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News - Proud ageing advocate Feature - Mature-age employment Feature - Australian music composer Community group guide Travel - Wanderlust Travel - Iceland Wellbeing Living Money Puzzles

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Upskilling in the workplace

18 The Gardiners’ in Iceland

JULY, 2019// SENIORS

The great value of you Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor HOW much do you value yourself?

Are you guilty of age-discrimination against yourself?

In 2017, Australia’s Benevolent Society launched its EveryAGE Counts campaign which is underpinned by a research program that found ageism damages lives and prevents older people from participating fully in society.

Due to the numerous social implications of our increased lifespan, the lifestyle of contemporary older Australians is vastly different from previous generations.

In this edition, 72-year-old entertainer Normie Rowe talks about his role as an advocate of ageing and his mission to change the conversation around ageing.

In general, he believes there is a negative attitude to older Australians. “When you turn 60 your working life is over.

It’s time to hang up the tools.

You’re not of value any more.” he told Senior News.

However, we must also change conversations around the persception of ourselves.

This is emphasised by our story on former Four Star General Stanley McChrystal,

who left the military and re-invented himself as a workplace leadership consultant. The change was not all easy for McChrystal and today he speaks of his experience and shares tips on how to be your best self.

If you are not ready “to hang up your tools”, rather you would like to “hang in there”, then you will gain an insight into the culture of modern workplaces in our employment feature. You might even gain inspiration from the vivacious and gifted 61-year-old Elena Kats-Chernin, whose great talent is shared with us via the work Opera Australia has commissioned from her.

Besides personalities, we share an refreshing armchair tour of Iceland with our favourite senior travellers, Yvonne and John Gardiner.

I trust this edition gives you plenty of reasons to value and enjoy this third stage of life.

Enjoy

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

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

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Proud ageing advocate talks

LOUD AND PROUD: Ageing advocate and rocker Normie Rowe warns not to waste a “national resource”.

Normie Rowe looks to change the conversation Tracey Johnstone NORMIE Rowe is heading down the road when he stops in front of a 70-ish woman resplendent in her gym gear, berating her for having her face in her phone and not looking where she is walking.

“I pull over to the left of the footpath before I look at the device,” he says.

The exchange highlights the passionate approach to life of the outspoken 72-year-old entertainer, who then completes his regular 45-minute workout before launching into an empathic discussion on how he is trying to change the conversation around older Australians.

Rowe is proudly and loudly advocating for ageing Australians to be respected.

“I really think Australian society has gone completely the wrong way,” Rowe said. “(They say) when you turn 60 your working life is over. It’s time to hang up the tools. You’re not of value anymore.

“It’s really frustrating to me to see all these people who take umbrage at minorities being lampooned and are very happy to lampoon people over 60.”

He uses the example of television news show The Project which he said constantly laughed at older people.

“These people will never achieve most of the things that the older people have achieved in

this country,” he adds.

“I am not talking about those in their 60s. I am talking about those getting into their 80s and 90s who had to try and make do through the Second World War and perhaps The Depression.

“Everyone seems to have it easy today. I just admire some of these people who have slogged away constantly at what they do.”

Rowe finds remaining in the entertainment

end of a show is to talk to the people in the audience,” he said.

“I will sign autographs, have photos taken and maybe sell a few CDs or not.”

Rowe wants to be the last person who leaves the foyer after spending time with his audience.

The voice of the ageing rocker still resounds strongly.

“It’s actually better than it’s ever been. I really still love performing,” he said.

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I don’t want to be the prettiest person in the cemetery. Every wrinkle I’ve got, I earned. industry opens doors and enables him to be heard above the crowd of dissenters.

His message to them is that they are wasting a vital national resource.

“These are people who have gathered knowledge,” he said. “Not everybody is running around in a demented state or with Alzheimer’s or can’t move their bodies because of arthritis.

There’s this wealth.”

Rowe continues to support a whole range of charitable organisations such as Soldier On and Variety. He is also talking ageing and attitude as a supporter of Grey Matters Live.

“One of the favourite things I like to do at the

“Over the last 10 years I have started playing the electric guitar on stage...I think I have bought about six guitars.”

Rowe jokes about being retired, but has plenty more to say about respecting older Australians.

He has shows to do and a newly released single, Compulsory Hero, which will be on a album, ISH Reimagined, to be released later this year.

“Life isn’t about being the most pristine corpse in the cemetery,” he said.

“Life is about broadsiding up to the grave, completely worn out. I don’t want to be the prettiest person in the cemetery. Every wrinkle I’ve got, I earned.”

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JULY, 2019// SENIORS

Journey of Tracey Johnstone

Retired four-star US General and leadership expert, Stanley McChrystal.

Photo: Graham Jepson

STANLEY McChrystal has been on the very edge of life in dangerous, indeed often deadly situations and has come out of it with a purpose of sharing his experiences to improve leadership in workplaces.

The retired four-star US military general did it tough in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan and commander of the USA’s military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command.

Mr McChrystal resigned from the military in 2010, well before his designated retirement age.

“I had been in the army for 34 years as an officer and four years at West Point,” he said.

“I was commanding in Afghanistan and a magazine article came out in Rolling Stone from a freelance writer, and it was titled The Runaway General, which you get from the title, it’s not a

A former four-star general shares the many lessons learnt from the battlefield good thing. “It portrayed my command team as dismissive of our own administration, senior leadership, and all. I don’t think it was an accurate depiction, but it doesn’t matter.

“It created a furore and so I offered my resignation to President Obama because generals aren’t supposed to create furores for the President’s desk.”

Without any hobbies, other than his two granddaughters who live next door to him, and with a keen interest in working in teams, he started up the McChrystal Group leadership consultancy.

“I really like trying to make the team successful and be a respected and effective member of it,” he said.

Speaking to Seniors News at the recent AMP Amplify Festival in Sydney, Mr McChrystal talked passionately about how mature age workers can

be part of workplace change.

“I don’t think you should have the idea that you should step away because you are a certain age,” he said.

“You may want to slow down a bit. You may want to spend more time doing other things. But, I think you can decide what your value-add is.

“I’m not as fast or good at digital things as the younger people in my company, so I don’t try and tell them how to do that. But what I have done is been in boardrooms, I have been with CEOs and presidents, so I have a perspective that comes with experience and I try to add that.

“If you decide where your contribution is, without trying to pretend you have to be the king or the CEO; it requires you to take a little bit of your ego and back off.

“Be part of the team,

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

NEWS

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a leader to participant

ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS: Retired four-star US General moves on as leadership expert. but not be so insecure that you have to have the answer for every question, because you don’t.”

With so many mature age workers dealing with evolving workplace environments and their role within them, Mr McChrystal, now 64, said the melding of the

generations within the workplace was incredibly important.

“What we provide is experience, and a lot of the time that is scar tissue and perspective,” he said.

Through reverse mentoring, Mr McChrystal discovered by asking what

works and willingly listening, the younger generation didn’t resent his asking, in fact they seemed to like being asked.

During Mr McChrystal’s time in Iraq and Afghanistan, he found the equipment and tactics had changed, and

IMMENSE VALUE: It’s time to nominate deserving people for the 2019 Senior Citizen of the Year Awards.

Honour great seniors NOMINATIONS are open for the 2019 Senior Citizen of the Year Awards.

Held annually, the awards recognise persons aged 60 years and over who have made a signification contribution in the past year to the local community.

Gympie Regional Council hosts the awards as part of Seniors Week, which runs from Saturday, August 17, to Sunday, August 25.

Councillor Dan Stewart says the event is an opportunity to recognise

the hard work of the region’s senior citizens.

“It’s no secret that the Gympie region has many active senior citizens,” Cr Stewart said.

“I encourage members of our community to nominate any senior citizens who deserve to be recognised for their valuable contributions.”

A number of events are planned during Seniors Week, including the Fifth Annual Seniors Week Duckpond Dash, held on Sunday, August 18,

from 9–11.30am.

As well as a variety of activities held at Gympie Regional Libraries throughout the week.

The awards will be announced at the seniors concert and morning tea, to be held on Tuesday, August 20, from 10.30am at the Gympie Civic Centre, 32 Mellor St, Gympie.

Nominations close on Friday, August 2.

For more info go to: www.gympie.qld.gov.au/ seniorsweek.

Photo: Graham Jepson

“information technology had revolutionised the way we did business”.

“I didn’t know what my small units on the ground did because I had never done that,” he said.

“I had no direct experience. So, it was preposterous for me to say here’s how you need

to operate. What we did was reverse mentoring.

“I would go down to them and ask what works and why does that work that way.”

His initial concern was whether it was appropriate for a leader to ask for guidance, but Mr McChrystal found they didn’t resent him asking.

“Letting people teach you is the most effective leadership tool,” he added.

When it comes time to move from being a leader to a participant, learning to defer to others around you, listening to what they have to say and speaking up when your expertise is required, are all key transition skills.

“There is a certain uncomfortableness with having the king still around,” Mr McChrystal said.

“If the king is still around, the new king is going to be looking over his shoulder. You have got to help them to become comfortable.”

“We have a remarkable number of living presidents,” he added.

“There was a time when

there was no living presidents as most them died right after they left office. So, what do you do when you have a lot of living presidents and they have to learn how to conduct themselves?”

Sharing your knowledge can be effective if put in the context of a personal experience rather than telling or directing.

Mr McChrystal said: “I found that if you can put it in a way that is self-effacing and say, ‘there are landmines out there and I have stepped on a bunch of them. Let me describe a couple of mine’.”

But how long should you stay engaged with the workplace? To suddenly not work is fairly unnatural when you have spent most of your adult life working.

Mr McChrystal plans to stay engaged as long as he can. “The day you say I’m done, a lot of things happen. You stop keeping being informed; you stop learning, and that’s bad.

“The idea that we have a hard retirement age is something I don’t believe in.”

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JULY, 2019// SENIORS

From dream to reality

CEO behind the Australian World Orchestra Tracey Johnstone

IT’S not often the people in the back room get publicly recognised, so for the chuffed Australian World Orchestra’s CEO Gabrielle Thompson, receiving an AM last month was unexpected.

Mrs Thompson is the co-founder of AWO, alongside her brother and international conductor Alexander Briger.

For the last 10 years, the 60-year-old has juggled family and work commitments to bring her brother’s dream to fruition.

“At first I thought it was just going to be a kind of sideline that I could help him with from my movie business,” Mrs Thompson said.

“But then of course, it completely overran everything.”

The former financier and then film producer finally moved into the paid role of CEO in 2013 as the not-for-profit organisation gained momentum and the challenges of organising the biennial and then annual concert series took off.

“I don’t think either of us realised how much it would be embraced by the community and how bigger project it would be,” Mrs Thompson said.

She now has under her management over 100 musicians, all at the top of their profession and representing over 50 orchestras, performing together.

It’s no mean task dealing with them.

