SUMMER 2022
SeniorsToday.com.au
They’re why we remember
Mangoes work their magic
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Setting quite the scene PAGE 6
Summer in the garden PAGE 17
It’s the season to be jolly, a time for Santa to visit both on the big night and before-hand for events like the Gladstone Regional Council Street Party. And because he can’t be everywhere, even with his magic, he picks some special helpers to lend a hand.
Loving the role Wesley Walker has been acting and directing in various forms all his life and he’s on his second stint as President of the Friends of the Theatre in Gladstone earning him induction into the Gladstone Entertainment and Conference Centre Hall of Fame for his service. However, one his biggest services to the community along, one of his most important roles ever is as an understudy - and he couldn’t be happier. After all, not everyone can be an understudy to the Big Man himself Santa. But that’s a role that Wes loves to
play and he’s more than happy to step in when the big man can’t be there. And it doesn’t hurt that he looks the part. Santa’s stand in is just one of the ways he has been able to help the community after moving to Gladstone from Brisbane (via a few other towns), so it wasn’t surprising he was given the honour of the hall of fame in 2021. “I was only the second one, which was a bit of a shock actually,” the retired psychologist admitted.
“I came to Gladstone in 1997 for three, maybe five years but as happens in these regional towns, I never left and I’m still here.” With a background in amateur theatre Wesley soon found a local niche becoming the Friends of the Theatre President for a stint before handing the job over only to come back to the job a few years later. His current stint is around a decade and counting. Theatre had been a life-long passion. Story Page 3
See Spain in style PAGES 18-19
INSIDE IN PROFILE .........................page 6 RECIPES ........................ pages 8-9 PROPERTY AND FINANCE ....page 12 HEALTH ..................... pages 13-15 GARDENING ......................page 17 OUT AND ABOUT ........ pages 18-19 ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT pages 20-21 MOUNT MORGAN ....... pages 22-23 ACTIVE OUTDOORS ............page 24
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Remembering that they gave their all When the world stopped to honour those who have died in war for Remembrance Day on 11 November and again in a few months for Anzac Day, it is a particularly poignant time for Colin Dunkley and Ted Jacobs. A former Australian Army corporal who lives at the Carinity Shalom aged care community in Rockhampton, Colin is a veteran of the Vietnam war. The 76-year-old did two tours of Vietnam as part of the 17th Construction Squadron, an Australian Army unit consisting of personnel drawn mainly from the Royal Australian Engineers. On his first tour (1968–1969), Colin and his squadron constructed roads to Nue Dat. On his second tour (1971– 1972), he unloaded ships in Bun Tau which came under mortar attack. Following the end of the war, Colin and his wife, Robyn, built a Vietnam veterans retreat near Mildura called Ramon Deed Retreat. It was named after a lifelong friend killed in action in Vietnam, when a landmine exploded. According to Ted Jacobs, “getting a bit restless” working on a Norfolk farm and “wanting to see a bit of the world” motivated the then 17-year-old to voluntarily enlist for the same British army regiment of which
Carinity Shalom resident Colin Dunkley is a former Australian Army corporal who served two tours in the Vietnam war. his father and grandfather had previously been members. “My father served in World War I and my grandfather served in the North West Frontier in India and Pakistan, fighting against the Pathan,” Ted said. Ted served in countries such as Germany, Japan, England and Hong Kong in the 1950s. He was engaged in the Korean War, stationed on the 38th Parallel, the borderline which divides modern day North and South Korea. Later recalled to active duty, Ted was
part of a British army infantry battalion which was based at the Suez Canal in Egypt. Now 88 years old and living at the Carinity Brownesholme retirement village in Highfields, Ted believes it is important for all people to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers on Remembrance Day. “I think we should all reflect on how the people who have died young have giving everything for what we have today.”
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Carinity Brownesholme resident Ted Jacobs followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and served in the British Army in the 1950s.
Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year Merry Christmas and welcome to the summer edition of Seniors Today. This time around we have lots of interesting stories of things happening around the region, around the state and we even make a little trip overseas. Well I say we, but actually it’s travel writer Kyle Mitchell-Smith who has taken advantage of cheap airfares and open borders. Kylie discovered a fabulous cruise company and took a cruise in Spain. Not a destination your brain might go to first when you think of cruising but somewhere that Kylie obviously loved. Our garden guru Kevin Redd has plenty of tips for summer gardening and there is a page of delicious summer mango recipes along with our usual CWA recipes. Summer is also a time to think of carols, pools and hitting the beach or just kicking back with a book all of which is covered in this issue. So please enjoy our paper and have a lovely summer, Christmas and New Year. Tania Phillips, Editor
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Life’s jolly good for Wes Wesley Walker has been acting and directing in various forms all his life and he’s on his second stint as President of the Friends of the Theatre in Gladstone earning him induction into the Gladstone Entertainment and Conference Centre Hall of Fame for his service. However, one his biggest services to the community along, one of his most important roles ever is as an understudy – and he couldn’t be happier. After all, not everyone can be an understudy to the Big Man himself – Santa. But that’s a role that Wes loves to play and he’s more than happy to step in when the big man can’t be there. And it doesn’t hurt that he looks the part. Santa’s stand in is just one of the ways he has been able to help the community after moving to Gladstone from Brisbane (via a few other towns), so it wasn’t surprising he was given the honour of the hall of fame in 2021. “I was only the second one, which was a bit of a shock actually,” the retired psychologist admitted. “I came to Gladstone in 1997 for three, maybe five years but as happens in these regional towns, I never left and I’m still here.” With a background in amateur theatre Wesley soon found a local niche becoming the Friends of the Theatre President for a stint before handing the job over only to come back to the job a few years later. His current stint is around a decade and counting. Theatre had been a life-long passion. “I was born and bred in Brisbane and performed in Sunday School concerts when I was five or six all the way through,” he said. “When I got older, I went to work, then went into the army and came out and went to university where I got involved with Brisbane Arts Theatre, the uni theatre group and a number of different theatre groups around Brisbane. So, I’d been acting and directing in Brisbane for quite some time.” A move for work to Claremont saw him join the theatre there, then Biloela and then Gladstone. “My father was an actor and mother was a pianist and an elocutionist and I suppose it just rubbed off on me,” Wes said. “My father used to direct the occa-
Wesley Walker at his induction into the Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre Hall of Fame.
Wesley Walker. sional play or concert. Particularly the annual Christmas pageant at the local church. It was just in me. I was no good at playing the piano. I was susceptible to Lactic acidosis in my arms so I couldn’t do the scales. I switched and did speech and drama instead, I had my mother’s history, I followed that path.” His job as Santa’s helper almost seems a natural progression. “That happened a few years back, this is the fifth year I’ve done Santa for the council street party, I go out with the mayor, and we press a button and the lights on the tree go up,” he said. “I wander over and all the kids come over and have their photos taken. The first year I did it, I was just walking
down the street when they were putting a tree up and of course I knew all the blokes there doing it from friends of the theatre and so on. One of them grabbed me and said we haven’t got a santa, would you mind being Santa. I had a short beard in those days, close cropped. He said you’re all grey you’d make a good Santa would you mind?” With nothing better to do that night, he agreed, and it has gone from there. “That first year the beard was nylon, and it didn’t fit properly, kids sitting on your lap and it would go all skewwhiff so I said if you want me next year, forget the fake beard. Next year I’ll just grow my beard. I save razors that way,” he joked.
So, what is it about Santa that keeps him coming back? “Its, the fun and the kids and the families,” he admits. “It’s not just the kids that come, families come around and sit with Santa and have their whole family taken with Santa. It’s fun and I enjoy it and it keeps people happy.” He is now on standby for the big man for three organisations and though he’s retired from his profession he says he has no plans to slowdown. “I have no intention in slowing down at my stage, if I wake up and I’m breathing, I reckon I’m ahead,” the 74-yearold quipped. Advertisement
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Animals a risky gift As the festive season approaches, Central Highlands Regional Council is encouraging residents to carefully think before gifting a pet. “Pets may seem like a fun surprise, but they are a lifetime commitment,” said General Manager Communities John McDougall. “Consider who will be responsible for the pet, and the costs and time associated with caring for it.”” According to MoneySmart, aside from the cost of purchasing the pet, the first year of vaccinations, food, desexing and other items cost between $3,000-$6,000 for both dogs and cats and approximately $1,600 for dogs and
$900 for cats every year thereafter. “The physical requirements of a new pet are also important,” Mr McDougall said. “Can the recipient give the pet the exercise it needs, is the yard big enough for the dog, and will any family members have issues with allergies? “Owning a pet is a family commitment that takes planning and preparation.” During the past twelve months council has seen a significant increase in the number of animal surrenders – 164 since January alone. He said thankfully, CQ Pet Rescue
Office break Central Highlands Regional Council buildings will be closed from Noon Friday 23 December 2022 up to and including Friday 31 December 2022. The council will re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2023. Council have informed residents that the only way into the building will be through the chimney (and that’s reserved for Santa!) The Capricornian Bank located in the Springsure and Capella council offices will also be closed for the same period. Council’s Aquatic Centres are run by third-party vendors, and therefore opening hours will vary – residents should refer to their individual Facebook pages or website for the most up-to-date information and contact numbers. Roadside rubbish and recycling collection services will continue as normal. Emerald Transfer Station, Lochlees and Blackwater Landfills will be closed on Christmas Day. No alternate waste disposal will be provided. In case of an emergency, please call 1300 242 686 and you will be redirected to the after-hour services. In the event of extreme weather conditions and possible road closures, please refer to the Emergency Management Dashboard. Emails, social media posts, or comments directed to the council will not be monitored during the closure. Check the website of your local council for more information.
has been able to rehome 142 of those pets, but this increase does place enormous pressure on these organisations and their volunteers. In the RSPCA’s last end of financial year report, a total of 18,407 dogs and cats were received by RSPCA, just in Queensland. For those who do become a new pet owner, Mr McDougall said they should be aware that microchipping and registration are requirements under Queensland Legislation. Microchipping can be done with a local vet and registration with council at any of the council office locations or via the online portal.
