Toowoomba, January 2020

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January, 2020

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NEW YEAR NEW RE-LEASE OF LIFE FROM DENIM AND LACE TO GRACELAND IN 50 YEARS LIVING

New directions in aged care for LGBTIQ community SENIORS OF THE YEAR

Meet the people and find out why they were recognised in annual honours

Catch up with pop star Marty Rhone and his massive chart-topping country hits

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Best wishes to our readers for 2020

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NEWS

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JANUARY, 2020//

INDEX 4 11 14 16 17 25 28 31

Cover Story: Marty Rhone What’s On Feature: Australian Seniors of the Year Community Group Guide Wanderlust Wellbeing Money Puzzles

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17 Travel the world through out Wanderlust pages

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Here’s to happiness Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor HAPPY New Year, friends.

Welcome to our first 2020 edition, which is packed with national and local stories, ideas and pictures that I’m sure will lead to great conversations.

Our journos, Tracey Johnstone and Alison Houston, have produced interesting features, including the creatively reborn Marty Rhone and our annual feature on each state’s Senior Australian of the Year nominee; and, finally, the changing face of the country’s nursing homes.

The commonality in these topics is their aim to push boundaries to provide conditions for us to live happier, healthier, more meaningful lives.

Happiness means different things to different people and this week I came across some quotes that prove the point. A blog I follow, “Brain Pickings’’ by Maria Popova, noted David

Bowie’s answer to what made him happy, “Reading’’ was his simple answer. International anthropologist and chimpanzee researcher Dr Jane Goodall said: “Sitting by myself in the forest in Gombe National Park watching one of the chimpanzee mothers with her family.’’

For me, it was the answer from French novelist Proust that deeply resonated.

“To live in contact with those I love, with the beauties of nature, with a quantity of books and music, and to have, within easy distance, a French theatre.”

As we go into the new year, I recognise the amazing work of our firies and the suffering of those who have lost homes.

Here’s wishing you loads of happiness for 2020.

SENIORS

CONTACT US General Manager Geoff Crockett – 07 5430 1006 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 07 5435 3203 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Mark Smith - 07 3327 3327 mark.smith@newsregionalmedia.com.au Online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Toowoomba Seniors Newspaper”.

The Seniors Newspaper is published monthly and distributed free in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications.

Published by News Corp Australia Printed by News Corp Australia, Yandina.

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

Furniture craftsman Andrew MacDonald shares skills

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NEWS

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WAY FORWARD: Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio and his Lockyer Valley counterpart Tanya Milligan have called for passenger rail between Toowoomba and Brisbane.

Picture: Contributed

Mayors unite in push for rail line LIFE for many Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley district seniors would be easier if they could just hop a train rather than battling the traffic and paying high prices for parking in Brisbane.

The mayors of both regions declared recently planning for passenger rail between Toowoomba and Brisbane “needs to start yesterday”, with $15 million having been pledged by the Commonwealth Government in the 2018 Budget.

“In almost all other parts of southeast Queensland, people commute to work by train between cities and regions, and right now it’s an opportunity denied to both the Lockyer Valley and Australia’s largest naturally established inland city, Toowoomba,” Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan said.

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said the economic V1 - SETE01Z01MA

opportunities and connections for the Toowoomba Region were both significant and obvious.

“Toowoomba is the gateway to western and southern Queensland and is a major residential, business and tourism centre,” he said.

“It’s important to remember that we have an ageing population, so a passenger rail would be a substantial asset and one that would allow all of our residents to commute throughout Toowoomba and the surrounding areas with much more ease.”

He said it would also take more vehicles off the road, improving traffic flow throughout southeast Queensland.

National Seniors Australia Toowoomba branch president Desma Lindenbaur said many seniors would welcome the service, particularly at seniors’ discount prices.

While many seniors do still drive, it only takes one

small accident to bring traffic on the Range to a halt, and the high cost of parking in Brisbane also needs to be considered, she said.

There also comes the time when you feel you do need to stop driving, or might not want to cope with city traffic, making getting to appointments, seeing family or taking part in sport or cultural events more difficult.

“The proposed 2032 Olympic Games in SEQ is expected to bring events, teams and visitors to the region and, along with the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, we need sensible and forward-thinking passenger services,” Mr Antonio said.

“As the Federal Government encourages communities to manage future droughts through diversification, we have an opportunity sitting before us now to open up these regions and make that happen.”

MEDIUM LEVEL

WATER RESTRICTIONS

Target 175L

PER PERSON PER DAY

Brookstead I Cabarlah I Crows Nest I Goombungee I Gowrie Junction I Greenmount Haden I Hampton I Highfields I Hodgson Vale (including Top Camp) I Jondaryan Kingsthorpe I Kulpi I Meringandan I Millmerran I Nobby I Oakey I Pittsworth Southbrook I Toowoomba City I Westbrook I Wyreema.

GARDEN WATERING TYPE

TIMES

BUCKETING

Before 8am All properties and after 4pm

HOSING with trigger or twist nozzle fitted or IRRIGATING*

PROPERTY

Summer: 5.30pm to 6.30pm

M

T

W

T

F

S

S

W

T

F

S

S

Odd numbered homes

Even or un-numbered homes

OTHER CLEANING ACTIVITIES • Washing vehicles (including boat or caravan) • General cleaning • Washing buildings (not paved surfaces) TYPE HOSING & BUCKETING from bucket, hand held hose or high pressure system.

TIMES Summer: 5.30pm to 6.30pm

PROPERTY

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Odd numbered homes Even or un-numbered homes

*Conditions apply.

Restriction levels vary based on location, for more information visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/water

TRC_0120_SN

Alison Houston

Updates from the Toowoomba Region

You need a hearing test!

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But I’ve already got a hairy chest!

COVER STORY

JANUARY, 2020//

SENIORS

Mid ‘70s pop Marty Rhone finds it all a bit surreal Alison Houston IF YOU or your kids were growing up in the mid1970s, you will remember the name Marty Rhone.

But no one, least of all Marty, could have foreseen you would be hearing so much about him in 2020.

The voice of pop charttoppers Denim and Lace (1975) and Mean Pair of Jeans (1977) has just notched three No.1s on the Australian Country Music charts, released his first album in decades and is about to tour.

His acting career, which in the ’70s included Number 96 and Class of ’75, has also taken off again.

Since 2016 he has had a string of guest roles on popular Australian and American TV series, and has completed a number of short films that are making

Excessive ear wax

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The concerns around traditional ear wax removal What about Irrigation / Syringing?

The technique of directing water under pressure down the ear canal to flush out ear wax. The pressure needs to be strong enough to shift the wax, however if the pressure is excessive, there is potential to cause damage to the ear drum.

What about Cotton Buds?

their way onto prestigious festival line-ups.

“It’s quite surreal, and in the case of the music, completely unexpected,” Marty said.

Inspired by Jackie Weaver’s award-winning success in 2010’s Animal Kingdom, followed by Silver Linings Playbook, Marty had decided that it was now or never to get serious about his acting.

“I was blown away by her performance,” he said of the actor, with whom he worked in an ensemble with John Waters and Rowena Wallace in his early 20s.

“We are the same age and grew up together – as a matter of fact I had a crush on her as a teenager … so seeing Animal Kingdom was the real catalyst.”

In early 2017, just as Marty was heading to the US to further his acting career, Johnny Young and John St

Peeters approachedhim with the song Graceland on the Line to mark the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death.

An Elvis fan since he was eight, Marty loved the song as soon as he heard it and, 40 years on from his last single, Marty Rhone had a new worldwide release.

It hit No.1 on the world independent country music and Australian charts and caught the ear of renowned US producer David J Holman, who offered him a record deal with Cactus Studios. The only catch was he had to write or co-write some of the songs.

“I hadn’t written in decades, let alone written a country song,” Marty said, so he called in more familiar names, Garth Porter (Sherbet) and country stars Rod McCormack and Gina Jeffreys.

Together they created We Had a Good Thing Going and

While you can remove some ear wax with a cotton bud, in many cases it pushes a greater amount of wax further down the ear canal. This can then lead to the opposite desired effect, wax impaction. In addition, there is a greater risk to the delicate skin of the ear canal, ear drum, and of causing secondary ear infection.

What about Ear Candles?

In spite of their popularity, ear candles are not only ineffective, they are also associated with a number of complications or injuries such as facial burns, burns to the ear canal or ear drum, ear canal blockages, ear drum perforations, ear infections, and hearing loss. The slight vacuum caused by the heat of the candle is grossly insufficient to shift ear wax.

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SHOWBIZ VETERAN: Marty Rhone had top-10 hits in 1975 and '77 with Denim and Lace and Mean Pair of Jeans.

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star back in the spotlight ‘‘ Things go in circles and you just have to hope things keep turning

Jealous of the Sky respectively, both of which topped the Australian Country Music Single Charts.

The album Jealous of the Sky was released early last month.

“Things go in circles in this industry, and you just have to hope things keep turning,” Marty said of his renewed success, although he admits it does get harder as you get older.

“It’s very challenging for people in their ‘senior years’ to make yourself relevant to the world at large.

“There are so many

Marty Rhone as the prison priest in the Seth Rogen-produced TV series Preacher.

instances of people wanting to write you off. You are fighting a system that believes you have a use-by date.”

He believes everyone, regardless of age, should be defined by who they are, their abilities and what they

have achieved.

“If you keep focusing on someone’s age, as we do in Australia, you are putting a time limit on them.”

And while it is perhaps a little more physically challenging to keep up the pace required, Marty said he

had kept in good shape and never been afraid of hard work.

“I wasn’t an overnight success,” he said of his seeming catapult to fame when Denim and Lace was released simultaneously, showing on Reg Grundy’s hit

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Class of ’75 and Molly Meldrum’s Countdown.

“I had already been around a few years and released a number of songs that didn’t set the world on fire.”

Marty supported the Rolling Stones at 17. Also on

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Picture: Contributed

his resume are appearances with John Denver, Christopher Cross and the Bee Gees, as well as four years on London’s West End stage with Yul Brynner in The King and I from 1979.

But his first song on TV was Cliff Richard’s Bachelor Boy at just 13, and it is Sir Cliff and I, featuring a combination of his own and Cliff Richard’s best music, that Marty is touring Australian capitals with in May-July, including Sydney’s State Theatre on May 22 and Brisbane’s QPAC on May 28.

It has been eight years since his last tour, and staged by the people behind the mega-production Elvis: King of the World, he said the coming one would be the most spectacular he had ever done.

For more, go to martyrhonemusic.com and for a Countdown flashback, head to https://www.you tube.com/watch?v=BagIa F6HFeg.

