Wide Bay, January 2019 by seniors

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JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

LEANING INTO 2019

INDEX 3 News: Keep eyes on our reef 5 Personality profile 6 Community group guide 8 What’s on 10 Talk ‘n’ Thoughts 12 Feature: Senior Australian of the Year 16 Living 17 Wanderlust 21 Wellbeing 24 Money 26 Reviews 27 Puzzles

Vibrant feel at the village

Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor IT’S great to be able to start 2019 with a host of positive stories. In this edition we commence with a two-page feature on our Senior Australians of the Year. The recognition that comes with this honour allows us to look at the best of who we are. In the daily run of 24/7 news – which I follow through newspapers, current affair shows and online updates – I am often saddened when I read the worst of human nature, bored when I come across tedious celebrity gossip, indifferent when I hear politicians endeavour to sway us with empty promises, but find myself enjoying a good satire, a clever political cartoon or taking in an hilarious headline on some strange scientific study. But when it comes to reading about the work carried out by the people named as Senior Australians of the Year, I am uplifted by their humanity and their ability to get things done. It shows that far beyond the concept of age, generosity

of mind and spirit are key among the qualities that define us as human beings. Besides Australians of the Year we also bring to you the older Australian Beauty Pageant winner, Beauty Queen of the Year and Ms World 2018, 60-year-old Robbie Canner, who believes that people “age themselves out of life” by developing negative connotations toward ageing. She is determined to “start a conversation” about positive ageing. I’m with Robbie – we face up to the hard stuff on a daily basis, but if we can keep a place inside of ourselves filled with hope, self-confidence, self-esteem and share that with others, then there’s a good chance of a happy 2019.

Explore Victoria’s highway gallery

CONTACT US General Manager Geoff Crockett – 07 5430 1006 geoff.crockett@news.com.au Editor Gail Forrer – 07 5435 3203 gail.forrer@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Media Sales Executive Brett Mauger – 07 3623 1657 brett.mauger@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Online Get your news online at www.seniorsnews.com.au Advertising, editorial and distribution enquiries Phone: 1300 880 265 or (07) 5435 3200 Email: advertising@seniorsnewspaper.com.au or editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au Location: 2 Newspaper Place, Maroochydore 4558 Website: www.seniorsnews.com.au Subscriptions Only $39.90 for one year (12 editions) including GST and postage anywhere in Australia. Please call our circulations services on 1300 361 604 and quote “Wide Bay Seniors Newspaper”. The Seniors Newspaper is published monthly and distributed free in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications. Published by News Corp Australia Printed by News Corp Australia, Yandina. Opinions expressed by contributors to Seniors Newspapers are not necessarily those of the editor or the owner/publisher and publication of advertisements implies no endorsement by the owner/publisher.

Be fearless, embrace age Over-55 Beauty Pageant has many aspects

Alison Houston ROLE Model of the Year 2018 Suzi Dent wants to help other women “celebrate and embrace being over 50”. The 56-year-old self-confessed ‘tomboy’ has undergone a transformation over the past two years, including winning the Australian title of Mrs Earth Health 2017 (and finishing third in the world). “I am hoping to inspire women to stop paying attention to their age number, be fearless about making changes in their lives and to celebrate their life experiences and knowledge,” Suzi said. It’s a sentiment embraced by her fellow Australian Beauty Pageant winner, Beauty Queen of the Year and Ms World 2018, 60-year-old Robbie Canner, from Sydney, who beat entrants from 22 countries aged from 26,

to the global title in June. Robbie, a sports therapist, believes that people “age themselves out of life” by developing negative connotations toward ageing, She is determined to “start a conversation” about positive ageing. It’s not all about looks for either woman, but about health, selfconfidence, self-esteem and zest for life. Robbie became involved in the Tour de Cure after her son Scott died of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She set up the Scott Canner Young Investigator Grant to help fund cancer research by young Australian academics, with more than $750,000 in grants already awarded. Suzi has been involved in Soles4Souls and more recently Friends with Dignity, who support victims of domestic violence. Despite the seemingly

glamorous world in which she worked as a TV and advertising hair and make-up artist, Suzi said her go-to clothes had always been practical. She said she felt safer and more comfortable dressed down, avoiding both unwanted advances from men and comments from women. “By stepping out of my comfort zone, I’ve found my true, authentic self which had been hidden away... and that’s a wonderful thing to find in your 50s,” Suzi said. “Now I want to help other women step out too and achieve their dreams. “I want to see my age represented in the advertising on the walls of shops, and an acceptance that women come in all shapes, sizes and ages.” Full story: seniorsnews.com.au at www.suzident.com or phone 0412 607 691.

QUEENS OF POSITIVITY: Gold Coaster and Role Model of the Year Suzi Dent and Beauty Queen of the Year and Ms World Robbie Canner. Photo: David Fuentes

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

NEWS

Keep eyes on our reef Tracey Johnstone ENVIRONMENTAL champion and multimedia specialist Mike Middleton spends every spare private moment he can trying to improve Australia’s understanding of the challenges the Great Barrier Reef faces. Describing the 62-year-old Queenslander as passionate is an understatement. The ex-Sydney man since his youth has been deeply fascinated by the reef’s islands – what’s on them and what’s around their shores – and about their environmental well-being. “I also have a passion for the reef and concerns for the environment because of climate change and pollution by plastic,” Mike said. Mike spends about seven months each year travelling around the reef, talking to the boaties, observing their actions and impacts, recording the changes. “I gather the information by talking to people directly and by visiting other boats at anchorages, and meeting people on the island at things like sundowners or while diving,” he said. His role as the recreational reef users representative on the Burnett Local Marine Advisory Committee, which advises the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on local marine park management issues, gives him the voice he needs to use his networking skills to connect the users and the overseers. He shares what the users need and think to the Authority and shares back to the users what they need to know. Mike recently released his latest pictorial book, The Keppel Isles, which

REEF HEALTH: Mike Middleton’s favourite island, North Reef Island. records the indigenous and European history, and stunning beauty, of the island group located in the southern part of the reef. He is working on his next pictorial book which will be about the Great Southern Barrier Reef. “There is a massive untold history of the Bunker Group, south of Cape Capricorn,” Mike said.

TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED

Mike has learnt that recreational fishermen are doing the most damage, almost 55 per cent, to the reef. “They are not being compliant with the amount of fish they take and the size limits, and fishing in green zones,” he said. “For example, the Swains Reef has been

Mike Middleton with his new book, The Keppel Isles, and below, checking the health of the coral.

Photo: Contributed

over fished for the last 25 years and as a result, it has the biggest outbreak

Pumpkin Island from Maizie Bay across the Pumpkin Passage, Keppel Isles.

of the Crown of Thorns. “The predatorial fish that eat the larvae have

Photos: Mike Middleton

been decimated so we have this outbreak because there is no balance of nature or control. “There is a huge ignorance on the reef. Fishermen just want to fill their Eskies and go home.” While not one environmental change issue is the main cause of the reef damage, “it’s a combination of all”, Mike admits. “But, filling your Esky and tinnie when you are a senior, for example, is pretty uncool because you are taking the breeding stock away,” he said. “Just take what you can eat.”

TALK TO OTHER GENERATIONS

Chatting to the younger generations around you – to your children and grandchildren – about

what they can do to reduce their impact on the reef is another idea Mike has for seniors to lend a hand to the future. Sharing ideas on how to stop using plastic in our everyday life is another way to help. He also suggests you talk to them about which politician is going to really do something about climate change, and then vote for them. If you are out fishing and see something that doesn’t look right, or you see something that is doing damage to the reef, Mike says you can report it through two mobile phone apps – Eyes on the Reef and Queensland Recreational Fishing Guide. “As a senior, do the best you can to minimise the impact for the young ones coming through,” Mike said.

Mike Middleton checks the health of the coral in the southern part of the reef.

NEWS

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

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VETERAN SUPPORT: Australian past servicemen proudly wearing their war medals and marching in the Anzac Day Memorial Military March. Photo: pamspix

Industry keen to welcome our veterans Tracey Johnstone

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A NEW Federal Government program provides an opportunity for older veterans to return to work or seek new employment across government and private industry sectors. Businesses willing to provide career opportunities for veterans which could include upskilling and mentoring are being targeted, with no business too small or too big, to be a part of the program. There are no age or gender restrictions within the Veterans Employment initiative. Australian Human Resources Institute chairman Peter Wilson said the issues would be work-readiness and ability. “That’s usually the problem with a characteristic of society which is seen as different to what the mainstream

employment is,” Mr Wilson said. “So, it’s more an inhibition or fear from employers that veterans won’t be work-ready and capable in the same way as they might see with someone who has a disability.” Former interim chair of RSL National John King said defence personnel were some the most highly trained people in Australia. “They (defence forces) spend more money training their people to a higher level capacity than any other organisation in government,” Mr King said. However, he does see a challenge translating defence jargon into plain English so employers can understand a veteran’s work skills. “They are training the defence people to use that English language rather than the military jargon,” Mr King said.

“The department is helping them write their CVs in terms of plain English for civilians to understand and explaining what they have to do for an interview.” In order to remedy this, The Defence Department has already done a lot of work in this area. “It’s just they just don’t have the normal CV that you find for someone who has had a job with Coles or Woolworths; they can’t establish a track record in business or government where someone else normally would,” Mr King said. “It’s a question of equipping HR to see through what skills they have around management of projects, logistics and supply chains, which a lot of them have, or what they have in terms of team and leadership skills.” For more information, visit veteransemployment. gov.au

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

NEWS

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Heartland will give people a new appreciation of rural life

HEARTLAND: Robert Coleby plays battling farmer Reg, taking on Australia’s heart-breaking drought conditions in Australian Outback Spectacular’s state-of-the-art arena production, Heartland. Photos: Village Roadshow Theme Park / Contributed

An Aussie spectacular star Alison Houston AT 71 and after almost five decades in the acting business, Robert Coleby is still finding new ways to challenge himself. He is now starring in the Gold Coast’s new Australian Outback Spectacular, Heartland. Coleby plays farmer Reg, who with wife Marg (Cate Feldmann) is struggling to survive a five-year drought on the land. The arena show melds live action, thundering horses, a dog, quad bike, film, and a state-of-the-art light and sound system. “It’s pretty immersive,” Coleby said. “The horse-work is definitely spectacular, but it’s weaved into a story line so that you really care about the people on those horses.”