New towers send out a good signal Good news for residents of the Gemfields with better TV reception coming their way thanks to upgrades at the broadcast huts in Anakie, Sapphire and the Willows. ‘With these improvements, residents will notice better reception with a stronger signal, clearer picture, and hopefully less breakdowns in the future,’ Central Highlighlands Regional Council General Manager Communities John McDougall said. All three broadcast huts will get the most current model receivers and transmitters, and upgraded telemetry from 3G to 4G. The Willows will also receive a higher antenna, and Sapphire will receive new amplifiers and a new satellite receiver so that all 3 huts are equally reliable. Upgrades were expected to be completed in before Christmas.
Pets for health
Improved television service in time for test matches and Christmas shows.
Libraries launch food drive campaign Bring a smile to the face of someone in need this holiday season by donating to Gladstone Regional Libraries’ Food Drive Campaign. All Gladstone Regional Libraries will accept donations of non-perishable food items and basic toiletries until Saturday 17 December. Following the cut-off date, our libraries will work with Roseberry Qld, Gladstone Food Centre, and Little Free Community Pantry (Agnes Water) to distribute the donated items. Gladstone Region Councillor Chris Trevor said each library will have a basket on display for people to leave their donations. “I encourage anyone who can add 4 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
an extra tin or packet to their grocery shop list to do so and place it in one of the baskets at our libraries,” Councillor Trevor said. “We understand cost of living pressures are increasing, but if everyone can chip in where possible, I know a little bit will go a long way towards helping people in need.” All donations must be unopened and in date, with preference for canned food with a ring pull, pantry staples such as rice, dried beans or pasta, and toiletries such as period products, soap and toilet paper. Donation baskets will be located at: Agnes Water Library (71 Springs Road) Boyne Island Library (Cnr Wyndham
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& Hayes Avenue) Calliope Library (3 Don Cameron Drive) Gladstone City Library (39 Goondoon Street) Miriam Vale Library (41 Blomfield Street) Mount Larcom Library (47 Raglan Street) Out and About Library (van visits Boyne Valley, Rosedale area, and Yarwun) Philip Street Precinct Library (1 Pengelly Street – Ngallil Building). Visit www.gladstonelibraries.qld.gov.au/ whats-on to see what else is on offer at their libraries.
Adopting a pet can have great health benefits for Seniors. Banana Shire Council continuously strives to take in and provide homes for abandoned animals. The Biloela Animal Management Facility in Central Queensland offers both cats and dogs for adoption. All animals must be microchipped upon their release and their registration needs must be fulfilled before adoption can occur. Desexing is available at a discounted price through the nearby veterinary clinics if you adopt one of the Council’s animals. When rescuing an animal from Council, it will come desexed, wormed and flea treated so it can go straight to your home without any medical worries. For more information about adopting an animal from Banana Shire Council’s animal Management Facility please call 07 4724 9500 or head to our website: https://www.banana.qld.gov.au/ homepage/168/animal-adoptions 10 Reasons Pets Make Great Companions Reduces Stress Increases Physical Activity Increases socialisation Eases depression Greater sense of purpose Prompts memory retention Increases safety Increases energy levels Increases overall happiness
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Keeping in touch anywhere Like many travellers to the Central Queensland region, Ipswich visitor Shirley Weatherhead was delighted to join the Rockhampton Regional Library recently and access technology and digital resources offered by the library service with her e-services library card. Another big plus for joining the library was enjoying a quiet air-conditioned space at each of the four library branches in the region. Keeping in touch with family and friends from far away is where your local library can really help according to Communities and Heritage Councillor Drew Wickerson. Cr Wickerson said our libraries have a wonderful range of technology and digital resources available to the community. “Our Libraries are place everyone can spend time reading, exploring and learning and is a place where you can keep in touch with family and friends from far away,” Cr Wickerson said. “I encourage you to check out one our the local library branches and explore the wide range of resources, workshops and technology.” Library membership is free for everyone and once someone has a library card, they can access technology such as internet enabled computers to write a Christmas letter, send an email or update their social media account.
Ipswich visitor Shirley Weatherhead was delighted to join the Rockhampton Regional Library. Make a video call to a friend on their device using the library’s free WiFi and chat using Skype, Facetime or Zoom. There are lots of quiet spaces at the libraries that are perfect for these type of conversations.
He said if members were not sure how to set up an email or social media account, there were lots of great resources to help them learn about crossing the digital threshold. The Libraries have a range of books
for all ages that explain key concepts simply, with diagrams, photos and pictures. Be Connected is an Australian government initiative committed to building the confidence, digital skills and online safety of older Australians with a wealth of really handy content to explore. Their online library catalogue provides some useful links to ‘Online Reference and eSafety’ to help readers navigate this digital world- and library staff are more than happy to assist on this journey. “Make use of your library card too to explore what’s on offer digitally,” he said. “Listen to eAudiobooks, stream a wide selection of movies, read eBooks and digital magazines and access online courses. Please ask library staff about how to access this exciting content – it’s easy to use and absolutely free. “If you would like to just get out of the house and need a cool area to write your letters or keep up to date with your books, then look no further than your local library.” Lifelong Learning @ your Rockhampton Regional Library. For more information, please call our Library Administration Office on 4936 8043.
Carols, carols and more carols, all by candlelight It’s almost time for everyone’s favourite Christmas event, Mayor’s Carols by Candlelight. There are two Carols by Candlelight concerts this year in Rockhampton for the whole family to enjoy. For those who like the comfort of indoors there will be plenty of fun Christmas music at the Pilbeam Theatre on Wednesday 7 December at 7pm for their annual carols event. Ticketed event: adults $12, concessions $8. For those looking to enjoy all the magic of Christmas under the stars,
the traditional outdoor carols will be held at the Rockhampton Music Bowl on Saturday 10 December. Gates open 5pm, music from 7pm. Entry by donation. Featuring local performers and musicians, the concerts are filled with joyful Christmas songs and Christmas carols. Proceeds from ticket prices and donations at the events go to this year’s nominated charity. More information from seeitlive. com.au
Revamp Main
BOYNE TANNUM FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS A local funeral home established 2016. 12534853-JC09-22
Rockhampton Regional Council have started road works along Main Street, from Twigg Street to Denning Street. Infrastructure Councillor Ellen Smith said works included some curb and channel, minor pavement repairs and an asphalt overlay. “This is a high-traffic area, especially during school drop off and pick up times, and it’s important Council undertakes these works,“ Cr Smith said. “During the project, two-way traffic will remain on Main Street however, there will be very limited to no parking on Main Street. Works started 28 November 2022 and are estimated to take 12 working weeks to complete.
Get ready to enjoy the carols whether in the theatre or under the stars.
