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INDEX 3 News - Explore the mural trail 4 Cover - OzHarvest CEO Ronni Kahn 9 What’s on 11 News - Brain-training tech for seniors 14 Community group guide 15 Wanderlust 21 Living 22 Wellbeing 23 Talk ‘n’ thoughts 24 Money 26 Reviews 27 Puzzles

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Generations inspire conversation

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Community supporting local clubs

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Challenge to community Gail Forrer Seniors Group Editor THIS month I came across some valuable thoughts from Gosford (NSW) Anglican priest, Father Rod Bower.

Fr Bower, recognised for his billboard signage, spoke at the Communities in Control conference and called, postelection, for communities to come together.

He told Pro Bono News that creating a deeper sense of belonging for everyone in our communities was one of the biggest challenges we all faced as Australians.

“If we actually look for and discover each other’s humanity, we will discover that we share common humanity in a common place and that we can be part of a deeper sense of belonging,” he said.

I was thinking much the same thing as I wrote this month’s special feature and looked into evidence behind polls that portrayed a divide between older and younger generations. What I found was a global effort to promote inclusiveness from American university students creating card games through to the partnership between Gympie’s (Qld) Aged Care Facility Cooinda and the

University of Sunshine Coast offering student accommodation with an innovative new program.

Data collection is often the first building block used in community constructions, but it can also be used to create stereotypes that have little benefit for anyone, and – as election results proved – polls mightn’t quite get the point.

Intergenerational projects fly in the face of superficial assessments.

Prompted by her 60th birthday, Tracey Johnstone took a look at her own and other’s personal circumstances.

Tracey’s honest reflections will likely provide food for your own thoughts. In terms of mind and body, this month we have a number of first-person accounts in areas of arthritis, stroke and eating.

Trust you enjoy the read, Gail

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 “Wide Bay Seniors Newspaper”.

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

The Seniors newspaper stable includes Toowoomba, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Coffs and Clarence and Central Coast publications.

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

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

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

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Explore the mural trail Revitalising the Maryborough CBD through colourful art Seniors News OLD walls are getting a new life in Maryborough as artists bring movement and colour to the city streets as part of the Maryborough Mural Project.

The newest addition, the 34th mural in the collection, was finished this month.

“Maryborough’s floral emblem callistemon citrinus (crimson bottlebrush) is Maryborough’s latest exquisite mural,” said Deborah Hannam, a co-founder of the Maryborough Mural Project.

“It was declared the floral emblem of Maryborough in 1957, and is rightly placed in Kent St opposite the Town Hall Green.”

Project co-founder Elizabeth Lowrie said the work was created by Queensland artist EJ (Filka) Zyla, who donated her time, design and

painting skills.

“EJ is a multi-disciplined artist who specialises in murals, digital and traditional illustration and mixed media artworks.

She has exceptional design skills. EJ is based at the Sunshine Coast,” Elizabeth said.

“We are very grateful to EJ for contributing her skills to the project and thereby increasing our project’s art assets.

“We would like more local artists offering their artistic talents. If artists paint for free, we try to find them a commission after.

“Artists can contact us on Facebook or through our website.”

The Maryborough Mural Project Trail comprises more than 34 murals and installations within an easy two-kilometre walk around the CBD. MMP would like Fraser Coast locals to help publicise the attraction by walking the trail with visitors, family and friends

WHIP CRACKER: This mural portrays one of Maryborough's timeless, brave and well known characters, Barbara Dalton, the matriarch of the Dalton Family Whip Cracking Show who performed at local markets. and telling their friends about it. Drop in to the Town Hall Visitors Centre for a self-guided map.

For the gardeners out there, the bottlebrush itself is native to coastal areas of eastern Australia.

Government urged to slash deeming rates to reflect record lows LEADING advocacy organisation National Seniors Australia has called for deeming rates to be cut in line with record low interest rates announced by the Reserve Bank.

Deeming rates have not been adjusted since 2015 despite interest rates falling from 2.25 per cent to the current record low of just 1.25 per cent.

Pensioners relying on income from bank deposits are getting hit twice.

Firstly from reduced income from deposit investments and then by again by deeming rates that don’t reflect lower interest rates but which are applied against income to determine the level of pension they will receive.

National Seniors Chief Advocate Ian Henschke said it was almost impossible for pensioners to generate income from bank deposit investments that matched the rate of income they were deemed to be earning.

“For example, one of the big banks today is offering a term deposit rate of 2 per cent for amounts above $50,000 and the interest paid only at the end of the term.

“However, a single pensioner is deemed to be earning 3.25 per cent for the same amount, an amount the bank is offering just 2 per cent on.

“This is why pensioners are contacting us saying the government needs to cut the deeming rate,” Mr Henschke said.

Mr Henschke said it was time the government reviewed deeming rates to bring them in line with interest rates.

“Current deeming rates are now significantly out of alignment with the lower income generated by bank deposit investments.

“However, seniors’ eligibility for the Age Pension and the pension amount they receive is still subject to those deeming rates,” Mr Henschke said.

“It is not fair to apply a

deeming rate that was set in 2015 to a pensioner’s bank deposit income which has dropped significantly as a result of the RBA’s decision to cut to a record low,” he said.

The call from the National Seniors is not without precedent, with previous governments moving to reduce deeming rates as interest rates fell.

Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision in 2015 to lower the official cash rate to what was then an historic low of just 2.25%, the government reduced the deeming rate as well.

Announcing the decision, the then-Federal Minister for Social Services, Scott Morrison, said “This additional investment will mean more in the pockets of pensioners.”

“As Prime Minister, Mr Morrison should again act and review the growing deeming gap and the financial hit it is having on pensioners,” Mr Henschke said.

It is widely cultivated and its bright red flower spikes appear in both summer and autumn. It grows well in wet conditions and is generally described as bright red, tipped with dark anthers.

Bees and small birds are frequently seen around the flowers.

Bottlebrushes can be seen in many gardens in Australia and are often planted on roadsides.

If you would like to be a

MMP volunteer or would like to donate, send to: Maryborough Mural Project – BOQ – BSB:124 080; Account No: 2262 1596.

For more information, go to maryborough muralproject.org

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Food found to feed the

The OzHarvest ethos is ‘take what you need, give if you can’ Tracey Johnstone Gail Forrer AUSTRALIA’S first “rescued food” supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, has opened in Sydney.

It’s just another one of the “firsts” created by OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn and highlights her zeal to end food wastage on a worldwide scale.

The 66-year-old former South African said she felt compelled to start the social enterprise after working in the hospitality industry and seeing first hand the enormous amount of unnecessary food waste.

“On the one hand I set up OzHarvest (which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it directly to more than 1300 charities) to make sure that good food feeds hungry people,” she said.

“At that time I didn’t understand the scale of the problem. Now that we

do, we have a huge global mission.”

Research reveals Australia’s shocking food wastage figures.

According to the Federal Government’s National Food Waste Strategy 2016-2027 position statement, we produce 7.3 million tonnes of waste each year.

Taking this down to a figure an individual can grasp, that’s 298kg per person.

Some 2.5 million tonnes of that waste is generated by households.

The government aims to see Australia halve those numbers by 2030.

Ms Kahn’s passion for the OzHarvest project is underpinned by these mind-boggling figures, and an indomitable desire to feed the hungry.

Her business acumen was honed running a successful corporate events company.

In 2004 she started with one van in Sydney. In 2005, after having the laws changed to make it

FIGHT FOOD WASTE: OzHarvest founder and CEO Ronni Kahn. safe for companies to donate surplus food, the national food waste rescue organisation now rescues and rehomes 180 tonnes of donated perishable food each

week from more than 3500 food donors, including supermarkets, hotels, airports, wholesalers, farmers, corporate events, caterers, shopping

centres, delicatessens and cafes, restaurants, film and TV shoots and even boardrooms.

“While our purpose is to nourish our country, it certainly extends globally

Photo: Livia Giacomini

in that we have to shift and change behaviour so that a third of all food does not go to waste and that there is enough food produced to feed all the hungry people on our

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SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

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planet planet. And we have to make sure it gets to them.”

Ms Kahn said that each year in Australia, four million people needed some kind of food support.

“That is unconscionable in a country that is as exquisite, beautiful and abundant as ours,” she said.

“So I think I have a job for the rest of my life.”

How does OzHarvest work?

Seven days a week, paid OzHarvest drivers and assistant volunteers collect food in their yellow-branded vans that criss-cross Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth, plus in several regional areas.

This food is then delivered free of charge to more than 1300 charitable organisations.

Most is delivered directly to the charities on the same day it is collected, with surplus food stored overnight in OzHarvest coolrooms and going out the next

morning.

Some of the food is kept back by OzHarvest chefs to use in the cooking for a cause program that turns rescued food into cooked meals, which is then delivered to charities.

All sorts of charities benefit, including women’s refuges, community centres, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres, homeless support services, soup kitchens, the Wayside Chapel in Sydney, the Red Cross and schools.

The latest OzHarvest project and Australia’s first rescued food supermarket, the OzHarvest Market, is based on a “take what you need, give if you can” philosophy.

Relying largely on the generosity of donors, volunteers and corporate support, next on the expansion agenda is the new OzHarvest Food Truck which will be available for corporate, community and private functions and for helping feed communities in need around Sydney.

OzHarvest also runs the educational programs

One of the OzHarvest vehicles that transports donated food for repurposing.

NEST and Nourish.

The curriculum-aligned FEAST education program for primary school students is currently being piloted. OzHarvest hopes to roll it out this year, starting in NSW. “We literally can change the life of a youth who might have been, and I use this word very seriously, discarded in that they have never had a

positive learning experience, never succeeded in anything,” Ms Kahn said.

“They go through our Nourished training program and graduate and they say that we have opened a door they never knew existed.”

The Nourished program takes at-risk youth aged 16-25 through an accredited Certificate II in

Hospitality or Kitchen Operations. The free program, which is run in Sydney, Adelaide and the Gold Coast, is a stepping stone for participants into the hospitality industry. It equips them with a range of skills including cooking, coffee making and food safety.

