Toowoomba & Darling Downs, November-December 2016

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GOLDEN MILES

Drive time: Your bucket list of top Aussie road trips and adventures \ PAGES 15-38

Ley of the land

"Travel all over the countryside, ask the Leylands, ask the Leylands ...ask the Leyland brothers!"

LONG before grey nomads, there were a couple of ‘young nomads’ known as Mal and Mike Leyland.

Between 1976 and 1984, Mal was one half of the team that introduced

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2 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

In this edition

Conversation with author Susan Duncan .............. 4 & 5 Live and Let’s Save.................................................... 8 & 9 Online ............................................................................... 10 Travel ......................................................................... 45–47 Puzzles ............................................................................. 51

Contact us

Let’s get real about the facts of ageing

WELCOME to November’s edition.

This month we are all about travelling. I haven’t been on the road – yet.

I say yet, because after interviewing Mal Leyland and (with our Seniors team) compiling the Golden Miles Touring Guide. I have an image of myself relaxing in a comfortable canvas chair around the campfire, with the gentle sounds of wildlife as backdrop to the chatter of my new and like-minded friends.

But to get to that point, I realise comprehensive preparation is essential and I believe our Touring Guide will be of great organisational assistance.

Entertainment planning is also very important and the lift out contains a big list of events over an enormous area.

This month we also let you know about our grey nomad bloggers, who are giving us accounts of their adventures on the road.

This blog is seriously filled with fun, things to do and ideas to think about.

Editor Gail Forrer gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Manager Kristie Waite kristie.waite@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Now online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $36.30 for one year (11 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 south-east 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 ARM Specialist Media Pty Ltd (ABN 73 064 061 794). Printed by APN Print, 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.

❝

In a revealing interview, this talented woman (author Susan Duncan) talks about aging – the pros and the cons – and I found myself reflecting upon her insights and comparing them to my own.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

Former The Australian Women’s Weekly and New Idea editor and author Susan Duncan is another person exploring a different part of the world.

The same as many of us, Susan Duncan’s life has had outstanding moments of both joy and tragedy.

In a revealing interview, this talented woman talks about ageing – the pros and the cons – and I found myself reflecting upon her insights, experience and comparing them to my own.

I find that in reading someone else’s story, I often come in contact with elements that allow me to make sense of my own experience.

Perhaps, that old saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” is what happens.

Better health, longevity and enormous social disruptions have contributed to the great changes taking place in ageing.

Sometimes it feels wonderful and marvellous to know that we have the advantage of ongoing medical advancement and ever-increasing technological support.

You can find old friends and keep in touch with extended family, you can easily take part in an online learning course, or use some of the medical apps available.

But other times, the

world feels a tad too fast for everyday life.

These are the days you think it would be nice to talk to real people instead of machines.

I heard that some groups are being encouraged to order groceries online, if you’re in a hurry that’s fine, but for someone else it’s a missed social opportunity and too many missed social opportunities mean social isolation.

I guess that’s why a long, slow road trip and a read of our Seniors Newspaper provides a great opportunity to find out about the world in a very traditional manner.

Enjoy!

Gail.

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Seniors 3

Young nomad turns grey Find out where Mal Leyland is exploring these days Gail Forrer

LONG before grey nomads, there were a couple of “young nomads” known as Mal and Mike Leyland.

Last month, Mal turned 72, and sadly Mike passed away in 2009 at 68.

These two young men brought together cuttingedge film techniques and a quirky, gutsy, adventurous spirit that saw them turn into Australia’s best known outback tourism guides.

It seems they were born for the television era and the success of their show, Ask the Leyland Brothers, a series of outback adventures, proved that Australia was ready for them.

Once a week, between 1967 and 1984, 2.5 million viewers, at its peak, watched the program that started with the ditty: “Travel all over

the countryside … ask the Leylands, ask the Leylands... ask the Leyland brothers!”

The tune imprinted itself into the psyches of a pre-4WD, mass communication generation and 40 and more years after its creation, Mal still travels the countryside and has never graduated to anything more luxurious than his very comfortable caravan.

“Luxury accommodation – that would be like putting me into a nicely appointed padded cell,” the Aussie adventurer laughs.

However, in typically diplomatic style, he adds: “But it’s not bad to see how the other half lives.”

Compared to the five-metre aluminium dinghy the brothers used to navigate the length of the Darling River, and the

OUTBACK PIONEERS: Mal and Laraine Leyland hit the road in their camper van.

vehicles used to make the first automobile crossing of the Simpson Desert, the caravan is indeed luxury.

Their Simpson Desert trip was 18 months in the planning and took five months to complete.

“There were no satellite cell phones then and

because of the isolation we travelled in tandem,” Mal said.

These days Mal travels with his wife of 47 years Laraine, and as much as possible, with his daughter’s family, including the three grandchildren.

He said that similar to

many teenagers, his 14-year-old grandson was prone to playing with tech gadgets in the tent rather than rollicking in the outdoors.

“So I urged him into coming for a walk with me,” he said.

“We went down to a waterfall area, and I told

him to look into a dark space in the waterhole.

“For a while the dark space did not alter. Then a school of fish dispersed and their miraculous appearance spiked the teenager’s imagination.”

In some ways, it was the Leyland brothers’ recognition and sharing of similar special moments, that allowed city dwellers to enter the Australian bush from the comfort of their loungeroom.

These days, Mal and Laraine live in the Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Hinterland town, Maleny.

He still loves camping and reckons there’s so much he still wants to explore.

Last year, Mal wrote a memoir and shared his adventures and groundbreaking documentary making.

If you take to the road, keep your eye out for Mal; he marvels at the modern camping facilities, the dirt tracks that are now civilised lengths of tar and the communication that keeps you connected.

Check out a review on Mal’s book about his intrepid travels, page 19.

Updates from the Toowoomba Region AVAILABLE DURING SPRING 2016

Ruthven St Upgrade

Over 80s Christmas Party

We’re improving the Northern end of our CBD. From Russell St north along Ruthven St to Chalk Dr, we’re upgrading the area with new paved footpaths, beautiful landscaping and increasing the number of parking bays.

All businesses are open and accessible during construction. For more information call 131 872 or visit www.tr.qld.gov.au

Come along to the Mayor’s Over 80s Christmas Party on Thursday, 1 December from 10am at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, Baker St, Toowoomba. Enjoy entertainment by ‘Sing Australia’ and be sure to dress up in your best Christmas outfit as there is a prize for best dressed male and female. Please RSVP by Monday, 14 November by calling 4688 6963.

Council is trialling a cab service to help older people and those with a disability travel to their local shopping centre.

The cab picks you up from your home and takes you to your local shopping centre once a week. The service will need to be pre booked by calling 1300 811 394 before noon on the day before your trip. You will travel in a shared taxi. It then takes you home at a set time a few hours later.

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For bookings for all events call 131 872 or visit www.tr.qld.gov.au

Experience Japanese Culture Come along on the 12 November from 10am3pm at the Toowoomba Civic Square for the Nihon Matsuri Japan Festival celebrating 25 years of friendship with our sister city Takatsuki. There will be bonsai, ikebana, origami, food stalls and so much more!

Visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/events for more info.

Be good to yourself!

Join the free Healthy Habits online program starting 14 November to learn how to be good to yourself for life! Access health and wellbeing experts, receive a health check, emails, blogs, videos and podcasts to meet your health needs.

Interested? Come to the Healthy Habits Launch event on Friday 4 November. For more info or to book, call 131 872, email change@tr.qld.gov.au TRC_1016_SN

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4 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Ann Rickard

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Susan Duncan and

SUSAN Duncan’s much-anticipated third book in her memoir series hit the bookshops at the beginning of October to much acclaim. The House on the Hill follows Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek and is not only a lyrically written narrative of her time building a dream sustainable house on a hilltop-slice of paradise in the mid-north coast of NSW, but is a blisteringly honest story of her life: the bad, the good, the very worst of times.

Throughout the 357 pages of The House on the Hill is the underlying story of Susan’s contentious relationship with her mother, now 95, as well as her frustration at the maddening business of aging.

“I think everyone is in denial about ageing,” Susan, 65, said. “Denial is useless… all that about the 60 being the new 40…useless. Medical advances have made a huge difference but your body goes along at its own pace no matter what you

do. You have to accept each new stage, work out how it works for you.”

Creaking knee joints and fading stamina are just two bothersome issues Susan discusses in her book, but she doesn’t steer clear of the mostly-taboo subject of sex and the older person, and refers to the ‘apothecary of unguents’ required to boost a diminishing libido.

“I had no idea what to expect (about ageing),” she said. “No-one tells the truth. My mother lies about the capabilities of what she can do. It is time we said ageing is part of the process and if you get to do it you are lucky.

There is no shame about it. Be honest about it. It is a way of accepting your new frailties as well. By talking about it, I was hoping it would make women feel safer. Our bodies change, our needs change.”

But The House on the Hill is so much more than confronting old age or dealing with a difficult relationship between mother and daughter.

It is a glorious

celebration of the Australian bush, the rugged country and all its charms and foibles, the determination to build a contemporary yet fully sustainable house on a beautiful piece of hilly countryside in the Manning Valley near Wingham in the mid-north coast in NSW, a second home/farm to enjoy with her much-loved husband Bob. Susan met Bob at Pittwater when she escaped Sydney and her high-powered career as editor of two of Australia’s most prestigious magazines (The Australian Women’s Weekly and New Idea.) After the death of her husband and brother within three days of each other, followed by a cancer scare, a mastectomy and devastating chemo, Susan found peace and

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Bob at Pittwater.

“I didn’t think it (new love at age over 50) would ever happen to me,” she said. “You don’t see it coming. I think what holds you back is fear. The fear of undressing in front of somebody or the fear of making the wrong choice.

I was so lucky with Bob.” Their developing love and marriage is detailed in Susan’s previous memoirs, Salvation Creek and The House at Salvation Creek and now

LIFE CHANGES: Susan with some of her new friends on the farm property, and (above left) enjoying a reflective moment.

The House on the Hill continues the story of their enduring love and the pressures it withstood during the Wingham

farm/house building project.

Susan gives evocative and wonderfully descriptive details of the

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

the changes of time

period during the building: how they came to discover the beauty of the Manning Valley, then living first in a tent on their 90 hectares, and then a shed, fighting freezing winter temperatures and icy-cold

feet at night on a camp stretcher, cooking on a fire in a drum, dealing with aching knees each time she bent to use her camp loo, and most of all, dealing with the omnipotent feelings of

self-doubt.

Susan and Bob made regular trips back to their home at Pittwater during the building project to reconnect with their life there and to take Susan’s mother out to her favourite picnic or restaurants lunches. But on each return to the

Manning Valley they found the countryside more seductive, the lifestyle more rewarding and more suitable for their age and life-stage.

“It crept up on us, this beautiful place,” Susan, who grew up in the country, said. “You forget the environment you grew up in but it doesn’t leave you. You are in something that feels familiar and comfortable. Instead of water and beaches (at Pittwater) this is almost like being enfolded warmly by the natural countryside. It was the shock of Pittwater that was wonderful, the challenge of the water and boats, whereas this (house) is the right thing at the right age. I was ready to be enveloped rather than challenged.”

Enveloped in the natural countryside does not mean discomfort or sacrifice now that the gleaming architect-designed eco house (named Benbulla) is completed. Electricity comes in such abundance through solar panels Susan and Bob have to

use it to excess to keep the batteries functioning.

Susan and Bob now spend their time between Pittwater and their new home on the farm. “We will move my mother to a high-care nursing home in (nearby) Taree. Now, instead of Pittwater and my mother, it is Benbulla and my mother. I can’t take her out any more. I sit with her, not for that long, but I do sit with her.”

Susan said she first wrote House on the Hill to follow the journey of buying the land and then building the house, but when she read the first draft she found it was too sanitised.

“It was about building a sustainable house, simple and straightforward,” she said. “I read through the first draft and felt I was in denial, it was too Pollyanna, not the way real life is, not honest. I felt I was being a coward about facing a lot of things. But because I love words I couldn’t let it go. I felt I was being drawn towards facing a lot of things.”

That ‘facing a lot of things’ meant Susan

Seniors 5

finally confronted her mother about a terrible secret she had kept for more than 50 years. It also meant revealing raw and painful truths about her mother’s vanity, her massive ego and self-absorption, and the conflict it has caused Susan throughout all of her life.

“I asked my mother’s permission to write (about her),” Susan said. “I started this book three years ago and told her there would be a lot of black stuff coming up.

She gave me permission, but then she took it way. I was six months into the project and thought if I don’t have her permission, I can’t write it. Then she gave back the permission so I pulled it (the manuscript) out and began writing again. Then she took it away again.

Then gave it back once more. ‘This is her power,’ Bob told me. When she had given me permission yet again I never mentioned the book to her again. I feel as though I haven’t betrayed anything.”

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Furry bundles of joy

The annual blessing of the animals gives happiness OLD Macdonald’s Travelling Farm called into Oakey Hospital in October for the facility’s animal blessing day, held in honour of the patron saint of animals and ecology, St Francis of Assisi.

The visit was an opportunity to bring enjoyment to the hospital’s older residents and for them to reminisce, as many are retired farmers.

Beaming smiles were the order of the day with residents, patients and staff taking turns to hold and feed the animals including lambs, goats, chickens and ducks.

Acting Director of Nursing Michelle Crawford also brought her horse, Invincible, along on the day.

Seeing Invincible struck a chord with one resident who proudly said he had never been “dumped off”.

❝

Pet therapy is known to produce many benefits for aged care residents, including lower blood pressure...

— Michelle Crawford

According to Ms Crawford, “Animal interaction, also known as pet therapy, is known to produce many benefits for aged care residents, including lower blood pressure, improved mood and improved communication”.

Pastoral care worker and volunteer Lesley Hughes pronounced a blessing on the animals and thanked them for the joy they brought.

The morning ended with a barbecue lunch.

SMILE BEAM: Oakey Hospital resident Sally Keding nurses a baby goat at the recent animal blessing day.

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Joe kept working until 2012 when he noticed a few more subtle changes around his daily activities.

Since then, life has brought Joe and his family some challenges as they search for answers on how best to handle the situation.

Part of Joe’s response is to participate in a local Blue Care exercise regime, the PD Warrior Program and LSVT Think Loud Speech Program, all of which he hails as worthwhile.

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Sammy impresses residents and staff

SAMMY the greyhound has made quite an impression on residents, staff and visitors since taking up his position at Mt Lofty Heights Nursing Home in Toowoomba six months ago.

With his gentle and happy disposition, this retired racer has nuzzled his way into many hearts at his new home after being adopted by the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service earlier this year.

Sammy first appeared at the nursing home last Christmas on a trial basis after his former owner actively sought out a retirement home for him.

Back then, Director of Nursing Cindy Pitt said the facility, “…wanted a pet that the residents could touch and grow a relationship with”.

It appears this has been achieved with Sammy’s calming presence felt across the community, and his companionship with so many undeniable.

Ms Pitt connected with

❝

Sammy’s presence has had such a remarkable effect on everyone including the staff, the residents and their families.

GREYHOUND ADOPTION: Mt Lofty Heights Nursing Home director of nursing Cindy Pitt with resident Lenny McHugh enjoys the company of the facility’s resident pet, Sammy the greyhound.

the Greyhound Adoption Program, based in the Lockyer Valley, to ensure Sammy’s suitability for the role before making the

decision to introduce him to the Mount Lofty Nursing Home family.

“Greyhounds are known for their quiet

temperament, low maintenance and because they are so tall, the residents don’t have to bend down for their daily pats,” Ms Pitt said.

Nowadays, Sammy is regularly spotted in the corridors sporting brightly coloured neck-ties and high visibility vests to better help sight-impaired residents.

“Sammy’s presence has had such a remarkable effect on everyone including the staff, the residents and their families,” Ms Pitt said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Sammy and the effect he has had.”

Seniors 7

Retention of our heritage important THE council recently considered two applicants to receive financial assistance to undertake works which will improve the appearance of their heritage buildings.

The aim of the CBD Heritage Incentives Policy is to financially assist owners of heritage listed properties located in the Toowoomba CBD and main street environments of select district towns to undertake conservations works to improve the general appearance of buildings in main street environments.

Successful incentive applications are endorsed by the TRC heritage advisory committee prior to consideration by the council on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to an individual maximum council contribution of $10,000.

Planning and Development Portfolio Leader Councillor Anne

The aim is to financially assist owners of heritage-listed properties.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Glasheen said she was pleased to see these applicants coming forward to seek assistance from Council.

“It’s important that we retain the history of our region and architecture is such a strong part of keeping our historical ties and ensuring that our neighbourhoods retain their unique character.”

Council has approved seven applications since the policy commenced and wants community members to apply for applications to improve the appearance of heritage buildings.

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“Thank you for sending out Magnus Shield. I really believe they have been a great benefit to me. Before Magnus Shield, I was going to the toilet 3 or 4 times a night, now using Magnus Shield I’ve been going once a night, sometimes not at all” John W, Benalla, VIC – 18 Jan 2010 “I found these tablets Magnus Shield from a magazine. I found it helped me to empty my bladder at night time and relieve the pain while passing water. It really works for me” Paul E, Ormond – 22 April 2008.

Call 1300 760 627

Always read the label. If symptoms persist seek the advice of a healthcare practitioner. - Approval No. CHC36636-04/07

Save time and HERE’S a few time-saving, meal ideas to suit your relaxed camping lifestyle.

Happy hour provisions are a must, you will find most camp grounds and caravan parks have happy hour and it is a great way to meet new friends.

Besides socialising, happy hour includes sharing food and drink.

Always have nibbles on hand. Nuts, corn chips and corn relish and salsa (no need to keep cool).

Pre planning your menu means you have more time to do what you are meant to do - relax Organisation -

Featured Stockists (QLD) Terry White Chemists Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre, James St. Toowoomba QLD 4350 Busiko’s Amcal Pharmacy Toowoomba Plaza Cnr Ruthven & Stenner Sts Toowoomba QLD 4350 Warwick Friendly Society Pharmacy 106 Palmerin St. Warwick QLD 4370 MacLean Country Pharmacy Shop 3a / 4664 Mt. Lindesay Hwy. North Maclean QLD 4280 Terry White Chemists Burpengary Shop 16 Burpengary Plaza, Station Rd. Burpengary QLD 4505 Terry White Chemists Shop 138, 400 Stafford Rd, Stafford QLD 4053

CHEAP EATS, NO TRUFFLES CHRISTINE PERKINS Sort into tubs if space available.

Zip lock bags are a necessity in any camp kit.

Just make sure they are good quality bags especially if storing liquids.

You can make up pancake mix, damper mix, store portions of cereals and BBQ meat. Good way

Magnus ShieldtM

Now Available Magnus Shield tM is available at good pharmacies and health food stores. Ask your pharmacist or call 1300 760 627 for more information, if our lines are busy please call again.

AUST L: 123642 Visit magnusprime.com for clinical studies and information. For nearest stockists please call: 1300 760 627

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

let’s save

Who do you call...

Seniors Card 137 468 or 1800 175 500 (free call outside Brisbane)

to store leftover chips etc.

Great for freezing soup portions before you leave which you can use to keep your esky colder. The uses are endless.

Only take the cooking utensils you actually need to prepare your meals.

Collapsible kitchen containers are great as well for salad bowls and cereals Dehydrated food just needs boiling water to be added to make a meal.

Prepare Cook a meal before you leave home and no it’s not cheating it’s practical!

Have potato salad and coleslaw ready to go.

Wash ng your veggies and salad before you go saves on water usage at your campsite.

Coffee, sugar, vegemite or jam portions are a great way to save space.

Less mess and less spoilage.

UHT products Ultra-high temperature processing (UHT), ultra-heat treatment, or ultra-pasteurization sterilizes food by heating it above 135 °C .

You can obtain UHT milk, cream or custard in this range and it will save you running out of fresh milk and an extra trip to the store.

Department of Veteran Affairs 133 254 or 1800 555 254 (Regional) National Information Centre on Retirement Investments (NICRI) 1800 020 110

National Aged Care Information

1800 200 422

www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au

Are you raising Grandchildren?

Do you need information?

RUFF ROAD: Camps Australia Wide has the low-down on pet-friendly travel.

Camps Australia Wide is great for those who prefer a book, instead of the web. The latest guide is due out in March next year, and is available for pre-purchase at campsaustraliawide.com and a variety of retail outlets including RACQ and BCF. Touted as one of the most comprehensive guides to free, low cost and unique camping, the new guide lists 3300 pet friendly sites. Highlighting facilities with toilets, mobile coverage, site access and more.

