LifeSTYLE wimmera
Edition 1, 2015
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FROM THE
EDITOR
We naturally celebrate the emerging stars of the next generation as they venture into ever-developing frontiers of an evolving world. Our youngest and brightest provide us with optimism and we feel compelled to promote and encourage them at every chance. At the same time, we should recognise the direction and foundations laid by previous generations that provide young people with such a promising launching pad to the future. The Wimmera, Mallee and Grampians, like many other parts of Australia, have ageing populations. Yet, suggestions that this might be slowing people and the region down in this bubbling part of western Victoria is a long way from reality. In fact The Weekly Advertiser team, in exploring material for Lifestyle Wimmera, has unveiled a vibrant and busy undercurrent humming through the region. It seems that every year that passes, for many approaching, considering, reaching or in retirement, is providing a spur to continue to get the best from what life offers. Many continue to pursue life-long work and passions, others feel compelled to try or pursue new activities or projects. Some challenge themselves to learn new skills or to use their experience to provide community leadership and direction. We are delighted to bring you a cultural snapshot of an often overlooked part of society.
19
24-25
Fostering connections
Stepping out of your comfort zone
CONTENTS
8-9
Still climbing mountains
Editor – Dean Lawson
Hobbies 5-13 Community 15-17 Pets 19 Cover story 21 Travel 23-25 Health 26-29 Home 30-35 History 37-39 Puzzles and quiz 40-41 Retirement options 42-43 Finance 45-46 Events and sight-seeing 47-49 Beauty and style 50
Editor, Dean Lawson; sub-editor, Lauren Henry; journalist, Sarah Scully; features co-ordinator Bonnie Severin; designers, Barry King and Kelly Laird; advertising, Mark Sulic, Lee Meadows, Chris Thomas. Published for free distribution by The Weekly Advertiser – Ace Radio Broadcasters Pty Ltd, ACN 064882 042. Printed by Newsprinters Pty Ltd, 7940 Melbourne Road, Shepparton.
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Are you ready to head off into the great unknown? CARAVANNING is a logical option if you’re looking to emulate the hundreds of thousands of Australians who regularly get away for the weekend or to take to the highways to fulfil that lifelong dream of driving to the back of beyond. A ‘home away from home’ makes sense, not least because of the cost savings involved in having your own sleeping quarters, kitchen and, with upmarket RVs, bathroom facilities. But for first timers, and even experienced caravanners considering an upgrade, choosing from the huge range of recreational vehicles can be a daunting proposition. Caravans, 5th Wheelers, pop tops, Expandas, camper trailers – it can be intimidating. Shane Holloway, Jayco National Sales Manager, a well-travelled caravanner with more than 27 years of experience in the RV market, shares his views on what a buyer should consider before entering a showroom. 1. How do you plan to use the RV? For an around-Australia trip, regular weekend escapes, as a live-in for an extended period? ls it for a family, couple or a single person? Your intentions will determine the shape, size (RVs range from 8 to 28 feet – yes, it’s still imperial measurements), floorplans and fittings. Be specific. For example, if your road tripping involves carting around motorbikes, mountain bikes, etc., consider toy haulers. Fit-outs are just as important: ensuite, hot/ cold running water, separate bedroom, lounge, culinary-standard kitchen, reverse cycle air-conditioning, solar kits, annexe, LED lighting and multi-media facilities (TV, games, music and communication). 2. Buying new: Along with the advantage of custom-built (think fabric and indoor material selections for starters), new has the benefit of the latest in technology, safety, improved suspension and durability, lightweight construction material, ever-improving use of space and home comforts. Read the warranties too. For example, some brands offer 24/7 three-year roadside assistance. 3. Buying used: Used vehicles are naturally cheaper. Make sure there’s a service record. Stick with licensed dealers to ensure clear title and
peace of mind as to its condition. Are there warranties for parts and service? 4. Fibreglass or aluminium: Fibreglass has become the benchmark for caravans. It is easier to clean, stronger and better insulated against the vagaries of weather. Additional strength means it is hail and dent resistant. Aluminium is a lighter material and some traditionalists still like the old-fashioned look, while the shorter panelling in some cases makes it cheaper to fix after a mishap. 5. Tow vehicles: Know the towing capacity of your vehicle. You need to make sure the RV has its fully-loaded weight and towball weight under your vehicle specs. In layman’s terms, a six-cylinder car should be the minimum to tow a caravan, while some four-cylinders are more than capable of towing units such as a pop top or camper trailer. There is less wind resistance as well as fuel savings with these lighter smaller models. The fixed-roof range of luxury caravans have a longer wheel base and require a vehicle with stronger pulling capacity. Of course, all the home extras make them a joy to travel in. 6. Garaging: Undercover is always better. It’s where a convertible comes into its own. No need for a high roof
carport with pop tops, Expandas and camper trailers. The compact design means better storage, while gasfilled struts and retractable handles make it easy to lift and lower the ceiling, or extend bunk beds outwards. 7. Fixed-roof caravans: One of the pleasures of caravanning is the ability to stop anywhere, anytime and take in the view, have a cuppa or catnap. As easy as it is physically, going through the whole process of opening and closing the extensions regularly can get tiring. All the state-of-the-art models have fixed-roofs with some featuring superior luxuries, such as an electronic slide-out lounge and full-sized kitchens. 8. Off-roader: Outback models are built to travel on rougher stretches, such as corrugated and unsealed roads. But RVers must be realistic. There are places even four-wheel drives find challenging. For rugged use, look for independent coil suspension, a stronger chassis than on-road models, larger rims and brake magnets. Ask about practical extras, such as solar kits (around 120W), gas bayonet for outside cooking and an external 12v socket for appliances. ● There are more than 550,000 recreational vehicles registered in Australia. By Gary La Personne
For more information, talk to the team at Jayco Horsham today.