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Symphony video sets scene By Tania Phillips A solo oboe in the outback, a brass trio on the beach and a string quartet in the rainforest… despite being the state’s leading music makers, Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) believe they just might have also created possibly the best tourism video ever. QSO’s Season 2023 shines the light on music and celebrates some of the state’s most beautiful and iconic locations – from the beach to the rainforest, and the Outback to the city. The season video, called Sounds Like Queensland, together with images in the season brochure, were shot to reinforce that QSO is an Orchestra for all Queenslanders! Every year QSO tours across Queensland, sharing music with people from the outback to the beach, the rainforest to the city, performing on dusty regional stages, in tiny town halls, schools from Townsville to Toowoomba and Longreach to the Gold Coast, and of course in the mighty Concert Hall at QPAC. All up, QSO travels 10,000km across Queensland annually! Sounds Like Queensland is the Orchestra’s love letter to Queensland with musicians filmed on country in Iningai (Longreach), Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), Maiala (Mt Glorious) and Meanjin (Brisbane). It features a specially commissioned piece of music by Cameron Patrick, performed by QSO and conducted by Peter Luff. QSO Marketing manager Renee Jones said they were really happy with the end result. “We dreamt big and hoped to create something long-lasting and beautiful,” she said. “I think we achieved that. Our videographer Joel Tronoff has such an eye for special moments. “How he has woven together the narrative of our musicians against the backdrop of Queensland landscapes is a testament to his skill and creativity.” She said they wanted the video to be all encompassing. “We wanted to capture iconic Queensland locations, so we settled upon the Outback, Rainforest, Beach and City,” Renee explained. “Our musicians were touring to Longreach in March this year, so we jumped at the opportunity to go with them. “This video is a love letter to Queensland, so with that in mind it’s available for everyone to enjoy on YouTube. We’ve shared it as widely as possible – at our concerts, on social media and in emails, even to Channel Seven News! We hope it’s something all Queenslanders can be proud of.” The aim of the video was to firmly place the QSO in the landscapes of Queensland to reflect how much they tour regional and remote communities each year. “We wanted to create something compelling to celebrate this,” Renee explained. “We’ve never done something on this scale before. This project involved a year of planning from concept to completion. We commissioned Cameron Patrick to compose the music to accompany the footage, recorded the 6 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
Nicholas Tomkin, Natalie Low, Matthew Kinmont, and Mia Stanton in Maiala (Mt Glorious).
Section Principal Trumpet Rainer Saville in Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). piece in our studio, scouted locations, styled our musicians, and then travelled to each place for a day of filming. It’s been a complex task, but an incredibly rewarding one.” The idea has been on the drawing board for a while now though bringing it to fruition wasn’t easy. “A few years ago we started talking about capturing our musicians around Queensland so we could truly represent our commitment to everyone in our great state,” the marketing manager said. “It’s been challenging to find the time and resources for a large-scale project like this, but in our 75th year we decided to have a crack.” The result can be found on youtube.
Section Principal Bassoon Nicole Tait in Iningai (Longreach).
Associate Principal Percussion Josh DeMarchi in Meanjin (Brisbane).
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Renovations make a splash Springsure Aquatic Centre is preparing for a major upgrade next year. Central Highlands Regional Council has received $5M from the Queensland Government’s Resources Community Infrastructure Fund to fund the renovations. After working with the Springsure Community Reference Group (CRG), residents and councillors, the council proposed a new 17-metre covered and heated program pool as well as the total replacement of the existing 25-metre pool. Central Highlands Mayor Kerry Hayes said this is a major win for enhancing liveability in the region. “The Central Highlands has a number of high-quality aquatic centres and now its Springsure’s turn for an upgrade,” he said. Council had budgeted $2M this financial year to renovate the Springsure Aquatic Centre. “With this additional funding, we can provide Springsure with more than a band-aid renovation but an entirely new facility that will last upwards of 50 years.” The new program pool will prolong swimming seasons and allow for an additional swimming lesson semester. The program pool will also include an entrance for disabled patrons. This facility will meet the needs of the area demographic and bring the
Springsure pool as at April 2022 Springsure community together to enjoy water recreation. Preliminary plans are currently underway for the new facility, with construction set to begin following receipt
of a successful tender and a forecast build schedule of two years. The Resources Community Infrastructure Fund is a voluntary partnership between the Queensland Govern-
Yeppoon Community Centre
ment and the resources industry that seeks to support infrastructure that is in addition to existing planned State and resource company-funded community infrastructure.
The Community Centre provides residents with a community space that is safe, welcoming, helpful, vibrant, accessible and available to all.
WHERE EVERYONE IS WELCOME 80 John Street, Yeppoon 4913 3840 I communitycentre@livingstone.qld.gov.au The Community Centre I Open Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm Dignity First Washroom I Open Monday to Sunday 9.00am - 4.00pm Follow us on Facebook for information and activities! 12568740-FC49-22
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country k tchens recipes Vegetarian Sushi Serves: 5 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 1 serve per portion Ingredients: • 2 cups sushi rice, uncooked • 2 tablespoons sushi vinegar • 5 seaweed sheets (yaki nori) • 5 tablespoons natural yoghurt • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard • 2 medium carrots, cut into sticks • 1 Lebanese cucumber, cut into sticks • ½ medium red capsicum, cut into sticks • 2 ripe avocados, cut into strips • 2 tablespoons soy sauce, reduced salt • Fresh ginger for serving, thinly slice Method: • COOK sushi rice according to instructions on packet. • SPRINKLE sushi vinegar over warm rice and gently mix through. Allow to cool.
• LAY a seaweed sheet on a bamboo sushi roller and spread three quarters of a cup of rice over the sheet with moistened hands, leaving a 5cm gap at one end. • MIX yoghurt and mustard together in a small bowl. Spread a tablespoon of the mixture in a horizontal strip along the sushi rice, at the opposite end to the gap that you left. • PLACE a mixture of the vegetable sticks and avocado over the yoghurt and mustard. • MOISTEN the seaweed sheet by dipping your finger in water and spreading it across the end that you left free of rice. Gently roll the sheet starting at the end with the fillings on it and tuck the ingredients in as you go to make a firm sushi roll. • WRAP in glad wrap and place in fridge until ready to serve. • CUT each roll into 6 and serve with pickled ginger and soy sauce for dipping.
Everyday Food
Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team
Discretionary Food
Raspberry, Pear and Dark Chocolate Crumble Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20-25 minutes ½ serve per portion
Ingredients: • 1/3 cup (40g) roughly chopped dark chocolate • ½ cup (50g) rolled oats • ¼ cup maple syrup • 3 tablespoons (40g) margarine • 3 tablespoons (40g) dark brown sugar • 2 pears, peeled, halved, cored, and diced into small chunks • 1 cup (115g) raspberries
Method: • PREHEAT oven to 180°C. Line small baking dish with baking paper. • COMBINE chocolate, oats and maple syrup in a small dish and set aside. • MELT margarine over medium heat then add the sugar and stir until it becomes golden. • ADD the chopped pear and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until softened. • TRANSFER the pear mixture to the prepared dish. Sprinkle raspberries over the top, followed by the chocolate and oat mix. • BAKE for 20 to 25 minutes, until fruit is soft and the oats crisp up.
Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team
Empowering women through education and health is a priority for the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). The QCWA Country Kitchens program, funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, supports Queenslanders to adopt healthier lifestyles. To find out more about the program visit https://qcwacountrykitchens.com.au/. 8 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
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‘Gold’ rush It’s the gold that defines Australia – that delicious, sweet, juicy gold of a perfect mango on a hot day. It’s Aussie as. So, if you feel like rich, ripe mangoes are missing in your life, then relax because they are arriving at Harris Farm Markets, with all the flavour of a North Queensland sunset. Harris Farm Markets have been working with mango growers for decades, and while ripe mangoes are a little late this year because of the colder,
CAJUN FISH TACOS Serves: 4
wetter season, they are full of flavour – with co-CEO Tristan Harris reminding fans that the longer the fruit stay on the tree the more flavour they develop. “Tree ripened mangoes are worth the wait. Every moment on the tree means more sugar development resulting in more flavour and nutrients; we don’t pick immature mangoes, we let Mother Nature tell us when to harvest. And our tip is, prepare for a Queensland gold rush!” Tristan said.
Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 hours Recipe created by Charlotte from The Nutty Gritty, check out her Instagram.
