘New government reforms continue to make accessing aged care services a complex labyrinth to navigate.’

‘Clarence Care + Support believes that assisting you with choosing services is part of our quality service provision,’ she added.

Our Commonwealth Home Support team is led by Kerrie Birch who also began her career in nursing. These programs include lawn maintenance, domestic assistance, meals and social support.

If needing care and support to remain living at home please contact our service for more information.

Clarence Care + Support Community information sessions during ‘Seniors Week’ 2017 Our staff will be able to answer your questions

Thursday 9th March 9am – 5pm

Yamba Fair Shopping Centre

Friday 10th March 9am – 4pm

Grafton CCS Office – 49 Queen St

Saturday 11th March 9am – 2pm

Lismore Workers Club – Keen St, Lismore

Heat-related illness can include dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Unfortunately, pre-existing medical conditions can make your symptoms worse.

• Tips to prevent a heat related condition.

• Drink plenty of water or diluted fruit juice (1 part juice to 4 parts water) • Avoid drinking excess tea, coffee & alcohol • Wear light weight, loose fitting clothing • Protect yourself when outside • Limit outdoor activities to the coolest parts of the day • Stay cool – ideally an air cooler but you could use a spray bottle with water to cool yourself down • Have a cool bath or shower • Keep your energy levels up by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables • Watch out for others, particular those that are more vulnerable • Plan your day

Karen Waterhouse

Senior Programs Coordinator

Who we are

2017 is a time of change for community services and in line with this Clarence Valley Council Care and Support Services are changing their name and logo.

‘This new name is modern and shows we are a provider of community services throughout northern NSW’, said Kerry Little, Manager of the new look service.

‘Our logo has been designed by a local artist, Yohanna Dent, who has taken the colours of the Valley and then the meaning of our name, care and support. Then a flower with a heart in the middle really does show what our service means to our staff and customers’, she added.

Clarence Care and Support is an independent and not for profit organisation that enables individuals and families to achieve a lifestyle of their choice. Every individual that connects with Clarence Care and Support is looking for the assistance they need to enrich their lives. The services we provide help them live and choose their lifestyle and remain living in their community.

We are here. We are here to listen. We are here to act. We are here to help. We are here for you. We will create a care plan that suits each individual’s and family’s needs.

Clarence Care and Support has been helping people in the Clarence Valley and throughout the northern NSW area since 1994. We know our area, our people and our services.

Our services are provided by staff who will work to provide quality and caring individual supports whether in the home or in the community. This is part of the vision and purpose of Clarence Care and Support; to deliver the highest quality community care services to enable all people to live a lifestyle of their choice.

Our staff receive extensive training and education to ensure we have confident, experienced and knowledgeable people to match with individual needs. This also allows Clarence Care and Support to be an inclusive service for all in the community who may need support.

We are proud our service is accredited for aged care service provision as well as a registered NDIS service provider.

Kerry Little, Manager

www.clarencecareandsupport.com.au Phone: 02 6645 0400

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Welcome

Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 29

Finance

Strategies counter change Tracey Johnstone

THE changes to the aged pension asset test are driving pensioners towards looking for innovative ways to protect themselves from losing out as the tests come into play.

Financial planner Liam Shorte of Verante Pty Ltd, says the feedback from within the community is the changes are hitting middle-income earners who believe this Federal Government cost-saving measure should be applied to companies and people with more wealth, not them.

“There is a lot of bad feeling among the people who have been affected, basically because a lot of them planned their retirements around what they could expect from the aged pension plus their

own money,” Mr Shorte said.

“It’s such a huge difference. For every $1000 you reduce your assessable assets by, you can get $78 extra pension per year. That’s a 7.8% return if you can use the $1000 to improve your wealth rather than give it away,” he said.

STRATEGIES

Mr Shorte offered the following strategies to help pensioners through the aged pension assets test maze: ■ Contribute to superannuation in the name of a spouse if they are under age pension age. Putting $50,000 in superannuation could increase your single pension by nearly $4000 per year until your spouse qualifies for the age pension.

■ Purchase funeral bonds as a person is allowed to invest up to $12,250 into funeral bonds to cover funeral costs and the investment is asset test exempt. For a couple both taking up the maximum funeral bond, it could provide an increased age pension of $1911 per year.

■ Making improvements to the principal home – funds spent on home improvements and renovations are not assessed against your pension. For example, spending $12,000 on a solar system will pay back over 10 to 15 years, but also mean up to $938 extra in pension income each year per person.

■ Review the value of motor cars, caravans, trailers, bikes, contents and personal effects.

■ Look to pay for the big cruise or overseas trip in

advance – ask for a discount for doing so or an upgrade.

Improve your income Charge board and lodging – some people in bigger homes are looking to make up for the loss in age pension by renting out a room.

You could say rent out a room and charge $150 per week for the room which includes breakfast.

Centrelink’s default position is that 50% of that $120 per week is treated as additional income (about $3900 per year). The remaining 50% is assumed by Centrelink as required to cover costs such as utilities, food, etc. If the costs were higher than the 50%, then a submission to Centrelink could see that 50/50 standard approach being adjusted.

If you are an

asset-based part-pensioner, the additional $3900 does not further impact your pension.

Lower Centrelink assessments are available where more meals, etc, are offered.

