Seniors Today CQ - Winter 2023

U3A strikes gold

Rockhampton and District U3A are still celebrating following their recent U3A conference, commemorating 50 years of U3A worldwide.

STORY PAGE 6

A Legacy to last

The Centenary Legacy Relay held special meaning for Beth Tennant - one of the participants in the Rockhampton leg of the event.

“I was a Legacy ward - my dad died back in 1963 when I was 10 and I’m the eldest of five so mum had five us 10 and under, my littlest brother was only six

months,” she said.

“Dad had been in the Second World War in the Second Machinegun Battalion and he saw service in the Middle East and the Pacific, he got the Middle East Star and the Pacific Star. Dad passed away and left mum with five of us 10 and under and she had no idea

what to do because it was all very sudden and Legacy stepped in.

“I became a Legacy ward, as did my three brothers and sister and they helped out. I was living in Mackay at the time, they became a massive part of our lives. As you can imagine having five of us it was really tough for mum having

no money. She’d been a dressmaker but in those days they didn’t work, dad was the breadwinner, we would have been totally lost without Legacy.”

She said the family didn’t know anything about Legacy until they needed them.

STORY PAGE 3

INSIDE

LEGACY RELAY page 3

IN PROFILE page 4

RECIPES page 10

HEALTH pages 8, 11-14

GARDENING page 16

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT page 18

ACTIVE OUTDOORS page 19

OUT AND ABOUT pages 20-24

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DEADLINES

September 2023 Edition

Advertising Bookings:

Noon Thursday 10th August

Copy Deadline: 5pm Thursday 17th August

Distributed: Wednesday 6th September

December 2023 Edition

Advertising Bookings: Noon Thursday 9th November

Copy Deadline: 5pm Thursday 16th November

Distributed: Wednesday 6th December

Published by Central Queensland Media Pty Ltd

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Open up night sky

By Tania Phillips

As a child David Magro loved staring up into the night sky – now he does it for a living.

Seemingly destined to become a science teacher David has instead combined his love of teaching, photography and science to create himself the dream job.

Now he travels across Australia teaching his Milky Way Masterclass Suite to enthusiasts or absolute beginners which means he spends a large chunks of the year photographing stunning Milky Way Landscapes and guiding amateur photographers and enthusiasts in how to plan, capture and process the images.

He is coming to most major Queensland centres this year and will in the Southern Downs and Granite belt region during May, to take pictures, hittingWarwick on 16 May.

He admits sharing his love for photographing the night sky is his true passion now.

Since 2014, David has taught more than 4000 beginners and enthusiasts the skills needed to create stunning images under the MilkyWay.

“I’ve been doing Milky Way landscape photography for over a decade, and I tour around all of Australia visiting all of the amazing dark sky locations teaching total beginners, amateurs and enthusiasts how to photograph the MilkyWay,” he said.

“It is a little complex but once you get a basic understanding of it, you’ll be able to figure it out.

“I like to bridge the gap between someone who has an interest in Astro photography and bringing them up to the level, so they feel confident in shooting the night sky.”

David admits it’s a lot of fun and he never anticipated it would grow as it has.

“It all just started as hobby,” he admitted.

“When I was at university, I was studying to be a science teacher, studying science and education but I was doing a lot of photography on the side.

“That was my true passion.

very fast and people asked me to go elsewhere.

“I began touring all across Australia, going to the most amazing places.”

He said the rural locations were the best.

“That’s where you have the best view of the Milky Way and the stars, places like Stanthorpe and Tenterfield, Warwick, the South East Queensland region and all through NSW are great,” David explains.

“However, I also do it near the city as well. You can photograph the Milky Way, not far out of Brisbane and also on the Gold Coast, you don’t need to have completely dark skies to be able to do this.”

Growing up in rural NSW, David is now based on the Sunshine Coast, but he spends a lot of time on the road running his classes around the country. Last year he conducted around a hundred throughout the year.

“This year I’ll be eloping in Europe, so I’m not doing as many,” he said.

“I’ve only got about 40 or so this year. I’m focusing a lot on Queensland though I’m currently in Nowra in NSW and then I go to Bowral and Forster for two weeks, then I come back and do Hervey Bay and Roma and all that region.

“I go to Europe and come back in September to do Cairns, Toowoomba, Bowen, Mackay, Beaudesert and some other interesting places around.”

It’s an amazing way to make a living and has been his full-time job for the past five years taking him all over Australia including his favourite place to photograph in Australia.

“I would say Mungo National Park is my favourite location as the landscape is quite barren and it’s quite iconically Australian,” he said.

“It has this element of a Martian landscape, something from out of this world and in Australia, even though we have some pretty diverse landscapes, there’s nothing like it.

familiar with and as it’s so far from civilization you don’t get any light pollution as well. The Milky Way looks crazy out there.

“It looks great in country NSW and Qld but far in the desert away from the light pollution without much atmosphere to block your view it’s just completely sensational just watching the sky.”

For more information head to davidmagro.com/southqld

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Media

“After a while, after winning many national awards, people were asking me how to do it, so I developed the master class.

“I started putting on events, the next thing you know they were selling out

“Along the coast there’s beaches, they’re all quite similar and when you go out to country NSW it’s quite similar. It’s all beautiful and amazing but once you start going to Broken Hill, Lake Menindee, Mungo National Park – in that desert landscape -it’s something that you are instantly drawn to. You could just walk around and visit the area endlessly and stumble upon rock formations and plants which you’re not

Enjoying the cooler weather

Welcome to Seniors Today winter edition.

I hope you are all enjoying the cooler weather and it isn’t too cold yet.

Spurred on by the recent couple of cooler days, our travel writers have been looking for some real cold weather this time with Erle Levey heading out to Stanthorpe, Warwick and Tenterfield to enjoy the sights, the food and the wine. For our own Travelling Senorita Kylie Mitchell-Smith it’s a case of if you leave me can I come too. When her oldest son left home to live in Canada, Kylie discovered a new travel destination.

Also getting out and about is our beer columnist Bob Anthony who is preparing for the Great Australian Beer Spectacular (GABS) which return to Brisbane on Saturday, June 10 but even if you can’t get there you can order what you want.

And me? Well a recent Fatty Liver diagnosis had me trolling the internet for information and help – beyond the “just lose weight and you’ll be fine!” from the Doctor. What I found was a great group called the Liver Foundation (yep I didn’t know they existed either) and what they class as “The biggest health issue no one’s heard of”.

Enjoy this season’s edition and have fun in the winter sun!

Tania Phillips, Editor

Meteor. Wangaratta.

Relaying Legacy memories

Rockhampton played host to the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health, on Friday 2 June with the torch arriving first at the War Memorial.

The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, presented by Defence Health began its journey in Pozières France on 23 April, with an official Opening Ceremony, then travelled to Menin Gate, Belgium and onto London before arriving in Australia where it will undertake

its six-month journey visiting all Legacy Club locations around the country, before culminating in Melbourne.

The first Queensland relay will be in Cairns on Wednesday 24 May at 8:30am, starting from the Tobruk Memorial Pool. The flame will travel over 90km throughout the state, with relays in Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Ipswich and Gold Coast.

The relay will feature 275 torch bearers in total including Legacy beneficiaries, Legatees and Defence Personnel, torch bearers of note include Her ExcellencytheHonourableDrJeanetteYoung AC PSM, Governor of Queensland.

Legacy Australia Chairman Eric Easterbrook OAM said during the Centenary tour, the torch will travel 50,000 kilometres, with 100 stops over 75 days, and be carried by 1300 Torch Bearers, all with a personal connection

to Legacy Australia.

“The torch relay is a fitting commemoration of a century of service. Over the decades, Legacy has had a significant impact on many spouses, partners and children of veterans in the state of Queensland. From Cairns to the Gold Coast and everywhere in between, we hope this relay will raise awareness of the important work Legacy does across the sunshine state in supporting our veterans’ families.”

A lasting Legacy for Beth on the Rockhampton route

By Tania Phillips

The Centenary Legacy Relay held special meaning for BethTennant – one of the participants in the Rockhampton leg of the event.

“I was a legacy ward – my dad died back in 1963 when I was ten and I’m the eldest of five so mum had five us ten and under, my littlest brother was only six months,” she said.

“Dad had been in the SecondWorld War in the Second Machinegun Battalion and he saw service in the Middle East and the Pacific, he got the Middle East Star and the Pacific Star. Dad passed away and left mum with five of us ten and under and she had no idea what to do because it was all very sudden and legacy stepped in.

“I became a legacy ward, as did my three brothers and sister and they helped out. I was living in Mackay at the time, they became a massive part of our lives. As you can imagine having five of us it was really tough for mum having no money. She’d been a dressmaker but in those days they didn’t work, dad was the breadwinner, we would have been totally lost without Legacy.”

She said the family didn’t know anything about Legacy until they needed them.

“Mum used to call me the little mother because I ended up looking after my little brothers and sister but the Legacy people, in particular we had a man called Mr Storey. He used to visit us all of the time, he used to take me and my brothers (not the two little ones but the three oldest members of

the family) out all the time. The thing that was really wonderful was that they encouraged us all to get a good education – we probably wouldn’t have had that before.”

“I was the first one in my family who went to university, my sister also went to uni. But we all had good jobs over our lives. But education was one thing that Mr Storey really pushed with us.”

Beth then found a way to give back in later years becoming a Legatee herself in recent times and that’s how she found out about the relay.

“I joined the Rockhampton and Central Qld Legacy and I’m a Legatee with them,” she said.

“The call went out to do legs in the relay so I decided I would on behalf of my family. I was going to push my mum in the wheelchair – she’s now 94. I’m 70 and my youngest brother is 60, I will be the only one doing the relay, I’m the only one involved in legacy but mum still goes to the Legacy Laurel Club which is the Ladies Club.”

She said she hadn’t thought much about it as a lecturer at the University teaching accounting but once she retired in 2012 it took her a while to work out what she might like to do with the rest of her life.