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SENIORS

Old Boys ready for rugby trial Tania Phillips RUGBY Old Boys from all over the Downs are expected to gather in Dalby next year to watch the Reds do battle with arch rivals the Waratahs in a trial match.

Queensland will host their Super Rugby rivals on Friday, January 24 in what Downs Rugby Board director Chris Bell said is the first time the Reds have played in the Western Downs and the first regional trial match in 10 years.

Chris said like the annual grand final and Golden Oldies competition, this would be a chance for former players to get together and relive their playing days.

“We expect people to come from around the region from St George, Goondiwindi, Condamine and Warwick,” he said.

The stories are sure to

come thick and fast during the first event of the day – a sportsman’s lunch at the Dalby Event Centre from 12.30-4.30pm, with the game at Dalby Leagues Club from 7.30pm.

With guests coming from such a vast area, Chris said the lunch would be as much about catching up with old mates as listening to guest speakers Tim Horan, Stephen Moore and Garrick Morgan.

Chris said the Reds visit would be a major boost for the drought-stricken area, both financially and for morale.

“Firstly this is about taking rugby to the bush,” he said.

“And secondly, it should be a major boost, injecting money into the economy through restaurants, room nights etc. It will give the area a reason to get together, and give them some entertainment.”

Queensland Rugby Union is partnering with Rural Aid during the Reds tour of regions to raise money for Queensland communities affected by the drought.

While pleased to see the region hosting the Waratahs trial, Chris said rugby was important to the Downs, and older members of the community played a major part in running local competitions, serving on boards and helping off field.

He said there was also a “semi-regular” Golden Oldies competition in the area for those who still wanted to play.

Downs Rugby general manager Matthew Hammond said anyone interested in tickets or finding out more about volunteering at local clubs or playing Golden Oldies should head to the Downs Rugby website at downsrugby.com.au or phone 4633 7733.

READY FOR ACTION: Downs Rugby Board director Chris Bell with a signed Wallabies Jersey and Reds football which will be auctioned at the Sportsman's Lunch on January 24, with proceeds to be donated to Rural Aid. Picture: Contributed

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HANDS-ON: Andrew MacDonald works on a three-legged stool, something similar to what you could take home from his Rustic Furniture Workshop in March.

Picture: Cobb+Co

Alison Houston

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ANDREW MacDonald still jumps out of bed each day eager to discover what lies ahead.

He is aware it’s not something too many people can say about their job, especially at 60.

But Andrew said every day at Toowoomba’s Cobb+Co Museum is different, interesting and challenging.

A wood and metal artisan, Andrew is Cobb+Co factory supervisor, responsible for creating a wide range of objects for the Queensland Museum, from display cabinets to wheels for a Boer War cannon to a 1.5m praying mantis sculpture constructed using pots and pans.

He also designed Cobb +Co’s distinctive boardroom table using recycled hardwood and showcasing the skills of the artisans by having each create a gumleaf in their chosen craft – from metalwork to weaving – which he featured under the table’s glass top.

In March, Andrew is again sharing his skills, hosting his popular two-day Rustic Furniture Workshop, at which he introduces

participants to the timbers, tools and techniques required to make a basic stool, coffee table or hat rack.

The workshop uses pest or “invader” timbers such as privet and camphor laurel, which Andrew said have the bonus of not being expensive to replace in the case of mistakes, but also being strong and easy to work with.

Unlike a lot of art-based classes where everyone walks away at the end with the same creation, he encourages participants to “let the branches talk to you”, and come up with a unique piece based on basic design principles.

“People get a real thrill out of being able to say ‘I made that’,” he said.

Andrew said most participants will have little to no woodwork experience, and both women and men of all ages have successfully taken part.

The hand tools he uses – some of which he has forged himself – are traditional and “a pleasure to use”, unlike today’s power tools.

Andrew said while his four-year Bachelor of Arts at USQ had allowed him “to do nothing but think creatively for four years and look for

opportunities and possibilities”, none of his working background had gone to waste.

As an aircraft engine fitter in the RAAF he gained his first blacksmithing and sheet metal experience, before leaving the defence force and working as a diesel fitter, where he learned troubleshooting skills and to think outside the box.

After that he found himself making furniture in Murwillumbah, cutting fallen trees into slabs, honing his skills with solid timber, and setting his course towards university, ready to become USQ’s Visual Arts Department manager and later production manager.

It seems it has all set Andrew on the path to being able to turn his hand to anything and everything, making him exactly the man for the Cobb+Co Museum job, which he reckons is “one of the best around”.

The two-day Rustic Furniture Workshop runs from 9am-4pm over the weekend of March 21-22 and costs $355 including expert instruction in a maximum class size of six, all materials, morning teas and lunches.

To book, go to cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au or phone 4659 4900.

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NEWS

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SENIORS

Save lives and learn CPR Alison Houston THIS summer – with its extreme temperatures, bushfires, storms and seemingly harmless waterbased pursuits – brings with it the confronting question of what you would do if you were faced with a medical emergency.

Resuscitation efforts won’t always result in the patient’s survival but, according to Toowoomba’s Shayne Baker OAM, they do give that person a fighting chance.

Shayne is national education and training adviser and a Life Member of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, an International Life Saving Rescue Commission member, Downs Little Lifeguards president, a Masters Swim Club member and active Gold Coast surf lifesaver.

He was also one of four local residents inducted into the Australian Resuscitation

Club late last year.

He aided senior lifeguard Toni Rice in the rescue of a young Down syndrome man at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre, and Toowoomba Masters Swim Club members Marcus Ford and Lionel Scotney resuscitated a fellow club member who suffered a medical episode at Glennie Aquatic Centre.

Shayne said although the two incidents occurred at local pools, it was important to realise that resuscitation skills could be needed anytime, anywhere.

And he is speaking from experience.

Over recent years he has also been involved in unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate a beachgoer and successfully resuscitating a neighbouring passenger on a plane.

For Seniors, he said, it was important to learn resuscitation to help in the case of accident or medical emergency.

According to statistics,

LIFE CHANCE: Royal Life Saving Society of Australia national education and training adviser Shayne Baker OAM says resuscitation skills can be needed anytime, anywhere.

Picture: TRC

roughly one-third of the people you are likely to help will be loved ones, one-third people you know, and one third workmates, with a

small percentage being strangers.

“Any attempt at CPR is better than none,” Shayne said, adding that techniques

had been simplified in recent years.

Regardless of the patient’s age, resuscitation now involves 30 compressions to every two breaths, the only differences being the depth of the compressions and therefore whether fingers or the whole hand are used.

Shayne said many parents and grandparents in inland areas such as Toowoomba believed kids didn’t need swimming lessons because they weren’t near the beach.

However, it was still just as vital because so much of Australian lifestyle centred around the outdoors and interaction with water, including camping, fishing, kayaking, bushwalking and pool activities.

He said most occurred in inland waterways – rivers, dams, creeks and lakes – with the smooth surfaces providing a false sense of security, potentially hiding currents, undertows and submerged objects.

Royal Life Saving Australia research showed 1087 people drowned in Australian rivers, creeks and streams in the 15 years to June 30, 2018, with hundreds more hospitalised.

Add to this the incidence of pool drowning – one of the leading causes of death in children 0-4 years of age – and Shayne said, it was vital that everyone who lived in Australia knew the dangers associated with water and how to swim, and that as many as possible learnt resuscitation skills.

Almost 500 children aged 0-4 years drowned in Australia in the 15 years to June 30, 2018 – 59% in backyard pools with hundreds more admitted to hospital.

To find out more about how you or your group can organise resuscitation training, call Shayne on 0411 073 428, email shayne.d.baker@gmail.com or go to www.royallife saving.com.au.

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HAVE SOME FUN AND ENJOY A GREAT DAY OUT

Join our social outings, including door-to-door pick up and drop off for just $15.

From scenic drives to vineyards and museum visits, to local events like the Stanthorpe Apple and Grape Harvest Festival; our social calendar has something for everyone!

PLACES ARE LIMITED Call 1300 763 583

feroscare.com.au/social-transport Our team will help you get approved for Government subsidised transport with My Aged Care.

To book our trips you must be living in the Darling Downs region and be over 65 years (or over 50 years if an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander).

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. Although funding for the service has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.

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MURPHYS CREEK MARKETS ON JANUARY 18 and the third Saturday of every month from 7am-12.30pm, Murphy’s Creek displays its country market best with stalls and entertainment.

There is fresh local produce, goodies from the kitchen, collectables, arts and crafts and books. It’s at Murphys Creek Tavern, so you can always enjoy a drink and a game of pool afterwards.

QUEENS PARK MARKETS MARKETS are a great way to bring the generations together. Why not pick up something nice for a picnic in the park? Everything from food to gifts, homeware to jewellery and clothing. It’s on January 19 and the third Sunday of every month (except September) from 8am-1pm.

AUSTRALIA DAY GET out and celebrate the people of your community on Sunday, January 26, with Australia Day events across the Toowoomba region.

Cambooya: 8-10.30am Cambooya Recreation Grounds - free barbecue breakfast and awards

ceremony.

Clifton: 7-9.30am FE Logan Hall – gold coin donation for a hot brekkie and awards ceremony.

Crows Nest: 4-8pm Centenary Park – awards at 5pm and gold coin donation barbecue at 6pm.

Millmerran/Cecil Plains: 7.30-11.30am Millmerran Lions Park –breakfast followed by awards at 9am and games and activities, with morning tea at 11am.

Oakey: 7.30am-12.30pm, Arthur Shooter Park – buy brekkie and enjoy the entertainment before the flag parade and awards at 8.30am and free morning tea at 9.45am. Then there’s heaps of fun from 10am including Oakey Creek Cup raft race. Ph 0418 876 131.

Toowoomba: 8am-12pm at Picnic Point – A smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country start the official part of the morning, with awards at 9am and entertainment from 9.45am including Toowoomba Repertory Theatre Society, Darling Downs Revue and Toowoomba Caledonian Pipe Band, 1950s music from Topp Gear from 11am, and loads of activities for the kids and free sausage sizzle.

What’s on entertainment till midnight.

The ute muster is from 3pm.

Go to www.oakeyshow .com/rodeo or phone Leanne on 0407 115 709.

Entry is $15 for adults, $3 for kids.

CHARITY THEATRE NIGHT

HAPPY AT HIGHFIELDS: Three generations of village volunteers, Amy, Peggy and Janese Williams, at last year's Australia Day celebrations.

Picture: Contributed

HIGHFIELDS AUSTRALIA DAY JANUARY 26 is always special at Highfields Pioneer Village. Bring along the grandkids give them a fun taste of history. It is open 9am-5pm and entry is free from 1.30pm. If you’ve not been, there are more than 60 authentic buildings to explore, and a big program of entertainment for Australia Day. The official awards ceremony is at 2pm.