INGREDIENTS:
· 1 mango · 400-500g White fish, filleted (I used flathead) METHOD 1. Prepare your crumbed fish; in 3 separate bowls or plates, add the whisked egg to one, flour to another and the cajun spice and breadcrumbs in the 3rd. 2. Coat your fish in the flour first, then the egg, then the cajun breadcrumbs. Set aside on a plate or board. 3. In a shallow fry pan, add some cooking oil of your choice (vegetable or canola work well), just so the bottom of the pan is covered. Add the pieces of fish, and shallow fry on one side for about 5 minutes, then turn over the other side. Cook the fish in batches
MANGO LAMINGTONS Serves: 25 pieces Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 25 minutes Recipe & pics by Bonnie Coumbe www.bonniecoumbe.com
INGREDIENTS Sponge: 200g caster sugar 200g self raising flour 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ cup cornflour 1 vanilla pod, seeds removed 150g unsalted butter
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METHOD To prepare the cake: 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. 2. Line a 25cm square cake tin (spring base is preferred) with baking paper. Leave the sides ungreased to ensure the cake rises evenly. 3. In a large bowl sift the flour, cornflour and baking powder 3 times, this is an important step to ensure the cake is light, set aside. 4. In a separate bowl add the butter, caster sugar and the seeds scraped from the vanilla pod, using electric beaters beat until the mix is creamy and smooth. This will take a minimum of 10 minutes of continuous beating. 5. Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time while beating continuously. Gradually sift the flour mix again over the batter while gently folding it in with a spatula, follow with adding the milk. If the mix is too dry add a little dash more milk. 6. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake for 20- 25 minutes. Test if the cake is cooked through by placing a skewer into the middle. If it comes out
· 4 large eggs (at room temperature) · ¾ cup milk (at room temperature) · zest of 1 lemon Glaze 400g mango flesh 100g icing sugar 4 tablespoons cream cheese Juice of ½ lemon 2 teaspoons gelatine powder 2 tablespoons boiling water Coating: 1 cup shredded coconut 1 cup desiccated coconut
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· 1 cup of breadcrumbs · 1 tbsp Cajun spice · 1 egg, whisked · 1 cup of flour · Cooking oil for shallow frying · ½ Red cabbage, thinly sliced · Soft tacos, to serve · Chipotle sauce, to serve · 1 Lime, to serve · ½ bunch Coriander, to serve to prevent overcrowding the pan. Once cooked, set aside on a plate lined with paper towel, to absorb the excess oil. 4. Its time to prep the veg; cut up the red cabbage and mango into thinly sliced pieces, and tear off some coriander leaves to sprinkle over the top. Cut your lime into quarters, ready to squeeze over the top. Warm up your tacos in the microwave, according to packet instructions. 5. Assemble your fish on atop a taco, add the cabbage, mango, coriander and lime juice, and finish it off with a sprinkling of chipotle sauce
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clean it is cooked, if it comes out with batter mix on it, cook it for a further 5 mins. Leave the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the tin then turn it out onto a cooling rack to completely cool before glazing. To prepare the glaze: 7. Using a food processor add the mango flesh, icing sugar, cream cheese and lemon juice. Blitz until it’s completely smooth. 8. Stir the gelatine with the boiling water in a small cup until its completely dissolved. Add to mango mix and give it a quick blitz. Place the mixture into the fridge for 10 minutes to allow it to thicken slightly. To glaze and coat the lamingtons: 9. Slice the cake up into 5cm x 5cm squares. 10. the desiccated and shredded coconut together over a wide plate. 11. Coat one square of cake completely one at a time in the mango mixture then in the coconut by gently rolling it to ensure all sides are well coated. 12. Place the lamingtons in the fridge to allow to set before serving.
LEMONGRASS CHICKEN AND MANGO Mix up your BBQ with these chicken thighs marinated in lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, accompanied with a simple side salad of Honey Gold mango, cucumber and coriander, all topped off with a good drizzle of a Honey Gold sauce that tastes light and fresh! Serves: 2-3 Prep: 20-30 minutes Cook: 10 -15 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
· 4 chicken thighs · 1 1/2 Lemon grass stalks · 2 -3 garlic cloves · 2 kaffir lime leaves · Juice of 1 lime · 3 tbsp olive oil · Pinch sea salt · Oil for cooking For the Honey Gold sauce: ½ Mango flesh, roughly chopped
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METHOD:
Mango Lamingtons.
RECIPES
1. Combine the lemongrass, garlic, olive oil, lime juice and sea salt into a food processor and pulse until it comes together into a smooth puree. This can also be done by hand, by chopping everything up and pounding it in a mortar and pestle. 2. Remove the stems of the kaffir lime leaves, roll them up into a small roll and thinly slice. 3. Slice the chicken thighs in half, add them to a medium bowl. Pour over the puree and add the thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves. Stir to coat all sides of the chicken, cover and place in the fridge for a 2-3 hrs. 4. To make the sauce, combine all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until combined, set aside. This can be made
The fragrance of lemongrass chicken with sweetness of mango.
· ½ bunch coriander stems, rinsed · 1 small Garlic clove · 2 tbsp Olive oil · 1 tbsp sherry vinegar For the Honey Gold salad: 1 large mango cubed 2 cucumber sliced ½ Red onion finely sliced ½ bunch coriander leaves
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ahead of time and stored in the fridge. 5. Heat a cast iron grill to medium heat or a BBQ grill, brush off excess marinade from the chicken, brush with a little extra oil and place it on the grill. Gently push the chicken down into the grill, you’re looking for a golden colour and nice char marks. Once cooked on one side flip the chicken over and cook on the other side. 6. To make the salad, combine all of the ingredients into a salad bowl and toss to combine. 7. Serve with the mango sauce drizzled over the top of the chicken and the salad. 8. N.B: This sauce is absolutely delish, and we highly recommend it as your Summer accompaniment to any future salad or meal! SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022 SENIORS TODAY 9
Summer Fashion Orange sequin heart dress by Fabuler
Wednesday Lulu Black Star T Shirt
1978W Black Croc Bag Devon Dusty Blue Coulotte Pant by Fabuler Art n Vintage - Orange Ombre Tote Los Cabos Tangerine Slides
Ruby Shoes Black by Bueno
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NEWS
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Summer Trivia By Allan Blackburn 1. What is the main language spoken on the island of Honshu? 2. What disease is the concern of an oncologist? 3. In what sport did Ken Rosewall gain renown? 4. Of what country was Louis XVI the king? 5. True or false: Big Ben is in the Tower of London. 6. Niagara Falls is part of the border between what two countries? 7. What day is celebrated on 17th March? 8. Thursday Island is part of which Australian state or territory? 9. What colour berets do United Nations military personnel wear? 10. What is the verb in this sentence: The gambler contemplated his opponent. 11. In relation to jewellery, what does the abbreviation “ct” stand for? 12. To which continent is the okapi native? 13. In rhyming slang, what does “bag of fruit” mean? 14. On what part of the body is a scrunchie worn? 15. What is the Christian ceremony where a person is sprinkled with or immersed in water? 16. How many 20 cent coins are worth $88? 17. What sort of musical instrument is a tom tom? 18. How many cards does each player get dealt in bridge? 19. Since the late 1940s, the name George Hartnett has been associated with what business in Brisbane? 20. Which of these elements is not a metal: sodium, silicon, magnesium, tin? Answers: 1. Japanese 2. Cancer 3. Tennis 4. France 5. False 6. USA and Canada 7. St Patrick’s Day 8. Queensland 9. Blue 10. Contemplated 11. Carat 12. Africa 13. Suit 14. Head, specifically the hair 15. Baptism 16. 440 17. Drum 18. 13 19. Funeral directors 20. Silicon 12 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
Superannuation and tax implications By Brian Hor, special counsel superannuation and estate planning SUPERCentral You may be aware that toward the end of 2021, in a private ruling, the ATO confirmed the tax payable in respect of a gift of superannuation to a member’s estate where that super is to be held in a testamentary discretionary trust. With superannuation being the second main asset after the family home for many families, increasingly superannuation death benefits are being paid to a deceased estate. This means that the deceased person’s Will directs what will happen to the superannuation. But what if the Will includes Testamentary Discretionary Trusts (TDTs)? 1. Can Superannuation be paid into a Testamentary Discretionary Trust? Yes, it can, if paid to the deceased person’s estate on their death. However, who the beneficiaries of the TDT are will determine whether or not any tax will be payable on the payment. 2. Will Tax be payable on the Superannuation Payment? If all the beneficiaries of the TDT are restricted to “tax dependents” (most usually the surviving spouse and any children under 18 years old) and no other persons, then it will be received by the TDT free of tax. This type of TDT is often known as a Superannuation Proceeds Trust. However, normal TDTs have a wide range of beneficiaries which may in-
Trust in your Will solves any tax issues, it should be understood that a Superannuation Proceeds Trust is not always appropriate, such as in the following circumstances: If the surviving spouse and/or dependent children receive all the super death benefit under a Binding Death Benefit Nomination (BDBN) – since no part of the death benefit will go into the estate; If there is no surviving spouse and no dependent children (e.g. all the children are over 18 years old and financially independent) – so if the super was paid into the estate, it cannot be paid to a Superannuation Proceeds Trust even if the Will includes it; If there are multiple children but only some are under 18 years old (this is often the case with “blended families”) – depending on the overall estate strategy, it may not be appropriate if only some of the children can receive the super tax free and the others cannot, without other measures in place to equalise their inheritances. It’s important to remember a Will is not a static document and we recommend they be reviewed every two to three years or whenever there are major changes to succession or tax laws or a major life event such as marriage, divorce, property purchase/sale, birth, death or material inheritance. The ruling is available at 1051920326857 | Legal database (ato. gov.au)
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Brian Hor. clude non-tax dependents such as independent adult children, grandchildren, parents, etc. So, if a superannuation death benefit is paid into such a TDT, then as non-tax dependents may be able to benefit from the super payment, it will not be received tax free. Instead, it may be taxed – at 15% on any taxed component, and up to 30% on any untaxed component. 3. Should my Will have a Superannuation Proceeds Trust? While it may be tempting to think that having a Superannuation Proceeds
Suicide prevention program spreads net Anglicare Sydney has announced their Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program has expanded nationally to all states and territories until June 2025, through funding from the Australian Government. The program trains people who work with seniors to recognise the signs of suicide, how to step in and offer hope, and how to connect them to services and resources that reduce feelings of hopelessness and despair. “Australian men aged 85 and over have the highest rate of suicide,yet are less likely to use specialty mental health services. Equipping those who support older people can play a significant role in lowering the suicide rate in seniors”, said Michael Sheedy, Head of Mental Health at Anglicare. Since the program started in 2021, it has been completed by over 500 people from a variety of professions, organisations and industries including residential aged care, retirement living, home care, allied health, mental health practitioners, hospital workers, government organisations and more. “We are very pleased to take this program nationally, after the encouraging results to date of the program in NSW. Our three-month follow up survey indicates that almost half of all program participants have called on their knowledge of suicide prevention to assist an older person crisis”, Mr Sheedy said.