“I took mum along to one of the Christmas get togethers for the Legacy up in Rocky and I thought – yep this is it,” Beth said.

“We all have some ladies to look after, some of the widows were part of the relay too.”

She said the relay was a great thing, starting over in France and then travelling around Australia.

BOYNE TANNUM FUNERALS AND CREMATIONS

Beth Tennent was part of the Legacy Centenary Relay Rockhampton leg.

Showtime for poet Bob

A lifetime of going to the Rockhampton Show has prepared Bush Poet Robert “Bob” Pacey for a very special job as part of this year’s 150-year celebration of the event. Bob, whose family settled in the region generations ago, has been hard at work researching all the relevant dates of the Show after being asked to write and recite a poem marking the event.

“I’ve won quite a few awards for my poetry and actually took out the Brisbane Exhibition Online Poets competition for the past two years, which is for people who can’t make it down to the Ekka, they allow you to enter online,” he said.

“You video yourself and you send it in and they judge it just like a performance.” Bob said bush poetry is in his blood.

“My aunty Pat Little nee Pacey was a well-known poet in the Rockhampton area and I sort of got a bit closer to her after my father died. She said you should really get into poetry because apparently my mother use to write a bit of poetry, I didn’t know a lot about my mum because she passed away when I was 16 so I didn’t have a lot of history there. My grandmother used to write limericks and enter them in competition at the local bakery and she used to win prizes. So, my aunt said I should have a go at writing.

“I started then and I found people liked to listen to the stories and I use to recite a few of the regular ones like theManfromSnowRiverandtheMan From Ironbark and I started to write a few of my own and they’ve been well received.” Bob believes bush poetry is a wonderful way of communicating that’s uniquely Australian.

“Of course, there are a lot of other rhyming poetry genres out there but Australian bush poetry tells a story and that’s how most people passed on the stories and the history, particularly of the outback,” he said.

“That’s why you’ve got such things as the Man from Snowy River, the Man From Iron Bark and Clancy of the Overflow. Those days they wrote about such things, these days I’m a member of the Australian Bush Poets Association, our charter says we can write about Australians and Australia’s way of life so it’s pretty open slather so we can get away with just about anything.”

And in Bob’s case “anything” currently means the 150th running of the Rockhampton Show.

“I was asked about two or three weeks ago so I said I’d better start doing a little bit of research,” he explained.

“I found there isn’t a lot online but they did send me an old article, I think it was from Trove, from the Morning Bulletin, it’s got a little bit of stuff there. It says Rockhampton Show was held on 26-17 May 1872 on the land bounded by William, George, Denham and Murray Streets. If you think about that, that’s where the coloured Fountain is today and when the show moved out the current location at Wondal that site was taken over by the old Central Boys State School which was there for many years until it closed down and they turned it in to a park – one of the most popular parks in Rocky. They tell me that they’re revamping it and rejuvenate the fountain.” Bob said he was sixth generation Australian with his great, great, great grandfather coming to the region with the Archer brothers who were the original founders of Rockhampton.

“The family has been here for generations, 1856. I think I’ve been to nearly every Rocky show since I was bigger enough to go.

“Even in the old days we used to get dropped out there as kids and we’d spend the whole day at the show, if we ran out of money we’d go around and collect bottles and cash them and get enough money to buy some popcorn or a showbag. We stayed out there for the whole day.

“I have a lot of memories – those that I can remember, I’m getting on a bit now,” he laughed.

Walking on the wild side

School holidays are coming and chances are so are the grandchildren so it’s time to put the thinking caps on am plan a holiday that you can both enjoy.

There is nothing like a day out away from the television, phones and computers – for young old.

Cooberrie Park is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary this year and with more than 300 animals to see, feed and mingle with it could fit the bill.

“We have over 300 animals and you can walk along side and hand feed Kangaroos, Emus, Wallaby’s, Ducks and Peacocks,” Emma from Cooberrie explained.

“At 1pm every day we have a free animal show where the guest can hold and touch snakes, lizards and birds.

“Our opening times are 10am to 3pm

“We do get a lot of Grandparents bringing their grandkids out for the day both Adult and Kids enjoy their time at the Park.

“We do have pensioner rates which is $30.

“We also have a Dinosaur Park and Dinosaur Mini Golf located in the same area as Cooberrie Park.”

Cooberrie Park began as a botanical garden more than 100 years ago. There are a number of very old European and South American trees at the park, as the original owner was a European Botanist.

In 1973 animals started to arrive and visitors were able to visit and interact with the wildlife. To this day, Cooberrie Park has adopted the same ethos inviting visitors to get up close and interact with a wide range of animals.

Cooberrie Park, is an open plan wildlife sanctuary giving the kangaroos 25 acres to explore.

As well as being open to the public it takes care of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife that are then rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

The animals are often victims of car hits, dog and cat attacks, along with birds falling out of nests, sick and abandoned animals. The Park permanently houses wildlife that can’t be released back to the wild as well as rescued animals from all across Australia from the

RSPCA along with confiscated illegal wildlife.

The Mini Golf and new Dinosaur Park are separate paid attractions and all entries to either requires an admission fee regardless of supervising or spectating.

The Mini Golf course is an 18-hole course with fun for all ages ages.

The prices: Adult: $20, Child: $10. Children two and under – free. two years and under free

The brand new Dinosaur Park invites attendees to step back in time and experience the Capricorn Dinosaur Park.

The prices: Adult: $25, Child: $15. Children two and under – free. Find Cooberrie at 9 Stone Street, Woodbury.

Bush Poet Bob prepares to debut his new poem about the Rockhampton show at the shows 150th celebration. The show is on 14-16 June.

Enjoying the latest exhibits.

Getting up close with the inhabitants.

Turn back the clock to the time of dinosaurs.

Rocky Relay keeps giving

Back around 20 years ago when Glenys Kirkwood was asked to fill in as Master of Ceremonies at Rockhampton’s Relay For Life for a colleague who had himself been diagnosed with cancer, she had no idea just how much “Relay” would become a part of her life.

Relay For Life is an extraordinary annual family event where teams of people fundraise throughout the year and then walk around an oval for 12 hours relay-style, to acknowledge that Cancer never sleeps. Traditional aspects each year allow the public to applaud the survivors; honour those lost, and to feel they are making a difference in the quest for a world with more birthdays in it.

“I turned up that first year to CQUni grounds where overnight a bare oval had been transformed in to an amazing village, populated by fairies and circus performers, super heroes and more, andaswewentthroughtheinspirational survivor laps and the candle lighting ceremony all mixed in with such fun and hilarity, I was hooked” Glenys said.

“I’ve been a volunteer ever since and over the years my four children and some of their children have become involved.

“Some would say the highlight of the event is the Candle-lighting Ceremony held on stage at dusk. It is a highly emotive setting where candles are lit to honour those who are no longer with us, while survivors recount their journey. It is a celebration of life and an opportunity for participants to show their emotions openly in a supportive environment found in very few other places.”

Glenys went on to say “Who was to know that in 2007 it would become very personal for me with my husband’s diagnosis of prostate Cancer.”

“The only year I missed Relay was in 2012 when my family were in Brisbane where my husband was in palliative care.

“We stayed in one of the Cancer Council support lodges that the monies raised at Relay help provide. The local accommodation units in Rockhampton’s Upper Dawson Road are also con stantly in use with families from out of town able to be supported through their treatment. These are also largely funded by monies raised at Relay For Life.”

The most recent Central Queensland statistics are that one in just over two of us will hear those terrifying words “You have cancer”, with the median age of diagnosis at around just 65 years of age.

Many out there will know however, that it can strike at any age.

“Each year a Face Of Relay is nominated to typify members of the general public,” Glenys explained.

“Our ‘faces’ have ranged from a beautiful little girl of six; both men and women, young and old; highly fit athletes, and a 19-year-old legend who is sadly no longer with us.

“Their stories are always inspirational and help underline the fight-back message that everyone should listen to their bodies and make the effort; find the time; put it in your calendar; make sure you visit Breast-screen; have that Pap smear; do the annual prostate check and bowel screen and importantly, understand your own body.

“Don’t put it off. It’s the one thing you can do for yourself that may save your own life.

“Volunteering can give your life purpose” Glenys said “and whatever your age, if you have even an hour or two a month you’re able to donate to others, grab the opportunity and know that you are helping make a difference.”

Protecting

She urged people to visit the Rockhampton Relay For Life page or contact the 2023 Chair of Relay Ken Coker at ken.coker@optusnet.com.au or 0402 399 257.”

It is a positive fact that Cancer survival rates are improving thanks to intensive research and this research has undoubtedly been supported by the $4,025,872 raised since Rocky Relay’s inception in 2003. This locally raised money has also contributed to the provision of increased local treatment options and services provided by Cancer Council Queensland saving patients the need to travel to Brisbane for care.

“It’s our extra special 21st birthday this year where the theme is CELEBRATE! It will be a fabulous opportunity for adults and children of all ages, to let their hair down and just be silly for a few hours while supporting a cause that has touched most people’s lives”, Glenys said. “Please come and join in the fun”.

To mark the coming of age, a special fun celebratory 21st birthday dinner will be held at Athelstane House on Friday 30th June with a 3 course meal at $55 per head. All past Relayers and members of the public are welcome to attend.

The event : This year’s event is again held at CQUniversity who have been Relay’s major sponsors and supporters for its entire 21 years. It will run for 12 hours from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday 22 July.

Become involved, donate, or register a team at : https://www.relayforlife.org. au.rockhampton

Rockhampton is preparing for another Relay for Life.

The 2022 Face Of Relay Councillor Neil Fisher. Holding the Highest Fundraiser trophy –my daughter Melinda Hannon.

CQUniversity Vice Chancellor Nick Klomp, MC Glenys Kirkwood, survivor and original Relayer Aurilea Augustyn, carer Joan Millar, committee member Melinda Hannan.