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HOBBIES | 5
MR MUSIC MAN L
BY DEAN LAWSON
ong-time Wimmera musician and sound engineer Marty Lieschke has a simple message for people entering their ’60s and ’70s. “Just remember, music keeps you young,” he said. “Someone once said that as a musician you only reach your peak when you’re in your 70s. It’s what a lot of the jazz guys say. So if you’re a muso, don’t stop playing whatever your age – it only gets better.” Marty, 63, has become almost part of the Wimmera music-scene furniture and most would recognise him without knowing him. He is often that bloke with the big hair wandering with purpose among the many cables, leads, amplifiers and speakers before and after regional events requiring sound-engineering expertise and equipment. He is also that familiar figure, often armed with headphones, manning a mixing disk and making sure sound levels are either spot-on or as good as they can be in the circumstances. But it is when you join Marty in the jam room of his Horsham house that his years of experience and musical nous quickly become obvious. The main thing you notice is a row of several bass guitars and then the room’s nooks and crannies filled up with strategically placed musical equipment and tools of the trade ranging from amplifiers to sheet music. You can’t help but feel a tingle up the spine when an earthy vibration of a clever bass lick created by experienced fingers running across thick strings rumbles out of a speaker.
Horsham musician Marty Lieschke is a well-known face in the Wimmera music scene. As well as being a sound engineer, Marty has also played in various bands over the years.
Marty has played music since he climbed up on a piano stool as a six or seven-yearold growing up on a family farm at Walla Walla, near Albury in NSW. He was from a musical family and after only the briefest moments of contemplation, admitted playing music was ‘just part of me’. What people who have mixed with Marty might not know is that he was a promising junior sportsman and athlete. But it was music that come to dominate his spare time. He strongly pursued his love of Christian music, a passion he retains, and ultimately
found himself collaborating with other talented musicians. He only had his bass guitar, which he would ultimately embrace as his trademark instrument, for a month in 1974 when he and his band mates found themselves playing in front of 600 people at a Lutheran Youth Assembly show in Sydney. “There has always been music. Mum sang and dad played keyboard in Lutheran Church choirs and as a kid I always looked up at people who could play music,” he said. “I played piano right through high school and really only started playing bass when I
GET TOWING!
“If you’re a muso, don’t stop playing, whatever your age – it only gets better.” – Marty Lieschke was 21. I managed to get by in the Sydney show and it basically went from there.” His love of performing, in between learning his trade as an electronic technician, blossomed in Melbourne and unveiled itself in country-gospel style music. While maintaining strong musical connections to the church, he branched out into other styles of contemporary music when he decided to stay in Horsham after arriving with Bud Johnson to establish Horsham Skate Centre in 1981. In joining Wimmera rock musicians of the time, he found himself in bands dabbling in everything from 1970s and ‘80s arena and guitar music to more recently the trickier licks of progressive rock. In accumulating gear and using his electronic background, he also seized an opportunity to set up a sideline musical engineering business. Marty was drawn to the opportunity to perform musicals and rates his involvement in Horsham productions of Cats, Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar as personal musical highlights. There isn’t the slightest of hints that Marty intends to slow down any time soon in pursuing his love of music. In fact an electronic drum kit, still in its box near his back door and waiting to come to life, hints at the next of Marty’s musical expeditions.
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6 | ADVERTORIAL
SLEEP – IT’S CRITICAL FOR YOUR HEALTH There is plenty of research telling us that sleep is critical to our general health and well-being. Sleep is an in-built response mechanism that meets the need of our body’s requirements to recharge so we can get the most out of our day-to-day lives. This requirement means we spend about a third of our lives sleeping and if you do your sums, that works out to more than 26 years of an average life-span. When you consider those sorts of figures, it puts into perspective why we should make the effort to get the best type of sleep possible. Forty Winks in Horsham is dedicated to helping customers get the most out of periods of slumber and especially wants them to sleep better this Christmas.
Between 20 and 30 percent of people have problems with either falling asleep of staying asleep. The word from the Forty Winks team in Pynsent Street is that establishing a regular sleep routine is fundamental in solving what can be an irritating problem. Here are the team’s 10 tips on getting better night’s sleep: 1. Have a regular sleep and waking time. Don’t sleep during the day. This strengthens our circadian cycles, making going to sleep at night much easier. 2. Avoid alcohol and caffeine after noon. Alcohol creates fragmented and disturbed
TIME TO RECYCLE? 65 percent of Australians are not getting enough sleep, which can be caused by not having the support of a proper bed.
sleep while caffeine is a potent stimulant that masks our levels of fatigue. 3. Don’t exercise three hours before attempting to sleep. Exercise increases our body’s temperature, our heart and metabolic rates, all of which increase alertness. 4. Only use the bedroom for sleeping and sex. The bedroom isn’t the place for television, work or computers. There should be nothing in there to increase alertness or anxiety. 5. Adopt a going-to-bed routine. Half an hour before bed, try having a warm shower and doing a relaxation exercise of some kind. This lets your body know that it is time to sleep.
“We spend about a third of our lives sleeping...”
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HOBBIES | 7
TAKING FLIGHT WITH MODELS
T
aking control of an aircraft can be a mighty challenge. But what about when that aircraft is only a replica or model of the original and all the pilot skills come from controlling the craft remotely from the ground?