Gifting This is not something I recommend often as it seems a bit silly to give away capital to get some income. However, if you have planned to help family, then maybe you should think about transferring the money early.

The allowable gifting limit for both singles and couples is $10,000 per financial year, limited to $30,000 per five financial years.

If the total of gifts made in a financial year exceeds $10,000 the excess will be assessed as a

deprived asset for five years from the date of the gift and will be subject to Centrelink’s means test.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Mr Shorte says he gives clients some strategies to think about and then he sends them to a Centrelink financial information service officer.

“They help people make the most of the system, but they can’t give advice,” Mr Shorte said.

“We get them to go to Centrelink to run (the strategies) past them to see if they are possible in their situation. Centrelink may refer back to us to implement the strategy.”

Mr Shorte encourages pensioners to try to use all the services for their situation.

Beware pitfalls of reverse loans THE latest round of figures showing rising home values in almost all our state capitals highlights how mean many Australian retirees could have a valuable resource. at their fingertips.

Older Australians, who may not have enjoyed the benefits of employer-paid super for their entire working life, can face the prospect of a lean retirement. However, one area where over-50s often have an advantage over their younger counterparts is home ownership For senior Australians home equity can be a source of retirement income.

It’s all thanks to the availability of reverse mortgages – a financial

THINK MONEY PAUL CLITHEROE product that allows home owners, usually aged 60-plus, to draw on home equity with loan funds secured by their home.

No repayments are necessary with a reverse mortgage, at least while you live in the place.

Interest charges and fees are added to the loan balance with the total to be repaid when the property is sold or the last borrower has passed away.

It’s an option for asset-rich, cash-poor seniors to boost retirement cash. But

❝

No repayments are necessary with a reverse mortgage , at least while you live in the place. reverse mortgages do have downsides.

In its January 2017 star-rating report on reverse mortgages, research group Canstar found the average interest rate applicable to these loans is 6.25%.

That’s around 2% more than you could pay on a standard home loan, and the mounting interest charge raises questions about how a reverse mortgage can impact home equity over time.

Let me start by saying that Anyone considering a reverse mortgage should look for a ‘no negative equity’ guarantee. This means you will never owe more on the loan than the value of your home.

That said, Canstar found that after 20 years, a loan for $90,000 representing 15% of a property’s value, could end up costing a total of $349,431 including the initial borrowing. Over 30 years, the loan cost including principal, could blow out to $662,131.

These figures may seem alarming, and they are based on current interest rates, which are at record lows. On the plus side, it’s a reasonable bet your property will rise in value over the next 20-30

CHOICES: For retirees finding it tough to meet the cost of living, a reverse mortgage may be worth considering.

years. The big unknown is whether the capital growth will outstrip the loan’s interest rate.

For some retireesfinding it tough to meet the cost of living, a reverse mortgage may be worth considering but it is an area where good legal and financial advice

is essential. especially if you plan to leave a reasonable estate.

Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

Free public information seminar on EPAs THE Seniors Legal and Support Service will conduct free public information seminars on Enduring Powers of Attorney in Hervey Bay and Maryborough. An Enduring Power of Attorney is a document which gives

someone the legal power to act on your behalf in relation to personal, health and financial matters.

It is a powerful document and if care is not taken in choosing an Attorney and inserting

appropriate limitations in the document, people can find themselves without a home and money due to the actions of a loved one.

Equally, it can be a very useful document to enable someone to make decisions and give

instructions to banks and health providers when an individual is not able to do so due to illness or incapacity.

We often find when someone’s health is failing one of the first thing service providers will

ask for is whether the person has an Enduring Power of Attorney. The Seniors Legal and Support Service will be conducting free public information seminars between 10–11am on Wednesday, March 8 at

the Hervey Bay Library and Monday, March 27 at the Maryborough Library.

Places are limited.

Anyone interested in attending should phone Diane on 4124 6863 or email admin.slass@ bigpond.com to register.

30 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Travel

Travel to new worlds

Ann Rickard takes us out of Australia and into great, new spaces The world is big, colourful and diverse enough for us to locate our own niche or share with others. In some areas the gay community have added another dimension to holiday places.

Here’s a list of ten gay destinations from around the world and around the country.

SAN FRANCISCO, U.S.A.

The Big Daddy of all the gay cities, the place where it all came out in the 1960s and gay pride spread its tentacles all over the world.

With its Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard St and

those cute cable cars, exploring San Francisco is a treat, especially when there is a restaurant, café or bar always a few footsteps away.

MYKONOS, GREEK ISLANDS

If San Francisco is King of the gay destinations then Mykonos must be the Queen. The entire Greek Island is gay – from the seafront tavernas at Super Paradise Beach to the myriad clubs and bars hidden in the maze of cobbled streets in Mykonos town.

SITGES, SPAIN

This small fishing village

with its sunny beaches and quaint old town was home to a sprinkling of fishermen and their families in the 1960s, until the gay crowd discovered its laid-back charm and arrived in droves.

The clubs, gyms and saunas quickly popped up and now Sitges is famous the world over for its vivacious gay nightlife and colourful festivals.

It’s a perfect European summer destination for all of us.

of the Greek island attracts lesbians from all over the world. A sweep of sandy beach fringed with over-sand taverns buzzes with gay women hanging out, having fun.

How Lesbos will recover from the massive influx of refugees in the past couple of years won’t be known for some time.