Go to www.high

fieldspioneervillage.com.au or phone 4696 6309.

Normal entry charge applies before 1.30pm – $12 Adults, $10 Concession, $6 Children or $30 Family (2A + 4Ch).

ONCE A LOCAL …

EXHIBIT THIS exhibition of works by artists who have some association with the Toowoomba region is at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery from Saturday, February 1 until April 5. Each

work has been chosen for its story or its representation of the region, to celebrate its creative diversity. Find out more at www.tr.qld.gov.au/ trag or ph 07 4688 6652.

OAKEY BULL AND BRONC

THERE’S action aplenty at the annual Oakey Bull and Bronc Rodeo & Ute Muster at Oakey Showgrounds on Saturday, February 1. It kicks off at 6pm and includes bull riding, saddle ride, bareback, and barrel racing and

TOOWOOMBA Repertory Theatre is performing four short romantic comedies, on Wednesday, February 12 for Toowoomba Hospice. ‘The Things We Do For Love’ is billed as “an hilarious, hopeful and compassionate exposé of love” and features three plays by Peter Quilter – Blind Date, The Holiday and Bride To Be – plus Post-Its (Notes On A Marriage) by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holsman. Tickets are $22 including a light supper and are available at toowoombatickets.com.au.

The full season runs from Saturday, February 15-29 – for other bookings go to toowoombarep.com.au.

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U3A to celebrate 30th Toowoomba branch marks milestone with more learning Alison Houston TOOWOOMBA’S University of the Third Age has big things in store for its 30th year.

But president Rhonda Weston said the Toowoomba branch was pumping its energies into providing more fresh content and experiences for members rather than a big birthday bash.

A major highlight will be the visit in February of U3A international association (IAUTA) president Professor Francois Vellas, who will speak on his speciality of international tourism and travel economics and the opportunities for Seniors.

Prof Vellas is the son of Pierre Vellas, who in 1973 founded the U3A movement which now has 26 million members worldwide – 2275 of them in Toowoomba.

Toowoomba is the only Australian member of IAUTA. “It’s a huge honour and responsibility that Toowoomba is the only group in Australia he will visit, and a lot of representatives from U3As across Queensland and interstate will attend his seminar here,” Rhonda said.

A book titled Our Tree of Knowledge was officially launched late last year, tracing Toowoomba U3A’s history which has seen it

30 YEARS STRONG: Jill Cory, Irene Bridgeman and Liz Whatson spent hundreds of hours tracing the history of U3A Toowoomba with help from U3A's Rainbow Writers to create Our Tree of Knowledge.

Picture: Contributed

grow to offering up to 190 classes and activities each week – the biggest range in Queensland.

Marianne Phillips, a tutor when the Toowoomba branch was formed, said “U3A is the best thing that ever came to Toowoomba”, and Rhonda’s aim is to keep it that way.

“We have such an amazing group of volunteers and are really going ahead by leaps and bounds, with membership growing approximately 10 per cent each year,” Rhonda said.

Rhonda and husband David, who is tutor co-

ordinator, joined U3A Toowoomba in 2004 and Rhonda said there are many members who joined in the 1990s and are “still very busy” with classes.

The group’s core purpose is helping over-50s – regardless of prior schooling – stay active and interested in the pursuit of lifelong learning, and it is always looking for new avenues.

That means if you have a topic you are interested in tutoring, they would love to hear from you.

Rhonda runs a guest speaking series with experts in their fields covering a

diverse range of topics for an audience of about 180 people each week.

Other courses encompass everything from fitness activities to history, philosophy, health, technology and travel to food, language and the arts.

Toowoomba is also the umbrella organisation for the Pittsworth and Crows Nest U3A branches and 10 years ago founded the Toowoomba Seniors Expo, which last year was passed to National Seniors to oversee.

In late 2018 U3A Toowoomba also

established the Volunteer Ambassador program in conjunction with Wellcamp Airport.

About 45 U3A ambassadors now work shifts at the airport, meeting arriving and departing flights, sharing their passion for people, planes and the region by providing travellers with information or aid with mobility, children and luggage.

Also last year a partnership was established with the University of Southern Queensland which allows U3A members to sit in on lectures across subjects

from archaeology and anthropology to food science and computer engineering – learning from the best in the fields.

In addition, the group ran its first international study tour to China with nine Toowoomba participants gaining a deeper understanding of the people, their culture and customs.

More tours are planned.

What it all shows, Rhonda said, is that “everyone is hungry for knowledge, whether they are 55 or 85 … and that everyone, regardless of their age or passion, can have a really interesting life”.

And, of course, it’s also a great way of meeting friends.

“The fact that you are all interested in the same subject is an instant connection and means you have something to talk about straight away and are halfway to making friends,” Rhonda said.

Annual membership is $50 and the program mirrors school terms, with weekly class costs kept to a minimum.

For enquiries, email u3atoowoomba@bigpond. com or phone 4687 7659.

To find out more about U3A, open days will be staged at: • Toowoomba – Monday, January 20 at the Philharmonic Performance Complex, Harristown, • Pittsworth – Tuesday, January 21 at Pioneer Village, and • Crows Nest – Wednesday, January 22 at Crows Nest Community Hall.

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Award shines spotlight on inspirational eight Disability advocate fights inequality Climate issues close to artist’s heart SUE Salthouse, ACT, 70 DISABILITIES advocate Sue Salthouse found herself in a wheelchair after a horseriding accident at age 45.

She experienced first-hand the systemic inequality facing people with disabilities.

Sue began advocating for disabled people’s rights to accessible housing, economic security and the chance to contribute to society.

She now runs a consultancy company specialising in disability rights advocacy and works in the disability sector.

“As a 70-year-old paraplegic woman, my award highlights a need for awareness about disability and ageing,’’ she said. “There are now nearly two million Australians over the age of

RIGHTING WRONGS: Sue Salthouse

65 who have significant disabilities.

“Those of us who have had our disabilities in younger years will be joined by our friends who acquire disabilities as the years pass.

“With an ageing

Picture: Contributed

demographic, our numbers will grow. In 2020 as a finalist for Senior Australian of the Year I will be urging governments to take a closer look at understanding the intersection of disability and ageing.”

BANDUK Marika (AO), NT, 65 ARTIST, cultural activist and environmental adviser, Marika is known for her exquisite prints of ancestral creation stories on lino, her original medium of choice.

Banduk and her sisters are among the first Yolngu women whose male relatives have encouraged them to paint ancestral creation stories.

Marika is also a cultural activist and environmental adviser and has appeared as a speaker at national and international conferences.

“There are so many issues in communities, including climate change, which is changing the face of the environment. You can see it happening in front of you. I would love to have a round table with people who are

GREEN THEME: Artist Banduk Marika.

caring enough to talk about what possibilities we have and what measures we have that will delay the environmental changes.

“What about having an emu parade around your community, picking up

Picture: Contributed

rubbish, cleaning up your creeks and digging up debris – volunteers working together. I am also working on a healing centre here; working on natural healing without going to doctors for hard drugs.”

Digging in for land-care awareness

Champion of protecting our planet

DR Graeme Stevenson, TAS, 74 A LANDCARE activist and longstanding volunteer for Landcare Tasmania, Graeme has been promoting healthy soils in Tasmania for more than 30 years.

He has initiated and managed projects along the coastline, including willow removal, riverside fencing and managing soil slippage.

Graeme works with farmers as a soil assessor and agronomy consultant and has written a number of books showcasing his expertise.

He also presents his soil knowledge to schoolchildren as an alter ego, known as Dr Spluttergrunt.

SUE Lennox, NSW, 67 Sue is an environmental educator and social enterprise founder.

As a teacher, she was concerned about young people’s anxiety and despair about the future of the planet.

She co-founded the award-winning social enterprise OzGREEN (Global Rivers Environmental Education Network Australia Inc), which teaches young people how to take positive environmental action through education, participatory leadership and community development.

OzGREEN has developed sustainability programs in 1600 locations across

DOWN TO EARTH: Dr Graeme Stevenson is a strong supporter of the importance of looking after the land.

Picture: Contributed

“My wish is to promote land care to both regional and urban Australia,” Graeme said. “Either join an existing group, form a group

of your own or, if you live in a city, adopt a group. I am a Dr Who fan and consider land care is like the Tardis – bigger on the inside!”

ACTION CALL: Sue Lennox

Australia, India, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Pakistan.

“The threat of global sustainability challenges like climate change call on us to redesign our society in a

short time. If everyone lived like we do, we would need five planets. At a global scale we are living at 1.7 planets beyond the carrying capacity of our Earth.

“We all have a role in creating a world where we are living in harmony with each other and the Earth.

We need to change our way of living, switch to renewables and reduce our carbon footprint.

“We need to be prepared for the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, as witnessed with the massive fires near my home on the NSW north coast.

“We need to equip our youth with skills to innovate new ways of living.’’

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motivated by selfless service to communities Tackling men’s unhealthy mindset PETER Dornan (AM), QLD, 76 Following a prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, and after experiencing depression, incontinence and other side effects, sports medicine physiotherapist Peter Dornan (AM) put an ad in a newspaper, inviting fellow patients to meet.

Since then, he has supported men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Peter’s commitment to helping men share experiences and seek support has helped create a culture change in the treatment management for men with the disease.

Receiving a grant to research incontinence – a common consequence in men after prostate cancer treatment – he designed a

CULTURAL CRUSADE: Men’s health activist Peter Dornan.

Picture: Contributed

successful program to treat the condition and published a book used by Australian prostate cancer support

groups.

“My central quest is to change male culture in relation to their health’” he said.

“I want to remove their mantle of machoism. Part of the answer can be found by realising, historically, going back 200,000 years to the hunter-gathers, the first homosapiens, society needs have dictated men fulfil three main roles: the three Ps – that is, provider, protector and procreator.

“We delegated our women to look after our health. So, are men held captive by their manhood, isolated from emotion, vulnerability and their greater humanity?

In reality, these emotions have become unnaturally suppressed. We have to change now – to cut through the nonsense.’’

Making inroads in curbing fatalities for drivers DR Raymond Shuey (APM), vic, 74.

A former police officer and assistant commissioner for traffic and operations, Ray’s signature achievement during his career was Project Beacon, which trains police in operational safety when responding to mental health and critical incidents.

With road safety partners, Ray developed initiatives to increase enforcement and education programs, resulting in a massive reduction in the Victorian road toll.

He contributed to WHO good-practice literature and has authored many road safety publications, providing knowledge and

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SAFETY: Raymond Shuey.

inspiration for others.

“The consequences of road trauma on the community, nationally and personally, are horrendous.

“My work, life experience and knowledge identify road

trauma as predictable and preventable.