The Wimmera has long been a magnet for model aeroplane enthusiasts and the pastime never seems to lose its enthusiastic band of followers – be it with groups such as Ararat and District Aeromodellers Club and Wimmera Model Aircraft Association or as individuals tinkering in backyard workshops. It’s a hobby that has been subject to the same technological advances as full-scale flight, and its involvement at a base level ranges from the simple challenge of building something that can fly to full-on aeronautical competition. Wimmera association secretary Vic Cresp, 63, of Horsham has had a passion for model aircraft for more than 40 years. Vic said he had seen the hobby evolve from being something that involved hand-building wooden models to flying packaged kit planes that could almost fly themselves. “I always had an interest with control liners and rubber-powered planes and it initially started by
developing the skill of building them and then making them fly,” he said. “But now you can buy a ready-made plane and it flies better than one you could ever make.” Vic said it was easy to get hooked by the pastime, which for many with time on their hands in retirement was a perfect outlet. “It is particularly good because with the new technology, unlike the old days, the chances of you taking your plane home in one piece are very high. In the past there were times after a flying mishap when you were taking your aircraft home in a box,” he said. These days, radio-control aircraft come in many different sizes and varieties from gliders and relatively simple propellor-engine planes to helicopters and jets. Many of the models are exact scale replicas of real planes and some of the pilots get so good at operating them that they can find themselves on a world stage. Vic said operating radio-control aircraft was a great way to keep the mind and body active. “It is very good for eye-hand co-ordination and it challenges you to constantly analyse your flying circumstances,” he said. “While challenging the mind it also gets you outside and interacting with
people where you share advice, skills, ideas and knowledge.” The pastime has always been open to people of all ages. At the moment Vic is helping 72-year-old David Whitcher get the most out of his foray into model aircraft. “He’s bought an E-Flight Apprentice that has SAFE, which basically means it can fly on auto pilot. It can almost take off and land itself. It’s easier and more user-friendly to fly models than ever before. The next generation of aircraft like this have an electronic fence where you can input flight boundaries and there are also returnto-home systems,” he said. “It’s getting to a stage where there is no limit regardless of age or ability.” The Wimmera association has a flying field at Burnt Creek Livestock Exchange and its members fly all year round, flying regularly on Saturdays and Sundays. The association hosts major events such as state championships for thermal gliders, coming up next month, and state competitions in August. The strong Ararat District Aeromodellers Club also presents major events such as the Labor Day weekend 3D Hobby Shop Australia Fly Low In event.
Wimmera Model Aircraft Association secretary Vic Cresp, left, with fellow model enthusiast David Whitcher. Picture: DEAN LAWSON
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8 | HOBBIES
STILL CLIMBING MOUNTAINS Long-time Wimmera journalist Keith Lockwood, of Natimuk, has for many years provided quiet inspiration for many people. Retired from the hectic pace of a regional newsroom, Keith, now 64, continues to pursue his love of rock-climbing and exploring his many interests such as playing the piano. He happily shared his experiences of his new life in retirement.
S
caling a cliff face and desperately searching for an elusive finger or toe-hold with nothing but a rope and a lot of air between you and the ground is unlikely to be everyone’s cup of tea – at any age.
Yet rock-climbing provides a great opportunity for many people, some of them well into their 60s, to challenge themselves both mentally and physically. Former Wimmera newsman Keith Lockwood has spent a lifetime contemplating, planning, climbing and conquering ascents, most often at but far from isolated to his home-town ‘rock’ of Mt Arapiles. And at 64, it is something he is still doing and continuing to help others enjoy. While reaching retirement from the newsroom might have put an end to his days of sifting through reams of copy, it has far from stopped him pursuing his other primary occupation – climbing. He is also using his time to explore other interests. Keith, an international authority on rock-climbing, has used his knowledge to publish an in-depth book on Mt Arapiles, and is a nationally accredited rock-climbing guide. Through Chris Peisker’s business
Keith Lockwood The Climbing Company, he and other guides help people, young and old, pursue the challenging craft. Keith said he had no reason to stop his pastime, which combined as a hobby and part-time employment. “It’s second nature. I sometimes feel more agile while vertical on a rock than I do when horizontal,” he said. He also added, with tongue in cheek, that he could ‘still out-climb the young-uns’.
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HOBBIES | 9 Keith said he enjoyed having an opportunity to share his love of the mount, physical exercise and the bush with young people. “We get a whole variety. We had one group of kids from St Kilda and a couple of them really struggled to find their feet. But then we had a group from Bordertown and nothing stopped them, not even the rain,” he said.
MATES AND THE PIANO Keith also loves climbing with a dedicated group of mates, Ian Thomas of Melbourne and Queenslanders Greg Sheard and Michael Meadows, all in their 60s. “It generally starts off in the Nati Cafe where we discuss all our current physical ailments. You quickly find out who has a gammy knee and so on,” he said. “We’re old fossils out on the rock. Ian Thomas has cataracts in both eyes and can’t see his feet, Greg Sheard has some osteo problem so he’s not allowed to fall over and Michael Meadows is also a bit dubious. But we all manage to get up. We work on our strengths and despite our ailments still have a good time out there.” Keith has far from limited his spare
“We’re old fossils on the rock... But we all manage to get up.” – Keith Lockwood time to rock-climbing and before retirement challenged himself to learn how to play the piano with Simply Music in Horsham. “I did that as an exercise in trying to keep the brain active and agile and I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. His teacher Unmani said Keith had progressed from having never played the instrument to being able to play an impressive bank of musical pieces. “He has quite a blues repertoire. You know I have six students in their 70s and my biggest cohort would be in the 60 to 70-age bracket,” she said. “One of my most recent students is an ex-army veteran in his 70s who is missing one and a half fingers.”
Keith Lockwood, 64, on the rock face at Mt Arapiles’ grade-10 Eskimo Nell ascent with climbing mates Ian Thomas, left, 64, and Greg Sheard, 67. Picture: SIMON MENTZ
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10 | HOBBIES
NO AGE LIMITS FOR ANGLING BY TREVOR HOLMES VICTORIAN INLAND CHARTERS
Ray Rogers, of Corio, with a Wimmera redfin.