Cheeky Cheerleaders Team.

Celebrating the U3A’s 50th

By Cheryl Wickes

U3A Rockhampton and District is thrilled to report that the recent U3A conference, commemorating 50 years of U3A worldwide, was an outstanding triumph.

With the theme ‘U3A Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’, the event was a true reflection of the rich history of the organisation and the exciting future that awaits individuals in their third age.

The conference brought together an esteemed line-up of international, national, and local speakers who shared their insights and knowledge on a range of topics. Attendees had the privilege of delving into the history of U3A and were enlightened about the transformative advancements in medical research, technology, social media, and energy that lie ahead.

Special guest, Professor Francois Vellas was especially excited to attend the conference as his father, Professor PierreVellas founded U3A for seniors in 1973 in Toulouse, France.

Professor Francois Vellas is the cur-

rent president of the international body of U3A and has seen the growth of the organisation worldwide throughout its history.

The conference started with a warm and welcoming meet and greet at the new Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA), allowing participants to connect and form new friendships. Over the following three days, the conference sessions held at Central Queensland University, were packed with captivating presentations. Attendees were left

inspired, motivated, and equipped with invaluable information to navigate their own journey into the years post retirement.

To add to the celebratory atmosphere, two dinners were held at Rockhampton Leagues Club, providing opportunities for further networking and camaraderie.

These evenings were filled with laughter, good food, and shared stories, makingmemoriesthatwillbecherished for years to come. A special feature was

the 50th celebration cake made for the occasion by Rockhampton’s own Councillor DrewWickerson.

Additionally, the conference offered an array of extra activities, allowing attendees to explore the local area and indulge in cultural experiences. From guided walking tours, a horse drawn carriage ride, bush poetry, performances and art exhibitions, and delicious catering by Creative Cater, there was something to suit everyone’s interests.

U3A Rockhampton and District extends its heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who contributed to the resounding success of this milestone conference. Their dedication and hard work ensured that the event was a truly memorable celebration of 50 years of U3A, and a glimpse into the bright future that awaits all members.

U3A Rockhampton and District also offers sincere thanks to supporters and sponsors including Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Rockhampton Regional Council and Central Queensland University.

Temporary Work Bank Bonus increase will benefit

By Michael Hallinan

The Work Bank Bonus cap has been temporarily increased by $4,000. This increase applies from and including 1 December 2022 and will end on and including 31 December 2023.

Why has it been increased?

The Government wishes to encourage age pensioners to participate in the workforce (or even to increase their current level of participation). Under the incomes test for the pension, there is a significant disincentive to participate in the workforce once you receive the age pension. Any employment (or employment-like earnings) will be taken into account and may reduce (or even eliminate) your entitlement to the age pension.

Currently the severity of the incomes test is mitigated by the“income free area” which is currently set at $190 per fortnight (single rate) and at $336 per fortnight (couples rate).

For single pensioners, this means that the first $190 of income per fortnight (actual income from non-financial assets, employment income and deemed income from financial assets) is disregarded when applying the incomes means test. The pension entitlement is reduced by reference to the

amount of income which is in excess of the $190 per fortnight.

For couple pensioners, the first $336 of their income per fortnight is disregarded when applying the incomes means test. The pension entitlement is reduced to the amount of income which is in excess of the $336 per fortnight.

Work Bonus Scheme

What is the Work Bonus? If an individual has personal exertion income (such as from employment or acting as a consultant or agent) this is “work income” and the first $300 per fortnight of such income is disregarded when applying the incomes means test. Consequently, the pension entitlement will only be reduced by the

work income to the extent the work income has exhausted the $300 per fortnight limit.

Any amount of the work bonus which is unused in respect of fortnightly period is carried forward to the nextfortnightlyperiod. So,ifonly$120 of the $300 work amount is used in respect of a fortnight period, the unused portion – in this case $180 – is carried forward to the next fortnight period so that the available work balance is now $480. This process of carrying forward the unused amount is referred to as “banking” the work bonus. However, once the banked work bonus reaches $7,800 no further accrual can occur.

Finally, the banking of the unused portion ceases on each 1 July and the initial bank balance is reset to zero (effectively meaning that the then current bank balance is lost) and the process starts afresh with the first instalment period in the new financial year.

But what about an example? Well, consider Emily who has re-entered the workforce at age 67.

Before entering the workforce, her ordinary income on a fortnightly basis was$360,consistingof$320ofdeemed income (from financial assets, in this case her account-based pension) and

$40 other income. Applying the “income free area” will result in only $170 affecting her age pension entitlement. Consequently her age pension will be reduced by $85 (as the taper rate is 50 cents per $1 of excess income over the income free area).

Afterre-enteringtheworkforce,Emily’s fortnightly income now includes $500 of employment income and her employment period commenced on 1 December 2022. Consequently her total income is $860 per fortnight.

Without the Work Bank Bonus, her fortnightly income is $860. This would reduce her pension amount by $335 per fortnight. The net effect is that Emily has increased her income by $500 by working at the cost of reducing her age pension by $250: she is only $250 per fortnight better off.

With the Work Bank Bonus (assuming it is first used in respect of the fortnight beginning 1 December 2022) her total income for that fortnight would be $860 (original $360 plus $500 employment income). The work bonus for this fortnight is $300.

Michael Hallinan Executive Consultant – Self Managed Superannuation SUPERCentral

Michael Hallinan - Townsends.

Dr Eddy Roccati, a Research Fellow at the Wicking Institute in Tasmania, speaking about the cognitive benefits of education in later life.

Co-founder of U3A in Australia in 1984, Cliff Picton, discussed the history of the organisation.

U3A Network Qld president Rhonda Weston AM, Conference co-ordinator Henry Cope, Rockhampton president Cheryl Wickees with Professor Francois Vellas.

Bush Poet Bill Pacey entertains delegates.

Showtime for Ken’s crew

By Tania Phillips

Showtime is coming Yeppoon and Show Society president Ken Landsberg and his band of volunteers are counting down days to the event on 10-11 June.

“We are doing it a little bit different this year, we haven’t got a lot of room in the ring but we do have a bit of vacant area up the top end so we’re going to have a bit of a trade display there as well,” Ken said.

“We have got a few people from the Rockhampton area and around the coast who are going to put some of their stuff there so people can see it. They want to come both days so normally we bring the cattle down there but we’re going to keep the cattle down the bottom end on the Sunday and let the trade show have the two days.They’ll come in and set up on the Friday.

“We’ll have tractors, implements, caravans, camper trailers, we’re hoping for some tanks, the local guys with their ride-on mowers, we’re trying to get the jet ski fella because our theme this year is water. So we’re trying to get some people to do something with water. The school kids will be good – we’ve got our education pavilion which is named after me – it’s the Ken Landsberg Building. The kids there will have a colour in competition and they grow plants in wheelbarrows and each school will put in a display. Their display will be about water – that will be their them.They can

draw lots of things that water is used for.”

He said this year there will be an entry prize.

“When people are coming in they can sign their ticket and put it in box to be drawn, that could win them two

nights over at Great Keppel for a family of two adults and two children with free returns in the boat -so it’s a great prize,” he said.

“We normally have fashion parades in the little theatre – we’ve only got a small little opening and not much room to view the fashion parade so this year’s

it’s down in the bigger building, there will be a lot more room and people will be able to sit down and enjoy it better. The fashions come from around the local area and some from Rockhampton.”

Ken, who is 85, has been president for the past eight years and has been involved in the show for the past 13 years.

“We had a construction company and I retired when I turned 72 and the then president Brian Dorey had been there for quite a long time and because I still had a building license he got me to come in, they were putting in accommodation for a caretaker and they needed a builder to help them get it placed and approved by council,” he said.

“I did that and the then president asked what I was going to do now I’m retired, I said bugger if I know, I’ve still got cattle on me farm. He said what about getting involved with the show, he said you’ve got cattle you’d be a good cattle steward. I said, yeah righto and the first year I was cattle steward, next year I was chief ring steward, the next year vice president and then he had a heart turn and that was it I was in as president.

“I’ve got a good group of volunteers, though some of them are getting a bit old like me – not as old as me – but they’re up in their late 60s and early 70s so we’re always looking for new volunteers.”

The annual Yeppoon & District Show is proudly sponsored Gold & Platinum by...

President Ken and part of the school wheel-barrow display.

Showtime soon at Yeppoon.

Lots to see.

GCLA to launch services

The Gladstone Community Linking Agency (GCLA) has recently received additional funding from the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to enhance aged care services in the Gladstone Region.

This funding aims to address the increasing demand for aged care and respite support in the area. GCLA will utilise the funding to provide a range of services, including CHSP overnight Cottage Respite (at the Port Curtis RnR Centre), Flexible in-home Respite, Nursing, and Allied Health Therapy services in the Fitzroy Aged Care Planning Region in Queensland.

The Government has also granted one-time funding to support some refurbishment of the Port Curtis RnR Centre. This will include setting up a demonstration package of the new GCLA Care at Home Smart Home Assistive Technology Alarms.

GCLA’s Chief Executive Officer, Jenni Marsh, said the funding would allow GCLA to better support people to age well in the region.

She said the investment would allow GCLA to expand its aged care services and establish clinical and allied health services.

Ms Marsh said the primary objective was to enable seniors to maintain, or regain, their independence and continue living in their own homes, longer.

“Broadening the scope of our Aged Care services will help support our customers as their needs change,” she said.

“We are passionate about supporting carers to continue in their caring role for longer, frequent planned respite achieves this, with the nearest like service located in Hervey Bay.”

The overnight Cottage Respite service is scheduled to launch on 1 July 2023.

Ms Marsh said this addition is particularly significant as there is a high demand for this type of respite in the local community.

She said GCLA, as the only true local not-for-profit provider of Disability and Aged Care services in the Gladstone Region since 1977, is committed to supporting carers and ensuring they can continue their caring role for longer through planned respite services.