There’s the booking,

FAMILY AFFAIR: Australian World Orchestra’s co-founders, conductor Alexander Briger AO and CEO Gabrielle Thompson AM. Photo: Paul Ghica transporting and accommodating all these players.

Then there is the negotiating of the venue hire, marketing the event and succeeding in selling enough tickets to make the series viable.

Alongside all of this is the inevitable sponsorship deals to bed down and various government art community grants to chase.

Mrs Thompson has displayed an exceptional talent for balancing her high-profile job with a vibrant family life. But really, it’s in her blood.

She is part of an incredibly distinguished dynasty where high achievement has been the norm.

Her architect father Andrew Briger, who originally emigrated from Russia to England where he ran a ballet school, became a council alderman and mayor. His father was a concert pianist.

Mrs Thompson’s mother Elizabeth Mackerras was a ballerina and her uncles; Alistair, a Sydney Grammar School principal, Sir Charles a conductor, Professor Colin a world-renowned China

expert, and Malcolm a psephologist.

“My great-greatgrandfather, Isaac Nathan, was the first person to write an opera in Australia,” Mrs Thompson added. It was called Don John of Austria.

“I have been lucky enough not to feel too much pressure,” Mrs Thompson said.

“Or, maybe it’s because you get used to it.

“What drives me with the AWO is the passion about the product itself and about the people I work with. Our musicians are just phenomenal.”

Retirement for Mrs Thompson is a discussion that floats from stopping at age 65 to “I don’t think that’s a reality because I am absolutely passionate about doing this and I love doing it and I can’t imagine myself not working”.

In 2021 the AWO will celebrate the 10th year since its first performance.

“We have an enormous work we have just commissioned,” Mrs Thompson said.

“It’s a big chorale symphony to be written and sung in first nation language.

“We are going to be performing that with a regional children’s choir, called the Moorambilla Voices.

“It will be touring that to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.”

Mrs Thompson and her small AWO staff will be working with 50 children and 52 musicians to bring the 2021 concert series to the public.

Before that Mrs Thompson has the concert series – AWO Six and Alexander Briger Conducts – to deliver in Melbourne on July 26, Canberra on July 27 and in Sydney on July 30.

National Seniors backs 17th Masters Games THEMED “Better with Age – Vintage 2019”, the Australian Masters Games offer an “exceptional opportunity to showcase a healthier, more connected future for older Australians”, National Seniors chief executive Professor John McCallum says.

“Activity – physical, social and cognitive – is acknowledged as being key to longevity.

“As one of the largest

participation events on the Australian sporting landscape, the Australian Masters Games ticks all those boxes and offers an incredible opportunity for older Australians.”

With events ranging from archery to figure skating, athletics to softball and even dragon boat racing, the only criteria to compete is that you must meet the minimum age requirement, which for

most sports on the bill is 30 years and over.

For National Seniors, the foremost consumer lobby for older Australians, the partnership represents an ongoing commitment to supporting healthier, more active ageing.

“You don’t even need to pick up a racquet or kick a ball – volunteering at events is a great way to stay engaged and active.”

Prof McCallum said.

HEALTHY AGEING: National Seniors chief executive Professor John McCallum.

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

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JULY, 2019// SENIORS

Have you run out of space? Then it might be time to look to rooftop Tracey Johnstone THE founders of Biofilta, which is behind the transformation of a Melbourne Docklands carpark roof into a working farm, believe its system can be used in retirement villages.

“Retirement villages could become mini urban farms providing food not only for themselves, but to grow food for their wider community, with very little maintenance and very little impact,” Biofilta co-founder Marc Noyce said.

“Seniors are losing access to space to grow food.

“They most likely grew food on a property that had a large vegie garden down the back and derived a lot of their nutritional value from their land using local inputs such as chicken manure.”

Densification of the Australian suburbs has

reduced the ability of seniors to grow their own food.

The system Biofilta has developed is aimed at getting people back to growing their food, but in an urban environment.

The wicking or capillary, sealed system, accepts compost and nutrients.

“It’s easy to use, sealed, water efficient and ultra-low maintenance so people can put these growing systems into urban areas,” Mr Noyce said.

Using purchased or self-made compost from clippings and food scraps, Biofilta’s system works on the principle of watering from the bottom up.

“It keeps the water optimally up to the plant’s requirements throughout the day for weeks at a time,” Mr Noyce said.

“We’re exploiting the thing that nature worked out millions of year ago.”

The FoodCube is best suited to installation on

SKY-HIGH: Biofilta’s urban farmer Marc Noyce in his favourite place – the garden. rooftops with load-bearing capacity and on the ground, perhaps in a corner of a retirement village carpark or a community garden.

The raised garden bed

is made in Australia from recycled material.

“It’s like a no-dig garden because it is fully sealed; there is no wastage of water,” Mr Noyce said.

“We can turn urban

areas into urban farms and reconnect people to sustainability.

“There is a huge amount of experience sitting there, going to waste.

“I think that is something we can really harness if retirement villages were keen to participate.”

Info: biofilta.com.au.

Rural voice advocate Tracey Johnstone MARIA Berry is putting the voice of rural seniors on the map by working to improve their profile within the national conversations around ageing.

The former nurse and health consumer representative has started the business Communities of Respect to benefit rural, remote and isolated communities.

“It’s about bringing out the rural voice,” Mrs Berry said.

“We have got some wonderful organisations and wonderful people doing work nationally, but it doesn’t always include the rural community in that a lot of ideas and a lot of thoughts run around what’s happening in metropolitan areas.”

Last year Mrs Berry, 54, turned a corner.

Up until then the Victorian country-born woman had cared for her two parents who lived through the trauma of an early inheritance gone wrong when a family

member started to exploit her parents and intimidate her own family.

Mrs Berry then had to deal with her father’s dementia and the complex issues around his care and aged care accommodation, while the relentless financial abuse continued.

While her experience deeply disturbed her and her ailing father, Mrs Berry has learnt many valuable lessons about getting older while living in a rural community.

After speaking at last year’s National Elder Abuse Conference, and listening to the conversations that come out of that presentation, Mrs Berry realised “that at a grassroots level there is a lot more we can do within our communities to respect, look out for, involve and connect with our older people particularly with what’s happening in our health system”.

Mrs Berry has set herself a goal of using her profile and her fledgling Communities of Respect business to work with national organisations,

SPEAKING UP: Rural voice for ageing Australians Maria Berry at Celebrate Ageing Embolden 2018.

Photo: Julian Meehan

not against, to address ageing issues in the rural areas.

“Every community is individual with their issues such as transport which is a huge issue compared to metropolitan areas,” she said.

“Another is social isolation. You can be

socially isolated anywhere, but if you are an older farmer out on your own, you can become more isolated.”

It has taken Mrs Berry 10 hard years as a volunteer to gain the respect of national organisations that have been seeking her views.

She now wants to share with them on a professional basis the real issues and the real stories to help them understand what these communities are trying to deal with.

“I have done the full circle which has given me a good insight into what

the organisations are trying to do.

“I can see the frustrations of the carers and the farmers out there that haven’t got their planning done well including inheritance issues.

“I want organisations to listen to the rural voice.”

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

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Older workers upskilling Tracey Johnstone GAINING an edge in securing and retaining employment requires young Australians to hone their skills in digital literacy, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving and presentation along with expertise in a particular role.

All those skills are equally applicable to mature-aged workers, not just exclusively to the younger generations.

As the focus turns to how to keep older workers engaged in the workforce and how to upskill those same workers to meet the changing demands of an evolving workplace, the responsibility to meet these challenges lies both with the employees and the employers.

■ Changing the conversation Workplace solutions company WDC Director Morag Fitzsimons uses the example of one of her clients which wanted to be proactive in keeping its older employees engaged – an industrial supplies and safety company with an average employee age of over 50.

“There has been some difficulty in retaining skills sets and getting replacement skills sets when people retire or leave the organisation,” Ms Fitzsimons said.

The company recognised that it needed to work out how to help its employees to stay at work longer and how to have a conversation with them in a non-threatening way so they could be honest about their needs and future plans.

“Firstly, the program was about helping the older workers understand they were valued,” Ms Fitzsimons said.

“Secondly, it was about having a conversation with them to identify what their needs were going to be into the future to help them stay at work longer.”

She looked at the financial goals and physical health of the employees as well as flexibility in the number of work days and the need for training to help them transition to another role within the company.

“They (management) also walked around some of the operations and asked people what the simple things were that they needed to help them cope with their workplaces,” she said.

“We looked at lighting, temperature, matting to make standing easier, to magnifying glasses, to

GOOD VALUE: Skills, experience and a willingness to adapt are still valued. make it easier to reach parts of products; so, what we could put into the workplace that would allow them to stay at work and make work easier than before.

“As a consultant in this area, I am seeing more and more businesses thinking about this and wanting to find ways to engage in conversations with their mature employees about work, the importance of work in their lives and how they can help support them to stay at work for their benefit as well as the individual employees.”

■ Job options Australia Post CEO and Managing Director Christine Holgate has been looking at how to repurpose Telstra’s extensive workforce to meet its changing business needs.

“For us, automation is allowing us to think about our workforce,” Ms Holgate said at last month’s Centre for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) forum in Melbourne.”

“We can get more women in, more part-timers in and moving the guys who were driving onto the mail processing lines because it’s less physical. It enables us to address where we have labour shortages in the market.”

McKinsey & Company Associate Partner Hassan Noura said during the CEDA forum: “The workers most vulnerable to being disrupted are those in the more automated sectors as a

first filter.

“Those will be the transport, warehouse, manufacturing, mining and all sorts of administrative tasks. The second filter will be functional tasks even within very professional sectors that are quite routine; think of administrative and payroll, accounting, and basic legal research. Even in medicine, some particular specialisations like radiology are incredibly susceptible to automation.

“So, while you can generalise and say it’s going to be lower-skilled jobs in certain sectors, the reality is that there are going to be pockets of disruption everywhere.

“In terms of who will be more vulnerable, it will come down to resilience and adaptation.”

Curtin University’s Dr Gigi Petery has a different view on the impact of automation: “We have this idea that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to be taking over all the jobs and there is not going to be any work,” she said.

“I don’t think that is the case. What we have seen is a change in the nature of work and a change in the roles and tasks that people are doing.

“Yes, we are seeing AI taking over some jobs and tasks, but there are new tasks and jobs emerging as a result of that.”

This keeps the door open to work opportunities for mature-aged workers.

There are industries starting to open up work

opportunities such as service industries, particularly in jobs that can’t be replaced by AI. “There is always going to be people working with other people,” Dr Petery said.

Her recommendation?

“Follow the population trend...look at what are the needs for ageing people and look at the renewable markets such as newborns.”

■ The opportunities Some of the industry opportunities across various skill levels are in health care, social services, education, technical, construction and retail.

David Tarr, from the mature-aged workforce talent matching agency maturious.com.au, said older workers’ skills were their future.