W
ith recreational angling being an age-old pastime and the Wimmera being in the spotlight over the past year or so, many anglers of all ages are again returning to the waters to enjoy the spoils on offer. Some fantastic projects and incentives have been put up by the current State Government including the ‘Target 1 Million’ campaign to attract new anglers. I’m finding of late that many of the over 50s are venturing out and enjoying what’s on offer. After suffering drought for many years in the ’90s, the Wimmera has bounced back well, rejuvenating the passion from years gone by. Seeing many of the younger brigade doing their own thing, the older and wiser ones among us are getting on board with me at Victorian Inland Charters. They are relishing the chance to target some of the whopping trout, redfin and native fish available throughout the region. Without the hassle of launching, retrieving, keeping up with the latest technology involving lures, bait, rods, reels and so on, they can just simply jump on board, relax and enjoy a day’s outing without the stress. Most times they take home either a memory on their camera or a good feed to dine on. It’s very rewarding to be able to see people hooking and landing what would
normally be a fish they wouldn’t catch. During the past couple of years, many seniors have commented that they have waited a lifetime to land a trophy trout or a large redfin. At present we have that opportunity. A prime example of this was 74-year-old enthusiast Graeme Tomkins, who was a trout angler all his life, landing a brown trout weighing more than three kilograms, or six and a half pounds. It’s his biggest to date. The satisfaction of seeing the older generation land such good fish is priceless. For Graeme, not being so mobile and agile at his age, we had to ease him onto the
boat via a ladder but once on board it was all a breeze for him. Operating on inland lakes and rivers also has the advantage of, at most times, being calm, eliminating that dreaded curse of sea sickness. In more than four years of operation we have never had anyone even feel uncomfortable or the slightest onset of illness. If you’re visiting the region or indeed a local, there are many avenues of angling to explore from boating to bank angling. The Wimmera River offers access and good fishing in most stretches while the
“The satisfaction of seeing the older generation land such a good fish is priceless.” – Trevor Holmes region’s lakes also provide many options. Among the better venues are Rocklands Reservoir, Lake Toolondo, Taylors Lake, Green Lake, Lake Fyans, Lake Wartook and Lake Bellfield. There is vehicle access to the edges in some lakes and others require a short walk to put you in the zone. Bait-wise, the everreliable mudeye fished under a bubble float is the prime fare for trout and redfin. Good old worms will also attract all species and yabbies, minnow and gudgeon are also prime baits. Lure-wise you really can’t go past the Tassie Devils and traditional spinners such as Celtas and Dicksons. Pretty much any spinning bladed-type lures will attract a strike or at least a follow-up from the ever-inquisitive trout and redfin. With technology, locations and tackle everchanging, I recommend a visit to the local tackle shop and get expert advice because they always know what’s the best option. Regardless of age, there’s a fishing option available for all. Get out and enjoy the great outdoors, catch a feed or just relax. But most importantly, stay safe.
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The open plains and monster sky of the Wimmera-Mallee makes it ideal for star gazing.
STARGAZING P
BY DAVID RENEKE
eople in or approaching retirement don’t have to stop pursuing various astronomical interests such as stargazing because they’re getting on in years.
Looking at the stars, or taking a telescope outside and checking out the moon or enjoying a meteor shower is a fantastic way to spend unique quality time with your grandchildren or mates. It’s relaxing too. Now is a great time to step outside and learn something about our solar system and the universe around you. There are many goodies awaiting you up there, and once you’ve located them, you can use their positions to help identify a handful of other bright stars. With a small telescope, you can see Saturn’s rings or with just binoculars, you could relive the astonishment of Galileo, who in the early 1600s spotted four moons around Jupiter using an early, crude telescope. Stargazing need not be complicated. If you can find the moon, you’re on your way to becoming a backyard astronomer. On some nights, the moon can serve as a great locator to help find other objects. Stunning and hard to miss at the moment is Venus shining brilliantly in the eastern sky just before sunrise. Venus was called the ‘goddess of love’ in Greek mythology, but we know it better as the ‘morning star’. While you’re at it, look
for Jupiter and reddish Mars buddying up with Venus as a nice trio. Once you’ve found these few planets, you can then identify some constellations and a handful of bright stars. The brightest is Sirius, which can be found late in the evening just to the right of the famous constellation Orion, or what Aussies call the ‘saucepan.’ There! Well done. You may now call yourself a backyard astronomer, and you’ve observed more than you might realise. You’ve now learned to look back in time. Sirius is 8.6 light years away, meaning that the light you saw took 8.6 years to get here. Whether you view the night sky with your naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, there are a few tips to enhance the experience: • A dark location is always helpful. No matter how much light surrounds you, more is always worse. Turn off any lights you can. Allow 15 minutes or more for your eyes to adapt to the darkness – you’ll soon see more. • Don’t forget to rug up, our nights can be a tad chilly. • One thing you can’t control is the atmosphere. When you look directly overhead, you’re peering through about 10 kilometres of the densest portion of Earth’s atmosphere. • Turbulent air, something you can’t see or predict, makes objects appear to jump around or twinkle – only experience will tell you which nights are best for viewing.
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HOBBIES | 13
GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING Having an innate curiosity about how things work is one thing... challenging yourself to recreate, restore or put things back together to make them work again and then maintain them so they continue working is another. That seems to be the fundamental driving formula behind a Wimmera group dedicated to bringing life back to historical engines.
M
embers of Dunmunkle Sump Oilers Machinery Preservation Club at Murtoa are drawn to all that is designed to roar, puff or even groan to life when given a taste of fuel. It might be a rusting engine block or a piece of discarded machinery overtaken by technology sitting in a lonely paddock or a hand-me-down long past its use-by date. All seem to provide inspiration for the sump oilers. Club secretary John Hart said members were passionate about the preservation and restoration of old engines and took great delight in demonstrating their projects. “We have 110 members and usually get about 20 to 30 involved in events and activities. And there is always someone going somewhere or doing something,” he said. “Some members go to various rallies during the year and we have a ‘tractor trek’ from time to time, driving through the quieter parts of the country. We have our biggest event, the sump oilers rally, every year. “We also support a lot of shows and community events with demonstrations.” The club is renowned for its caretaker role of four historic Hornsby engines at its Murtoa headquarters on the opposite side of the Wimmera Highway to the town’s famous Stick Shed. The single-cylinder 55 to 115 horse-power engines were responsible for powering ammonia compressors for Wimmera Inland Freezing, the works centre and parts of Murtoa. The first was installed in 1911 and another in 1914. While the original building that housed the engines is gone, the machines themselves are in working order, lovingly maintained by the sump oilers. The engines are possibly the only large Hornsby engines still on tier original engine beds anywhere in the world. “The engines were brought out from the UK cast and machined and their flywheels are huge. They’re only single-cylinder engines. They’re just incredible. We run them several times a year for special occasions,” Mr Hart said.