So, despite their physical size against this imposing outback backdrop, Coleby says the characters loom large, but he admits it’s not an easy gig. “At my age you look for a challenge,” he said. “We all know our life is finite, and mine is likely to run out quicker than my Ikea kitchen guarantee – but life is for living, for taking risks.” These days, although he still enjoys performing and responding to a live audience, Coleby said it had to be something extraordinary to get him back on stage. Coleby has a special link to the land and its harsh realities. He was just two when his family emigrated from England to Australia in 1949, living with his father’s brother on a cattle farm near Kingaroy

Robert Coleby with Noni Hazlehurst in recent TV favourite A Place to Call Home.

before moving to Maryborough. During those first years in the Australian bush he encountered drought, flood and bushfire and was bitten by a brown snake – pretty much all the outback can throw at someone. And yet, when the family moved back to England, he missed the days of walking barefoot to school, and years later jumped at the chance for some acting roles in Australia. He described his 1970s return as like stepping into technicolour after living in black and white. In the years to come, Coleby became a mainstay in Australian TV, perhaps best known for his role as XO in early 1980s series Patrol Boat, the forerunner of Sea Patrol. He also appeared in

The Young Doctors, Chopper Squad, Levkas Man, Anzacs, Tanamera, Paradise Beach, All Saints and House of Hancock among a host of others. Most recently Coleby starred as Elizabeth Bligh’s (Noni Hazlehurst) love interest, Sir Douglas Goddard, in TV favourite A Place to Call Home, which sold to 140 overseas markets. “It was a really interesting piece because it crossed a number of issues, including for Douglas the euthanasia debate, which is in everyone’s mind at the moment with an ageing population and asking what jurisdiction we have over our own fate,” Coleby said. But having such a lasting career, he said, was a matter of luck as well as talent. “You can be really good

Robert Coleby with Andrew McFarlane in early 1980s series Patrol Boat.

in something no one watches, or you can be good in something that’s popular and get a period of work and that notoriety kicks on to other productions. “But it’s extraordinary how many really talented actors don’t get a second chance.” You also, of course, have to be prepared to play your age, Coleby said, recalling meeting Jack Thompson recently while the two were working on separate productions at Fox Studios. Both men’s characters died of heart attacks, and they reminisced and laughed about the days when they used to be the romantic leads. But he has no complaints. He lives on seven hectares on the Gold Coast and loves it – “it’s such a beautiful part

of the world” – and is happy to be working so close to home. His favourite role is always his most recent, with his aim being to grow and improve his performance all the time. But being part of “things that count, that have had an impact” and have changed people’s thinking, as A Place to Call Home, is also important. And he hopes Heartland will give people a new appreciation of rural life and the strength and resilience of those who work the land. With Village Roadshow donating $20,000 from ticket sales to drought relief, it’s got to make a difference to some people who deserve a break. Visit the website outbackspectacular.com. au or phone 13 33 86.

Robert Coleby in a scene from the Australian Outback Spectacular production Heartland.

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Community notes

Community group guide TO ALLOW for readers’ requests for the publication of more neighbourhood news, please keep notices short and to the point (100 word maximum). If you would like to submit a photo ensure it is at least 180dpi or 500kb to 1mb in size and of faces, in a nice bright setting. Email editor@seniors newspaper.com.au.

U3A

Hervey Bay CONNECTING Seniors to Lifelong Learning. Have you ever heard the phrase “I’m retired but I’ve never been busier in my life, I don’t know how I found the time to go to work”? These are people who have discovered the joy of being involved in an activity that stimulates their mind. Research has shown that keeping the brain active, doing interesting things and making new friends are important for helping older people maximise their chances of continued independence into the future, so change your life today and learn something new for the sheer pleasure. A great way to achieve this is to join University of the Third Age. Whether you are “Lusting for languages” or “Hysterical about history” this is the organisation that will fulfil all your needs. Founded in Toulouse, France in 1972 and in Queensland since 1986, U3A is demonstrably making a very substantial contribution to society by helping its members to remain healthy and active for longer, thus lessening the strain on our already overstretched health system. University of the Third Age or U3A aims to provide programs of learning for mature people who are in complete or partial retirement, in the third age of their lives, under a broad philosophy of “lifelong learning”. Hervey Bay U3A was founded 20 years ago and from that time has offered courses that are many and varied. A full list of current courses is available on the U3A Hervey Bay website, www.u3aherveybay.org. In 2018 members enjoyed programs such as Creative Writing, Conversational Spanish, The Share Market, Introduction to Philosophy and much, much more. Classes are usually around two hours long and the emphasis is on

friendly, fun learning. Most tutors are drawn from the membership and give their time and energy to share their knowledge and skills with the members. The organisation is always trying to expand the list of courses on offer. If anyone wishes to volunteer as a tutor and pass on their knowledge then they can contact the course co-ordinator by phoning 0431 579 870. Recently U3A, Hervey Bay held a writing competition, Whale Tales, which was open to all residents of the Fraser Coast and members of U3As statewide. Many entries were received and judged by author Trudy Graham of the Sunshine Coast. First prize winner was Sue Phelps who wrote of her travels in Namibia. The competition will be held again in 2019. U3A Hervey Bay will have an information stand at Stockland Shopping Centre on Thursday, January 17 and 31. Members will be on hand to tell interested people what will be on offer in 2019. U3A always welcomes new members. Sign-on day is Tuesday, February 5 from 10am-noon at Hervey Bay RSL. Come along and have a chat to our members and tutors and see if there is something which interests you. If you want more information about courses, phone 0431 366 264 or go to u3aherveybay.net.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

THE Hervey Bay and Maryborough Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets on the first Friday of each month on the Deck at the Hervey Bay RSL at 10am for a coffee and a chat. We welcome in a new year of monthly meetings with one and possibly two new members to join our ranks. Natalie Walsh, community engagement manager for MS Queensland, will be our guest and is keen to meet and familiarise herself

AWARD WINNER: Hervey Bay U3A vice-president Alison Taylor and Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, a U3A patron, present writing competition winner Sue Phelps with her award.

Hervey Bay VIEW Club members Pam Dougan and Jan Foxall wish Coral Garny (centre) farewell.

Kallum Ireland, Jackie Sherwood (MS) and Jess Cullen at the Hervey Bay MS Group December meeting.

Gympie VIEW club and the associated sewing group Frayed Edges presented Meals on Wheels with over 100 placemats for their clients. The placemats were made by club members (from left) Kathy O’Meara, Elwyn Elms, Ian Groundwater (Meals on Wheels), Christine Holzhauer (Frayed Edges), Wendy Ireland, Barbara Cameron, Lyn Hill, Joan Stewart and Carol Tonagh. with our group as we are to meet her and hear any news she has about MS advances. Kallum (physiotherapist) and Jess (massage therapist) from Physikal Health Services attended our last meeting and Kallum spoke in depth and knowledge of the NDIS which some of our members have already accessed. For more information, phone Bev on (07) 4128 2692 or email bev_cornwell11 @outlook.com.

VIEW CLUBS

Fraser Coast WE ENJOYED a great selection of Christmas songs at our last luncheon meeting to end a wonderful year of fun and friendship. 2019 will start with our AGM on

Thursday, February 7 starting 11.30am at the clubhouse. Visitors are always most welcome so come along and join us. Phone Ros on (07) 4128 0993 to book a place or for more information. Gympie EACH Christmas the Gympie VIEW club members donate gifts for the children at the Gympie Women’s Refuge. The VIEW Club is the largest community sponsor of The Smith Family Learning for Life Students. The Gympie club supports three students. VIEW continues to make a difference to the lives of financially disadvantaged children’s education. VIEW members raise over $1 million annually for The Smith

Family, nationally sponsoring more than 1300 students, and participate in fundraising initiatives such as the annual Toy and Book Appeal and Joy Spreaders Charity Gifts. Hervey Bay OUR meetings and luncheon are always the second Monday of each month at the club house, Tooth St, Pialba, from 10.30am and usually includes a guest speaker. Monthly socials are on the fourth Monday at various venues from 9.30am. Our last meeting for the year was very well attended with a fun-filled morning of jovial festive interaction between members and the drawing of the many raffles ending with the secret Santa

surprises before we all enjoyed the special Christmas luncheon severed by the club house. It was with regret that we all said goodbye to Coral Gerny who has worked at the club as long as we have been having our meetings there and she knew us all so well right down to how many of us had our coffee, we will miss her. We meet again in February and our first social will be our annual Thanksgiving Service in the old church at the Hervey Bay Museum. New or interested ladies are always welcome to join our fun and friendly club. Contact details with Mary on (07) 4128 3908.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

NEWS

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What's on

DA VINCI MACHINES

DISCOVER the extraordinary designs of one of the world’s greatest minds in this award-winning interactive exhibition. This award-winning interactive exhibit showcases 60 iconic machines and inventions and inventions inspired by Leonardo’s drawings. See 500-year-old contraptions brought to life including Da Vinci’s flying machines and actual size replicas of his most famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa. Maryborough City Hall, 388 Kent Street, Maryborough on January 16, 17 and 19 from 9am-3pm and January 18 from 9am-7pm. For tickets: pre-purchase online, go to ourfrasercoast.com.au or purchase at the door.

WILDLIFE TALK

DON and Lesley Bradley from LMRLCCG (Lower Mary River Land and Catchment Care Group) are involved in protecting and monitoring the marine turtles and their nests. Come along to learn more about satellite tracking of Marine Turtles at Sandy Cape K’gari (Fraser Island). At the Maryborough Library, 127-129 Bazaar St, Maryborough on Friday, January 18 at noon. Bookings required. Phone (07) 4190 5788 or book online at Eventbrite.

ZFIT DANCE ZUMBA CLASS

COME along for an hour of fun, fitness and laughter. All ages and levels of fitness and ability. Children welcome too. No previous

COME ON AUSSIE: Nominees and nominators are invited to attend council’s Australia Day Awards presentation to be held on Saturday, January 26 on the Brolga terrace, Maryborough. experience required, so bring a friend and come and enjoy Zumba. Only $5 entry at the door. Memorial Hall, 5 Main Street, Pialba, Hervey Bay on Thursday, January 17, 24 and 31, February 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 4.30-5.30pm.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR PENSION

THE Financial Information Service (FIS) is an education and information service available to everyone in the community. We help people to make informed decisions about investment and financial issues. We are independent, free and confidential and provide services through seminars, and by phone and appointment. FIS seminar program – It’s never to early to begin

planning for your future-working out what you want, looking at the options available to you, and setting some goals. If you plan now, you will have more choices in the future. Wednesday, January 23 and 30. Free from 4-5pm at the Maryborough Library, 127-129 Bazaar St, Maryborough. Bookings essential. Phone (07) 4190 5788 or book online at Eventbrite.

AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS

THE Australia Day Awards are presented annually to local citizens and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the Fraser Coast community. The awards are an opportunity to come together, recognise and honour the achievements of

community members and celebrate the diversity of our community. Awards are presented in the following categories: Citizen of the Year; Sportsperson of the Year; Cultural Award of the Year; Community Group of the Year; Young Citizen of the Year; Young Sportsperson of the Year; Young Cultural Award of the Year and Community Event of the Year. Nominees and nominators are invited to attend Council’s Australia Day Awards Presentation to be held Saturday, January 26 on the Brolga terrace, Maryborough.

MARYBOROUGH MARKETS

STOCK up on fresh produce and more at the Maryborough Markets. Every Thursday, Maryborough’s city centre

undergoes an amazing transformation into a colourful outdoor heritage bazaar. Wander around over 120 stalls with an amazing array of farm fresh produce and unique wares. Original hand-made craft, homemade treats, artwork, jewellery, clothes, accessories, natural beauty products and gorgeous cut flowers. Meet a cast of characters in historical dress, including the Town Crier, and hear the firing of the historic time cannon at 1pm. Soak up the atmosphere of music and entertainers. Make a day of it in the city and join a guided Heritage Walk Tour from outside the City Hall at 9am or ride on a replica steam engine through nearby Queens Park.

FOOD ‘N’ GROOVE FRIDAYS

AN EXCITING new Friday night food scene featuring the region’s many multicultural group has brought City Park, adjacent to the Fraser Coast Cultural Centre in Pialba, alive (City Park in Pialba near the Fraser Coast Cultural Centre and breaching whale sculpture – on the block bordered by Old Maryborough Road along with Main, Alice and Charles Streets). On the eve of Australia Day, January 25, the event will focus on bush food and also include a huge fireworks display, didgeridoo workshop for kids, a whip cracking display and a cooee competition. The event is on recurring dates from 4-9pm. Email events@fcte.com.au or phone (07) 4196 9600.

Mary Poppins in Maryborough

DELIGHTFUL WAY: Actress and Mary enthusiast Taylor Dunn on Cherry Tree Lane.

Poppins

WITH Mary Poppins Returns hitting the cinema screens this month, something magical is stirring in Maryborough – the birthplace of author PL Travers whose imagination hatched the world-famous nanny. An interactive interpretive centre, in the beautiful historic building where PL Travers was born, is nearing completion in the central business district of Maryborough, three hours’ drive north of Brisbane. Fraser Coast Regional Council Mayor George

Seymour said a lifelike sculpture of the spirited characters Jane and Michael Banks sliding down the stair rail was ready to be installed. The new attraction will be called The Story Bank, honouring the heritage-listed building’s original purpose as the Australian Joint Stock Bank and its new role in housing the community’s stories. “Visitors will be able to discover the art of storytelling and the magic of Mary Poppins through displays, activities and exhibitions,” Cr Seymour said.

“The building will also be a bank for the community’s stories – both old and new – where people will be able to withdraw a story to learn more about the area’s history and culture or deposit new stories to share. “A retail cottage and theatrette are also part of the new centre. “Anyone who’s interested in following the centre’s story, as artworks and other elements are installed in the final stages, can find updates at storybankmaryborough. com.au and through #storybankmaryborough

on Instagram.” The Heritage City already commemorates its link to the renowned storyteller through a bronze statue of Mary Poppins, unique pedestrian lights featuring red and green silhouettes of the nanny and a nine-day Mary Poppins Festival each year in June-July. Robyn Peach, of Fraser Coast Tourism and Events, said The Story Bank will be open ahead of the festival, which starts on June 28 and culminates with A Day in the Park celebration on July 6.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

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JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Has age-at-home push gone too far

Talk 'n' thoughts

Gail Forrer Group Editor

CHOICES: Do the options available suit you.

Photo: Thinsktock

‘‘

personal observation tells me that most people wish to age in their own home

AT one point over the past few years, my friends’ conversations often noted how difficult it was gain services which would enable their elderly parents to stay in their homes. These days the conversation is changing to one of wondering if the push towards people ageing in independent accommodation has gone too far. For instance, I was recently in conversation with a friend who said: “My father is 92-years-old. “I think he should be in a home where he can have 24/7 care but these days the government is pushing the stay-at-home philosophy and doing everything they can to keep them at home, even

if it doesn’t seem right.” It’s not the first time I’ve heard this sentiment expressed. It’s hard to get it right all the time and personal observation tells me that most people wish to stay in their own home, even if this isn’t the best choice for their extended family or safest for them. These days, retirement villages offering staged accommodation to suit changing health needs can provide a segway between independent living and full-time nursing home care. Yet, without doubt, the opportunity to stay in independent living accommodation is rising with the advancement of technology. In fact, a trial of a new high-tech movement monitoring system designed to help senior Australians live safely in their own homes for longer begins this year. The Federal Government has invested $260,000 in the system, which allows early

detection and intervention should safety issues arise for older people living at home. Federal Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt, said the Monitoring Data Response Solution (MDRS) was Australian innovation at its best. “It enables remote monitoring and tracking of an aged care recipient’s daily routine, to help prevent misadventure or possible deterioration in their wellbeing,” he said. “A nominated individual, such as a family member, will receive notifications when the care recipient’s behaviour deviates from their regular routine. “The government is committed to meeting the wishes of senior Australians, the majority of whom want more help to live at home. “While there will never be a substitute for the value of personal visits and community connections in supporting

our senior Australians, leading-edge technology like this has great potential to improve independence and support sustainable home aged care.” Mr Wyatt said Ericom will partner with a number of residential aged care services to trial the system in the homes of 50 senior Australians. The University of Wollongong will evaluate the trial, with the final report to be publicly available to share the potential benefits of the technology across the aged care sector. The $260,000 was made available through the $34 million Dementia and Aged Care Services fund, which supported innovative projects to improve seniors’ quality of life and the government’s aged care reform agenda. source: National Seniors ■ If you would like to comment on this or any other topic, please email us at editor@seniorsnews .com.au

Make 2019 the year you switch to solar

AUSTRALIA’S household electricity bills have doubled in the last five years, so it’s no secret that more and more Australians are making the switch to solar in a bid to drastically reduce their electricity bills. The latest Renewable Energy Index figures report more than 8,500 homes across Qld and NSW installed solar in the month of October delivering cumulative savings of $100 million dollars in power bill reduction over the next ten years. Isn’t it time you got on board? Right now, investing in solar delivers serious and immediate returns. SAE Group have yet another compelling offer that will make the switch easy for you. This high quality 6.6kW solar bundle comprised of the 5kW Solax X1 inverter, and 24 x 275watt Seraphim panels, for just $4,695. We understand it might seem complicated to get a real understanding of what your returns might be on a solar system, so let’s take a look at just how good the benefits are so you can make an informed decision. According to the Clean Energy Council the average hours of sunlight a day across the year is 4.2 hours, so we will use this as the base to calculate the solar generation. Based on 4.2 hours a day, a 6.6kW system will generate 28kW of clean energy every day. Now let’s say you self-consume 50%, or 14kW your total solar generation each day. Based on today’s average electricity charges of .28c/kW, by cutting your reliance on the grid by 50%, you stand to make a saving of $3.92 each day. That might not seem much but over the course of a year that’s $1,430 back in your pocket. Then there’s the other 50% of your solar production that you can export back to the grid. Based on today’s average solar feed in tariffs you’re looking at anywhere from 8 cents to 15 cents, depending on your electricity retailer. Let’s base our calculations somewhere in the middle… if you are exporting the remaining 50% at 12 cents per kW, that’s another saving of $1.68 cents per day, or a further $613 a year you’ll save in electricity costs. That’s a whopping total of $2,043 per year in electricity savings alone, which equates to a payback period of just over two years, leaving years ahead of you of pure savings.

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Solar for your home or business is really a no brainer, make good use of your rooftop and start saving today. SAE Group are genuinely passionate about the beneﬁts of a good quality solar system designed to deliver you real savings. If you’re ready to take control of your energy future, and you’re looking for honest, trustworthy advice from your local energy contractor, call SAE Group today on 1300 18 20 50. To ﬁnd out more visit www.saegroup.com.au

*This offer is not available with any other offer. Price includes racking and installation. Single storey access only. Price is valid for standard roof tile only. Terracotta, ﬂat, designer tiles and colourbond may incur an extra charge. Net meter changeover not included. Smart meter not included. Finance options are available, subject to lending criteria eligibility. Terms & conditions, fees and charges may apply. Travel charges for distance over 70kms from warehouse will apply. Electrical Licenses: QLD 72258, NSW 227562C

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

GOVT REPORT

A senior’s life examined

‘‘

Government reports on life quality

THE Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland is today calling for greater focus on older person’s health and well-being, in response to a new landmark national report launched in Canberra. The State of the (Older) Nation 2018 Report is the most comprehensive national study undertaken to seek the views of Australians aged over 50 ever. COTA Queensland chief executive Mark Tucker-Evans said the report highlighted the need for older people to not only be valued, but to feel valued, in society. Support systems need to be in place for those who are at risk or are vulnerable, and for them to have adequate access to health and mental health services in Queensland. “Whilst the report shows that a high percentage of people rated their quality of life highly, seven per cent rated their lives as mediocre, citing health, financial, and negative emotional issues as the top three contributors,” Mr Tucker-Evans said. “Today most Queenslanders can expect to live into their eighties and some beyond. “Longer life provides the opportunity to reconsider not only what

The report investigated issues including employment, age discrimination, cost of living, financial security, health...

Nearly one-third (7.9 million) of Australians are aged 50+, highlighting the importance of this research in giving this group a voice. older age might be but how our whole lives might unfold. “Yet the extent of the opportunities that arise from these extra years of life will be very heavily dependent on one key factor: health. “If people are experiencing these years in good health their ability

to do things that matter to them will be little different from that of a younger person. “If these added years are dominated by decreases in physical or mental capacity the implications for older people and for society are much more negative.” Key findings in the

report with particular relevance to Queensland were: ■ The vast majority of older Australians feel younger than their current age, with more than half feeling at least 10 years younger. ■ Women feel 12 years younger than their actual age, whereas men feel 10

years younger on average. ■ On average, those aged 80-89 feel 13 years younger than their age. More than three quarters of survey participants (78 per cent) rated their quality of life highly, at 7 or more out of 10, including a quarter who feel particularly positive (26 per cent rated

their quality of life a 9 or 10). ■ Meanwhile, just over one in five (22 per cent) rated their quality of life at the mediocre or poor end of the scale, with 7 per cent giving a low rating of just 0-4. COTA is seeking a commitment from all political parties to develop a comprehensive long-term national strategy to address the needs of older Australians – including raising rent assistance by 40 per cent; taking a whole-ofgovernment approach to budget funding; and reducing ageism, particularly age discrimination in the workplace. The report investigated issues including employment, age discrimination, cost of living, financial security, health, home and aged care, housing, later life planning, consumer rights and transport.