WANTED

30 PEOPLE WITH HEARING LOSS We need participants for our latest digital hearing aid technology research program. We’re looking for people like you, who may be experiencing varying levels of hearing loss, to evaluate a remarkable new line of digital hearing aids and a rehabilitative process that could be the solution to your difficulties. There’s no cost or obligation to participate!

Call us today to see if you qualify for this research program. Potential candidates will be given a Free* hearing test to determine their candidacy.

Seniors Enquiry Line 1300 135 500

Call us!

1300 135 500

Also ask about Time for Grandparents, a program providing time out for eligible grandparents, activities for grandchildren, grandfamily camps and support with school camps.

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money camping

AUSTRALIA is an oyster of budget conscious travel options for avid camping enthusiasts and grey nomads.

Big 4 Holiday Parks have big membership perks, including discounts of up to $40 each stay at their holiday parks and a range of events and retail, with more than 1000 businesses a part of this initiative.

Perks include travel and transport discounts, from 10% off Apollo Motorhomes, through to spa, beauty and wellbeing discounts. Members earn credits for rewards and can ultimately upgrade to Gold Member status.

Camping supply stores, like BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing) offer membership rewards programs, including Club BCF. Hop online at bcf.com.au/Member/ Register to join. You’ll need an email address, password and to provide your full name, phone number, street address, date of birth and your preferred store.

You can choose to provide the site with some of your interests (that consist of boating, camping and fishing) and opt to receive email marketing highlighting exclusive club specials, event invitations and advance catalogue

notifications.

They’ll send a confirmation to your email, just follow the link and then you can log in and subscribe to product special notifications, order online, create wish lists. Alternatively, you can visit your local store and become a member there.

When shopping in store, make sure you swipe your card to go in the draw to win $70,000, with individual stores giving away a $50 voucher each month.

Centrelink: Retirement 132 300 Disability, Sickness & Carers 132 717 Employment Services 132 850

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Campers can enjoy the perks of membership

PEOPLE, PLACES & PERKS EMILY BLACK

Seniors 9

www.grandparentsqld.com.au

Participants will be given the opportunity to evaluate our latest, most advanced hearing aid technology for 30 days. Research includes our world’s first internet connected hearing aid - Oticon Opn™ the first hearing aid proven to deliver 30% better speech recognition, 20% less listening effort, 20% better recall thanks to breakthrough BrainHearing™ technology.^

Find out more. Call today.

TM

OpenSound Navigator

Rapidly handles multiple 360 degree sound sources so the user can focus or switch attention for a more natural soundscape.

*Free hearing check available to adults over 26 only. Some conditions may apply. Pleases see clinic for details. ^Compared to Alta2. Individual benefit may vary depending on prescription.

Call 1800 762 816

10 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

tech savvy

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Online

www.seniorsnews.com.au

Come explore with us Retiree travellers blog about their driving tour of a lifetime IN A first for Seniors Newspaper, we have recently run a series of blog articles from two retiree travellers who are on the trip of a lifetime.

Rob and Janine Caldwell, from the Sunshine Coast, are making their way up the east coast of Australia with their caravan in tow, as part of a six-week driving tour from the Sunshine Coast down to South Australia and back.

Rob and Janine, 61 and 56 respectively, are making the journey along with three other couples in their own caravans (two from the Sunshine Coast and one from Sydney) and their two dogs who have gone along for the ride.

Highlights of their trip

so far have been tasting sessions in many of Australia’s top wine regions, including stops in the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Hunter Valley, which is the last on the list for this trip.

As Rob humorously wrote: “We can feel comfortable that we have provided financial support to the Australian wine industry and to Australia Post, so it’s time to give the credit card a breather.”

One tip the Caldwells have offered is to use the Wikicamps app (available on iOS, Android and Windows) to identify places to stay. They have been using the app and have found it largely successful, with only a

few locations turning out to be a disappointment.

Wikicamps is a database of campgrounds, caravan parks, day use areas, points of interest, information centres and public dump points that is kept up to date by users.

It works off-line, so you don’t need phone signal or a WiFi connection.

You can read updates on Rob and Janine’s travels on our website – www.seniorsnews.com.au – or see their full blog at www.onceuponaroad. wordpress.com.

■ WIN A $69,990 MAJESTIC CARAVAN: Seniors Newspaper is running a competition, in conjunction with Palm Lake Resorts, to win a

$69,990 Majestic Caravan, but you need to act quickly as entries close on November 25.

To enter you need to take a creative photo with one of the official promotional stickers which can be found in Seniors Newspaper or picked up at your nearest Palm Lake Resort. You then need to enter your details and photo on our website at seniorsnews. com.au/competitions.

If you haven’t found a sticker yet, email your name, address and day time phone number with Caravan Competition in the subject line to communitynotes@seniors newspaper.com.au before November 18 and we’ll post one out.

ON THE ROAD: Rob and Janine Caldwell are blogging about their driving tour of the east coast of Australia.

v LIKE US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/seniorsnews.com.au

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Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 11

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE LIVING AT HIGHFIELDS...

QUEENSLAND’S MOST LIVEABLE REGION.

Licensed bar and coffee lounge

Indoor heated pool and spa

Caravan and boat storage

Spacious country club

Games room and lounge

Ten-pin bowling alley

Doctor’s and massage therapy clinic

Theatrical stage and dressing rooms

Retractable cover and lit championship size bowling green

Commercial-grade kitchen

Grand ballroom

Music room

Arts and crafts studio

Hairdressing salon

Golf simulator

Steam room

Cinema

Flood-lit tennis court

Gymnasium

Library

Fully-equipped workshop

Meeting room

Dog off-leash area

Resort bus Communal vegetable garden

A premium lifestyle resort for active, like-minded over 50s, this secure gated community has everything you could want in one desirable location – GemLife Highfields has it all.

1800 910 278 | www.gemlife.com.au

12 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Talk ‘n’

Groups aim

GROWING CONCERN: State and federal governments are working together to address homelessness, but more needs to be done.

EXISTING QLD HOUSING MODELS ❚ Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) is one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing, not-for-profit, housing organisations. It is Queensland’s largest non-government supplier of affordable housing. Of its 1000 homes, most are spread across 23 Brisbane apartment developments. ❚ Freshwater Villas, Gympie, Qld – Rentals for seniors. Singles or couples. The managers said this village was based on affordable rentals, was close to town and had room available. For more information, phone 0401 028 188.

GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR BUILDS ❚ The Queensland Government gifted a 2429sq m site at Wooloowin, an inner-north suburb of Brisbane, to national charity Youngcare in 2015 for the development of age-appropriate housing. ❚ The Queensland Government gifted 4370sq m of government land in the Brisbane suburb of Lutwyche to BHC (Brisbane Housing Company) for the Spectrum Apartments. BHC chief executive officer David Cant said the $13 million residential and retail development, designed by architects Cottee Parker, was completed this year.

Y K LUC R O O D !

S E PRIZ

LAST month, I wrote about the conditions contributing to the rising number of homeless older women.

One lady replied with a sentence that echoed the sentiments of many.

“Thanks,” she said.

“For writing about the elephant in the room.”

So what are we, the Australian community, and our governing bodies doing about the “elephant in the room”?

In Australia, subsidised housing broadly sits under three categories: social, community and affordable housing.

Social housing is run by government; community housing is run via partnerships between government and private enterprise.

Affordable housing is that which reduces or

Governments and foundations keen to help those in need

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

eliminates housing stress for low income and disadvantaged people in order to help them with meeting other essential basic needs on a sustainable basis.

This may come through a combination of government, private sector, institutional investors and non-profit organisations.

To tackle the problem of unaffordable housing,

federal and state governments have set up various working groups and asked for submissions. I n the community, alternative housing models have emerged and there are various ideas coming out of public discussions.

Below is an abbreviated outline of the present state of Australian housing: ❚ Existing initiatives This year the Federal Government created the Affordable Housing Working Group: Issue Paper and asked for submissions by March 11.

The working group focused on improving the supply of affordable

BEAUARABA LIVING AND THE EMPIRE THEATRES PRESENT

Tenori

Employing the talents of four of Queensland’s powerhouse tenors: David Kidd, Craig Atkinson, Andrew Pryor and Jason Turnbull. With a combined seventy years international experience in the industry, this is a dynamic, uplifting and hugely entertaining Christmas show.

Empire Theatre - Thursday 15 December, 11am All Tickets $18 (includes FREE morning tea from 10am)

1300 655 299 empiretheatre.com.au

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

thoughts

Seniors 13 Share your thoughts

Email us with your views at editor@ seniorsnewspaper. com.au

Hurdles, highjumps and solutions

to ‘fix’ homelessness housing, through the introduction of innovative, transformative and implementable financing models. ❚ Tiny Homes Foundation The foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing socially, environmentally and economically sustainable affordable housing solutions and support for people experiencing homelessness.

The pilot program will serve as a prototype for a new and innovative way to address Australia’s growing affordable housing crisis though the development of Tiny Home villages in partnership with state and local government. ❚ Government Land for Accommodation and Support Services

GLASS seeks to provide surplus governmentowned land to not-forprofit organisations to develop much-needed facilities for affordable/ social accommodation and other support services.

There is a critical need for developments that provide affordable accommodation, disability housing, non-residential respite care centres, or other facilities to support people with disabilities. ❚ National Rental Affordability Scheme NRAS aims to reduce rental costs for low- to medium-income households and increase the number of more affordable rental houses. ❚ National Affordable Housing Consortium NAHC’s aim is to facilitate affordable housing

outcomes, achieving a balance in commercial, social and environmental outcomes, and act as a

catalyst for housing innovation and integrated communities by partnering with some of

Australia’s leading community housing providers, private developers, and

government agencies.

(Source: www.investment magazine.com.)

“We looked everywhere for the best place for Nan. Only one ticked all the boxes.”

Clarice’s granddaughter, Rebecca.

Freedom family

After a lifetime of caring for her own three children, seven grandchildren and her 103 year old mum, 81 year old Clarice finally needed care herself. In her search for a place that provided 24 hour care plus the independence, companionship and lifestyle her Nan so richly deserved, her granddaughter Rebecca visited every nursing home in her region. The only place she found that “ticked all the boxes” was Freedom Aged Care.

Linking seniors with community information across Queensland

Freedom Nursing Aged Care Home

COMPARATIVE ITEMS

24 hr nurse services – immediate response nurse-call technology Low, High, Palliative and Dementia Care Government funding available Full domestic support Your own self-contained home with kitchen, bathroom, laundry and courtyard/garden Couples stay together Family and friends can stay whenever they want Pets are welcome Encouraged to live independently, while you are capable Move-in without ACAT assessment No means-testing or asset-testing required for move-in

9am to 5pm Monday to Friday www.seniorsenquiryline.com.au

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Visit 279 Bridge St or 1 Village Ct Toowoomba or call us on 1800 984 840 today.

What’s life without freedom?

Freedom Aged Care Click freedomagedcare.com.au

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14 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

MEDICAL ALERT!

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EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Phone : 1300 699 159 Email : care@emsas.com.au Web : www.emsas.com.au.

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Golden

Seniors 15

Miles

BUCKET LIST: adventures for the road

Pre-trip checklist Page 17

40+ things to do Pages 18 - 37

THE 2016 SENIORS SUMMER TOURING GUIDE: FROM SYDNEY TO 1770

16 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Welcome to your golden years

In partnership with

Welcome to the wide open road Rockhampton Gladstone FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK GAIL FORRER

1770

Group editor Seniors Newspapers network

YOU have seen the vision and you can’t wait to explore, rest, socialise and be dazzled by our amazing country. It’s easy to visualise; you’re behind the wheel with the sat nav flashing and your “grey nomad” badge pinned to your shirt.

You’re breathing in an air of anticipation and you have a new currency to trade, the dollars and cents of freedom.

Whether you are an excited first timer or a quietly confident regular nomad, our country is so wide, our transport diverse and our various needs so unique, one thing is for certain, there is always something new to discover.

Australia is the sixth largest country on the planet. At 7,692,024sq km, it accounts for 5% of the world's land area of 149,450,000sq km, and although it is the smallest continental land mass, it is the world's largest island.

Australia is a country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its major cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide – are coastal. Its capital, Canberra, is inland. The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, a vast interior desert wilderness called the Outback, and unique animal species like kangaroos and duck-billed platypuses and we have filled the country with about 24 million people.

Australia is a land of extremes with temperatures ranging from highs of 40°C in the central desert regions to below freezing in the higher regions of the country’s south-east. From its northern most point on Cape York to the southern tip of Tasmania, Australia experiences almost every climatic condition encountered elsewhere in the world, along with some that are unique.

In 2016, this great land is dotted with camp sites, van parks and amenities that contribute another level of comfort to your journey. In this one handy edition, we will share these points with you and wish you all the best on your marvellous journey.

Gail Forrer Group Editor Seniors Newspaper Network Qld & NSW

Sunshine Coast Brisbane Gold Coast

Toowoomba

Byron Bay Port Macquarie Newcastle

Central Coast

Sydney

Contents

Here’s your touring checklist ....................................................................................Page 17 Sydney to Port Macquarie ................................................................................Pages 18–20 Port Macquarie to Yamba.................................................................................Pages 21–22 Yamba to Tweed Heads....................................................................................Pages 24–25 Tweed Heads to Brisbane ................................................................................Pages 26–27 Brisbane to Noosa............................................................................................Pages 29–30

Th

Reef. e Great Barrier

Noosa to 1770 ..................................................................................................Pages 31–34 1770 to Toowoomba.........................................................................................Pages 35–36 Toowoomba to Sydney ..............................................................................................Page 37

Touring the co

untryside.

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Welcome to your golden years

Seniors 17

In partnership with

Road trip prep: Your pre-trip checklist AS we head towards the busy summer travel season, here are some tips to ensure you are prepared for your next adventure.

Schedule a check-up: ■ Perform basic maintenance on your vehicle such as checking wipers and fluid levels.

■ Schedule necessary services such as oil changes or tune ups.

■ If towing, pay attention to the cooling system, as towing increases the amount of heat generated by the engine and transmission. Check with your vehicle’s dealer to see if you need an auxiliary transmission oil cooler.

■ If you are heading to warmer regions, consider window tinting and check the air-conditioning has been serviced and is working properly.

■ Have your mechanic inspect your car’s brake pads.

■ Check your battery to make sure it is strong and has clean terminals – a little baking soda and water will do the job.

■ Inspect your tyres for any tears or bulges in the side wall and they should have a good amount of tread. Make sure the tyre pressures are set to the figures printed on the driver’s door placard, or what’s listed in the manual.

■ Check your vehicle’s load capacity.

On most new cars, it is printed on the driver’s door placard. This load rating includes all the passengers and luggage.

Be aware fuel economy is reduced with extra weight.

For your motorhome: ■ Towing gear – each vehicle is different, so be aware of weight distributing hitches when towing medium to large caravans. When in any doubt, check with a specialist towing company. Your own checking should include such things as the ball load and the total weight of the caravan.

A visit to a weighbridge is the most reliable way of getting accurate weights of what you are carrying on the caravan or trailer tyres and on the tow-ball.

Insider’s guide Practical tips and hints

Gail Forrer

GET ready, get set.

But before you point your vehicle in the direction of your road odyssey, stop.

There is more to this journey than mail redirection, turning the electricity off and having the car serviced (although they are all important).

An expanded holiday timeline requires expanded preparation. Here’s a few tips from our in-house vintage “grey nomad” Chris Perkin.

After a 12-month stint around Australia, Chris talks about the important things to know.

USEFUL TIPS: ■ Free camping grounds: You can’t pre-book, so the best idea is to get in early. Aim to be where you want to be by 3pm.

■ Paid camping grounds: Wise to pre-book, especially in peak seasons.

■ Toilets: If possible take your own, be it a toilet tent, chemical toilet, etc.

There are grey waste points where sewage can be dumped in most towns – check it out before you go.

■ Showers: Solar showers are cheap and work well. You can also check with some yacht clubs and service stations that may offer cheap showers (just wear your thongs).

■ Washing: Put your washing in a bucket with a lid. Put in some washing powder and cold water and place on the back seat floor, then drive away. You will

Get in early for a great camping spot.

find the driving motion is enough to shake the dirt out of your clothes.

■ Satellite TV system: Check out getting a 12-volt television and run freeto-air channels from all over Australia.

■ Solar panels: Great to charge your phones and other tech gadgets.

TECHNOLOGY: Become tech-savvy: Have the right computer and the right computer know-how and management of your banking, phone calls, travel journals and photograph storage will be easy and organised.

Your one-stop shop for computer know-how is often your local library. This is due to an initiative that has seen Telstra, state governments and your local library team up to provide free classes.

MONEY: The big three costs are: Petrol, food, accommodation. The cost of the big three will vary depending on the area and time of your trip. A savvy move

includes a contingency fund – this trip is an adventure, so anything could happen.

HEALTH: The big one: First aid kit. Ensure your first aid kit is properly stocked, locked and located in a dry, accessible location.

You can purchase complete first aid kits from pharmacies or St John’s Ambulance. It’s a smart move to do a first aid course, alternatively read a first aid book.

■ Hint: Include insect repellent, sunblock, painkillers. Check that your medications are up-to-date. Need to take health records, check www.ehealth.gov.au.

INSURANCE: A high quality insurance policy will make sure you are not financially crippled in case of accident, theft, storm damage or sudden illness. Caravan and campervan coverage for the over 55s is available through specialist insurance companies like Apia.

GREY NOMAD WEBSITES: ■ www.thegreynomads.com.au ■ www.noboundaries.com.au GREY NOMAD BOOKS: ■ Grey Nomad’s Guidebook, ABC Shop.

■ Green Nomads, Across Australia’s Wild Heritage, by Bob Brown.

■ Sing-Along Book for Grey Nomads,

by Aro Dee. ■ The Grey Nomads: Two Lives; Eight Months; A Thousand Experiences, by John A. Richardson.

BOUTIQUE RAIL & COACH TOURS Travel New Zealand in style this Summer SOUTH ISLAND SUPREME

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All prices include return flights ex Brisbane

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11 days AUD $3995.00 per person Twin Share

18 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Golden

Miles

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port of call

Sydney to Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie Newcastle

Central Coast

Sydney

The Sydney Harbour Bridge.

■ Norah Head Lighthouse UNCOVERING the nautical history of the NSW’s last manned lighthouse while admiring the tower top ocean views. Bush Road, Norah Head.

■ Australian Reptile Park LOCATED at Somersby, it is about 50 kilometres North of Sydney and is just off the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. The park is home to a variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and crocodiles, as well as other Australian animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, cassowaries and Tasmanian devils. reptilepark.com.au ■ Pelican Feeding, The Entrance WATCHING the natural comical frenzy of the daily pelican feeding at The Entrance. Daily at 3.30pm. Memorial Park, The Entrance.

■ Little Creek Cheese Factory SCOFFING a cheese platter on the banks of the river hoping to catch a glimpse of a platypus. Wyong.

■ Newcastle Art Gallery WHETHER you are a first-time visitor to the Gallery or a regular patron, you will find many nearby attractions to make a full day of your visit. Discover an abundance of unique shops and cafes along nearby Darby Street, enjoy a stroll or a picnic in beautiful Civic Park, or discover Newcastle's other cultural venues. 1 Laman Street Newcastle. artgallery@ncc.nsw.gov.au

Road trip

Sydney to Port Macquarie

Errol Smith

THE delights of Sydney are many and varied but a guided walk to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is an absolute must.

Once the adrenalin settles, take in the stunning vista of the world’s most beautiful harbour and all she has to offer.

Back at ground level, head across to the Sydney Opera House and unwind with a coffee at one of the many forecourt cafes before embarking on a guided tour; you won’t be disappointed.

Sydney central is the starting point for an eye-popping, five-hour journey to the more relaxed haven of Port Macquarie.

In Sydney itself there is so much to do and admire; from the incredible beaches that dot the eastern foreshore to the Australian museum and library in the heart of the city to Flemington Markets and Olympic Stadium at Homebush in the west, the home of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and now the biggest entertainment precinct in the country.

From Homebush, it’s a short hop to the M1 and onto the sunny Central Coast, a journey of about 90 minutes.

Seniors News

First stop the iconic Australian Reptile Park at Somersby, where you can spend an entire day wandering among the friendly animals on grassed lawns and viewing Tasmanian Tigers, crocodile feeding and snake and spider milking.

From there, take the old Pacific Highway into Gosford and follow the signs to beautiful Terrigal with its beachside cafes and quaint shops, and don’t forget to walk to the top of the ‘skillion’ to view the surrounds.