“It’s those moments, and they happen almost every day, that keep me

Photo: OzHarvest

totally passionate and driven to make OzHarvest as impactful as possible,” Ms Kahn added.

“The excitement and passion of doing what I do has never left me.”

And it’s that passion for change that the fully energised 66-year-old wants other senior Australians to take on and apply within their communities.

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Take the chance to see creative artists at work

Artists’ trail of treasures is sure to delight visitors THROUGHOUT June and July, the private workshops and studios of some of the region’s most celebrated artists will be open to visitors as part of the 2019 Gympie Region Studio Trails.

To be held over the next three weekends, the Studio Trails will give visitors the opportunity to meet the artists, view a live demonstration or participate in an activity.

More than 25 artists will be opening their creative spaces to share their artistic journey and showcase their unique artworks.

Councillor Bob Fredman said that the Studio Trails are not only a wonderful way to showcase the creative talents of artists, artisans and arts collectives throughout the Gympie region, but also an opportunity to get up close and personal with artists.

“Everyone has a story to tell, and listening to these artists’ journeys and how their journeys have impacted their art will no doubt be very interesting,” Cr Fredman said.

The Studio Trails will be open to visitors over the following weekends in June and July: ■ June 22-23 – Northern Gympie.

■ June 29-30 – Gympie and surrounds.

■ July 6-7 – The Mary Valley.

Most of the art works on display at the various studios will be for sale and many of the artists

are available to undertake commissioned works.

PHILL HORNE – BLUE SANDS OF RAINBOW BEACH

Rainbow Beach artist Phill is also a Lead Lecturer at Sydney University. Reluctant to call himself an artist, Phill is self-taught and considers painting “a natural state of being’’.

Phil paints in oils on stretched canvas because, he says, “canvas conveys a sense of permanence, and oils have a fluidity that can be constantly reworked and blended’’.

Phone 0414 555 464 or email phill.horne@gmail.com.

FIREWOOD DESIGNS – PETER WATTS

Creating unique woodworking designs for more than 16 years, Peter sources materials from local and reclaimed trees from Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.

Now living on acreage at Curra, north of Gympie, Peter has transformed his property into a little piece of paradise.

Visitors on the Studio Trails can relax with a cup of billy tea and home-made bush tucker while enjoying a tour of the property and woodworking demonstrations by the artist.

Phone 0423 005 377 or email peter.watts@gmail.com.

UNIQUE WOODWORKING: Peter Watts of Firewood Designs at work.

SALLY SPENCER – GYMPIE AND SURROUNDS

Sally Spencer is a sculptor and installation artist.

She is planning a retrospective exhibition at Gympie Regional Gallery in January next year to celebrate more than 50 years as a professional artist. The environment, ancient history and the development of civilisation has been the subject of much of her installation work.

Sally uses symbolism to cut through the barriers of time and place and

‘‘

Visitors on the Studio Trails can relax with a cup of billy tea and home-made bush tucker. invoke memories of our origins in a metaphorical way.

Sally’s studio is full of sculptures from past installations, some of which will form the Retrospective exhibition.

Phone 07 5883 6758 or email sallysculpture @gmail.com.

PAT CALE – THE MARY VALLEY

Nestled in the stunning Mary Valley, local artist Pat Cale paints her impressive artworks from her veranda studio overlooking the town of Imbil.

Highly sought after for her commissioned works,

Pat explores a fusion of acrylics and oils with her paintings, evoking light, colour and texture.

Since studying fine arts in the 1960s in the UK, Pat has had a remarkable career as a professional artist and is constantly developing new concepts and projects.

Phone 0456 263 747 or email: patcale01@gmail.com.

To find out more and to download your copy of the 2019 Gympie Region Studio Trails Guide, go to gympie.qld.gov.au/ guide-studio-trails.

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

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GET CREATIVE IN A PAINTING CLASS WITH LOCAL ARTIST

PAINT your own custom wine glass followed by morning tea. Engage the right-side of your brain in this inspiring morning art session in a convivial atmosphere. On Friday, June 28 from 10am-12noon at Latitude25 RV lifestyle community, 1 Latitude Boulevard, Nikenbah.

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

THE AC/DC STORY

BE TAKEN on a journey from AC/DC’s humble beginnings in 1973 to present day with a three hour Rockumentary featuring big screens, rare footage, photos and of course ACCA DACCA performing songs off every studio album AC/DC produced. Get your tickets while still available. On Saturday, June 29 from 7pm-10.30pm at the Brothers Sports Club, 130 Takalvan St, Bundaberg.

Ticket Information: The AC/DC Story: $31.89 ($30 + $1.89 fees). Go to accadaccarocks.com.au/.

OF SEA & SKY JOHN LEYLAND

THIS exhibition focuses on the open expanses of our oceans, the ethereal quality of our skies, and the creatures that inhabit these spaces. These works emphasise the artist’s own perception of the quiet, yet majestic beauty that can be found along our glorious coastlines. Tickets: free.

On now until Sunday, June 30 at Gatakers Artspace, 311 Kent St, Maryborough. For more information, email gatakersartspace@fraser coast.qld.gov.au or phone 07 4190 5723.

BROOWEENA HISTORICAL VILLAGE AND MUSEUM

THE Brooweena Historical Village provides a fascinating glimpse of the past with its tranquil rural setting in the centre of the township of Brooweena, 47 kilometres north of Maryborough.

This area was first settled

by Europeans in 1849 and the town developed with the arrival of the railway line in 1889.

The local sawmill opened in 1924 and closed in November 2013.

Sugar production is also a major industry.

Open on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from 10am – 3pm (other times by prior arrangement).

Concessions are available for group bookings with homemade lunch, morning or afternoon tea.

9 The Brooweena Historical Village is located on Smith Crescent.

Most buildings are wheelchair accessible.

Phone 07 4129 9262.

LITTLE HAVEN GRATITUDE WALK

LITTLE Haven Palliative Care’s Gratitude Walk and Fun Run is on Sunday, July 14 from 8am-12noon at the Gympie Showground, Exhibition RdWe experience blessings in tragedy as well as joy.

In this spirit, we invite you to join us on our “gratitude walk” honouring our patients and families and offering thanks to a community that supports caring for the terminally ill so they may enjoy the best and longest possible quality end of life.

Walk and fun run – 1km, 5km and 7km. Entry fees paid on the day at the Walk attract an additional $5/person and Group.

Online purchases: Adult $20; Child*/Concession** $10; Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) $40; Family (2 adults, up to 2 children) $50; Additional Child $5***; Junior Team (5 children) $35 – additional team members $5 each; *Child is 16 years or younger, children under 3 years free; **Concession includes student card, health care card and senior concession card holders; *** Family tickets are a base fee, plus $5 per family member running. Go to gratitudewalk.com.au/.

TIARO FARMING AND LIFESTYLE FIELD DAY

THE Tiaro Farming and Lifestyle field day is a great family day out, with a range of food, stalls, entertainment and children's activities. But it is also a day of learning, with a range of experts on hand to run workshops and answer questions on various topics. The field day is not just about sharing information, but also an opportunity for many local community groups and business to showcase their products and services. The committee invites organisations and businesses to sponsor the field day. Email tiarofieldday@gmail.com.

On Saturday, July 20 from 9am-3pm at the Tiaro Recreation Grounds, Inman St, Tiaro. Adult: $5.

Door sales only.

2019 FRASER COAST EXPO

EACH year, thousands of home renovators and outdoor adventure enthusiasts make their way to the Maryborough Showgrounds for the annual Fraser Coast Expo.

Over 100 exhibitors will

showcase some of Australia’s best outdoor adventure gear and home renovation products.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to compare products and chat with industry experts. On Friday, August 16 from 8.30am-4pm, Saturday, August 17 from 8.30am-5pm and Sunday, August 18 from 8.30am-4pm at the Maryborough Showgrounds and Equestrian Park, Maryborough. Tickets: Adults: $12; Seniors Card: $10; Children under 16 free. Go to frasercoastexpo.com.au/.

What's on

FAMILY DAY OUT: The Tiaro Farming and Lifestyle Field Day is a great day for all ages, with a range of food, stalls, entertainment and activities.

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NEWS

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

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The Best Quality Assisted Living in the Brain-training Wide Bay BRAINS OF BUNDABERG: Friends of Kepnock Grove member Sandra Dingle demonstrates the brain trainer machine being used by Carinity Kepnock Grove aged care residents.

technology for seniors

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?

the Brain Trainer Plus machine was purchased with funds raised by Friends of Kepnock Grove, a group of Bundaberg residents which has been supporting local seniors since 1994. Over the past 25 years the auxiliary group has raised almost $180,000 to support Carinity Kepnock Grove and its residents.

Friends of Kepnock Grove President Pauline Langford says the positive reaction of residents to Brain Trainer Plus had motivated club members to increase its fundraising efforts to purchase a second device for Carinity Kepnock Grove.

Find out more about Carinity Kepnock Grove at carinity.org.au/aged-care or phone 07 4128 6199.

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• 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.

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engage with others. They reminisce, they talk about the old days it also allows them to feel accomplished and rewarded,” Jodie says.

“Residents that I had not heard speak or talk to other residents were engaging and laughing, we all had tears of joy in our eyes. We have quite a few residents that request the brain trainer so they can use it at their own leisure.

“Activities on the device range from trivia and quizzes to games matching colours and recognising old songs, all intellectual stimulus designed to sharpen residents’ minds and enhance their thought processes.

“There are different levels from quite easy to very difficult so anyone at all can use equipment.

With its touch screen it’s very easy to use.”

Costing around $5000,

6972974aa

A BUNDABERG aged care community is seeing positive results from the use of brain training technology designed to stimulate the memories and cognitive capabilities of older people with dementia.

A Brain Trainer Plus computer gifted to Carinity Kepnock Grove is keeping its residents mentally active and engaged through the power of games.

The technology was created based on theories citing the benefits of play therapy on older people and those with dementia or Alzheimer’s or suffering from depression.

Carinity Kepnock Grove Residential Manager Jodie Little says the Brain Trainer Plus is making a huge difference in the lives of residents with dementia.

“The technology has helped some dementia care residents to better

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Try taking a walk in my

Is there a growing disconnect between generations – or not?