“Since nomination, I have assisted Rotary to develop learner-driver symposia to reduce P-plate trauma and have been co-opted to road safety advisory and editorial boards.

My 2020 award provides an authoritative voice, making a significant difference in saving lives.

“My contributions include keynote presentations, research, peer reviews and donation services motivating others in a paradigm change towards driver attitudes and behaviours, to achieve a ‘culture’ of safety and respect on our roads.”

Sylvia always willing to answer call SYLVIA McMillan, SA, 90 Sylvia McMillan has dedicated her life to being of service to her community.

The 90-year-old has been a force of good to everyone around her and shows no signs of stopping.

She is still the chairwoman for her local branch of Legacy, the organisation that provides services to families of deceased defence force members.

In between her volunteer activities, she regularly attends the gym and does water aerobics with a group at the local Parks Community Centre.

“I want people to get involved, to share the enjoyment of doing things for other people, to help other people,” Sylvia said.

“I plan to keep doing what

DYNAMO: Sylvia McMillan has dedicated many years to her community, including her local Legacy branch.

Picture: Contributed

I am doing now and keeping happy, going to the gym and

keeping involved with my clubs.”

Obstetrics work a world benchmark PROFESSOR John Newnham (AM), WA, 67 A professor of obstetrics, John has been instrumental in making Western Australia an international hotspot for research and clinical excellence in pregnancy and life before birth.

He founded and led the pioneering Raine Study, the world’s first and most enduring pregnancy-focused lifetime cohort project.

John has been described by the world’s leading scientific journal as an intellectual leader of modern obstetrics who has changed the practice of medicine and the lives of women and infants.

EMINENT: Professor John Newnham (AM).

“I will use (this award) to my very best,’’ John said.

“This program requires the education of our everchanging pregnant population and their

Picture: Contributed

families, and our everchanging workforce.

“We have much work left to do, but this award will be wonderful in helping us to achieve our goal.”

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Community notes TOOWOOMBA NATIONAL SENIORS BRANCH meets on the first Thursday of the month at 9.30am at All Seasons Function Centre, corner North and Tor streets, Wilsonton.

On the third Thursday of the month we have a bus trip.

Our first morning tea of 2020 will be on February 6, when we give our yearly donation to the Hospice and will be entertained by Ron Fraser. For more phone Desma on 07 4613 6750.

COBB+CO MUSEUM TAKE your grandkids along to Under the Sea these school holidays. From January 13-19 from 9.30am to 2pm daily. Cost $10 per child. Uncover creatures of the marine world as we bring the ocean to the museum for the summer school holidays. Thanks to the team at Ocean Life Education, you can learn about and meet marine animals including jellyfish, sea horses, baby sharks, sea cucumbers, sea stars, baby stingrays, turtles, crustaceans, coral and more.

At 27 Lindsay St, Toowoomba. For more details, phone 4659 4914 or visit cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au.

SUMMER TUNES COUNCIL’S Toowoomba’s Summer Tunes program provides free, live music at popular parks in the Toowoomba region and is a great way to relax with

friends and family. Concerts feature local musicians from a variety of music genres and can be enjoyed on weekends throughout February and March. Bring some snacks, a picnic blanket and a hat and settle in for some downtime! These are subject to weather conditions.

More info. can found on Council website.

Places and times are listed below:

QUEENS PARK February 2-23, 10am - noon in the children’s play area.

No bands. Face painting by Cleo the Clown.

PICNIC POINT The Hobsons will perform on February 2 from noon-3pm at the band stand area.

The Hobsons are a family band based in Highfields and feature Gerard, Judy and Georgia Hobson. The Hobsons have released a debut album ‘Don’t Look Back’, featuring original catchy music mixed with lyrics that are about real subjects.

On February 9, the Vavachi Jazz & Swing featuring Rhydian Lewis with a fourpiece band, piano/keys, drums, bass guitar and live vocals will be the main act.

On February 16 the Jim Miller Big Band will perform.

Formed by the late Jim Miller, the band continues to perform many of the tunes he loved from the big band era. Included are original ar-

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rangements of popular songs from big band leaders such as Glen Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The band is composed of up to 16 musicians and includes both male and female vocalists.

On February 23 the 100year-old-plus Toowoomba Municipal Brass Band will play music of all styles from the traditional to the modern, classic to rock.

LAUREL BANK PARK Picnic Pleasures will be the theme for the performance of 2 Timing on February 2, from noon-3pm at the music tent by the hall. Cathy and Walter are 2 Timing and offer a massive repertoire of songs from the 1950s to current popular hits including rock ‘n’ roll, pop, country, swing and European.

On February 9 Timeless, a four-piece group featuring guitar, keyboard, saxophone, drums and vocals will perform. Just like the name, the music is timeless, soothing and relaxing.

On February 16 Johnny Jump Up will perform. This is Toowoomba’s own little piece of Ireland and songs range from traditional and classic Irish songs, with the odd reel or jig thrown into the mix, as well as uptempo, foot-tapping singalong Irish folk songs. I On February 23 Undercover performs. Undercover produce great live music in combination with quality backing tracks. They play the hits from the 60s through to the 90s and their motto is: ‘We keep the hits coming!’

UnderCover comprises Mar-

SUMMER HARMONIES: Picnic Point will be one of the venues for Summer Tunes music events in 2020.

tin Paroz on lead vocals and harmonies, Gayle Dixon on lead vocals and harmonies and Ian Dixon on drums.

CAMBOOYA On March 29 from 3-6pm at the Cambooya Recreation Grounds on Lucy St guests can check out Irish-inspired Johnny Jump Up. Songs range from traditional and classic Irish songs, with the odd reel or jig thrown in.

CECIL PLAINS On March 15 Flashback will perform from 10.30am-1pm at the Cecil Plains Homestead on the Condamine River.

Flashback appeal to a wide audience and will perform a huge selection of songs spanning from Elvis to Johnny Cash, Credence to the Beatles, plus a sprinkling of country greats.

Flashback is one of Toowoomba’s most popular bands.

CROWS NEST On March 1 Slow Train Coming will perform from 11am-2pm at Centenary Park, Curnow St. Think of a five-piece band with horns.

Formed last century, this band has performed more than 600 live shows at venues across southern Queensland.

Their influences include rock, pop, blues, jazz, soul and Memphis. They are a cover band that plays popular hits from the past four decades.

GOOMBUNGEE On March 29 Tux will perform from noon-3pm at by the war memorial on Marcotta St. Greg Bird Entertainment and Promotions has brought together some of Toowoomba’s finest musicians - Bernard Borserio on piano, Camillo Lanzafamie on bass, Mark Nuss on drums, Allan Skerman on

trumpet, Mal Gaydon on trombone, Paul Hendon on sax and Greg Bird as vocalist - to form Tux. Tux plays swing jazz to popular rock.

OAKEY On March 1 Killin Time will perform with the program running from 10am-1pm at Arthur Shooter Park on Stanley St. Join Andrew Kucks, Phillip Vellacott, Jared and Nathan Walmsley for a rare Toowoomba show, as Killin Time play popular songs from 25 years of experiences at The Gympie Music Muster.

PITTSWORTH On March 22 the Paul Edwards Quartet will perform at the Pittsworth Pioneer Historical Village, Pioneer Way. The program continues from 3pm - 6pm. This fourpiece band plays a broad range from jazz through to blues, cabaret and fusion. T.

Kindy kids to step up visits VISITS from Beck Street Kindergarten students to Ningana Retirement Village have been such a success this year that both parties are planning to make them a fortnightly event in 2020.

Beck Street Kindergarten assistant educator Ros Boland and Ningana Lifestyle co-ordinator Kelly Ferguson agreed it was a very special relationship to build on for both the children and village residents.

“The children were really excited about going and when they went into the room, there was no

hesitation … they walked straight up to the residents and shook hands or said hello, and it was amazing to see them interacting so easily – it was beautiful,” she said.

Ros said the ages of the residents was quite a topic for conversation when the kids returned to school, as was talk that some of the residents used to ride horses to school.

The plan is to centre the fortnightly visits around the kindy’s curriculum, such as its multicultural unit, varying activities between reading, art and craft, singing,

cooking and games.

This will allow the seniors and children to introduce each other to their interests and build understanding and respect between the generations.

“Our residents are really looking forward to it,” Kelly said of the increased contact schedule. “We are hoping they will form very natural bonds with each other.”

Kelly said the program was just one of the intergenerational programs established at the village.

Year 12 drama students from Dalby State High School last year met with

residents and listened to their stories as the basis for a script which they then finetuned with residents before performing for them.

Residents also took part in the Billycan Project – an all-ages and abilities activity in which you “draw a picture” simply by your movements holding a billycan with a weighted pen suspended inside.

Kelly said school students were then paired up to interview and write residents’ stories, which were displayed with the art at the Dalby Art Gallery, and are now in the Ningana foyer.

BUILDING UNDERSTANDING: Mia Milton chats with her great grandfather Des Northdurft during the Beck Street Kindergarten visit to Ningana Retirement Village.

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IN BRIEF Newcomer charting course for key regions Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has welcomed Vasco da Gama into Sydney as she began her first Australasian season.

The ship’s inaugural season coincides with CMV’s 10th anniversary this year and marks the cruise line’s largest Australasian deployment yet. Vasco da Gama has a 1220-guest capacity and will home port in Adelaide and Fremantle, also cruising from London (Tilbury), Auckland and Singapore in addition to Sydney. The ship offers two pools, the well-equipped Jade Wellness Centre and Spa, a two-tiered theatre, and five inviting bars and lounges. Six dining venues feature cuisine from around the world and the Chef’s Table provides a degustation menu plus an insight into the workings of the galley.

During Vasco da Gama’s first Australasian season, the cruise line will champion domestic tourism by making key regions such as Tasmania, the northwest of Australia and the Yorke

Peninsula (South Australia) more accessible and more affordable. In the ship’s 2020-21 season, CMV will make compelling domestic destinations even more accessible to Australians, visiting ports of call that are new to the cruise line, such as Darwin, Geelong and Port Arthur. Info: cmvaustralia.com.

Hue beauty! Catch Japan’s colourful show In 2020 a new cruise tour will enable more Australians to immerse themselves in the rich traditions, colourful customs and inspiring icons that make Japan one of the world’s most vibrant and captivating destinations.

Hosted by Cruise Express, the 19-night Autumn Colours of Japan itinerary in November 2020 will enable guests to join tea ceremonies, learn to make sushi, watch sumo wrestling, meet authentic geishas, ride bullet trains, view iconic Mt Fuji and visit lavish palaces – all backdropped by the colourful hues of autumn.

Departing Australia on November 2, 2020, the escorted tour begins with an eight-night land itinerary starting in Tokyo. Back in

DELIGHTFUL: Japan offers a natural spectacle with its autumn colours.