Photo: Geber86

“They have accumulated an enormous amount of knowledge, skills and experience which are transferable across many different industries and can be used in many different ways, as long as the individual has the ability or the desire to grow and learn because the world is changing...it will never stand still,” Mr Tarr said.

Dr Petery added: “There are transferable skills which most mature people will already have just by living and having to interact with other human beings, such as different types of people skills.”

The skills she lists that can give an older worker a competitive edge over younger workers are professionalism, loyalty, productivity, teamwork,

organisational skills, time management, research, planning, communication skills including writing, speaking and listening.

“These are things that mature workers tend to do well,” Dr Petery said.

Mr Tarr added: “As long as you have the aptitude and learnability, you will be successful.”

Human Resources Director for hardware chain Bunnings, Jacqui Coombes, said its employees ages ranged from 15 to over 80.

“This provides fantastic learning and mentoring opportunities for everyone. Mature-aged workers have always played a significant role at Bunnings with almost 30 per cent of our team members aged over 50,” Ms Coombes said.

“We learned a long time ago that older, more experienced team members are integral in providing the welcoming and knowledgeable customer service we offer in our stores.

“While Bunnings doesn’t target older workers, we actively welcome and value the wide array of skills and knowledge mature-aged workers bring to the business and recognise the value this has in providing expert advice to our customers.

“Some have been with us for their whole career and others have joined us after retiring, often from trades.

“They can bring great experience from their own home improvement projects and this knowledge really helps our DIY.” Part 2 of this story, which will look at reverse mentoring and redundancy, will be published in the August edition.

A multi-aged corporate team is now part of many industry landscapes. Photo: gilaxia

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

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UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2019 *Applies only to select units, full T&Cs available at www.ArgyleGardensBundaberg.com.au

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Feel right at home in our vibrant community with affordable, spacious and newly refurbished homes. Surrounded by resort style facilities and picturesque garden settings.

Just minutes from one of Bundaberg’s biggest retail hubs, sporting clubs and city centre, at Argyle Gardens you are spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping and entertainment with low maintenance living and a sought after lifestyle.

CALL 07 4191 9115 Visit 90 Twyford Street, Avoca Email info@ArgyleGardensBundaberg.com.au www.ArgyleGardensBundaberg.com.au

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PEOPLE

JULY, 2019// SENIORS

Inspiration comes from

This dynamic, gifted woman is known for her extraordinary output of work and brilliant musical compositions Tracey Johnstone ELENA Kats-Chernin AO is bringing to the Opera Australia stage this month the bold life of an iconic Australian artist in the opera Whiteley.

Seniors News spoke to Kats-Chernin on the eve of the world premiere of Whiteley.

It’s late in the evening in Sydney. She has been home from rehearsal for about an hour and already 40 pages of the 800-page orchestral score have been edited. There are another two scenes to be reviewed before the end of the night.

The kitchen table is strewn with hand-written sketches and drafts. She has to push them away to find a corner to eat.

Once the Whiteley opera work is complete, Kats-Chernin will put all the paper in boxes. But then there is another opera waiting to be written.

She’s in bed by 2am then back at work from 5.30am before heading to the rehearsal well before it starts at 10.30am.

There’s always a lot for her to do before and after each rehearsal.

“I am like a machine; I need to work. I make sure I do exercise,” the 61-year-old said.

She uses weights at home each morning and does something, even simple exercises, for about 10 minutes which forces her to engage her muscles.

Kats-Chernin is also mindful of what she eats which includes lots of

healthy food and no sugar.

“Says she who has just had a chocolate,” Kats-Chernin said jokingly.

“But that’s OK because somebody gave it to me and it’s dark chocolate which I like.”

As to using her gym memberships, she admitted: “At the moment I don’t have time because of rehearsals”.

Born in Russia, the child prodigy started playing the piano when she was four and was composing at five.

“I just sat down and played,” she said.

‘‘

He was an iconic artist, interesting, quirky, genius, flawed “I could play anything I saw. I couldn’t read the words, but I could read the music.”

Her music-loving parents didn’t know what had hit them.

“They did everything for me to have good lessons,” she said.

“They got me special teachers because I was very far advanced immediately, so I was bored at normal music school.”

The family moved to Australia in 1975 and Kats-Chernin started at Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music.

Her resume is simply

MAKING MUSIC: Whiteley opera composer Elena Kats-Chernin.

Brett Whiteley’s The Balcony 2. outstanding. She has created a huge range of pieces for symphony orchestras across

Photos: Contributed

Australia and overseas and composed pieces for television and film. How many?

Photo: Prudence Upton

Brett Whiteley’s self portrait.

“If only I knew,” she said.

“Sometimes I don’t even remember what I

wrote. Sometimes people will say ‘you know you wrote that piece and it went like this’ and I will

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SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

PEOPLE

13

the bold and beautiful FAST FACTS

Whiteley’s Opera House.

have completely forgotten how it went,” Kats-Chernin said.

“I will recover it immediately I hear it, but I forget as every year I write about five hours of music, sometimes more.”

And that is after she has written several versions to find just the right score.

“This year alone I have written a piano concerto for Tamara-Anna Cislowska, called Lebewohl, a piano quartet, a piece for the ACO called A Knock One Night, and many more things.

“It sounds crazy but when working on something so big I need another outlet, something else to write.”

Does she ever think about anything else? “No” is the emphatic answer.

“I am thinking about it all the time because there is always a project. I am always thinking about it because it’s in my blood until something has premiered, and even afterwards I still think I could have done this differently.”

If she’s not composing, Kats-Chernin said her alternative was to clean

the house.

“And I don’t want to do that.”

The only time she really takes off is when she visits her grandchildren.

“But, don’t do that very often. For that I wish I had more time because that is very enjoyable,” she said.

There’s no planned date when Kats-Chernin will stop composing.

“There are composers who compose when they are 100. As long as my brain works,” she said.

“I think I will compose as long as I can. It’s another reason why I work every single day.

“I just think ‘who knows what will hit me tomorrow’ so I need to finish what I am doing and I try every day to send something away to my copyist in case something happens and I don’t wake up.”

The prolific and highly acclaimed composer partnered with librettist

Photos: Contributed

Justin Fleming to honour and share the tumultuous story of Brett Whiteley.

“It’s a great subject and inspiring in many ways and very multi-layered,” she said.

“He was an iconic artist, Australian, interesting, quirky, genius, flawed; lots and lots of extreme character features which are inspiring to compose.

“I don’t want to write about somebody who is a goody two-shoes who does beautiful pastels or something.”

It’s been an 18-month project for the Sydney resident. As soon as Fleming’s libretto was in her hands in December 2017, Kats-Chernin started work on the Whiteley score.

She has crafted the score to deal with several themes and changes in pace from conversations, to aria, to the singer or

Elena Kats-Chernin. singers talking to the audience, to them talking to each other.

Woven into the final product are the complexities of fitting the librettist’s work and the voices along with the orchestra and digital backgrounds that make up the complete show.

Whiteley is on at the Sydney Opera House until July 30. More info: opera.org.au.

Elena Kats-Chernin has created works in nearly every genre including commissions for Ensemble Modern, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian World Orchestra, the Adelaide, Tasmanian, Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia, Swedish Chamber Orchestra and the North Carolina Symphony.

In 2000, she collaborated with leading Australian choreographer Meryl Tankard on Deep Sea Dreaming which was broadcast worldwide as part of the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Her awards include 1996 – Classical Music Awards – Best Composition by an Australian Composer; 2004 Helpmann Awards – Best Original Score; and 2014 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award – joint winner.

She has been the Composer in Residence for the Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras.

Her first QSO symphony, Symphonia Eluvium for organ, choir and orchestra, commemorated the devastating Queensland floods of January 2011.

Embrace the Internet!

It’s time to jump on the social media bandwagon! Let Seniors ease you into the exciting world of online. Get every news story - big or small, the latest exclusive offers, plus a whole heap more when you connect with Seniors on social media.

Visit facebook.com/seniorsnews or seniorsnews.com.au

14

JULY, 2019// SENIORS

Community notes WE welcome your community notes and pictures, please email editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au.

VIEW CLUBS

Gympie VIEW club members actively contribute to building stronger communities in Australia.

Operating in 350 metropolitan, regional and rural communities across Australia, VIEW offers a friendship network for its members, providing fun and a sense of purpose through supporting the education of disadvantaged Australian children.

VIEW is a valued part of The Smith Family and supports its work helping disadvantaged young Australians to get the most out of their education.

Supporting The Smith Family allows members to see first-hand how education support can change the life of a disadvantaged child.

Our VIEW club meets every third Friday of the month. If you would like to attend our lunch meeting at the RSL Club Orchid Room, phone club secretary Christine on 0432 111 501 by the Wednesday before the meeting so your two-course lunch can be ordered.

Lunch costs $26 which includes a prize for lucky

spot and raffle tickets.

Hervey Bay OUR meetings and luncheon are always the second Monday of each month at the Club House, Tooth Street, Pialba from 10.30am and usually includes a guest speaker.

Monthly socials are on the forth Monday at various venues from 9.30am.

Our club has experienced sadness during June with the passing of Eric, our secretary Mary’s husband and the resignation of Mary from the position of secretary. It sure brings us back to reality when you lose a loved one.

At our June meeting we listened and empathised with Josh and Jacob as they related their stories of abuse, drug and alcohol addiction and how they have turned their lives around with the help of the Bayside Transformations Counselling Services.

Their experiences pulled at the heart strings.

The Hervey Bay View Club donates $50 each year to a deserving school to buy books and the Special School was again the recipient this year. Our annual soup and crusty bread day was again a

What's on ORIANA CONCERT CHOIR

THE Sunshine Coast’s premier performance choir, Oriana Concert Choir, has started rehearsals for the new sacred program, Lux Aeterna, to be performed in Italy later in the year.

The choir has this year performed sell-out performances of Mendelssohn’s dramatic oratorio, Elijah, in Caloundra and St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane.

Local audiences can experience Oriana Concert Choir’s Lux Aeterna (Latin – Eternal Light) in an August performance, which will be directed by Matthew Collins.

The performance will be on Saturday, August 17 from 2pm at St Patrick’s Church, Gympie. Matthew,

a former Oriana Choir member, has performed in world-class venues including St Paul’s Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, Notre Dame Cathedral, The Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Abbey while singing with The Choir of St Martin-in-the-fields and The Iken Scholars.

For more information, phone 0431 542 343 or email info@oriana.org.au.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR SPECTACULAR

THE Acoustic Guitar Spectacular will appear on stage on Friday, July 26 from 7pm at the Wolvi and District War Memorial Hall, 1358 Kin Kin Road, Wolvi.

The highly anticipated annual event brings together a hand-picked group of internationally

great success with many soups consumed and enjoyed and we also enjoyed Celie’s sausage rolls.

The popular trading table at our monthly meetings raises much needed funds for the Smith Family to help with the education of disadvantaged children.

New or interested ladies are always welcome to join our very friendly club.