It is cheaper than most Greek islands.

SKALA ERRESSOS – GREEK ISLAND OF LESBOS

Super gay-friendly city, Sydney pulses during the biggest annual gay party in the country each February/March. We all know about Mardi Gras

This small seaside village on the south-west

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

but how many of us have made the pilgrimage to watch the parade? Just once in our lives?

BERLIN, GERMANY

A pulsating city that welcomes everyone and loves the gay community. Berlin enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic gay capitals.

The gay community has made Berlin a hedonist’s dream destination, why shouldn’t we join the party?

PUERTO VALLARATA, MEXICO

Probably Mexico’s most popular gay destination with more than its share

of gay bars, night clubs and hilarious drag shows. Watching the parade of fabulously fit bodies in Speedos while sipping icy margaritas at a beach-front bar is going to make us seniors hold in our tummies and vow to get to the gym.

BANGKOK, THAILAND

While not exactly a gay destination, Bangkok is known for its myriad bars where the lady boys love to slip into something glam. Thai people are among the most tolerant people in the world which makes this city a drawcard for the gay community.

travel

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

PICTURE PERFECT: A scenic picture view of the famous Amalfi Coast with beautiful Gulf of Salerno, Campania, Italy.

Dazzle your senses with Italian class

Seniors 31

PHOTO: BLUEJAYPHOTO

The stunning sights and sounds of this diverse land and culture will remain with you forever Ann Rickard

ITALY is one of the countries on the bucket list of so many travellers – even though it has suffered a number of heartbreaking disasters lately.

But intrepid seniors do not let a potential calamity of nature turn them off their travel plans, do they?

Everyone should see Italy just once if it is possible within time and budget restraints.

The first time you visit Rome and set eyes on the Colosseum will be embedded in your memory forever.

The same goes for St Peter’s.

Even if the Trevi Fountain is packed with tourists, and it will be, you will find it hard to snap a

selfie without a dozen others in the background, and you will. It won’t take away from the spine-tingly thrill that you are there, right there at this world famous landmark.

The first time I entered the Plazza del Campo, the historic centre of Siena, in Tuscany, I experienced a feeling of mouth slack.

My jaw dropped considerably, not quite to the ground as many a colourful writer would embellish, but it definitely did drop as I took in the sight of arguably Europe’s most renowned medieval square.

The breathtaking architecture of the shell-shaped piazza, the soaring Torre del Mangia, that slender tower rising from the square, the Fonta Gaia, the fountain

that first brought water to the square, halted me on the spot.

Our Siena visit was just days before the famous Palio di Siena, the bare-back horse race around the periphery of the piazza where thousands of people cram into every centimetre of space on the ground and hang off balconies to watch and cheer.

There was much ceremony during our pre-Palio visit and celebrations with groups of young men draped in brilliant colours, carrying flags, beating drums.

There are the hundreds of charming small villages and pretty seaside towns in Italy waiting for exploration. Best you plan and stay as long as time and money will permit.

Please callDetails for full of details PTO for all of all upcoming tours upcoming tours.

Travel in style aboard Simes Bros Luxury Coaches.

P: (02) 6621 5416 F: (02) 6622 2225 E: admin@sbcoaches.com.au

www.simesbros.com.au

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32 Seniors Northern NSW

travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Feel the joy of flying high A miniature world view from the heights of a hot air balloon IT’S NOT as quiet as you might think flying in a hot air balloon as it sweeps high across the landscape.

Two sounds break the silence. With reassuring regularity, the burner bursts into action filling the air with shooting flames and the balloon with hot air. Then there is the chatter of fellow passengers as they wonder at the changing vista and the constant clicks as they record the stunning landscape.

There’s nothing pleasant about being ready for a pick up at 4.20am, especially when the night before included plenty of cocktails, but that’s all part of the package when you decide on a balloon flight.

It’s too early. It’s too cold. You are stuck on a bus, and you don’t know where it’s heading, but there’s plenty of excitement because you are going to get high on the Gold Coast in a balloon!

This is for people who

EAT, DRINK AND BE KERRY KERRY HEANEY like to live life large, so I’m leaving all my fears and phobias safely tucked up in the warm hotel room bed.

The bus heads into the Gold Coast Hinterland, about 30 minutes’ drive from the coastline. Here the scenery is dramatically different thanks to an ancient volcano which created the tall mountains now coated in green by Mother Nature.

The first task is to fill the balloons with hot air, and they gently start to inflate skywards. As the balloon gains buoyancy, we climb into the wicker basket to add weight, so it hugs the ground. There are a couple of hefty lads holding on to the basket as well, just in case.

Climbing over the steep

basket side is a little challenging, but there are plenty of helping hands close by.

When we lift off, it’s a smooth ride upwards until

everything below is a long way away. It’s such a beautiful morning with patches of fog hiding

some parts of the land and sky reflections in lakes as we float past.

The buildings seem Lilliputian below, and tiny dogs run around the lake chasing roosting birds. It’s life in miniature.

The pilot points out landmarks including Tamborine Mountain, Lamington National Park and the tall towers of the Gold Coast’s skyscrapers in the distance.

This is a photographer’s paradise, and there’s much clicking to capture

the memorable images.