The Port Curtis Respite Centre currently operates from Tuesday to Friday, providing seniors aged 65 and above with a welcoming and inclusive environment where they can participate in social and recreational activities and enjoy delicious meals. Additionally, GCLA offers Home Care Packages to individuals residing in Gladstone, Turkey Beach, Miriam Vale, Biloela and Agnes Water.

Ms Marsh said the allocation of additional funding will complement existing Aged Care services offered by GCLA, which will support continuity of care as people may transition to receive a Home Care Package, clinical nursing and allied health services with GCLA.

“This holistic approach aims to support seniors to gain timely access to service, foster their well-being, and enable them to age at home,” she said.

Ms Marsh expressed her enthusiasm for the grant, emphasising how it would allow timely access to local clinicians through the rollout of nursing and allied health services and provide a connection to Aged Care services.

To further enhance their services, GCLA is actively exploring local sponsorship opportunities to acquire three hybrid vehicles to assist with transport to and from the respite centre and to support the new mobile community nursing and allied health service.

As the funding received only goes so far, there is also opportunities to sponsor a room, including bedrooms, dining and lounge rooms.

For more information about the service contact GCLA at 42728855, or contact Jenni directly to hear more about sponsorship opportunities, noting involvement with GCLA can support industry in meeting their ESG targets, locally.

Blood pressure a major health risk, increasing as we age

A nationwide effort to measure the blood pressure of as many Australians as possible in one week has found that almost 15 per cent had high blood pressure, placing them at an increased risk of heart disease over coming years.

The new data gathered during the recent Heart Week came from more than 6,000 people who had their blood pressure checked for free at a SiSU Health Station in Priceline pharmacies across the nation, as part of a partnership between SiSU Health and the Heart Foundation.

Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said it was an important partnership.

“It’s been great to partner with a genuinely innovative company in SiSU Health during Heart Week to see how we can help more Australians regularly measure and better understand their blood pressure,” Mr Lloyd said.

“In Australia, having high blood pressure contributes to 50 per cent of

the burden of Coronary Heart Disease.

“An incredible one in three Australian adults suffers high blood pressure – that’s 6.8 million people.

“It’s great to know that the team at SiSU Health shares our passion for reducing heart disease in Australia, and we look forward to future opportunities to partner them.”

Data showed that two thirds of people who had their check at a SiSU Health Station had never had their blood pressure checked before – a worrying statistic for the Heart Foundation.

Of concern was also the link between high blood pressure and diabetes risk, where almost 60 per cent of people with high blood pressure also recorded a high-risk of diabetes (also known as a high AUSDRISK score; calculated by the Australian Type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool), which is another risk factor for heart disease.

Left untreated, high blood pressure

can lead to irreversible blood vessel damage, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure often occurs alongside other hidden risk factors for heart disease, reinforcing the need for holistic and regular Heart Health Checks by your GP where your blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels and medical and family history are assessed.

Advice for Australians to help them take action is as follows:

If you are 18 years or older

There are no obvious signs or symptoms if you’re suffering from high blood pressure, so the only way to find out if you have it is to have it checked regularly – even if you’re feeling well and healthy

Get your blood pressure measured at least every two years; you can get your blood pressure checked at your GP, local pharmacy, SiSU Health Station or via a validated machine at home.

If you are 35 years or older

Find out your heart age using the Heart Foundations five -minute Heart Age Calculator www.heartfoundation. org.au/heart-age-calculator

If you are 45 years or older (or from 30 years for First Nations people)

See your GP for a Medicare-subsidised Heart Health Check, a routine 20-minute check-up with a GP to assess your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years.

As part of a Heart Health Check, your doctor will ask you about your medical and family history of heart diseaseaswellasyourlifestyle,including your diet, physical activity, if you smoke or drink alcohol and whether you have a healthy weight. Your GP will also check your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Your GP will use this information to estimate your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. More importantly, your GP will discuss the steps you can take to lower your risk.

Gladstone Community Linking Agency staff celebrate their new service with customers Margaret Davidson and James ‘Jimmy’ Taylor.

countryk tchensrecipes

Veggie Packed Pizza

Serves: 6

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes

1 ½ serves per portion

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon polenta (cornmeal)

• 1 cup natural yoghurt

• 1 ½ cups self-raising flour

• ½ tablespoon olive oil

• ½ cup pizza sauce

• ½ cup leftover roast vegetables (e.g., potato, sweet potato, pumpkin), thinly sliced

• ¼ medium red onion, thinly sliced

• ½ cup red or green capsicum, thinly sliced

• ½ medium zucchini, thinly sliced

• ½ cup mushroom, sliced

• ½ cup spinach or basil leaves

• ½ cup mozzarella or reduced fat cheddar, grated

Method:

• PREHEAT oven to 230°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper and sprinkle polenta over the top of each.

• COMBINE yoghurt and flour in bowl until they just come together.

• KNEAD on a well-floured surface until smooth, add more flour if too sticky. This may take up to 10 minutes. Rest the dough for 5 minutes.

• SHAPE the dough into two (round or square) pizza bases.

• PLACE bases on trays and brush with olive oil. Spread pizza sauce evenly over dough.

• TOP with a selection of vegetables.

• SPRINKLE with cheese and bake for 10-15 minutes each.

Pea and Mint Risotto

Serves: 2

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 60 minutes

2 serves per portion

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 brown shallot onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

• 1 cup risotto or arborio rice

• 1 L chicken stock, hot

• 1 cup frozen peas

• ¼ cup mint leaves, chopped

• cracked black pepper

• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

• HEAT oil in large pan then add onion and cook until translucent. Add garlic and heat through.

• ADD rice and stir until each grain is coated in the oily onion mixture.

• SLOWLY add the stock, about 100ml at a time, stirring until absorbed by rice before adding more. Repeat until you have added in all of the stock.

• ADD peas and heat through until tender then add mint leaves and stir.

• SERVE with cracked black pepper and parmesan cheese on top.

Empowering women through education

is a

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/.

Recipe courtesy of the Country Kitchens team

Recipe courtesy of Judy Stubbs, Maleny Branch

Jazz Festival set to land

For jazz lovers, there is no better place to enjoy the end of winter than the popular holiday destination Noosa, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast; visitors will be in for a treat at the Noosa Jazz Festival, which brings together leading Australian traditional jazz musicians who are among the world’s best.

The Festival’s centrepiece event, held at The J Theatre in the heart of Noosa, runs from Thursday, 31 August to Saturday, 2 September, featuring some of Australia’s best individual jazz musicians in bands and ensembles, creating an exciting program of improvised traditional jazz; the Friday concert is an afternoon matinee.

It starts on Sunday afternoon, 27 August, at Noosa Jazz Club’s home for its monthly concerts, The Majestic Theatre, Pomona, one of the best live music venues around, featuring members of Melbourne’s famous band, The Syncopators.

Jazz ensembles will entertain diners at luncheons and dinners at participating restaurants at Sunshine Beach, Hastings Street, Noosaville, and the Tewantin Marina. Musicians on board two sunset ferry cruises will entertain dinersbeforedisembarkingattheNoosa Marina for dinner and a jazz concert on Tuesday evening. The festival wraps up on Sunday afternoon, 3 September, with an exciting free concert

Get

at the Riverstage, Noosaville, for visitors and families celebrating Father’s Day.

Take advantage of early bird dis-

counts for ticketed concert events, especially for The Majestic, which has limited seating. For more details and ticketing information, go to www.noo-

sajazzclub.com or email info@noosajazzclub.com, and for where to stay and sights to see, go to www.visitnoosa. com.au.

ready for Noosa and all that Jazz.

Implants a game-changer

As people age, they are likely to experience tooth loss due to various reasons such as gum disease, decay, or injury. However, thanks to modern dentistry, dental implants have emerged as a game-changer.

Dr Remo Fanelli from Fanelli Dental has been providing implant solutions in Gladstone for more than 20 years and can only see immense benefits of replacing missing teeth by this advanced technology.

“Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants offer a permanent solution that looks and feels like natural teeth,” Dr Fanelli said.

Improved oral and overall health : Implants maintain good oral health by filling gaps in their teeth that can lead to bacteria build-up, decay, and gum disease which has been linked with many health conditions including alzhimers, dementia, heart conditions, diabetes to name a few.

Stability: Dental implants are as stable as teeth as they are anchored directly to the jawbone. Dentures however can move and be unreliable as they rely on suction or adhesives to stay in place.

Better chewing ability: Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew and enjoy certain foods. As Implants are firmly anchored they act as natural teeth resulting in eating wider variety of foods and maintain a healthy diet.

Comfort: Dental implants feel like natu-

ral teeth and are more comfortable than dentures, which can sometimes rub against the gums and cause sore spots.

Improved speech: Missing teeth and a loose denture can affect speech by causingslurringormumbling.Implants can restore proper speech patterns.

Improved appearance: As implants look and feel like natural teeth, they restore a smile, improve appearance and self-confidence. This compares to den-

MISSING TEETH?

FANELLI DENTAL HAVE THE SOLUTION!

As we age, we are likely to experience tooth loss due to various reasons such as gum disease, decay, or injury. However, thanks to modern dentistry, dental implants have emerged as a game-changer.

Dr Remo Fanelli from Fanelli Dental has been providing implant solutions in Gladstone for over 20 years and can only see immense benefits of replacing missing teeth by this advanced technology. “Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants offer a permanent solution that looks and feels like natural teeth.”

Improved oral and overall health: Implants maintain good oral health by filling gaps in their teeth that can lead to bacteria build-up, decay, and gum disease which has been linked with many health conditions including alzhimers, dementia, heart conditions, diabetes to name a few.

Stability: Dental implants are as stable as teeth as they are anchored directly to the jawbone. Dentures however can move and be unreliable as they rely on suction or adhesives to stay in place.