It’s then only a 20-minute drive to The Entrance, which has recently undergone a multi-million-dollar revitalisation spend.

Make sure you are there at 3pm when hundreds of pelicans fly in for their daily feed of fish from the local fish and chip shop.

The feeding started 20 years ago when the leftovers were thrown to the pelicans. On days they had none, the pelicans would wander across the road to find out why.

Hop back onto the M1 by following the signs and continue north to Newcastle.

First stop the new look Honeysuckle Wharf development, which stretches endlessly along what was once part of

the Newcastle Steelworks complex.

Have a coffee, lunch or dinner and take in the beauty of this incredible seaport where huge tankers still make their way into the harbour to load up with coal for far-flung places.

Another must see is nearby Fort Scratchly, a former military fort that was used to defend Newcastle from Japanese submarines in 1942 and which is now a maritime museum.

Also well worth a visit is Newcastle Art Gallery in Laman Street with more than 3000 works of Australian art on display.

North of Newcastle the coastline is classic beach holiday territory so don’t be afraid to get off the Pacific Highway and take the short drives into places like Hawks Nest, Seal Rocks, Forster (where Myall Lakes meets the sea), Laurieton and Lake Cathie before arriving in wondrous Port Macquarie itself with its beaches, shopping malls and entertainment precincts.

Other must-sees’ ` along this part of the journey are Timbertown Pioneer Village at Wauchope, any one of a number of lighthouses, especially those at Myall Lakes, and Crowdy Head near Taree.

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To find out more about advertising in Seniors Toowoomba and online, call media sales consultant Mark Sojourner on 1300 880 265 or get in touch at mark.sojourner@seniorsnewspaper.com.au

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Things to do

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Golden

Seniors 19

An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Sydney to Port Macquarie

Miles

Events

NOVEMBER 27

Central Coast Half Marathon and 10km fun run FAST, Flat and Scenic Course. Starts under The Entrance Bridge at The Entrance and proceeds along The Entrance Road north before linking up with the cycleway and continuing along the path for 5km for Fun Runners and 10.5km for Half Marathon runners. The course returns back along same route to finish at the Memorial Park, The Entrance. Memorial Park, The Entrance. centralcoasthalfmarathon.com

organised by the Point Cafe and admission is free with food and drink being available for purchase. Bring your own rug, or hire one at the door. Umbrellas, high lawn chairs and outside food or drink are not permitted.

Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere of live music, craft beers and plenty of delicious food. Edogawa Commemorative Garden. Phone 0427 056 213.

DECEMBER 17

Woolworths Carols in the Domain THIS is Australia’s largest free Christmas concert. It will be the 34th year of this iconic Christmas celebration and we are looking forward to yet another star studded event. This year’s concert theme ‘Christmas Traditions’ promises to deliver yet another star studded line up of performances, along with the Christmas cheer that Australian families have come to know and love, while reflecting on all of the sacred traditions we share with our family and friends. The Domain Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. carolsinthedomain.com

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 18

Firefly Magic 4 NESTLED in the heart of the Central Coast, just 1 hours drive from Sydney and 30 minutes to Newcastle.

Firefly Magic is a unique festival at the beautiful Australian Rainforest Sanctuary, locally known as the Forest of Tranquility in Ourimbah. The “Fireflies” come out at Dusk and like humidity. However displays vary nightly, so it is suggested the evening be deemed an opportunity for a twilight stroll and chill out under the stars for dinner or an evening picnic. 390 Ourimbah Creek Road, Ourimbah. Phone 4362 1855.

DECEMBER 1 - 4

Motorworld Sydney A DYNAMIC, interactive automotive festival, a great day out for the family and motoring enthusiast alike. A highlight is the Mega Test Fest offering potential buyers the opportunity to test drive their hero car on track, road or off-road circuits to compare brands and models, or experience them through a series of live demonstrations. Quality educational and entertainment programs with live action, exciting competitions and fun activities for the kids, make this a special event for the whole family. Sydney Motorsport Park, 50 Peter Brock Drive, Eastern Creek, Eastern Creek, Sydney. sydneymotorsportpark.com.au

DECEMBER 2

Live from 5 street food A FREE community event, fortnightly on a Friday night from 5pm-8pm. Come down to Live From 5 and choose from some great international street food vendors, grab a boutique wine or local beer and chill out to the relaxed sounds of Joe Coffee. Bring your work colleagues, family and friends, and get the weekend off to a great start. Kibble Park, Gosford. Phone 4322 7726.

DECEMBER 4

Wollombi Sculpture in the Vineyards AN ANNUAL arts and cultural festival held throughout the boutique vineyards and historic village of the Wollombi Valley. This free public exhibition features large scale and site-specific works, transforming the four participating vineyards into a series of spectacular

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temporary sculpture parks. A celebration of art, food and wine, this month long event includes guided sculpture, wine and local Aboriginal history tours, as well as tailored educational tours and workshops for all. www.sculptureinthevineyards.com.au

DECEMBER 4

The Christmas Fair THE Central Coast’s favourite Christmas event returns to the beautiful waterside tranquil location of Mount Penang Gardens. You can enjoy the Coast’s largest free outdoor Christmas shopping experience on the water in a relaxing environment with plenty of free parking. Now in its ninth year, the event features over 1560 hand-picked, high-quality local arts and crafts stalls, international food zones and fresh seasonal produce areas, puddings, and delicious cakes. Santa will be there too and you can take photos with him on the water. Corner Central Coast Highway and The Avenue Mount Penang Gardens, Kariong. Phone 0416 923 655.

DECEMBER 11

Carols on the Green ON from 5.30pm-7pm. Bring your blanket for an evening of Christmas Carols, Face painting, Santa Photos and Holiday Cheer. Followed by Christmas ham Raffles at 7.30pm. Dunban Road, Woy Woy. visitcentralcoast.com.au

DECEMBER 15 - MARCH 19

Garden Summer Sounds AN evening of summer sounds on the third Sunday of every month between 4pm - 7pm. This event is

OUT NOW!

DECEMBER 17

Christmas Party Picnic Race Day GATES Open 12pm, First Race 1pm,Last Race 5pm.

The Entertainment Grounds offers first class sporting and function facilities and is centrally located at West Gosford. With unsurpassed views and excellent facilities The Entertainment Grounds is undoubtedly one of the finest, most exclusive function venues available on the Central Coast. A different way to enjoy pre-Christmas celebrations with live action racing. The Entertainment Grounds, 4 Racecourse Road, West Gosford. theentertainmentgrounds.com.au

DECEMBER 24

Carols by Candlelight THE place for families to come together and celebrate Christmas Eve. Celebrate Christmas Eve with the family and loved ones on the foreshore at The Entrance for a traditional ‘Carols by Candlelight’ evening. The evening provides a relaxing and free night of carols, children shows, amusement rides, market stalls, Santa and to add to the Christmas spirit a spectacular fireworks courtesy of Star 104.5 display is at 9pm. This is a great way to spend Christmas Eve with your family and friends. Memorial Park, The Entrance. theentrance.org.au/whats-on/events/17-carols

DECEMBER 31

New Years Eve WELCOME in the New Year or celebrate the end of the year with your friends and family at The Entrance family orientated New Year’s Eve event. Entertainment starts CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Things to do from Sydney to Port MacquarieWelcome to your golden years

In partnership with

FROM PAGE 19

at 4.30pm on the Sails Stage and kicks off in Memorial Park at 6pm finishing the program with a fantastic fireworks display over The Entrance Channel at 9pm.

Memorial Park, The Entrance. theentrance.org.au

JANUARY 8 - 14

Apia International Sydney THE Apia International Sydney is a lead up tournament to the Australian Open and is one of the oldest tennis events in the world! In 2000, the tournament moved to its fourth home, the state-of-the-art Sydney Olympic Park Tennis centre where it is played to this day. Apia International Sydney is all about the tennis, with rising stars, established veterans and the world’s top ranked players all hitting Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre with the aim of lifting the trophy at the end of the week and entertaining the fans while they’re at it. Tennis Centre Sydney Olympic Park. apiainternational.com.au

JANUARY 11 -15

Parkes Elvis Festival THE event is held on the second week in January, coinciding with Elvis Presley’s birthday. Each year the program extends and now there are approximately 120 individual events over the five days. The program includes the headline Feature Concerts Series, the Elvis Gospel Service, the Northparkes Mines Street Parade, nonstop free entertainment in Cooke Park, the popular Renewal of Vows, the Goodsell Machinery Miss Priscilla Dinner, Poets’ Breakfast, busking, dancing, cake decorating and much more! Parkes is located 365 kilometres west of Sydney. parkeselvisfestival.com.au

JANUARY 14

Tastefest on the Manning THERE will be Farmers Markets from 9am, and TasteFest from 10am through to 8pm in Queen Elizabeth Park in the central business district of Taree.

The walk-in entrance is at the bottom of Manning Street, next to the Exchange Hotel. TasteFest will showcase the best the Manning Valley and surrounds has to offer and will include craft beer, food, wine, entertainment and music, as well as activities on the river. TasteFest on the Manning is conducted by Taree Lions club as a charity that benefits the community and celebrates life in the Manning Valley. They look forward in having you join in the fun, fine food and festive spirit. tastefest.com.au

FEBRUARY 4 - 5

NSW Masters Darts Tournament THE NSW Masters Darts Tournament will be hosted

by Ettalong Bowling Club. Play begins at 9am daily.

Spectators welcome. Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club, 103 Springwood Street, Umina Beach. Phone 4341 0087.

FEBRUARY 17 - 19

Deniliquin Fishing Classic

PHOTO: DESTINATION NSW

CATCH OF THE DAY: Deniliquin Fishing Classic.

In 2017 the Deniliquin RSL XXXX Fishing Classic will celebrate it 20th year. This will by far be the best year yet. 2017 will see the return of the Kayak Section which crowned the Champion Angler for 2016, hauling in a whopping 99cm Murray Cod. Also returning for the second year will be our tagged cod. With the prize money jackpotting to $10,000. Like every year we will have some amazing prizes up for grabs, plenty of kids activities, food and drinks. denifishingclassic.com.au

FEBRUARY 25 - 26

Sydney Harbour Challenge outrigger canoe racing STARTED by Pacifica Canoe Club, currently the largest 6 person Canoe race in the Southern Hemisphere, Sydney Harbour Challenge presented by Hawaiian Airlines is very excited to announce its 4th year. Growing on last years huge success the event is extending to a 2 day program which will see competitors from around the globe compete in a series of races around the stunning Sydney Harbour. The Esplanade, Manly. www.sydneyharbourchallenge.sydney

MARCH 3 - 12

Seniors Week NSW EMPOWERING older people in NSW to stay connected and contribute to their communities and to live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing. The weeks’ events bring together local

community organisations to produce multicultural, intergenerational or lifestyle events for seniors in their community and encourages opportunities for seniors to continue to learn. The 2017 NSW Seniors Festival theme will focus on ‘Inclusive Communities.’ www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

MARCH 4

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras TODAY Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most famous and well-loved events, bringing thousands of visitors to Sydney to join in the celebrations.Visit: www.mardigras.org.au

MARCH 25

The Kindness Festival THE event will run from 10am-7pm and aims to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. Promoting a greener lifestyle and educating the community on ways to heal mother Earth.

The Kindness Festival is ultimately a food festival, the first of its kind on the Central Coast. A completely plant based event promoting the delicious and indulgent food that comes with the the vegan lifestyle.

This event will have live music, delicious street food, a great range of quality stalls.

Great local art and talented craftsmanship. Kibble Park, Gosford. www.uminabeachmarkets.com/the-kindness-festival

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Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Golden

Miles

Seniors 21

An inspiring port of call

Port Macquarie to Yamba

Byron Bay Port Macquarie AUSSIE ICON: Coffs Harbour’s Big Banana is still a traffic stopper.

PHOTO: TREVOR VEALE

Things to do ■ Woolgoolga Art Gallery WOOLGOOLGA Art Gallery is a community-based gallery run by volunteers. There are regular exhibitions, classes and workshops in a variety of arts and crafts. All exhibition items are for sale.

■ Slim Dusty Centre SLIM was the first Australian to have an international record hit, and the first singer in the world to have his voice beamed to earth from space. The Slim Dusty Museum is a major tourism drawcard, making this facility a mustsee on the national and international visitors scene. Kempsey.

■ Cascade mountain bike trail ENJOY a scenic cycling route through the rainforest on Cascade mountain bike trail, only an hours' drive from Coffs Harbour and spot lyrebirds, reptiles and other wildlife along the way.

■ Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries JUST 10 minutes north of Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast. Call in and experience the pleasure of picking your own plump, luscious strawberries. Farm Gate Sales – 7am-5pm. Big Red Cafe – 9am-3pm. www.ricardoes.com ■ Coffs Harbour City Gallery THE gallery has a highly flexible exhibiting space of 200 square metres and presents a diverse program of historical and contemporary exhibitions designed for the enjoyment and education of the community of Coffs Harbour.

tle

Ne

Road trip

Port Macquarie to Yamba

Belinda Scott

DRIVING from Port Macquarie to Yamba, travellers pass through a region which is rich in wildlife and natural attractions as well as Aboriginal and European history.

It is also a noted food bowl, producing everything from fish and oysters to nuts, fruit, sugar cane and coffee.

This 296.4 km trip can be completed in less than four hours, travelling for much of the way on some of the newest and fastest stretches of the Pacific Highway, but why would you want to hurry?

Stroll the elevated boardwalk through the rainforest at Port Macquarie’s Sea Acres Nature Reserve, ride a camel along the beach, browse the boutiques at Port Macquarie Central; check out the shows at The Glasshouse and enjoy a cruise on the Hastings River.

As you head north you can pick your own strawberries at Ricardoes Tomatoes and Strawberries or take a side trip to local wineries or the Billabong Wildlife Park.

Kempsey’s Slim Dusty Centre and the Pub with No Beer at Taylor Arm celebrate the life and times of famous country musicians.

Forest Sky Pier, Sealy Lookout, Coffs Harbour and (right) interesting work at the Grafton Art Gallery.

Travel 24km north east of Kempsey to visit historic Smoky Cape Lighthouse or the heritage-listed ruins of Trial Bay Gaol and its museum.

Coffs Harbour is known for its Big Banana Fun Park, with its water park, ice skating rink, candy kitchen – and chocolate-coated bananas.

Coffs Jetty Foreshores is a great seaside picnic area with bike paths, walking tracks, playgrounds, fishing boats, cafes, a marina and the Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-op.

Muttonbird Island, the state’s largest nesting colony for the birds, is connected to the breakwater.

Nearby is Dolphin Marine Magic, the state’s only dolphinarium, which has daily shows featuring dolphins and seals.

Further north, the lovely city of Grafton is on the banks of the mighty Clarence, the largest river on the coast of NSW. Grafton is famous for its spectacular Jacaranda Festival, held each year in late spring – October 29-November 6 this year – but is worth visiting all year round for its art gallery, museum, parks and historic buildings.

Canefields line the highway as you travel north to the Scottish-flavoured river town of Maclean, where the power poles wear painted tartan kilts and Maclean Lookout offers panoramic views of the Lower River valley.

At the mouth of the Clarence is the notable fishing and beach town of Yamba, cherished for its village atmosphere, relaxed ambience, swimming spots and walking tracks.

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22 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Port Macquarie to Yamba

Events NOVEMBER 26 - 27

The movie will begin once the sun has set. Coffs Harbour Showground. www.newcastlepermanent.com.au

The Nambucca River Festival MACKSVILLE’S River Street will be transformed into an entertainment precinct centred on the innovative River Stage where you can watch high-energy water activities and enjoy the great on-stage entertainment available, all tightly scheduled into one continuous show and viewed from the same vantage point. All this close to stalls where you can taste the best of locally produced food and wines. New this year is the addition of a band on the River Stage following the fireworks where you can dance the night away with a musical street party. www.nambuccariverfestival.com.au

MARCH 3 - 4

bcu Coffs Tri THE Coffs Harbour event will also be the NSW State Championship Race to determine the best triathletes in NSW. The inclusion of short-distance events for novices and children means the event promises to be fun for everyone, regardless of age or fitness. All proceeds will go to local children’s charities. www.villagesports.com.au

NOVEMBER 26 - 27

Dorrigo Agricutural Show THE Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Agricultural Association Incorporated (the Dorrigo Show Society) is a member based, not-for-profit organisation.

The society holds and promotes an agricultural show each year to serve as its primary medium to achieve its mission. The primary focus of the agricultural show is to serve as a showcase for the talents of the residents, local organisations and particularly the youth of the community. 1 Rosewood St, Dorrigo. destinationdorrigo.com

DECEMBER 17

Christmas Carols Urunga STARTING at 5pm and going until 9.30pm, the Carols Urunga evening will be one of song and joy.

Entertainment, food, fireworks and lots of fun for all.

There will be a variety of wonderful foodies with a barbecue and sausage sizzle plus a variety of food and drink stalls. The arrival of Santa always brings much excitement. Bring a chair or rug to sit on. Morgo Street Reserve, 15 Morgo St, Urunga.www.urunga.com.au

DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 28

Screenwave International Film Festival THE best in world cinema, art house and independent films, Coffs Coast local content, genre flicks, and Australian film titles across Coffs Harbour’s Jetty Memorial Hall and Bellingen’s Memorial Hall.

With more than 38 film sessions, two free outdoor cinema events, four Australian feature film directors flying into the region from around the country, filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions, free special presentation screenings and much more. www.swiff.com.au

DECEMBER 29 - 31

Lost Paradise Festival ANNUAL New Year’s Boutique camping music festival featuring art, music, yoga, food, all lovingly wrapped in community.

Lost Paradise was born out of a life-long dream to

MARCH 3 - 12

rth, will find it in Tamwo GOLDEN GUITAR: You ntry music.

Australia’s home of cou

bring together kindred spirits for a good old fashioned party among nature. 69 Glenworth Valley Cooks Rd, Glenworth Valley. www.lostparadise.com.au

JANUARY 19- 20

Tamworth Country Music Festival ENTERTAINMENT at the Tamworth Country Music Festival is on throughout the region across many venues – there are some 2800-plus events staged in 120 venues and more than 800 artists performing during the festival.

Each venue listed organises its own entertainment and schedules artists. Over the 10 days of the Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth has a Festival Express bus service in operation to help festival fans get around the country music capital. www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au

FEBRUARY 4

Cinema Under the Stars THE free event kicks off at 5.30pm with a fantastic line-up of family friendly entertainment and activities before the blockbuster movie Zootopia screens at sundown.

Seniors Week NSW EMPOWERING older people in NSW to stay connected and contribute to their communities and to live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing.

The week’s events bring together local community organisations to produce multicultural, intergenerational or lifestyle events for seniors in their community and encourage opportunities for seniors to continue to learn.

The 2017 NSW Seniors Festival theme will focus on Inclusive Communities. www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

MARCH 4 - 5

Girrakool Blues Festival & BBQ IT’S happening on the Central Coast with 20 bands, one funny-man, two stages, overnight camping, family friendly Texan slow-cooked barbecue, specialty stalls and Aboriginal cultural activities in the beautiful Mt Penang Gardens.

Girrakool Blues Festival and Barbecue is named after the nearby waterfalls and quite fittingly is Aboriginal for “place of still water”, ie Muddy Waters.

The festival will feature a wonderful weekend of quality, international, national and local blues and roots acts, within the beautiful surrounds of Mt Penang Garden Parklands. in a family friendly, relaxed atmosphere. www.girrakoolblues.com.au

APRIL 2

The Beachside Radiology Coffs Ocean Swims A FUN charity fundraising event offering participants a choice of distances catering for both the novice and the more competitive with a 600-metre swim around the jetty, 2000-metre swim across the harbour and fun races for children, all held inside the beautiful, protected harbour.

2017 marks the 20th annual Coffs Ocean Swim.

Coffs Harbour. www.villagesports.com.au

ginger meggs: CELEBRATING 95 YEAR EARS An amazing exhibition of memorabilia and ca artoons spanning 95 years, from Australia’s favouririte ginger-haired larrikin! 2 DEC TO 29 JAN N

Open 7 days 10am--4pm* John Champion Way (off City Hill Drive at racecourse roundabout) Coffs Harbou ur P: 02 6651 7343 W: bunkercartoongallery.com.au E: info@bunkercartoongallery.com.au * CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

The award-winning Forest Sky Pier at Sealy Lookout is an unmissable stop in your coastal travels. This amazing structure out over the forest canopy and offers views from mountains to the sea. Enjoy a picnic under shady trees or take in the comforts of the sheltered picnic area. Walking tracks such as the Rainforest Loop Track at The Gap provide an authentic and beautiful North Coast forest experience.