Gradually we start to lose height, and the balloon is no longer dancing way above the trees but closing in on a paddock. We glided over the top of long grass strands for a few minutes before coming to a stop with just a slight bump.

The landing was almost as smooth as the take-off.

Too easy.

Then it was all about getting the remaining air out of the balloon and packing it up. Opening a vent at the top of the balloon allowed the hot air to escape and passengers became workers, rolling and folding until the balloon was just a bag on the ground.

Another short drive and we were off the bus at O’Reilly’s Homestead set among the vineyard at Canungra in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Hot Air Balloon’s Champagne Breakfast at O’Reilly’s Grand Homestead Vineyard costs $280 for an adult.

Disclaimer: The writer was a guest of Gold Coast Tourism.

Come On Let’s Do The Google This March Tune in, turn on and tap into next month’s technology edition.

This March, we’re sharing dozens of user-friendly tips to start or further your use of computers, cameras or phones.

There’s so much available to enhance our lives, from new communication techniques to medical devices and very clever cameras.

Pick up your free copy of the March edition at your local stockist or read online at seniorsnews.com.au News + LifestyLe + HeaLtH + traveL + fiNaNce + eNtertaiNmeNt

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Get savvy and join the tech talk this March in Seniors Newspapers.

travel

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 33

EUROPE 2017

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*Conditions apply. SEE: aptouring.com.au/SpecialDeals for full conditions. Prices are per person (pp) AUD, twin share & include port charges. Prices are correct as at 1 Feb 2017. ALL OFFERS: Limited suites on set departures are available and are subject to availability. Offers available until 28 February 2017, unless sold out prior. DEPOSITS: EUROPE 2017, CANADA & ALASKA, USA, SLAMM SHIP CRUISING 2017, SOUTH AMERICA, AFRICA, ANTARCTICA & BOTANICA: A non-refundable deposit of $3,000pp is due within 7 days of booking. OUTBACK & KIMBERLEY, VIETNAM & CAMBODIA, INDIA, MYANMAR, CHINA & JAPAN; A non-refundable deposit of $2000pp is due within 7 days of booking. EUROPE 2018 & SMALL SHIP CRUISING 2018; Anon-refundable deposit of $1000pp is due within 7 days of booking.

TASMANIA: A non-refundable deposit of $200pp is due within 7 days of booking. NZ: A non-refundable deposit of $800pp is due within 7 days of booking. Australian Pacific Touring Pty Ltd ABN 44 004 684 619

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Main St, Murwillumbah Tweed City Shopping Centre Tweed Mall Shopping Centre The Strand at Coolangatta The Pines Shopping Centre GC H’way & Palm Beach Ave

34 Seniors Northern NSW

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Become a DISTRIBUTOR

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January, 2017 FREE

John rocks into new year

National Seniors Lawyers Pty Ltd

We choose to represent senior clients Carolyn Byrne Lawyer

0414 557 636

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Demand for Seniors Northern NSW is higher than ever!

We’re looking for local 10 businesses who’d like to stock our paper. You’ll receive a bundle of papers once a month, and our dedicated readers will pop in to collect their copies at no charge.

It’s a great way to attract new potential customers, so don’t miss out.

The John Waters stor y: Page 3

PAGES 4, 8 & 9, 11.

2017

TOP travel tips PAGE 17

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Northern NSW

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

What’s on

■ FEBRUARY 24 TO 26

THE annual Byron Bay Surf Festival focuses on the creative culture within surfing. A three-day fusion of Surf Culture Now, featuring surf art, photography, live music, films, history, workshops, literature, markets, design, craft, innovation, presentations, sustainability, youth art, swap-meet, surfing and lifestyle. Organisers believe Byron Bay is the perfect venue to showcase all that is unique and attractive about surfing, drawing from the rich local and national surfing heritage, the creative energy and natural surfing location that is Byron Bay. 10am-10pm at Byron Bay Beach, Bay Street. byronbaysurffestival@ gmail.com.

■ FEBRUARY 25

GLENN Shorrock and Brian Cadd perform at Twin Towns Services Club, after 50 years of friendship, music and mayhem. Following their record-breaking Sharky and The Caddman tour of 2014-15, Shorrock and Cadd are reuniting on stage for a limited Australian tour. This will

JOURNALIST YVONNE GARDINER

yvonne.gardiner@apn.com.au

be an evening full of wonderful music, poignant memories and loads of laughs. Both artists will have released new albums and they will also play a few of these songs within the show, which runs from 8pm-10pm.

Tickets $44. Book on 1800 014 014.

■ FEBRUARY 26

THE Casino Riverside Markets feature entertainers, stallholders and activities at McAuliffe Park, Hickey St, Casino.

From 9am to 2.30pm.

Details: David Chaffey on 0451 232 373 or email casino.markets@hotmail .com.

■ MARCH 2

ISSI Dye, veteran of Australian stage and TV, will perform his wonderful hit stage show The Broadway Crooners especially for the daytime crowd at the Ballina RSL, 240 River St, in a free concert for Seniors Week.

Issi will perform in full costume the songs of

three of the world’s greatest Broadway stars – Al Jolson, Dean Martin and Bobby Darin. Hear the life stories of their careers as well as all the great songs at this free show from 10am-midday.

Details: Vicki Veitch on 02 6681 9500 or email vicki.veitch@ballinarsl. com.au.