Better chewing ability: Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew and enjoy certain foods. As Implants are firmly anchored, they act as natural teeth resulting in eating wider variety of foods and maintain a healthy diet.

Comfort: Dental implants feel like natural teeth and are more comfortable than dentures, which can sometimes rub against the gums and cause sore spots.

Improved speech: Missing teeth and a loose denture can affect speech by causing slurring or mumbling. Implants can restore proper speech patterns.

tures, which often look artificial and bulky.

Maintenance and Durability: Dental implants require the same level of care as natural teeth, including brushing and flossing and are designed to last a lifetime. Dentures require more maintenance, including soaking and cleaning with special solutions with replacement after a few years.

Overall, dental implants offer a

multitude of benefits for anyone with missing teeth. From improved speech and chewing ability to enhanced selfesteem, they can significantly improve the quality of life. While there are several factors to consider before getting dental implants, many find that the benefits outweigh the cost.

The first step is having a chat with Dr Remo Fanelli and the team at Fanelli Dental to see if implants are a possibility for you.

Improved appearance: As implants look and feel like natural teeth, they restore a smile, improve appearance and self-confidence. This compares to dentures, which often look artificial and bulky.

Maintenance and Durability: Dental implants require the same level of care as natural teeth, including brushing and flossing and are designed to last a lifetime. Dentures require more maintenance, including soaking and cleaning with special solutions with replacement after a few years.

Overall, dental implants offer a multitude of benefits for anyone with missing teeth. From improved speech and chewing ability to enhanced self-esteem, they can significantly improve the quality of life. While there are several factors to consider before getting dental implants, many find that the benefits outweigh the cost.

The first step is having a chat with Dr Remo Fanelli and the team at Fanelli Dental to see if implants are a possibility for you.

No barrier to volunteering

Seventy-six-year old Arthur visits 81year old Alan every Friday.

“I first thought I may be too old to volunteer but clearly not! It gives me such a sense of purpose and it’s a great way to spend my extra time, giving back to the community,” Arthur said.

Arthur is a Volunteer on the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) through Suncare.

The CVS program is funded by the Australian Government and was designed to improve quality of life and reduce isolation by matching an individual receiving care with a volunteer.

Alan says “Arthur has such interesting topics to talk about and I really look forward to Friday mornings. We have a cuppa and a scone overlooking the water and just talk about current affairs or anything really. Arthur and I sort out the world’s problems on a Friday.”

After 23 years in the Airforce, Arthur certainly has stories to share. He has just returned from an interesting holiday inWestern Australia and Tasmania.

“I am grateful I still have my good health and the visits allow me to get out, meet people and keep my mind occupied”.

Arthur also volunteers as a delivery assistant on Suncare’s Meals on Wheels Maroochydore program.

Another topic of conversation is Alan’s career, first as a furniture-maker, then building 19ft racing skis.

He has lived on the Sunshine Coast for 55 years.

“As kids, our family used to camp in Mooloolaba. It made no sense not to move there when I got married. I loved

BecomeaSuncare Volunteer

The difference between social connection and isolation can be as simple as a cup of coffee or taking a drive.

Become a Suncare volunteer and you can help to make that meaningful difference to someone in your community. An hour or two a week can change a life!

Suncare is in the business of making people’s lives better. We are a leading provider of in-home care and health service deliverywhichenablesourcustomerstostayintheirownhome.

Makeadifferenceonecuppaattime.

to sail, I have great memories of sailing a 50-footer from Mooloolaba to Sandgate.”

For both the gentlemen, the morning outings add a spark to their week. It’s

a visit, a cuppa, a drive to the shops or an outing to the local park that often makes all the difference in the life of an elderly Australian, combating loneliness and isolation. And it is thanks to the millions of volunteers across Australia that this is made possible.

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest yearly celebration of volunteering.

From 15–21 May 2023, the vital support that our volunteers deliver to their communities is recognised.

Thank you.

CVS visits are free to eligible recipients and are available to anyone receiving government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Packages.

For those interested in becoming a Volunteer Community Visitor, please contact Debbie Orman on 1800 786 227.Formoreinformation,visithttps:// suncare.org.au/position/volunteer/

You’re never too old as Arthur and Alan have found.

Arthur and Alan enjoy their weekly chat.

Tips for a healthy hound

Frank Finger, winner of the ABC’s Muster Dog program, knows a thing or two about training working dogs and preparing them for farm life.

The Clermont, Queensland cattle farmer transitioned to using working dogs on his property outside of Emerald in 1996 and hasn’t looked back. He has been training working dogs for years and ensures the health and well-being of all his working dogs, declaring “without a healthy dog, you don’t have a dog.”

Frank shares his tops tips below to keep working dogs healthy.

Diet

To keep dogs fit and healthy, Frank feeds his dogs once a day on a diet of bones, boiled meat, rice, and vegetables. “I also use dry pellets as a backup but too much of this gets boring for dogs and is akin to a person eating dry Weet-Bix for breakfast each day.” Overweight dogs have a shorter lifespan, and Frank notes overfeeding is an issue all dog owners should be aware of. “Feeding dogs once a day is more than enough to keep them healthy.” Importantly, regular monthly tape-worming and removal of raw sheep meat and offal from a dog’s diet can control tapeworms.

Sleep

Removing potential distractions is key to ensuring dogs get a good night’s sleep. Frank’s dog kennels are divided so the dogs can’t see

each other and any view of cattle, the house, or wildlife from the kennels is also blocked to remove distractions. “This ensures the dogs get a good night sleep. If the dogs see cattle or other animals, they immediately start thinking about working, which is what you don’t want in the evening.”

Illness prevention

With research showing there is a one in 11 chance a dog has worms, investing time, guidance, and care into a working dog to ensure their welltrained and healthy is all about looking after a mate. Frank uses Simparica Trio, a once a month tasty chew, to protect his dogs against deadly heartworm and treat and control fleas, ticks and intestinal worms.

Barking

Minimising distractions is also important to reduce dogs’ barking both in the evening and during the day. One of Frank’s tips is to keep the radio on.“I let them listen to music, the dogs love it, it’s just enough to keep their attention and makes any slight commotion which may cause them to bark not as appealing.”

Communication

Communication is also key to rearing healthy, well-trained working dogs. “Speaking as softly and calmly as possible will ensure happy dogs,” says Frank.“They’ve got a good sense of hearing and owners and trainers don’t need to shout.”

Fat chance

By Tania Phillips

We all know about the Heart Foundation and Cancer Council but you’ve probably never heard of the Liver Foundation and that’s something that it’s CEO Sally Castle is hoping to change.

For many of us, the Liver is just another organ until suddenly a doctor tells us - it’s fatty – followed by“just lose some weight and you’ll be fine” from some doctors and no further discussion.

However, Sally says liver problems are “the biggest health issue no ones heard of” and so the Foundation is out to be there to give patients, support, tips and more information about what they have, what they are facing and what they can do.

“The Liver Foundation is Australia’s peak body for Liver Disease,” she said.

“We cover all of the Liver Diseases –there are over a hundred and really advocate for patients and are the patients voice.We support patients, we advocate to the government to put Liver Disease on the agenda and we support and fund research. We provide GP and Nurse education so that they can support people with Liver Disease with up-to-date information.We do a lot of work supporting and informing patients.”

If you’ve just been diagnosed with fatty liver or one of the other 100 liver diseases, you are often left wondering what to do next.

“We do know that people, when they get a diagnosis it can be a really confronting and confusing and worrying time,” Sally said.

“The first thing – we’ve got a fantastic website Liver.org.au, that’s set up so people can come and find out a bit more about their disease. If you come to our website, we’ve got up to the minute patient information that just goes through your disease is, how you got it, what the symptoms are, what the likely treatments and diagnostics might be. Then there’s some really great information helping you understand all of the words.Liverdiseasehassomebigwords associated with it. We’ve got a glossary and then we’ve got some information on the sort of clinicians you’re likely to meet, who you might find along your journey and how they can help as well

as some questions to ask your medical team when you go back and see them.

“We also have a whole lot of lifestyle advice because with Liver Disease, or any type of liver damage, whilst there are treatments for some of the diseases, lifestyle adaptations are really a key part of it so we have a lot of resources to help with that.”

It’s overwhelming, you’ve come out of the Doctor’s surgery and unless you have been on a website like the Liver Foundations you really don’t know what to ask or where to go for help.

“We hear from GPs, we do a lot of GP education and they say, we need somewhere for people to go after they walk out of our office, you get 15 minutes or a long consult with the GP are only 2025 minutes, specialists appointments can be really hard to come by depending on where you live so there’s a lot of information needed,” she said.

“We can provide the information that you need and we’ve got a support line you can ring as well, just to try and help people not feel so alone and confused.”

It is a service that is sorely needed given how prevalent liver diseases are in our society.

“One in three Australians is estimated to have some form of liver disease,” Sally explained.

“It’s really the biggest health challenge that no one has ever heard of and there’s a lot of work to do to let people know that looking after their liver is a fundamental aspect of their liver health and to help people who do get a diagnosis just come to terms with it and understand what they can do.

“The wonderful news is with the liver it is the only organ in our body that actually fixes it’s self – it’s called regeneration so that if you do change your lifestyle – your diet, exercise, reduce or remove toxins like alcohol, you can completely reverse a lot of liver damage and prevent a lot of the more significant diseases. It’s the sort of thing if we know about it we can really turn it around and stop it being a problem, if we don’t know about it, find out and take no action than that’s where things become a bit more worrying.”

For more information head to the Liver Foundation’s website Liver.org.au

By Khrysti Balanay

After outgrowing its old location, Boony’s Screens has conveniently relocated to a new factory in Park Avenue. A locally owned and operated business, owner Cheyne Metze took on the family business when stepdad, Wayne and Mum Tracey retired in January 2022.

“We moved to this new location in early 2023 during the Christmas holiday period and were able to set it up ready for the new year,” Mr Metze said.