Korora Lookout is a special place. Developed in collaboration with Gumbaynggirr Elders, the walking track to Korora Lookout tells the story of Gumgali the black goanna, who burrowed through the escarpment to emerge in the sea. A series of sculptures and mural art guides visitors to the lookout where the story of Gumgali is shared in Gumbaynggirr language at the sound bar. At the lookout, a viewing deck showcases panoramic views north over the coastline while tree-shaded seating offers peace and tranquillity.

24 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port of call

Gold Coast

Yamba to Tweed Heads

Byron Bay Ballina’s Big Prawn.

Things to do ■ The Big Prawn BUILT in 1989, the Big Prawn started off tail-less and sat upon the West Ballina transit centre. Visitors could go into a viewing deck within the prawn’s head and look out through its bulging eyes.

It’s since undergone a makeover and moved to a new location outside the Bunnings Warehouse on River Street.

■ New Italy THE New Italy Museum is dedicated to the original families who settled here from 1882. The Italian Pavilion showcases the broader history of Italian migration to Australia and the Northern Rivers region. Stroll the grounds to see the Monument to the Pioneers, Antonionia’s Well, sculptures and the Park of Peace. 8275 Pacific Highway, Woodburn.

■ Crystal Castle and Shambhala Gardens A SHORT scenic journey into Byron Bay’s hinterland lies a faraway magical place. Walk among gods through the famous Buddha Walk and breathe in the stunning gardens and rainforest.

Only 20 minutes from Byron Bay. www.crystalcastle.com.au ■ Nimbin Artists Gallery A VIBRANT and unique community nestled in scenic north-east New South Wales. The gallery exhibits a huge range of works from more than 100 artists living in and around Nimbin. www.nimbinartistsgallery.org ■ Cape Byron Lighthouse SITTING on Australia’s most easterly point, Cape Byron Lighthouse is a shining light over Byron Bay. Take a guided tour, find out about shipwrecks and enjoy spectacular views.

9.30am-4.30pm daily (closed Christmas Day).

Port Macquarie Road trip

Yamba to Tweed Heads

Jan Richards

YOU could do the drive from Yamba to Tweed Heads, only 176kms, in just over two hours, or you could take your time and make your way off the M1 to explore places like The Big Prawn, or the Little Italy museum.

Let’s start at Yamba. Grab a coffee, or an ice-cream and take in its village charm, then venture to the beach for a swim, a surf, or a spot of fishing. On the Clarence River, the waterways are part of the area’s natural beauty, so head out on a kayak or boat and explore. Like your history? Retrace the steps of Mathew Flinders as you explore the historical highlights.

Half an hour north drop into New Italy for some more history at its museum dedicated to the original families who settled there from 1882.

In only 20 minutes you’ll be back on the coastline at Evans Head, where you can roll out your towel and relax on the beach or swim in its protected waters.

Or head straight to Ballina, a bustling holiday town and the home of the iconic Big Prawn. There are also kilometres of bike paths so you can explore the Richmond River and coastline.

For bushwalkers, the national parks of

Relax and drop a line by the Tweed River, and (right) deep sea and river fishing expeditions from Yamba.

PHOTOS: DESTINATION NSW

Broadwater and Bundjalung are a great way to experience the flora, fauna and birdlife.

Lennox Head is a vibrant seaside village with a famous right-hand point break. This might be your chance to see some great surfing action, or to get out there amongst it if you’re good enough.

Rediscover your inner hippie just half an hour up the road at Byron Bay. Check out the national park with its famous Cape Byron Lighthouse, at Australia’s most easterly point. There are walks through the national park, or you can drive and park close to the lighthouse.

Shop until you drop in town, or take your pick from dozens of funky places to eat. Or pick up a takeaway and sit on the beachfront and watch the passing

parade.

If you have time, stop at Kingscliff, another seaside delight, before you reach Tweed Heads on the far north coast of NSW. This is a great place to explore the region from, and has not only beaches and the sparkling Tweed River, there’s also the World Heritage Listed rainforest – take a river cruise and feed birds of prey.

Don’t be in a hurry, most towns are only 20-30 minutes apart, and they all have so much to offer.

As do inviting hinterland towns like Mullumbimby, at the foot of the striking Mount Chincogan where you can taste fresh local produce at the colourful farmers market and Murwillumbah with its Tweed River Gallery.

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An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Yamba to Tweed Heads

Events NOVEMBER 29

MARCH

Windara Carols by Fireworks - Casino WHAT a wonderful way to start the festive season.

Join Windara Communities as they herald the festivities at Casino’s Queen Elizabeth Park, not by carols, but by fireworks.

There will be a bouncy castle, food stalls, a bar and even a visit by Santa Claus. The night will help raise funds for Windara Communities, supporting the employment of disabled people in the Casino district. www.richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au

Rappville Cup, Casino DRESS up in your best and enter the Fashions in the Field competition to be in the chance to win from a pool of prizes at the Rappville Cup Day at the Casino Racecourse. The meeting of eight races will be complemented by full TAB facilities on course, plus a host of bar and food outlets. www.casinoracingclub.com.au

MARCH 3 - 12

DECEMBER 1

Richmond Valley Christmas Street Party THE Christmas Tree Lightup and Street Party is back and bigger than ever.

Walker St comes alive with a host of exciting Christmas fun for the whole family. There will be amusement rides, Christmas carols, face painting, Santa, Christmas tree, food, fun and much, much more. www.richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au

DECEMBER 26

Ballina Boxing Day Races IT’S that time of year again. Yes the Ballina Boxing Day Races are happening at the Ballina Jockey Club so frock up and get ready for a fun filled day in the sun.

This is an exciting event to be a part of so don’t miss out. Racecourse Rd, Ballina Jockey Club, Ballina. www.ballinajockeyclub.com.au

DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 6

Ballina Bowls Summerland Series SUMMERLAND Series is a prestigious bowls series attracting players from interstate, New Zealand and other countries.

There will be approximately 300 bowlers who participate in the event, as well as spectators in excess of 300. The Pairs tournament will run over three days, with three days break and then the Singles tournament runs a further four days.

Finals are held the day after the Singles tournament.

68 Cherry St, Ballina Bowling and Recreation Club. www.cherrystreet.com.au

JANUARY 1

Yamba Twilight Street Markets THE Yamba Twilight Street Markets is an annual market event held on New Year’s Day, with the main street of Yamba closed for the community event. There will be lots of stalls featuring jewellery, clothing, arts and craft, fresh produce and gourmet foods, among many, many others. The markets are organised by the Rotary Club of Yamba. Yamba St, Yamba. Phone: 0422 055 355.

Australian Longboard

.

Surfing Open, Kingscliff

JANUARY 2

Yamba Ocean Swim A TRADITIONAL Christmas holidays swim on the NSW North Coast, timed to attract the hordes of holidaymakers who flock to the region between Christmas and New Year. Yamba is a stunning place.

This swim offers a beautiful location with terrific beaches. Excellent way to get oneself feeling good again after Christmas indulgences. Marine Pde, Yamba. www.oceanswims.com

JANUARY 7 - 8

Seniors Week NSW EMPOWERING older people in NSW to stay connected and contribute to their communities and to live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing. The week’s events bring together local community organisations to produce multicultural, intergenerational or lifestyle events for seniors in their community and encourages opportunities for seniors to continue to learn. The theme will focus on Inclusive Communities. www.nswseniorsweek.com.au

MARCH 16 - 19

Australian Longboard Surfing open, Kingscliff A THREE day celebration of the surfing lifestyle which attracts the current crop of professional longboard surfing superstars. Together they rub shoulders with other competitive surfers both professional, amateur and their families. The Australian Longboard Surfing Open attracts those that identify with a sport powered by nature, its clean green ocean waves and its lifestyle image of art, music, cars, movies, bikini parades and market stalls. www.australianlongboardopen.com

The Great Eastern Flyin, Evans Head A UNIQUE Australian aviation event. Pilots, their families and friends, fly In from all over Australia to enjoy a great summer holiday with a difference.

Locals young and old come to marvel at the latest in aircraft, air displays and have the ride of their lives.

A community event for all aviators and the general public, with plenty of opportunities to view aircraft and talk to pilots. www.greateasternflyin.com

MARCH

Big River Brew Festival, Yamba THE annual quest to find the best home brewers in the Clarence Valley culminates in the Big River Brewfest Home Brew Competition.

The team of judges has the unenviable task of deciding which backyard brewer will take out the prize.

The competition is open to all home-brewers (over 18 years of age, of course). www.bigriverbrewfest.me

Smooth sailing on the

Visit

CURRUMBIN Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has many new attractions for families to share long lasting memories. Take your family to Gold Coast's number one wildlife attraction and receive great senior discounts on day and annual entry passes. Kids under four are free.

Visit CurrumbinSanctuary.com.au

Tweed River.

26 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port of call

Miles

Brisbane Gold Coast

Mt Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.

Things to do ■ Hot Air Balloon Gold Coast WATCH the sun rise over the rolling hills of the majestic Gold Coast Hinterland, enjoy sweeping views of Tamborine Mountain and Lamington National Park. Stroll the gardens or wander the Vineyard and enjoy a visit and free wine tasting at the Canungra Valley Vineyard Cellar Door. wwhotair.com.au ■ Tamborine Mountain Glow Worm Caves COME underground on a journey through the spectacular man-made caves. Exploring this stunning cave, you will be guided through the magical ‘glow-worm cave’, filled with thousands of glowing glow-worms. The experience is one you have to see to believe. North Tamborine. glowwormcavetamborine mountain.com.au ■ Pacific Fair Shopping Centre CENTRALLY located in the heart of the Gold Coast in Broadbeach. Pacific Fair is world-class indoor/outdoor leisure and entertainment precinct with more than 400 specialty stores framed by tropical landscapes and gently-flowing water. pacificfair.com.au ■ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary VOTED one of the Gold Coast’s most popular tourist destinations. It was built in 1947 onwards and was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2009.

The sanctuary is world-renowned for its feeding of huge flocks of free-flying wild rainbow lorikeets, which come to the sanctuary to feast off the special mixture which the lorikeets eat.

Currumbin. cws.org.au ■ Jupiters Gold Coast A PREMIER entertainment destination, combining the luxury and sophistication of a world-class hotel with the excitement of award-winning restaurants, bars, spectacular stage shows and concerts, plus the non-stop action of a 24-hour casino. Jupiters has been part of the Gold Coast community for 30 years. Broadbeach. jupitersgoldcoast.com.au

Tweed Heads to Brisbane

Byron Bay Port Macquarie

Road trip

Tweed Heads to Brisbane

Alison Houston

THE quickest route from Tweed Heads to Brisbane is to blast up the M1, covering as little as 103kms – but where’s the fun in that?

And be warned, don’t leave the Tweed for the M1 between about 7am and 8.30am, or after 5pm, or you will find yourself stuck in commuter hell, adding vast quantities of time to your trip.

So instead, let’s go exploring. First stop is watching the surfers (and dolphins and whales) from Point Danger lookout, right on the NSW/Queensland border. On a good day you can see from Byron Bay to Surfers Paradise. Named

by Captain James Cook in 1770, you will find the Captain Cook Memorial, moulded from cast iron jettisoned from the Endeavour, the lighthouse and Marine Rescue, and the Centaur Remembrance Walk. Honouring the Australian hospital ship, sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1943, it is dedicated to those lost at sea.

From here, drive down the hill to Rainbow Bay for a dip in the protected waters and perhaps breakfast or lunch at one of the many cafes in bustling Coolangatta, or at the surf lifesaving

Visit the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary and the beautiful beaches.

clubs with their breathtaking ocean views.

Ten minutes up the Gold Coast Highway is Currumbin. Stop at the famous wildlife sanctuary or enjoy the view from Elephant Rock. Currumbin Creek, which leads into the ocean, is a great spot for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. For the surfing enthusiast, Surf World Gold Coast’s museum traces the sport, boards and associated photography, music and posters from the early 1930s to today.

Continue to Broadbeach and stop in

at the famous Jupiter’s Casino before finding your way onto the M1 or continue further on the Gold Coast Highway to the tourist mecca of Surfers Paradise and on to the pretty Southport Broadwater and the Spit. Perhaps even stop off at Sea World and check out the traditional dolphin show and the polar bears.

If you prefer the mountains to the sea, take a detour via the natural beauty of Springbrook, out to Canungra on the Beaudesert Rd and back through Mount Tamborine onto the freeway again.

Take a bushwalk at Springbrook National Park and see the impressive Natural Bridge rock formation, waterfalls, rare plants and birdlife. Take a picnic or go on to taste wines and have lunch at Canungra. Mount Tamborine’s Gallery Walk is full of unique treasures from jewellery to art, clothing to antiques and mouthwatering treats from specialty chocolate to wine and cheese.

It will be hard to leave this for all that Brisbane offers, including the latest theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, a CityCat ride on the river, climbing the Story Bridge, and visiting Brisbane Powerhouse, the Gallery of Modern Art and the culinary delights and markets of Southbank.

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An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Tweed Heads to Brisbane

NOVEMBER 5 - 13

Events

Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games 2016 is the year to Play it, Live it, Love it. 13,000 participants from each state and territory of Australia, as well as visitors from more than 20 overseas countries, will take part in 44 sports during 10 days of competition. Participants compete in their age group with no qualifying standards or times to enter. The only criteria for entry is a minimum age for each sport, which for the majority is 30. The games will celebrate masters sport with both fierce and friendly competition including a jam-packed entertainment program. Some of Australia’s biggest artists have graced the Games Village stage over the years including Ian Moss, 1927 and Daryl Braithwaite. www.mastersgames .com.au

JANUARY 26

Australia Day Celebrations THURSDAY, 4pm-8pm. Join in as the Gold Coast comes out to celebrate Australia’s birthday with the only fireworks display in the city. This year the event moves to Broadwater Parklands as the Cultural Precinct takes shape, so head down to the Broadwater in the cool of the afternoon. Bring your appetite and indulge in the huge food truck feast or grab a snag from the barbecue.

There’ll be Aussie sporting activities for the kids and some sweet tunes from local artists along the pier. The highlight of this celebration of our great nation will be a massive fireworks display not to be missed. Bring your picnic rug, get a great spot on the lawn to watch this feast for the eyes. The Great Lawn, Broadwater Parklands, Southport. Phone 5581 5286.

DECEMBER 1 - 4

DECEMBER 10

Broadbeach Christmas Carols ON Saturday from 3pm, enjoy an afternoon jam-packed with kids’ activities and incredible entertainment filled with Christmas spirit and joy. The Carols begin from 6pm with an amazing line-up of performers to celebrate Christmas under the stars in a free evening. Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach. www.broadbeachgc.com

DECEMBER 26

Boxing Day races GATES will open at 10am Monday, with the first race starting soon after. This is a free racing event so it is certainly an affordable day out for the whole family.

Make sure you dress to impress as a day at the races is nothing if not also a fashion event. Food and drink can be bought inside the venue and the on-site bars will close about one hour after the last race. Gold Coast Turf Club Racecourse Dr, Bundall. www.gctc.com.au

JANUARY 5 - 8

Rotary Antiques Fair WHILE exploring the many stalls and exhibitions, you will also get an opportunity to buy some of the most exquisite antiques. The Antiques Fair is one of the best places for those who love to collect precious and unique antiques. Browse through the elegant glass items, porcelain cookware, fine china and beautiful

What’s

Going On? Are there exciting things happening in your local senior community? Share your story online. Look for the ‘share your event or story’ box on our home page.

Visit www.seniorsnews.com.au

FEBRUARY

River nery along the Brisbane Discover stunning sce aboard a CityCat.

silver jewellery. Other items available include fine linens, antique clocks, medals, furniture and coins. The money collected by the event goes towards raising funds for local charities. Held on Thursday 5th from 5pm-9pm, Friday 6th from 10am-6pm, Saturday 7th from 10am-6pm, Sunday 8th from 10am-3pm. Jupiter’s Casino, Pavillion Rooms, Broadbeach. Phone: 0411 649 242.

JANUARY 14

Jeep Magic Millions Race Day ON Saturday, this annual event is the jewel in the crown of the Gold Coast. The love of horses, the beach, the sun and the surf is what brings people from all over the globe to the one destination, Australia’s beautiful Gold Coast. Racecourse Rd, Bundall. www.magicmillions.com.au

JANUARY 20 -22

Gold Coast Food & Wine Expo THE Food & Wine Expo is back on the Gold Coast for the ninth year running. Enjoy free tastings and samples from more than 100 gourmet exhibitors inside the show. Businesses in all areas of food, wines, homewares and Kitchenware come together to show you the latest products and give you ideas to try at home. Friday 20th from 11am-8pm, Saturday 21st from 10am-6pm and Sunday 22nd from 10am-5pm. Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach. www.foodandwineexpo.com.au

RACV Ladies Masters EVERY year, a number of international and national visitors come to the Gold Coast to watch this popular professional golf championship. The RACV ladies masters has become key for women’s golf in Queensland and Australia, with new and aspiring players joining every year, making the Australian Ladies Masters one of the largest sporting events for all golf enthusiasts. The RACV Ladies Masters is also co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour. RACV Royal Pines Resort Benowa. Phone: (08) 8373 2021.

FEBRUARY 19

Gold Coast MS Swimathon ON SUNDAY, The Sports Super Centre at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast will again host the first MS Swimathon event of the year to raise vital funds to help people living with multiple sclerosis. It doesn’t matter if you can do 100 fast laps or doggy paddle one, everyone can join in, have fun and support people with MS – an incurable disease which affects a person’s central nervous system. Designed as a relay event, teams must have one swimmer in the water at all times throughout the entire 12-hour event period. Runaway Bay Sports Super Centre. www.msswimathon.com.au

MARCH

Quiksilver & Roxy Pro THE first event on the men’s and women’s pro surfing calendar, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast is a rare chance to catch the stars of world surfing pulling some aerial magic and riding deep in the famed Snapper Rocks barrels. The wide sands and great weather also ensure this is one of the most spectator friendly surfing competitions in Australia. www.quiksilver.com.au/progoldcoast

ALL ABOARD FOR A RELAXING JOURNEY

Saturday 3rd December SANTA EXPRESS Steam train Roma Street to Shorncliffe Return Bring the Children along to see SANTA

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Australian PGA Golf A 72 Hole Stroke Play Event welcoming the world’s best Professional golfers to the Gold Coast. The Defending Champion is Nathan Holman. Hours of Play: Approximately 6am to 7pm on Thursday and Friday.

Approximately 6.30am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

RACV Royal Pines Resort, Ross Street, Benowa. www.championship.pga .org.au and www.racv.com.au/ royalpines

Wed 28th Dec to Sun 1st Jan 2017 NSW WANDERER Coach tour from Roma Street exploring railways, some closed lines & visiting country pubs along the way. Some meals included.

Accommodation at motels.

“Book early as seats are limited”

SUNSHINE EXPRESS RAIL TOURS G. P.O. BOX 682, BRISBANE, 4001

Phone 3252 1759 Fax 3252 1767

Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division ABN 74 009 767 579 | www.arhs-qld.org.au

We’ve Gone Social!

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Halcyon Greens

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An inspiring port of call

Brisbane to Noosa

Sunshine Coast Brisbane Gold Coast

Golden Beach at Caloundra.

Things to do

Road trip

Brisbane to Noosa

Ann Rickard

YOU can drive from Brisbane to Noosa along the Bruce Hwy in an hour and a half.

But why rush? Make a day of it, take it nice and slow and enjoy the pretty towns and interesting highlights on the way.

First stop, Redcliffe, close to Brisbane’s north and just a 10-minute detour off the Bruce Hwy. This quiet seaside town is the place where the Bee Gees grew up. Stop for morning coffee at one of the small cafes overlooking the sea and you’ll feel the slow pace of Redcliffe envelop you.

Back to the highway and a pleasant 40 minutes takes you to Australia Zoo. You could spend the entire day here, but an hour or so wandering the grounds will give you a good idea of why the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was so loved all over the world.

On to Caloundra, off the Bruce Hwy or along Nicklin Way, where the beautiful sandy beaches beckon.

Stretch the legs along Caloundra’s many tracks or boardwalks or check out the glam resorts, browse the gift shops, perhaps have another coffee but save yourself for lunch at Mooloolaba not far up the road.

Mooloolaba is one of the Coast’s most sought-after holiday destinations with its beach-front strip of stylish resorts, high-end restaurants and buzzing cafes overlooking the beach.

P

Cycle to Southbank along the Brisbane River, and (right) Australia Zoo is a must see on the Sunshine Coast.