■ MARCH 5

REGIONAL high tea kickstarting the Lismore Women’s Festival with a blockbuster event that combines wisdom, passion and delectable treats. Connecting and appreciating the many amazing women whose contributions cross a diversity of professions, industries and business and make the region what it is today. Academy Award winner Geena Davis live-streamed from the Sydney Opera House plus a fabulous panel of local guest speakers. At the Lismore Workers Club, 231 Keen St, from 10am-1pm. Cost $30.

Details: Elise Taylor 0448 833 806 or admin@lismorechamber. com.au.

■ MARCH 7

SEE David Scheel in Don’t Shoot Me, I’m only the Piano Player. A runaway

success in London’s West End, at successive Edinburgh Festivals, at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and right across the USA, this is a hilarious send-up of classical music, which has established Australian pianist David Scheel as the successor to the legendary Victor Borge.

It’s already a comedy classic. Show starts at 7.30pm at the Star Court Theatre, 126 Molesworth St, Lismore. Cost: $30 adult, $26 concession, $24 group. starcourt theatre.com.au/box-office or phone 6622 5005.

■ MARCH 7 & 8

DESIGNED to mesmerise and enthral, the Ocean Film Festival showcases more than two hours of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface.

This carefully curated selection of short films documents the beauty and power of the ocean.

The films feature captivating cinematography, complete with awe-inspiring underwater scenes. The Ocean Film Festival is filled with moving footage, touching interviews and insightful narrations. Each of the festival’s films conveys a deep respect

and appreciation for the world’s oceans and the creatures that call them home.Cost: $33.50 adult, $23.50 child, $28.50 group (15+) at Byron Theatre at, 69 Jonson St, Byron Bay, 7pm-10pm.

Details www.oceanfilmfestival. com.au.

■ MARCH 16

THE Bowie Unzipped band appears at the Lismore Workers Club with some of Australia’s best musicians including the legendary Jeff Duff on vocals. Had Jeff Duff hailed from a country in the top half of the world, he could now be as acknowledged and acclaimed as David Bowie or Lou Reed or Iggy Pop. Cost: $33 for the show which runs 8pm-10.30pm.

Details 6621 7401 or email info@lismoreworkers .com.au.

■ MARCH 25

NEIL Diamond – The Man, The Music at Bangalow Bowling Club, 21 Byron Road, Bangalow, from 8pm to 11pm. Neil Diamond has been loved by millions since he first burst onto the music scene with Solitary Man back in 1966. And now you have the opportunity

Seniors 35

to hear his story. This show is a tribute to the man himself presented by award-winning singer/ songwriter and entertainer Craig Stewart. Craig has taken the show to a new level through the use of multiple projections, synchronised lighting, excerpts of interviews and of course the music itself.

Free. Phone: 6687 2741.

■ CURRENT TO MAY 21

AT TWEED Regional Gallery, Murwillumbah, an exhibition “Tumbulgum and the Countdown to Midnight at the First Supper Between Now and Forever” in the Anthony Gallery.

This exhibition draws from documentation gathered from If These Halls Could Talk, a multi-arts project managed by Arts Northern Rivers celebrating halls and the role they play in our communities.

Opera Queensland was commissioned by Arts Northern Rivers to tell the 102-year-old tale of Tumbulgum Hall. Free entry. The gallery, 2 Mistral Road, Murwillumbah South, is open Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm. Phone: 6670 2790.

Music can take your mind off everything else THE smiles from the Headliners Chorus confirm the scientific studies that group singing releases the “feel good” endorphins that elevate the spirit.

It has been proven that music in general lowers stress levels, but the camaraderie in choral music also lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in the body.

Singing creates vibrations throughout the body altering you physically and emotionally ... you’ve heard of “good vibrations”, well, this is it! The “medicine of song”.

The Headliners (all female) chorus sing a capella in four-part harmony in the modern barbershop genre.

Over the years they have bonded as “sisters in song” and have performed and competed throughout the mid-north

MEDICINE OF SONG: The Headliners Chorus is an all female group who can endorse the benefits of singing. It’s all about feeling good and lifting spirits.

coast and at national competitions around the country.

The award-winning chorus is under the

direction of Cathy Gordon and can be heard and seen at numerous community events throughout the Northern

Rivers region.

They actively devote their time and harmony to fundraisers and celebrations in the area.

Bookings are now being considered for the Headliners Chorus new season and can be made by contacting Rita on

0412 448 558.

For further information on the Headliners Chorus, head to website: headlinerschorus.info.

36 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

SW ITCH OFF TO #JOINTHEFUT UR E 8. 30 PM SAT UR DAY 25 M A RCH 2017 E A RTHHOUR .ORG. AU

puzzles

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au 1

2

3

4

5

6

Across 5/8 Who said “Money can’t buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery”?

(5,8) 9 Used in computing, what number system has a base of 8? (5) 10 Using linseed oil, pigments, rosin and pine flour, what did Frederick Walton invent in 1860? (8) 11 What is the capital of Belarus? (5) 14 What drilling tool is held in a brace? (3) 16 Which short-lived republic broke away from Nigeria 1967 to 1970? (6) 17 What is anti-aircraft fire also called? (3-3) 18 What is the abbreviation for trinitrotoluene?