Tokyo, guests board Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess for a nine-night, round-trip cruise to five Japanese ports. Including return flights from Australia,

Call our friendly, experienced team to book your next cruise or touring holiday or to join one of Go See Touring’s special group departures.

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This is a social golf croquet doubles event and it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert - it’s all about having fun. You’ll play on the oldest sporting pitch in the Southern hemisphere that is still in use. With stunning Norfolk Island as the backdrop to this week of friendly competition, there will be sightseeing, lots of fun and laughter! We hope you can join us!

11 - 18 JULY 2020

Want to enjoy the festive season twice this year? Spend a week on Norfolk Island with its stunning scenery, sandy beaches and jagged cliffs. There is so much to see and do – and all at your own pace. We’ve included some great accommodation options, a hire car so you can explore, some fabulous tours that you won’t want to miss, plus plenty more to do on the Island. Enjoy a festive delicious Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, fun trivia and Carols at Paradise Hotel & Resort. Chase away those winter blues and have some fun. Call us now to secure your accommodation.

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the Autumn Colours of Japan cruise tour is available from $9790 a person, twinshare – a saving of $200 a person if booked by January 14. Info: www.cruiseexpress.com.au.

Faroe Islands surprise Explore the Faroe Islands on Odyssey Traveller’s fully escorted, small-group tour designed for mature travellers. The tour gives you chance to visit some of the islands’ most stunning sights and to explore the capital, Torshavn, while discovering the interesting history of the Faroes and the unique culture. Only a short flight from Scotland, the Faroes are off most standard travellers’ radars. Yet, for the tourists who do find their

way there, the Faroe Islands offer breathtaking natural landscapes, rugged terrain, verdant green pastures and jaw-dropping cliffs and waterfalls to explore. During the four-day tour, guests will be based in Torshavn and travel to parts of the archipelago including the villages of Gasadalur, Vestmanna, Kirkjubour and Gjogv. This allows you to explore all corners of this beautiful collection of islands, taking in the epic coastline, magnificent sea cliffs and colourful scenery.

Info: https://www.odyssey traveller.com/tours/faroeislands-tour/.

Seal of approval amid Icelandic wilderness Odyssey Traveller’s

Picture: Contributed

Iceland cultural and wilderness small-group tour is a 16-day circumnavigation of the fascinating island and is designed for mature-age or senior travellers. During the tour, experience Iceland’s spectacular landscapes filled with glaciers, geysers and waterfalls, as you cruise among arctic icebergs. at great destinations such as Vatnajokull National Park, At Illugastadir, spot seals from the coast. The escorted guided tours offer fresh insights into the history of Iceland. Odyssey’s adventure tours to Iceland are suitable for most fitness levels. Info: https://www .odysseytraveller.com/ tours/faroe-islands-tour/.

18 - 25 JULY 2020

Join Fortunato Isgro or Lindsay (Waddo) Waddington for a fantastic week on Norfolk Island of Songs and laughter! A Little Bit Country on Norfolk Island 2020 sees a great line-up of performers taking to the stage.

Graeme Hugo, Fortunato Isgro, Wayne Horsburgh and Lindsay (Waddo) Waddington will all perform at 3 big shows during the week. Plus plenty of time for you to enjoy beautiful Norfolk Island with its colourful history, lush greenery, stunning scenery and friendly locals. Enjoy delicious cuisine, tours, time to shop and explore and plenty of laughs along the way. Call us for more information!

20 - 27 JULY 2020 SENSATIONAL SINGAPORE Join us when we visit the bi-annual world premier tropical garden WITH SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL and flower show - the 2020 Singapore Garden Festival. The festival showcases colourful and exciting garden designs with exquisite floral displays from over 50 designers and 19 countries.

ESCORTED EX BRISBANE

$4,745*

per person Twin Share Ex BNE Single supplement $1,380

During the tour you’ll also visit the Botanic Gardens, National Orchid Gardens, have breakfast at the zoo, high tea at the iconic Raffles Hotel, visit the National Museum plus experience the exciting sights and sounds of Sentosa Island. Leisure time to explore further afield, shop ‘til you drop or lay by the pool. We’d love to have you with us when we travel to this beautiful multicultural city and its fabulous gardens. Space is limited.

BELLA ITALIA HOSTED BY FORTUNATO ISGRO From

Per person Twin Share

BNE, Single $995 $10,950* exsupplement

MAGICAL COOK ISLANDS HOSTED BY LYNNE & GRAEME HUGO

From

$3,995*

Per person Twin Share ex BNE, Single Supplement $980

15 SEPTEMBER - 06 OCTOBER 2020

You are invited to join entertainer Fortunato on his much-anticipated ‘Bella Italia’ tour, where you will experience 22 days of incredible history, culture, food and scenic landscapes within central and southern Italy all whilst enjoying wonderful entertainment from your renowned host. Fortunato is particularly excited to also take you to Sicily and the Aeolian Islands where his family originates, to bring you an authentic experience that you will never forget.

You don’t want to miss out on this stress-free holiday with Fortunato and his family. Contact us for more fabulous details.

30 OCTOBER - 07 NOVEMBER 2020

You are invited to join entertainer Graeme Hugo & Lynne for a trip of a lifetime to the beautiful Cook Islands.

Experience the authentic colourful local culture, swim in crystal clear tropical waters, enjoy delicious local cuisine, informative and scenic tours. Located just 6 hours from Australia, we hope you can join us on this trip to paradise.

Please call us to secure your place or for more details.

TERMS & CONDITIONS *Price is per person Twin Share. Single Supplement applies. Credit card surcharges apply. Deposit of AUD $500-$800 per person is required to secure tour. Tour requires a minimum number of passengers to depart. Prices may fluctuate if surcharges, fee, taxes or currency change.

Prices current as at 31st October 2019. Go See Touring in conjunction with Norfolk Select Marketing ABN: 93 367 366 822 ATAS Accreditation A10619

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Cruise & Maritime Voyages has welcomed the Vasco da Gama into Sydney as she began her first Australasian season.

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SIT BACK, RELAX: A chance to enjoy the nostalgia of train-travel.

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Great days of rail journeys

eXPeRieNce lONgReAcH & wiNtON

There’s plenty of fascinating things to see and do in the heart of Qld. Visit the Qantas museum and Stockmans Hall of Fame or Winton — the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda and it’s Age of Dinosaurs Museum. 7 Days from $1,390 including return QLD Pension Rail Fare return in Economy Seat. Upgrade to Sleeper Cabin $1,870 Departing Monthly April to Oct

s w Ave Apr hen b $100 P il D ook P epA ing rtu re

AwesOMe fOuRsOMe gulflANDeR ADveNtuRe

Travel the Gulf Country of northern Qld aboard the legendary Gulf & Savannahlander Trains. Visit the Atherton Tablelands, Georgetown, Cobbold Gorge, Finnegans Rest & Mt Surprise and traveling back to Cairns on the through lush tropical rainforest aboard the Kuranda Scenic Railway. 10 Days from $2,490 including return QLD Pension Rail Fare in Economy Seat.

Upgrade to Deluxe Rail Bed $2,890 Departure Monthly April to Oct

Dis sA cou ve nte $30 D A 0 PP irf Are s

TANIA PHILLIPS

ecceNtRic ligHtNiNg RiDge

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The most unique mining town in Australia, Lighting Ridge boasts with over 100yrs of opal mining history. Fossick for your own treasure on lands that 100mil years ago dinosaurs roamed. Visit Museums, Mines and Caves and even an artesian pool!

5 Days from $1,460 Departing 13th May 2020

New eNglAND HistORicAl tRAil

*4 Days* – Depart Brisbane. Enjoy Historical Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield, Booloominbah & Saumarez Historical Homesteads, Standing Stones*, *Lunch at Abby of the Roses Manor 4 Days - $799 *PP Twin Share, Single add $195 *Departure Dates 2020: 25th March*

tuRtle HAtcHiNg Of MON RePOs

The Southern Aurora – now renamed Aurora Australis.

USB sockets,” Simon said.

The Southern Aurora provided an overnight shuttle service from Sydney to Melbourne (and return) until the mid-1980s. Considered first class in its day, the Southern Aurora provided airconditioned luxury to its passengers.

Simon himself had been a passenger in the carriages in the past, joining train trips run by the Canberra Railway Museum, so when the Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT) went into receivership he knew he had to do something to return them to service.

“I have always been interested in trains and rail heritage,” he said, “and I felt strongly that we needed to put the Southern Aurora train

back together and allow people to enjoy travelling on her again.”

The trains are now back on the tracks, with the company developing a Golden West Trail Tour which does a loop that transports passengers from Sydney and takes in the Hunter, Dubbo, Orange, Werris Creek and the Blue Mountains, mainly aimed at those of us who still remember what it was like to ride this iconic train or wished we had.

The first Golden West Trail Tour set for April 1-5 next year sold out within three months and tickets for September 9-13 are now selling well.

For further information and a full itinerary: Go to: vintagerailjourneys.com.au to book or phone 1300 421 422.

4 Days – Depart Brisbane to see the Turtle hatchlings at Mon Repos.

Mon Repos is a very special place; it supports the largest concentration of nesting marine turtles on the eastern coast. Here we can learn about the Mon Repos Turtles and their colourful history. Then enjoy a Burnett River Cruise, Visit a Bundaberg Bundy Rum Distillery and gorgeous Tin Can Bay. 4 Days - $799*, *PP Twin Share, Single $195 Departing: 4th March

tOtAl tAsMANiA

Tasmania, “the Island of Inspiration” is an island of dramatic coastlines, quaint villages, convict-built heritage and magnificent food and wine. Incl Hobart, Port Arthur, Derwent Bridge, Tamar Valley, Beauty Point, Cradle Mt & Gordon River Cruise. 11 Days, $3,490. Return Airfares $3,925 Departure Dates: 1st April 2020

YAMBA & BYRON BAY

4 Days – Depart Brisbane. Enjoy lunches overlooking beautiful oceans, colourful fishing trawlers and pelicans, also Clarence River Cruise. Picturesque Villages and Maclean, known as the Scottish Town of Australia. 4 Days - $699*, *PP Twin Share, Single $195 Departing: 27th February

Herberton > undara lava tubes > georgetown > forsayth > cobbold gorge croydon > karumba > cloncurry > Mt isa > Richmond > charters towers

Best Of tHe NORtH west & Mt isA

Ever wanted to experience the Best of North West Outback Queensland but never could manage to get there? Well now is your chance. Visit Herberton Historical Village, Undara Lava Tubes, Georgetown, 190 million year old Cobbold Gorge, Quirky Croydon, Remote Karumba, Cloncurry, Mt Isa and its Mines, Richmond’s Dinosaurs & Charters Towers. from $2,940 13 Days including Return QLD Pension Rail Fare Economy Seat, Upgrade to Deluxe Rail Bed $3,290 *Departure Dates 2020: 16th May, 13th June.

clAssic sOutHeRN OutBAck PuBs AND cuNNAMullA

*8 Days* - *Classic Outback Pubs – if only the walls could talk! *Discover the pubs where Australian folklore characters came to life including “Dad & Dave” Rudd’s Pub, Stanthorpe, QLD oldest 1864 Nindigully Pub, 1866 Club Boutique Hotel, Cunnamulla Fella Centre, Charleville Cosmos Observatory & Historic Corones Hotel, Mitchell Great Artisan Hot Water Pools, Big Rig Night Show Roma, Dalby. *8 Days $2,180*PP Twin Share, Single add $420, *Departure Dates 2020: 1st April*

icONic PuBs Of NORtH QueeNslAND

*10 Days* -Depart Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of QLD Train – See spectacular scenic destinations whilst visiting well known and historic pubs including the 1878 Court House Hotel, Port Douglas, highest pub in QLD Ravenshoe Hotel, the Iconic *“Pub with no Beer”* Ingham, 1901 Great Northern Hotel, Townsville, Charters Towers 1865 Eureka Hotel *10 Days with Return Rail Fare. QLD Pension Economy Seat $1,840.