IN TERMS of respect, a recent report headlined Societal Views on Seniors in Australia revealed a disconnect in perceptions between younger (18–44) and older (60-plus) Australians. The younger generations felt misunderstood, while senior Australians felt under-appreciated.

The survey carried out

by Aveo showed that 68 per cent of millennials felt seniors were treated with respect, while in contrast 53 per cent of seniors disagreed.

A December 2018 report by National Seniors Australia, Respect for Age: Going, Going or Gone? Views of older Australians, highlighted the thoughts of its members and noted that about 43 per cent of them agreed that older people deserved the respect of younger people because of their age – which meant 57 per cent did not agree.

Additionally, the popular satirical online publication The Betoota Advocate (60 per cent of readers are under 34) took a tongue-in-cheek approach to perceived differences, with its story headlined Baby Boomers happy for nothing to be done about climate change until after they die.

A paragraph from the article said: “This particular generation – also known as The Baby Boomers – have been heavily criticised over the past 30 years for their inability to look past their own retirement, which many of them believe should have been the day they turned 55. However,

despite their sense of entitlement, many refuse to leave their highpowered positions in the corporate sector and free up the crowded housing market by retiring to the coast or country.”

Yet, in the face of these surveys, statistics and satires, is there any solid evidence to fight back and call this “fake news”. Is there evidence to support a “connect” rather than a “disconnect” between older and younger demographics.

Ninety-two-year-old nursing home resident Gladys Biles does not think there is anything to be envious about in either generation.

“We had our own problems,” she said, citing the Great Depression and World Wars. On the other hand, she saw the younger people now tackling high costs of education and housing.

She said she felt respected by the younger members in her family.

Her 62-year-old daughter Jenny has three adult children and two grandchildren. She is a regular visitor to her mother and volunteers ironing time at the facility. She feels much the same way – good and bad points in both demographics.

Twenty-seven-year-old Clare Grant, a regular visitor to her grandmother in a Bendigo nursing home, echoed the same sentiment.

Additionally, in recognition of the importance of harmonious intergenerational relationships, a number of innovative initiatives ranging from housing to leisure games have been

BONDS: As longevity increases, new ways of communcation are sought between young and old.

A recent report – Societal Views on Seniors in Australia – outlines a disconnect rather than a connect between older and younger demographics.

Photo: Artecke launched.

Due to begin in July, the University of Sunshine

Coast (USC) and Cooinda Aged Care Centre in Gympie, Queensland, will

be trialling an intergenerational living arrangement.

The trial came about through need and serendipity. In 2017, at the same time Cooinda Aged Care was building new accommodation, Cooinda CEO Robyn Kross and USC staff attended a meeting at the Gympie council.

When USC staff expressed an interest in extending their campus but noted they were hindered by a lack of student accommodation, Robyn put forward the possibility of using their soon-to-be older rooms.

Since then a feasibility study looking at nursing students paying a nominal rent to live in the older rooms in exchange for social activity with the residents has been completed, and earlier this year the idea further evolved when Robyn

Congratulations to our Winners Congratulations to the winners of our April The Chaperone Screening giveaway.

John McDonald Judi Adams Roslyn Mayes

Stay tuned to the paper and our website for the latest Seniors News Giveaways Visit seniorsnews.com.au/competitions 6985417aa

Gail Forrer

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

NEWS

generation’s shoes

Family and community gatherings can bridge generational gaps. attended a Gold Coast seminar featuring Gea Sijpkes, head of the Humanitas retirement home in Deventer, Netherlands.

The Cooinda/USC model is loosely based on this intergenerational living model which began in 2012 and has since expanded to two more

Dutch aged care facilities.

The desire to bring generations closer inspired America’s Stanford Centre of Longevity to theme its

2019 Design Challenge around “ways to promote intergenerational relationships and contributions from all generations”.

Here are the top three

ideas: The So You Think You Know Your Grandma team from Berkeley University (California) developed a card game specifically targeted at breaking down barriers between members of different generations. The unique approach combines elements of both storytelling and game dynamics to engage players who may have differences in mindsets, views and perceived stereotypes.

Stanford University’s team, the Family Room, created a user-friendly app that helps families capture and share the histories of their older loved ones through high-quality audio stories.

This approach allows people with varying technology comfort levels to access the app via telephone, web interface or smartphone.

In third place was Pillow Fight from Yu7anZE University in Taipei, which created an innovative video game platform using pillows as game controllers. The team demonstrated how the simplified controllers allowed very young and very old players to play together, creating shared laughter and experiences.

The High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia has recognised the loving bond between older and younger Australians and its new campaign features young children urging their grandparents to have their blood pressure checked.

Spokesman Professor Markus Schlaich asked: “What better way to encourage our ageing population to make that step than the concern of their cherished grandchildren?”

In terms of retirement

13

villages, Aveo Group head of care Darren Sonter said careful thought and consideration was put into various areas of its accommodation style.

“The health benefits of leading a socially rich life are well known and we understand that we have an important role to play in ensuring there are plenty of opportunities for our residents to interact and socialise throughout their senior years with friends and family of all ages,” Mr Sonter said.

“A number of our communities benefit from regular visits from local schools where the generations can bond over a shared love of music and game playing, whereas some of our communities feature a community area or a TV or media room where residents can enjoy a movie with family.”

Ultimately, increased longevity has given rise to more living multigenerations than ever before. In addition, corresponding conversations have driven disparate viewpoints, considerations and surveys.

In 2011, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 531,000 people were living with “other related persons” in the family household. By 2036, the ABS predicts this number will rise to 781,000.

Society is adjusting to these new demographics with fresh ways of negotiating relations, lifestyle and accommodation. It will take time, but certainly there appears evidence of a desire from many and varied parties to acknowledge generational differences while working towards respectful and thoughtful exchanges.

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

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Community notes

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

GYMPIE AICM “OPEN MIC” MUSIC EVENINGS

THE next “Open Mic” concert at the AICM (Australian Institute of Country Music) at 28 Channon St, Gympie is on Friday June 21, commencing at 6.30pm with a barbecue and BYO. Performers of all genre, including blues, folk, jazz, instrumental, vocals, dance, poetry and comedy welcome. Every third Friday of the month. Cost is $5 per entry. Everyone welcome. Phone Robyn Hamilton on 0429 011 783.

PROBUS CLUBS

Bargara and District Mixed THE Unity Drummers were guests at our Friendship Day held at Baldwin Wetlands in May where we gained an insight into the benefits of drumming in improving hand-eye coordination.

The challenge was for members to master the different rhythms and speeds. Friendship Day is an annual event with lunch provided by the club together with games and the opportunity to walk through the beautiful wetlands and enjoy the wildlife. Meals On Wheels arrived at noon with a variety of hot food and a great day was had by all.

Our club meets on the second Monday of each month at Bargara Golf Club and visitors are always welcome. For more information phone Ray on 07 4154 7775.

Fraser Coast-Hervey Bay Combined WE RECENTLY held a tropical luncheon to celebrate the new president and committee.

This was held at the Fraser Room at the Boat Club, Urangan. The Boat Club was decorated with palm fronds and leis. After a beautiful smorgasbord lunch, guests were treated to a presentation of Hawaiian music and dance. The Aloha Okano Hula Nu Wahine Group put on a lovely show, then many of our members braved the floor to perform a Hawaiian dance. Come and join us for meetings on the third Tuesday of the month from 10am at the Boat Club.

VIEW CLUBS

(Voice, Interest, and Education of Woman) Hervey Bay OUR meetings and luncheon are always the second Monday of each month at the Club House, Tooth St, Pialba from 10.30am and usually include a guest speaker.

Monthly socials are on the fourth Monday at various venues from 9.30am. Karen Flannery from the Laughter Club took us all on a wonderful journey of fun and spontaneous laughter as she led us through an exercise program which proved that exercises can be interesting and enjoyable as we clapped, raised our arms high in the air all under Karen’s guidance.

Bargara and District Mixed Probus Club’s Alison Burke and Dot Johnson ready for the Friendship Day lunch.

GOING TROPPO: Fraser Coast-Hervey Bay combined Probus Club held a tropical luncheon to celebrate the new president and committee.

Hervey Bay View Club’s Glenda Reinke with clever Robyn Busk and some of her glitzy table arrangements.

Yes, laughter is the very best medicine.

Our May meeting was a celebration of our 24th birthday with Glitz and Glamour as our theme and our clever member, Robyn, made some lovely table settings of gold and silver.

Acting president Shelley and Zone Councillor Jean Jennings cut the colourful birthday cake which was sampled by representatives of the three clubs who attended, Gympie, Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay View Clubs.

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

Phone Bev on

07 4128 2692.

FRIENDS OF KEPNOCK GROVE

THEY may be retired but they’re still working hard in their community.

Friends of Kepnock Grove, a group of Bundaberg residents dedicated to supporting local seniors, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Over the past quarter of a century the auxiliary group has raised a total of $177,000 for the Carinity Kepnock Grove aged care community in Bundaberg.

Money raised from cake stalls, fashion parades and running canteens has funded a chapel,

MS regional service co-ordinator Matt Dunford and Denise Young (front) and Karen White (RSC) Sunshine Coast and Brian Tanner celebrate World MS Day on May 30.

Hervey Bay View Club acting president Shelley Jones and zone councillor Jean Jennings shared the cutting of the 24th birthday celebrations cake. air-conditioning, a pergola in the dementia ward, and the purchase of medical aids such as patient lifts and nursing beds.

Friends of Kepnock Grove’s membership includes residents of Kepnock Grove retirement village, co-located with the aged care residences, their family, friends, church members and other supporters from the Bundaberg community.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of Friends of Kepnock Grove can phone Pauline Langford on 0438 186 559.

MULTIPLE

SCLEROSIS SUPPORT GROUP

THE Hervey Bay and Maryborough Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets on the first Friday of each month on the Deck at the Hervey Bay RSL at 10am for a coffee and a chat.

Our meetings continue to be well attended with new members joining these fun but very therapeutic get-togethers.

Anyone is welcome to attend, whether they have MS or know of someone who has MS. For more information, phone Bev on 07 4128 2692 or email bev_cornwell11 @outlook.com.