(1,1,1) 20 Formed in 1791, what was the Berlin SingAkademie? (5) 24 In what ornamental needlework are pieces of fabric attached to another? (8) 25 What is a promontory more commonly called?

(5) 26 What is used for sharpening a writing quill? (8) 27 Which Chicago tower was the world’s tallest building from 1973 to 1996? (5)

7

8 9 10 11 12

13

14

15

16

17 18

19

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21

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23

24 25 26 27

SUDOKU

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

Down 1 What is a young salmon? (5) 2 What, striking on steel, produced an igniting spark in early guns? (5) 3 Which orchestral instrument is tuned an octave above the cello? (5) 4 Which lively 1960s dance shares a name with a Central-African people? (6) 6 What Japanese form of pinball is enjoyed in noisy parlours there? (8) 7 What bag is carried on a soldier’s or hiker’s back?

(8) 12/13 Who won a Bafta in 1990 for her role in the film Dangerous Liaisons? (8,8) 14 What type of creature is a serotine? (3) 15 What is to make an intricate type of looped cotton lace using a hand shuttle? (3) 19 Which Scottish mathematician (John ___) invented logarithms? (6) 21 What is the flat bladelike projection at the end of the arm of an anchor? (5) 22 Reaching a length of 18m or more, what is the world’s largest invertebrate? (5) 23 How many eclipses, lunar and solar, are possible in a single year? (5)

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.

13 16

A

17

18

22

GK CROSSWORD

S E N D S

Across: 1. Aura 3. Lynchpin 9. Recants 10. Noise 11. Supernatural 14.

Opt 16. Aloft 17. Eye 18. Police states 21. Among 22. Odorous 23. Badlyoff 24. Thus.

Down: 1. Abrasion 2. Recap 4. Yes 5. Consultation 6. Primate 7. Need 8.

Increasingly 12. Arose 13. Persists 15. Twofold 19. Tooth 20. Daub 22.

Oaf.

BLACKOUT

ALPHAGRAMS: HATED, IGNORE, JOSTLED, KANGAROO, LIBERATES.

Solution opposite

QUICK CROSSWORD

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

T H R E W

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 23 Very Good 31 Excellent 39

DOUBLE CROSS

SUDOKU

5x5 A T O N E

H L

Down 1. Scratch (8) 2. Review (5) 4. Affirmative (3) 5. Conference (12) 6. Ape (7) 7. Require (4) 8. More and more (12) 12. Got up (5) 13. Perseveres (8) 15. Doubly (7) 19. Molar (5) 20. Smear (4) 22. Lout (3)

Across: 5/8 Spike Milligan, 9 Octal, 10 Linoleum, 11 Minsk, 14 Bit, 16 Biafra, 17 Ack-ack, 18 TNT, 20 Choir, 24 Appliqué, 25 Bluff, 26 Penknife, 27 Sears.

Down: 1 Smolt, 2 Flint, 3 Viola, 4 Watusi, 6 Pachinko, 7 Knapsack, 12/13 Michelle Pfeiffer, 14 Bat, 15 Tat, 19 Napier, 21 Fluke, 22 Squid, 23 Seven.

411

24

WORD GO ROUND

D

S

SOLUTIONS

WORD GO ROUND

C U

E

acid acidly acrid acridly arid aridly auld card cardy chad chard child clad crud curd curdy daily dairy dial diarchy diary dray drily dual ducal duchy duly dural hard hardily hardly hardy hydra HYDRAULIC hydric idly idyl lady laid laird lard lardy laud lucid lurid raid yard

A R

I Y

DEATH REGION OLD JETS OAK ORGAN BLEARIEST

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

23

Across 1. Atmosphere (4) 3. Person vital to an operation (8) 9. Retracts (7) 10. Sound (5) 11. Paranormal (12) 14. Choose (3) 16. In the air (5) 17. Look at (3) 18. Totalitarian regimes (6,6) 21. In the midst of (5) 22. Strong-smelling (7) 23. In financial trouble (5-3) 24. As a result (4)

N E

S

20 21

O I

19

S H

L I C I T

15

A I

12

14

4/2

5x5

F 11

Seniors 37

F L A P S

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

Northern NSW

I D E A L I S T R S P I D E R

N I R H E M I P Y I E L E R E

D R A U G H T S K H E A T E D

U E S R I N U J Y O R A R N Q

S T E M S R A C O U S T I C S

T K K Q L H T A G E S I M W T

R E P L A C E E A U S T E R E

I C O H T X Y V V F P P N D T

O A T M E A L G C H E E T A H

U U P I Y B I T O J C E C W O

S N O W S T O R M C T E A M S

N Z U A C J N D P N A P O Y C

S C R E A M K C O N C E R T O

A S R Y M V U N S C L V T C P

T H I R S T P B E V E R A G E

BLACKOUT

Work out which squares need to be deleted to reveal a completed crossword.

Solution opposite

DOUBLE CROSS

I N D U S R T D E R A S E U M A L E G I S H I S I T U A T S C Y O H U S P E E R S A T I D E T R I E C E S R E D

T R I O U S E A N P O T P O L M W S L A T E C A T L I O T E R G A C O M U H S P E C T T E E A M E N T R A M T E T H O S

S C U R E C A M N C P O N A C E O R T C O

B S E V L E R T A G P E A T H R I R M S T

38 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

Community HOW TO SUBMIT NOTICES

TO ALLOW for readers’ requests for the publication of more neighbourhood news, please keep notices short (100 word maximum).