RetireAustralia launches the ‘Retire Ready’ guide Alison Houston A NEW guide aimed at helping seniors and family members choose a retirement village has been launched by RetireAustralia. Called Retire Ready, the 24-page guide provides helpful information on moving into, living in, and leaving a retirement village. RetireAustralia chief executive Alison Quinn said Retire Ready was designed to help seniors plan their futures with confidence. “We know making a decision about your future is an important step and we hope this guide helps you feel better informed and more confident about making your choice when

the time comes,” Ms Quinn said. “It’s important to have the facts, so we can make informed choices that set us up for the future we want.” Ms Quinn said the guide provides information on the various types of villages and lifestyles available, how to choose one suitable for your circumstances, costs, contracts, care options and much, much more. It is available online at info.retireaustralia.com. au/retire-ready or in print form from a Retire Australia village. PRACTICAL RESOURCES: Retire Australia's new guide, Retire Ready, is available online (right).

FEATURE

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

EACH STATE’S SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Our top Seniors WE ARE proud to introduce you to eight senior Australians who are outstanding contributors to our community and to its wellbeing in a wide variety

Sally Wise, the Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year.

of ways. Each of these people are winners of their state Senior Australian of the Year award and are in the running for the ultimate national accolade, Senior

Australian of the Year in 2019, to be announced on January 26. They have shared with Seniors News how they will use their raised profile in 2019.

Photo: Alastair Bett

TAS - Sally Wise, 67 SALLY is a kitchen guru, author and media presenter who is dedicated to equipping people with the knowledge to prepare nourishing food with accessible ingredients. In 2006 she received a request from a radio presenter to discuss jams and preserves. It led to Sally’s book A Year in a Bottle which sold thousands of copies. It was the first of 15 popular cookbooks. Sally launched a program at Risdon prison to teach soon-to-be

released inmates cooking skills. She also speaks to community groups to promote better nutrition using accessible ingredients. In addition, Sally helps new businesses in the food sector to optimise their recipes and techniques. “This past year has cemented my pathway and passion for the year to come, through chance encounters in cooking programs I have conducted. It has made me realise that there are silent, uncomplaining,

James Dale, the Queensland Senior of the Year.

often unnoticed groups within the community that would truly benefit from ‘companionable’ cookery – where the cooking and recipes are, as a natural part of the process, a catalyst to communication, between generations, cultures, at all levels of society. “My goal is to seek out such groups and place increased focus on the positive social, as well as inherent nutritional, benefits from preparing never-fail, delicious dishes made from readily accessible ingredients.”

Photo: Louise Bagger

SA - Reginald Dodd, 78 THE Arabunna elder used a Roget’s Thesaurus to interpret complex legislation and made his first Native Title claim in 1998. At Reg’s initiative the Arabunna Marree People was created with lawyers across Australia providing pro-bono assistance.

With a LAMP lawyer, Reg also co-designed and co-taught a law course at RMIT on country. “I will take this opportunity to create a dialogue with the government that will deliver and provide quality essential service to remote towns and

communities. My plan is to consult with the public through meetings and talks. I will continue the cross-cultural tours that have been a great success over the last 20 years or so. I will also continue the work with LAMP on heritage and cultural issues.”

Photo: Renae Droop, Richard Walker

QLD - Professor James Dale AO, 68 THE scientist, researcher and humanitarian has led significant research programs in agricultural biotechnology. His work includes seeking a solution to Vitamin A deficiency which can lead to death or blindness with children in developing countries particularly susceptible, and genetically modifying bananas, the staple diet in many poor countries.

Reginald Dodd, the South Australian Senior of the Year.

“Within the next 30 years our climate will degenerate and the world population will grow to more than nine billion. Together these will have a major impact on food and nutrition security. “Most of the population increase will be in the tropics and sub-tropics. Australia is one of the very few developed countries with tropical regions and tropical

agriculture. “I will use this award to stress that Australia has an opportunity or maybe a responsibility to be a major contributor to the development of the next versions of our tropical crops to alleviate this impending food and nutritional insecurity. Importantly, to do this we will need to mobilise all the technologies we have available.”

Dr Sue Packer, the ACT Senior Australian of the Year.

Photo: Contributed

ACT - Dr Sue Packer AM, 76 PAEDIATRICIAN and child advocate Dr Packer fights for the rights of children in the healthcare system and wider community. “My intention is to use my profile to encourage all Australians to think seriously about the experiences and challenges for all children

growing up in Australia in the 21st century. There is much we could all do to improve their lives and opportunities as they grow up, particularly considering the comparative wealth of Australia. “When we think about our children and their

vulnerabilities and the options we have to improve their lives, many of the possible measures would also be of benefit to vulnerable groups of adults, in particular the elderly and those with disabilities, to enable them to live fuller and more satisfying lives”.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

FEATURE

EACH STATE’S SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR

Heather Lee, the NSW Senior Australian of the Year.

Photo: Salty Dingo

Alison Harcourt, the Victorian Senior Australian of the Year.

NSW - Heather Lee OAM, 92

VIC - Alison Harcourt, 89

SHE is an unstoppable Australian. Heather started walking regularly late in life – signing up for a series of fun runs in her late 70s – and discovering she was actually quite quick. In 2011, at her physiotherapist’s suggestion, Heather competed in the Australian Masters Games, just before her 85th birthday – winning four gold medals. In 2012 Heather set a new Australian record for

ALISON is now best known for developing integer linear programming, the basis of efficient computer processing. “I’ve always loved numbers, so one of my aims is to try to convey that love to others. “This feeling is one which I believe anyone can absorb, but I’m aware that many people acquired a fear of numbers when they were

5km race walking for her age group. Later that year, at the Australian Masters Track and Field Championships, she broke three Australian records; the 10km (84m 06.00s), the 1500m (11m 36.90s) and her own 5km (41m 25.40s). Currently, Heather holds eight Australian and five world records. Heather has been a member of the local Hawkesbury Cancer Support Group for many years and was the 2018

Cancer Council March Charge Ambassador. Remarkably, she is one of the few who walks the full 24 hours of the Hawkesbury Relay for Life “I am the message,” Heather said. “Independence is vital. Make wellness your goal with diet, lifestyle and exercise to nurture your body, mind and spirit. “I never define myself by age and never define anyone else by age, because getting old is an achievement.”

young which they have not been able to shake off. “We should recognise that we are using numbers all the time, to measure temperature or the ingredients to make a cake, to knit a jumper or to check at what date in spring we should plant tomato seedlings. “Specifically, from the experience of using numbers and listening to how others use them, we can expand our

Ian Frank Mallard, the WA Senior Australian of the Year. Charlie King, the Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year.

NT - Charlie King OAM, 67 THE veteran sports broadcaster and human rights campaigner in 2008 became the first Indigenous Australian to commentate at an Olympics. Charlie initiated the zero-tolerance campaign ‘NO MORE’ which has links with more than five sporting codes and nearly 100 individual sports teams.

“My vision is to contribute to an Australian community where all of its members feel safe,” he said. “The elimination of violence requires a monumental shift in the way that Australian’s view domestic violence. “I think that it is vitally important to connect with diverse groups of people, including seniors from

across Australia to harness their knowledge and to develop constructive actions that can lead to change. “This provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution that senior Australians and all Australians can make in influencing a change in the attitudes and beliefs that lead to domestic and family violence.”

Photo: Gavin Blue

appreciation of the wide world of mathematics. “More generally, we should ask older people about their life journey. We should also consider, rather than dismiss, creative people who want to challenge old ways. We should respect the enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of immigrants. “Put simply, we should be open to other people’s ideas.”

Photo: MCB Photographics

WA - Frank Mallard, 73 THE Yamatji elder, ex-serviceman and volunteer is an ambassador and advocate for the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women. He served in the Army and Army Reserves.. Despite PTSD and Parkinson’s, Frank is a dedicated veterans’ issues volunteer and chair of Voice of the Voiceless Ministry. “I would like to go back

to the old ways in Australia where we had the welfare of our families uppermost in our minds. To the days when the older members of family were cared for by the family and not sent off to an aged care facility. “I know that that cannot happen, so I would use my position to indulge my passion of caring for the less fortunate in our society, to make the community aware of the mental health problems

faced by our military and the youth, and to bring comfort to the homeless and marginalised in our cities, by providing free health care, meals and shelter, to those who can’t afford it. “We are acclaimed as the ‘lucky country’, but we have many people who would not think that. Some of them have served their country, but their country has forgotten them. Lest we forget.”

NEWS

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

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Living

Award winning facility offers vibrant village hub

BRAND INSIGHTS OZCARE’S 154 bed Hervey Bay Aged Care Facility, built by Woollam Constructions and opened in October 2017, has been designed around the feel of a vibrant village hub. Praised for its layout and overall ambience, the facility was awarded best Community Accommodation for Aged Care and Nursing Homes in the Wide Bay Burnett region at the Master Builders Queensland Housing and Construction awards earlier this year. Ozcare’s vision was a place that felt like home with an enjoyable community hub – featuring a coffee shop, hairdresser and activities room – at the heart of the facility. Ozcare’s Head of Aged Care Lanna Ramsay said the not-for-profit organisation was very proud to work in partnership with Woollam Constructions to deliver a cutting-edge project that

AWARD-WINNING CARE: Hervey Bay aged care facility volunteers with a resident. residents could call home. “It stands out because it is up on a hill in Hervey Bay, so people don’t automatically assume it is an aged care facility – it looks more like a resort,”

Ms Ramsay said. “It has been built for privacy and to create a homely environment for residents. “The most popular area is the atrium where there

is a whale fountain. “Our residents have described it as a village square, because it really is a busy little hub. “You can’t see any rooms which means it is a

place where residents can gather and get away. “They can have a coffee while children play in the playground. “It is an area that enables people living with

dementia to feel at ease in the company of others. “On busy days, we have residents sitting down having their hair done, while there are others in the activities rooms throwing balloons around. “Some days, up to 30 people, including members of the public, are enjoying the community space.” Ms Ramsay said one of the most heart-warming aspects of the design is the amount of community involvement that they have seen in Hervey Bay. “The local volunteers have been exceptional,” Ms Ramsay said. “Many of them have been with us since the commissioning phase and feel very proud of the facility. “They enjoy taking visitors on tours and single-handedly running the coffee shop, which is open to the public.” For more information or to book a tour of the facility, phone 1800 OZCARE (1800 692 273) or go to ozcare.org.au.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

THIS IS HIGH ART Just follow the Silo Art trail INSIDE

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Adventure in be thrilled Ann Rickard visits a remarkable region that FIVE things to do in New Zealand’s Queenstown without a bungy jump in sight. I like adventure, but I like comfort too. In Queenstown I found plenty of both. Here are my five thrills of the gentler kind in Queenstown.