Phone Bev on 4128 2692.

THE HERVEY BAY AND MARYBOROUGH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUPPORT GROUP

WE MEET on the first Friday of each month on the Deck at the Hervey Bay RSL at 10am for a coffee and a chat.

It was good news for everyone that the Taxi Subsidy Scheme would stay in place into 2020 as some of our members rely on taxis for transport on a regular basis.

Our fun, friendly meetings are a good venue for MS people to meet and discuss personal problems as everyone with MS has different symptoms.

The opening of the Oncology section at St Stephens hospital is welcome news if it can save a trip to Brisbane for some of our MS clients.

Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings, whether they have MS or know of someone who has MS. For more details, phone recognised acoustic guitarists from across the globe.

This very special concert is hosted by internationally acclaimed guitarist Michael Fix, who will be joined by Italian YouTube sensation Luca Stricagnoli and roots and rock multi-instrumentalist Minnie Marks.

Tickets cost $25 for adults and $20 for concessions, with kids 13 and under free, and can be purchased online, go to qtix.com.au/.

For more information, go to gympie.qld.gov.au /whats-on.

KINGAROY BACON FEST

ALL things bacon will be celebrated at the second annual BaconFest in Kingaroy from August 23-25.

While the festival celebrates everything porcine, it also supports local producers and raises funds for drought-affected farmers.

More than 8000 visitors chomped their way through a variety of bacon products last year and organisers are

CHRISTMAS IN JULY: Bargara and District Mixed Probus club president Coral with Arthur (aka Santa) and Rudolph, enjoying recent festive celebrations.

Bev on 07 4128 2692 or email bev_cornwell11@ outlook.com.

FREE SUPPORT SERVICE FOR SENIORS

THE Seniors Legal and Support Service is a community service providing free legal advice and support for seniors 60 years and over, who are experiencing or at risk of elder abuse, mistreatment or financial exploitation.

The service can provide information, advice and support including: Short preparing for even bigger crowds this year.

The festival kicks off with a Wine and Swine cocktail event on the Friday evening, followed the next morning by a cycling and running event, Rasher’s Rush.

There will be bacon eating competitions, a Miss BaconFest pin-up pageant, a two-day bacon themed food market and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef, Adrian Richardson the host of television cooking show Secret Meat Business.

For more information, go to kingaroybaconfest. com.au.

GYMPIE CIVIC CENTRE

THE Gympie Regional Council Venue and Events team continues to attract exciting new shows and events to the region in a never-before-seen list of acclaimed music, comedy and theatre performances.

Aimed at Seniors, The Morning Music Box series features a diverse mix of performing talent from across Australia.

Tickets to all Morning

term counselling / advocacy; Information on your legal rights; Advice on Enduring Power of Attorney documents; Referrals to other support, legal and consumer services; Community education.

For more information, phone 4124 6863 or call into the office situated at Shop 6, 16 Torquay Road, Hervey Bay (opp RSL) – Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

PROBUS CLUBS

Bargara and District Mixed

Music Box shows are priced at $15 and include complimentary morning tea and refreshments.

Doors open 9.30am and the shows start at 11am.

On Tuesday, August 6 they will be presenting Practically Perfect – The Music of Julie Andrews.

For generations she has graced the stage and screen and is fondly remembered for being Maria in the Sound of Music and of course, the wonderful Mary Poppins.

Starring Karla Hillam and her leading man, Jonathan Guthrie-Jones Practically Perfect – The Music of Julie Andrews is simply practically perfect.

Tickets to all events can be purchased online, go to QTIX.com.au, phone 136 246 or by popping into the Gympie Civic Centre Box Office open from Tuesday-Friday, 9am till 1pm at 32 Mellor Street, Gympie.

WINE, CHEESE TASTING AND TOUR

LATITUDE25 is a luxury lifestyle community with huge RV garages.

On July 8 we gathered at Club Bargara for our Christmas in July, an annual celebration.

Good food, entertainment from our own members and a visit from Santa (Arthur) and his helper Val, checked to see if we had been good and therefore allowed to collect our lucky door prizes.

Thanks to the committee for a great day.

Our Club meets on the second Monday of each month at Club Bargara.

Phone Ray on 4154 7775 for further information.

Join in the fun and festivities of the free events at NomadFest 2019.

Come and taste incredible wines of the South Australian Region and sample the cheese to best accompany it.

It will be a great afternoon to spend with friends or pick up some knowledge to share with them later.

On Friday, July 19 from 3.30pm-5.30pm.

Limited seats.

Bookings essential, go to visitlatitude25.com.au/ nomadfest/ or phone 1800 025 025.

SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR

Don’t miss the spectacular Soweto Gospel Choir live in Australia this year.

Performing on Wednesday, July 24 from 7.30pm at the Brolga Theatre and Convention Centre, 5 Walker Street, Maryborough.

Email brolga@frasercoast.qld. gov.au, phone 07 4122 6060 or go to sowetogospelchoir. com.

15

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

Lights of Iceland A dazzling experience

PAGES 32-33

16

JULY, 2019// SENIORS in the travel industry, The 13-day tour if you want to travel in the safety of a group. The tour meets in Brisbane before travelling on the Spirit of Queensland to Cairns.

Along the way spend three-nights at the gorgeous Kingfisher Bay Resort on Fraser Island, three nights in paradise at The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville and three nights at the luxurious Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort. Tour cost is from $3580 per person. Info: sealink.com.au or phone (08) 8202 8608.

TRAVEL BRIEFS

CRUISE WITH THE WINEMAKERS

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line’s Meet the Winemaker returns in the 2019/2020 season. Wine enthusiasts will meet winemakers and other experts through seminars and activities including open-forum discussions, meet-and-greets, intimate wine tastings and wine-paired dinners, interactive cooking demonstrations and educational sessions.

Each cruise features vintages chosen by experts and on board for the exclusive events.

Wine experiences range from US$19.95 to US$60 per person plus tax, and gratuity. Info: phone Norwegian Cruise on 1300 255 200 or visit ncl.com.

TOUR WHITE CLIFFS AND OPAL FIELDS

THE desert landscape of White Cliffs disguises the value that lies hidden underground; it’s one of the richest opal fields on earth. Experience the local’s way of life with a two-night stay in the Underground Dugout Motel. Enjoy a rich touring experience through the silver city of Broken Hill, overlook Cobar’s first gold mine and visit Coonabarabran’s Crystal Kingdom. The All Australian Journeys tour goes for six days, and departs both Brisbane and The Hunter. Costs start at $2599 per person. Info: phone 1300 631 383 or visit aaj.com.au.

GO OFF-TRAIN ON GREAT SOUTHERN TOUR

GREAT Southern’s new immersive Off Train Excursions including wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, visiting the 12 Apostles, lunch with a view from Melbourne’s Eureka Skydeck followed by a laneways tour, Canberra’s War Memorial and Parliament House, exploring the wilderness of the Grampians and beachside dining. There will be 16 departures from Adelaide for Brisbane, starting in December.

Fares start at $1649 per person for Gold Single accommodation, $1829 per person for Gold Twin and $3899 per person for Platinum. Info: journeybeyondrail. com.au/journeys/ great-southern.

SUITE SALE ON REGENT CRUISES

REGENT Seven Seas Cruises have an offer of up to 55 per cent off 2019 sailings to the turquoise shores, glistening sunset

YULETIDE MARKET RIVER CRUISE

TRAIN TRAVEL: Great Southern has launched a range of off-train excursions. horizons and rugged landscapes of some of the world’s most unique destinations including the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Asia, Alaska, and the South Pacific. Check out Alaska: Seward to Vancouver, August 14-21, save 55 per cent; The Baltics: Oslo to Stockholm, August 20-30, save 25 per cent; Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona, October 16-26, save 30 per cent; Asia: Singapore to Singapore, December 6-20, save 47 per cent; South Pacific: Los Angeles to Papeete, December 5-23, save 46 per cent. Info: RSSC.com or phone 1300 455 200 or contact your preferred travel agent.

CANADA, ALASKA, USA WITH SCENIC

THE 2020 Canada, Alaska and USA Scenic brochure is out with great value offers.

One night stops have been removed wherever possible in favour of longer stays at each destination point Included is New Scenic Enrich options have been added, including a visit to one of the world’s largest dark sky preserves in Jasper, and an incredible wildlife walk with local nature experts. Scenic is offering until 30 September 2019 partner flights included, fly Premium Economy from $2595 per person, fly Business Class from $5995 per person, book now and pay in full by September 30 to secure an additional discount of $600 per couple for all tours of 19 days or longer or discount of $300 per couple for tours of 9-18 days (conditions apply).

Info: scenic.com.au or phone 138 128.

WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

THE ways to travel in Egypt are many and varied

from camels to feluccas, luxury cruise ships to dahabiyas and safari jeeps. Bunnik Tours’ small group guided and indpendent tours has 30 Egypt and Middle East 2020 experiences to choose from. Experience more than UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites across six countries and 35 cities. Info: bunniktours.com.au Egypt-Middle-EastTours.

GO BOATING IN HOLLAND

THE canals and cycling paths that run throughout Holland paint an iconic picture of this stunning country. There are over 269 waterways in Holland so why try exploring them by water and by land with a Le Boat cruise. They will customise the perfect itinerary and offer plenty of pre-paid extras to choose from which include prepayment of the engine hours fee, collision damage waiver (CDW), boat cleaning and bicycle rental (one). Prices start from $1759 boat only (aboard a single cabin budget boat for one week). Info: leboat.com.au/ boating-holidays/ netherlands/holland

SMALL GROUP TOURING IN THE USA

BACK-Roads Touring has announced new small-groups tours to North America, with seven itineraries on offer for 2020. The new itineraries include Classic California Coast, A Taste of Northern California, Canyons of the Southwest, Heart of the Deep South, Historic America: Freedom and the Civil War, and Charming New England. Some of the highlights of the new tours include the historic Mt Washington Cog Railway, a tantalising food tour of

New Orleans’ French Quarter and walking in the footsteps of the soldiers who served in the American Civil War at the Gettysburg Battlefield.

Info: backroadstouring.com.

MAKE IT A WEEKEND IN MAITLAND

JUST two hours from Sydney and 40 minutes from Newcastle, the Maitland region has a rich history, emerging food scene, thriving arts community, boutique accommodation and is packed events calendar.

The Maitland Aroma Festival is August 10-11.

The warm aroma of freshly ground coffee beans, rich melted chocolate and decadent dishes descend on Maitland during this festival. The riverside come alive, allowing rugged up visitors to enjoy some of the most indulgent products from across the entire Hunter Region and beyond as local entertainers take to the stage to create a light, celebratory atmosphere.

Info: mymaitland.com.au /whats-on/ maitland-aroma.