“What can appear as a lump of rusted metal can again become working machinery. It can all be done. The ‘hard’ is easy and the ‘impossible’ is just a bit harder.” – John Hart The club also works on and maintains other historic engines and members also have their individual pet projects. “Some of the restoration projects members work on are absolutely amazing,” Mr Hart said. “I know one member who has collected more than 120 tractors.” Mr Hart said part of the attraction to the many retirees who became involved with the club and projects was the memories triggered by the machinery. “We’ve all had experiences and memories of the role engines played in the past. For many it’s a chance to be nostalgic while at the same time preserving history. Those of us who enjoy this sort of thing never lose interest,” he said. Mr Hart said there was no specific stereotype for enthusiasts involved in the club. “I’m an ex-copper and we have former farmers, engineers, electricians. You name it – they’re all there. What we share is simply a common interest,” he said. Apart from the ‘dirtier’ side of the hobby, the club also has members who dedicate themselves to raising money through various events. Mr Hart said anyone interested in finding out more about the club could call him on 5358 1370 or president Graeme Gellatly on 5359 6273. The club meets on the third Wednesday of the month at the Murtoa clubrooms. Membership is open to anyone but requires the applicant to be nominated by other members.
Some of the Dunmunkle sump oilers, from left, Gordon Mills, Geoff Starick, Arthur Ballinger, Morrien Maher, Colin Hobbs, Graeme Gellatly and Doug Clarke are pictured with one of the historic Hornsby engines at Murtoa.
Ken, Wimmera UnitingCare Volunteer, Rural Victoria.
The experience of helping others provides meaning, a sense of self-worth, a social role and health enhancement. To find out more visit www.wuc.org.au or call 5362 4000
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Volunteering WESTERN VICTORIA
COMMUNITY | 15
ALL HEART
Foster Carer Heidi is pictured enjoying the country life at her home. Picture: BELINDA COOKSON
Vulnerable children of different ages and in various circumstances across the Wimmera and Mallee are in need of foster care. Wimmera Uniting Care, which places children with carers, urgently needs more people to come forward. Heidi Newley has provided a story to show how people can make difference to young lives.
H
BY BEAU JAMES WIMMERA UNITING CARE
eidi Newley’s natural desire to help and nurture led to her spending many years nursing in remote communities. “I saw a lot of children who had suffered from abuse and neglect which only strengthened my desire to do what I could do to help children who need a stable and nurturing environment,” Heidi said. At the time however, Heidi had four young children at home and didn’t feel the timing was right for her to take on foster care. Now Heidi’s children are adults with families of their own. Her love of working in remote areas brought her to rural Victoria where she nurses part-time. Heidi was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 but she didn’t let it beat her. In fact it spurred her on to complete her ‘bucket list’ and providing foster care was one thing she had always wanted to do. Heidi became a foster carer through Wimmera Uniting Care in February; she started by providing respite for two
children, and then took on permanent care of a girl, 11, in June. “It has been good, but challenging. A child at the age of 11 has developed certain behaviours that sometimes need to be tapered down,” she said. “Due to their unique situations there are some expected behaviours they haven’t yet developed, such as sharing with others, knowing boundaries, even eating habits. “Academically she is very smart but has never learnt how to put that into practice. We are working through that at the moment and she has come a long way. “I am lucky that she is very open to any situation, she is a ‘can do’ person, versatile and willing to take on new challenges.” Heidi added that being a foster carer had been a great social outlet. “We have a lot of community involvement. She mingles well with friends and knows who her safe people are; it is great having her around,” she said. “I enjoy being able to help with school projects, I hear a lot of people complaining about doing school lunches but I love it. “Living on the farm has been good for her. She helps with feeding the lambs and
goslings and loves the wide open spaces. I made the mistake of getting her to ride a bike, because now I have to do it too. “We went to visit my family in Western Australia for a holiday and it was great. She fit in really well and everyone enjoyed themselves. We also go away on trips in the caravan and are looking at trying some geocaching. “She has really become a part of my family and plays well with my grandchildren when they come to visit. “It has been good being a foster carer at this stage of my life. “After working 24-7 nursing in remote places, it is nice to now sit back and enjoy what I’ve got and be able to share it.” Heidi said she hoped to wind down her work in the future so that she could take in more foster children. She said her relationship with her foster care case worker had helped along the way. “I’ve always got support when I need help or have a question. It’s nice having that safety net – unlike when bringing up my own children, when you just have to figure it all out for yourself – you are not doing this by yourself,” she said.
Heidi said it was important for people to do their homework before taking on the challenge of providing foster care. “You need to understand the process and what your options are. It is also good to know what sort of support you can access,” she said. “The reason the child has come into care can be varied – it is not always because they have suffered abuse, they just need a loving home and I am more than happy to provide that for them for the time that it is needed. “Some people say they could never send the children back – but it is important to understand that in some cases this is the best thing for the child, to be reunited with their family. “Just enjoy it. If you can’t cope or don’t like something, try another strategy. Having that understanding from your case worker definitely helps.” Foster care is care provided by people in their own homes for children and young people who cannot live with their families. Anyone interested in becoming a fostercarer can call Wimmera Uniting Care on 5362 4000 or visit wuc.org.au.
Welcome to Eventide Homes Eventide Homes offers the ultimate retirement lifestyle in Western Victoria’s beautiful Grampians region. Since 1953 we have held a strong reputation for providing exceptional accommodation and personal care, carried out by highly-qualified and experienced staff in a trusting and supportive environment. We offer a range of independent and residential living options for people requiring varying levels of care. Such a diverse
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Wimmera Health Care Group’s Residential Aged Care options offer a wide range of care options to suit you and your loved ones When the time comes for a family member to move into residential care, you may experience many different feelings. At Wimmera Health Care Group Residential Aged Care, we understand the transition to an aged care home can be a difficult time for the person and their family. Our staff focus on the wellbeing of people in our care and encourage family and friends to play an active role. Our staff are committed to providing an environment that is person-centred and supports the wellbeing of older people. Our residential aged care homes are the only ones in the region with immediate access to on-site allied health and medical professionals and all our homes are staffed with registered nurses.
Wimmera Nursing Home Wimmera Nursing Home is ideally positioned on the same site as the Wimmera Health Care Group (Wimmera Base Hospital), and close to the city centre. Wimmera Nursing Home is able to care for people with a range of needs. A landscaped garden provides a wonderful opportunity for residents to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. Within the grounds there is a garden which has been specially built to help people with their walking.