Denise Hutchins, Bernadette Gadiske, Leslie Horton and Ailsa Reece at Friends of Kepnock Grove's 25th anniversary afternoon tea.

15

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

Stepping out on the Kepler Walk in the park for hiking novice PAGE 17

16

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

TRAVEL BRIEFS GRACE KELLY AND PRINCE RAINIER III FIRST MEETING EXHIBITION

ON UNTIL October 15 at the Palace of Monaco is an exhibition dedicated to the first meeting between the American actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

The exhibition Monaco, 6 May 1955. The Story of a Meeting is organised for the 90th anniversary of Grace Kelly’s birth.

Designed as a photographic tour through the palace state rooms, the exhibition follows in Grace Kelly’s footsteps Info: palais.mc/en/ museum-and-visits/ the-state-apartments1-26.html.

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, BOLLYWOOD AT MADAME TUSSAUDS

BOLLYWOOD has come to Sydney’s Madame Tussauds.

Guests can step backstage and join Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Shah Rukh Khan on a movie production set, where they take the starring role in favourite Bollywood film scenes.

Then it’s time to master a Bollywood dance routine

PALACE MEETING: The Palace of Monaco is hosting an exhibition remembering when Prince Rainier III first met Grace Kelly. in the rehearsal studio, grab an outfit and head centre stage and into the spotlight for the performance of a lifetime.

Info: madametussauds .com.au/sydney/en/ whats-inside/lightscamera-bollywood.

ALASKA’S INSIDE PASSAGE BY TUGBOAT

FOR tourists with a hankering to wake up to birdsong and the smell of the forest, there’s a

10-day inside passage cruise aboard the 107-year-old coastal tugboat Swell.

Swell is a fully restored, 88-foot tugboat. She has six private cabins with ensuite baths, a cosy salon, ample deck lounges, hot tub and an open wheelhouse.

Operated by Maple Leaf Adventures, the slow-travel trips for 12 guests feature up-close experiences of whales and brown bears, walks

through the rainforest, and zodiacing among icebergs.

Info: MapleLeaf Adventures.com.

BIG SAVING ON FIJI CRUISING

BOOK before June 30 and save 25 per cent on cruise fares and no single supplement on all Captain Cook Cruises Fiji’s three-, four- and seven-night Mamanuca, Yasawa Islands and remote Discovery cruises.

As well as being immersed in Fijian culture, enjoy daily snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, relaxing on white sandy beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters.

The sale offer is for travel before March 31, 2020.

The cost for the three-night cruise starts at $1196.25 a person twin share (normally $1595 a person twin share), with solo occupancy fares starting at $1496.25 a person (normally $1995 a person).

Info: captain cookcruisesfiji.com

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

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

20 - 27 JULY 2019

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

NORFOLK ISLAND

Nearly Sold Out Be Quick

$1,855

*

per person Twin Share Ex BNE, Single supplement $470

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

CANBERRA’S spring gardeners are at work planting the first Floriade bulbs at Commonwealth Park. The colourful celebration of spring will this year run from September 14 to October 13. The theme is World in Bloom, which visitors will see reflected in flowerbeds and entertainment programming.

Info: visitcanberra.com.au

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*

PLAN TO VISIT FLORIADE

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

$6,895*

per person Twin Share

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.

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

6885061ar

13 - 25 May 2020

POLAR HURTIGRUTEN SALE

CHIMU is offering up to 25 per cent off Hurtigruten cruises to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Patagonia during the 2019-2020 season.

The sale is on until June 26 and available to Chimu clients.

Travellers can see Antarctica and the Falkland Islands from as little as AU$7594 for a 17-day itinerary.

Info: phone 1300 720 564 or go to chimuadventures.com.au.

MICRO-ART AT ART SERIES HOTELS

ONE of the world’s biggest, or smallest art exhibitions is on until July at eight of Accor Art Hotels in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Over 40 micro artworks from artists around the globe can be discovered when hotel guests are given a magnifying glass at check-in and encouraged to search for every micro art piece around the hotel.

Info: artserieshotels.com.au

JAPAN GASTRONOMY TOURS

NEW tours from Walk Japan celebrate the ritual of bathing in onsens – hot spring baths – and savouring fresh seasonal delights.

Each five-day, four-night tour focuses on its relaxing, restorative and therapeutic onsen, and its wonderfully unique and delicious cuisine.

The leisurely, guided walking is over easy terrain with distances each day limited up to 10 kilometres.

The Onsen Gastronomy tours are limited to 12 people. Guests are immersed (or, get to be immersed) in the traditional Japanese way of bathing and every evening stay in a delightful local inn, almost always with their own onsens.

Info: walkjapan.com.

ALPS SUMMER WITH SIR RICHARD HEAD to the Swiss Alps

this northern summer and book in at The Lodge, Sir Richard Branson’s mountain retreat in Verbier.

Between June 14 and September 22, The Lodge takes individual room bookings.

Stays at The Lodge are inclusive of meals and drinks.

Verbier is a five-minute walk away and offers a wealth of designer boutiques for shopaholics looking for some retail therapy.

The Lodge has an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis, spa, a steam room, a party room, two bars and an award-winning head chef.

Rates start from CHF940 (about AUD$1354) per room, per night based on two adults sharing.

Guests staying four nights or more will be treated to their final night for free.

Info: phone (02) 9965 7299 or email info@inspiredluxury. com.au.

D-DAY EXHIBITION

THE Australian War Memorial’s D-Day exhibition, which is on until September, explores the remarkable story of Australia’s involvement in the invasion of Normandy.

It tells the story of June 6, 1944 when the Allied forces stormed ashore the heavily defended beaches of northern France, supported by 24,000 glider-borne troops and paratroopers aboard 1200 transport aircraft and 700 gliders.

The Australian story has items from the National Collection, including textiles, photographs, diaries, letters, models, artwork, and digital displays.

Info: awm.gov.au

SPRING GARDENS UK TOURS

GET in early to book for Chelsea Flower Show, Cotswolds and Welsh Gardens in spring 2020.

Explore iconic gardens and beautiful English, Welsh and Cotswold countrysides with these small group tours.

The tours on offer for May 2020 are: Private Gardens of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, Chelsea Flower Show, Dublin in Bloom Show and Seine River Cruise including Chelsea Flower Show.

Info: botanica.travel or phone 1300 305 202.

DARWIN ARTS FESTIVAL

AUGUST is the time to visit the Top End for the Darwin Arts Festival, on from August 8-25.

It combines outdoor festivities with cabaret, theatre, dance and visual arts. Info: darwinfestival.org.au.

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SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

Our fall guy finds his feet

‘‘

It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s famous All Blacks

Spectacular Kepler Track well worth the effort for novice

Graeme Wilson I WAS almost 1500m high on my first ever multi-day hike and I had a serious wind problem.

And not the sort I’d overheard others experiencing in our bunk room the night before.

A 100km gust had just swept me off my feet and crashed me to the rocky ground on the most elevated section of New Zealand’s Kepler Track.

It felt like I’d been hit by one of my host nation’s world-famous All Blacks rugby gladiators.

As I gazed up from the razorback ridge at the stormy skies above, life had looked better, and I had the moment of reflection I knew would come on my inaugural venture into the world of serious hiking.

My body and pride were equally bruised and when faced with such adversity we have two choices – retreat to safety or embrace the challenge.

I took a deep breath and chose the latter, and I’m so glad I did.

Completing the 60km four-day/three-night Kepler walk was quite likely the greatest physical achievement of my life.

I’d trained reasonably consistently in the lead-up to the Kepler with regular half-day hikes and

twice-weekly 50km bike rides, but the lycra and lattes didn’t really prepare my legs for the challenge of transporting both me and my 15kg pack up and into the clouds.

I believe it was a mixture of pride and fear of failure that helped propel me forward when the going got tough.

It also helped that the amazing scenery along the way quickly has your mind turning away from thoughts of the enduring physical battle, and when it’s not the flora taking away whatever breath is left in your lungs, it’s the dainty little waterfalls cascading off the rugged hillsides and tumbling gracefully into space.

I’ll also highlight that pain is temporary, but the special sights experienced along this four-day walk will live in the mind forever.

Those memories begin forming the moment you step on to the track on the shores of the picturesque Lake Te Anau.

But the reality is that when planning your assault on the Kepler, the challenges begin much earlier than those first bold steps along the undulating trail.

While the hike itself is undoubtedly arduous, it’s testing enough simply securing hut bookings for

BREATHTAKING BEAUTY: The four-day Kepler Track walk will leave you wanting more. the three nights.

On the day the bookings open, you need to be logged on to the website early to snatch up beds the moment the process goes live. It’s akin to getting tickets to an Ed Sheeran concert.

And then there’s the equipment selection.

Nancy Sinatra was clearly a hiking advocate as she sang about the importance of having boots made for walking.

Trust me, no one wants to be climbing rocky peaks in boots made for anything else.

It’s a given that you’ll burn through the calories on a four-day hike, so planning for the re-fuelling process holds great importance.

Unsurprisingly, there’s no cute cafes or craft beer bars along the track, although I did note

numerous ideal locations for pop-up coffee carts. #ideasman Dried food is a staple on the menu and despite its initial resemblance to something you’d serve up to the family moggy, I was pleasantly surprised that the addition of a little boiling water returned it to something close to its former glory.

When it comes to holiday accommodation, I’ll readily admit I’m traditionally the kind of guy who enjoys a little room service and the occasional spa. Pre-hike banter highlighting the possibility of long drops and enforced bedtime spooning involving hirsute international backpackers with questionable hygiene had me a little worried.

I needn’t have been concerned. The three huts on the Kepler all have

Photos: Graeme Wilson

KEPLER TRACK FEES AND BOOKINGS Bookings open on June 13 at 9.30am (NZ time) for the Great Walks season from October 29, 2019 to April 30, 2020 Visit the NZ Department of Conservation website (www.doc.govt.nz) for full details on booking huts and campsites.

International visitors: • Adult (18+ years): $130 per person, per night • Child (17 years and under): $130 per person, per night flushing toilets, and the rhythmic sounds of the inevitable snoring from bunkmates just acts as a bedtime lullaby.