“A hundred per cent of these participants were able to ask the older person if they were intending on taking their life. Of those cases where a referral was required, 92 per cent of participants were able to connect the older person to professional services to receive the support they need. “This feedback is very encouraging and demonstrates that the program is making an impact and equipping people with the skills and confidence to save lives.” For anyone who is struggling, they can call the below for support and advice:
· Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 | Lifeline 13 11 14 | Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 Those interested in taking part in this free program, visit www.anglicare.org. au/suicideprevention and register their interest.
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CatholicCare’s tailor-made Home Care Packages can give their clients the support they need to live life to the fullest.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Enjoying shopping support.
Quality care in the home At CatholicCare, they’re passionate about taking the time to learn what’s important to their clients. Because at CatholicCare… they believe “YOU MATTER”. Supporting your choices and empowering you to live safely, confidently, and independently in your own home, for as long as possible, is their mission. A tailor-made Home Care Package from CatholicCare, is just one way they fulfil this mission. Their experienced team will discuss your individual needs and provide a
range of suitable services, so that you can spend more time focusing on the things that matter to you most! Their support services include: In-home care including cleaning, personal care, and medication monitoring Home and yard maintenance services Nursing care and allied health services including social work Social support for outings and appointments
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· Transport to and from appointments and errands Social group activities Allied health services By choosing CatholicCare as your home care provider, they believe you will also benefit from having your own dedicated case manager to handle requests on your behalf. Your case manager is focused on providing you with choices in how your home care package is managed. They will ensure your services and supports
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are tailored to your needs and where required, adaptable to change. Looking to apply for a home care package? We can assist you by guiding you through the process! Their friendly, experienced team can answer any questions you may have, and provide you expert advice about the benefits of having a home care package. To find out more about their services, or to start the application process, please visit www.catholiccarecq.com/ hcp or call their friendly team on 1300 523 985.
A home care package with CatholicCare is tailored to suit your needs. It is designed to keep you living your life, your way, and most importantly in your own home! Enjoy the benefits of: A wide range of services A dedicated Case Manager
A home care package
Choice and flexibility
unique to you
You matter Call 1300 523 985 or visit: www.catholiccarecq.com/hcp
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Tech vision helps connect New technology is solving old problems with Vision Australia (a national NGO for the blind and low vision community) taking part in a new Alexa program to support older Australians with vision loss aimed at building confidence, independence, and a sense of connection with family and friends. Alexa and Vision Australia are helping blind and low vision customers in Australia to do more with smart voice technology. Through Commonwealth Home Support Program funding, Vision Australia has developed a new Alexa Smart Speaker Program providing Echo smart speakers with Alexa to qualifying clients free of charge. Devices are then coupled with a 12week educational program where participants quickly learn how Alexa can help them use their voice to access tools for organisation, communication, and connection to live confidently in their homes and communities. Access to information such as weather and news helps people who are blind or low vision to stay connected, from knowing whether to pack an umbrella when rain is forecast, to staying abreast of local information and events. Closer to home, tools such as kitchen timers, shopping lists and voice reminders, coupled with access to music, radio and podcasts, have helped participants manage their home life with more joy and confidence. Valerie, 81, was delighted to be gifted an Amazon Echo device from her local Vision Australia office, but had no experience with smart speaker technology before joining the program. Through the program’s group Zoom calls, she quickly embraced the possibilities Alexa brought into her home. “The group situation provided lots of insights to the ways others were using the device and everyone shared their experiences,” Valerie said. “One lady uses Alexa to check if she’s taken her medication. Another guy checks the football results. One lady
Valerie, 81, was part of the trial with the Amazon Echo device sent to her by local Vision Australia office. even learned Italian! Alexa and this program have revolutionised my life. There are so many useful things I can do now that were just harder to do as a low vision person.” For Valerie, features such as kitchen timers and daily reminders were a big part of the Alexa journey – “My husband needs reminders more than I do!” – but it’s become an easier option than ever to quickly connect with family. She now uses Alexa as an aide to help tutor her granddaughter to find answers across maths, science and English subjects. Vision Australia has also developed an Alexa Skill of its own, providing voice
access to the organisation’s podcasts, original audio programming, and answers about eye and sight conditions, as well as the ability to request a call back from Vision Australia’s support services. “Alexa makes it easier for people who are blind or have low vision to access the content and services that Australians of all abilities rely on every day,” says Chris Edwards, Manager of Government Relations and Advocacy for Vision Australia. “We’re excited that an off-the-shelf smart speaker device can help older members of our community feel more included and empowered
than ever before.” “Through the power of voice, Alexa has become an amazing example of how smart voice technology can help blind and low vision Australians; made even more exciting in the impact we’ve been able to create with Vision Australia,” says Kate Burleigh, Country Manager Alexa ANZ. “Having a friendly voice right there when needed is a powerful tool for this community, and is inherently personal. Helping Vision Australia to build this program to show Alexa’s value for their community has been a joy, and we’re excited to see it come to life.”
Excellent addition: Legumes a healthy heart alternative Aussies can save money at the checkout and stretch meals further by adding heart healthy beans, chickpeas and lentils to meals – but half of us lack the confidence to do so, a new report shows. In response, the Heart Foundation is launching a ‘bean blitz’ to show Australians how easy it is to cook with this highly nutritious group of foods, known as legumes. This includes providing a selection of free and tasty recipes online. The insight into legumes is part of the Heart Foundation’s What Australia Eats 2022 report released today, which surveyed more than 2,000 Australians to provide a snapshot of our eating, shopping and cooking habits. According to What Australia Eats, other insights include: Favour the flavour: Australians choose what to cook at home primarily by how good it tastes; Keeping
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14 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
costs down: the price of food is another key factor in determining what people buy and cook with; Fresh desire: Australians mostly want fresh, unprocessed ingredients – perhaps overlooking the shelf-life, nutritional value and convenience of canned or frozen vegetables and legumes for those times you need a quick meal. Shop in store: nearly 80 percent of respondents said they preferred to visit a shop or supermarket versus shopping for groceries online. Seeing red: a quarter of us find it challenging to reduce our red meat intake to the recommended 350gms per week, despite trying. Heart Foundation senior dietitian, Jemma O’Hanlon, said eating more legumes by adding them to existing meals is an excellent way for people to start eating healthier. “Try to integrate small amounts of whole, nutrient-rich foods such
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as legumes into your existing meals. This will help you to feel fuller longer, helping both your heart and your hippocket,” Ms O’Hanlon said. The Heart Foundation will use the report’s insights to inform its nutrition resources. To discover our range of legume recipes as well as many other heart healthy meal ideas, visit our website for more advice. To view the What Australia Eats report, visit this page directly TIPS FOR EATING LEGUMES Where to start? O’Hanlon says: “When it comes to including more legumes in your cooking, think outside the box. You can include beans, chickpeas or lentils in almost any recipe, even desserts!” Some simple additions to try at home: Add beans to your taco mix for a protein-packed punch
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· Add lentils to your favourite spag-
bol to stretch it further. lentils, chickpeas or beans to jazz up soups – add them in whole or blend them up Add canned mixed beans to give colour and texture to salads Other ideas include: Blend them up to make plant-based burger patties. Try them in dip form! Why not make your own hummus, which has a creamy, smooth texture? Perfect with vegetable sticks. Curb your snack cravings by baking canned chickpeas in the oven with a little olive oil and your favourite herbs and spices for flavour. Stock up on your favourite brand of baked beans (with no added salt and sugar) and have them on wholegrain toast for a quick and easy meal when you’re short on time.
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Time to put the feet up Often in later years, our years of stress over jobs, children and money are replaced with feelings of well-being and contentment. With age, we become comfortable with ourselves, start putting ourselves first (often for the first time in our lives!) and we begin doing things that make us happy. We can socialise on our terms, share stories about the past and reminisce about ‘the good old days’. And we can share our knowledge and wisdom with those younger than us. We realise that aging positively can make your life better. At Suncare, they love the positive stories of their customers. They marvel at some of the tales. They are motivated by their customers experiences and they are determined to age as well as many of the elderly they meet. At 83 years of age, Durelle decided that older age was not about being bored and boring. Enrolling at the local university for her Batchelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Durelle soon became a popular figure on the grounds of the Uni. “You can do anything if you just set your mind to it” says Durelle. Bob started his stamp collection at the age of seven. His study is filled with stamp albums and he loves his weekly catch-up at the local Stamp Collectors Group.