“It’s been good being able to get our business name out there, and we have a lot of customers coming in to look at the products, such as our Crimsafe triple lock doors.

“We have a lot more space and room to manufacture and store stock.”

In addition to the new space, Mr Metze said Boony’s Screens employed two new staff members, who have become a vital part to help keep up with the demand of customers wanting to secure their homes.

“We prioritise break-ins and can attend, assess, and quote within 48 hours from first contact,” he said.

“We also have instant communication with our customers.

“When we walk away from a job, we want to be confident that we’ve helped them feel safe in their home.”

As a licensee for Crimsafe, Boony’s Screens is proud to offer superior home security to clients throughout the Rockhampton, Gracemere and Capricorn Coast regions.

“Crimsafe has recently partnered

with a leading home security camera brand, and Boony’s Screens will be offering our customers brand new products to help secure their home very soon.”

Mr Metze said it was important people don’t become complacent about security, especially while at home.

“Crime prevention is about being prepared and vigilant,” he said.

“It’s important to always lock your doors especially when you’re home, and place your keys in a safe location before going to bed.”

For more information on Boony’s Screens products, visit their website at boonysscreens.com.au.

Want to know how secure your home really is? Head to https://securescore.crimsafe.com.au/ to get your personalised secure score.

Boony’s Screens owner Cheyne Metze with Alicia Jones.

Queensland Garden Expo

Preparations are underway for the 2023 Queensland Garden Expo, one of Australia’s most-loved gardening events, which attracts close to 40,000 visitors each year and injects more than $10 million into the regional economy.

With more than 360 exhibitors offering an extensive range of gardening-related knowledge, products and plants, this year’s award-winning, three-day event on the Sunshine Coast will once again have something for every gardener, no matter how experienced they are at nurturing a garden.

Event chairman, Simon Smith said the team was looking forward to seeing Nambour Showgrounds once again transform into a flourishing seven hectares of gardening inspiration, knowledge sharing and community on July 7.

“The Expo is not just a marketplace with more than 50,000 plants on sale each day, but also a chance to chat with growers and access the best gardening minds in the country,” said Mr Smith.

“We have Australia’s largest gardening speaker program with more than 100 free lectures and demonstrations across eight live speaker stages featuring Gardening Australia’s SophieThomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams as well as crowd favourites Phil Dudman, Claire Bickle, KateWall, and many more.”

Event manager Marion Beazley said this year’s event will offer something for everyone.

“he Expo covers all corners of the backyard from a feature on keeping domestic chickens to organic veggie growing in the Giant Kitchen Garden,” Ms Beazley said.

The Giant Kitchen Garden is a collaboration of many gardening and permaculture groups from across the Sunshine Coast region, coming together to help create a piece of gardening paradise.

“But it’s not just about the great outdoors – indoor plants and floral arrang-

ing is more popular than ever and we’ve got extensive information, products and displays.

“This year, the Expo will play host to the Australian Floral Art Association’s National Convention that will showcase the floral art competition, ‘Nature’s Expression’, expected to leave visitors in awe of the beauty and creativity that can blossom from floral arrangements.

“The national convention and competition will attract floral artists from all over Australia and we anticipate anywhere up to 100 competition entries along with state designs and state demonstrations to be held on stage at the Expo.”

“Of course, our budding gardeners haven’t been overlooked with plenty of activities and workshops designed just for kids that will help kickstart their gardening journey.”

The Queensland Garden Expo, which first opened its gates in 1985, has become a much-loved Sunshine Coast tradition for the most experienced green thumbs and absolute gardening beginners alike.

“This event not only brings the community together in celebration of gardening, but also has a massive impact on the local economy, with around 65 per cent of visitors travelling from outside the region,” Ms Beazley said.

“The Expo is hosted by the Nursery & Gardening Industry Queensland and

while we are a not-for-profit event, we inject more than $10 million into the local economy; through accommodation, hospitality, flights, retail and a range of community organisations. We’d like to thank our amazing volunteers and presenting partner Queensland Country Bank who we are delighted have come on board this year – we could not do it without you!”

The 2023 Queensland Garden Expo will be held from 7-9 July at the Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour.

Entry is free for kids aged 15 and under with a giant kids’ playground to keep them entertained.

To find out more and purchase tickets online, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

FAST FACTS

· Three-day event from 7-9 July

· 40,000-plus attendees

· 65 percent visitation from outside the Sunshine Coast region

· More than Seven ha of gardening inspiration

· 360-plus exhibitors and displays, including 55 nurseries

· 100-plus free lectures and demonstrations

· Eight live speaker stages

· 50,000 plants for sale each day

· More than $10m injected into the local economy

The 2023 Queensland Garden Expo is looking to be even bigger and better this year. 326689

A friendly atmosphere

The Yeppoon Community Centre has long been known for its welcoming atmosphere, friendly team and wide variety of important services, offering support and advice to countless residents across Livingstone Shire.

It provides community groups with a central space to hold their community meetings, the community to engage with health, family and visiting services as well as a place for like-minded individuals to come together.

Free learning sessions (iLearn) are also held regularly on a range of general interest subjects during the day and evenings.

Some of the broad range of services provided to those in need include general information and referral assistance, outreach services, networking and social events, participation in program and activities which build skills, affordable meeting spaces for local community groups, and life-long learning opportunities.

Not to mention the long list of workshops, discussions, displays and social events in areas such as arts and crafts, health and fitness, computing and IT, and personal development which are also held regularly at the centre.

The Community Centre is also proud to offer a ‘Dignity First Washroom’ – a

welcoming space that provides free and accessible facilities for community members experiencing hardship.

It is equipped with a washing machine and dryer, toilet, and private shower, along with sanitary products for those in need. We understand the importance of maintaining dignity and providing a safe space for those facing challenges.

Beyond the physical amenities, the caring staff are also available for a friendly chat and to offer referral pathways to other organisations that can provide further assistance. You don’t have to face challenges alone – we’re here to listen and help.

Onsite, you can also find Food Relief Capricorn Coast available every Friday.

Livingstone Shire Council is extremely proud to be able to provide these important services, which are partly funded through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, to the local community.

For more information about the Community Centre, please visit https:// www.livingstone.qld.gov.au/communitycentre or phone 07 4913 3840.

Drop in anytime between the hours of 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, at 80 John Street,Yeppoon.

The Community Centre in Yeppoon. Enoying a social time.

Spectacular beer fest back

By Bob Anthony, beer-ista

Are you curious or confused when confronted by a growing wall of craft brews?

There seems to be a new drop appearing daily from craft brewers, each trying to outdo each other for a small slice of the market.

For beer drinkers, this can present either a wonderful challenge or a daunting decision making process.

There may be help at hand in the form of the Great Australian Beer Spectacular (GABS) which is returning to Brisbane on Saturday, June 10.

As the name suggests, GABS is a beer lover’s delight, though it does also cater to cider drinkers as well, and the odd wine buff.

The day long festival, held at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre at South Bank, features more than 60 exhibitors offer tasters of more than 120 brews.

The GABS organisers also through down the challenge to brewers to create a unique drop for the festival which challenges the brewers to think outside the box to come up with something “different”.

The festival provides the perfect opportunity to meet with brewers, find out about their beers and what goes into the development of their products.

From overseas guest brewer Sierra Nevada to craft brewers from around

the country and even a stand for home brewers to gain some tips, GABS is as educational as it is fun and entertaining.

You can taste the different styles of beer, learn about the processes involved in creating them and hopefully take away any confusion you may what about craft beers.

You may also find out just what type of style of beer suits you which will make life much easier in the craft beer section of the bottle shop.

GABS offers much more than just beer and cider tasting – there’s live mu-

sic, a host of different food outlets, popup bars, plenty of different beer-related activities and games and the opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow beer lovers.

And for those who aren’t into beer but want to soak up the atmosphere, there will be a wine bar, cocktail bar and whiskey bar – but really folks, this is a beer spectacular so bring a thirst and an open mind.

The day is broken into two sessions –the first session goes from 11am to 4:30 pm and the second session is from 6pm to 11:30pm.

A tip for the wise – don’t try to do both.

The Brisbane GABS is the last of the GABS festivals which are held annually in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Whether you are seasoned expert on craft beers or someone who just like a cold brew on a hot day, set aside this “Disneyland for beer lovers” on your calendar, I’’ see you there (I’ll be the one with a beer in my hand).

And for those of you who can’t make the Gabs festival in Brisbane this year, there is always the opportunity to sample some the more unique beers through one of the various beer packs available on the GABS website.

They have again launched their annual Australian Invitational Craft Beer eight Pack which features offerings from eight craft breweries from across the country.

These brews aren’t readily available, and the pack offers a varied range of brews aimed at testing your palate (and that of your mates) in more ways than one.

The packs can be ordered online at https://www.gabsfestival.com/2023aus-invitational-8-pack or they are available for a limited time at selected First Choice,Vintage Cellars and Liquorland outlets.

For more information and tickets, visit www.gabsfestival.com/brisbanehome

Demistifying beers at Beer Fest.

Countdown to the masters

The countdown is on to tee-off for the 2023 Outback Queensland Masters, Australia’s most remote golf series, with the launch of new Outback Queensland visitor experiences, creating the ultimate golfing adventure of a lifetime.

Despite the odds of hitting a hole-inoneestimatedat12,500toone,theevent is expected to see 2,500 golfing enthusiasts travel to some of Queensland’s most remote and unique golf courses this June and July in the hopes of striking it rich at the event’s Million-Dollar Hole-In-One.

Mount Isa, the birthplace of Australian golfing legend Greg Norman, will host the Million-Dollar Hole-In-One Challenge as part of the city’s centenary milestone celebrations, where the Outback Queensland Masters is yet to see a player strike it rich since the event’s inception in 2019.

Golf Australia, Queensland and NorthernTerritory Manager, Luke Bates said the 2022 Million-Dollar Hole-OneOne finale in Birdsville came to a nailbiting finish.