Kurrajong Lodge Kurrajong Lodge is situated within the residential area of Horsham. Nestled quietly overlooking the recreational parkland of Jardwa Park. The home accommodates all residents in single rooms. The lodge cares for people with less complex needs and is a relaxed setting that allows residents to maintain their freedom and independence within a safe and comfortable environment.
Dimboola Nursing Home Dimboola Nursing Home is located within the quiet rural town of Dimboola. This bright and modern home provides facilities that support residents to maintain their connections within the wider community. It is attractive and was designed to provide care in a friendly and homely environment. Gardens and courtyards are landscaped with neat lawn areas, planted gardens, easy walking paths, sculptures, a mural designed by a local artist and barbecue facilities with some rooms offering direct access to the garden.
Caring for our seniors is perhaps the greatest responsibility we have. Phone: (03) 5381 9355 • email: robyn.english@whcg.org.au
COMMUNITY | 17 “I’m not interested in slowing down. There are a lot of things I still haven’t done that I would love to do.” – Gwenda Allgood
EXPERIENCE CRUCIAL A
rarat councillor and former mayor Gwenda Allgood is too busy to even consider slowing down.
In fact, while she probably deserves to take a well-earned breather after 32 years as a municipal representative, it is the furthest thing from her mind. “I’m not interested in slowing down. There are a lot of things I still haven’t done that I would love to do,” she said. “Whether it be in local government, local sport or anything. As you get older you have to keep active and put yourself out there. I don’t do everything right in life but I always keep trying and the reality is that when one door closes, another one opens.” Cr Allgood, 72, said there was no point for anyone when they retired from work to also retire from life. She agreed the older generation had plenty to offer
society, especially through experience and knowledge. “Older people have a key role to play. I would love to see more people like myself get more involved and engaged in the community,” she said. “In my time in local government I’ve seen issues go full circle and become quite repetitive and that is where knowledge or understanding is invaluable. “We should never fall into a trap of thinking that knowledge based on experience is not worthwhile. And, of course, you never stop learning.” Cr Allgood was a successful businesswoman in Ararat before joining the Ararat council where she had five terms as mayor. She started her first job in a drycleaning business as a 14-year-old and her
declaration at the time that she would one day own the business came true. She ended up buying a second dry-cleaning operation and ultimately ran the business for more than 50 years. “When you are working you’re thinking about what you will be doing the next day and putting a lot of pressure on yourself. When you get older and retire you can pick and choose what do but you must stay active in mind and body,” she said. “I’m also lucky that my grandchildren all live locally and I get a real buzz out of that.” Cr Allgood said being a community representative and being involved in community activities meant she had to constantly interact with people and to deal with a variety of issues, which in turn forced her stay mentally engaged. “It’s a great time of life. You can be highly
Ararat Rural City Councillor Gwenda Allgood, far right, at an Ararat Wind Farm information session earlier this year.
engaged in the community and still have time to spoil the grandchildren,” she said. “By constantly talking to and engaging with people, you stay in touch with everything. I know for example that the latest generation is growing up in a highly competitive and difficult world and in some regards I had it pretty easy.” Cr Allgood said she took pride in her involvement in the many municipal projects she had seen unfold. “From developments with the public pool, a new building at Alexandra Oval, netball courts, Green Hill Lake development and the bridges around town. There have been some big wins we’ve achieved as a group,” she said. Cr Allgood said she hoped to continue her role as a community advocate with Ararat Rural City Council.
Tuesday 8th December 1pm - 3pm Phone: 1300 LIVING (1300 548 464) to RSVP or Wimmera Lodge on (03) 5382 6403 Have you been thinking about retiring to country Victoria? Come along to Wimmera Lodge where KeyInvest will be hosting ‘a Very Merry Christmas’ Open Day.
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PETS | 19
FOSTERING CONNECTIONS T
BY DEAN LAWSON
here are plenty of studies suggesting the positive health benefits of owning or caring for animals. There are also suggestions that these benefits tend to amplify as we get older. The unconditional response from dogs, cats and a myriad of other animals responding to a caring touch can be hugely rewarding, especially for people with a need to fill the many voids we can experience in later life. While caring for pets can be an ideal therapy or release for people, the greater reality is that pets need people. When people aren’t there, pets and domestic animals in general face an uncertain future. One organisation involving people and animals gaining joint benefit is regional petrescue group Horsham PAWS. Horsham PAWS is a community-based association with a strong commitment to promoting responsible pet ownership and improving the welfare of lost, abandoned and relinquished pets in Horsham district. The organisation, working with Horsham Rural City Council, has an enormous success rate in re-housing pets, linking people from across the state and beyond with animals that in other circumstances would have been on death row. Volunteer foster carers, people willing to
Horsham PAWS volunteer Carolyn Stow is pictured with mini fox-terrier cross ‘Miffy’, briefly fostered in Horsham and now in a new home in Melbourne. Picture: NEVE LAWSON
take on the care of dogs and cats for varied lengths of time before Horsham PAWS can find new owners, are critical to the success of the program. The association is constantly on the look-out for volunteers who can help a pet transition from homeless to home. That’s where people, perhaps with more
time on their hands than in the past, can provide an important link in the chain. Dedicated Horsham PAWS organisers go to great lengths to match foster carers with animals appropriate to circumstances. If you’re worried about looking after a big dog, then there are plenty of little dogs and puppies to look after instead. If
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little dogs are too busy or noisy and you prefer to engage with larger dogs, then there are usually lot of those too and with personalities galore. And there always seems to be plenty of cats and kittens needing halfway homes. Considering the variety of animal personalities, it can be beneficial to have high levels of tolerance and patience but they are not compulsory – there is always a potential fit between carer and animal. Experiences as a foster carer for these animals can be incredibly enriching. The animals all have different stories and backgrounds that have for some reason eventually ended up in the Horsham pound. Some are simply strays, others might have been surrendered and the reasons for them being in the unfortunate position are many and varied. Apart from being a foster carer there are many ways to support the organisation. People can become financial members or donate goods to the Horsham PAWS shop, provide volunteer services as a shop assistant or be a volunteer at monthly animal meet-and-greet events. Of course people can also consider a pound animal and provide it with a second chance at happiness. Similar animal-rescue organisations operate throughout Australia. • Dean Lawson and his family are foster carers with Horsham PAWS.