CHECK INTO A GOOD HOTEL

QUEENSTOWN offers myriad accommodation options from backpackers to high-end luxury resorts. We chose The Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa, right on Lake Wakatipu with a backdrop of the Remarkables Mountains. Spacious villas with private balconies give a sense of privilege. Your own in-villa fireplace is a bonus. The signature restaurant, Wakatipu Grill, with its inside and outside fire-pits overlooking the lake is very welcoming, and the resort’s Stack’s Pub serves reassuring comfort food.

FOR A (SOFT) ADRENALINE THRILL

types zip down the mountain on a luge (a kind of billy cart contraption). Get on one if you can; it’s not hard.

CRUISE LAKE WAKATIPU

Try the Million Dollar Cruise because it cost just $NZ39 and cruised the lake for an hour a half, and had an open honesty bar. Indoor and outdoor seating, a captain and commentator who couldn’t have been more informative, helpful or friendly, knew every intimate part of the lake, pointed out wild birds and fish species in the transparent water and took us up-close to some of the multi-million-dollar water-front homes

WINE, WINE AND A BIT OF CHEESE

Queenstown sits in the Central Otago region which is known for its quality wines, especially pinot noir. Dozens of tour operators will take you to some of the top wineries in comfort and style and allow you to sip, sniff and swirl to your limit. We took ourselves to Amisfield, a stylish, chic and popular winery with luxury dining. It was difficult to get a reservation for lunch, but a cheese plate and a glass each of pinot noir in the garden was just as good as a long lunch. Be prepared to pay. New Zealand isn’t cheap. That cheese board and the two glass of wine... $NZ100.

LOOKING GOOD: Queenstown city and Lake Wakatipu is surrounded by dramatic mountains. Photo: New Zealand Tourism

WITHOUT actually jumping, leaping or being thrown around rapids in a high-speed jet-boat, take a Skyline Gondola (right in the heart of town) to the top of Bob’s Peak where the panoramic views of the lake, the town and the mountains make you feel you actually have done some heady adventure stuff. Enjoy a drink or snack at the Skyline Café, watch other more adventurous

The Rickards enjoying the fruits of Queenstown and the Otago region.

Aimsfield Winery offers fine wines and great food.

SHOPPING

There is high quality everywhere, especially New Zealand brands from fashion to outdoor and footwear. The town is compact and easy to stroll. It’s simple to find yourself in a cross-alleyway where more stylish shops and art galleries beckon. Surprises at every corner, and always with that majestic mountain range watching over you.

FINE DINING

Perhaps as well-known for its culinary prowess as it is for its adventure, Queenstown offers every cuisine from around the globe. We loved Flame Bar & Grill, upstairs in Beach Street with garden and lake views and giant flame-grilled steaks and succulent ribs. If you are of a patient nature – the hottest place in town is Fergburger in Shotover Street. The attraction eluded us, but not so the hundreds of others prepared to queue and wait an average of 45 minutes just to get in the door for a hamburger. With names like Morning Glory and The Dawn Horn and Holier Than Thou, the burgers do sound exotic, but from what we saw watching devotees devour the giant burgers on the footpath, they were just hamburgers. Another place to try is the Botswana Butchery. It has superb food and wine, all in a decor that wraps its arms around you.

Photo: Graeme Murray

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

Queenstown or get chilled excites the senses on many levels CHOOSE to be one, the other, or both. Queenstown offers a surprising number of holiday choices, all within a dramatic landscape of mountains, a pristine lake and fabulously crisp clean air.

SHOTOVER JET

GO ON, jet thrilled on a jet boat on the Shotover River. The jump on point is close to town. You’ll come back still feeling flush from the adventure. The boat takes you on a ride through dramatic and narrow canyons, with a few exhilarating full 360 spins thrown in. The Shotover Jet combines both of adventure and thrills in an exhilarating and unforgettable way.

FARM VISIT

JOIN the iconic steamship TSS Earnslaw for an entirely relaxing voyage across Lake Wakatipu to Walker Peak High Country Farm. The hand-fired steamship, which dates back to 1912, sets sail several times a day. You can do a round trip, or get off at the farm for morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea. While at the farm visitors meet some of the local animals, watch the sheep being shorn, help encourage the local sheep dogs to herd up their charges and enjoy fresh food in the Promenade Café or the restaurant. The more active can go horse trekking, adventure on electric farm bikes or to try independent cycling.

WALKING & HIKING

THE area offers a huge choice in walking tracks and trails that explore different parts of the region, including Ben Lomond, Queenstown Hill, Glenorchy, Arrowtown and Lake Hayes. Some trails are little more than a stroll, others are wide but challenging uphill hikes towards far-off peaks, and others still are narrow trails that cut into gullies and offer a different kind of excitement. If you don’t have your own gear there are hiking equipment hire outlets and shops for picking up new gear. Queenstown's track transport operators will drop you off and pick you up at your preferred location, letting you enjoy your walking or hiking adventure without worrying about the safety of your parked vehicle, or the possibility of being stranded at the end of the track. There are climbing tracks and lowland walking trails to enjoy. Details on where to go and how long each trail or walk should take are readily available.

WINTER WONDERLAND

QUEENSTOWN is in the heart of the Southern Alps and boasts mountains for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. There are four ski areas open during the long winter season. The closest is just 20 minutes drive from the town centre.

Remarkables Ski Field which is near Queenstown.

Ski passes range from single day, single ski area passes to season passes allowing unlimited access to multiple Queenstown ski areas. Snowboard and ski gear can be hired downtown, on-mountain or it can even be delivered to your accommodation. Most Queenstown ski rental shops are open until 9pm during the ski season. Queenstown also offers ice skating, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.

HISTORIC ARROWTOWN

THE Arrowtown Chinese Settlement was home to thousands of prospectors who came to the region in search of gold in the middle of the 19th Century. There are now about 70 historic buildings and features left from the gold rush era. In among these buildings are half-day’s worth of craft, art, good food and pleasant walks. Down by the river where the Chinese gold-miners were forced to live are their huts which have been restored and offering visitors the chance to step back into that ‘golden’ era and see up-close their modest living conditions, and learn stories of their occupants.

Historic Arrowtown.

OTHER IDEAS

There’s golf, tennis, wineries, fishing, health spas and much, more to do and see. For more Queenstown visitor ideas, go to queenstownnz.co.nz.

Thrilling ride through the Shotover River canyons.

The TSS Earnslaw steaming towards Walter Peak Farm.

Photo: New Zealand Tourism

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Victoria’s highway gallery

GIANT works of art now dot the 200km landscape across Victoria’s Wimmera Mallee region. Towering high above the paddocks and towns along the Henty Highway, the Silo Art Trail celebrates the deep history of the region through murals painted on wheat silos by renowned Australian and international street artists. The trail takes in six of Victoria’s smallest towns – Rupanyup, Sheep Hills, Brim, Rosebery, Lascelles and Patchewollock. The trip between each town and artwork will take about 25 minutes, but that’s no reason not to make the visit to the region last a day or more with some of the towns offering accommodation, food and side attractions. Book in advance if you want to stay over, is the advice of the experts; it’s not likely there will be a room available if you turn up unannounced. Begin your journey at Rupanyup. Look up at the monochrome mural created by Russian artist Julia Volchkova on the

Known internationally for her art with exhibitions and streetart walls in Asia and Italy, Sobrane has just completed a massive project in Victoria’s north. huge metal grain storage bins – a work that was inspired by the local Rupanyup Panthers Football and Netball Club. Stop off at Sheep Hills and see the huge mural by Adnate, an internationally renowned artist, famous for his work with Aboriginal communities across Australia. Completed in December 2016 and spread across

Magnificent silo art at the Victorian township of Sheep Hills. all six silos, the work consists of four indigenous faces watching over the tiny community of Sheep Hills; with a starry background that has a symbolic significance to the local people. Brim hosts Guido van Helten’s famous Farmer Quartet.

Located on the Henty Highway and stretching out across all four of the Brim silos, this massive mural was painted in 2015 as a tribute to the drought-stricken farming community. The tiny town of Lascelles hosts artwork by celebrated Melbourne

artist Tyrone (Rone) Wright. Rone turns his intimate portraiture to giant grain silos, depicting local wheat farmers Geoff and Merrilyn Horman looking out over the rural landscape. Finish the journey along Victoria’s Silo Art Trail at

Patchewollock; population 250. Marvel at the work of Brisbane-based street artist Fintan Magee, sometimes referred to as Australia’s Banksy. For more information on the trail, go to siloarttrail.com/home.

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per person Twin Share Ex BNE & SYD Single suppliment $435

A TASTE OF SINGAPORE SINGAPORE SI FOOD FESTIVAL

$3,999

* per per erson Twin Share Ex BNE NE, SYD, MEL. a sup ppliment $1,000

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

19 - 26 JULY 2019

7 Nights Park Hotel Clarke Quay, y, cooked breakfast daily, 3 x Lunches, 4 x Din Dinnerrs, fully escorted by a Go Seee Touring Escortt, t Singapore Botanic Gardens, High h Tea Fullerto ton Ho Hotel, Food Walking Tour, cookking Clas ass, Hawker er Centres, Gardens by the Baay, Skywalk, Supertree Show

20 - 27 JULY 2019 7 Nights accommodation, 8 Days Car Hire, Half Day Orientation Tour, Choice of Half Day Scenic Tour, Breakfast Bush Walk, Island Fish Fry, 2 x Feature Dinners with Entertainment, PLUS Full Christmas Dinner with Entertainment

NORFOLK ISLAND From

$1,855

dge Wells, 3 Nights Che heltenham, 3 Nights Tunbrid 1 Night Oxford, 3 Nights London, 10 Br Breakfasts / 2 Lunches / 6 Dinnerrs, Great Dixter Ho ousse, Sissinghurst, Castle, Leed ds Castle, Can nterbury ry Cathedral, Bath, Sudely Casstle, Abb bey House Malmesbury ryy,HidcoteManor,Cottswolds,Blenheim Palace, RHS Wisley, Chelsea Flow wer Show.