ESCAPE THIS CHRISTMAS

ALBATROSS Tours has 12 Christmas European small-group tours to choose from, all departing mid-December. There are tours to Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.They usually start with a few nights in one of Europe’s grand historic cities before escaping to snow clad mountains and celebrating Christmas between three and six-nights nights in nostalgic, charming hotels. The tour groups explore local picturesque towns and villages, Christmas Markets, ancient monasteries and fairytale castles. Info:

albatrosstours.com.au.

SOLO IN GREECE

EXPERIENCE Greece on a solo-only tour for ages 40 and over with Encounter Tours.

Departing Thessaloniki for nine-day tour, travel to Athens along the way discovering the highlights and not so well known but delightful stops including Meteora, Delphi and more. There’s in-depth discovery of Athens and a day out on the island of Hydra. Arriving into Athens enjoy a three-night stay with highlights including a gastronomic walking tour with a grazing luncheon, an visit to the Acropolis, along with dinner admiring the night time view to the Acropolis. The land cost is $4775 in a single room, less $300 for early bookings. Info: encountertravel.com.au.

DRIVE IN LUXURY

EXPLORE the UK in a Bentley, follow the French countryside in a luxury convertible, or get your adrenaline pumping on the German Autobahn in a speedy sports coupe.

Driveaway have a wide range of high-end vehicles with the choice of brands such as Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes, Porsche, Range Rover and more to choose from in various locations worldwide. Info: driveaway.com.au or phone 1300 363 500.

QUEENSLAND ESCORTED TOUR

SEALINK is offering its Follow the Winter Sun in Queensland escorted tour departing September 22.

Explore Queensland’s countryside by train, travelling along the picturesque coastline and enjoying island stopovers along the way. Escorted by Shirley Tamm who has over 36 years’ experience

EUROPEAN river cruise line Riviera Travel has a new Yuletide market sailing on the Danube, with solo travellers not having to pay single supplements in selected cabins. The six-day Danube’s Imperial Cities & Yuletide Markets will sail on November 30.

Travelling from Budapest to Vienna and back passengers will immersed in the traditional, storybook charm of Christmas markets with their twinkling lights, colourful decorations, baked gingerbread, hot mulled wine, handcrafted nutcrackers and alluring gifts to buy loved ones.

Info: phone Cruise Traveller 1800 507 777, or go to rivieratravel.com.au.

QANTAS FREQUENT FLYERS PROGRAM OVERHAULED

THE Qantas Frequent Flyers program is being updated with the changes to rolled out the next 12 months. They will include adding more than one million extra reward seats available annually on Qantas and new partner airlines, slashing carrier charges which are the additional costs associated with flights booked with points by up to 50 per cent on international bookings, changing the points required for reward seats on domestic and international flights including an up to 10 per cent reduction in the number of points required for international economy Classic Reward seats, increasing the points required for upgrades and Classic Reward seats in premium cabins to better reflect the value of this premium experience, creating a new tiered Points Club program to better reward members who earn most of their points through on-the-ground transactions and introducing Lifetime Platinum status, the ultimate recognition for the airline’sloyal flyers.

17

SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

Travel for a better world ‘‘ Your chance to volunteer for a scientific adventure

AS TRAVELLERS seniors can contribute to a better world while visiting remote and beautiful places where learning new skills alongside like-minded people and putting conservation into action can make a world of difference.

The international not-for-profit wildlife conservation organisation Biosphere Expeditions (BE) offers this type of travel through its citizen science and wildlife conservation expeditions.

For many destinations, the research could not be done without the provision of support and personnel from BE, and through its education, training and employment of locals to build their capacity to continue the research into the future.

Some of the expeditions BE takes teams on are to survey snow leopards in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan; monitor brown bears in the quintessentially Swedish woodlands of Dalarna province; survey leopards, caracals and Cape biodiversity in the Cape mountains UNESCO World Heritage Site of South Africa.

The citizen science expedition teams get immersed in these long-term wildlife conservation projects run by scientists embedded locally.

The teams may visit for one or two weeks, but BE will go back again and again until the work is completed.

BE founder and CEO Dr Matthias Hammer explained his organisation has a very close connection to each project, which are selected after whittling

Tracking Romanian lynx. down the large number of submissions received each year from scientists.

“It’s a very detailed process designed to ensure we can achieve benefit for our participants, local wildlife and people, and our expeditions have a genuinely positive impact and generate real conservation outcomes,” Dr Hammer said.

“We then stay intimately involved in the project, sending staff on it each year and supporting our partners on the ground.

“The people who commit to coming with us and helping with wildlife conservation for a week or two and sharing our ambitions; they will have a great time.

“If people come expecting to be served cocktails at dinner time, and be handed safari-type wildlife experiences on a plate, then they won’t enjoy the experience.”

What are expeditions like?

They are expeditions with a conscience, a sense of purpose and tangible benefits and outcomes.

Each one is a citizen science project, not a package holiday.

Expeditioners live, breath and sleep expedition, working and sharing in the BE vision.

If they go to bed tired

They are expeditions with a conscience, a sense of purpose...

CITIZEN SCIENCE: At (volunteer) work in South Africa. after a day’s work, then that will only make the experience more enriching, the memories stronger and the sense of fulfilment more real.

Never too old The typical participant is in his/her mid-30s to late 70s (average age 42.3, spread six months to 87 years) and there are usually many singles and a few couples.

What you eat BE has a unique vegetarian policy, so only vegetarian food is served on the expeditions.

For expedition dates, destinations and costs, go to www.biosphere-e xpeditions.org.

Photos: Biosphere Expeditions

1300 551 997 | (07) 5513 1086 E: info@goseetouring.com www.goseetouring.com

Cook Island ExplorEr - nEw tour

Cook Islands From

$3,995

*

sounds oF thE south Island

hostEd BY Fortunato IsGro

$4,795*

* per person twin share Ex BnE, single supplement $950

per person share twin ex Brisbane.

1 - 9 november 2019

Join Country Music celebrity Graeme Hugo for an entertaining & cultural tour to the magical Cook Islands. Includes return flights, 6 nights Edgewater Resort, 1-night Sydney, Daily tours, Daily Breakfast & Dinner and 3 lunches. Spaces are strictly limited.

6 - 13 noVEMBEr 2019

7 Nights 4 star accommodation, cooked breakfast daily, 4 x lunches/5 x dinners, Central Otago Winery Tour, Puzzling World, Warbirds & Wheels Museum, Sunset Cruise Lake Wanaka, Arrowtown, Te Anau Glow Worm Caves, Milford Sound Day Cruise, Walter Peak High Country Farm, Skyline Restaurant Queenstown

ChrIstMas on norFolk norFolk Island More places added due to popular demand.

From

$2,305*

per person twin share Ex BnE, single supplement $490

21-28 dECEMBEr 2019

Don’t want to spend Christmas at your place this year? Why not visit beautiful Norfolk Island. 7 nights accom, car hire, orientation tour, Wonderland by night, Breakfast Bush Walk, Island Fish Fry, Behind the Hedges, Convict Settlement Tour, 4 x Dinners, PLUS full Christmas Lunch

EnGlIsh BlossoMs tour nEw tour From

per person twin share

$6,895

*

Highlights include Great Dixter House, Sissinghurst Castle, Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Bath, Cotswolds, Abbey House Malmesbury & much more!

Includes return airfares, 10 nights quality hotels, 10 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 6 dinners, all touring & entry fees.

ask about our Cook Island ukulele tour in september and noumea tour in november.

More 2020 tour to be released very soon.

Observing the wildlife like the moose, in Sweden.

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

Prices current as at 20 January 2019. Go See Touring in conjunction with Norfolk Select Marketing ABN: 93 367 366 822 ATAS Accreditation A10619

6885061as

13 - 25 May 2020

18

JULY, 2019// SENIORS

‘‘

The lagoon, Jokulsarlon, had an ethereal beauty about it at twilight.

NATURE’S GREATNESS: Gullfoss, a waterfall in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.

Photos: Yvonne Gardiner

Nowhere else on earth

Our travelling retirees John and Yvonne Gardiner take their journeys to another level when they walk through the snow, ice, caves and waterfalls of Iceland

ICELAND has the most dramatic scenery of any country I’ve visited. Its diversity of attractions is breathtaking.

Raging waterfalls, soaring geysers, snow-capped mountains, stunted birch trees, vast glaciers and a picture-perfect coastline make this big island entirely unforgettable.

It’s not a place where I’d like to drive, as the weather can change quickly, producing dangerous icy conditions and gale-force winds. Far better to book one of the many expert tours led by knowledgeable guides.

In nine days, my travelling companion and I had time to complete the Golden Circle tour, seeing a host of major tourist sites, plus overnight stays on the south and west coasts.

Hunting for the northern lights (or aurora borealis) was thrown in at every available opportunity.

Expect to stay up late, or be woken during the night, if you’re keen to see this most spectacular of the world’s wonders.

The nighttime tours

Dramatic scenery is everywhere you look in Iceland. included a cup of warming hot chocolate, which was very welcome when the temperature dipped below

zero and we’d been outside the bus for a good hour gazing at the sky.

Trust me, when that

coloured light dances across the sky, the experience is worth all the discomfort.

Iceland, known as “the land of ice and fire”, is a destination that offers any number of energetic

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This famous fountain geyser, Strokkur, erupts every 6-10 minutes.

A supremely graceful waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, on the south coast of Iceland.

Jokulsarlon, also known as the glacier lagoon, is one of the most awe-inspiring and popular places in Iceland.

The Saga Museum in Reykjavik reveals the island’s Viking heritage.

like land of fire and ice

Sapphire blue ice caves vary in size and shape, and change daily. adventures.

As a senior with a dodgy back, I was hesitant to visit the blue

ice cave.

As it turned out, the trip wasn’t as strenuous as I’d imagined, requiring a

speedy ride in a super-jeep across the glacier – accompanied by the rousing AC/DC hit

Highway to Hell – then a slow walk across the ice wearing crampons, and short climbs up and down

steps at the cave.

It’s no wonder the unique and other-worldly Icelandic landscapes have been the backdrop to countless TV series and movies, including Game of Thrones, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Star Wars, Tomb Raider, Thor and Noah.

Many scenes in two James Bond movies were shot in Iceland, taking in amazing snowboarding and an epic car chase across the frozen glacier lagoon, meandering between giant blue icebergs.

The lagoon, Jokulsarlon, had an ethereal beauty about it at twilight.

Dozens of slowly melting icebergs jutted out of the river, with the glacier in the background and the sea in front.

Afterwards we drove through miles and miles of snow and moss-covered lava, punctuated by high mountains and glaciers, wide rivers, brown grasslands and small settlements.

Our west coast tour guide, Christian, was a

rock-loving bikie with leather waistcoat and long, grey hair.

He showed his six passengers sputtering geysers, an isolated church, towering waterfalls, a lava cave, and yet more stunning scenery.

In November the capital, Reykjavik, was a delightful scene of pre-Christmas sparkle.

A plethora of toy trolls of all shapes and sizes populated the shelves among the souvenirs.