No recounting of a Kepler walk is complete without mention of the constant threat posed by mosquitoes with wingspans the size of small aircraft. To stop and pause near any still waterway is to invite a kamikaze-like attack from the bloodthirsty beasts.

But at the end of the day, a few itchy bites are a small price to pay to enjoy some of the most spectacular natural scenery this world has to offer.

Taking on the Kepler was no walk in the park (ok, strictly speaking it was) but it’s only strengthened my desire to explore more.

Everest may be a mountain too far, but never say never…

The forest floor resembles a plush carpet.

A soaring native kea takes in the picturesque views.

Living the dream...author Graeme Wilson.

Flying the flag at Hut 1 on NZ’s glorious Kepler Track.

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

‘‘

Prehistoric stone circle the Ring of Brodgar was built between 2000BC and 2500BC.

INCREDIBLE INGENUITY: The Italian chapel built by prisoners of war in World War II.

Photo: Yvonne Gardiner

Village sites older than

Do some armchair touring and visit the Orkney Islands with intrepid travelling duo, and happy retirees, Yvonne and John Gardiner

THE incredibly beautiful and isolated Orkney Islands would have changed little since the Picts, Celts and Vikings stepped on their fertile ground.

Blessed with stunning views and outstanding landscapes, the remarkable islands northeast of the Scottish coast safeguard extraordinary architectural treasures of historical global significance, some older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids.

One of the best-known village sites, Skara Brae, rests on a beach and is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village. Thought to be more than 5000 years old, the eight turf-covered cottages give a fabulous glimpse into Neolithic life, including the beds they slept in.

Nearby and also open to the public is Skaill House, owned by local laird William Watt when he discovered Skara Brae in 1850.

The Orkneys, a group of more than 70 islands and islets, can be bitterly cold and windy. In chillier seasons it’s essential to

This 5000-year-old village, Skara Brae, was uncovered by a winter storm in 1850. pack thermals and warm coats. Not to be deterred, however, humans have been on the islands for about 8800 years.

We visited at the end of October and stayed in a hotel beside the harbour

at Kirkwall, the islands’ capital. The first day we could hardly turn a corner without being blown backwards. A slight breeze and warm sun greeted us the following day while we explored the

incomparable Standing Stones of Stenness, of Neolithic origin and thought to be the oldest “henge” site in the British Isles.

Nearby is the prehistoric stone circle

Photos: Yvonne Gardiner

the Ring of Brodgar, built between 2000BC and 2500BC. Photos cannot fully capture the mystical wonders of these two heritage sites.

While the popular Stonehenge in the United

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SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

St Magnus Cathedral, founded by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.

The Viking Harald Fairhair annexed Orkney to Norway.

pyramids, Stonehenge The atmospheric Ring of Brodgar in the heart of Neolithic Orkney, West Mainland.

Overlooking Orkneys’ capital Kirkwall from the roof of the St Magnus Cathedral.

Kingdom is now fenced off to the public, visitors can enter the ring of standing stones at the older Ring of Brodgar and experience their awesome majesty at close quarters.

Twenty-seven stones remain in the circle, surrounded by a ditch.

They sit in peaceful countryside with beautiful views taking in the sea, lochs, deep-pile green grass, massive skies, cows, sheep and little stone cottages. The place is magical.

In Kirkwall, chief among the attractions is St Magnus Cathedral, a massive red sandstone place of worship built by the Viking Earl Rognvald in 1137.

90 in the Orkney Islands.

Sheltering in the tomb for days during bad weather, the Vikings had made their mark by carving words into the stone.

Looking from the outside like a big mound of earth covered in grass, Maeshowe tomb is accessed down a low, 10m-long passageway. It’s an incredible stone structure with one central chamber plus smaller chambers. At Winter Solstice, the sun’s rays line up with one of the chambers.

Wildlife is another main reason for visiting these remote islands to the north of Scotland.

We were lucky enough to see newborn seal pups

I joined the “upper floors” guided tour to the bell tower, roof chambers and the parapet below the spire, which offered glorious views of the harbourside town.

Opposite the cathedral, a well-stocked museum gives an insight into Viking, Neolithic and medieval history.

As if we hadn’t soaked up enough of the Orkneys’ heritage, the Iron Age village Broch of Gurness and the tidal island Brough of Birsay yielded their Viking and Pictish settlement remains.

A great surprise was to see Viking graffiti from the 12th century at Maeshowe, the biggest Neolithic tomb of about

at Windwick Bay, although missed out on otters, orcas and puffins which are common at certain times of the year.

The Orkneys’ modern history is as fascinating as its ancient past.

We visited Scapa Flow where the Germans scuttled their fleet after the Armistice in 1918.

During World War II in 1939, HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U-boat in the same waterway.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered a block wall (the Churchill barriers) to be built by Italian prisoners-of-war right across the harbour channels.

Those same prisoners also crafted an exquisite

Seals laze on the beach at Windwick Bay. Italian chapel out of Nissen huts, which is lovingly cared for to this day and hosts weddings and christenings.

So much to see in the Orkneys, and all those adventures made us hungry.

Black pudding and haggis were on the menu, but in the three days we

were there I chose more traditional dishes like slow-cooked lamb and vegetables, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and delicious wild-caught salmon.

Followed by the best apple crumble I’ve ever tasted.

I wonder if the Vikings and Picts ate this well!

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JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Go troppo in tropical north THERE are several very inviting visitor options in North Queensland from luxury accommodation to romantic glamping on the Great Barrier Reef and an exciting new indigenous musical event.

MASTER REEF GUIDES

THE first official interpreters for the Great Barrier Reef have graduated.

They are armed with stories and facts to give visitors the best possible reef experience.

The Master Reef Guides can introduce you to a citizen science project or explain the intricacies of life on the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. Go to gbrmpa.gov.au /our-partners/ master-reef-guides.

LUXURY ECO-LODGE

SET among the World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Daintree National Park on the banks of the Mossman River, the Silky Oaks Lodge offers river snorkelling, driving safaris, indigenous guided walks and the Healing Waters Spa. Go to silkyoakslodge.com.au.

ROMANCE ON THE REEF

COUPLES can get cosy after dark on the reef in a new deluxe two-person swag on Sunlover by Starlight. The glamping experience on the Moore Reef pontoon is popular with couples wanting to say their vows on the Great Barrier Reef and spend their wedding night under the stars. Go to sunlover.com.au.

INDIGENOUS

FOR SHANGRI-LA

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: The view from Dundee's Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium.

CHOIR JOINS ART FAIR

ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander voices will sing in their languages at Cultural Heights, a new event at the 10th Cairns Indigenous Art Fair.

Indigenous artists from across Queensland exhibit at the prestigious fair on July 10–14. Go to ciaf.com.au.

DINE AT AN AQUARIUM

WATCH schools of sharks and fish swim by at the newly opened Dundee’s Restaurant at the Cairns Aquarium.

Dishing up Australian beef and seafood, Dundee’s can be included as part of

the new VIP Premium Experience, which features a behind-thescenes tour and feeding of a cownose ray. Go to cairnsaquarium.com.au.

ROOM UPGRADE

COOL, neutral tones with a splash of nautical blue set the scene for a relaxed stay at the Shangri-La Hotel at The Marina Cairns. The hotel has recently completed a refurbishment of its rooms. The waterfront bar and restaurant has also been revamped and named The Backyard. Go to shangri-la.com.

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

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

21

Depression treatments CBT can be used as an effective depression treatment A PROMINENT clinical psychologist says that cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) – which teaches skills for identifying and modifying dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and behaviours – is the leading evidence-based treatment for depression.

In addition, CBT helps to break unhealthy habits that lead to, and maintain, major depressive disorders.

Dr John Kearney, Director of Psychological Services at Wesley Hospital Kogarah, said CBT – or ‘talking therapy’ – is a well-established treatment for depression.

“CBT is an increasingly popular approach for treating major depressive disorders and has proven to be as effective as – or even better than – antidepressant medications for many types of depression.

Dr Kearney said while people with depression

can make great improvements with CBT – for it to be effective, it is important to be proactive and take practical steps.

Dr Kearney reveals six ways that cognitive behaviour therapy can help treat major depressive disorders.

1. Develop new ways to manage unhelpful and negative thought patterns Chronic stress and worry can lead us to develop a mental filter in which we automatically interpret situations through a negative lens.

CBT can teach you skills to manage negative and unhelpful thoughts more effectively, firstly by learning to shift your focus away from them and, secondly, by reappraising them.

For example, if you are highly self-critical, CBT will teach you to challenge stress-producing thoughts by asking questions such as: “Would I be saying

SUPPORT: Tips to manage depression. these things to someone else in this situation?”

You can then replace these thoughts with more constructive alternatives.

Regularly practicing this skill will assist with managing strong emotions in response to stressors.

2. Restore activity levels One of the maintaining factors in depression is the reduction of physical activity and the vicious cycle that can follow.

This can lead to further loss of enjoyment and achievement, contributing

to a lower mood. Activity scheduling and graded task assignments are a crucial part of CBT and help to rebuild activities that bring a sense of pleasure and achievement.

3. Master relaxation techniques When the amygdala – the part of the brain that is primarily responsible for emotional processing – is activated, it can trigger the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, the reflex that gets your heart pumping in reaction to a threat.

Relaxation is one of several skills taught in CBT that helps counter the physiological effects of this response. One way to practice relaxation is to sit comfortably with your eyes closed.

Working from your legs upwards, systematically tense and relax your muscles.

Hold the tension for 10 seconds, then release.

This skill is known as Progressive Muscle Relaxation and can help you contextualise stressful situations and is transferable to other facets of life, including work, study and relationships.

4. Reduce insomnia Research has shown CBT can significantly reduce insomnia in patients with depression.

If you struggle with sleep, CBT for Insomnia, sometimes called CBT-I, is an effective treatment for chronic sleep problems. By recognising and changing thoughts and behaviours that cause or worsen sleep, this type of therapy can

Living eliminate negative thoughts that keep you awake. This is important, as a good night’s sleep can increase emotional resilience and help with managing everyday stressors.