The ever-popular Mooloolaba Surf Club boasts multi-million-dollar views, a pleasant place for a thirst-quenching light beer before heading along Parkyn Pde to the legendary Fish on Parkyn for a bucket of the famous Mooloolaba prawns.

Save a half hour for a wander around the Wharf Mooloolaba with its colourful marina and shops. It is also home to Underwater World.

Take the coastal road from Mooloolaba through Alexandra Headland enjoying the view to Old Woman Island as you slowly meander your way to Coolum.

Entry to Coolum always gives the heart a small skip. The stunning view of the surf beach, the rocky outcrops and Norfolk pines all make you feel good to be alive. Perhaps stop at Coolum for an ice-cream or gelato – there are no end of outlets.

From Coolum it’s a quick hop to Peregian where visitors are always

surprised by the number of fashionable boutiques and restaurants fringing a charming village square, and where the sound of crashing surf beyond makes you know you are at one of the Sunshine Coast’s favourite spots.

Then it is further along the winding David Low Way with the breathtaking beach scenes combined with the green bushland of Noosa National Park.

You could be lucky and spot a whale or a pod of dolphins, which are very common.

Continue along David Low Way through Marcus Beach and Castaways Beach following the coastal road and you’ll eventually come to Sunrise Beach and then Sunshine Beach, where yet more of the glorious coastline gleams.

Then you arrive in Noosa Junction, gateway to all of Noosa’s charms, in time for an evening aperitif and to contemplate dinner in one of dozens of world-class restaurants.

Not a bad day of motoring.

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■ Story Bridge Adventure Climb CLIMBING Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge is an adventure like no other.

Standing on top of the bridge above the glistening landscape is a very special moment to experience on the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point. www.sbac.net.au ■ CityCat and ferry services BRISBANE City Council operates a fleet of 21 CityCats and nine monohull ferries (including CityHoppers) along a network of 25 terminals. CityCats operate seven days a week with regular services every 15 minutes for most of the day and express routes and more frequent services during peak times.

TransLink website translink.com.au.

■ The Wheel of Brisbane RECOGNISED as one of the most exciting additions to the Brisbane city skyline is the Wheel of Brisbane. You will be inspired by the breathtaking views across the iconic Brisbane River. www.thewheelofbrisbane.com.au.

■ Bee Gees walkway IN the late 1950s, three young brothers living on the Redcliffe Peninsula gathered around a microphone and for the first time performed using a name now famous around the globe. The Moreton Bay Region is home to Bee Gees Way, a walkway that honours the world-famous pop group. Located off Redcliffe Pde, Bee Gees Way is a multi-media celebration of the Gibb brothers’ phenomenal career and their links to Redcliffe.

■ Australia Zoo LOCATED an hour north of Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast, Australia Zoo has a team of passionate conservationists working around-the-clock to deliver an animal experience like no other. Steve and Terri Irwin’s vision has always been to make Australia Zoo the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world, and there is no other zoo like Australia Zoo at Beerwah. www.australiazoo.com.au.

To Bruce Hwy

Sunshine Motorway from Mooloolaba

Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club

Big T-Boats Pelican O-Boats

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Brisbane to Noosa

Events JANUARY 1 - 8

NOVEMBER 11 - 13

Brisbane International Tennis BOOKINGS can be made at Ticketek agencies across Australia and New Zealand. Ticket holders can travel free to and from the Brisbane International with TransLink on Queensland Rail train and Brisbane Transport bus services. Event tickets purchased at the Queensland Tennis Centre box office at the venue, on the day of the event, are only valid for free post-event travel. Held at the Queensland Tennis Centre. www.brisbaneinternational.com.au

Supanova Pop Culture Expo SUPANOVA, Australia’s very own Comic-Con, returns to Brisbane on November 11-13. Come and celebrate the worlds of film and television, fantasy, comic books, sci-fi, anime, cartoons, books, gaming, toys and collectables. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre www.supanova.com.au

NOVEMBER 11 - 13

Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas BRINGING music by dusk and movies by night to Brisbane’s iconic Rainforest Green at South Bank.

General Admission $18. General Concession $10. Star Lounge $40. Rainforest Green, South Bank. www.visitbrisbane.com.au

FEBRUARY 26

Way, mory lane on Bee Gees Take a walk down me from rs the Bro b Gib ous dedicated to the fam Redcliffe.

DECEMBER 2

Brisbane Twilight Market KING George Square, 4pm- 9pm.Take your time to browse through the stalls of more than 80 local artisans, all specializing in quality, handmade and locally produced products. Enjoy the soothing sounds of Queensland’s premier jazz bands and enjoy a bite to eat at the on-site cafe’s as the cities lights twinkle before you. www.brisstyle.com.au

much-loved free family event. Join some of Australia’s most renowned singers and entertainers including musical theatre icons Rhonda Burchmore, Luke Kennedy and Naomi Price. Riverstage, Brisbane. www.visitbrisbane.com.au

DECEMBER 10

DECEMBER 15 - 19

Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols IT'S time to ring in some Christmas joy with the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols from 5pm-9.15pm. This is a

Commonwealth Bank Test Match THERE are few events on the Australian sporting calendar that evoke as much passion as Test cricket, and this year's Brisbane Commonwealth Bank Test will go down in history as Brisbane's first day-night Test. Be there to be a part of history as Australia meets Pakistan in the first Commonwealth Bank Test match.

Get to the Gabba easily, with free public transport available to and from the match. www.cricket.com.au

We’ve Gone Social!

Logan Car Show 10th Anniversary IT’S ON between 9am-2pm. The date is set again for another huge Logan Car Show for 2017. This is the 10th anniversary so it’s set to be bigger and better than ever before. With rides, entertainment, bands, trade stands, exhibitors, food, drinks plus of course, cars, bikes and utes. Great raffles, rides, food galore and much more.

Logan Entertainment Centre. Phone 3442 1700.

MARCH 24 - 26

CMC Rocks CELEBRATING 10 years of the world’s biggest country superstars. Global superstars Dixie Chicks will return to Australia for the first time in over 10 years to headline CMC Rocks QLD’s 10th Anniversary. Many more artists performing over the three days. Don’t miss a Rockin’ thing. Willowbank, Ipswich. www.cmcrocks.com

DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 1

Woodford Folk Festival THE Woodford Folk Festival is an iconic major event on the Australian cultural calendar. Held at the beautiful site Woodfordia each year, the festival features over 2500 artists and presenters in music, dance, circus, poetry, talks, street theatre, indigenous arts, visual arts, children's and spectacle theatre across 25 stages.

Held at the beautiful 500 acre property of Woodfordia, it is just over one hour north of Brisbane Airport. Primarily known as a camping festival, the event offers an exciting experience for day visitors and is a pleasant drive or train/bus connection from Brisbane. www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

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Plenty of water sports on the beautiful Sunsh ine Coast.

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An inspiring port of call

Miles

Noosa to 1770

1770 Fly away to beautiful Rainbow Beach.

Things to do ■ Montville Art Gallery EXHIBITIONS of paintings and sculpture by established and emerging Australian artists, many of whom live and work in South East Queensland.

Each month a different artist is featured as ‘Artist of the Month’ ensuring there is always something new to see and enjoy at the Montville Art Gallery. Gallery manager is Lisa Powell.

Montville. montvilleartgallery.com.au ■ Queensland Air Museum THE Queensland Air Museum has a fascinating collection of aviation history to explore. Well worth a visit when you're next in Caloundra.Their Vision is 'Preserving Australia's Aviation Heritage'. Caloundra Aerodrome, Caloundra. qam.com.au ■ Kenilworth Country Foods LOCATED in the in the Hinterland town of Kenilworth, 60kms west of Noosa. Established in 1950 as one of the many rural cheese factories owned by the Kraft Corporation. An award winning gourmet range of Cheddar Cheeses, Honey Yoghurts and Natural Yoghurts are all Kenilworth originals. kenilworthcountryfoods.com.au ■ Turtle nesting and hatching FROM November - March each year on the north Queensland coast, one of nature’s most wonderful events occurs when sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs and then leave their hatchling to emerge a couple of months later. The Mon Repos rookery near Bundaberg is one of the most accessible in Australia to witness this unique occasion. Phone 4159 1652.

■ Bundaberg Rum Distillery HOME to Australia’s now world famous rum. The moment you set foot inside you’re in for an immersive experience like no other. To be a part of the excitement, book one of the unique tours (or all of them). You’re in for an unforgettable day. Bundaberg. bundabergrum.com.au

Sunshine Coast

omba

Brisbane Coast RoadGold trip

Noosa to 1770

Jim Fagan

THERE are two ways to drive from the Sunshine Coast to the Town of 1770.

With Maroochydore as your starting point, the first is to drive 406km up the Bruce Highway. If you stop for a coffee, it will take you more than five hours.

The other is to follow in the wake of Captain James Cook’s ship, HMB Endeavour, view some of the landmarks he named in his voyage up the East Coast in 1770 and explore the holiday towns that have grown around them.

Rainbow Beach, famed for its spectacular multi-coloured sands, is two hours and 155km north. A short walk from there is Double Island Point, a magnet for marine life and perfect for scuba diving. It is really a headland which Captain Cook named but wrongly identified as “two islands.”

And don’t overlook the stunning views from the Carlo Sand Blow – a unique sand mass covering 15 hectares and reputed to be named after one of the Endeavour deck crew.

Rainbow Beach is a departure point for Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Lots of tours to choose from or you can do your own camping and swimming thing. Indian Head – a rocky outcrop named when Cook

LOOK FOR THE CRUISE SIGN

Stunning Sunshine Coast Hinterland, and (right) explore Fraser Island via 4WD.

observed a “number of the natives were assembled there” – is located on the east coast of the island and the views are a photographer’s dream.

Back on the mainland, the bayside town of Tin Can Bay with its boating and fishing pleasures is only 25 minutes from Rainbow Beach. Take time to feed the wild Humpback dolphins before driving along Cooloola Road to Maryborough less than an hour away.

Maryborough is worth a visit, if only for its preserved colonial streets, museums and art galleries.

About 45 minutes’ drive north is another take-off point for Fraser Island – Hervey Bay, named by Cook after Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol.

It is world famous for whale watching.

Humpback whales migrate from Antarctica and use it as a “summer” resort from July to November.

Turn off the highway at Childers and it’s 38 km to the small hamlet of Woodgate Beach and its seemingly endless sands and well-appointed caravan park then on to Bundaberg, a short 64km drive way. The rum distillery offers museum tours and tastings and the Botanic Gardens is home to the Bert Hinckler Hall of Aviation, the famous solo, long-distance pilot.

Agnes Water and the Town of 1770, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, are 90 minutes from Bundaberg.

Originally known as Round Hill, the name was changed in 1970 to commemorate the Bicentennial of Cook’s visit.

If you’re feeling venturesome, the best way to see the sights is by hiring a 1770 Scooteroo motorcycle!

Distance and time source/ RACQ Trip Planner

www.caloundracruise.com 0458 005 008 CRUISE ROUTES SMOOTHWATER CLASSIC

– Pumicestone Marine Park – Bribie Island National Park – Golden Beach, Bulcock Beach, Pelican Waters and Lighthouse Reach

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Bus 609 Wheelchair access

Advance bookings via phone or email are essential. Discount not applicable to Sunset Cruises.

32 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

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seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port ofThings call to do from Noosa to 1770

Events WHAT’S ON

www.woodfordfolkfestival.com

NOVEMBER 12 AND 13

DECEMBER 31

Caloundra Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair SATURDAY 9am-4pm and Sunday 9am-3pm at 5 North St, Caloundra. Eftpos facilities are available, plenty of free parking too. Free event. Phone: 0409 948 604. Fair Convenor, Joan: fair@caloundraartsandcrafts.org.au or visit the website: www.caloundraartsandcrafts.org.au

Mooloolaba New Year's Eve celebration THE Sunshine Coast is the place to be with a feast of entertainment to suit all ages and tastes including: live music on the main stage energetic DJ sets on the beach stage carnival rides and buskers roving and street entertainment temporary tattoos children's face painting and activities two spectacular fireworks displays at 8.30pm and midnight. This event is a safe, secure, fully fenced, alcohol and glass free zone. Pet owners in the area should ensure pets are safe and secure.

NOVEMBER 12 AND 13

Conscious Life Festival IT’S ON 9.30pm-5pm each day. The Conscious Life Festival is fast becoming one of south-east Queensland’s most comprehensive health and wellbeing events. This two day event will see more than 130 exhibitors join together to promote all areas of conscious living in a safe, supportive and uplifting environment. Lake Kawana Community Centre, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina. www.consciouslifefestival.com.au

NOVEMBER 12 -22

The Making of Midnight Oil THE nationally acclaimed exhibition: The Making of Midnight Oil celebrating the power and the passion of one of the world’s most inspirational rock bands, Midnight Oil. Developed by Manly Art Gallery and Museum’s Ross Heathcote in collaboration with Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and with exhibition design by Wendy Osmond, The Making of Midnight Oil examines the band’s impact on social and cultural history across a 40 year period. Noosa Regional Gallery, Tewantin. www.mysunshinecoast.com.au

NOVEMBER 15

Steve Irwin Day CRIKEY! The countdown has begun for Steve Irwin Day on Tuesday, November 15 – an international and annual event to celebrate the extraordinary life of the one and only Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. The day will represent the many things Steve was passionate about: family, wildlife conservation and fun. Steve Irwin Day is also a day where people around the world join together to raise money for Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors to help continue Steve's conservation work and the preservation of wildlife and wild places. There will be stacks of fun activities on Steve Irwin Day, all focused on celebrating and remembering the life of Steve Irwin.

1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah. Phone: 5436 2000. www.australiazoo.com.au

DECEMBER 3

Christmas in Cooroy THE main Christmas in Cooroy events start on Saturday at 4pm with sack races, free rides and

a's tival is one of Australi The Woodford Folk Fes . nts eve e iconic cultural and uniqu

amusements. The celebrations kick off with the carols and the lighting of the Christmas Tree, outside Cooroy RSL from 6.30pm. The always eagerly anticipated and hotly contested Santa Race starts at 4.30pm with over 100 Santas dashing up Maple St to win a share of over $2000 in prize money. The Street Parade starts at 5pm and the theme is The Movies. Apex Park, opposite the library, Cooroy. www.christmasincooroy.com.au

DECEMBER 9

Nambour Community Carols ON Friday from 5pm. Come and enjoy a wonderful Christmas celebration with live entertainment, fireworks and fun. Bring a rug, a chair and your best singing voice. There will be food stalls, fireworks, local performances, free rides and a Christmas concert starting at 6.30 pm. Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour. www.facebook.com/nambourcommunitycarols

JANUARY 20-22

Ginger Flower and Food Festival THE Ginger Factory’s iconic Ginger Flower and Food Festival is back for its 21st year and promises to delight the senses with three spectacular days of food, flowers and entertainment for all. From Friday, January 20 to Sunday, January 22, the park will burst alive with colour, showcasing the largest and most exquisite range of ornamental gingers and heliconias that thrive in our sub-tropical climate. 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina. Just off the Bruce Hwy, Exit 215. www.gingerfactory.com.au

JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 2

Chinese New Year Celebrations CHINESE New Year marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. Many Chinese Australian families spend Chinese New Year by gathering together for a festive meal.

It is usually a busy time filled with festive programs

DECEMBER 27 - JANUARY 1

Woodford Folk Festival THE Woodford Folk Festival is an iconic major event on the Australian cultural calendar. Held at the beautiful 500 acre property of Woodfordia, it is just over one hour north of Brisbane Airport. The festival features over 2500 artists and presenters in music, dance, circus, poetry, talks, street theatre, indigenous arts, visual arts, children's and spectacle theatre across 25 stages. A family-friendly event, Woodfordia has offerings that suit all audiences of ages and interests.

Primarily known as a camping festival, the event offers an exciting experience for day visitors and is a pleasant drive or train/bus connection from Brisbane. 87 Woodrow Road, Woodford.

You can celebrate New Year by the water at a cho ice of glorious locations.

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Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Things to do from Noosa to 1770Welcome to your golden years

Seniors 33

In partnership with

Noosa Main Beach is host to the Noosa Fes tival of Surfing in 2017.

across different communities in Australia. Chinese New Year is not a nationwide public holiday in Australia.

However, some Chinese businesses may be closed on the day or amend their business hours to take part in the Chinese New Year festivities.

The animal sign for 2017 is the rooster.

Noosa Festival of Surfing THE Noosa Festival of Surfing will return in 2017, March 4-11, with the generous support of Laguna Real Estate as named partner.

Organisers are expecting more entries than ever before. 2016’s 25th anniversary welcomed unprecedented numbers of competitors, with over 800 entries from more than 20 countries and regions across the 23 age and open divisions. noosafestivalofsurfing.com

MARKETS

Eumundi Markets SATURDAYS, 7am-2pm and Wednesdays 8am-1.30pm. Eumundi Markets is open rain, hail or shine every Wednesday and Saturday. Australia's premier artisan market. Visit the Original Eumundi Markets if you’re looking for something different, something handmade, something special.

You’ll find amazing food, original artworks, sculptures, furniture, handmade toys, homewares and skincare, as well as cutting edge fashion and jewellery by local designers, all guided by our ethos of “we make it, bake it, grow it, sew it”. www.eumundimarkets.com.au Noosa Farmers Market EVERY Sunday between 7am-12pm. There are many different types of stalls at the markets from fresh organic produce, freshly squeezed lime drinks, sumptuous marinades and sauces, beautiful and aromatic skin care products, nuts and seeds, olives and tasty tapenades, herbs and just caught seafood, freshly baked bread and creamy cheeses amongst a

Amazing Day Tours DEPARTING FROM BUNDABERG PORT MARINA

find fresh produce, unique items and local Explore the numerous artisan markets and farmers markets to entertainment.

variety of exotic and yummy foods to try and great coffee to sip as you wander round.

The Noosa Australian Football Club on Weyba Road, Noosaville. www.noosafarmersmarket.com.au The Maleny Market EVERY Sunday from 8am-2pm. The Market is undercover so is open rain, hail or shine. Stalls includes: Fresh organic produce, an organic Fair Trade Cafe', locally produced arts and crafts, antiques and collectables, books, jewellery, candles, soap, jams and pickles, hot food, massage and lots more.

RSL Hall Bunya Street, Maleny (opposite the Maleny Hotel). The market is undercover so is open rain, hail or shine. www.malenymarkets.weebly.com The Caloundra Street Fair EVERY Sunday 8am-1pm. Owned and operated by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. The Street Fair showcases up to 200 stallholders each week that are hand selected, ensuring a wide variety of products, health and well-being services plus lots of fresh food options, and street food.

It also features a range of local performers every week ranging from well-known established performers to emerging artists across a range of music genres, performance and street theatre. Bulcock St, Caloundra. www.caloundrastreetfair.com.au

Big Pineapple Markets EVERY Saturday from 6.30am-1pm. In addition to the weekly Farmers Markets we cordially invite you to visit our indoor markets and browse through our many stalls, enjoy a Pineapple Parfait and relax listening to some live music.

Our picturesque venue would love to welcome you to the Saturday’s family entertainment and have a day filled with shopping, entertainment and live music – don't miss it. Closed December 26 and January 2. www.bigpineapple.com.au Noosa Marina Sunday Markets EVERY Sunday 8am-2pm. After your leisurely Sunday breakfast or before a long Sunday lunch at Noosa Marina, take a stroll through our Sunday markets.

Take your time strolling around the many market stalls, where a variety of locally made craft items can be found along with the freshest of local produce.

The atmosphere is alive with music and entertainment from local and interstate musicians. 2 Parkyn Court, Tewantin. www.noosamarina.com.au Gympie Town Centre Growers Market THE third Wednesday of every month sees the Smithfield St precinct of the Gympie Town Centre filled with local growers and producers selling their harvest CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Explore the Southern Great Barrier Reef in style with Lady Musgrave Experience!

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34 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Things to do from Noosa to 1770Welcome to your golden years

Make the trek to Hells

In partnership with

Gates, Noosa National Park.

FROM PAGE 33

direct to the public. Freshly picked fruit and vegetables, seafood, smallgoods, preserves, sweet treats and much more are on display for you to taste, experience, create and enjoy. The Southside of Smithfield St will be closed from 6am-2pm. Trading starts from 7.30am-1.30pm. Smithfield St, Gympie.

Boreen Point BOREEN Point is a relaxed village on the shores of lovely Lake Cootharaba. The largest lake of the Noosa River system, Cootharaba is the gateway to the upper Noosa River, the Noosa Everglades and the Great Sandy National Park. The village is about 20 kilometres by sealed road from Tewantin.