5 - 12 JULY 2019

NORFOLK ISLAND From

13-25 MAY 2019

per person Twin Share Ex BNE Single suppliment $470

WELCOME TO SR LANKA SRI ESCO ORTED TOUR

$4,17 75

* per person Twin Share Ex BNE, SYD, MEL. Single suppliment $1,150

26 NOV - 10 DEC 2019

Joiin us for 13 nights 3* and 4* accom, dai aily breakfast and dinner, fully escorteed byy a Go See touring escort. Negombo Fish Markets, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Si Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Dambulla Cave Temple le, Jeep Safari in National Parks, Matale Spiice Gardens, Madu River Cruise & more

TERMS & CONDITIONS *Price is per person Twin Share fully in nclusive. Single Supplement applies. Credit card sur urcharges apply. Deposit of AUD$500-$800 per person is required to secure tour. Tour requires a minimum number n of passengers to depart. Prices may ﬂ ﬂuctuate if surcharges, fee, taxes or currency change. Prices current as at 26 November 2018. Go SeeTouring Pty Ltd T/A Go See Touring Member of Helloworld ABN N: 72 122 522 276 ATAS Accreditation A11320

Lascelles silo art.

Photos: Andy Rogers / David Geraghty

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

Top tips for solid eyesight Tracey Johnstone GOOD eye health starts with precaution before a sight problem or refractive error is revealed which can significantly impact on your quality of life. This means getting your eye health tested by your local optometrist every 12 months from the time you hit 60. From the age of 65 you are eligible for a full Medicare rebate for the cost of an annual test. Many eye conditions associated with ageing aren’t immediately obvious to the person. They can sneak up without causing early pain or symptoms and become obvious once damage to the eye has occurred. When up to 90 per cent of blindness in Australia is avoidable or treatable if detected early, it’s a strong argument for staying on top of your eye health. As we age we are prone to presbyopia, or old eye. This is where the clear lens inside the eye becomes less flexible and less able to change its shape. Optometry Australia’s chief clinical officer Luke Arundel says this can cause difficulties with focusing up close such as when you are reading small print. “It’s very common for

people 40 or 45 onwards,” Mr Arundel said. When we find ourselves squinting to help see just a little bit more clearly, we aren’t causing any damage to our eyes, but the muscles around the eyes will tire and tension headaches can follow. And when your arms aren’t long enough to hold a book or newspaper far enough away to read the print, it’s probably time to do something about what is a refractive error in your eyes. Where to start Each time you meet with your optometrist, you need to tell them what regular medications you are taking and what visual tasks you are doing. “When we prescribe glasses, particularly glasses for close work, the distance that you want to hold your reading material at is very important to us,” Mr Arundel said. “If you are playing bridge and want to look at cards that on a table that is 70cm away, you may need a different prescription from if you want to lie in bed and hold a book 30cm away.” You need to also detail your hobbies, crafts, what type of computer screen you use – a PC or iPad, for example – your sports and recreation activities, and whether you want to wear

Wellbeing

EYE HEALTH: When your arms aren’t long enough to read the print, it’s probably time to get your eyes checked by an optometrist. Photo: gpointstudio glasses or contact lenses. With this knowledge the optometrist can tailor your visual solution. The next step is to discuss what type of glasses you want – bifocals which have the top half for distance and a small bottom segment for reading, multifocal or varied focal lens which has the distance at the top with an intermediate zone which might be for computers and a reading zone at the bottom, or separate glasses for reading and distance. “With multifocals, the way that the lenses are designed, there is often a little bit of distortion in the periphery,” Mr Arundel

‘‘

When your arms aren’t long enough to hold a book or newspaper far enough away to read the print, it’s probably time to do something... said. “Not everyone gets used to multifocals or bifocals; possibly as low as one in 30 might. “Typically, it’s something that would be covered by an adaption warranty. “So, if a patient doesn’t get used to them, often it will be changed at no

charge for changing to one pair for distance and one for reading.” Glare protection Other options to consider to help protect your eyes from UV is including transitions or wearing fit-overs as an alternative to buying a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.

Pharmacy glasses This option is often suitable to people who have perfect distance vision, but there are few people who find these magnifier glasses accurately suit their reading distance requirements. “The way they are made is that the optical centre of the lens is randomly selected,” Mr Arundel said. These glasses can be a good emergency option, but Mr Arundel says using these glasses shouldn’t stop you have having your eyes tested every year to ensure there are no significant vision problems arising.

Causes and solutions for dryness in your eyes DRY eye, which is common to older people, can be caused by any number of things so just popping some eye drops in your eyes won’t necessarily be the best treatment choice. Optometry Australia’s resident optometrist Sophie Koh says there are probably underlying issues causing this condition. “It might be some lid disease or inflammation that needs to be treated,” she said. “The tear glands within your lid might be blocked or inflamed.” Other causes could be dietary and systemic health problems such as Sjogren’s or auto-immune disease, thyroid, diabetes

or acne rosacea, for example. An optometrist will talk to a senior about these possible contributing factors plus look at the home and work environments, diet, general health, prolonged exposure to eye irritants and even eye trauma. Dry eye occurs when insufficient tears are produced. Those tears keep the eye lubricated. Every time you blink a thin film of tears are swept over the eye surface. The tears should remain intact between blinks. If your eye doesn’t produce enough tears or the tears don’t stay on the eyes long enough, this can result in

DRY EYES: It happens to many people. the eyeball surface becoming damaged. Crusting on eyelids Blepharitis, as it is known, is common in seniors. It is characterised by a chronic

Photo: fizkes

inflammation of the eyelids. The eyes will feel irritated and crusting of your eyelid and lashes can occur. “If seniors wake up in the morning and their

eyes are stuck together or itchy or have what we call sleep in the eye, that is crusting,” Ms Koh said. This happens when the eye is unable to flush away the grit that accumulates around the eye while we are sleeping. Get professional advice While using over-thecounter eye drops seems a simple solution, they won’t fix the underlying problem. The eyelids may need cleaning, or blocked glands cleared by an optometrist, or there may be other health and environmental issues causing dry eyes. It really is best to visit the optometrist in the first instance before trying any

self-medication strategies. Self-medication Some of the options are: ■ Eye drops, gels or ointments to lubricate the surface of the eye. ■ Wash and gently massage your eyelids while in a warm shower. ■ Increase the humidity in the air at home by placing bowls of water around the room to evaporate. ■ Check with your GP if your medications have side-affects that include dry eyes. ■ Practice blinking more often, especially when in front of a computer. www.goodvisionforlife. com.au.

WELLBEING

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

The masters of cricket Tracey Johnstone BACKYARD cricket is one childhood passion seniors can keep doing into their later years. It will help you stay active, social and mentally fit. And for those men and women who just can’t shake their competitive spirit, they can step up from a local friendly club game to pursue state, national and even international competition well into their Master years. Veterans Cricket Australia president Kerry Emery said the interest in Masters cricket has been growing strongly since 2007. “A lot of guys were retiring in their mid-50s and were looking for things to do and people started to think we can still play cricket amongst our peers so let’s start this off,” Mr Emery said. Victorians led the way with other states joining in quite quickly. “They got some old fellows playing within their state and then they started played against each other,” he added. “It’s grown from there.” There are now a 50s,

ACTIVE AGEING: Kerry Emery at his home cricket club on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Photo: Tracey Johnstone 60s and a 70-and-over division with regional, state and national championships run for each of them. In Queensland alone, there are 16 registered teams. The VCA aims to support one Veterans women’s team in each

state by 2020. Keen cricketers can even experience, some for the first time, representing Australia. “We have just had the national over-70s team return from England where they played official one-day cricket matches

against England,” Mr Emery said. Mr Emery has played cricket since his early childhood. “I started in the backyard with Dad and my brother,” Mr Emery, 68, said. He has found it is good

for his fitness and mental health. “It’s a more active men’s shed than a Men’s Shed,” he said. “We’ve had a number of men come to my club who have had depression, who have done it tough with marriage breakdown,

alcohol or prostate cancer. “They have found it a good place to come to.” He says his fellow Master cricketers are still competitive, no matter what age they are. “But everyone understands that there are twinges here and twinges there, or replacement knees or hamstrings that have been reattached,” Mr Emery said. “You just have to play within your limits.” Generally, the player’s cost is about $35 per game day. “You don’t have to have top of the range equipment,” Mr Emery said. If you haven’t played cricket before or not for a long time, Mr Emery said there were plenty of clubs with training days throughout the year when new players could join in and learn about the game. As the Masters players limber up at the Mr Emery’s home club on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, there is plenty of chatter, a lot of happy ribbing and some slick bowling moves. Info: www.veteranscricket australia.com.au.

Runner challenges seniors to defy their age It may seem an extreme proposal, but the Bateau Bay man is known for pushing the boundaries. The fastest man for his age at 62 in 2009, John won the 100m (sub-12 seconds) and 200m sprints at the Masters World Championships, and the same year ran against a jet fighter. Nine years later, and having overcome a brain tumour in the interim, he’s

still running and says he’s tired of chronological numbers being placed on people to define their abilities. “I believe anyone who wants to do something extraordinary can, but they have to really want it,” John said. “I want to do something big to let people know we all have the capacity to push ourselves to go beyond where we are right

now.” John trains “religiously” six days a week, including gym, track and physio work – again, not something he expects everyone to do. The dedication needed to achieve his goals is worth it, John said, both to challenge himself and to show the world “if I can do this... you may be a senior or a pensioner, but you can do incredible

things too”. That’s why, although regaining the 200m world record for age for Australia remains John’s number one goal, he also wants to take on a jumbo jet next year. “The media coverage would be sensational – the image of this small, little old man against this massive jumbo – and it would be a real opportunity to say to

seniors, give it a go, be as healthy as you can and don’t surrender to your age.” John hopes businesses like Red Bull and Nike and the Federal Government will also get behind the challenge and sponsor it, with funds raised to go to charity. To learn more, email John at jonathon_sky@hotmail. com.

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WHAT would you do to convince the world that you can still achieve amazing things when you are over 70? John Wall is 72 and has decided the answer is – to race a jumbo jet. All he needs is fellow limit-tester Richard Branson’s Virgin, or the folks from Qantas, to get on board with his plan and supply a plane and runway.