“Our hearts skipped a beat when Gary Strange of Woodenbong Golf Club’s ball bounced just centimetres from the hole, before Robin McConchie of Brisbane came overall closest to the pin on the sand green, landing her shot just a metre away from the prized hole.

“The sand greens are a challenge of a different kind for players; most not hav-

ing experienced them before entering the series.

“This competition isn’t all about winning though, it’s all about the experience, discovering new places and meeting new people.”

The Million Dollars isn’t the only lure for players and spectators taking on the 3,000km+ outback road trip over the six weekends of competition.

Mr Bates added, with less than a month to go we have released new signature experiences exclusive to the players and spectators on tour with us, allowing them to make the most of their adventure in Outback Queensland. The new experiences offered will showcase the very best of Outback Queensland off the sand greens including guided Indigenous heritage and bush tucker experiences, local farmer and grower

tours, and dinosaur fossil preparation and fossicking experiences.

“We’ve curated these experiences with local tourism operators and community groups to ensure we maximise the benefit of the Outback Queensland Masters and tourism for the locations we visit, and of course to give our visitors incredible experiences of Outback Queensland.

“The Outback Queensland Masters really highlights the character and friendliness of this part of the world to players too, and we can’t wait to share that with those joining the competition in 2023.”

To top it all off, players and spectators joining the adventure in 2023 will be able to laugh out loud and dance the night away under the outback stars with a swag full of incredible entertainment at the Dinner Under the Stars evenings.

The lineup includes sixteen-time Golden Guitar award winner Luke O’Shea, renowned First Nations singer-songwriter Joe Geia and comedy veteran Bev Killick. Sunshine Coast’s Mumma Funk Band will get players and spectators up on their feet to dance the night away at the finale of the six weekends of back-to-back competition with their groovy funk force.

The 2023 Outback Queensland Masters will take place from 17 June – 23 July 2023; secure your spot today at www.outbackqldmasters.com

Ready to hit off in the outback.

Empty-nesters on the loose

By Kylie Mitchell-Smith

The upside of becoming an empty nester and having your adult offspring move to the other side of the world is that you now have an excuse to visit some new and beautiful places around the globe as our own Travelling Senorita Kylie Mitchell Smith discovered recently when her oldest son moved to Canada.

We take a direct 14-hour flight from Brisbane to Vancouver, with a handy connection to Calgary. Alberta is in the depths of winter, so we rug up to outrun the jet lag and explore the historical streets of the city of cowboys.

We discover a thriving city, a haven for foodies, bursting with history and pride. Modern yet age-old, with character-filled streets and friendly locals. Built on a grid system, we wander the avenues and discover a hive of activity on Eighth and Ninth. An eclectic cafe scene has popped up on Fifth Avenue that borders the picturesque (and frozen) Bow River.

We choose to stay at the Fairmont Palliser close to all the action on Ninth Avenue - a charming, re-invented railway hotel built in the early 1900s. Art Deco style with a grand ’50s ballroom and suitably fitted-out rooms, complemented by a well-appointed restaurant and bar - we get a sense of those that have passed before.

A picturesque two-hour drive from Calgary to Banff National Park, we feel like we are driving into an endless, screensaver of snow-capped mountains and frozen lakes. As you enter the National Park, take the turn off to Banff, a village that its built around the majestic lake, with the towering mountains as the backdrop.

Limited by the restrictions applied by the National Park to preserve the natural environment, Banff is a unique town, dotted with souvenir shops, a brewery, distillery, cinema, and restaurants.

The crowning glory of the town is the stunning castle on the hill, the 130-year-old, Fairmont Banff Springs, located in the heart of Banff National Park - a UNESCOWorld Heritage site.

A year-round luxury mountain resort with all the trimmings, we land there as snow is falling. As picturesque as it is commanding, the resort has several dining experiences, from authentic Italian to a Spanish tapas bar to a Germaninspired taphouse.

We try the Italian and delight over

the freshly made pasta dishes, like the Charred Sweet Corn Ravioli with lashings of crispy porchetta and fermented chilli. For dessert we can’t go past the Apple Raison Crostata with a glass of Grappa e Limoncello - that warms our cockles.

The award-winning Fairmont Springs Spa has captured the natural surrounds, with outdoor hot springs, indoor magnesium pools, eucalyptus sauna and steam room, and treatment suites. We indulge in a ‘Majestic Blue’ with mountain lavender, mineral salt exfoliation, massage and body wrap.

A must see and do, is the Banff Gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain, with 360-degree views across the Rockies and beyond. A short, elevated walk to the peak of the summit and you’ll feel on-top of the world. On the way back down visit the educational centre and Sky Bistro high above the Gondola with, quite possibly the best views we’ve ever seen.

The resort is well-equipped with a championship golf course during summer, and mountain resorts for skiing in the winter, including an ice-skating rink on the resort’s frozen lake surrounds.

A short drive to Canmore Caves, we

brave the narrow entrances into the caves, and crawl our way along a 4km grotto to Rat’s Nest Cave. The ancient caves are home to 7000-year-old bones, and the friendly staff are well equipped to lead the way in (and out) of this natural wonder.

We take a one-hour drive from Canmore, back into the National Park, destination Lake Louise - the real reason for our journey to the Rocky Mountains. We are visiting our 23-year-old son Lewis, who, after completing a degree in Economics and Commerce at UQ, has opted for a working holiday at the Fairmont Chateau on Lake Louise.

A stately hotel that is perfectly positioned next to the grand lake, frozen in all its glory. The hotel services over 500 rooms and is as elegant as it is relaxed in style. Friendly staff welcome you at every turn - we find Lewis serving at the most picturesque and opulent Lakeview Lounge.

After we acquaint ourselves with the hotel, the natural surrounds, and of course our son, we take off to the local ski field. Lewis is well acquainted with Lake Louise Ski Resort, when he’s not working at the chateau, he’s honing his snowboarding skills on the mountain.

A day well spent on the mountain is followed by a night spent by the outside fire, set amongst the ice bar and ice sculptures that adorn the lake. Dining options at the Chateau include comfort food at the pub, modern and hearty cuisine at Lakeview, and Mediterranean fare at the newly appointed Louiza restaurant.

We dine at Louiza and try the Homemade Empanadas, Galicean Mussels and Basque Lamb Shank, with a delicious Elderberry Sorbet with Crispy Basil to finish. The Hotel wraps around the lake capturing the sublime, snowcapped mountains, and is all about the serenity. As summer fast approaches the lake melts, the wildlife awakens (bears) and the environment transitions.

We vow to return to Banff National Park, and with our younger son set to join his brother in the not-too-distant future, it’s on the cards. A desirable destination for snow lovers in the winter months, with hikers and nature dwellers to discover a different look and feel in the summer months.

For more from our favourite PR/ TRAVEL WRITER/PODCASTER head to www.travellingsenorita.com

Fairmont Banff Springs.

Pictures: KYLIE MITCHELL-SMITH

Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise.Banff Gondola.Art as Dessert, Lake Louise.

Banff village.

Pretty cocktails, Louiza Restaurant. Louiza Restaurant, Lake Louise. Empanadas-Louiza Restaurant.

Castello Restaurant, Banff.

Winter warmer on agenda

By Erle Levey

It’s the region for all seasons and none better than catching the autumn colours as the Southern Downs heads into winter.

The Granite Belt of Queensland is one of those places I’ve driven through many times but haven’t really stopped at.

It was always a matter of driving through there to get somewhere else.

During winter in Covid I remember driving back from Sydney, wondering whether the borders were going to be shut because of the risk of lockdown from the pandemic.

So I drove through the night.

It was snowing in the highlands around Glen Innes - a surreal feeling of stopping and photographing it.

Everything was quiet. No breeze and this soft snow filtering down and spreading a carpet of white.

It was with a sense of relief that the border atWallangarra was still open.

Here it was, 10.30 at night and the crossing into Queensland resembled a scene from MASH.

There were police and army personnel standing around open fires, dressed in long coats and trying to keep warm.

But their greeting was friendly, my reason for travel certificate during Covid was up to date, and I could pass through.

This year I made the decision to return and explore what this much talked-about region has to offer. The thought of wine tasting at vineyards around Stanthorpe, maybe an Italianstyle meal, staying at a cozy B&B and exploring the Girraween National Park was certainly appealing.

That would make a very enjoyable weekend away, taking in historic Tenterfield just across the border in New SouthWales.

I wondered why it took me this long to investigate what was on offer.

Just like water finding its true level, I had taken my time and this year realised it was a perfect opportunity to fully appreciate the region.

A good friend and colleague had grown up on the Darling Downs and he went back as often as possible, especially over winter to relive some of his early experiences - such as sitting around a

campfire in the middle of winter, going for horse rides through the countryside and enjoying good food, good wine and hospitality.

Stanthorpe would be almost a threehour drive from Brisbane and you can do no wrong by stopping for a coffee at Boonah, then heading up the Cunningham Range and on toWarwick.

There’s a beautiful picnic area right in the heart of Stanthorpe, with lawns and water features created around the Severn River. The perfect spot to stop for a tea or coffee and get ideas from the information centre.

Ballandean is an inspirational community to the south of Stanthorpe and home to some of the best sourdough bread you can imagine at the local bakery.

Our first stop was at Pyramids Road Winery at Wyberba, just out of Ballandean. We were to catch up with the owners of a small-block winery who I met about 20 years ago at a wine-tasting evening at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.

Warren and Sue Smith had been teachers on the Coast but made the lifechange to Wyberba, and theirs is just one of the many small labels that are

springing up in this rich wine-growing region.

The wine heritage of the area goes back probably 70 years to when the first of the Italian families set up their winemaking businesses, and the tradition continues today.

Pyramids Road is named because it’s on the road to Girraween National Park and the famous two pyramids - granite outcrops that can be seen for miles around.