A visit to the Saga Museum gave us a fascinating insight into the island’s heritage, beginning with the Viking settlers, in a series of tableaux containing wax figures.

A rare treat before we caught the plane out of Iceland was a few hours’ dip in the fabulous Blue Lagoon, a gigantic thermal heated pool complete with bar and restaurant.

Said to contain healing qualities, the lagoon was a perfect finale to a captivating journey through an amazing country.

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JULY, 2019// SENIORS

The Ghan Station.

at

Darwin

The Ghan Explorer departs from Darwin, March and October.

‘‘

AWESOME: At first sight, the 900 metal snake metres of The Ghan stretching away from the Darwin train station is awe inspiring.

The isolated outback town of Coober Pedy has long been on my bucket list...

An epic Aussie rail journey Kerry Heaney IT’S A trip that will take you from one side of the continent to the other through Australia’s red heart in absolute comfort all the way.

From first sight, the 900 metal snake metres of The Ghan stretching away from the Darwin train station is awe inspiring.

When your cabin is in carriage Q, it is also a long walk. Luckily, The Ghan offers transport to your carriage if you prefer.

That’s just one of the many thoughtful gestures that make travelling on this iconic journey a real pleasure.

The Ghan Explorer is a

four-day and three-night trip that departs each week from Darwin between March and October.

It heads out on a 2979km journey through Australia’s rugged outback, stopping to offer passengers experiences along the way.

I boarded the train with my iPad loaded with plenty of books and Netflix shows, ready to relax in my seat and watch the world roll by.

At the end, I realised I need not have bothered as sitting in the cabin was last on the list of top train activities.

From day one and the first stop at Katherine, to cruising up Nitmiluk Gorge

to view the stunning red cliffs silhouetted against the bright blue sky, the options were many, varied and all included in the journey.

With options for activity levels, the tours took passengers to see destinations well away from the train stops via buses.

From sedate to more adventurous, including an optional flight over Uluru, passengers have plenty of choices to see the outback their way.

There is also no chance that you will starve on this trip.

The elegant Queen Adelaide dining car is full of old-fashioned charm and warm hospitality while

the meals and wines are included in the fare.

As the train traverses the country, the menu reflects the region with crocodile sausages in Darwin, kangaroo in Alice Springs and Barossa gammon (ham) in Adelaide.

Feeling peckish between meals? The lounge car is the place to go for a cappuccino and morning tea or pre-dinner drink.

Day two on the journey sees the train pull in for a full day at Alice Springs.

Passengers head off on buses to explore the town and surrounds and finish with a starlit evening meal at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

It’s an outback barbecue with a rollicking local band that has many dancing the night away.

The isolated outback town of Coober Pedy has long been on my bucket list, and I was not disappointed by this quirky underground treasure.

The lunar-like landscape of the opal minefields, the spacious underground houses, the magnificence of Breakaway Conservation Park and the famed dog fence left me with lasting impressions.

Back on the train for the overnight journey into Adelaide, I enjoyed sharing memories with new-found friends over

dinner and drifting off to sleep with the gentle rock of the rails.

As The Ghan heads into its 90th year, it certainly deserves a place on every Australian’s bucket list as a unique way to explore the heartland of Australia.

See more of Kerry’s journeys at www. eatdrinkandbekerry.net.

Top tips ■ Pack light because storage is limited ■ Choose comfortable clothes for weather conditions ■ If you prefer your own company or want dinner for two rather than a shared table, choose an 8-8.30pm dining time ■ Internet is sketchy, so download before you go.

Australian sensory tours for the sight impaired TRAVLLERS with sight loss can now visit iconic east coast tourism sites regularly with accessible adventures that eliminate sightseeing and deliver experiences using other senses.

Sensory short breaks is a new product launched

by Cocky Guides, Australia’s first tactile and sensory tour operator for the blind and low vision community. The company offers sensory short breaks that range from two to four days.

The tours start from

Sydney, butassistance can be given with inquiries from people living in other locations. If, for example, a traveller is from from Brisbane, a guide can be sent to meet them and assist with getting them to Cairns for the start of that tour.

Destinations include Port Douglas, Byron Bay, Hunter Valley, Canberra, Snowy Mountains, Melbourne, Lake Mountain, Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula.

Sydney-sider Katie Best

a recent traveller and low vision community member, had a great time on a sensory short break to Port Douglas with Cocky Guides.

“I have just had the best holiday in ages,” she said. “I honestly didn’t want it to end. The activities were fantastic, and the support was amazing. I am now counting down to my next adventure.”

Details & costs: 1300 657 640 or go to cockyguides.com.au.

SENSORY TOURS: Indigenous Guide demonstrating the plating of a leaf for two travellers.

Photo: Peter Killick

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Choose right shoe Tracey Johnstone AS WE get older, our foot health changes so the choices of our footwear should also change.

Podiatry Australia ambassador Charlotte Bodell says we should be thinking about support, comfort, the weight of the shoes, affordability, and removable foot bed if wearing orthotics.

It’s also important you understand what foot problems you have and whether you can bend down to tie shoelaces, before buying shoes.

If you have just come out of surgery, then you may need to wear slip-on shoes. “Good slip-on shoes are Propet and Skechers,” Ms Bodell said.

“When you are looking at good shoes, you need to look at motion control, if it’s breathable, lightweight material and has cushioning or support for the foot,” she said.

“Motion control is the amount of stability the shoe can provide when you are walking.”

If you over-pronate and the mid-foot drops, the

BEST FOOT FORWARD: It might be time for you to change your shoe choices to suit the changes in your feet.

Photo: Dean Mitchell vernacular bone can sometimes protrude.

“If that is prominent there can be a lot rubbing and a lot of hard skin can

form on that bony area.

So, you need to make sure it is cushioned as well,” Ms Bodell said.

Breathability is critical if

you are prone to fungus or tinea.

If you have bunions, you need to ensure the shoe is wide enough and

flexible in the forefoot.

The fat pad gets reduced over the years, particularly if you have been on your feet for most of your working life.

“The fat pad moves away from the bony areas and then causes calluses,” Ms Bodell said, explaining why cushioning is important.

At home Wearing a slip-on shoe with a Velcro strap to help to secure the foot is the best option. But, if you still want to wear a slip-on, then make sure the outsole is non-slip.

It can help to also have a heel of about 1cm on your indoor shoes. “That will help the ankle joint get into a neutral position and put less pressure on the knees and lower back,” Ms Bodell said.

Out and about Ecco, Hush Puppies, Skechers and Zierra – all have good leather shoes which are wide, deep and with a stable heel cup.

“Get the heel cup of a shoe and you hold it in your hand so you are looking at the toes, mid-foot and heel,” Ms Bodell said.

“Then put your finger on

Wellbeing the heel counter and press it in. If you can move it and it’s soft, then it’s not good as it’s not holding your heel in position. You want it quite firm.”

For an orthopaedic shoe, Ms Bodell recommends Dr Comfort, Propet and Orthofeet.

On the go The material of the outsole is key to a good walking shoe.

“You don’t want a hard, stiff shoe,” she said. “The only part of the foot that is supposed to move is the mid-foot, where the arches move a little, little bit, but the ball of your foot moves the most because you need to able to propulse off when you are walking.”

Velcro-top trainers from New Balance, Brooks and Saucony are options. The Hoka One shoe offers a lace-up option with a thicker cushioning and is good when recovering from a foot injury.

Help with fitting Your podiatrist or GP can recommend a local orthotist who can come to you to work out what is the best shoe style and fit.

Seven ways you can control your anger identify what you should do to change your reaction in a particular situation. .

Reduce tension When angry, your heart and blood pressure increase and blood flow is redirected towards the major muscle groups. To reduce bodily tension, do muscle relaxation exercises by slowly tensing and relaxing each muscle group in the body, or take part in physical exertion like cycling or running.

Know when to withdraw When you realise you are becoming very angry or are in danger of losing control, the best thing to do is to walk away from the situation. Doing so will prevent you from saying things that you might regret or from becoming potentially violent, such as threatening someone near you by slapping, shoving or pushing.

Use distraction strategies Your thoughts become narrow when angry, resulting in illogical thinking. You can resolve this by diverting your attention to the environment around you

and concentrating on something nearby in detail, or by counting your breaths.

Challenge angry thoughts When angry thoughts arise, ask yourself a series of questions that challenge the truth and reasoning behind your thoughts. For example, if you begin thinking negatively of your spouse leaving dirty dishes in the sink, or being stuck in an unpleasant social situation, ask yourself how logical, realistic or useful it is to think that way.

Avoid spreading anger through social media Before you post an angry tweet or publish an enraged Facebook story, make sure it is not a product of your irrational thoughts. Anger spreads more virally than other emotions – so people are more likely to react, getting yourself or someone else in trouble.

The consequences of exploiting anger on social media can be dire, from loss of a job to even criminal charges.

MANAGE ANGER: These tips will support successful long-term management of anger.

Photo: Tuned_In

Do you feel your rights are being respected?

Are your family members supportive, or do they create stress in your life?

Are any of the following scenarios happening to you?

• Being told that you can’t make any decisions for yourself because you have had a diagnosis of dementia.

• Being pressured into entering a nursing home when you’re not ready.

• Being frightened to voice your needs/concerns.

• Carers or family members borrowing money and not paying you back.

• Adult children moving in with you and refusing to pay rent.

The Seniors Legal and Support Service offers a FREE service for people over 60 whose rights are being compromised.

6/16 Torquay Road, Pialba | 07 4124 6863

6972974aa

LEARNING to control your anger before it takes control of you is the first step in combating other issues, such as family and domestic violence.

Being angry can give us the energy to deal with difficult and sometimes threatening situations so it’s important to be able to feel anger occasionally, says director of Psychological Services at Wesley Hospital Kogarah, Dr John Kearney.

His tips for managing anger are: Early warning signs Anger often escalates rapidly; you can lose your temper before you are even aware of it. There are physiological and cognitive changes that occur as you become angrier, such as getting hot in the face and a faster heartbeat. By recognising these changes as they occur, it will become easier to manage your anger before it gets out of hand.

The triggers Acknowledging what triggers your anger can help you avoid it in the future and allow you to

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How to stay safe in winter Kerry Heaney HEALTH experts are preparing for an increase in falls and more elderly patients who require urgent attention as injury numbers jump by nearly a third in the colder months.

According to a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, falls are the leading cause of hospitalisation for the elderly.

Narelle Hopper, customer care manager at the Tunstall Monitoring Centre in Brisbane, says several factors caused an increase in falls in winter.

“The main factor is cold weather. Limbs can get a bit stiff, and it can be hard to get up out of bed or your chair and move about. In some regions, the increase in wet and windy weather in

combination with an increase in leaves on the ground can cause a rise in falls outside and around the house,” Ms Hopper said.

“Vertigo brought on by certain hearing conditions, standing up too fast, dehydration, or some medications are other common fall causes.”

The consequences of falling can range from mild to quite debilitating.