A haven for sailing and boating enthusiasts, Boreen Point has holiday cottages, a general store, caravan parks and boat hire facilities.

Boreen Point is the home of a sailing club, which stages major sailing and sailboarding events.

Noosa National Park NOOSA National Park, a chunk of coastline jutting into the ocean, is understandably one of Australia's most visited parks. Explore the picturesque Noosa Headland along a selection of five tracks, ranging from one kilometre to eight kilometres and catering to all fitness levels.

Walk past rocky shorelines and spiky pandanus, through woodlands and rainforests with piccabeen palms, to wide beaches or lofty lookouts, including koalas and rare glossy black-cockatoos. Noosa Heads.

Kondalilla National Park A REFUGE for many species of native animals and plants, Kondalilla National Park is a popular place for birdwatchers and nature photographers as well as bushwalkers. With a magnificent waterfall, rock pools and freshwater creeks – is it any wonder the park gets its name from an Aboriginal word meaning “rushing waters”.

Take a tour through the World famous Bundaberg Rum Distillery.

There is a wonderful day-use area which is ideal for picnics and can be reached on an easy 1.7 kilometre circuit track. For more of a challenge, take on the 4.6 kilometre Kondalilla Falls circuit or a section of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. four kilometres north of Montville.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve THE enchanting Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is located a few minutes from Maleny. The Reserve features remnants of the ancient forests that once covered the Blackall Range and is a living natural museum of diverse plant and animal life.

For a gold coin donation you can stroll the boardwalk and bush track through the sub-tropical rainforest be delighted with the tranquillity and beauty of this special place. This 55 hectare rainforest overlooks the Glasshouse Mountains and is home to the mountain crayfish, great barred frog, marbled frogmouth and the red-necked pademelon. 41 Mountain View Road, Maleny.

Conondale National Park CONONDALE National Park forms the heart of an extensive area of unspoilt mountain scenery in the Conondale Range.

With magnificent forests, deep gorges and spectacular views, this park and the adjacent State forest offer scenic drives, picnic areas and a choice of four grassy camp sites near rainforests and mountain streams.

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Walks range from a short stroll beside crystal clear streams, to challenging hikes. Birdwatchers will enjoy Little Yabba Creek, while mountain bike and horse riders can explore the park and forest along vehicle tracks. Booloumba Falls, Conondale.

Glass House Mountains National Park THE Glass House Mountains were named by Captain Cook as he mapped the Queensland coast in 1770.

The “Glass Houses” are distinctive volcanic plugs that rise abruptly from the surrounding countryside.

These 20 million year-old monoliths are part of the Aboriginal “songlines”, navigational landmarks once used by Aborigines to find their way and are a prominent feature of local Aboriginal legend.

Let the awe-inspiring landscape wash over you as you take a leisurely drive through the Glass House Mountains National Park, stopping at picturesque lookouts along the way. Glasshouse Mountains.

Mapleton Falls National Park MAPLETON Falls National Park marks the point just west of Mapleton where Pencil Creek cascades 120 metres over an escarpment.

This small, day-use-only park shelters many bird species, including the peregrine falcon, eastern whipbird and wompoo fruit-dove.

The panoramic view takes in the waterfall, rainforest valley and Obi Obi Valley, Mapleton.

WHAT’S ON AT THE GOLDEN ORANGE DECEMBER 25 Christmas Lunch Buffet

DECEMBER 31

New Year’s Eve Fireworks

APRIL 29, 2017

“Races on the River” under our marquee Come dressed in your Races best Live music all afternoon/evening 3-5 MALTBY PLACE, GAYNDAH Phone: (07) 4161 1107 Email: goldenor@bigpond.net.au Like Us On Facebook www.goldenorange.com.au

Featuring

Trevor Dodds ~ The Wandering Lost Aussie Pride PLUS the ever-popular Maltby Place Pig Races throughout afternoon

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SCENIC SPOTS

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Golden

Miles

Seniors 35

An inspiring port of call

1770 to Toowoomba

1770 Sunshine Coast

The tropical delights of North Queensland.

Things to do ■ Agnes Water AGNES Water is a tourist town located in Central Queensland, Australia within the local government area of Gladstone Region and is the closest access point to the southern Great Barrier Reef. It is a neighbouring town of the Town of 1770 and located 70 kilometres north of Bundaberg and 60 kilometres off the Bruce Highway.

■ The Peanut Van THE Home Of Australia’s Best and Freshest Peanuts Since 1969.The Peanut Van is strongly committed to tourism and pioneered tourist information services for visitors, long before anyone else even thought of it.

Kingaroy and Childers Peanut Vans are open 8.30am-5pm every day. peanutvan.com.au ■ Hill of Promise Estate Winery THE winery is right on the highway and is an easy place to stop for a drink and to pick up some souvenirs from a trip to Childers. It’s a small boutique operation run by a local couple. They used to grow their own grapes on the land but now they just focus on production. The wine-tasting they offer on site also includes information about what foods go best with each variety. www.mangohillcottages.com ■ Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo SET just off the Bruce Highway, south of Childers and displaying over 45 species and sub-species of Australian reptiles, amphibians, marsupials, koalas, a fantastic snake house, a walk though vivarium housing dragons and frogs and a kangaroo reserve where the animals can be hand fed. . snakesdownunder.com ■ Lady Elliot Island LOCATED just off the tip of Fraser Island and is a 40 minute scenic flight from Hervey Bay. Lady Elliot Island first appeared above sea level as a coral rubble sea spit 3500 years ago. visitfrasercoast.com

ROAM

WHERE YOU WANT TO!

Toowoomba

Brisbane Gold Coast Byron Bay

Road trip

1770 to Toowoomba

Boni Holmes

THERE is no doubt that a road trip is rapidly becoming one of the most popular ways for people to spend their holiday time.

One of the best ways to see this country of ours is to start off at a seaside destination and make your way to country destination. In this way you can sample of some of the best Queensland has to offer.

Our trip started in the simply pristine area of Agnes Water and the Township of 1770, 70km north of Bundaberg in Queensland, and would finish in Toowoomba on the Darling Downs.

The town of Agnes Water takes its name from pastoral holding first leased

by Daniel Clowes in 1883, which he named after the coastal schooner Agnes, which was lost at sea in the area.

The Town of 1770 is also the stepping off point for reef cruises and fishing charters to the outer Great Barrier Reef.

Day tours and wilderness camping transfers operate to nearby Lady Musgrave and Middle Islands.

Agnes Water is Queensland’s northern-most surf beach and is last in a line of beautiful unspoilt beaches that sweep up the coast from Bundaberg.

Agnes Water and its sister township of 1770 offer a range of activities and holiday ideas – from relaxing at the

beach, four-wheel driving through rugged coastal national parks, beach and deep sea fishing – to enjoying a soft adventure tour aboard an amphibious vessel.

If you are in the area in mid-May you can witness the re-enactment of the landing of Lieutenant James Cook when he made the first landfall by a European on what was to become the Discovery Coast and the birthplace of Queensland.

Leaving Agnes Water, head south to the bustling city of Bundaberg – home of the famous Bundy Rum distillery and the birth place of Bert Hinkler.

No visit to Bundaberg would be complete without visiting the distillery – appropriately named the Barrel – and a visit to the world class botanical gardens that incorporate the Hinkler Hall of Aviation, which is dedicated to his solo long-distance flights from England to Australia.

Leaving Bundaberg we headed to Childers, a quintessential county town located 40 minutes west of Bundaberg.

The township is set on a ridge overlooking fields of rich volcanic soil.

Childers is renowned for its heritage character and is classified a national Trust town.

The historic colonial buildings of the main street (Bruce Hwy) are set among large, shady leopard trees.

From Childers take the road to Biggenden which winds through scenic

countryside and if you have time a side tour to Paradise Dam is well worth the effort.

As you approach Biggenden you will see the awe inspiring view of Mt Walsh, a craggy, rocky mountain that watches over the township.

Then it’s time to head to Ban Ban Springs through the lovely village of Coalstoun Lakes, then to Murgon and on through Wondai to Kingaroy, the home of the famous Kingaroy peanut factory and The Peanut Van. The trip from Kingaroy to Toowoomba will take you through the township of Nanango, with its chainsaw sculptures and a vast array of murals which tell the history of what is believed to be the oldest township in Queensland.

Leaving Nanango we headed to Yarraman on the Daguilar Hwy and then turned right into what is the beginning of the New England Hwy which, if followed for its full length, would take you to Tamworth in NSW and beyond.

More scenic driving will take you through Cooyar, a small village nestled in the foothills of the Cooyar Range and on to Crows Nest and finally our destination, Toowoomba.

The total trip is about 514 kilometres and could be done in one day but it would be far better to plan at least two days for your trip so you can stop along the way and see what the region has to offer.

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36 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Golden

Miles

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

An inspiring port ofThings call to do from 1770 to Toowoomba

Events SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12

will take place at 2 pm and a Toowoomba Regional Councillor will present the Australia Day Awards to recipients from Highfields. After the official ceremony, Toowoomba Regional Council will sponsor free Billy tea and damper for everyone in attendance. Highfields Pioneer Village, 73 Wirraglen Rd, Highfields Kleinton. www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au

Mary River Festival IT’S on 12 noon-7:30pm. Bringing the Mary River communities together to celebrate the wealth and abundance that the river brings to our region through drama, music, art, fun, education, environmental discussions and displays. Kandanga Recreation Grounds (behind the Kandanga Hall).

JANUARY 27- FEBRUARY 2

NOVEMBER 26

Seed to Feed ON Saturday, 9am-12noon. Come along to a half-day workshop by local horticulturalist Brian Sams to learn how to grow your own fruit and vegetables in backyard gardens, patches and pots. Workshops are aimed at beginners wishing to learn how to start growing their own backyard fruit and vegetables. Workshops are designed for adults, however participants 12 years and over are welcome to join in. Participants must wear enclosed shoes. Goombungee Hall , King Street, Goombungee.

Pageant of Lights IT’S on from 6pm-9pm. Discover the region's Christmas spirit by taking part in Bundaberg Regional Council's annual Pageant of Lights. There are opportunities for you to enter the parade, run a stall or just to sit back and enjoy the entertainment. Successful parade participants could go home richer, stallholders go home smiling and we can guarantee all go home happy, having been part of Pageant of Lights. Bourbong St, Bundaberg Central. bundabergregionevents .com.au

DECEMBER 9

58th Annual Bundaberg RSL Carols by Candlelight IT’S on Friday 5.30pm-9.15pm. The community event of the year is the 58th Annual Carols by Candlelight.

Bundaberg Recreational Precinct (opposite the airport), Bundaberg. Free admission. bundycarols.com.au

DECEMBER 2 - 11

Bush Christmas Exhibiton IT’S on 9am-6pm daily. Over 100 of Queensland’s very best regional artists and hand crafters will showcase their talents at this year’s Bush Christmas Exhibition in Toowoomba. Touted as a unique shopping event like no other, the event is celebrating its 20th year and continues to grow in popularity due it its emphasis on handmade, quality crafted pieces.

Gourmet hampers will also be available for purchase in the lead up to the event and can be shipped Australia wide or collected at the exhibition. Masonic Centre, 58 Neil St, Toowoomba. www.bushchristmas.com

FEBRUARY 25

DECEMBER 17

2016 Carols by Candlelight Bargara ON Saturday 6.30pm-8.30pm. Held just a week before Christmas, Carols by Candlelight Bargara has become an increasingly popular event. It is a vibrant and inspirational outdoors event, designed for the whole family. Hosted by Coral Coast Christian Church, this delightful evening includes live entertainment, interactive community singing, a re-enactment of the nativity scene, camel rides, donkey rides, food and drink stalls, free jumping castle, lollies and face painting for the children and candles and glow in the dark products are for sale. You are encouraged to bring your jacket and a picnic blanket when you come on down to this wonderful night of celebration, a night where an awesome atmosphere is always guaranteed.

Bargara. www.coralcoastchurch.org

68th Annual Cooyar Show THE show is proudly presented by Cooyar Agricultural Society Inc. Cooyar is a small town located approximately 90kms north of Toowoomba. A close-knit community of approx 280, Cooyar residents regularly hold community based events. The annual show, campdraft and show ball are popular with locals and visitors alike. The suspension bridge is a real talking point. It was rebuilt in 1988 after a devastating flood swept away the previous bridge, a local hall, three houses and several cars. www.cooyarshow.com.au

JANUARY 26

Celebrate Australia Day at Highfields THE program at Highfields kicks off at 9.30 am with the Milking of the Cow. Then blacksmithing, tinsmithing, and silversmithing, a working draught horse, sheep shearing and spinning and knitting throughout the day. The Village View Gallery will feature exhibition of Indigenous paintings. There will also be a sausage sizzle at lunch time. You're invited to join in the fun and enter the damper making competition at 12 noon with judging at 1.30 pm. Why not learn how to crack a whip at 1pm with Herb Sternberg or bring the whole family and compete against mum and dad in the family games; throw a gumboot, toss a sheaf, race in the egg and spoon, three legged race or the sack race at 10.40am and 1.25pm. The Australia Day Flag-Raising

Join Us Online Get online to find your news, your way.

Explore the outer Great Barrier Reef and all of its wonder, departing from 1770.

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2017 EVENT CALENDAR Nanango country markets - First Saturday of each month Nanango Annual Campdraft - 11th to 12th February Heritage Nanango Country Muster - 7th to 10th September Nanango waterhole rocks, rock n roll weekend - 19th to 22nd October

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DECEMBER 1

t off r Reptile Park & Zoo, jus Visit Snakes Downunde . ers ild th of Ch the Bruce Highway, sou

Chinese New Year Celebrations CHINESE New Year marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. Many Chinese Australian families spend Chinese New Year by gathering together for a festive meal. It is usually a busy time filled with festive programs across different communities in Australia. Chinese New Year is not a nationwide public holiday in Australia. However, some Chinese businesses may be closed on the day or amend their business hours to take part in the Chinese New Year festivities. The animal sign for 2017 is the rooster.

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Golden

Miles

Seniors 37

An inspiring port of call

Brisbane Gold Coast

Toowoomba

Toowoomba to Sydney

Byron Bay Visit some glorious winery regions.

Port Macquarie

Things to do ■ Stanthorpe Cheese THE Granite Belt’s original farmhouse cheese makers. Artisan cheeses are made from a single herd of pure bred Jersey cows from one farm. This makes the cheeses totally unique and seasonally different and interesting.

Come up to Queensland’s highest and coldest dairy farm cheese shop and taste the difference in a true farmhouse cheese. www.stanthorpecheese .com.au ■ Cobb and Co Museum PART of the Queensland Museum and home to the National Carriage Collection, the Cobb &Co Museum has on display original Cobb & Co coaches, including vehicles from the horse-drawn era. Also, there are a range of workshops on offer including blacksmithing, silversmithing, leadlighting and leather work.

Toowoomba. www.cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au ■ Granite Belt Brewery THIS Brewery uses nothing but the freshest ingredients to create dynamic beers. Some are traditional styles and some are blends of styles all designed to be distinct in flavour balance, drinkability and freshness, using traditional malt grain, hops and yeast.

Stanthorpe. www.granitebeltbrewery.com.au ■ Tenterfield Saddler THE Saddlery draws fans of Peter Allen who want to see the home of the famous Tenterfield Saddler. Even if you are not a fan, the Saddlery is still certainly worth a visit. Tenterfield. www.tenterfieldtourism.com.au ■ Country Music Hall of Fame THE ACMF is a totally volunteer run, not for profit organisation, with the charter to collect, protect, preserve and promote the history and heritage of Australasian Country Music. At 561 Peel St, Tamworth. www.countrymusichalloffame.com.au

Newcastle

Central Coast

Sydney

Road trip

Toowoomba to Sydney

Alison Houston

AN 899KM marathon from Toowoomba to Sydney turns into a treasure trove of discoveries, conveniently sprinkled every 45-50 minutes, if you have the time to explore.

First stop, just off the New England Highway, is historic Allora, known as "the best little town on the Downs", and most famous as the childhood home of P.L Travers, who wrote Mary Poppins.

You’re halfway to Warwick, sitting on the banks of the Condamine River, and home to some of the state’s finest original sandstone buildings, the World Heritage-listed Main Range National Park, not to mention October’s Rose and Rodeo Festival.

Stanthorpe is recognised today for its fruit-growing, micro breweries and wineries, including unique alternative fruit wines, but south-west of town you can also explore the rugged ridges and gorges of Sundown National Park.

Next stop, Tenterfield, made famous by the 1970s Peter Allen song

Tenterfield Saddler, a tribute to his grandfather. The saddlery is still there.

Bald Rock National Park boasts a variety of picturesque walks of all lengths, and beautiful lookouts and waterfalls. The stuff of poetry, Banjo Patterson proposed to his sweetheart Alice Walker here at Boonoo Boonoo Falls lookout.

Glen Innes, an hour away in the New England high country, is a bustling town and a great rest stop. Visit the Standing Stones, echoing those found in the ancient Celtic world and a unique national monument to Australia’s Celtic pioneers.

This is the start of New England’s famous granite boulder country, including the university town of Armidale with its historic architecture and parks.

Once the home of bushrangers like Captain Thunderbolt, this area now boasts World Heritage national parks and attracts bushwalkers, canyoners, mountain bikers, birdwatchers and trout fishers.

A quick detour off the highway brings you to Australia’s country musical

capital, Tamworth. Take a photo in front of the Big Golden Guitar, visit the Gallery of Stars Wax Museum and check out the wall of signed guitars from world-renowned performers including Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and John Williamson, not to mention the Australian Country Music Hall of Fame.

Heading south, you enter the Hunter region, famous as wine country, with dozens of unique towns, including Scone, the second biggest horse-breeding town in the world.

Newcastle, with its unique blend of seaside appeal, galleries and history, is just off the highway. Or head straight on to Gosford and Central Coast playgrounds like Terrigal and Avoca. For the car enthusiast, Gosford’s new Classic Car Museum is the largest automotive museum in the Southern Hemisphere.

But Sydney is calling. Head for the iconic Opera House for wine and seafood at the oyster bar on the boardwalk as the sun sets over the Harbour Bridge. What a ride it has been!

Put your estate in safe hands For over a century, Dean Kath Kohler Solicitors have served locals across the Darling Downs. More than that – this team has extensive experience with every aspect of succession law, so you can rest easy knowing that your affairs will be well looked after.

• Estate planning and administration • Drafting wills • Enduring powers of attorney • Advance health directives 119 Herries St Toowoomba Ph: 07 4698 9600 www.dkklaw.com.au 6439567aa

38 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

WIN A $69,990* CARAVAN Celebrate the modern-day retirement lifestyle. Palm Lake Resort has just released a set of fun stickers perfect for the back of your car, caravan or RV (or just about anywhere!) and to celebrate Seniors Newspapers is giving away a Majestic Caravans ‘Garoova’ valued at $69,990* inc GST. For your chance to win, simply take a creative and fun photo that features an official Palm Lake Resort sticker in it, log on to www.seniorsnews.com.au to fill in an entry form and submit your photo entry.

Stickers are available with your Palm Lake Resort ‘Spring 2016’ magazine, for collection at any of the Palm Lake Resort sales offices, will be available in selected Seniors Newspapers during the month of September 2016 or can be posted to you by emailing communitynotes@seniorsnewspaper.com.au before 18.11.16.

The competition closes 25.11.16, will be drawn on 28.11.16 and a winner will be announced on 30.11.16.

Keep your eye on the Palm Lake Resort Facebook page during the competition period for some of the latest entries. Good luck!

Visit www.seniorsnews.com.au/competitionterms for full competition terms and conditions. Promoter is ARM Specialist Media Pty Ltd of 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore QLD 4558. Promotional period 15.08.16 – 25.11.16.

Competition drawn 28.11.16 at 30406/9 Lawson St, Southport QLD 4215. Winners announced in Seniors Newspapers: Brisbane and Sunshine Coast 05.12.16, Gold Coast and Toowoomba 12.12.16, Wide Bay and Northern NSW 19.12.16, Central Coast and Coffs & Clarence 19.12.16 and online at www.seniorsnews.com.au 30.11.16. Total prize value $70,397 inc GST. Open only to residents of QLD, VIC and NSW.

Seniors 39

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Community SUBMIT NOTICES

HELLO readers, to enable us to respond to your request for publication of more notices, please keep your notices short and to the point (100 word maximum). If you would like to submit a photo please ensure it is at least 180dpi with faces in a nice and bright setting.