If you would like to submit a photo please ensure it is at least 180dpi with faces in a nice and bright setting.

The deadline for the March issue is March 8.

Email Nicky or Chris at communitynotes@ seniorsnewspaper.com.au

TWIN TOWNS & DISTRICT GARDEN CLUB

MEETS on the 2nd Monday of the month.

The next two meetings will be February 13 and March 13. Guest Speaker will be the interesting Nev Ludwig, a professional orchid grower for February and March will appear on our website.

Held at South Tweed Sports club,4 Minjungbal Drive (Old Pacific Hwy), Tweed Heads South.

Doors will open at 8.30am with an entry fee of $3, which includes morning tea around 9am, meeting at 9.30am.

ST CUTHBERT’S ANGLICAN PARISH

A LADIES Breakfast is being held at St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church hall on the corner of Florence and Powell Streets, Tweed Heads on Saturday, March 4 commencing at 8.30am.

Come and enjoy the occasion with inspirational guest speaker Judie Bonser, who will speak about her very unusual life and experiences growing up in a family who are deaf, and her work as a sign language interpreter. Cost $10.

Phone Desley on 07 5513 1475 or Church Office 07 5536 1060 to book.

Also, a Garage Sale is being held on Saturday, March 11 from 7.30am–12noon.

A vast array of goods including books, crockery, clothes, shoes, bric a brac, craft, garden, housewares, linen, novelty etc.

Phone the church office on 07 5536 1060.

TWEED HOSPITAL AUXILIARY

AS WE start a new year, the Tweed Hospital Auxiliary is looking forward to hosting many fundraising activities. All proceeds from all events held go towards purchasing much needed equipment for the Tweed Hospital.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with fundraising, working in the hospital gift shop, helping at our fetes and other fundraising activities. We have a place for everyone.

This is a great way to help the Tweed Hospital and also meet new people. Both men and women are needed.

If you are interested in joining us, please phone Merle Graham on 07 5536 1441 for more information.

CO.AS.IT.

COMMUNITY Services offer Aged Care services in home to the general community, as well as people of CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds. We have provided support and information to our elderly in the community for over 37 years. Our professional bilingual staff can help you remain living independently and comfortable in your own home.

We can assist you with funded Home Care Packages (for free), Allied Health Services ($10 per visit) and Nursing Services (for free) at home.

For more information: Co.As.It. Community Services Gold Coast email: gcreception@coasit .asn.au or phone: 07 5527 6481 or website: www.coasit.asn.au.

COOLANGATTA SENIOR CITIZENS CENTRE FOR 50 & OVER SENIORS

WELCOMING all Gold Coast & Tweed area residents and visitors.

The centre has a large range of activities including, bingo, dancing (including lessons), free computer lessons, card games, choir group, indoor bowls, craft, light exercises, line dancing, mah jong, qigong, rock & roll, snooker and eight ball, social table tennis, tai chi, yoga, ukulele lessons, bus trips, free monthly concerts, hairdresser & free WII. Our next free monthly

guaranteed followed by refreshments and a trading table.

More information: Penny Thorpe on 5534 3931 or president, Dianne Lutze on 5590 9119.

■ CURRUMBINELANORA

ARTISTS ON DISPLAY: A chance for U3A Twin Towns members to display some of their finest creations at their Tugun art show.

concert will be on Monday February 27 at 1pm (Qld time) and will feature classical sopranos Duo Diva.

For enquiries, events brochure and concert bookings please phone 5536 4050 or visit the centre at 2 Gerrard Street, Coolangatta.

MACHINE KNITTERS

LADIES and gentlemen interested in machine knitting meet at The Franklin Craft Centre, Mudgeeraba on the 2nd Monday of the month from February to November.

Meetings commence at 9.30am and go through to around lunch time.

We have one or two demonstrations on various brands of machines at each meeting and our group always has at least one ongoing effort for the year to knit and donate items to help fellow Gold Coast people wherever needed.

We look forward to seeing old and new friends at our next meeting. for more information please phone 5537 1436.

AOOB’S TWIN TOWNS BRANCH

OUR monthly meetings will commence again in February.

All meetings are held on the 1st Friday of each month commencing at 2pm (NSW time) in the Secret Garden Room at South Tweed Sports Club, Tweed Heads South.

We are a not for profit organisation raising money for local children’s charities, palliative care and many more. New members are welcome to attend.

U3A ■ NORTHERN RIVERS (LISMORE) INC.

WE OFFER over 40 classes and activities each school term eg science, language, history, discussion groups, travel talks, computers and photography.

Membership is $50 pa for new members and this covers entrance to all classes for the year, some classes attract a small fee for photocopies etc.

Contact: Phone Pat on 02 6622 7408 or email pmaclaren-smith@ bigpond.com or http://www.u3a nriv.org.au.

■ TWEED COAST

OUR famous Fashion Parade is back by popular demand.

This year we celebrate Seniors Week by holding it on Friday, March 3, featuring all new season’s garments by Maddie & Lil of Kingscliff.

There will also be a special talk and display from Wigs for Wendy.

This local not for profit group provides women with wigs, chemo caps and other head wear to help them through the difficult time of coping with chemotherapy.

All their services are free of charge but donations are welcome.