Hearing the stories at Suncare Here he talks stamps and life with fellow collectors, keeping the joy in his life-long hobby alive. Using the Suncare Transport Service takes the hassle out of getting there. Suncare staff love to hear about Len and his wife who have been happily married for 70 years; about Elsie, whose husband moved into the care facility with her until she was well enough to
move back into their own home. They are proud to celebrate the birthday milestones with our octogenarians, some of whom still enjoy regular games of golf at the age of 100. Suncare support worker Meg says many of her customers have a special place in her heart. “It is not a job or a duty, it is a plea-
sure to meet so many of Queensland’s wonderful aged citizens”. The staff would love you to become part of the Suncare story. If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of an aging plan, please contact Suncare on 1800 786 227 or visit suncare.org.au to see how they can best assist you.
Suncare Home Care If staying in your home is important to you, we can help. Help with housekeeping, a lift to the shops or someone to mow your lawn could be just that extra support you need so you can pursue your interests and live your life on your terms. Suncare delivers your Home Care Package services so you can stay in your home, connected with your local community and in control of your life.
We can help you with… Personal Care | Meal Service & Preparation | Transport Social Support & Respite | Housekeeping & Domestic Assistance | Home & Garden Maintenance | Home Care Package Advice | Allied Health & Clinical Services
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We care for eyes and ears at Specsavers Book a bulk billed eye test or a free 15-minute hearing check today
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Specsavers Rockhampton Allenstown Allenstown Square 139-145 Derby Street (near the Post Office) Tel 4921 0762 Specsavers Rockhampton North Stockland Rockhampton (opposite Coles) Tel 4921 0299
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Bulk billed eye test available when listed on a valid Medicare card without optometry restrictions. A fee may be incurred if further testing is required after your free 15 minute appointment.
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GARDENING
Garden’s summer nights By Kevin Redd
Ginger festival.
Enjoying the summer blooms. summer season - things like dragonfruit and all the beautiful heliconias, gingers and turmericare all starting their vigorous browth phases now and are very
Dragon fruit. easy to propagate. Go check out your local nursery or even get on the internet to some of the wonderful ‘online nurseries’ that have a fantastic range of beautiful
tropical plants. Make the most of the warm days at this time of year and get out into the garden!
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Hello Queensland gardeners - here we are in the beginning of what promises to be another hot and steamy summer. It’s off to a great start with temperatures not too hot yet and there is plenty of rainfall and soil moisture just about everywhere! So now is the time in the garden when we can make sure that our plants are ready for the warm season ahead. So what should we be doing in the garden now? First and foremost - now is a great time to get out to apply an application of mulch to both the ornamental garden as well as the food producing patch. This will keep those pesky weeds from taking over and so far it’s not yet too hot to get out and do this job. What sort of mulch is best? This is a great question and it depends upon what you are growing and how easy it is to access your garden. At our site on the Sunshine Coast with lots of edibles and lush tropical foliage plants, we are big fans of sugarcane mulch which we can get locally in big ‘wheels’. As you might know, lots of cane farms are struggling with mill closures and large distances to take their cane, so buying mulch directly from the farmers is a wonderful way to support agribusiness in your local area. Secondly, we can start putting in ‘warm weather’ plants that love our
SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022 SENIORS TODAY 17
OUT AND ABOUT
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Going cruising.
Taking in the vistas.
How to sea Spain in style By Kylie Mitchell-Smith www.travellingsenorita.com As the borders reopen, we begin to plan a European trip to reacquaint ourselves with countries like France, Portugal and Spain and as luck would have it a ’13day intensive Spain’ cruise by Azamara Voyages land on our lap. As the tourism industry bounces back so do the costs of flights, with staffing issues and an increasing demand, they are fast becoming out of our reach. Alas we engage our trusty Travel Agent who finds us affordable options from Singapore to Paris on a reputable airline, with connecting flights from Brisbane. A layover in Singapore for 24 hours suited us down to the ground as we checked into the Novotel that adjoins Mercure on Stevens Road, an urban precinct on the fringe of the city. An ideal location that is close enough to the action but far enough away to relax in the comfort of the hotel’s gardens, cascading pools and global eateries. Refreshed and ready to go we board our flight to Paris to spend a couple of days basking in the beauty of the city of love. We discover areas we hadn’t visited before like Batignolles and Le Maraisas colourful as they are authentically French. A fast train to Bordeaux where we explore the old and new parts of the city, from the magnificent wine museum La Ciudad del Vino to the fresh food markets Les Halles Bacalan a showcase of the region’s providores. We board Azamara Pursuit and set sail to Northern Spain, dipping our ‘virgin’ cruise toes in on a boutique ship with 550 guests and a similar ratio of staff, is the ideal choice. Azamara have four smaller ships in their fleet and by all accounts are a trusted brand with a 18 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
Fresh food to enjoy. large portion of return guests. Greeted with friendly staff where nothing seems too much trouble, we get a quick safety check with Lifestyle Manager Nelson (also the ships resident DJ and dancer) and are introduced to our Stateroom Attendant Anwar, who is as tentative as he is fun. The deck cabins are spacious in design with all the fine trimmings, including a luxurious bed, bathroom to suit and balcony that opens onto the sea. As we wander the ships array of bars, eateries and entertainment areas, we
slowly but surely find our sea legs. First stop Bilbao, we glide in as the sun rises over this stunning Basque city. Exploring the Guggenheim cultural precinct, we feel the vibe of this contemporary yet old-world destination. Sailing overnight and touring towns during the day, we embark on destinations off the big ship track- like the stunning coastal towns of La Coruna and Vigo in the Galicia region. The spirits of the pilgrims are felt through the cobble stone streets that lead to the Santiago de Compostela.
Destination Portugal, we have time at sea to immerse in the culture on board the ship where we discover most of the guests are avid cruisers, choosing Azamara to see the world by water. On-board there is a decked-out gym, decadent spa and treatments, steam room and yoga studio. A luxurious lounge takes pride of place at the bow of the ship with expansive views across the ocean. Fresh food is served from breakfast through to dinner exuding the flavours of Spain and food from across the globe.
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Soaking up the culture.
Time to indulge.
Enjoying Spain.
A view to enjoy.
The chef’s source local produce where they can like Basque oysters, fish from Galicia and cheese from France. Azamara have built strong relations with suppliers at each port to ensure the freshest of food is served on-board. Embarking on the port of Lisbon we hire a car to explore the beachside town of Nazare, said to be the home of the largest wave in the world. Azamara are all about destination immersion and quite literally drop you off for a day of adventure, just be back 30 minutes prior to departure and all is well. There is also an array of curated shore excursions to book if guided tours are more your thing. A two day lay over in Seville, we are Greeted by hordes of Spaniards as we pass the narrow bridges, singing ‘Viva Espana’. Seville is rich in culture, pretty as a picture with a plethora of authentic tapas bars and live flamenco that ig-
nites the streets. A day trip to Gibraltar then onto Costa Del Sol to take in Mediterranean towns like Malaga and Cartagena along the way. The mountains of Gibraltar are home to one of the last surviving monkey colonies, perched high above the island they keep a watchful eye over the city. Malaga beach is as dreamy as it is refreshing, we stay awhile and indulge on chargrilled fish cooked by the sea. We take a tour of the ancient ruins of Cartagena, a town where historical architecture is fused with contemporary design, as we head to our final destination Barcelona. We pull into the colourful port of Valencia to visit the ‘Coves de Sant Josep’ a remarkable underground cave and water passage just outside of the picturesque city. Sailing up the Balearic Sea on our intensive journey around Spain we’ve
crossed the Atlantic and Mediterranean and have taken in parts of four countries Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and France. Crusing into the harbour as the sun rises over Barceloneta Beach, The W Barcelona shines bright through our cabin windows, as we bid farewell to the Azamara Pursuit team and vow to return one day. W Barcelona is where all our hotel dreams come true, it’s a lifestyle hotel and to our delight we are upgraded to a ‘fabulous suite’. Complete with cocktail bar, supersized bath, plush lounge and floor to ceiling glass, capturing the water and city beyond. Day tripping around Barcelona is always a good idea, from bar hopping in the El Born district to dinner at the multi layered El Nationale to sunset on top of Tibidabo aka Magic Mountain.