Deadline for the next issue is December 1, 2016, email Nicky, Chris or Emily at community notes@seniorsnewspaper. com.au.

RED HATTERS: Monica Holt and Heather Quinn.

DRAYTON VILLAS RETIREMENT VILLAGE

CULTURAL experience takes retirees into the fold, with residents taking time out to welcome international students from Japan.

University of Southern Queensland senior administration officer Soomi Kim suggested the 18-year-old students share a cultural experience with the residents. It didn’t take long for the students to overcome their shyness as they showed the residents a few origami techniques.

The students taught the residents how to fold, twist and turn a flat piece of coloured paper into a wonderful keepsake.

However, inside sources report that the male residents appeared to be more adept at making

HOSPICE WINS: Jean Kilmister with female best dressed winner Patricia Munro (back), and Margaret Hirning with Graham Barron.

call Hazel on 4635 4519.

CENT SALE LET'S CELEBRATE: Rosemary Morley cutting the cake during the Friday Morning Wish Club’s 20th Birthday celebration.

paper airplanes. Drayton Villas administration assistant Janelle Handley said there was a lot of activity.

The visit meant a lot to the groups and they were keen to show their gratitude.

NATIONAL SENIORS

THE Garden City Branch of National Seniors Australia had their final bus trip for 2016 when they travelled

to Flagstone Creek and the Lockyer for a mystery progressive luncheon.

The last meeting of the branch for 2016 is on November 21, at Drayton Bowls Club from 9.30am.

Members will be their own guest speakers, revealing something from their own lives. Visitors welcome. Cost is $7.

The group’s Christmas party is on November 29.

Bookings are essential,

THE Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver will hold their last Cent Sale for 2016 on December 3, at All Seasons Function Hall, corner, North and Tor Streets, Toowoomba.

Entry is $5 and includes lucky door, sheet of free tickets and buffet afternoon tea. Doors open at 12.30pm for 1.30pm start. For more information, call Sr Miriam on 4632 1818.

THE AB FABS

THE Ab Fabs group is in its 10th year, meeting in

Highfields weekly, with four Red Hat Chapters in Toowoomba meeting on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.

Red hatting is worldwide and is for women over 50 to enjoy friendship, fellowship and fun with one rule, wear purple with a red hat.

WARWICK CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS

ALL are welcome to celebrate Christmas Down Under from December 13 to 15, from 9.30am–3pm.

Senior volunteers from Warwick's Christian Churches will offer a friendly, fun way for all ages to celebrate a Christian Christmas.

Free activities include craft, colouring, stamping, face painting, story-telling with interactive figurines and puppet shows with song. Free family photographs can be taken by the nativity scene and a lounge area has light refreshments available.

Details of the region’s Christmas services is available. Free and unlimited parking, with a rear entry to the hall via Stacey St (off Grafton St).

The hall is accessible for prams, walkers and wheelchairs and has toilet facilities.

TOOWOOMBA HOSPICE

TOOWOOMBA Hospice

gallops to the finishing line raising $4000 for the Adopt a Room campaign.

Chairman Graham Barron OAM socialised with the 60 guests at this year's Melbourne Cup lunch at Cafe Valetta.

Toowoomba Hospice thanked all of the supporters, with a special mention to the Douglas family hosts.

Located in O’Quinn St, Toowoomba Hospice provides professional palliative care on mutual respect, trust and individual needs. www.toowoomba hospice.org.au.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

THE Friday Morning Wish Club celebrated the club’s 20th birthday with a morning tea recently.

Among those who attended were, group chairman Rosemary Morley, Maureen Orford, Marg Lister, Pamela Bailey, Merle Pie, Glenis Batten and Shirley Thallon.

HEALTHY HABITS

COUNCIL’S free Change Project, Healthy Habits, runs over four weeks online, from November 14, helping participants be more active, eat healthy, drink more water, sleep and manage stress well.

Participants are awarded points and can go into the draw to win a $250 Healthy & Active pack. Visit tr.qld.gov.au.

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40 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Wellbeing

Become bionic via cochlear implants

No more food fears save life IT IS often said that “desperate times call for desperate measures”, and it was the situationof elderly dementia patient Rose Palmada, that caused a country doctor, Gawie Roux, to develop RoseCup. Dr Roux witnessed Rose starving to death because of the inability to consume food and fluid.

The moment any food passed her lips, Rose would clench her teeth and blow fiercely, spraying the room and the carers with liquid food.

She was likely scared the food would end up in her airways again,

ROSE CUP: An innovative life-saving drop.

resulting in choking, shortness of breath, agony and repeated pneumonia.

While choking usually only occurs a few times in a healthy person’s lifetime, it’s regular for those with dysphagia.

Unfortunately, 75% of all dysphagia cases go undiagnosed.

An outsider may

interpret this as a rejection of food or fluid, especially since speech is often compromised as well, jeopardising communication about pain, fear and preference.

They could be dehydrated or starving, resulting in severe repercussions for cognitive function and general wellbeing.

Those who live alone could contract pneumonia or die. Signs to look for: ■ Coughing during or right after food or drink ■ Wet or gurgle sounding voice during or after food or drink ■ Extra effort/time to chew or swallow

Seniors 41

■ Mouth leaking food or liquid or stuck ■ Recurring pneumonia/chest congestion after eating ■ Weight loss or dehydration.

If these signs are recurring, it would be a good idea to get a professional involved.

Contact a speech pathologist who is familiar with dysphagia.

Dr Roux realised if Rose could suck before swallowing, it could alleviate the problem and RoseCup was born.

Visit rose-cup.com to find out more more information.

HEARING technology advancing in leaps and bounds has led to great enhancements in patient benefits.

For some, hearing aids can be like listening to a loud, untuned radio station, causing frustration and ultimately withdrawal from social situations.

Unfortunately, those affected are often told they must “put up with it”, but, in many cases, more can be done.

Today, a wide range of surgically implanted hearing devices, including the cochlear implant, or bionic ear, and other emerging technologies, including middle ear and bone conduction implants.

Each works uniquely and have potential to significantly improve hearing ability. Cochlear implants use an external sound processor, which sends a signal to an implanted component under the skin. The signal is then transferred along an electrode array placed

within the inner ear, stimulating the hearing nerve directly.

By contrast, middle ear and bone conduction implants involve a vibrating component set within the middle ear or the skull.

Those struggling with traditional hearing aids may benefit from an implant, which aren’t offered in most clinics.

Call Hello Hearing on 4638 1515, to book a comprehensive implant assessment and/or traditional hearing aid management .

— Jason Le Dilly Hello Hearing Audiologist

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42 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Get moving Australia and stride4stroke THE Stroke Foundation is calling on residents to get moving and stride4stroke this November.

With almost half of all Australians physically inactive, the annual Stride4stroke challenge is a great way to get fit, while raising funds and awareness to combat stroke.

Stroke Foundation Executive Director of Stroke Services Toni Aslett encouraged the community to sign up to Stride4stroke and said stroke touched many people’s lives in some way.

“By taking part in Stride4Stroke you will be helping raise stroke awareness, funds for a great cause and also lowering your own stroke risk by staying healthy and exercising,” Ms Aslett said.

Leading expert and Stroke Foundation Clinical Council member professor Tammy Hoffmann said even a small increase in physical activity could have a big impact on a person’s health.

“More than 10 million Australians are physically inactive, putting themselves at risk of stroke and other chronic diseases,” Professor Hoffman said.

Ms Aslett said the funds raised from Stride4stroke would have an enormous impact on stroke survivors in the community.

“There are more than 450,000 stroke survivors living in our community and every dollar raised makes a difference in how we can support them,” she said.

“This November we are encouraging communities and workplaces to unite with us in Stride4stroke and raise much needed funds to beat this devastating disease.”

Those who sign up to online receive a free pack to help reach fundraising and fitness goals and those who raise more than $100 might win a Fitbit. For more, visit stroke foundation.com.au.

wellbeing

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Never too old for two-yearly checks Local women in older age groups are encouraged to make their health a priority, and book in for a free breast screen.

BreastScreen Queensland’s Toowoomba Service health promotion officer Nicola Garret said older ladies, especially those in the 75-plus age bracket, may think they were too old to have a breast screen, or that they didn’t need to maintain their two-yearly checks anymore.

“In fact it’s never too late and that’s why we are urging older women to book now,” she said.

“We do actively target women from 50 to 74 years old, because the majority of cases diagnosed do fall within that age group, but we also urge women from 40 to 49 years, and those 75 and over, to have free regular two-yearly breast screens.”

Toowoomba resident and BreastScreen volunteer Shirley Meehan is living proof a breast screen for women over 75 can be a life-saver.

FREE SCREEN: Older women are encouraged to book their breasts in for a life-saving chance.

“I’d had no trouble for a lot of years, but in 2014, while I was volunteering with BreastScreen, I thought I’d better make an appointment,” Mrs Meehan said.

“In 2014, I was diagnosed with cancer in the left breast and then in 2015 I was diagnosed with cancer in the right.”

Mrs Meehan, 78, has completed her treatment journey, living an active life, still volunteering at Toowoomba BreastScreen.

“To me there seem to be a lot more ladies over 75 who are being diagnosed, so I would say to anyone in that 75-plus

age group, make sure you have regular breast screens,” she said.

“You do hear a lot of older ladies saying ‘I’m in my 70s now, I’ve had no problems, I don’t need to go anymore’, but on the other hand we see a lot of ladies in here who are in their 80s, who have had breast cancer, so it is very important to keep coming.”

Toowoomba resident Sheena Liley is another advocate of regular breast screens, encouraging women in the 50-plus age bracket to book in.

“I don’t have the personal experience that Shirley has but I would

certainly endorse what she’s saying,” she said.

“I’m very much into being proactive with health and that’s easier than ever with this wonderful new BreastScreen facility.

“When you have all those resources available, provided free of charge, you should take the opportunity to make your health a priority.

“Having a breast screen is nothing to be frightened of and in reality we’re asking women to take 30 minutes every two years to have a breast screen.

It’s a very private process, it’s free and it’s fast, so we should all take advantage of it.”

FREE SCREEN ❚ Where? 61 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba ❚ How? Appointments take less than 30 minutes ❚ Who? Free screening for all women aged 40 and over ❚ When? To book call 13 20 50.

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 43

Oxygen Therapy Wound Care for Diabetics

Diabetes is one of those complex conditions that seems to garner less attention and empathy in our society than it should.

Every day 280 Australians develop diabetes.

That is one person every five minutes.

For hundreds of thousands of people diabetes brings the reality of stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, depression, anxiety and blindness.

For 4400 Australians a year, it also brings limb amputations.

Wound healing for a person with diabetes can be slow and can worsen rapidly.

Untreated or not treated early enough, infected wounds can sound the death knell especially for limbs in the lower extremities with gangrene, sepsis or bone infections likely to follow.

Lower limb ulcers are the leading cause of lower limb amputations in diabetics and more than 20% of Australia’s 1.3 million diabetics will have a foot ulcer at some point in their life.

One innovative, almost revolutionary treatment that is finding success both here and around the world is the use of Hyberbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). It is a treatment designed to increase the supply of oxygen to wounds that are not responding to other treatments and involves the patient breathing pure oxygen in specially designed compression chambers.

Patients are seated comfortably in a multiplace chamber with a nurse in attendance and highly qualified technicians outside. The chamber is slowly pressurised to reach a depth of 2.4 atmospheres absolute, the pressure of 14 metres of sea water, which is 2.4 times more than normal.

The nurse then puts on a pre-fitted and comfortable transparent oxygen hood breathing system for each patient and they read or sleep or just relax.

It works because oxygen is crucial to wound healing.

Generally, oxygen is transported around the body only by your red blood cells but HBOT allows the oxygen to be dissolved into the plasma, central nervous system fluids, the lymph glands, even the bone and can therefore be carried to areas where n circulation has been reduced. So oxygen can d reach the damaged tissues and support and enhance the body’s healing process.

As an added advantage the increased oxygen also improves the ability of the white blood cells to fight bacteria, reduces swelling and allows new blood vessels to grow more rapidly in the infected area.

The Wesley Centre for Hyperbaric Medicine, is Australia’s largest, private and fully comprehensive hyberbaric facility and they perform more than 4500 treatments each year for patients from all over Queensland and Northern NSW. The service can both monitor circulation and the ability of tissue to heal as a preventative measure or treat wounds that refuse to heal after more conventional measures.

Some 12 diabetics will have a limb amputated in Australia today. Programs like HBOT at the Wesley can stop the disease from claiming 12 more tomorrow.

Before Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

After Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

Each treatment lasts for an hour and 45 minutes with patients needing between 20 and 40 sessions depending on their wound and how well they respond. It is important to remember, however, that HBOT is an adjunctive therapy and has to be used in conjunction with the normal wound care treatment also available.

The combination of 100% oxygen and pressure dissolves oxygen into the plasma.

At the half way mark, they stop for an air and snack break and the treatment resumes.

See www.wesleyhyperbaric.com.au for more information

Ground Floor Suite 53, Sandford Jackson Building 30 Chasely Street, Auchenflower • 07 3371 6033 • www.wesleyhyperbaric.com.au

6463699aa

The Wesley Centre for Hyperbaric Medicine is a fully registered and accredited private day hospital and has contracts with most of the major health funds. As we are a day hospital patients are admitted and discharged daily and all our doctors participate in the no-gap scheme. Most patients have very little to no out-of-pocket expenses for their treatment with us, making this a very cost effective treatment especially if they have wounds/woundcare as this is all covered during treatment. We will also look after uninsured patients as long as their condition attracts a Medicare MBS number.

Summer shape-up GOOD MEDICINE Dr MICHAEL GILLMAN AS WE move into the warmer months and the thicker clothes go back into the cupboards, many of us begin to think about getting back into shape by doing some exercise.

So, what are the current recommended guidelines for physical activity?

Firstly, we need to change our thinking about movement. How often do we try to find the closest car park to the entrance of the shopping centre or take the elevator rather than the stairs?

We need to think of movement as an opportunity and not as an inconvenience. All the extra steps we do in a day will help us to burn extra energy.

Did you know that 20 to 30 extra steps a day will burn around one extra calorie for an average 80kg person?

Secondly, we need to be active every day in as many ways as we can.

This can involve gardening, household chores etc.

Rather than put off that job that needs to be done, get in and start it.

Thirdly we should try to put together at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days.

This may be brisk walking or a game of tennis and it does not have to be done all in one session.

Lastly if you are able, you should carry out some regular vigorous activity such as jogging or running.

This will give added cardiovascular benefits beyond the previous three steps.

Christmas is just around the corner, so how about you start a plan to become more active?

— drmichaelgillman .com

WIN A $69,990 CARAVAN * Take a creative photo featuring a fun sticker from Palm Lake Resort for your chance to win!

Get your Palm Lake Resort sticker today – and start snapping!

wellbeing

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Kirk is a Mo ambassador

He’s keen to use his brush with death to spread the word Ann Rickard

IT’S that time of year when moustaches sprout on the upper lips of men all over the country as they participate in Movember and help raise funds to assist men’s health.

Who knew when two mates – Travis Garone and Luke Slattery – met for a quiet beer in Melbourne in 2003 that a global movement called Movember would be born.

The guys felt that the moustache had almost disappeared from fashion trends and wondered if they could bring it back.

They went about searching for blokes willing to take up the “bring the moustache” back challenge, found 30 participants, and now the Movember Foundation is one of the top 500 NGOs in the world, helping to

Step 1

Collect Your Sticker

Step 2

Take Your Picture

Step 3

Submit Your Entry

BLOKE’S STUFF: Kirk Pengilly supports men's health by losing the Mo.

raise millions towards men’s health projects and, perhaps more importantly, raise awareness of men’s health issues. The Movember Foundation works to bring awareness

to the forefront about prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health issues and suicide prevention.

One of the founding members of INXS (in

1977) and perhaps the most recognisable member, Kirk Pengilly did not hesitate to jump on board when he was approached by the Movember Foundation.

"With my recent bout of prostate cancer I was approached by Movember to be one of their key ambassadors," he said.

"Movember is about mental health, basically bloke stuff. It’s a great organisation. One of the great things they do is to get men to talk about issues with each other, their partners or their mums. Most men find it a weakness. My prostate cancer was one of the reasons they picked me up. My story ended up being front page (news) because I talked about it openly. It’s a great feeling to know someone will have a (prostate) check-up because of me."

Find your sticker in the Spring 2016 Palm Lakes Magazine (free to registered Palm Lakes Resort customers), collect one from any Palm Lake Resort reception counter or email communitynotes@seniorsnewspaper.com.au and ask us to send you one.

It’s time to get creative. Snap a photo featuring your sticker. As long as you include the sticker, the photo can be of anything you like! Check out the entries so far at http://www.seniorsnews.com.au/feature/palm-lake-resort/

Be in the running by visiting www.seniorsnews.com.au, entering your details and uploading your photo. Make sure your entry is in by 5.00pm on Friday, November 25 2016!

• Visit www.seniorsnews.com.au/competitionterms for full competition terms and conditions. Promoter is ARM Specialist Media Pty Ltd of 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore QLD 4558. Promotional period 15.08.16 – 25.11.16. Competition drawn 28.11.16 at 30406/9 Lawson St, Southport QLD 4215. Winners announced in Seniors Newspapers: Brisbane and Sunshine Coast 05.12.16, Gold Coast and Toowoomba 12.12.16, Wide Bay and Northern NSW 19.12.16, Central Coast and Coffs & Clarence 19.12.16 and online at www.seniorsnews.com.au 30.11.16. Total prize value $70,397 inc GST. Open only to residents of QLD, VIC and NSW.

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44 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 45

Travel My PNG adventure JADED travellers who have crossed most destinations off their bucket lists – and this can happen when you get to a certain age – will be delighted to know they can now visit a place where few before them have been.

Now that P&O Cruises sails into some uncharted waters of Papua New Guinea, there are remote islands to explore, isolated atolls where lush jungle edges white sandy beaches.

You will have to use the ship’s tender boats to get ashore, these islands do not yet have wharves or infrastructure, but on our cruise on board Pacific Eden in September, there were seniors galore nipping down the gangway like

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sprightly teenagers.

Perhaps it was the thought of those remote islands with their turquoise waters that had us all keen to get ashore…more likely it was the opportunity to mix with the locals for a day, see how they lived, and to relax in the warm embrace of their generous welcome.

Some of the islands visited by Pacific Eden are untouched by the 21st Century, utopias previously denied to all but the young, the strong, the fearless.

Now we seniors can arrive in absolute comfort and step into a mysterious world where age-old traditions are still upheld.

P&O’s Pacific Eden made her inaugural PNG visit from Cairns in September and will be

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ANN RICKARD unleashes her inner adventurer and finds it much to her liking, even though she admits to being an old sheila based in that city until the end of this month and then again from August through November 2017.

It takes just one day sailing from Cairns to reach this other world.

Being there is a simultaneously uplifting and humbling experience. At our first port, Alotou, the capital of PNG’s Milne Bay province, the dancers were there to greet us, their feathered headgear waving to their stomps, their fierce bone-nose adornments at odds

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with their beetle-nut stained smiles.

Next stop Kitava, where the locals had come down from the hills to display their hand-crafted products on the white sand. It seemed horribly wrong to pay so little for an exquisitely carved, wooden bowl inlaid with shell. It must have taken days, even weeks, to craft but the old man selling it asked for just 20 kina (about $12).

The children had obviously been given the day off school for Pacific

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Eden’s arrival and were dressed in grass-mat skirts and skimpy loin cloths, adorned with feathers, beads, and bits of nature’s bling. A group of exuberant boys danced, banging bamboo poles to the beat of a drum, their choreography rhythmical, perfect. They giggled and laughed as they danced, making the world seem a more innocent place.

Getting P&O’s ships close to these remote islands is a small miracle.

“When we look at a destination we need to know a ship can get in,” a documentary on the television in our stateroom told us.

At our next island, Kiriwina – where women enjoy higher status than men, and pigs are an

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indicator of wealth - it was the teenage girls from the nearby school who danced for us, their colourful skirts and feathers swaying with their dainty movements while the local ‘musician’ accompanied them on an old guitar.

At all the islands, the snorkelling was some of the best in the world, and right off the beach, or further out by canoes where one of dozens of enthusiastic boys offered to paddle us out for a few kina.

After reluctant farewells at each island, it was a joy to return to Pacific Eden where colourful cocktails, grand dinners, live theatre and non-stop entertainment waited for us.