EXTRAORDINARY: John Wall has put the challenge to Virgin or Qantas management to supply a jumbo for him to race.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

WELLBEING

Strong, sexy and over 80 Alison Houston AGEING is a question of attitude, according to octogenarian Joan McCarthy. And Joan’s attitude is that she may be getting “older”, but that doesn’t mean she has to “be old”. Joan contacted Seniors Newspaper asking why older people, particularly over-70s, had virtually disappeared from life as far as large sections of the media were concerned. Joan, and long-time friend Maureen Smith, have been laying bare myths about older women since their 60s, surveying 200 women to pen their first book, Sixty, Strong and Sexy, followed by Glimpses into the Lives of Positively Ageing Women, when they were in their 70s. Joan believes we need to accept our ageing bodies as something beautiful, rather than seeing wrinkles as ugly and a sign of having passed our use-by date. “Why does society tell us we have to get rid of

WONDER WOMAN: Joan McCarthy celebrated her 80th birthday at a huge party which she attended as Wonder Woman’s great-grandmother, reflecting her ongoing zest for life. our wrinkles, have plastic surgery or botox or we aren’t appealing; aren’t worth it?” she asked.

“I don’t feel like the wrinkled face I see in the mirror, but it’s about learning to love that face

– that those wrinkles are there because of all the wonderful experiences I have had.”

And having dressed as Wonder Woman’s great-grandmother for her 80th birthday, complete

with custom armour, Joan has proven her point by working as a life artist model – that’s right, the ones who pose nude. “I’ve never had so many amazing compliments in my life,” Joan said. It’s not that Joan has miraculously escaped all the side-effects of ageing or self-doubts. On the contrary, she felt turning 80 was a real turning point, just as 25 and 50 had been, to work out “where I was meant to be going in this new era of my life”. After a retreat in Maui, she has a new mantra: If it’s not fun, don’t do it, and if you must do it, make it fun! “I want to be vibrant right up to the end and go out saying... what a ride!” Joan said. For her, that means eating well – she is vegetarian, and this year gave up dairy (but not ice cream, which she loves) – being active through walking oryoga and always questioning and learning. Books are available at marjobooks.com.au.

A good start for a good year START the new year well by following the Australian Dietary Guidelines top four health tips for older Australians.

Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added salt. Read the labels carefully to choose lower sodium options among similar foods. ■ Do not add extra salt to foods in cooking or at the table. Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars such as confectionery, sugarsweetened soft drinks and cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sports drinks. If you choose to drink alcohol, please limit your intake.

ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT

Be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious foods and drinks to meet your energy needs. Older people should eat nutritious foods and keep physically active to help maintain muscle strength and a healthy weight.

CHOOSE FROM THESE FIVE GROUPS EVERY DAY

■ Plenty of vegetables, including different types and colours, and legumes/beans. ■ Fruit. ■ Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties, such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley. ■ Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/ beans. ■ Milk, yoghurt, cheese

CARE FOR YOUR FOOD, PREPARE AND STORE IT SAFELY

HAPPY APPROACH: Start your new year well with these simple, healthy lifestyle tips. and/or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat (reduced fat milks are not suitable for children under two years). And drink plenty of water.

LIMIT SATURATED

FAT, ADDED SALT, ADDED SUGARS AND ALCOHOL

Limit biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, processed meats, commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips, crisps and other savoury

snacks. ■ Replace high fat foods which contain predominantly saturated fats such as butter, cream, cooking margarine, coconut and palm oil with foods which contain

predominantly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as oils, spreads, nut butters/pastes and avocado. ■ Low-fat diets are not suitable for children under the age of 2.

Incorrect handling of food and storing food at inappropriate temperatures are major causes of food poisoning. Particular care should be taken when handling food to be consumed by people who have an increased risk of foodborne illness, such as pregnant women, infants, older people and people with certain medical conditions.

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Money

Beware: Gifting impacts pension Check before final decision Andrew Heaven I WAS recently asked by a couple who assisted their son and his partner with their mortgage costs by giving them $120,000 towards the deposit, what impact that could have on their age pension entitlement. In applying for the age pension, Centrelink

applies an assets and income test to determine your entitlement to a pension benefit. Broadly speaking, whichever test delivers the lower pension benefit is the test that will apply. There are limits as to how much an age pension applicant can gift in order to reduce the amount of assets they own to increase their pension

PENSION ADVICE: Check the background on Aged Pension limitations before gifting your money to family members. Photo: Andrey Shevchuk entitlement. You are entitled to gift up to $10,000 a year or $30,000 over a five-year period. The same limits apply as a single person or as a couple. If you exceed these limits the amount in excess of the limit is considered a deprived asset and the excess amount counts as an asset for five years from the time you made the gift. Even though you are applying for the age pension now, as you gifted your son the $120,000 three years ago, $110,000 which exceeds the limit will count as a deprived asset and therefore count for assets test purposes and be deemed under the income test.

However, in 2020, once the five years has expired from the date of gifting, it will no longer be counted. Under the assets test, your assessable assets, which exclude the family home for example, are counted at current market value. Your age pension reduces by $3 per fortnight for each $1000 that the assessed value of your assets exceeds the threshold. The current cut-off point for receiving a part age pension for a couple who own their home is assessable assets less than $848,000 ($564,000 for a single). For a non-home owner couple, the threshold will be $1,055,000 ($771,000 for a single).

If the $110,000 that is still being assessed (as a result of the $120,000 gift to your son) will exclude you from receiving the age pension, there are a range of options available to reduce your assessed assets. You could: ■ Consider renovating or upgrading the family home as the family home is assets test exempt. ■ Spend money on a holiday. ■ Purchase a funeral bond up to $12,500 per person or pre-pay your funeral and cemetery plot. Alternatively, you could wait for the five years from the date of gifting to expire and then re-apply for the age pension then. If Centrelink tells you that you have lost your age pension due to exceeding the assets test, but do qualify for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), what would be your benefits? The CSHC is a concession card that is available to individuals who are Australian resident, of pension age or who do not qualify for the age pension due to their level of income or assets. The benefits of the CSHC include discounted prescriptions for medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Once the PBS Safety net has been reached you will receive PBS prescriptions without charge for the remainder of the calendar year. You are entitled to access to bulk-billed doctor visits if these are provided by your doctor. Additionally, access to a larger refund for medical costs when you exceed the Medicare safety net. Unlike the age pension, the CSHC is not subject to the asset test. However, it is subject to an income test threshold. The threshold limit is adjusted taxable income (plus deeming from accountbased pensions) of $87,884 a year as a couple or $54,929 a year as a single. To apply, contact the Department of Human Services and request an application for the CSHC. If you have previously been issued a Centrelink Customer Access Number, this number remains current. Applications can be made online at www.human services.gov.au This story first appeared on www.wealth partners.net.au. Any general advice in this story doesn’t take account of personal objectives, financial situation and needs.

Your financial specialists in life Our one purpose, the reason we exist, is to help each of our clients GET MORE out of life. RetireInvest Wide Bay has been providing exceptional financial advice and services to the local communities of Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Maryborough and surrounding areas for over 22 years. If you are: • Planning retirement or already retired • Wanting to make the most of your retirement income • Receiving an inheritance and looking for objective advice • Looking to optimise Centrelink/DVA pension benefit Call us today! We are offering a 1 hour complimentary meeting to discuss your plans, what is important to you and how you want to live your ideal life! Phone 1800 634 378 to book an appointment and receive a copy of our ‘How to Retire Successfully’ e-book. • • • • • • • •

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Phone: 1800 634 378 | Email: info@riwidebay.com.au | Website: www.riwidebay.com.au | Facebook: RetireInvest Wide Bay *Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group Pty Ltd ABN 23 001 774 125, AFSL 238429 This information, including taxation, does not consider your personal circumstances and is general advice only. You should not act on any recommendation without considering your personal circumstances and objectives. RI Advice Group recommends you obtain professional ﬁnancial advice speciﬁc to your circumstances.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

NEWS

To advertise, call 1300 136 181 or visit finda.com.au Notices

Motoring

Public Notices

Caravans & Motor Homes

CARAVANS WANTED All caravans wanted We come to you All areas, Cash today!

Congratulations to the winners of Seniors

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“A Pocket Affair” Giveaway

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Food & Beverage

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Cars

BEWARE OF SCAMS

Buyers and sellers should be cautious of possible scams when buying or selling a vehicle. Buyers should be cautious when dealing with car sellers that are overseas and should always arrange to view the vehicle prior to the transfer of any money. Be wary if the number in the ad is disconnected. If the buyer/seller says the number is disconnected because they are overseas, ask for a landline phone number at their current location as well as a mobile phone number. All contact details of the person buying or selling the car should be verified to ensure they are genuine.

More information is available at scamwatch.gov.au

Tip

Clean, Mean, Selling Machine.

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We are registered with My Aged Care, all Home Care Package providers and NDIS, and are your local community organisation delivering meals for up to 7 days a week. • Fresh meals cooked daily • Alternative combinations (including sandwiches) are available and priced accordingly, • Excellent value for money, Dietary requirements catered for. • Seasonal menus with balanced, healthy and nutritious meals • Meals can be cut up or vitamised if necessary, • Delivered to your door with a smile by our friendly volunteers, Eftpos now available. Please call one of our friendly staff at Hervey Bay (4128 1334) or Maryborough (4121 4297) to arrange a delivery or chat about your requirements. Monday to Friday 8am to 3pm.

Photos: RosePix

The future is rosy with some top tips THIS time of year will bring hot days, drying winds and high humidity, all of which affects the health and appearance of roses. It may be time for you to prune your roses if they have developed leggy or sparse growth and spindly stems. This will refresh and reinvigorate in them in a matter of weeks. Follow these pruning tips from Yates horticulturist Angie: ■ Trim off around 30 per cent of the overall growth and remove any dead or thin stems. ■ Use hedge shears or a good sharp pair of secateurs, and protect your hands, arms and face from the thorns by using sturdy gloves, long sleeves and glasses. ■ After pruning, collect up all the fallen leaves and stems, and apply some Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant

This rose has good size blooms of a rich yellow which pale as they age are produced in small clusters. Food and water in well. ■ Spread a layer of mulch, like sugar cane, lucerne or pea straw around the root area to help keep the soil moist and protect the top soil from baking sun. ■ Re-apply Yates Thrive each week to encourage healthy new foliage growth and lots of flowers. ■ Watch out that the

new foliage and flower buds isn’t attracting insect pests like aphids. Spray regularly with Yates Rose Gun. If you are looking for more varieties of roses, Treloar Roses have some new, gloriously coloured and perfumed roses out this summer. To view the new offering go to www.treloarroses.com.au

Make sure you thoroughly clean your car when preparing to show it to potential buyers. This tip brought to you by www.finda.com.au

Orangie is a truly spectacular variety with fully double blooms and an intense, stable colour. Extremely healthy and recommended for all climates. Grows to 1m tall.