OUT AND ABOUT
To complete the full circle of Spain we hire a car and drive to San Sebastian stopping off at Petritegi a traditional Basque cider house along the way. We stay at the stylish and convenient Silken Amara Hotel a short stroll to the old city of San Sebastian where we take a guided pintxos bar tour with a friendly local Amaia. Exploring the world by sea has captured our hearts, with a healthy dose of trains, planes and automobiles thrown in for good measure. Azamara offers affordable packages with all the inclusions, smaller ships and destination immersion itineraries- there’s a lot to like about a floating hotel on the sea. For all the sea faring information and offers visit https://www.azamara.com/ en-au/ The writer was a guest on the Azamara Pursuit Voyage. SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022 SENIORS TODAY 19
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Embrace the festive spirit It’s time to “Deck the shed with bits of wattle” and join award winning performer, Darren Coggan, as he celebrates the joy of being Home For Christmas, at the Pilbeam Theatre’s December Morning Melodies. Home for Christmas is a collection of songs and stories that embrace the festive spirit of Christmas in Australia. As his thoughts turn to home, strumming a guitar, Darren reimagines much loved Christmas favourites, reminiscing warm childhood memories of family and friends. It’s a fun and engaging performance full of laughter and sing-a-long songs that promises to be the gift of the season. Darren Coggan is one of Australia’s most exciting and diverse artists, a masterful storyteller with a knack of weaving fascinating and perceptive tales through his songs. From humble beginnings, strumming a guitar by ‘the ‘Bidgee’ river in his beloved hometown of Wagga Wagga, to selling out The Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with Peace Train - The Cat Stevens Story, Darren has forged a unique and diverse career that has seen him embrace the Australian country music, musical theatre and television industries. Morning Melodies: Home for Christmas will be performed at the Pilbeam
Darren Coggan. Theatre on Monday 12 December at 11am. A free morning tea, provided by
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Brumby’s Allenstown, Gracemere, Parkhurst will be available from 10am. Tickets, at $20 for adults with con-
cessions available, are on sale from the Pilbeam Theatre Box Office or www. seeitlive.com.au
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Author becomes the story By Tania Phillips It’s been 10 years since the death of Bryce Courtney, the man whose books became an Australian Christmas present staple, but for the first time in a decade a Bryce Courtney book might once again join the socks and chocolates under the tree. This time around though, Bryce will be the subject and not the author, thanks to the new book, Bryce Courtney - Storyteller. The biography would come as no surprise to Bryce, he often said someone would write it one day – even had offers from other authors in his lifetime. But the person who finally wrote it might be the surprise. The author is none other than his widow Christine, who sat down to write her own fascinating story and suddenly found herself writing a chapter or two about Bryce. And just as she thought maybe she might not continue; she made a discovery in her garage that ensured the new book would come to life. Christine Courtney, who started her working life at the Canberra Times in advertising earning $3 an hour while still at University and went on to co-found Australian Himalayan Expeditions in 1975, met Bryce in the 90s and they became friends, eventually falling in love in the 2000s and marrying in 2011. “I started out writing a memoire of my own life because in the 1970s I started a pioneering travel company called Australian Himalayan Expeditions which later became World Expeditions and during that amazing period of my life we travelled everywhere, we met some amazing explorers and adventurers and a lot of great things happened,” she explained. “I’d been asked years and years ago to write the story of how that company was founded and when you’re running a business you don’t have time to write a book. So, when I came home from England and just missed the lockdown being cooped up in hotel, I thought I might sit down and write a book. “You know when you’re writing, it wasn’t sort of a writing exercise but one day I was sort of thinking I’d just have a write about how Bryce and I first met, so I wrote this sort of an essay really and I called it our first chapter. It was about how I first met Bryce, which was in 1993 and then we eventually came together as a couple in 2005. I thought that’s not bad and sent it to a girlfriend and she said I really like that it’s great. So, I
Christine and Bryce. wrote another chapter and then another chapter. And then I thought oh-dear what am I doing – even then I didn’t think I’d write a book about Bryce’s life. “And then, its almost serendipitous if that’s the word, I came back from Europe in late March 2020 and I was writing my memoire and then in June 2020 I was clearing out some boxes of stuff in my garage. I’d relocated from Canberra in 2015 where Bryce had passed away. I found this box of letters I honestly think much of them – maybe they were business letters or something like that, I came close to throwing them out. “Instead, I took them upstairs and looked at them – oh my goodness these were written by Bryce, I never realised they were there, he’d never mentioned them. Then I started to put them in some sort of order – many of them were handwritten on very flimsy, rice paper almost, some were typed on a manual typewriter, and they were from very early one, when he was a small child right through to when he was at school at the very posh boarding school he eventually managed to get into. Then when he worked at fruit farm after leaving school, then working down the mines in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, then his time studying journalism in London, travelling out to Australia by ship and then starting off in advertising, his family life and sitting down and writing The Power of One and other books. “I thought oh my god, plus there were whole swaiths of information in those letters that I’d not heard about, some I had. It was like diary of his life. “ Suddenly it was almost like Bryce was telling her to write the book.
“It really was,” she said. “You don’t want to sound too self-absorbed, but I thought maybe I am meant to write this.” However, it wasn’t quite that clear cut for Christine who wondered if she really should do it. “I felt conflicted, Bryce had been asked by his publisher, they begged him to write an autobiography, I had asked him to write an autobiography and he always said no. Before he passed away a couple of people came to see him, or they’d ring him. They’d say can I come and sit with you Bryce and record your story. He was very sick by then and just couldn’t deal with it. “He said anyway I don’t want one. I was asked to write one as well by a publisher not too long after Bryce passed away. I rejected the idea out of hand. “But I began to think – you know what, Bryce knew a biography would eventually be written about him, he told me that and I thought, it is now ten years nearly since he passed away. As the queen once said I remember in the fullness of time perhaps, he wouldn’t mind if a biography was written now. “I’m in a unique position to write one, because we spent those years together and I knew him previously, so I knew a bit about those years and now I had this cache of pure gold and I thought these are going to be at the heart of the book. “Then when I reread his books, 21 books written in 23 years, I began to identify aspects of his life he’d woven into the books. They jumped out at me even more than they had done previously, especially books like obviously The Power of One but also White Thorn,
Bryce often said White Thorn was the most autobiographical of any of his books, most people think it’s The Power Of One. “Bryce never threw anything out, so I had boxes and boxes of files – every book that came out there seemed to be dozens dozens of interviews so I read all of them. I remembered there was quite a few documentaries made with him. “Again, he’d never told me he’d done this but in 1991 he sat down with Diana Ridge at the National Library in Canberra Oral history unit, and she interviewed him for what seemed like hours. I thought, this is amazing material.” She also talked to old friends and family, doctors who treated him, family in South Africa and with her own memories in a sense she probably had too much material. “I was given a word count, but I wrote 22,000 more,” she laughed. “I had enough – remember it’s not an academic work, it’s a memoire. I just tried to write it in a way that was interesting and reflected Bryce’s personality, his personal courage, his resilience, his humour, his generosity of spirt and also to honour his literary legacy, often which I think was a bit undervalued, and also just as a tribute to my darling husband as we commemorate the 10th year since his death. “It felt like I couldn’t not do it in the end, even though there were times when it was very daunting. You are writing about someone’s life, I wasn’t with Bryce for many of those years, there are people are still living that you are writing about, and I had never written a book before. I’d written chapters of other books and I was always, like Bryce had been, writing in my working life writing press releases and travel brochures. In a sense I’d been writing all my life, but it was a big responsibility and sometimes I’d think, I can’t do this but in the end, I was also very fortunate in that I had a wonderful editor, Racheal Scully who had worked with Bryce on many of his books and who knew him. That was really fantastic to have that support and encouragement. She loves the book and feels that it’s gracious, dignified and a wonderful read. “She said Bryce’s readers are going to love this and so that was a great compliment but now all I want is for people to enjoy it and I can’t wait to know how they find it.
Marsh contemplates his third trimester It’s 2022 and Nigel Marsh, bestselling author of 2005’s Fat, Forty & Fired, is staring down the barrel of turning sixty. Every week he finds himself bumping awkwardly into evidence of his growing older. His parents have both passed away, he’s losing his hearing and he and his wife Kate are now empty nesters - within two months their house has emptied of all four children as well as the pet dog. Now he finds himself wearing a dressing-gown at his writing desk in a storage room under his garage
wondering whether his happiest days are behind him. But just because the first half of life is full of exciting, lifechanging events like becoming educated, building a career, forming partnerships and raising children - why can’t getting older be a good thing too? The term ‘old age’ has become irretrievably negative when applied to people, so Nigel decides to rebrand it into ‘the third trimester’ of life. Youth has its unique upsides, but so does old age. You care less what other people think of you; you’ve worked out who your real friends are;
you haven’t got to spend your life commuting to a crushingly pointless job, or working for an arsehat; you’ve nothing to prove to anyone; you have the freedom to devote proper time to getting really good at a hobby...the list goes on. In Smart, Stupid & Sixty, Nigel ponders his entry into the third trimester - ageing well, staying healthy, sex, decreasing work, parenting adult children, maintaining friendships, his parents’ passing, learning new skills and the secret to living a happy life and making the most of getting older.