5. Increase your problem-solving ability As CBT takes a practical problem-solving approach to issues, it teaches skills that can be applied to other problems in your life.

Through a series of sequential stages, your therapist will assist you in developing new empowering skills in determining and implementing solutions to your everyday problems.

Ultimately, it will refine and focus your problem-solving skills, enabling you to learn more about your own thought patterns, emotions and behaviours.

6. Make improvements to your lifestyle, especially physical activity and nutrition These include maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Fitter for gym life TAILORED fitness sessions for older Australians is being offered by Gymnastics Australia and delivered at clubs and in Aged Care venues.

Fitter for Life (FFL), which has received funding from Sport Australia’s Better Ageing program, is a program designed to improve an older person’s mobility, strength and co-ordination in a social and fun environment. Seniors can attend their local gymnastics club or club coaches can come to Aged Care venues for the FFL sessions.

It’s currently being offered in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

Brooke Irvine, Gymnastics Australia’s General Manager Participation and

Club Services said individuals are assessed by a coach who will work out tailored exercises.

From there, Seniors participate in group sessions plus break-off sessions for individual activities. “They work on common activities such as walking up and down stairs, hanging out the washing, bending down or reaching up into cupboards –all of the activities are built around daily routine,” Ms Irvine said.

If you aren’t sure, Come ‘N Try days are offered by several gym clubs.

To find a club offering FFL, go to fitterforlife.org.au or talk to the State coordinator – QLD Katie Stewart on (07) 3036 5614.

Gymnastics Australia's tailored Fitter for Life program is currently being offered in Queensland. .

PUSHING THROUGH: sufferer Paulley.

PsA Ray

Fight against psoriatic arthritis INFLAMMATORY joint and skin condition sufferers have access to TALTZ, a new psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment.

This means Sydneysider Ray Paulley, 73, who has been living with PsA since his mid-40,s has another treatment option.

When he started experiencing symptoms of PsA, Ray’s doctor mistook it as gout.

PsA is a life-long condition that causes inflammation of the joints, due to an overactive immune system that mistakenly targets the body. This causes the joints to become painful, stiff and often swollen.

For Ray, finally a rheumatologist diagnosed him with PsA when he was in his 60s, but it was only after the long delay led to irreparable damage to his joints.

Ray has struggled with being in pain every day since and dealing with frustrations of doing simple daily tasks such as not being able to put on his own socks in the morning.

He has also experienced lesions around some of his joints, but feels lucky that the skin symptoms have not been as bad as his joint pain.

Keeping healthy and exercising complements

Ray’s treatment regime and helps him to feel the best he can. An avid long-distance cycler, Ray has been riding for 13 years, and plans to head to the Northern Territory this year.

The recent TALTZ listing means PsA patients will only have to pay the PBS co-payment price of $40.30 for a standard script, or $6.50 for concession card holders, to access the treatment.

PsA can range from mild to severe, based on the impact it has on a patient’s quality of life, including daily tasks and impaired physical and mental function.

For patients with

co-existent disease, residual skin lesions from psoriasis (PsO) can contribute to the disease burden.

“We know that half of patients with psoriatic arthritis, who also have mild psoriasis, actually consider their psoriatic arthritis to be severe,” rheumatologist, Professor Stephen Hall said. “It’s not surprising that if people are struggling with two-or-more problems, rather than just one, life can be far more difficult.”

While some PsA symptoms are manageable without treatment, in most cases, patients will require ongoing medication.

22

WELLBEING

Wellbeing

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Single, childless, 60

What does the future hold?

Tracey Johnstone THE journey to my 60th birthday has been momentous with lots of good times mixed in with a fair share of the ordinary.

Turning 40 was a time to celebrate a busy life and loads of great friends.

Turning 50 brought on the fear of menopause.

Sixty is turning into a time of reflection; some decisions need to be reached, and unreached goals accepted.

The most confronting decision is what will my life be like going forward.

Single and childless – who will take care of me when I am older?

My friends will be old with me. My siblings are both older than me by five and nine years.

If I marry again, my partner is likely to be old, like me.

So, what do I do? With no solid answers at hand I turned to a few of my friends who are in similar circumstances to see if I could learn from their approaches to ageing.

Ian He’s lived in Thailand for about four years. Back in his old home town of Sydney he only has an uncle left alive.

“I will probably stay in Thailand and live day by day,” he said. “As long as I keep my health I will have a good time. I am doing more fitness training than I have ever done in my life.”

CELEBRATING 60: Gary Schulz, Shaaron Walsh and author Tracey Johnstone.

Ian is determined to age at home. “If I am still in Thailand, I will still rent and hopefully I can find some old lady to do the shopping and cooking for me.

“I’m not anti-euthanasia,” he added. “I am happy to pull the plug when I think it is ridiculous.”

Deborah The Melbourne resident has both her siblings living in New Zealand and their children don’t talk to Deborah.

Recently she bought a low-set townhouse in a small enclave, which she

equates to living in a retirement village, so she could age at home for as long as possible.

Without children, Deborah doesn’t know what to do with the money she has worked hard to save. Checking into a private high-care facility, if necessary, is a feasible option she believes.

“I smoke and drink, so it might not be a problem.

I might just drop dead,” she said.

Deborah will keep working and accumulating for as long as possible and then “I am going to spend my money on me”,

she said.

Shaaron The Sydneysider thinks all the time about where she wants to live and how active she needs to be to stay healthy.

“But I haven’t structured anything as I don’t think any of us likes to feel that we are moving in that direction,” Shaaron said. “I like to think I am a bit immortal and can stop the clock a bit.”

In the meantime, she is conscious about keeping active and fit.

Gary He’s been single for a long time and living alone

in a rental unit. Since a close friend bought into a retirement village, Gary has been considering his game plan.

“I have no bloody clue how it’s going to work,” he said. “I don’t have too many assets.

“At the end of the day my super, which ultimately will be the backbone of it all, isn’t enough to even put a deposit on because of how life has dealt out the cards.”

If he gets sick, Gary’s first response is employ a carer. “At this point I don’t have anyone within 2000km of me,” Gary

said. “It’s just one of those things that they will have to turn the switch off.”

He doesn’t plan to retire at 65. “I am going to keep going until I can’t move anymore. Work’s been my hobby. I might cut back the hours, but between work and the club, that’s my life.”

My friends’ comments are food for thought, but while they haven’t given me clarity on what I will do in my old age, they have brought me closer to wanting to live a happy, healthy and engaged future.

Look out for options and enjoy your retirement Henri Rennie I’VE noticed that blokes who retire often fall into one of two categories.

The busy ones.

“I don’t know how I ever found time to go to work!”

And the bored ones.

“Now what do I do?”

Provided they manage their stress levels, the busy blokes tend to last longer.

The bored blokes often die first.

Maybe they’re so bored they don’t care.

I knew a guy who spent his days in the cafeteria in the building where he used to work, sighing and reading the paper.

He died in a few months... and the cafeteria food wasn’t that bad.

Many blokes have drunk themselves to death within a year or two because they’ve done nothing more than prop up a bar most of the time.

If retirement is looming,

MIND AND BODY: Keeping active is key. have a plan.

Not just a list of “things to do around the house” – unless the house is in

really bad shape that list won’t occupy you for as long as you think.

Try out a few hobbies till

you find one you like.

Woodwork, painting, making model boats... whatever.

Had an interesting life?

Got stories to share?

Write them down.

You can find an editor to help polish them up if you want to try getting them into print.

Investigate self-publishing – it’s a much better option than it was a few years ago.

There’s sport.

Golf, bowls, archery, walking, football.

Something appropriate to your level of fitness.

If your ‘regular exercise’ throughout your working life has been walking to the bus stop, it’s not a good idea to launch straight into a marathon.

Whether you play, or volunteer to help in other ways, being part of a group, even if it isn’t a team sport, can be good for the mind and spirit as well as the body.

For more of Henri’s thoughts and tips, download the regular podcast A Quiet Word: Conversations About Men’s Health.

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

LIVING

Rural housing New report highlights increasing difficulties

Gail Forrer Group Editor THE latest report from leading community housing provider Horizon Housing is shining a light on the lack of appropriate housing in rural areas, deeming it largely unable to meet the needs of our ageing population.

The My Home, My Place report, funded by the Queensland Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors, is the first of its kind to examine the housing needs of older people living in key rural communities.

Focusing on the Maranoa region of Queensland, the report

Talk 'n' thoughts

FACTS ❚ 73 per cent of older rural residents received no advice about ageing in place. ❚ 64 per cent want modifications to be able to stay in their homes. ❚ 50 per cent did not know how to arrange an assessment for home modifications. ❚ More than 27 per cent lived in a home that was older than 50 years.

The My Home, My Place report is the nation’s first research study to understand and address housing needs of older people in rural areas.

COUNTRY LIVING: For older Australians in rural areas, it can be difficult to maintain a home.

Photo: freemixer uncovered broader issues for exploration in rural towns across the country that face similar harsh environmental conditions and associated housing design challenges.

The report found more than 65 per cent of rural residents live in detached homes or on more than 2ha, exposing them to unique liveability challenges when compared to their metropolitan counterparts.

Horizon Housing CEO Jason Cubit said despite more than 96 per cent of participants intending to

age in place, the regions were not equipped to allow them to do so.

“For ageing Australians living in rural areas, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain a home in an environment where searing temperatures, drought and other extreme factors are expected,” Mr Cubit said.

“More than 64 per cent of our participants wanted modifications to their existing home to allow them to remain there safely as they age, yet 73 per cent are not seeking advice on how to

do so.

“We also found that over half did not know how to arrange an assessment to access modifications to remain in their home.

“A surprising and unexpected finding from this report was that 13 per cent of the older people we engaged with were a couple caring for a child, grandchild or grandchildren.

“This has significant implications for their future housing needs as they age.”

Mr Cubit said the survey findings were vital as they paved the way for future nationwide research to address this important area and inform the development of future

23

‘‘

Older people living in our rural towns face unique challenges. accommodation solutions for older people living in rural and remote areas across the country.