REVIEWS

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS

Dalton delivers again THE enthralling story of the epic journey of the First Fleet, from one of Australia’s greatest writers.

– willingly or unwillingly. Drawing from historical sources of the time, Trent Dalton paints a vivid picture of the people who

‘‘

Trent Dalton paints a vivid picture of the people who embarked on this epic journey. Originally published as a Kennedy Award-winning multi-part serial in The Australian earlier this year, By Sea & Stars tells the story of the voyage that led to the founding of our nation, as told from the point of view of the people who took part in it

embarked on this epic journey. From terrified 12-year-old convict and former chimneysweep John Hudson and conscientious Lieutenant Ralph Clark to brave and determined CaptainGeneral Arthur Phillip, the

brightest star of the British Navy, these are the people who made the voyage, and these are their stories – of death, duty, glory, lust, violence, escape and mutiny, and a great southern land. Praise for Trent Dalton ‘I’ve always looked out for Trent’s work because he has a magic about him – what he sees, how he explains things. He can describe a kitchen table in a way that makes you want to throw your arms around it … (Dalton is) a genuine treasure of Australian letters’ – Annabel Crabb. ‘As a brilliant journalist, Trent Dalton has always intimately understood how fact is often stranger than fiction’ – Benjamin Law. ‘A major new voice on the Australian literary

scene has arrived’ – Nikki Gemmell. About the Author Trent Dalton is a staff writer for the Weekend Australian Magazine and a former assistant editor of The Courier Mail. He’s a two-time winner of a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism, a four-time winner of a Kennedy Award for Excellence in NSW Journalism and a four-time winner of the national News Awards Features Journalist of the Year. His debut novel is the critically acclaimed and bestselling Boy Swallows Universe, which was published in mid-2018. By Sea & Stars by Trent Dalton available now. Hardback. RRP: $24.99.

Details never released about the Thai cave

Nine Perfect Strangers and a strange resort

THE upcoming publication of The Cave will reveal previously unknown aspects of the Thai cave rescue, based on exclusive interviews with several of the rescued boys and their families, as well as with British diver John Volanthen. Author Liam Cochrane has gained unrivalled access to some of the key players in the dramatic rescue, with help from a team of Thai researchers. “Getting to hear about the boys’ experiences inside the cave and get their story in their own words has really made this book something special,” Cochrane said.

LIANE Moriarty has produced another superb tale in her novel Nine Perfect Strangers. I picked up a copy of Liane’s latest novel at the airport the other day. I took hold of it in trepidation that it would now be as good as her other seven international bestsellers, several of which I have read. Luckily, my choice proved a good one. Liane has again created an engaging tale. It’s setting is familiar, it’s characters easy to get attached to. The subject well, who hasn’t dreamt of going to a health retreat to get some rest and

“Many aspects of the rescue were unclear until I spent seven hours interviewing John Volanthen, one of the true heroes of the operation.” The ABC’s South-East Asia correspondent was on the scene during the search and rescue mission, but most of the material for the book has been drawn from fresh research with more than 25 key sources involved. The Cave will reveal aspects of the operation that have never been publicly disclosed. The Cave by Liam Cochrane. Published by Harper Collins.

maybe lose just a little bit of weight? Though, I’m not no sure this retreat would stay on your bucket list once you read what it has to offer. Tranquillum House is a place for health and wellness experiences, so the brochure says. It also promises total transformation. We meet at the retreat nine city residents. Each character has a deep story. — Tracey Johnstone Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty. Pan Macmillan, RRP$32.99 and ebook for $14.99

DEBUT NOVEL: A thriller that will excite you.

A white-knuckle ride of non-stop suspense

NEW INFORMATION: The Cave by Liam Cochrane is on bookshelves this December.

MICHAEL McGuire’s debut novel Flight Risk is a gripping thriller full of pure adrenalin, explosive action and terrifying revelations that will keep even the most jaded reader glued to the pages and utterly engrossed. The Australian author’s tale is original, the read a white-knuckle ride of non-stop suspense - a high-octane thriller full of pure adrenalin, explosive action and jaw-dropping revelations. The story introduces disgraced former pilot Ted Roberts. He works for a top-secret government organisation set up to investigate terror-related incidents. Sent to Jakarta

to find out as much as he can about the pilot of a vanished Garuda flight, Ted discovers a flight simulator in the pilot’s apartment. When the investigation turns sour, Ted escapes to New York as further disaster strikes. Another plane disappears from the sky. Then another. Three planes and hundreds of passengers and crew vanish, without a trace. Panic is widespread and the world is teetering on the brink. Still no one claims responsibility. Published by Allen and Unwin RRP$29.99.

NEW BOOK: Liane Moriarty doesn't disappoint in her latest novel.

SENIORS \\JANUARY, 2019

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

Across 1 William Driver coined what name for the US ﬂag? (3,5) 7 What was measured in ells? (5) 8 Which 70s US band changed their name from Teen King and the Emergencies? (3,6) 9 What abbreviation in recipes means a teaspoonful? (3) 10 What are the fuel components in a nuclear power plant called? (4) 11 What vegetable is used in a Waldorf salad? (6) 13 What military word is from German for “coat of mail”? (6) 14 Which pleasure garden in Copenhagen has been enjoyed since 1843? (6) 17 What bird might lay its egg in the nest of another? (6) 18 Who is killed in regicide? (4) 20 Poetically, what is an area of grassy pasture? (3) 22 What foodstuff is couverture? (9) 23 What do you get if you ask for chateaubriand in a restaurant? (5) 24 What word came from the name of a Texas rancher who refused to brand his cattle? (8)

7 8 9 11

10 12 13

16 17

20 22

PUZZLES

Down 1 Spraint is the droppings of what animal? (5) 2 What is the capital of Saxony in Germany? (7) 3 What metal did the Romans use for water pipes? (4) 4 What nickname is applied to a Rolls Royce car? (6) 5 How many thieves were encountered by Ali Baba? (5) 6 In Indian cookery, what thin bread pancake is cooked on a griddle? (7) 7 Which novelist’s ﬁrst names are Clive Staples (1,1,5) 12 Some consider the feathers of what bird unlucky in a house? (7) 13 What (“_____ and be damned”) was the Duke of Wellington’s response to a blackmail threat? (7) 15 What is the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes? (7) 16 What is the capital of Colombia? (6) 17 What is a brief appearance in a ﬁlm by a well-known actor? (5) 19 What language gave us the word panorama? (5) 21 What is a private box in a theatre? (4)

12/1

23 24

SUDOKU

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

7 8

5x5

ALPHAGRAMS

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

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

11 12

G D

O E

R E

RIDGE HEARTY ON A FISH DRAINAGE SAD SHRINE

E E

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

19 20

SOLUTIONS

alate alike alive alkie atilt avail aviate kale kava lake late latte lava lave leak tael tail taka take tala tale talk TALKATIVE talkie teak teal teat vail vale valet veal vial vital

WORD GO ROUND

R E E V E

E R R E D

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 6. Raw deal 7. Lever 9. Cap 10. Hesitated 12. Premeditate 15. Subordinate 17. Impressed 19. Bar 21. Steep 22. Hatchet. Down: 1. Pagan 2. Ode 3. Fame 4. Devastate 5. Repents 8. Hidden 11. Armouries 13. Modest 14. Submits 16. Taper 18. Elan 20. Ice.

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word. No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb. TODAY: Good 18 Very Good 24 Excellent 30

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

BLACKOUT

ALPHAGRAMS: DIRGE, EARTHY, FASHION, GARDENIA, HARDINESS.

A I

K T

A G L O W

613

WORD GO ROUND

P A D R E

SUDOKU

5x5

S W I G S

T V

L E

Down 1. Non-believer (5) 2. Poem (3) 3. Celebrity (4) 4. Destroy (9) 5. Regrets (7) 8. Concealed (6) 11. Arsenals (9) 13. Unassuming (6) 14. Gives in (7) 16. Gradually reduce (5) 18. Style, enthusiasm (4) 20. Frost (3)

GK CROSSWORD Across: 1 Old Glory. 7 Cloth. 8 The Eagles. 9 Tsp. 10 Rods. 11 Celery. 13 Panzer. 14 Tivoli. 17 Cuckoo. 18 King. 20 Lea. 22 Chocolate. 23 Steak. 24 Maverick. Down: 1 Otter. 2 Dresden. 3 Lead. 4 Roller. 5 Forty. 6 Chapati. 7 C S Lewis. 12 Peacock. 13 Publish. 15 Origami. 16 Bogota. 17 Cameo. 19 Greek. 21 Loge.

Across 6. Unfair treatment (3,4) 7. Prise (5) 9. Restrict (3) 10. Thought twice (9) 12. Plan in advance (11) 15. Inferior (11) 17. Moved (9) 19. Pub (3) 21. Sheer (5) 22. Small axe (7)

Q X R T O E N Y R E C I T E S

E M E R V F O D O R O D A F C

P L A T E A U D C R U M B L E

U O L J R S G W X E C W A C U

B E I N G F A M E T H Y S T J

S M S V R O T A K U O L C U D

V H E R O Y M W I S H B O N E

W A K J W X T T D B A D A J B

I N G E N U I T Y W R A G E D

N P O M N N T H L C D Y O H A

S H O R T F A L L A I O T A E

U Q P I D B L Q U O N X S D E

L D K F I J I S C H E R O O T

I D G L K I C C O N S E C B Y

N K D E N S O B T Q S T I E S

BLACKOUT

Work out which squares need to be deleted to reveal a completed crossword. Solution opposite

DOUBLE CROSS

P U B L E R E A L I T N O V E R G A N O U G A M R O C E E R T C O U C H I M Y T A B A S E L T E

S I N S U L H N H S E G O O R E R I F R O W N T I O U F J T I T A L I A W T L I D Y L L C S H H A R D I N E B A O R C O G O T O N E A D O E D T

S S T I B E S O T C

D L E N S I N

WIDE BAY

JANUARY, 2019// SENIORS