QLD Pension Deluxe Rail Bed $2,190. Seniors Card Deluxe Rail Bed $2,480 *Departure Dates 2020: 28th April 25th July; 19th Sep*

2020 Tours Taking Bookings noW!!! * On all tours up to $3,000 value

Visit www.greatvalueholidays.com.au

or phone 1300 722 661 Terms and conditions apply: See website for details.

Our Industry Partner:

7050938am

THERE is something romantic and nostalgic about overnight train journeys – the chance to unpack once and just sit back and enjoy the sound of the train and the sights out the window.

For many of us over 50 it takes us back to the days of summer holidays and school trips when getting anywhere without being crammed into the back of the Holden station wagon meant getting on the train.

And for those growing up in the southern states, that meant taking the glorious old Southern Aurora – something you can do again thanks to the Vintage Rail Journeys company.

According to company CEO and self-confessed train lover Simon Mitchell, the Southern Aurora sleeping carriages have been restored to their sparkling 1960s condition and reinstated back into service under the new name of Aurora Australis.

“We have kept the carriages in as close to original condition as we could,” Simon said.

“Mid-century vintage is very ‘on trend’ right now and as custodians we are proud to be able to maintain the heritage of these carriages.”

While the company has, where possible, kept the vinyl wallpaper along with features such as the original light fittings, there has been some modernisation.

“However, we have updated the share bathrooms in the single compartment carriages, removed ashtrays and added modern conveniences such as

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Add magical Mykonos to bucket list Make 2020 the year to enjoy everything on offer FROM its whitewashed buildings, cobbled streets, world-famous sunsets, delicious seafood and lively local tavernas, not to mention luxurious boutique accommodation, glamorous beach clubs and genuine Greek hospitality – there’s a raft of reasons to tick Mykonos – and the Myconian Collection – off your travel bucket list in 2020.

Here are 10 reasons why you should treat yourself to a taste of Mykonos: 1. Getting there is easy Thanks to new direct flights from Sydney to Mykonos (via Doha) with Qatar Airways, Australian travellers can now start their Greek getaway in record time. Trade the Australian winter for a gorgeous Greek summer between June and August; or visit during May or September to “live like a local” and avoid the crowds.

2. Food, glorious (Greek) food Food is a serious business at the Myconian Collection Hotels & Resorts. Blending the skills of internationally trained executive chefs with fresh ingredients sourced exclusively for the hotels

through time-honoured ties with farmers and fishermen nurtured by the hotel group’s founding family, the Daktylides.

The farm-to-table philosophy is alive and well in Mykonos. The Myconian Collection chefs are committed to encouraging guests to experience authentic Mykonos through its cuisine, including lamb and pork hand-reared on Daktylides family land, locally-grown herbs and vegetables, and the island’s best octopus, caught just for the Myconian Collection by one of the island’s most iconic fisherman.

There are more than a dozen distinctive restaurants across the Myconian Collection portfolio of boutique hotels, many boasting spectacular ocean views. Must-visit restaurants for your 2020 bucket list include: Cabbanes at the Myconian Villa Collection; Panorama at Myconian Avaton; and Pavilion - Relais & Chateaux at the Myconian Utopia.

3. Explore ancient history Offering a fascinating contrast to Mykonos’s

Lap up the luxury in the stylish accommodation.

cosmopolitan vibe, the nearby island of Delos – feted as the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis – was once at the heart of ancient Greek life as a hub for religious pilgrims, trade and multiculturalism.

These days, Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to intriguing ruins that are a must-see when staying on Mykonos.

Myconian Collection guests can join a day trip to Delos aboard a private yacht to explore the island’s statues, preserved houses and temples – all with the expert insights of an experienced tour guide.

4. Experience laidback luxury Mykonos has become a magnet for cosmopolitan travellers who flock to enjoy the island’s unique brand of laidback luxury. Having evolved from its “partyisland” past, today Mykonos attracts couples, families and groups of friends lured by the island’s blissful beaches, crystal-clear waters, stunning sunsets, unique Greek hospitality, delectable dining and new breed of boutique hotel accommodation – such as

Picture: Contributed

BETTER BY DESIGN: Boutique hotels for those who like to be closer to the action include Myconian Kyma, a member of Design Hotels.

Picture: Contributed

the gorgeous guest-house style villas at the Myconian Villa Collection.

5. Hit the beach From a privileged position above Elia Beach on the southern coastline of worldfamous Mykonos reside five Myconian Collection properties: Myconian Utopia Resort Relais & Châteaux; Myconian Avaton Resort a member of Design Hotels; Myconian Villa Collection, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Legend Collection; Myconian Imperial Resort and Royal Myconian Resort, both eminent members of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Guests can enjoy access to a pristine, private stretch of beach complete with bar service for snacks and creative cocktails – all served to your sunbed.

6. Join the jet-set South of Elia Beach live like the rich and famous on Mykonos’s stunning south coast, home to a chic, cosmopolitan crowd, luxury yachts galore, fabulous fivestar dining and perfect people-watching on the famous beaches of Psarou and Scorpios.

Stay at the Myconian Ambassador Relais & Châteaux for panoramic views and easy access to the best-known beaches.

Myconian Kyma offers picture-postcard views of the alluring crystal-clear water.

Picture: Contributed

7. Get lost in the laneways of Mykonos Town The labyrinth-like cobbled streets of Mykonos Town are made for getting lost.

Designed to be chaotic in order to confuse pillaging pirates, it’s easy to lose a day or two meandering through boutiques, discovering tiny churches, lingering at local cafes, dining at traditional tavernas, exploring Little Venice, and watching the fishing boats come and go at Alefkandra harbour.

Boutique hotels for those who like to be closer to the action include: Myconian Kyma, a member of Design Hotels; Myconian Naia Luxury Suites, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, LXV Collection and the Myconian Korali Relais & Châteaux.

8. Genuine Greek hospitality Authentic Greek hospitality is at the heart of the Myconian Collection, where guests are often personally welcomed by members of the founding Daktylides family in a tradition which began with the family’s first hotel back in 1979.

Staff at the Myconian Collection’s nine boutique properties provide warm, discreet, attentive service and take the time to discover your preferences and personal experiences.

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Having evolved from its “party-island” past, today Mykonos attracts couples, families and groups of friends looking for the holiday of a lifetime .

Picture: Contributed

‘‘

The labyrinth-like cobbled streets of Mykonos Town are made for getting lost.

position.

The hotel’s two-tier infinity pool lights up when the sun goes down, creating

an alluring ambience for sharing post-sunset cocktails and canapes in serious style.

10. Serious specials – save now on 2020 stays Book your Mykonos getaway to stay between May and October 2020 to enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast, one complimentary Thalassotherapy spa treatment per person per stay, complimentary shared transfers and free wi-fi.

Source: myconiancollection.com

Imagine yourself lying back and relaxing in the shade with a cold drink and a good book on a Myconian outdoor lounge.

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You’ll never go hungry with the wide variety of quality food available in the boutique hotels throughout Mykonos.

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Mykonos has become a magnet for cosmopolitan travellers who flock to enjoy the island’s unique brand of laidback luxury.hotels.

Picture: Contributed

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Guests relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

SPOIL YOURSELF: The Plush Deluxe room at The Hideaway Cabarita Beach is more like a bohemian boudoir.

Pictures: Shirley Sinclair

Camping was never so good Shirley Sinclair THE wow factor hits the moment we hear that familiar unzipping sound, then peel back the wide cream flaps and step inside.

This is certainly not the camping I know. This is luxe glamping.

We have arrived at The Hideaway Cabarita Beach.

Our Plush Deluxe room (it could never be classified as a “tent”) is more like a bohemian boudoir.

And there’s more space than most hotel rooms we’ve stayed in.

A quick glance reveals a king-size bed, bamboo/ rattan/cane styling in occasional furniture pieces and a huge funky circular floor rug.

We try to take it all in: the comfy pillows, designer cushions, lounge, director’s chairs with casual table, lamps on bedside tables, mini-fridge with glass bottle of water, and towel rack with fluffy towels.

Outside on the grassy front lawn is a rustic scene we’ve already earmarked for sunset drinks: two squatter chairs beside a sturdy beach umbrella and “stump” table.

JOIN US in 2020 ANZAC Day in the Somme.

Special Boer War Tour Western Front to Normandy

Monash– Advance to Victory Tour

We found everything laid out before us on a guided tour of the pet-free and smoke-free resort.

There’s not even a set of keys to lose: just walk away (an on-site manager keeps an eye on things during the day and a security guard patrols the resort at night for your peace of mind).

And if you’re staying longer than three nights, the room will be serviced every fourth day.

New owners Cath and Adam Smith, born-and-bred Tweed region locals, wanted to create something special they could be proud of that was in keeping with the casual beachside lifestyle and draw people from all over Australia – if not the world – for a no-fuss, restful holiday or mini-break.

The Hideaway Cabarita

Beach idea is all about helping guests relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

It’s small-scale: capped by the owners at 23 rooms, catering for a maximum of 58 guests on the 4000sq m (one-acre) site.

The rooms come in three sizes: the 6m Plush Deluxe includes a king-size bed; the 6m Bigger/Family Suites have a queen-size bed and a single bed either side; and the 5m Classic has a queensize bed (the mattresses are made by the company that produces the much-lauded Koala beds – firm but oh-so comfortable, and quality linen is supplied).