COVER STORY | 21
READY TO RUMBLE
T
he sights, sounds and experience of travelling the vast expanses of Australia are obvious lures for people who have spent their lives stuck to a desk, in meetings, on the end of machinery or in a tractor.
Hitting the road to explore the country’s countless attractions with unrivalled freedom as part of retirement is part of the great Australian dream. It has become so much ingrained in our culture that it has created its own travelling community – the grey nomads. But while many lap up the opportunities to tow a caravan or travel in a camper van, others are taking a more adventurous approach. Wimmera retirees Gary and Jo Bourke also have the travelling bug, but prefer to experience their adventures on the back of motorcycles. While Gary, a retired teacher, gets comfortable on his Harley Davidson, Jo, who retired from her role as Wimmera Development Association executive director
Retired Wimmera Development Association executive director Jo Bourke will soon have time to pursue one of her great passions – Triumph motorcycles. Mrs Bourke had a step back in time when picking up her latest acquisition from Triumph dealer Wimmera Motorcycle Co in Horsham. She had previously bought Triumph Bonnevilles from the dealership in 2002 and 2008 and, in a coincidental twist involving trade-ins, found herself in the shop with all three motorcycles. She is pictured with the three Triumphs.
“I love it because you are just so much closer to the environment. You get to experience the smells, the air and sometimes the rain.” – Jo Bourke
this month, saddles up on her Triumph. Despite Jo being a new retiree, the pair hasn’t waited to cruise the countless roads that criss-cross the country. Jo and Gary have been pursuing their passion for years, Gary occasionally venturing overseas to test out the Harley in its home country. Their plan now they are both in retirement is to rumble around Australia. “We’re not sure which way we’re going to go but it’s really about following the weather. The only part of Australia I haven’t ridden is the west coast so I’d like to spend a bit of time over there,” Jo said. “We generally like doing the long-haul rides. A couple of years ago we rode to
Darwin and before we went I thought the landscape might get a bit boring. But it was just fascinating and something we really enjoyed.” The couple has ridden to Queensland a few times and one of Jo’s favourite rides is over the alpine country. She also mentioned experiences travelling in South Australia. The Bourkes travel on their motorcycles without internal communication, relying instead on various gestures such as hand waves and the odd flash of lights to pass on information. LONG DISTANCES Jo said travelling long distances on a motorcycle was different to other forms of travel and provided the rider with a chance to become self-absorbed in the experience. “If we wanted to talk all day we would get a caravan. Even though we’re travelling the same route we always see different things and there is always plenty to talk about when we stop,” she said. “I love it because you are just so much closer to the environment. You really do get to experience the lot.”
Gary and Jo have always had an interest in motorcycles, and the machines provided a chance for the pair to meet when they were attending Monash University many years ago. “We were both standing there with our helmets, back in the days when I rode a Vespa when Vespas were more about good cheap transport than being trendy. Gary was riding a Triumph,” Jo said. “It’s true that it’s a life-long passion for us. It sounds a bit cliched but it provides a sense of freedom. You can just jump on it and go. We’re very lucky we can do that.” The Bourkes will wait to start their national adventure next year, with plans to head north first and miss the rainy season. But Jo stressed that her days of ‘doing it rough’ while travelling by motorcycle were over. “I have to sleep in a bed. If I slept on the ground there is no way I could get up the next day and continue. The key is to plan the trip around where we can find a bed, fuel and coffee,” she said.
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22 | ADVERTORIAL
NEED HELP WITH TRAVEL? “talk to us”
W
immera and regional people love to travel. And what better way to experience all the world has to offer than to explore it at their own pace, style or budget? Wonderful travel opportunities are constantly emerging and now, with the Jetset team in Horsham becoming part of a new franchise, opportunities have never been greater. People of the Wimmera have been familiar with the Jetset store in Horsham for many years but with Jetset no longer operating as a brand the team at Jetset Horsham is set to open new and exciting doors for Wimmera travellers and holiday-makers with a move to the italktravel franchise group. Business owner Anne Taylor said the business had decided news that the Jetset brand was being retired and merged with
italktravel will organise your trip from the front door of your house to your holiday destination. All you have to do is just pack your bags!
three other brands to create one mega-travel brand, aligned with an online agency based in the United States, failed to fit into the Horsham team’s expectations. “Instead, we are partnering with other like-minded, progressive travel agents across the country who are young at heart, operate locally owned and operated travel businesses and who together will form Australia’s newest and most exciting retail travel network,” she said “The opportunities, packages
and products that come with being part of italktravel are very exciting but our high-quality service and experienced staff remain unchanged. “We are passionate about travel and love to work with our clients to understand what each individual wants from their holiday experience. “This is particularly important for people who have had a life-time dream to travel when they reach retirement or other milestones. There is a lot of
confusing information out there and we provide a stress-free process. We encourage people to come and see us at the corner of Pynsent and Darlot streets and see what we have to offer. We work with travellers and are dedicated to taking the stress out of the holiday experience.” Highly reputable Express Travel Group created the italktravel franchise based on need to harness the collective solidarity of passionate independent retail travel business owners. The franchise is ‘local’, yet ‘national’ and specialises in all aspects of travel. Franchise owners have freedom to run our business their way, but with the security and high-level support from being a member of Independent Travel Group, part of Australia’s largest group of independent travel experts. Peace of mind also comes
from the industry-leading ‘Book Safe Agent’ program, launched last week and covering supplier failure and agency insolvency. This consumer-protection policy is exclusive to travel agents who are Independent Travel Group members and comes at no additional cost to people booking with italktravel Horsham. Mrs Taylor: “We are innovative and united by our italktravel ‘talk to us’ identity which embodies the essence of great service and the travel expertise we offer as your local travel expert. “There has never been a better time to travel. There are so many options available and all of our five staff members in Horsham have had extensive travel experience. Come in and talk to us about how we can help with anything from a trip to Melbourne to a once-in-alifetime holiday.”