Author Nigel Marsh. SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022 SENIORS TODAY 21
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Mt Morgan business cific store vouchers. MMPAD President, John Steinberger said he was happy with the final prize pool. “There is little doubt that 2022 has been a tough year for many and it’s pleasing to see the local businesses get behind this promotion,” he said. He said MMPAD was happy that Rockhampton Regional Council’s economic development arm, Advance Rockhampton has come on board
12577526-DL49-22
Mount Morgan businesses have rallied behind the 2022 Buy Local promotion organised by Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc [MMPAD], which started on 3 October and ends on 15 December 2022. Thirty Mount Morgan businesses are participating in this year’s promotion which offers a total prize pool of $3000, comprising of vouchers which can be redeemed at any participating business in Mount Morgan and spe-
MT MORGAN HISTORICAL MUSEUM Best display outside Brisbane History Records and Graves records ADULTS $6, PENSIONERS $4, CHILDREN $2 • GROUPS OVER 15 - $4 EACH
Open 10am-4pm • 7 days a week Closed 4 days a year, being Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and Good Friday 87 Morgan Street Mt Morgan • 07 4938 2122 • mmhmuseum@yahoo.com.au
again this year. “While it’s obvious that the winners of the prizes will benefit from the Buy Local, MMPAD is hoping the businesses will have an increased turnover throughout this promotion – that’s the real focus,” Mr Steinberger said. Cash and voucher donations were received from Collectables and Memories, the Grand Hotel, IGA Mount Morgan, Mane Street Hair Studio, Mount Morgan Promotion and Development Inc, Railway Hotel/Motel, Rainbow Cafe, Stephen Andrew – Member for Mirani, That Truck and Bobcat Bloke, the Print Cartel and Wattle Bee Next. “This is a great gesture from these businesses and allows us to increase the original prize pool considerably,” Mr Steinberger said. “With Christmas just around the corner, there is plenty of opportunity for not only Mount Morgan residents, but anyone who shops in Mount Morgan to receive some serious voucher prizes.” Shoppers can enter by spending $20 or more in a single shop at any of the participating businesses, writing their name and telephone number on the back of the docket
Working together and shopping locally and placing the docket in the box provided at any participating store. They have until close of business Wednesday, 14 December to enter. The draw will take place on Friday, 16 December 2022 at the Mount Morgan Twilight Christmas Concert.
Mt Morgan
Leichhardt Hotel
OPEN 7 DAYS
MEYENBURG BED & BREAKFAST + GOLDEN MOUNT REST + FERNS MINERS REST
• Lunch Wednesday to Sunday 12pm-2pm • Dinner Monday to Saturday 5:30pm-7:30pm
Meyenburg Bed & Breakfast https://g.co/kgs/qFCjPz
Ferns Miners Rest https://g.co/kgs/mPXthw Phone Lizzy 0408 262 505
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Golden Mt Rest, Mount Morgan https://g.co/kgs/zNvggm
• Try our Sunday Lamb Roast under the trees in the beer garden. • Pokies, keno and our large verandas for a cold beer. • Sunday raffles.
to make your booking
07 4938 1416 12577498-ET49-22 202211095123_1-AV46-22
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Deck halls Residents and businesses will have until 13 December to nominate for the Lights Competition. Judging will take place on Wednesday, 14 December from 7 pm and winners announced on Friday, 16 December 2022 at the Mount Morgan Twilight Christmas Concert. Nomination forms will be printed in the Mount Morgan Argus, posted on Facebook or will be available at the Mount Morgan Visitor Information Centre (Railway Station) or by emailing mmpad@mountmorgan.org.au
Mount’s twilight concert Following on from the success of the 2021 Twilight Christmas Concert, Mount Morgan Promotion and Development [MMPAD] will again hold its carols concert event at Mount Morgan’s Historical Railway Station. MMPAD president John Steinberger said the event was well received and the number of positive comments we received was outstanding. More than 150 attended the event.
“We have decided to keep the event as an outdoor function, providing quality entertainment and generating a special atmosphere at the historic Railway Station,” he said. Mr Steinberger said this year’s program offered some special treats with Lyn Anstey, Jodi Nichols and John Batley performing. “Amanda Sealy, will also be providing entertainment,” he said.
Invite you to experience our quiet & peaceful motel and van park located in the historic & picturesque town of Mount Morgan.
Your Hosts Keith & Kristie Lavell
1 Showgrounds Road Horse Creek QLD 4714
12577527-AI49-22
It’s time to dust the decorations, untangle the tinsel and lights and set up the Christmas display for Mount Morgan Promotion and Development’s (MMPAD) Christmas Lights Competition. MMPAD is again sponsoring a first, second and third place prizes in residential and commercial categories with entries being judged on such criteria as overall appeal, innovation, imagination and use of Christmas themed icons such as stars, nativity and Santa.
P: 4938 1952 W: mtmorganmotelvanpark.com.au
Coffee and treats while you browse our carefully curated array of goods.
Why not try our Chai! Real Chai Tea made the traditional way. The perfect place to rest up while you Experience Mount Morgan
16 DECEMBER 2022 - 6 - 8 PM AT THE HISTORIC MOUNT MORGAN RAILWAY STATION
Present this advertisement for a buy one get one free, Coffee, Tea, Chai.
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Entertainment featuring Lynette Anstey, Golden Girls, the Batley Family, Jodi Nichols and Amanda Sealey. Sing along with the Christmas Carols!
SANTA WILL BE THERE WITH TREATS FOR THE KIDS! ENJOY A SAUSAGE SIZZLE! ICE CREAM & COFFEE & DONUT VANS! BUY LOCAL WINNERS DRAWN! CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WINNERS ANNOUNCED!
45 Morgan St, Mount Morgan QLD 4714
Don’t forget the Mount Morgan Buy Local and Christmas Lights entries close soon! 12577528-KJ49-22
P: 4938 1070
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SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022 SENIORS TODAY 23
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Never too old join the club By Tania Phillips Age is no barrier to joining a surf lifesaving club according to Yeppoon’s Jeff Blackburn. Jeff who grew up in Rockhampton and now lives in Yeppoon has been member of the club for most of his life starting as a Nipper and now is more involved than ever. He is a life member of the club and has always been associated with the club, but now later in life he has been going down to help with Nippers and is still competing in some surf carnivals with the masters. “Just recently I’ve been wanting to put back effort into the Nippers,” he said. “I suppose a lot of traditional skills have been lost. So I go down and coach the kids which is great. “I go down every Friday afternoon, I coach the kids once a week and then most Sunday’s for the past couple of years I’ve gone down and helped out with the Nipper days on Sunday as well.” He gets a kick out of helping the kids but his love of Surf Lifesaving goes back a long way. “My brother, who is four years older, was learning to swim and I don’t know whether I was as well, but the guy who was doing the swimming lessons back in 1969, got Nippers started,” Jeff said. “He was a life saver, so he was in the senior part of the club, and a lady by the name of Joan Lennox she started Nippers up on the 5th of October 1969. Mum brought my brother and I down to Lifesavers, they were attracting younger members, I just toddled along, I couldn’t start Nippers until I was six or seven years old. I just grew up with it, I was into winter sports as well but swimming and lifesaving was important. I did all my bronze medallions, advanced resuscitation, a lot of awards that you achieve within the club and I competed at State and National titles. I met my wife at the lifesavers – she was a new recruit, that I started flirting with. It’s been a real family affair because mum and dad were heavily involved with the nipper until we grew up and they feel away from it. “My boys were in Nippers but they never went through to the senior sides of lifesavers. “I think we’re probably one of the first families to have three generations (that was in the Nippers). There was another family, the Cummings family, they’ve done better than us, they’ve had three generations who have done beach patrol, which I reckon is bloody cool. Bill and Kate Cummings are the mum and dad, they held the presidents and secretary’s role, they also did patrols as did their kids and now their grand kids are coming through, still doing patrols and competing which is really great. “I grew up with a lot of great guys, we’re still mates now, still catch up. They’re in other surf clubs so if you away you see them, it’s a good atmosphere.” While being a member of a surf club can really become a family affair, it is never too late to join and even if you’re over 50 there are still roles. 24 SENIORS TODAY SUMMER: DECEMBER 2022
“There is a program that started up through lifesaving called Silver Salties, we are trying to start it here,” he said. Silver Salties is a participation program for older Australians (65+ years) at participating surf lifesaving clubs throughout Australia promoting physical activity, social connections, and involvement in the surf lifesaving community. Silver Salties is managed by Surf Life Saving Australia, coordinated by State Centres, and delivered by participating surf lifesaving clubs. The programs include popular active recreational pursuits, as well as traditional surf lifesaving activities. Jeff said for those wanting to get involved they can contact the club through their website and socials. “We are looking to get the Silver Salties program up and running, we are still in the early days of it,” he said. The club also welcomes associate members. There is a place for all including those with disabilities who may not be able to patrol but still be an active member with radio courses available. “If they can’t get down on the beach to help out there are other things they can do to help the club,” he said. “’Speaking to some of the other clubs, with the Silver Salties program they now have three or four older people coming down at the weekend to help out with the barbies. There are a couple of silver salties who have joined and done their gold medallions and become a fully patrolling member. Gone are the days when you have to be a really good swimmer, there is that much rescue equipment that is machinery driven, there are jet skis, there are IRBs, roles on the beach, they don’t have to be that elite swimmer they had to be years ago.”
No matter your age there is a role at the local surf club.