“Housing is an integral part of a person’s wellbeing. The concept of home is fundamental to a person’s identity and for older people there is a sense of pride that comes with living independently,” he said.

“The My Home, My Place report reinforces the fact that older people living in our rural towns face unique challenges, yet most of the available programs and services focus on urban areas.

“It’s critical that government and service providers work to address the issue of the housing needs of older people in these regions.

“The My Home, My Place project is an important leap towards identifying, understanding and addressing the unique and very real challenges faced by seniors in rural areas.

“We have a significant presence in Queensland’s Maranoa region, with 45 per cent of tenants in the area over 55. Our oldest tenant is 95 and still living independently.”

The aim of the research and work in regional communities is to set a benchmark for other housing providers across the country to continue to deliver affordable, appropriate and sustainable housing solutions that respond to community needs.

Funding supports stellar line up of events for Qld Seniors Week TOOWOOMBA and district seniors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to events and activities during Seniors Week from August 17-25 thanks to $100,000 in funding from the State Government.

Seniors Minister Coralee O’Rourke said 108 events and activities to be held across the state during Seniors Week would benefit from a government grant.

“Queensland Seniors Week is the premier event on the calendar for Queensland seniors, providing opportunities to build stronger intergenerational relationships and celebrate our seniors and their contribution to their communities,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“These 108 events and activities range from morning teas, concerts and seniors expos to multicultural events, sports and movie nights.

“There’s something for Queenslanders of all ages on the calendar for Seniors Week this year, and we expect this year’s calendar will be even bigger than previous

years.”

Seniors Week is coordinated by the Council on the Ageing Queensland which receives the government funding to collaboratively plan, run and distribute grants for Seniors Week events and activities.

The government has increased Seniors Week funding to COTA Queensland by $37,000 a year.

COTA Queensland chief executive Mark Tucker-Evans said Seniors Week had grown significantly over the past six years and the additional funding would enable the week to continue to grow.

“We welcome the opportunity to again work with the Queensland Government and the hundreds of organisations around the state during Queensland Seniors Week to celebrate the contributions of older people,” Mr Tucker-Evans said.

“Last year there were more than 870 events, including 115 that received a Queensland Government grant, and we

CARVED ART: The Maryborough Wood & Craft Expo is on Saturday, July 13 at the showgrounds.

Unique art at the Wood & Craft Expo SUPPORTING SENIORS: COTA Queensland initiated the first Queensland Seniors Week in 1960. Back then it was called Old People's Week and COTA was known as the Old People's Welfare Council. are anticipating another big year.

“We invite everyone to get involved by hosting and attending events and connecting with older members of their communities.”

To find out more about Seniors Week, including grant recipients, registering a Seniors

Week event or viewing the online events calendar go to qldseniorsweek.org.au or phone 1300 738 348.

For more information about support and services for older Queenslanders visit qld.gov.au/seniors.

LOOKING for a unique gift or a new hobby?

Visit the Wood & Craft Expo on Saturday, July 13 at the Maryborough Showgrounds, open from 9am–3pm.

Displays and demonstrations of wood-turning, carving, scroll saw work, pyrography and wood finishing/sanding.

Special guest Marilyn Kunde will explore the many pitfalls and solutions found on the path of every

woodworker.

Craft displays and sales include: Van Cootens patchwork and fabrics supplies, Tamika’s glass engraving, Spinners and Weavers and Maryborough Heritage Crafts, and Blue Unicorn Crafts.

Refreshments available.

Admission is free.

Phone Trevor Brennan on 0427 880 015 for more information.

24

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Money

Farewell finance stigma

Face up to financial fear and care for your money

not licensed, walk away,” Adrian said.

The next step is to “interview the advisor, check that they are talking in terms you understand, that you feel comfortable asking them questions, get full answers, that they take a holistic approach to your needs, are not simply promoting one product and that you are empowered to know what’s going on”.

But we also need to improve our knowledge in order to make informed decisions, and Adrian’s advice is to seek several sources.

For now, go to moneysmart.gov.au.

Alison Houston OUR lack of financial knowledge is making seniors more vulnerable to scams and asset loss, and more likely to outlive our savings.

Like politics and religion, finances is a topic we traditionally aren’t meant to speak about for fear of offending someone.

But with his recent study showing financial illiteracy in over-55s at “dangerous levels”, that’s a culture we need to change, according to Bond University Associate Professor of Statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp.

The study involved more than 3400 National Seniors Australia members, across a broad spectrum of socio-economics, ages and sexes.

Only 7 per cent of respondents correctly answered all three simple investment questions (included here) as part of the study, and one-third got all three questions wrong.

Older women were most at risk of making bad financial decisions, while people who were unmarried, suffered poor health and the most elderly all recorded poor results.

Education level, occupation and home ownership also played a part.

Worryingly, over 70 per cent of respondents said they never talked about finances with family and friends.

MONEY SMART: Bond University associate professor of statistics and fraud expert Adrian Gepp says there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to finances, but we need to learn and discuss more.

“We need to get away from that stigma of talking about money and open up discussion so we can learn from other people’s knowledge and experiences, positive and negative,” Adrian said.

It was also important in any relationship that the people involved knew how to access the necessary financial information in case of emergency.

While 50 per cent of study respondents reported joint control of finances, Adrian said often tasks were unquestioningly divided up between partners, so one looked after everyday expenditure while the other oversaw big-ticket items such as savings accounts, mortgage, loans, insurance and superannuation.

“If something happens,

you need to at least know where to go and how to access the information you need in relation to those papers and information,” he said.

Discussing finances with older family members to ascertain their financial knowledge and where they stand was also important, he said.

But how do you open that conversation?

“Very carefully,” he laughed, adding that it was important to recognise the other person’s knowledge and not imply that you had all the answers.

Recognise they might be embarrassed if they are struggling financially and not want to be a burden or lose their independence.

You might even start by talking about a financial

issue you are interested in to get their advice and gauge their understanding.

His number one tip is talking to a financial planner.

Unlike the general “one-size-fits-all” advice you may get from the TV, newspapers or internet, a good financial adviser looks at each person’s individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis.

The amount of money you will need in retirement, for instance, depends greatly on your health, lifestyle, debts, any financial legacy you want to provide, and your appetite for or adversity to risk.

But after all the revelations of the Banking, Insurance and Financial Services Royal Commission – not to

mention exposes on current affairs shows – who do you trust?

A good place to start is the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) MoneySmart website, Adrian said.

This provides independent information on how to choose a financial planner and allows you to check details including that they are qualified and licenced, where they have worked and whether they have been the subject of any ASIC disciplinary action.

It also provides general budget and retirement planners, interest, loan and superannuation calculators, tips on building your wealth, managing your money, debt help and scams.

“If a financial planner is

■ CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE Q1: Which of the following investment options is most likely to lead to a loss of money over a one-year period?

(A) Conservative/Cash.

(B) Growth/High Growth.

(C) Balanced. (D) Don’t know.

Q2: Which of the following investment options is least likely to lead to a loss of money over a one-year period?

(A) Conservative/Cash.

(B) Growth/High Growth.

(C) Balanced. (D) Don’t know.

Q3: If you had a choice between receiving $10,000 now, or a greater amount one year from now, what is the minimum amount you would need to receive in one year to choose this option instead of $10,000 now?

ANSWERS Q1: (B) Growth/High Growth.

Q2: (A) Conservative/Cash.

Q3: Varies depending on financial circumstance, but at least 10,250 (to cover the cost of annual inflation plus a buffer).

Managing negative equity risk and strategies OVER the past few years, the term ‘negative equity’ has barely rated a mention. In a booming property market it didn’t seem like a problem.

But figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia show a growing number of Australians run the risk of being in the red with their home equity.

Negative equity occurs when you owe more on your home loan than the property is worth. It’s a disheartening situation, and it can happen for a variety of reasons.

One of the most common factors used to be spending a fortune in home renovations, especially when they turned a modest house into the best in the street.

But it’s the downswing in the property market that’s driving the threat of negative equity today.

According to CoreLogic, prices in Sydney and Melbourne have dropped by 14 per cent and 10 per cent respectively since the market peaked in 2017.

For anyone who got into

Mortgage and real estate property investment. the market with a small deposit, the possibility of owing more than their home is worth is very real.

On the plus side, the RBA says that over the past five years, the vast majority of home buyers

purchased their home with a deposit of at least 20 per cent. Since 2017 less than one in 10 buyers has had a deposit below 10 per cent.

This has helped to shelter the bulk of recent home owners against negative equity, with the RBA saying it’s an issue that affects only 2 per cent of home owners nationally, though some reports suggest a figure as high as 10 per cent.

That said, negative equity is a big problem in some of the mining-driven

areas of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, where as many as 60 per cent of home owners can be in negative equity.

The risk for lenders is that home owners are more likely to default on their mortgage when they have negative equity.

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

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

CLASSIFIEDS

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Fraud is the real deal If someone is requesting money to be transferred to an address or account prior to receiving the goods it may be fraudulent.

Don’t be a wally, exercise caution before you respond to a request. Always verify the authenticity of persons requesting your credit card or bank details prior to making any transfers. For more info from the experts visit buysearchsell.com.au/staysafe

M tha ore a mn just eal

Not on the carpet!

Find a cleaner (or a dog trainer) at Buy Search Sell.

Looking for car parts?

25

26

REVIEWS

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS

Remarkable story IT’S the extraordinary and honest story of Australian couple Kathy and Ralph Kelly, who turned their own family’s tragedies into a remarkable crusade that’s helping keep all our children safer.

On a winter’s night in July 2012, Kathy and Ralph Kelly received a phone call no parent wants to receive.

It was the emergency department of a Sydney hospital telling them their eldest son Thomas, 18, had been coward punched by a stranger within two minutes of getting out of a taxi in Kings Cross on his way to a private 18th birthday party of a friend.

Two days later they were told their son had suffered catastrophic head injuries resulting in brain death and advised there was no other option but to switch off his life support.

In the aftermath of their son’s death, Kathy and Ralph became the public face of the campaign to end the drunken violence that plagued Sydney’s major nightspots.