Be at the Uniting Church Hall, 24 Kingscliff St, Kingscliff at 2pm and celebrate all the great things about being a “senior”.

As always, our First Friday Forums are open for everyone and we welcome a $2 donation for a delicious afternoon tea.

Enquiries: Phone Pam on 0420 473 274 or Lorraine on 0457 936 202 or website tweedcoast.u3anet .org.au/wp.

■ TWIN TOWNS

AN ART Show will be held on March 10 and 11 at 4 Boyd Street, Tugun. Many of the members of U3A who attend the various art and other style courses will exhibit their outstanding talent.

The show will open at 4.30pm on the Friday, March 10. Cheese and wine will be served for this twilight event, cost $5pp and will continue on Saturday, between 10.30am-2.30pm (no charge on 11th).

Phone 5534 7333 to book for Friday, March 10.

VIEW CLUBS

VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) works with The Smith Family and supports their Learning for Life programs which help children in need to participate fully in their education.

■ COOLANGATTA TWEED

MEMBERS pleasenNote: The 1st meeting of 2017 will be the Annual General Meeting on Thursday, February 23 (not 16th) at South Tweed Sports Club commencing at 11am for 11.30am.

At this meeting, elections for committee positions will be held and annual fees are due.

International Women’s Day 2017 will be held on Tuesday, March 7 at South Tweed Sports Club commencing at 10am DST for morning tea.

An excellent program of inspirational speakers is

OUR 1st meeting in 2017 will be the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, February 28 at the Currumbin RSL Club commencing at 10am.

At this meeting, elections for committee positions will be held and annual fees are due. More information from Carlene on 5590 8247.

PROBUS CLUB ■ CURRUMBIN

MEETING at the Currumbin RSL on the 4th Thursday of any month at 10am.

A great social club for active retired singles or couples and will make you welcome.

We have a guest speaker at our meeting every month and during the month lots of great tours, outings, movie days theatre, dining, mahjong, cards,walking groups and many opportunities for you to enjoy and make new friends.

Phone secretary Rod on 5534 1909 for more information.

■ KINGSCLIFF MIXED

WE HOLD our meetings at the Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 10am and outings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Visitors are very welcome.

Phone Norma on 02 6676 3360.

■ BALLINA

THIS is a men’s club but partners are invited to join in all monthly social activities.

Our club has a regular monthly meeting with a guest speaker on the second Tuesday of each month (except January), and one social function each month. We meet at the Ballina Golf and Sports Club at 10am.

For details: phone 02 6686 7180 or email brianlorna.lewis3@gmail. com.

grey nomad feature

Monday, February 20, 2017 seniorsnews.com.au

Northern NSW

Seniors 39

Top tips for easy drive IT’S great to dream of retiring and hitting the road, it’s another matter entirely to sit down and understand what that really looks like.

This month we provide a few very practical tips to assist you in getting started on your dream-trip.

1.MONEY ■ The big three costs are petrol, food, accommodation. The cost of the three will vary depending on the area and time of your trip. A savvy move includes a contingency fund – this trip is an adventure, so anything could happen.

2. VEHICLES ■ Perform basic maintenance on your vehicles such as checking wipers and fluid levels ■ Schedule necessary services such as oil changes or tune-ups.

■ If towing, pay attention to the cooling system, as towing increases the amount of heat generated by the engine and transmission.

■ Check with your vehicle’s dealer to see if you need an auxiliary transmission air cooler.

3.CAMPING GROUNDS ■ Free camping grounds: Take care, you can’t pre-book, so the best idea is to get in early. Aim to be where you want to be by 3pm.

■ Paid camping grounds: Wise to pre-book, especially in peak seasons.

4. AMENITIES ■ Toilets: If possible take your own, be it a toilet tent, chemical toilet, etc.

There are grey waste points where sewage can be dumped in most towns – check before you go.

■ Showers: Solar showers are cheap and work well.

You can also check with some yacht clubs and

A little pre-planning can ensure the trip of a lifetime

service stations that may offer cheap showers (just wear your thongs).

■ Laundry: Put your washing in a bucket with a lid. Put in some washing powder and cold water and place on the back

Park

seat floor, then drive away.

You will find the driving motion is enough to shake the dirt out of your clothes.

GREY NOMAD WEBSITES ★www.thegreynomads. com.au

stay

★www.noboundaries. com.au GREY NOMAD BOOKS ★Grey Nomad’s Guidebook, ABC Shop ★Green Nomads, Across Australia’s Wide Heritage,

by Bob Brown ★Sing-Along Book for Grey Nomads, by Aro Dee ★The Grey Nomads: Two Lives; Eight Months: A Thousand Experiences by John A Richardson. ★Camps Australia,

HERE THEY COME: Grey Nomads flock to Woolgoolga in winter.

PHOTO: TREVOR VEALE

www.campsaustraliawide .com or RACQ Shop

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H O M E

E: info@84thespit.com – W: www.84thespit.com

40 Seniors Northern NSW

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, February 20, 2017

WHAT’S ON AT

SEAGULLS Mangrove Restaurant

$12.50 SENIORS SPECIAL LEMON PEPPER CALAMARI RINGS

SE RV ED W

ITH CHIPS

A AL &S

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ALL DAY MONDAY *$15 for non-seniors

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FEB MAR 2017