Ms Hopper said a fall could affect a person’s confidence, leading to a reduction in physical activity, and the complete opposite of what they actually needed to do.

“People are often embarrassed if they can’t get back up again.

“They worry about going to a hospital or being put into a nursing home,” she said. “The most important

SAFETY FIRST: Narelle Hopper, customer care manager at the Tunstall Monitoring Centre. thing for our elderly loved ones is being attended to quickly, which can reduce the long-term impact and severity of a fall injury.

“This is where fall detectors and personal alarms come into play.”

What are the top proactive measures elderly people can take to prepare and be safe?

Here are some simple steps to decrease the likelihood of falling. ❚ Take medication at the prescribed times and dose recommended by your GP ❚ Drink plenty of water

❚ Keep hydrated ❚ Drink warm cups of tea and soup, which help to bolster fluids ❚ Warm your body up by doing leg stretches and circles before standing up ❚ If you have a walking aid, use it ❚ Do weight-bearing and balance exercises to help improve gait and balance ❚ Hold on to something to steady yourself when you stand up ❚ Whether you’re inside or outside, hold on to the railing while walking up or down stairs and take your time

❚ When walking outside, avoid slippery, wet areas and wet leaves ❚ If you have a personal alarm, wear it so if something does happen you can get help quickly and your family can be alerted If you are worried about the danger of falls for a friend or family member, these are the steps to take. ❚ Check the house and surrounds for trip or slip hazards ❚ Encourage your loved ones to do their exercises ❚ Make sure their home is

warm in winter. ❚ Check their medications are being taken properly.

If they are a bit forgetful or the medication is complex, ask the chemist to pop them in a Webster pack ❚ If they have a fall detector or personal alarm, encourage them to wear it and use it ❚ If you see signs of bruises or scrapes, which may indicate loss of balance or spatial awareness, suggest a visit to their local GP or even an occupational therapist.

Don’t let your fear of faeces kill you Alison Houston THE “yuck factor” stops up to 60 per cent of us from taking part in a potentially lifesaving health screen.

Bowel cancer is the second-biggest cancer killer in Australia after lung cancer.

One in 23 people – male and female – is diagnosed with the disease before their 75th birthday and 80 people die each week.

More than 90 per cent of bowel cancer is found in people aged 50 years and over.

But early detection means more than 90 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.

Free bowel screening test kits are sent to everyone aged 50-74 every two years, so why do so few of us use them?

That’s what Belinda Goodwin, from the University of Southern Queensland, in association with Cancer Council Queensland, is attempting to discover.

“There are a lot of people working on raising awareness of bowel cancer and its risks but we are examining the

LIFE CHOICE: University of Southern Queensland researcher Belinda Goodwin discusses the bowel cancer test kit with Cancer Council Qld volunteer, Vicky Bloxsom, and why so many people don’t use it. other barriers – physical, cultural and language,” Belinda said.

The kits include equipment and directions to collect two small stool samples and send them in a prepaid envelope for testing.

It doesn’t sound too hard.

But initial survey results have found many of us, even with the best of intentions, never so much as take the kits into the bathroom where they can be used.

“That’s a pretty big physical barrier to start with,” Belinda said.

“So, we encourage everyone, when they receive the kits, to put them into the bathroom, that’s step one.”

Step two is to face your

fears … and your faeces.

Reducing proximity to the stool sample by providing a longer collection stick and more protective gear in the kit are two options Belinda’s study is examining.

(A flushable toilet liner to place over the toilet bowl is already included.)

Similar initiatives overseas have been investigated and various options to make the kits more user-friendly are being discussed.

Belinda is currently seeking volunteers aged 45–80 to take part in focus groups and interviews to gain a better understanding of exactly what will increase participation.

It doesn’t matter whether you have participated in a screening in the past or not.

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world, with lifestyle choices including diet, alcohol and exercise accounting for 50 per cent of variance.

Family history and genetics are other factors involved, but it is not a male-only disease, a common misconception in survey responses.

One of the major problems, Belinda said, is that most people have no outward symptoms of bowel cancer until it is too late.

By potentially detecting microscopic traces of blood in the stool sample, the test kits can lead to a recommendation for further testing as needed for early detection and treatment.

Of 2.5 million participant screenings since the kits were first sent out in 2006, there have been 4000 cancer diagnoses and a further 12,294 benign, pre-cancerous tumours or polyps (which can grow into cancers) detected.

That’s potentially thousands of lives saved.

To take part in Belinda’s study, phone 13 11 20 or email her at belindagoodwin @cancerqld.org.au.

Toowoomba Hospital Foundation is running a free bowel health information session with morning tea at 10am on Tuesday, July 16.

RSVP to Stacey on 07 4616 6166 or email stacey@toowoomba hospitalfoundation.org.au by noon Friday, July 12.

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Aveo recipes taste better BRAND INSIGHTS YOU may have heard that food in retirement and aged care communities is not very good.

So had leading retirement and aged care community operator Aveo, which is determined to change the industry standards for all senior Australians.

Aveo has been working with Nutrition Professionals Australia to set new standards in the kitchen so its residents enjoy meals that not only taste great, but meet their changing needs as they age.

“We understand that food plays an important part in helping to maintain independence and bringing friends and family together,” an Aveo spokesperson said.

“That’s why, at Aveo, residents come together over good food in our dining rooms, surrounded by a feeling of wellbeing.

“We want older

Delicious lamb korma.

Australians to feel empowered by good food and be inspired to cook simple and healthy meals at home.”

Aveo has taken its mission one step further by asking its executive chef John Casey and Nutritional Professionals Australia to work together to create the Live Life Cook cookbook to meet the idea that eating well should be easy and that with the right preparation it can be.

Live Life Cook features more than 50 simple recipes, beautiful photos of finished dishes and

Living

easy-to-find ingredients.

It draws on the 30 years of experience of John Casey, who began his professional career as as chef at one of Melbourne’s iconic five-star hotels.

He has since gone on to successfully represent Australia at the Culinary Olympics in Germany, where he was awarded a gold medal.

He has worked with chefs such as Stephanie Alexander and elite athletes such as Cathy Freeman and nurtured a passion for innovation in food quality and nutrition.

Full of cooking tips and tricks, delicious and nutritious recipes, Live Life Cook will empower the country’s active seniors to keep cooking well into the future.

The perfect gift for family members and friends is available now for $29.95.

To purchase a copy, go to aveo.com.au/food/ aveo-cookbook.

HEALTHY MEALS AT HOME: Enjoy a tasty freekah pomegranate kale salad from the Aveo cook book.

Vintage village therapy

A dive into the past can act as a soothing tonic for spirit Tracey Johnstone TOWN Square in California is a unique and quirky concept for the delivery of reminiscence therapy for people with dementia.

Developed by the team at the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers in Chula Vista and led by its CEO Scott Tarde, Town Square opened in late 2018 as an old-time interactive and stimulating indoor urban environment reflective of the early 1960s.

The Town Square concept is in the process of being franchised internationally by Senior Helpers, and could appear in Australia before too long.

Reminiscence therapy has been around since the ’60s.

“It says people make their strongest memories between the ages of 10 and 30,” Mr Tarde said.

“If we look at the older people we serve in our organisation, they are typically in their early 80s.

It’s time to enjoy ice cream sundaes in Rosie’s Diner.

“If you look at the time they made their strongest memories, it would have been in the 1950s and 1960s.

“In the county of San Diego, there are 85,000 people with Alzheimer’s.”

With the help of the San Diego Opera’s scenic studio, the Town Square was constructed across an area of about 836sqm.

Over time the scenic company will help to remodel the site and music to reflect the change in generations using the centre.

The Town Square comprises 11 vintage stores, fully fitted out.

There’s the diner with a ’50s jukebox, the City Hall and library, a pet shop, park, clinic, department store, garage, news stand, museum and even a movie theatre.

With the help of onsite carers working at the respite centre, at any one time each weekday, up to 45 people with dementia spend a day immersed in structured, tactile experiences, in groups of five, going from rotating

GOOD TIMES: Glenner’s Rosie’s Diner is fitted out with a jukebox playing ’50s and ’60s music while old-fashioned food is served to its visitors. through 45-50 minute group activities in each of the stores to eating an old-fashioned meal in the diner.

“If you think about it at a deeper level, these are spaces that are typically cut-off to people who have dementia,” Mr Tarde said.

The experiences are designed to create dignity

and purpose for the visitors, helping ultimately to reduce their agitation, improving their mood and sleep quality.

“We’re not trying to fool anybody it’s 1953 within Town Square, but we are trying to create an experience that is consistent with where their strongest memories

are,” Mr Tarde said.

School class groups have also visited Town Square to learn about what life was like for their grandparents.

“The teachers have then been getting them to design a town square for what it would like when they are in their 80s,” Mr Tarde said.

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Is laughter really the best medicine?

Meredith Yardley OK, it’s an old saying. But is it true?

The science is in and….

YES! Laughter has a myriad of health benefits.

Laughter is essential for our wellbeing. Why? When we laugh for a sustained period of time, our bodies release oxytocin – called the love drug; serotonin – to enhance our mood; dopamine – to tap into our brain’s pleasure centre; and endorphins – our body’s natural pain killer.

Regular, sustained laughter can aid our: Physical health ■ When you laugh, you breathe deeply, bringing more oxygen into your blood stream. Your immune cells move around your blood stream, aiding general wellbeing.

■ This boost in oxygen also helps your brain, improving creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

■ Laughing elevates your heart rate – it’s an aerobic exercise!

Mental health ■ Laughing is a mindful activity. You are completely in the here and now, not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow, reducing anxiety and even depression.

■ Laughter involves play and imagination – and having fun for its own sake.

■ Laughing is a connecting activity – the shortest distance between two people is a smile and a laugh.

Emotional health ■ Learning to laugh at life can help build emotional resilience, enabling you to cope better with life’s challenges.

■ Connection – we are social beings and laughing helps us feel part of a group.

■ Regular laughter lifts your spirit and brings out your natural beauty.

By engaging in regular, daily laughter, you can build up your physical, emotional and mental health arsenal.

Meredith Yardley is a happiness specialist and has an MA in Communication She is on a quest to help people live happier, more fulfilled lives, regardless of their circumstances. meredithyardley.com

OPERATING OPTIONS: As the population ages, we're operating on increasingly older people.

Photo: Katarzyna Bialasiewicz

Deciding on surgery

Dr Claire McKie, Deakin University HOW do we decide who should and shouldn’t undergo surgery?

As the population ages, we’re operating on older and older people. Rates for elective surgery in Australia are increasing most among those aged over 85.

Advances in anaesthetic and surgical techniques, especially keyhole surgery, now allow older adults to undergo operations and procedures that were previously not possible.

However, in many cases the balance between benefits and harms of surgery for older people is

not clear-cut.

■ Age is factor, but not the only one Some 70-year-olds are fit, healthy and still working full-time. Other 70-year-olds have multiple medical conditions, are frail and living in nursing homes. So decisions about surgery shouldn’t be based on age alone.