Along with premiers Barry O’Farrell and Mike Baird they helped institute the lockout laws that have been a major factor in the reduction of alcohol-related deaths and injuries in Darling Harbour, Kings Cross and Sydney’s CBD. They were also instrumental in creating Take Kare Safe Spaces for young people in key nightspots, and they were one of the driving forces behind the introduction of tougher sentencing for ‘coward-punch’ deaths.

But their campaigning created a huge toll on their family.

Online intimidation, death threats and false

Healthy living in a no-waste kitchen

Thrilling new read

news about the mishandling of donations came from those with a stake in the clubs and businesses that were the financial losers of the lockout laws.

When Stuart Kelly, Thomas’s younger brother, went for his first night at University of Sydney’s St Paul’s College, Ralph and Kathy believe the bullying he experienced because of the family’s profile was so traumatising he left university for good the

next day and wouldn’t tell his parents what he’d been made to endure.

Five months later, on July 25, 2016, Stuart took his own life.

This book is the parents’ story. How they coped with one unimaginable tragedy, only to find it had sowed the seed for another.

How in the face of these terrible losses they have found the spirit and the drive to campaign first for a safer environment for all

our children, and for a greater understanding of young people’s self-harm and its drivers.

Ralph and Kathy Kelly are the founders of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.

As part of the foundation the Kellys created Stay Kind, a youth suicide awareness campaign encouraging all Australians to care for each another.

Published by Allen & Unwin. Too Soon, Too Late RRP $32.99.

TOM Clancy’s Enemy Contact, written with Mike Maden, is thrilling, edge-of-the seat reading as Clancy continues his Jack Ryan series.

It starts on a remote island off the coast of Argentina.

A team of elite counterterror commandos prepare to assault a newly-discovered Hezbollah hideout. What they don’t expect is to be brutally ambushed themselves; slaughtered with no survivors.

Back in Washington DC, the growing obstruction in the Senate has reached crippling levels as a crucial treaty to strength NATO in Eastern Europe is inexplicably blocked.

Suspecting that key politicians may have been compromised, but aware of the explosive consequences of making such accusations in public, the US President dispatches Jack Ryan Jr to Poland to investigate.

In Warsaw, Jack partners with beautiful and brilliant Polish agent Liliana Zaleski, and it’s not long before they find evidence of a tangled web of corruption. But what Jack and Liliana don’t realise is that this conspiracy stretches further than they could ever have imagined.

Published by Allen & Unwin. RRP $32.99.

ARE you looking for ways to save money in the kitchen?

No Waste Kitchen helps you make the most of every meal and keep your kitchen waste-free. And you can save money while helping save the environment.

Author Amelia Wasiliev’s book is for anyone conscious of reducing household waste, giving you 140 innovative and easy-to-follow recipes.

It’s a beautifully illustrated guide which includes inspiring tips and practical tricks to make the most of every meal and let nothing go to waste.Freeze, store, save and reuse your leftovers for future meals; you'll have a budget- and environment-friendly kitchen in no time.

Published by Hachette Australia. RRP$19.99 or eBook RRP$11.99.

‘‘

Make the most of every meal and keep your kitchen waste-free.

Time to age well into the future

‘‘

Make the second half of your life the best half of your life.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING: Discover easy ways to a longer, healthier, happier life in this new book.

WHAT does it take to have a healthy and joyful old age?

Researchers say it’s not too late to make changes at 50 to get the

‘retirement years’ we want.

But what should we change and how do we do it?

Annabel Streets and Susan Saunders spent their 30s climbing the career ladder, having children and caring for elderly parents – all at the same time.

By their 40s, they were exhausted, stressed, sleeping too little and rushing too much.

They began to ask whether the prolonged ill health and dementia

suffered by their parents was their inevitable future too – could they do anything to avoid requiring their own children to care for them in old age?

Thus began The Age-Well Project.

With incredible tenacity, Streets and Sanders read 50,000 scientific research papers on all aspects of ageing to find what advice cutting-edge research can offer us on how to ensure the longer lives we’re living are healthy and happy.

Putting their findings

into practice, they found that the lifestyle changes they made were having incredible benefits on their health and wellbeing now – as well as for the future.

Told with empathy and humour, in The Age-Well Project Streets and Sanders share the 50 key lessons they learned, the meals they cooked and the expert tips they uncovered.

The Age-Well Project is published by Hachette Australia. RRP $32.99.

SENIORS \\JUNE, 2019

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

1

2

PUZZLES

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8 9 10 11 12

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DOWN 1 Who wrote the play Hedda Gabler? (5) 2 What was a member of a pre-Christian order of priests in Gaul, Britain and Ireland? (5) 3 From Arabic folklore, what evil demon eats stolen corpses and children? (5) 4 What Japanese system of combat means “empty hand”?

(6) 6 What is the medical name for baldness? (8) 7 What system of assistance to the needy in Britain was in force from 1597 to 1947? (4,4) 12 What is the medical name for blood poisoning? (8) 13 What is ascorbic acid also known as? (7,1) 14 What is one circuit of a race track? (3) 15 Panaji is the capital of which state of western India? (3) 19 What French-made guided missile is used in sea warfare? (6) 21 What hot drink is high in protein, carbohydrate and fat?

(5) 22 What are folded or rolled filled tortillas? (5) 23 “Thomas Atkins” on specimen forms led to which generic name for a private in the British Army? (5)

Across 5/8/9 Which 1935 song by Pattie and Mildred Hill is the world’s most frequently sung song in English? (5,8,2,3) 10 What type of anaesthetic is sometimes used in childbirth to produce a loss of sensation below the waist?

(8) 11 What is the feminine form of “beau”? (5) 14 A section of a journey (3) 16 Which Lady is said to have ridden naked through Coventry in the 11th Century? (6) 17 Which Native American people of the Great Lakes region are also known as Chippewa? (6) 18 What is the vibrating ball in a referee’s whistle called?

(3) 20 Which country did New Zealand’s All Blacks defeat 14517 in the 1995 Rugby World Cup? (5) 24 On which US river is the Hoover Dam? (8) 25 What is a communication sent via computers? (5) 26 What wine bottle holds the equivalent of four normal bottles? (8) 27 In which month was Julius Caesar killed? (5)

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27 1/6

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SUDOKU

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

QUICK CROSSWORD 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

5x5

ALPHAGRAMS

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

Solve the anagrams. Each solution is a one-word anagram of the letters beside it, and the five solutions are sequential.

For example, if the fiveletter solution starts with J, the six-letter solution starts with K, and so on.

S

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A I

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L

O

T R

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H R

MAPLE RED CAB HER CAPE DUG EARTH I BLED MORE

E

S

C

S

Note: more than one solution may be possible.

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SOLUTIONS

alert altar alter earl fall faller falter fatal fell felt feral fetal flare flat flatware flaw flea flew late later lateral leaf left real tala tale tall taller teal tell trawl wale wall wallet WATERFALL weal well welt

21 22

H E R D S

QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 1. Plot 8. Ameliorate 9. Skittish 10. Toss 12. Lupine 14. Denial 15. Strata 17. Sleuth 18. Text 19. Sure-fire 21. Belongings 22. Huge.

Down: 2. Lacklustre 3. Tact 4. Decide 5. Wished 6. Pretence 7. Begs 11.

Smattering 13. Inaction 16. Assign 17. Shrink 18. Tube 20. Fish.

BLACKOUT

ALPHAGRAMS: AMPLE, BRACED, CHEAPER, DAUGHTER, EMBROILED.

Solution opposite

S L E E T

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

A T T I C

How many words of four letters or more can you make? Each letter must be used only once and all words must contain the centre letter. There is at least one nine-letter word.

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

TODAY: Good 21 Very Good 28 Excellent 34

DOUBLE CROSS

L I T R E

RW

WORD GO ROUND

L T

SUDOKU

5x5

S T O P S

L

Down 2. Drab (10) 3. Diplomacy (4) 4. Come to a conclusion (6) 5. Longed (6) 6. Sham (8) 7. Implores (4) 11. Sprinkling (10) 13. Inactivity (8) 16. Allocate (6) 17. Contract (6) 18. Pipe (4) 20. Angle (4)

GK CROSSWORD Across: 5/8/9 “Happy Birthday To You”, 10 Epidural, 11 Belle, 14 Leg, 16 Godiva, 17 Ojibwa, 18 Pea, 20 Japan, 24 Colorado, 25 Email, 26 Jeroboam, 27 March.

Down: 1 Ibsen, 2 Druid, 3 Ghoul, 4 Karate, 6 Alopecia, 7 Poor Laws, 12 Toxaemia, 13 Vitamin C, 14 Lap, 15 Goa, 19 Exocet, 21 Cocoa, 22 Tacos, 23 Tommy.

A A

E F

WORD GO ROUND

Across 1. Scheme (4) 8. Improve, make better (10) 9. Nervous (8) 10. Throw (4) 12. Wolf-like (6) 14. Refusal (6) 15. Layers (6) 17. Detective (6) 18. Words (4) 19. Certain, guaranteed (4-4) 21. Possessions (10) 22. Massive (4)

H E I F E R H M E L T D O W N

O X R E K H L H X W W J E H H

J P R I S E Y A C H I E V E M

I E J G A S G Z E E T R I A C

S L U N G H A I L M C Y S T S

U N R K E A L R S B H J B O U

T R A C E U A P S E Q B J W D

O J N A A S I I A K P A P X S

P B I C R O P A L G R E L A Y

I D U U B F U Q E H E G E H L

C O M P E T E D G E D I B L E

P C V J D S N S C E A X E I G

R E S I D E N T E O T Y I N G

B A W D Y P U J U Y O L A N M

K N O W N S I M P E R J N E T

BLACKOUT

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

Solution opposite

DOUBLE CROSS

H S E X P E L I R U F E I G N E S G R E G A M A E X C E L L H T W I T C D E Y O V S W H E A T N S

T O P R R A N I C E E S O L A P P A S A L E H P R E P L A U D S Y

I C O U M P E F T E D E E E D I E B L E

R K C E A N S O I W D D Y E S N N U I T M P E A T O R Y E I A N N E G T

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WIDE BAY

JUNE, 2019// SENIORS