They offer everything to love about camping (fresh air, sounds of nature, open spaces, night skies, relaxed living and the novelty of sleeping under canvas) but

minimise everything to hate about camping (too uncomfortable, too noisy, too many people, no privacy, too far away from the action, too dirty, too much equipment to pack and lug in then repack and take home).

In fact, The Hideaway is more like a hotel in the great outdoors than an old-style campground, in an idyllic beachside community.

There’s plenty of living space within and surrounding the bell structures, which are akin to traditional Himalayan and Mongolian homes and feel like you’re sleeping under a circus Big Top. The waterproof cotton canvas is highly soundproof.

Repurposed shipping containers have created a reception area, well-

maintained toilets and toilet/ showers and laundry, as well as a barbecue/bar area and a kitchen/dining/chill-out zone with children’s play area. The communal areas – especially the long dining tables, lounge, barbecue, fire pit and picnic tables – as well as twinkling lights overhead all add to the fun holiday atmosphere.

The owners encourage guests to “enjoy Cabarita” and all the restaurants, cafes and businesses providing meals, snacks, drinks, takeaways and supplies.

What else could you want for a hassle-free break in your own little sanctuary, but still with the joys only camping can offer?

— The writer was a guest of The Hideaway Cabarita Beach.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1300 450 436 OR VISIT WWW.BATTLEFIELDHISTORYTOURS.COM.AU Bomber Command Tour

Flying Legends Air Show

UK History & Heritage Railway Tour

The view from Cabarita Beach Surf Life Saving Club’s veranda.

Norries Headland captures stunning 360-degree views.

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This is like the seaside you used to know before coastal developments meant high-rises BEACHFRONT BLISS: The oversized Yeppoon Lagoon is loved by locals and visitors.

Pictures: Contributed

Keppel’s an island paradise Wind down in low-key style Kerry Heaney IT LOOKS like a swim-up infinity pool at a luxury resort, but there’s no entry fee and everyone is welcome to swim, barbecue or relax under the tropical foliage.

On the beachfront in the foreshore precinct, the oversized Yeppoon Lagoon is loved by locals and has visitors sideswiped by its style. I’ll take a lounger overlooking the Keppel Islands here any day.

Battered by Cyclone Marcia in 2015 and bushfires in 2018, Yeppoon has bounced back, capitalising on the area’s natural beauty.

There’s gourmet dining, a range of water-view accommodation and play parks that invite family picnics followed by beach cricket.

This is like the seaside you used to know before coastal centres meant high-rise developments that block the sun on the sand, and more time in traffic jams than surfing. It is the sort of place where relaxation comes with a proper intake of a sea breeze.

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Yeppoon,stopping at Emu Park to see the awardwinning Centenary of Anzac Memorial Walk. It tells moving stories about Gallipoli, the Anzac legend, the Somme and other extraordinary war campaigns, highlighted by silhouettes of soldiers and horses overlooking the shoreline.

Public art is a constant throughout Emu Park and Yeppoon, so look out for street art in carparks, laneways, surf lifesaving clubs and roadside walls.

Wreck Point Lookout is another scenic stop, providing 380-degree views of Keppel Bay and the Capricorn Coast and a walking trail down to the rocky point.

There are more headland views at Rosslyn Bay Resort, which overlooks Kemp Beach. Surrounded by harbour, hinterland and headland, the resort is also home to Beaches Restaurant, which serves owner Ross O’Reilly’s locally grown organic produce from the High Valley Dawn permaculture farm.

Before you jump on the ferry to Great Keppel Island at Keppel Bay Marina, enjoy

a meal at award-winning restaurant The Waterline.

The beef here comes from the owner’s central Queensland cattle properties. For breakfast try the Cowboys Benedict with Banana Station rib fillet, smoked belly bacon and a poached egg with blackbean tomato salsa. Now that will set you up for the day!

If you are wearing shoes, you are definitely overdressed at Great Keppel Island Hideaway. Even thongs are optional at this low-key island paradise. It doesn’t have and doesn’t need a pool or spa because you’ll be spending your time on the beach or in the water.

Instead, I hitched a boat ride to an isolated beach on a tropical island.

Floating in the crystalclear water watching the clouds float by, it is easy to imagine life as Robinson Crusoe on Great Keppel Island.

A joy flight with Rockhampton Helicopters will show you the island, and the coastline has many more beautiful spots to explore.

Find out more from capricornholidays.com.au.

– The writer visited as a guest of Capricorn Enterprise.

A delicious picnic treat from Great Keppel Island Hideaway.

Eye-catching art abounds at Emu Park.

BRAND NEW HOMES READY TODAY IN TOOWOOMBA’S MOST LUXURIOUS OVER 50’s RESORT If you ever wished you could stay on holiday forever, then Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba is your dream come true.

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Taste of things to come DEMENTIA Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning has launched a workshop aimed at educating aged care professionals on how they can provide a better dining experience for people living with dementia.

Acting CEO Dementia Australia Anthony Boffa said that, for all of us, our experiences with food and mealtimes were anchor points throughout each day.

“The tastes, aromas, environment and social connections we get to enjoy in our everyday activities should be just as positive

and engaging for people living with dementia in an aged care home,” Mr Boffa said. “Dining is a sensory experience that should be celebrated and enjoyed at every stage of life; dementia does not change the desire for an enjoyable meal.”

The workshop, “A day in the life – mealtime experience”, enables aged care professionals to experience mealtimes through the eyes of a person living with dementia thanks to a virtual-reality (VR) element.

Poor nutrition is a major health problem for many

RESEARCH CRACKS HIGHER FRACTURE RISK IN WOMEN

already widely used to identify people with osteoporosis (low bone mineral density), which can lead to fractures.

Now researchers at Perth’s Edith Cowan University (ECU) have found that while about one in 10 of the women in the study had osteoporosis, more than half of them also had a build-up

A NOVEL way of analysing scans from bone-density machines has revealed that more than half of older women have advanced blood vessel disease, putting them at an increased risk of suffering a bone fracture.

Bone-density scans are

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Dementia Australia is running a new workshop to help aged carers provide a better dining experience for people with dementia.

Picture: Contributed

older people, especially those living with dementia.

According to a 2015 Dementia Australia discussion paper on nutrition, poor nutritional intake and a lack of fluids can contribute to the development of delirium in people with dementia, which can lead to rapid declines in mental state and changes in behaviour.

“Unfortunately, because nutrition is a health concern for people living with dementia, it is crucial to educate aged care employees on how they can create an environment that facilitates eating not only for enjoyment but also for better health,” Mr Boffa said.

“This reinforces Dementia Australia’s call for the need

for mandatory, dementiaspecific training for the aged care workforce as we know a more-informed and trained workforce will result in improved health and care experiences for people living with dementia in residential aged care.”

The VR technology used in the workshop was developed by Dementia Australia with Deakin

of calcium in the aorta, increasing their risk of fracture regardless of bone mineral density.

available within three years, following an agreement between RMIT University and start-up company Jesse Medical.

The pioneering technology analyses the results of specialised drawing and writing tasks to differentiate between people with and without the condition.

The new tool can spot the disease when there are no obvious symptoms and can also be used to monitor Parkinson’s patients after diagnosis.

SCREENING ADVANCES EARLY PARKINSON’S DETECTION SCREENING technology to catch Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages could be

LAWYERS CALL FOR TRIBUNAL ON AGED CARE COMPLAINTS THE introduction of an independent tribunal to hear

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University. Co-director of Deakin University’s Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, Professor Kon Mouzakis, said the workshop was an example of how VR technology could be used to foster empathy and understanding.

“As the user experiences the impact of distractions like pagers buzzing, the clutter of crockery and competing conversations going on around them it can provide a valuable learning opportunity,” Prof Mouzakis said.

“We want to help all people who work in aged care to understand how all this activity combined presents for a person living with dementia, who will be trying to process what’s going on around them whilst at the same time wanting to enjoy their meal.”

“A day in the life – mealtime experience” is one of a comprehensive suite of education programs offered

by Dementia Australia’s Centre for Dementia Learning to all aged care providers across Australia.

The centre offers both accredited and nonaccredited courses delivered face-to-face nationally, complaints of substandard care would help hold the aged care sector to account, the Australian Lawyers Alliance says. . “We believe the sector needs an independent, external tribunal like the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission,” ALA spokeswoman Catherine Henry said.

Smile with confidence Prof Matthias Bickel

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Aged care’s challenge to

CELEBRATING LOVE: Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor celebrate 33 years together with family and friends in a recommitment ceremony in September 2017, before marrying at their first chance when it became legal in January 2018.

Picture: Courtesy of Anne Tudor

Women share their search for right home

Alison Houston DO PEOPLE who identify as LGBTIQ* need or want their own distinct aged care?

It seemed a reasonable question when the press release arrived late last year announcing Arcare had opened Queensland’s first aged care home for LGBTIQ clients at Parkwood on the Gold Coast.

But research and talking to people affected makes the answer clear – they deserve that choice.

The first clue should have been that the press release hailed the opening as occurring less than 30 years after Queensland decriminalised homosexuality.

Because how does someone who has spent the greater part of their life being vilified, forced to hide part of who they are, facing possible jail or electric shock “cure/conversion

treatments” for their sexuality, find a community they trust in which to grow old?

How can they be themselves without fear, form friendships and have confidence that they or their loved one are receiving quality health care as they age?

The Federal Government has recognised in its LGBTIQ Inclusion and Awareness in Aged Care report that to understand people’s current experiences, including reticence to disclose sexuality or to enter aged care, and higher levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, we have to understand their past.

LOVE, LIFE AND DEMENTIA: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT It can be as simple, Anne Tudor explained, as feeling comfortable to hug, kiss or hold hands with a loved one – things heterosexual

couples take for granted.

It doesn’t seem much to ask, especially given the heartbreaking position in which Anne has found herself and partner Edie Mayhew.

The couple have traced Edie’s dementia journey in film, and have followed her into residential care showing the pain of separation in the recently released film Mr Velvet Ears.

The title is a reference to Edie’s much-loved care dog, through whose eyes the transition is depicted.

“I miss her brain, her mind, her conversation; I miss her strength,” Anne said of Edie, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2010 at age 59.

She describes the film as “very raw and honest”, filmed on the day of the move, the day before and again three months after Edie went into residential care.

“We have always been

motivated to educate people around dementia, and to encourage people to open their hearts and not be frightened of it, although it is a terrible disease,” Anne said.

“The person you love is still there, but in a changed way.

“We had eight years living together after Edie’s diagnosis, and our lives haven’t finished yet, so it’s about presenting a positive message because there aren’t enough of those out there.”

She hopes the film opens discussions about aspects of dementia care for the LGBTIQ community and the community in general.