We can’t ignore the changes associated with ageing, which means sometimes the potential harms of surgery will outweigh the benefits.

The harms associated with surgery and anaesthesia include death, surgical complications, longer hospital stays and poorer long-term outcomes. This may mean not being able

to return to the same physical or cognitive level of function or needing to go into a nursing home.

The changes in our body as we age, as well as an increase in the number of diseases, and therefore medications we take, can increase the risks associated with surgery and anaesthesia.

Frailty is the strongest predictor of poor outcomes after surgery.

■ Consider the patient’s preferences Patients tend to overestimate the benefits of surgery and underestimate the harms.

This highlights the importance of shared decision-making between patients and clinicians.

As we age, outcomes

such as living independently, staying in our own home, the ability to move around, and being mentally alert often become more important than prolonging life at all costs. This information about a person’s values is critical for shared decision-making conversations.

When considering these preferences, the discussion becomes more than just “could” we do this operation – it’s about “should” we do this operation? Someone living at home with early dementia may decide the risk of this worsening, and the possible need to move to a nursing home, is not worth any benefits of surgery.

In some cases, cognitive impairment and dementia associated with ageing mean it’s not the patient (but their appointee) making decisions about surgery.

■ Not everyone should be offered surgery There shouldn’t be policies that say “no” to surgery based on age.

When considering resource allocation, it should not just be about how many years a person has to live, or blunt assessments based on how much their operation might cost the health system.

This story was first published in The Conversation .

Supporting ageing through My Health Record AGEING is not a destination, but a journey.

It’s not a place you suddenly arrive at one day – rather it’s something we’re all experiencing, all the time.

Our population is living longer than ever before, and before the turn of the next century it is expected that nearly a quarter of Australians will be over the age of 65.

The increased longevity is mostly due to advances in treatments, better hygiene and improved models of care – something that should be celebrated – but it also means it’s crucial that our health system is robust enough to provide support

Aged Care nurse Susan Emerson. Photo: Creolumen for all Australians through their ageing process.

As our longevity continues to increase, so too do the new challenges faced by the aged care sector. Initiatives such as My Health Record can bolster our health system and make sure it is prepared to provide for all

Australians across the continuum of ageing. I see the My Health Record as a great tool to support inter-professional and cross-disciplinary care.

I’ve worked in the aged care sector for almost 30 years. Time and time again, people in our sector hear Australians say they want to stay at home on their own or with their loved ones for as long as possible. It makes sense that our aged care system allows this, supporting people to manage their own care and maintain their independence. Geriatric care is critical to helping achieve and preserve the best quality of life and

independence for all Australians.

GPs are a central, trusted link in managing this care in the community. But there are times when juggling multiple specialities and tests, and accessing medical records and medications in a timely manner can be difficult.

The online summary of a person’s key health information ensures we can work with patients and their support networks to provide a treatment plan that is tailored around them.

When patients arrive at hospital, they’re often already too unwell to accurately recall all their

medical history..

Being able to store that information and have it retrievable for all healthcare providers is of enormous value to both patients and clinicians. In the common instances of after-hours medical emergencies, a digital health record can be a pharmacist’s best friend, preventing misdiagnosis or medication errors when information and support is not otherwise readily available.

Susan Emerson is an experienced aged care nurse and thought leader working in an innovative role in the aged care setting.

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25

Are you in dark about super?

Paul Clitheroe MORE than half of Australians have no idea about a shake-up of superannuation that’s due to kick in from July 1.

The clock is ticking towards the end of the financial year.

That matters because from July 1, more than three million Australians may be affected when default life insurance is switched off in super accounts that have been inactive for 16 months.

This change is part of the Protecting Your Super package aimed at preventing unnecessary or unwanted erosion of super savings by life insurance premiums.

It does this by ending cover for super accounts where there have been no contributions for 16 months or more.

More than 85 per cent of Australians have life insurance through their super fund.

Yet a new study by industry body ASFA found 53 per cent are unaware

of the upcoming change to life cover held in super.

Also, one third of Australians rarely or never read correspondence from their super fund.

Not surprisingly, one in four have no idea what their super savings are worth, and 44 per cent don’t know what insurance – if any – they have through super.

While holding life insurance through a super fund can provide an important safety net for your family if the worst should happen, paying multiple premiums out of different accounts doesn’t make sense.

Premiums come out of your super savings, so they can eat away at your retirement nest egg.

Paying several lots of premiums may provide no real benefit if you already have adequate cover in place through your main fund or if you have life insurance outside of super.

The key is to check your super before July 1

Money

SUPER MATTERS: From July 1, default life insurance is being switched off in super accounts that have been inactive for 16 months.

Photo: Squaredpixels to see if you have life cover in place, and be sure you have the right level of insurance for your circumstances.

You can elect to keep your cover in place even if the fund is inactive, and sometimes there can be good reasons to do

this, for example, if you have a pre-existing medical condition that would make it hard to get life insurance outside of super.

This can also be a cue to tidy up your super by rolling any small balances, or accounts

that have been sitting idle, into your main fund.

It’s a great way to save on fees and keep track of your super as well as cutting back on unnecessary insurance premiums.

The super industry has launched a new website:

timetocheck.com.au.

Paul Clitheroe is Chairman of InvestSMART, Chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money Magazine.

DON’T MISS

YOUR CHANCE! SENIORS WEEK QUEENSLAND 2019 will be held from August 17 to 25 across our great State.

At Seniors News we’re keen to make sure every reader knows all there is to know about the local events, activities, services and products on offer to them during the one week a year when the spotlight is well and truly turned their way.

If you have a community event to share, please email the details to editor@seniorsnewspaper.com.au

Alternatively, phone Mark 0431 411 099 to find out more.

6947124eg

If you’d like to find out more about advertising in the Seniors Week lift-out in this paper – please email mark.smith@newsregionalmedia.com.au

26

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SENIORS \\JULY, 2019

PUZZLES

JIGGERED

15/7

The challenge is to rearrange a crossword which has been broken into 25 sections. One letter has been given to get you started. Work out which 3x3 square fits in with that letter and write in the letters.

You can also shade the black squares if you find it helpful.

After completing the first 3x3 area, work out which square joins on to it, and continue until you have made a complete crossword.

I N S

O R Y E U L

T

P O R P O S E

L C E D

V E R

B O V E R

C R E

T U L R

I

E F U M B U R S W S A K E H E A I M P R A T

D I S

I

T S U

A O T S

Down 1. Short-handed (12) 2. Step by step (7) 3. Tier (5) 4. Apt (7) 5. Trite (5) 8. Improvements (12) 9. Attacker (9) 14. Wedded (7) 15. Adored (7) 18. Flavour (5) 19. Wrinkled (5)

Across 6. Usual (6) 7. Conclusion (6) 10. Never ceasing (7) 11. Instruct (5) 12. Kill (4) 13. Steam bath (5) 16. Premature (5) 17. In this place (4) 20. Aptitude (5) 21. Foul-smelling (7) 22. Speckled (6) 23. Spurn (6)

1

2

I

R I U N N N Y

L I S L F

N A M

G A T O A R F

B L E E R T E

R A B E

D I S R E O S M

O S H N S E

I E A T B

C A R O T B

B L I E T E

H F A R L A

3

4

6

8

9 10

11

12

13 14

15

16

17

18

19

20

TRIO

5

7

I

O I P E N A

O S

QUICK CROSSWORD

27

21

22

23

Can you complete these four words, using the same three-letter sequence in each?

SUDOKU

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

U

EXTRA, FEASTS, GLEANED, HEATHERS, IMMEDIATE.

ALPHAGRAMS SUDOKU

JIGGERED

TRIO: SER

Across: 6. Normal 7. Finale 10. Endless 11. Teach 12. Slay 13.

Sauna 16. Early 17. Here 20. Flair 21. Noisome 22. Dotted 23.

Reject.

Down: 1. Understaffed 2. Gradual 3. Layer 4. Fitting 5. Banal 8.

Enhancements 9. Assailant 14. Married 15. Beloved 18. Taste 19.

Lined.

QUICK CROSSWORD

QUIZ 1. What type of insect is a green grocer?

2. Yuri Gagarin was the first Russian in space. Who later became the first American in space?

3. “The ants are my friends” are misheard lyrics from which Bob Dylan song?

4. The US state of Maryland was named after the wife of which English king?

5. What is a water moccasin?

6. With which team did Scottish driver Jim Clark spend all his racing career: Lotus, McLaren or Ferrari?

7. Which complaint was the Jacuzzi originally developed to help?

8. What in your body are affected by phlebitis: kidneys, veins or eyes?

A T O M

S H I E S

S U L T A N

E L D R I O A MO A R D W O B A P A Y E T A D C U E O R MO A U L L H U N T E R C Y N I C D A T A

WORDFIT

K E B R A E B T R O A P C T T I M U M

I T S D I T S L E A C H Y G O O L E N T A I D E S L L P A R E L C OM A N O B I O O T E D NW E D E N D

QUIZ

1. Cicada, 2. Alan Shepard. 3.

Blowin’ in the Wind, 4.Charles I, 5. A snake, 6. Lotus, 7.

Arthritis, 8. Veins.

7 LETTERS ACROBAT APPAREL DOORWAY OPTIMUM PAYROLL RETRACT

R O B B E R Y

4 LETTERS ATOM COMA COOL DATA HELD HOTS IDLY KITS LAID LENT

5 LETTERS AIDES ARRAY ASSET AURAL CURIO CUTIN CYNIC DOPED EDITS EMBED KEBAB LILAC SAMOA SCONE SHIES UNWED

6 LETTERS BLEACH DYNAMO HUNTER METEOR MOOTED ROOTED STAGED SULTAN

T

Solution opposite

G O O

LIMA MEND NONE NULL THUD TIED

D

Fit the words into the grid to create a finished crossword

3 LETTERS ACT ALP ANT BAT EMU ERA GOO OBI OIL OWN TIE WEB

O S C A H N S E T R A B O V E T O R E F U L E I W E A B L I C E

WORDFIT

G A O A R T S K E A O T S

TODAY Good 12 Very Good 16 Excellent 21+

I T S U N L A M L I E T E H A R L A I N N Y

C T

E D I I S T S U R O B P E R A F T E R U E N

C

T N

TAXER SAFEST A LEGEND HER HASTE ITEM AIMED

D I S C R E R O S M O S I I O P E N I N A R P R P O S V L E R M B L E A R T

U O

S R

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter.

There is at least one nine-letter word.

No words starting with a capital are allowed, no plurals ending in s unless the word is also a verb, e.g. he burns with anger.

B U A I M L I S F F U S H E

WORD GO ROUND

WORD GO ROUND

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

concur concurs cons CONSTRUCT corn cornu cost count counts court courts crocus crust curt cuts occur occurs scorn scour scout scut stucco torc unco

ALPHAGRAMS

28

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