Pacific Eden Visit: pocruses.com.au

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46 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

travel

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

It’s a hoot

Owl cafe may not have food, but the unique company makes it well worth the visit

EAT, DRINK AND BE KERRY KERRY HEANEY TAKE a seat at a Tokyo cafe and the chair next to you might be occupied by a rabbit, snake, goat, cat, dog or even an owl.

The chance to get up close and personal with a variety of animals is one of the many attractions of visiting Japan. The weirder the better does it for me, so I headed off to a cafe where there are as many owls as there are people.

Akiba Fukurou is a popular spot to visit and visitors book ahead and then line up outside waiting for their hour of owl.

Although it’s widely known as a cafe and looks like a cafe, it doesn’t actually serve food or drink. The owner of Akiba Fukurou prefers to call it a relaxation space where visitors can interact with

the owls.

Once inside, guests take a seat and have the chance to meet the resident owls. There are about 20 owls ranging in size from petite to quite large. They don’t seem terribly bothered by the people around them and some just chose to nap the hour away.

Guests are instructed not to disturb sleeping owls or those with signs that say “Please don’t touch”, but it’s fine to touch the others. Stroking the owl’s head, between the eyes, is recommended and seems to be quite enjoyed by the creatures.

After a while, the owner comes around and places

escorted ESCAPES

an owl on your arm if you want to get a little closer. I had some one-on-one time with Snowman who was happy to sit quietly and have his photo taken.

Not everyone was so lucky. Some of the owls couldn’t settle and others left little messages on their human friend’s clothing.

The owls are all rescue birds and have been collected by the owner over a long period.

Although we were lucky and picked up a cancellation on short notice, you’ll need to book ahead to visit.

The cafe is a short walk from JR Akihabara Station and there are good instructions on the website to guide you there. It costs 1500 yen per person for a one-hour visit and take cash, they don’t accept credit cards.

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Prices shown are for payments made by cash in store and are fully inclusive of taxes, levies, government charges and other applicable fees. Payments made by credit card incur a surcharge. Visa information based on Australian Passport holders. Where a visa is required the cost included in the trip price (Australian passport holders only). Arrival and departure transfers included up to the return value of $100 pp. If costs between your home and Brisbane airport exceed this you can either choose to pay the difference or have the $100 pp refunded and make your own arrangements to and from Brisbane airport. Participants must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Escorted Escapes product is exclusive to Qld and Nth NSW Escape Travel stores. All cruises are based on lead-in inside cabin twin share. All Escorted Escapes are subject to minimum passengers booking, paying and travelling together. Escape Travel reserves the right to cancel the tour should the numbers travelling not meet the required minimum. Should this occur a full refund will be provided. Please ask your Escape Travel consultant for further details. ^ Interest Free: Approved applicants only on a Lombard 180 Visa card. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply including a $99 Annual Fee charged on the account open date and annually on the anniversary of the account open date. Minimum finance amount applies and is valid on holidays over $999. Interest, currently 22.99% p.a., is payable on any balance outstanding after the 12 month Interest Free period. Ask in store for details. Offer ends 31 Dec 16. Credit provided by Lombard Finance Pty Limited ABN 31 099 651 877, Australian Credit Licence number 247415. Lombard® is brought to you by FlexiGroup ®. FROM BRISBANE. Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. ATAS Accreditation No. A10412. ATAS Accreditation No. A10412.

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Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Seniors 47

Panama Canal Experience

Escape Travel international travel consultant Valerie Clemens recently returned from hosting the small group 22-day USA and Panama tour WE WERE a very excited group as we set off from Brisbane airport together, anticipating the adventures to come on our Panama Canal and USA trip. Everyone in the group had their own reasons for joining this tour, so it made for great conversation as we all go to know each other.

After resting from our flights, we had a couple of days to explore the beautiful city of Miami. We did an extensive city tour, having a Cuban coffee in Little Havana and admiring the graffiti art in the Wynwood area. Our welcome dinner at the Southbeach area was delicious and a was fun night. We had three couples celebrating

wedding anniversaries on the trip along with a couple of birthdays, so we had plenty to celebrate.

The next day was an everglades adventure where we got up close and personal with wild alligators and enjoyed an exhilarating airboat ride.

The two-week cruise from Miami to San Diego had plenty of variety. We cruised through the Caribbean past Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas and we visited several ports in Central America.

We enjoyed seeing flamingos, Tucans, Macaws, and monkeys.

Visiting coffee plantations and the fabulous old town in Guatemala was a highlight, as well as

PANAMA TOUR: Full of fun and adventure for all.

finding out how tequila is made at a family run factory in Mexico.

The absolute highlight and bucket list tick was of course the journey through the Panama Canal. The day prior to the transit we visited one of the locks on land to find out how they operate and watch ships going through. The day of the transit took all day to go through three locks. The scenery was beautiful, sailing past jungles and small villages on the way.

This was an incredible experience and one which all of us will never forget.

Cook Is experience is more than just a tour

THE Cook Islands is an “unpack once” destination for lovers of easy-going cultural holidays and avid Pacific Island travellers.

With colourful culture, pristine azure waters, warm hospitable people, lush volcanic mountain scenery and wonderful cuisine, an Uplift Tours and Travel-arranged cultural tour to Cook Islands Pacific Paradise ticks all the boxes.

Since 2011, director Claire McErlane has enjoyed escorting tours to the Cook Islands, and has grown passionate about the locals.

Special relationships have been built over the years and donations from each tour now help the local primary school and the bowls club.

Just this year, president George of the bowls club told visitors at the fourth Cook Islands Bowls Carnival how much the Australian bowlers have helped the club financially.

With proceeds the club has received from green fees, donated bowls and clothes,

ISLAND TIME: Cook Island dancers.

providing entertainment, and not forgetting money made over the bar, the club has been able to buy two solar panels to help with extremely high electricity bills, bought

Sky TV so they can watch world bowls events, and have invested into their juniors.

Always one of the highlights of a tour is the inspiring visit to the local primary school, run by the wonderful and committed principal Elizabeth and her team.

The children are an absolute delight, and always courteous, fun and forever respectful of their overseas visitors.

Donations are now assisting with the bi-yearly overseas educational trip which is offered to each student, regardless of the financial situation of the family.

This is an amazing feat of fundraising capacity by the school community, and Uplift is privileged to play a small part.

This tour treats guests to many hidden delights not available to the independent traveller.

For further details you can contact Uplift Tours and Travel by calling 3283 1966 or logging on to groups@uplifttours.com.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

We ended with some time in San Diego to explore this lovely city. We were all pleasantly surprised at how clean, friendly and easy to explore this city is.

Why not join the 23-day April 2017 tour of Panama and USA? Escape Travel has created escorted escapes to Africa, Vietnam, Japan, South America, Alaska, Niagara to New York, Cuba and Mexico, India, Morocco and Spain and USA. Every single part of the holiday has been handpicked to provide a once-in-a-lifetime

adventure. By having all the finer details taken care of, your only choice is to enjoy every moment of your dream holiday.

Our escorted escapes are exclusive to Escape Travel and available at Escape Travel stores throughout Queensland and Northern NSW. Escorted escapes offer you an opportunity to travel all over the world.

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Each escorted escape is tailor-made by our staff who carefully plan each itinerary. We ensure you see the main attractions with included sightseeing and unique extras that make your escape unforgettable.

We look forward to sharing our passion for travel with you when you join us on your next escorted escape.

— Call 1300 212 896 to chat with Valerie at Escape Travel. escortedescapes. com.au.

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48 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Don’t resist the three Rs REMEMBER how we learnt the “three Rs” at school – reading, writing and arithmetic? Now, as we get closer to the other end of our life cycle, we have the three Rs again.

Reflection, Resilience and Renewal.

■ Reflection – as we get closer to the end of our working life, which may have spanned 40 years, or have already retired, it’s time to reflect on what we’ve achieved, what obstacles we’ve overcome, what interests we’ve developed, and how we get on with others.

Also, the dreams and goals we want to be reality.

While we were busy working and bringing up a family and whatever else demanded our time and attention, we put our dreams on the back-burner. Now we can start looking at the new opportunities.

This reflection process is a great time to start a “bucket list”.

■ Resilience – for men in particular, retirement initially can be a shock to the system, because their work role gave them a sense of identity.

After years of having a routine, it’s easy to ask –“what do I do now?”

Resilience is important

INSPIRING AND RETIRING EVA BENNETT in the aging process, as it helps us bounce back after big life changes that retirement creates, even when you think you are prepared for it.

I believe having a period of “reflection” as discussed previously, helps to keep our outlook more positive, our physical and mental health balanced and helps us reinvent ourselves in this new stage.

■ Renewal – when we see retirement can be an exciting new beginning, we aren’t caught up in the past. We bounce back with renewed energy, reinventing ourselves and regaining self-worth.

We can now explore the opportunities available in our community, to use our skills and talents to help others and to learn new things.

Life takes on a new meaning, we make new friends, we maintain our health and we enjoy life.

— plansretirement. com.au eva.bennett@ bigpond.com

columns

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Let’s look at the lighter side of life Downsizing is good for us. Even if it is just for the compulsory decluttering alone.

I am proof of that.

Since being forced to get rid of a lot of junk, compressing our lives into a small space, my man and I now feel lighter (and we haven’t even been on a diet).

If you are lucky enough to downsize to a new place, then all the better.

There is nothing like a new property to lift the spirits after you have spent decades living in the same house, not seeing the decline decay slowly building around you.

In our case, we have moved to a townhouse that has had such a

SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE ANN RICKARD ann.rickard@apn.com.au

major refurb it feels like a brand new property.

However (there is always a however), there is a teeny downside to living in a new untouched place.

When everything is fresh and spotless, you don’t want to touch anything for fear of messing it up.

“You don’t actually intend to put that in the new, fresh-smelling kitchen cupboards, do you?” I have said to the

husband each time he unpacks a box and comes up with an old bowl, a worn plate, an ancient coffee cup.

“Do you really need to shower every day?” I want to say as he readies himself for a big soaping up in the newly tiled shower with its modern rainforest shower-head.

“We don’t want soap scum on the gorgeous new tiles.”

“Pan frying is forbidden,” I’ve proclaimed. “The new stove top is so clean, I will not allow splatters.”

“Surely you don’t actually intend to use the brand new dishwasher,” I have complained. “It is so nice and clean, it’s a

shame to soil it.”

“Surely you aren’t going to roast that lamb in the new oven, it will splatter everywhere.”

“Don’t touch that door knob,” I’ve shouted.

“You’ll put messy fingerprints on it. It’s lovely and new, let’s keep it that way.”

So it goes. We now live in a cosy, functional and uncluttered brand-new space and we are nervous to actually use anything.

However, give us a couple of months and there will be soap build-up on the tiles, bits of gunk in the dishwasher, splatters on the stove top…living just gets in the way sometimes.

Breathing – are you doing it right? It’s more than just in and out BREATHING correctly with your diaphragm is fundamental to helping your immune system work efficiently.

Your diaphragm is located below your ribs.

You will know if you are using your diaphragm correctly if you put your

ACTIVE AGING DR ALEX McHARG PhD hand just below your ribs and can feel it going up

and down.

Although breathing this way is known as deep breathing, it does not infer that it should be rushed or big breaths taken.

Stretching, (extending arms, body and legs past your normal operating

Exercise is a fundamental part of movement and because strong muscles are the closest thing we have to the fountain of youth, your routines need to be intensive and that means using weights.

Unfortunately, fewer

than 10% of mature people regularly use weights.

You should exercise often but each session should not be for long.

As we mature, we need to eat much less and expand the types of natural foods we choose.

Queensland Seniors recognised

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range), should not be hurried either and should be done before and after any daily routine and that includes the household chores, gardening, work.

It’s not exercise and needs to done slowly.

Yoga is a good discipline to learn correctly.

LAST month I had the pleasure of attending the Older People Speak Out Media Awards, to recognise the contribution of media professionals who report on positive ageing, as well as issues facing seniors.

Run by volunteers, including retired and semi-retired professionals, the awards have been running for more than two decades, and have grown significantly over this time.

When the awards started in 1994, there were only 40 nominations, and now there are more than 180.

Media outlets and publications, like the Seniors Newspaper, that regularly promote positive ageing, are helping to transform the way society

MINISTER’S MESSAGE CORALEE O’ROURKE sees older people, and the awards are a great way to reward their efforts.

The concept of time is one that society has created.

Some people can be ‘old’ at the age of 18, while others are ‘young’ when they reach 90 years of age.

Whatever our age, we all still have a great deal to offer our communities.

Just like the awards, our government has made a strong commitment to older Queenslanders – whether in work, volunteering or in retirement.

Earlier this year, I was pleased to launch our government’s new senior’s strategy – Queensland: an age-friendly community – to further support positive ageing in our communities.

This whole of government strategy looks at liveability through an older person’s lens – from public transport, housing and opportunities for work and education to civil participation, engagement and access to services and public spaces.

Our vision is for Queenslanders to live in age-friendly communities that allow people, regardless of their age, to stay active and connected, and to contribute economically, socially and culturally.

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

Seniors 49

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50 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

Reviews

RELAX Kick back & enjoy a read from this month’s selection of travel books

Mal’s Still Travelling

Memoirs of friends in later life

AUSSIE LEGENDS: Bob Irwin with his wildlife warrior son, Steve Irwin.

Bob Irwin’s biography

ALLEN and Unwin have published the memoir of Australian legend Bob Irwin, The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father And Son Legacy.

Co-authored with trusted friend Amanda French, the book uncovers the man behind the legend and explains how a plumber from Melbourne became a conservation pioneer, began Australia Zoo and raised his wildlife warrior son, Steve Irwin.

Opening with a letter from a 32-year-old Steve, which Bob only found this year, when an unopened envelope, inscribed: please be

❝

“When the world lost Steve, the animals lost the best friend they ever had, and so did I.”

— Bob Irwin

happy to know that your strength and wisdom have been passed on, fell from a book during Bob’s research.

Bob told his story to Amanda French over a 20,000km road trip to some of Australia’s most spectacular locations.

GROWING Old Outrageously is a delightful memoir of friendship and what happens when two ladies of a certain age decide to test the maxim: leap and the net will appear.

After 35 years, two school friends reconnect and discover they both love travelling – and the more exotic and far-flung the location, the better.

Not having a clue whether they will get along, the eccentric pair embark on a trial journey to Morocco. That tentative start turned into a series of unusual holidays, and Hil and Liz have circumnavigated the globe ever since.

This is a book for thrill-seekers and armchair travellers alike, a celebration of friendship and laughter – and an inspiration for anyone who's longed to venture outside their comfort zone and travel to exotic places.

■ Hilary Linstead & Elisabeth Davies ■ Allen & Unwin ■ AUD $29.99

Initially reluctant to share, Bob gradually opened up to Amanda to reveal 77-years’ worth of stories that will move and inspire readers. ❚ Allen & Unwin ❚ Bob Irwin & Amanda French ❚ RRP: $32.99

BOOK SIGNING WHAT: Signing event WHEN: November 12, 10am to noon WHERE: Annie’s Books, 8 Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach

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INTREPID explorer, navigator, documentary film-maker – the surviving Leyland brother looks back on his incredibly adventurous life.

Mike and Mal Leyland’s first step towards becoming beloved Aussie icons came with the screening of their hazardous trip down the length of the Darling River in a 5m aluminium dinghy.

In this revealing memoir, Mal Leyland takes us through his eventful life, from his ten-pound Pom immigrant childhood, adventuring with Mike through outback Australia, the brothers’ sometimes stormy relationship, their dramatic rise to success as film-makers, their devastating financial losses, Mal’s triumph over cancer to his ongoing travels with his beloved wife of 45 years, Laraine.

Ever the adventurer, Mal continues to explore Australia.

Still Travelling is his compelling account of a life lived to the full.

■ MAL LEYLAND ■ ALLEN & UNWIN ■ $32.99

The Outback Wrangler

THE Outback Wrangler takes you on a wild ride, where a special outback flavour of danger, adrenaline and adventure comes together in the personal stories of a unique Australian.

“I never knew I could do this as a job.”

National Geographic conservationist and chopper pilot Matt Wright was born for a life of action and adventure.

Raised in the wilds of far north Queensland, Papua New Guinea and outback Australia, as a child he would catch deadly snakes for fun or lizards and turtles for show and tell at school.

From his early years working in the outback to a short stint in the army, Matt’s life reads like an own adventure story.

Today, he is the star of his own international television show on National Geographic, a renowned outback adventurer and a wrangler of deadly animals.

■ Matt Wright ■ Penguin ■ RRP $35

Discovering love in The Chocolate Tin

IN THIS highly anticipated, sensuous new read from the best-selling author of The Perfumer's Secret, Alexandra Frobisher, a modern-thinking woman, has hopes of a career in York – England's famous chocolate-making town.

Matthew Britten-Jones, a man of charm and strong social standing, impresses Alex and her parents with his wit and intelligence.

But will this amicable union be enough for a fulfilling life together?

■ FIONA MCINTOSH ■ RRP $32.99 ■ PENGUIN

puzzles

Monday, November 14, 2016 seniorsnews.com.au

JIGGERED

14/11

The challenge is to rearrange a crossword which has been broken into 25 sections. One letter has been given to get you started. Work out which 3x3 square fits in with that letter and write in the letters.

You can also shade the black squares if you find it helpful.

After completing the first 3x3 area, work out which square joins on to it, and continue until you have made a complete crossword.

I

E T A R E

A L S A S E D

I E W R A N E D

R O T E A D I S

M P R L I S

H A L A L L

E E T N D A

E B A N A

A R E T O

H V E R K E

G R G E N E

A L O E I D E

S W A W D A B O

B

U L L

A

I

C H O N

I C L

Can you complete these four words, using the same three-letter sequence in each?

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23

24

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Great tasting NutriTasteTM (a thickened Liquid Food) adds to safe and effective swallowing

21

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

ALPHAGRAMS

Good 15 Very Good 19 Excellent 23+

The device introduces sucking before swallowing which is the natural way in which we all learnt to feed safely and efficiently.

18

Y

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter.

There is at least one nine-letter word.

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

RoseCup, a unique new drinking cup and a Nutritious Safety Food, NutriTasteTM, has achieved a prestigious QLD Government Grant in Toowoomba.

20

17

BRAZE, CREDIT, DILATES, ENDORSES, FREIGHTED.

E E

19

S

388

E S

13

16

L A D E N

TODAY

I

15

W A D

V T

8

TRIO

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.

R T

7

E D

K

WORD GO ROUND

12

I

V A N E E H G

6

T O M A T O

I I S N O T N

11

14

5

10

TRIO: OLD

I U R

9

N U L L

B D A I L A T

4

V A N I L L A E E E S G R E A S E H I L I E U R B A C L C A E E T H V I E N E R D A R K E N E E B D C T A A I H R E L A T I O E I I D S N O B T N

I

L E C

3

L Y

T O P E A

Down 2. Worry intensely (7) 3. Closest (7) 4. Something beyond criticism (6,3) 6. Farewell (5) 7. Wailing (7) 8. Plans (7) 13. Startled (9) 14. Put to shame (7) 15. Honesty (7) 17. Wasted time (7) 18. Radical (7) 20. Begins (5)

2

S W A M P D R W A B O L I R N G G E N E T S E R O T A A E D I S A R T O P E R E A A L O H A E L I D E A L

L L E R E A

Across 1. Passes out (6) 5. Concealed (6) 9. Pattern made of stones, glass, etc. (6) 10. Defames (6) 11. Penalty (4) 12. Guaranteeing (8) 14. Very busy (6) 16. Long, raised strips (6) 19. Workforce (8) 21. Tardy (4) 22. Set free (6) 23. Criticised (6) 24. Threats (6) 25. Avoided (6)

1

QUICK CROSSWORD

T O A R M

QUICK CROSSWORD

Seniors 51

Across: 1. Faints 5. Masked 9. Mosaic 10. Libels 11. Fine 12.

Ensuring 14. Hectic 16. Ridges 19. Manpower 21. Late 22.

Loosed 23. Sniped 24. Duress 25. Dodged.

Down: 2. Agonise 3. Nearest 4. Sacred cow 6. Adieu 7. Keening 8. Designs 13. Surprised 14. Humbled 15. Candour 17. Dallied 18. Extreme 20. Opens.

N E T S

Toowoomba & Darling Downs

Do you or your loved one experience any of the following: • Choking easy on food • Saliva dribbling • Slurred speech • Recent chest infections • Slow to swallow RoseCup and NuritasteTM could be the perfect solution.

Phone Cornelia on

0428 406 641

or shop online www.rose-cup.com/shop

52 Seniors Toowoomba & Darling Downs

seniorsnews.com.au Monday, November 14, 2016

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