“Ours is a beautiful story and we are really lucky to have had such a wonderful relationship,” Anne said.

This is the couple’s fourth film, with Anne and Edie previously celebrating their 33rd anniversary, including their recommitment

ceremony on September 2017, in a film called The Circle of Love for the Victorian Seniors Festival.

“When we got together 33 years ago we kept it pretty quiet,” Anne said of the ceremony.

“It was a very different world back then – you didn’t tell people you were lesbian.

“We were in love – but we’ve never formally celebrated our love with family and friends because we didn’t feel it was OK to do so.

“Now that time is running out for us we want to celebrate with the people we love.”

When two months later Australia voted yes to marriage equality, the pair decided to marry on the first day possible – January 9, 2018.

“It was the last piece in the fabric of our life – getting married was something we had talked about for years and it was acceptance of a SETE01Z01MA - V1

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FEATURE

\\JANUARY, 2020

27

break diversity barriers ‘‘

We felt totally embraced and accepted for who we are.

changed reality and a moment in history,” Anne said.

“And to me it was a statement – it didn’t legitimise our relationship, we didn’t need that, but it gives us a legal status so I can’t be overlooked in Edie’s care.

“Those that have had access to marriage for ever don’t appreciate its meaning for people who have had a lifetime together and shared their love but not been able to declare it publicly or have the legal rights associated with it.”

THE SEARCH FOR INCLUSIVE CARE Things have changed a lot for Anne and Edie since then, and in September 2018 Anne said it became clear she couldn’t cope alone with Edie’s care anymore.

She had a lot of questions in her search to find the best residential care, including LGBTIQ training for staff.

Ultimately they decided on Mercy Place, where the CEO told Anne at the inspection: “I’d like you to treat this as your home too.’’

“We felt totally embraced and accepted for who we are,” Anne said, despite the home not being specifically for LGBTIQ residents.

Aged care and nursing home staff everywhere should now all have LGBTIQ training, and can work towards achieving a Silver Rainbow tick.

But Anne said more education and attitudinal change was needed to ensure that workers, from the CEO to the nursing, kitchen, garden, cleaning and admin staff, put into practice those policies of acceptance.

Ensuring those attitudes are also passed on to other residents is another matter, with a government report finding LGBTIQ residents V2 - SETE01Z01MA

The crowd ready for the film to begin, with a shot of Mr Velvet Ears himself, Melvin, with Edie and Anne.

Picture: Contributed

have been bullied and physically abused by fellow residents.

CHANGING ATTITUDES Dr Catherine Barrett, who has worked on the films with Anne and Edie, was a finalist for the 2018 Human Rights Medal for her work advocating for older Australians, including the LGBTIQ community and people with dementia.

She said while ultimately we need all services to be LGBTIQ-friendly, it will take a lot to overcome old fears and cultural stereotypes, or partial acceptance that “it’s OK to be gay, but not that gay”.

For that reason, she said, having the option of a specific LGBTIQ service such as that at Parkwood, as well as inclusivity and acceptance within mainstream aged care, were both equally important.

The Mr Velvet Ears trailer, full film and resources, and the couple’s other films, are available at www.museumoflove

Edie at her best to enjoy the world premiere of Mr Velvet Ears in Ballarat with Anne.

.com.au/pulse.html. For other LGBTIQ Seniors films go to https:// alicesgarage.net.

Find more on LGBTIQ health at https:// lgbtihealth.org.au/, on dementia at www.dementia.org.au, on Arcare Parkwood at https://

arcare.com.au/parkwood/ or, if this has raised issues for you, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.

HELP AT HAND As part of the implementation of the LGBTI Strategy, the Federal Government, in partnership

with various LGBTI advocacy and support agencies, has compiled a collection of LGBTI-specific ageing and aged care resources for the LGBTI community, their loved ones, carers and aged care service providers.

For helpful tips about looking for aged care that

Picture: Contributed

caters to the LGBTIQ community, go to https:// agedcare.health .gov.au/ support-services/my-agedcare/lgbti-ageing-and-agedcare-resources. * LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer or Questioning.

28

SHARES

Money

JANUARY, 2020//

SENIORS

From little things …

Perfect time to take interest in finances WITH the holiday season likely to bring some downtime, it can be the ideal opportunity to finetune your finances so the new year delivers prosperity.

The key is to start small.

The big news of 2019 has been the downward path of interest rates.

For those with a home loan, there are exceptional deals to be had – including mortgage rates that start with a “2’’.

Check the rate you’re paying against some of the cheapest loans on the market, many by non-bank lenders.

While interest rates have plunged, Aussie shares have powered ahead. The ASX 200 has risen 18.78 per cent this year (to mid-December) and if we include dividend income, the gains climb to

25.47 per cent.

For a slice of sharemarket action in 2020, exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a low-cost way to easy diversification, even if you don’t have much upfront capital.

In 2019 we saw the Protecting Your Super reforms, making it easier for Australians to avoid having their super eroded by high fees and unnecessary life insurance premiums.

That’s a good thing.

But one of the best steps you can take to protect, and even boost, your retirement savings is to check that your super fund charges competitive fees.

A review of super by banking watchdog APRA confirmed that higher fees generally go hand-in-hand with lower net returns.

That’s because the more you pay in fees, the harder your fund has to work to

achieve investment returns that make up for the outflow in fees.

It’s the same with nonsuper investments.

Research by InvestSMART shows that over a 30-year time frame, investors paying 3 per cent in ongoing fees can sacrifice more than half of what their portfolio would have been worth had they paid no fees at all.

The upshot is that focusing on lower fees, rather than paying for outperformance – which probably won’t materialise – makes it more likely you’ll enjoy a higher net gain.

Each year sees a fresh crop of money apps launched. A new app from CommBank could potentially put cash back in your pocket in 2020.

Around $10 billion annually goes unclaimed on a whole raft of benefits.

CASH IN: Simple and straightforward ideas usually aren’t taxing, including making sure you have the best possible mortgage rate.

Picture: Contributed

CommBank’s “Benefits finder’’ app can help you track down any money you‘re entitled to from among 250 potential

benefits.

Have a safe and merry Christmas.

– Paul Clitheroe is chairman of InvestSMART,

chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

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

PUZZLES

\\JANUARY, 2020

1

2

3

4

5

8

6

Across 1 Who was the first US president born in a hospital? (5,6) 8 In a story, who had a boy slave named Abdullah? (3,4) 9 What describes civilian clothes when worn by military or police staff? (5) 10 What bearded, large-horned wild goat lives in the Pyrenees? (4) 11 “The green-eyed monster” comes from which Shakespeare play? (7) 12 Which metallic element has the symbol Sn? (3) 13 What is a fairy in Persian mythology? (4) 15 What substance from a male deer is used in perfume?

(4) 17 What metal shelf beside a fireplace supports a kettle or cooking pot? (3) 19 What is a substance with no therapeutic effect, used as a control in testing new drugs? (7) 20 In which English county is Sissinghurst, where Vita Sackville-West created a garden? (4) 23 What is a main division of a long poem? (5) 24 If you are crapulous, what are you full of? (7) 25 Who said in a 1799 poem, “Liberty’s in every blow! Let us do – or die!!!”? (6,5)

7

9

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11 12 13

14

16

15 17

18 20

19

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22 23

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SUDOKU

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

21/12 Down 1 Who was Ritchie’s sister in the TV series Happy Days?

(6) 2 Which US state produces most of that county’s blueberries? (5) 3 What is the basic monetary unit of China? (4) 4 In Arthurian legend, to where was Arthur conveyed after his death? (6) 5 Who is the tiny hero in a 17th Century nursery rhyme?

(3,5) 6 Which famous Singapore hotel opened in 1889? (7) 7 What is a small peg or plug for insertion into the vent of a cask? (6) 12 What type of explosive device is designed to detonate later? (4,4) 14 Who played newspaperman Lou Grant on TV? (2,5) 16 Which Native American people fought settlers under the leadership of Geronimo? (6) 17 What powered the first untethered flights, made by the Montgolfier brothers? (3,3) 18 What are single shots from cinema films, usually used in advertising? (6) 21 What was the first practical, relatively safe anaesthetic?

(5) 22 What is a dry crust on a healing wound? (4)

DOUBLECROSS

5

6

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8 9

31

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

10

11

12 13

14

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18

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20 21

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Down 1. Trustworthy (8) 2. Motorcycle gang member (5) 4. Cease (3) 5. Theatrical aside (5,7) 6. Making haste (7) 7. Adjudge (4) 8. Immune to attack (12) 12. Wood-eating beetle (5) 13. Practise (8) 15. Sobbing (7) 19. Below (5) 20. Bitter (4) 22. Mountain pass (3)

Across 1. Strokes (4) 3. Reproved (8) 9. Compared (7) 10. Corridor (5) 11. Accepted humiliation (3,6,3) 14. Dispirited (3) 16. Compass point (5) 17. Expression of surprise (3) 18. Age group expectations (4,8) 21. Ascend (5) 22. Type of cheese (7) 23. Determinedly (8) 24. Gratis (4)

SOLUTIONS

5x5 S L Y E R

ALPHAGRAMS: GLOSS, HEWING, IGNORES, JANITORS, KERBSTONE. GK CROSSWORD Across; 1 Jimmy Carter, 8 Ali Baba, 9 Mufti, 10 Ibex, 11 Othello, 12 Tin, 13 Peri, 15 Musk, 17 Hob, 19 Placebo, 20 Kent, 23 Canto, 24 Alcohol, 25 Robert Burns.

Down: 1 Joanie, 2 Maine, 3 Yuan, 4 Avalon, 5 Tom Thumb, 6 Raffles, 7 Spigot, 12 Time bomb, 14 Ed Asner, 16 Apache, 17 Hot air, 18 Stills, 21 Ether, 22 Scab.

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Rubs 3. Censured 9. Likened 10. Aisle 11. Ate humble pie 14. Low 16. North 17. Gee 18. Peer pressure 21. Climb 22. Cheddar 23. Doggedly 24.

Free.

Down: 1. Reliable 2. Bikie 4. End 5. Stage whisper 6. Rushing 7. Deem 8.

Invulnerable 12. Borer 13. Rehearse 15. Weeping 19. Under 20. Acid 22. Col.

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

SLOGS WHINGE REGIONS INTO JARS BROKEN SET

5x5 G

A E

A

E O

A E

S

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

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

Y S

D

R

All puzzles © The Puzzle Company

TODAY: Good 20 Very Good 25 Excellent 30

fire frat free fret frit raft reef reface refit rife rift

R

S E N S E

A

A T

A V O I D

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

R E G A L

WORD GO ROUND

V2 - SETE01Z01MA

G L A R E

DOUBLECROSS

SUDOKU

ALPHAGRAMS

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