Girraween is like no other area in Australia in many ways. It has a variety of walking paths for the novice through to rock climbing for the experienced.

There is car-parking at the visitor information centre, which is the first step on the many trails. Take the advice of the rangers at the centre - it not only makes the visit more enjoyable but the safety hints on what trails, when and where can prove invaluable.

A number of walks are within easy distance of the visitor centre and mostly flat, yet good walking shoes and clothing is recommended. After all, you will be exploring places such as Granite Arch, The Junction and Bald Rock Creek.

There is camping and accommoda-

tion available, but it’s in short supply.

However, the Stanthorpe-Ballandean area does have a growing list of places to make a visit comfortable and memorable - lodges, cabins, camp grounds and farm stays.

We had chosen Tenterfield as our destination and a self-contained cottage on a farm just a few kilometres to the north of the town.

It was a great choice.

Tenterfield has changed significantly over the years, especially from the Covid period when people discovered the benefits of regional living.

It’s also such an historic town. The place were Sir Henry Parkes made his impassioned speech for Australia to become a Commonwealth of States.

You can see the changes in the shopfronts and the houses ... everything has a sense of life to it.

The shop windows are attractive and cared for.

The number of renovations and refurbishments to houses is a good indicator of the pride people take in their community.

There’s a wonderful avenue of trees that welcomes you into the town from the north.

The art deco exterior of the Commercial Hotel at Tenterfield. 332988

Seafood pie at the Commercial Hotel. 332988

Creme brulee at the Commercial Hotel. 332988

Tenterfield Railway Station Museum. 332988

Ballandean has developed as a quality wine region. 332988

The town is in the valley, so you can imagine the fog settling of an evening there in winter, adding to the intriguing atmosphere.

So much so that you can almost hear the sound of the Tenterfield Saddler going about his trade.

Tenterfield is famous for that song by Peter Allen - the true story of his father, but really it’s a town based in history.

The most famous part is the part it played in the Federation of Australia, but before that it was very solid farming area that is now undergoing a revival.

Thanks to the movement towards working from home, people coming from the cities seeking lifestyle.

There are a number of restaurants to choose from - and the bowls club I’m told - but on this night the Commercial Hotel stood out. A welcome light for weary travellers.

The Commercial has been renovated or refurbished back to its original almost art deco style with the brickwork reinvigorated instead of being plastered over and hidden.

Instead of gaming machines and betting facilities in the front bar, the heritage internal features have been highlighted.

Hidden values including the frosted lettering etched on the glass doors indicating the dining room and the like; the pressed-metal look to the facade of the bar; the original door to the cold room; the old firewood stove from the kitchen were some of the features.

And the food was was exceptional. The rib fillet and the seafood pie were very satisfying as the night air took on a chill.

At first we thought there was no way we could get through a serving each. Surely we would have to share and take the other back to our cottage in the country.

But, no, we thoroughly enjoyed both dishes - sharing to try the flavours. So much so we had a crème brûlee with Cointreau, presented with ice cream and fresh berries.

OK, we shared this yet it was the perfect finish.

The Commercial is an example of what can be done in the shifting trends of hospitality.

This is a town that has a strong historical past and in which there was probably a pub on every corner.

Yet the town has been transformed so that these licensed premises are now gift shops, cafes, coffee spots and hardware stores.

The railway station itself is an historical museum and is a turning point in the Queensland-New South Wales

divide between railway gauges, and represents the importance the railway played in the forming at Federation of Australia.

For it was by rail that Sir Henry Parkes, as the Premier of New South Wales, was able to return in triumph to Sydney overnight after delivering his impassioned speech about the need to create a Federation of the Australian colonies.

Today, the School of Arts Hall stands in the heart of town and includes the Sir Henry Parks Museum and the historic cinema, the courtyard cafe and the library.

It stands opposite is the hornate post office with bells that still chime on the hour.

Tenterfield was home to Fred Ward, better known as Captain Thunderbolt, who was the longest roaming bushranger in Australia’s history.

He used the region as both a hideout and hunting ground for his hold-ups. The many caves and bushy hideouts across New England were some of his favourites, and the one near Tenterfield is one of the easiest to access.

Thunderbolt’s Hideout is 12 km north of Tenterfield, along the Mount Lindesay Road. The site is signposted, and the hideout is a 150-metre walk from the road.

The large area between the rocks was used to stable Captain Thunderbolt’s horses and the small shelter under the large rock was his camp. The top of the rock made an ideal lookout, as this was the main road to Warwick during the gold-mining days.

Not far away is Boonoo Boonoo National Park and Basket Swamp which include rainforest, dry eucalypt forest and grassy woodland.

Boonoo Boonoo Falls is where, legend has it, Banjo Patterson proposed to his sweetheart AliceWalker.

The return drive to Queensland included a stop at the heritage-listed Wallangarra Railway Station to have a coffee and scones in armchairs on the platform, and to absorb the history behind the station itself.

It was here that passengers from New South Wales would disembark from their broad-gauge train and cross to the northern platform and continue their journey on Queensland’s small-gauge railway system.

Today it is a popular destination for steam train journeys with regular services operating from Warwick and Toowoomba.

Our return journey saw a visit to Ballandean Estate winery.

Any misconceptions about the qual-

ity of Queensland wines were seriously smashed.

The focus of the Ballandean-Stanthorpe region seems to be almost totally on local production and supply.

Producers rely on existing customers to seek out their product due to its quality or the service they provide.

In return these businesses support their community in many ways.

Ballandean Estate is Queensland’s oldest family-owned and -operated winery.

Wine has been made on the Estate since 1932 with five generations resulting in a remarkable wine experience.

Producing quality, boutique wines that express the unique character of the Granite Belt is what keeps the Puglisi family enthusiastic and innovative.

It is this cool climate, high altitude and granite-based soil that delivers national and international award-winning wines from the region.

So, with a heart full of memories and a few cases of wine as well as a loaf or two of sourdough bread, it was time to head home.

This article is dedicated to former colleague and mentor, the late Peter Richardson. It was his stories about the Granite Belt that were a source of inspiration on so many levels.

Girraween National Park. 332988

Basket Swamp Falls in the Boonoo Boonoo National Park. 332988

Winter in the Whitsundays

By Cait Fleming, Whitsunday Tourism

Trade your southern winters for aWhitsundays winter, where mother nature serves up balmy 25-degree days (average) and equally temperate nights.

Winter is the ideal season to soak up the sunshine and explore all The Whitsundays has to offer, from beaches and ocean views to relaxing mornings at the beachside markets and the iconic Great Barrier Reef Festival. There is so much to do that you’ll have to stay all winter to get through it!

Here’s our top four things to do in winter in The Whitsundays:

· Head out on the water to spot some whales

· There are few things as magical as catching a glimpse of a Humpback whale emerging from the depths of the ocean.

· From June to September, the warm waters of The Whitsundays transform into a whale-calf nursery as Humpback whales migrate north each year from the Antarctic to mate, socialise and birth.

· The best way to experience the majestic breaching of a whale, catch a tail splash, or spot a playful calf is to head out on one of the many day tours to Whitehaven Beach or the Great Barrier Reef. With so many whales in the water, every boat as the potential to be a whale watching vessel!

Explore the Bowen

Bowen is the northern township and food bowl ofTheWhitsundays and winter is the perfect time of year to explore what’s on offer. Loved for its incredible beaches, Bowen is also home to a large range of fresh produce and fresh from the trawler seafood.

If you enjoy history, head into the Bowen Museum and discover Bowen’s vast history and some of the famous people who have come through this quiet seaside town.

Fancy a seafood dinner? There are several seafood shops along the marina edge that all sell freshly caught local seafood, usually from their own trawlers. It doesn’t get fresher than that.

Don’t forget the veges! Take a brief detour north where you’ll find roadside shops and stalls selling freshly picked local fruit and vege. The produce on offer in winter is usually zucchinis, capsicums, cauliflower, broccoli, honey, mandarins, bananas plus so many more.

Events and Festivals Galore

A terrific way to discover the best of the reef is the Great Barrier Reef Festival, held each year in August.This four-daylong festival involves carnival rides, market and food stalls as well as a popup bar on the foreshore.

Not just a festival of fun, this reef focused environmental celebration aims to educate on the ecological impacts of the reef, highlighting The Whitsunday lifestyle and community in the “heart of the reef” – Airlie Beach.

For sailors, Airlie Beach Race Week hosts their annual sailing race on the waters of Pioneer Bay and The Whitsunday Passage. For those not quite as savvy with their sea legs, you’ll find the

Whitsundays Festival of Sailing onshore free for all to join.

If land-based, adrenalin-pumping racing is for you, head north and buckle up for the action-packed, multi-terrain Don River Dash event. Held at the Don River near Bowen, the two-day race sees off-road buggies and bikes race along the riverbed.

If the sound of the ultimate long lunch interests you, then ready up for the White on Whitehaven Long Lunch, by Fish D’vine. This unforgettable event takes place over four days and features a seafood buffet lunch served on Whitehaven Beach. Soak up the champagne, and breathtaking sights acrossWhitsundayIsland,andmingleuntilyourheartis content on pristine silica-rich beaches.

Immerse yourself in history

TheWhitsundays isn’t widely known for the history-soaked township of Collinsville, which lies only two hours inland from Airlie Beach. Settled in the early 1900s for mining, Collinsville has seen some huge changes and has managed to document some of them. There’s plenty to see, but the must do things are: Explore a heritage-listed mine from 1915 with the Heritage Society, learn about one of Australia’s worst mining accidents at The Coalface Experience and get a photo with the Pit Pony statue that locals erected to celebrate the pit ponies who were active in Collinsville until the 1950s. Make sure you grab a fresh apple turnover at the bakery while you’re there!

Time to kick back and fish.

The Southern end of the beautiful Whitehaven Beach.

Airlie Beach Race Week Sailing Fun.

Exploring Collinsville.