TRAVEL | 23
KEEN ON CARAVANNING
Gary and Gaye Parsons, of Horsham, regularly travel throughout Australia, using their caravan as a home.
H
orsham’s Gary and Gaye Parsons believe life is what you make it.
And, when you own a caravan, it’s easy to make it pretty amazing. Gary and Gaye have traversed Australia by caravan for the past 12 years. Using Horsham as a base, the Parsons head off for three to six months at a time. Gary retired eight years ago, making it easier to ‘escape the winter blues’. “We like to chase the warm weather,” Gary said. “We usually leave in May or June and head north. Sometimes you have to get up pretty high before you get the beautiful weather – and when you first leave, there are certainly some cold nights.” Gary said although it was difficult to choose a favourite place, he was a big fan of Darwin. “Darwin is an excellent place,” he said. “There is a lot to offer, particularly with the history of the Second World War.” Gaye said central Australia had a special place in her heart. “We’ve met a lot of people on that trip, because there’s only one road,” she said. “You tend to see the same people at different camp sites. It’s great to be able to catch up on what you have seen and what you have done.” Gary said he loved being part of the caravanning community. “One of the nicest things about it is it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’ve come from,” he said.
“You don’t have to have the best caravan. Everyone is equal on the road. You’re all there for similar reasons.” Gary said it was possible to travel on a budget. “I know some pensioners who stay at a caravan park for a couple of weeks and then go ‘freedom camping’ – somewhere without facilities that is not a designated campground – for a couple of weeks,” he said. “Camping and caravanning is what you make it. Some people are happy to go to the river, set up camp and relax for a few days. Others like to get out and about and explore.” Gaye said she loved the freedom that came with hitting the open road. “We do our research and have a general idea of where we want to end up, but when it comes to how we get there we make it up as we go along,” she said. “We don’t book ahead, because we don’t want to be pressured to be somewhere by a certain time. We get to a place, explore, and leave when we’re ready.” Gaye said it was possible to wake up to a different view every day. “If you wake up somewhere you don’t like, you just pack up and go,” she said. The Parsons thoroughly recommend caravan travel. But, Gary said, people considering longhaul trips should do it while they were ‘fit and able’. He recommended researching the various caravans and visiting a caravan and camping show for ideas. www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
24 | TRAVEL
WAYNE STEPS OUT OF
T
BY SARAH SCULLY
here are seven days in a week, but ‘someday’ isn’t one of them.
Edenhope’s Wayne Caldow believes too many people put off following their dreams, particularly when it involves leaving their comfort zone. “People think about travelling and they think they don’t have the time, or the money,” he said. “It’s easy to make excuses, or to think you’ll get around to doing it ‘one day’. “If I can give any advice, it’s that people need to just do it.” In 2004, Wayne’s wife Pam gave him a copy of the book ‘Long Way Round’ by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor. The book details the pair’s epic motorcycle journey through 12 countries and 19 time zones in 115 days. The experience not only tested their physical endurance, it also challenged the way they saw the world.
Wayne Caldow, of Edenhope, with Charley Boorman, author of Long Way Round.
“I’m not much of a reader, but I couldn’t put it down. I also started reading a lot of motorcycle diaries, which continued to inspire me,” Wayne said. Boorman and McGregor’s second expedition ‘Long Way Down’ started at
the top of Scotland and finished in South Africa. When Wayne, 57, discovered Boorman was hosting a ‘Long Way Down’ motorcycle tour of southern Africa, he decided he’d stumbled on the trip of a lifetime. “One of the diaries I had just read was by someone who had ridden across the bottom four countries of Africa,” he said. “It all just fell into place.” Wayne said motorcycling was his passion. “I’d done plenty of trips in Australia, but none overseas,” he said. “Before Africa I thought my greatest adventure was motorcycling across Australia with two mates, from Queensland to the Northern Territory. When I got to Africa, riding along I had to pinch myself.” Wayne joined a group of motorcycle enthusiasts, including Boorman, for an epic 5000-kilometre, 17-day journey from Capetown in South Africa through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, finishing at Victoria Falls.
Heidi, Long term Foster Carer, Rural Victoria.
Foster C Carers come ffrom allll walks lk off llife. f You can kkeep a child h ld in their h llocall community by offering long term, short term, respite or emergency foster care. To find out how visit www.wuc.org.au or call 5362 4000 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
“Each of us was given a brand new BMW GS 1200, a top-of-the-range, adventure touring bike,” he said. “There were 14 of us, from Australia, the UK, the US, Canada and Chile. It was an amazing group with a sense of adventure.” Wayne said he would encourage anyone with an interest in motorbikes to do the tour. “It was very well designed,” he said. “It was very safe, we had a mechanic and a paramedic with us. It was just a fantastic opportunity to see amazing country and amazing people.” Wayne said he enjoyed the changing scenery. “It was an amazing experience of subtlety,” he said. “You go from the lush, beautiful area of Capetown and the Cape of Good Hope, up into a wine region settled by the French 200 years ago. Moving further north, it changes into mountains and wild country and lakes, a bit like Scotland.”
TRAVEL | 25
HIS COMFORT ZONE
Wayne said Nambia reminded him of western Queensland, where it was drier and looked like station country. “I really enjoyed Fish River Canyon, which is the second-biggest canyon in the world, and Victoria Falls, where we ended the trip. We spent some time relaxing, and there was lots to do,” he said. Wayne said he also enjoyed seeing African people going about their everyday lives. “Charley is very people orientated,” he said. “He likes you to experience meeting the people as well as seeing the countryside. He loves Africa and wants to promote it how he sees it.” Wayne said while his African experience was a trip of a lifetime, he hoped it was the first of many. He said he was considering a tour in northern Africa – run by the same company, Moto Aventures – for his next international trip. “I also like the look of an adventure trip in Cambodia through the jungle that ends at Ankor Wat,” he said. “After meeting a rider from Chile in our Africa tour group, I think I’d like to go there as well.” Wayne said he was planning a trip to the Simpson Desert next year.
He said he was lucky to have such a supportive wife. “We both love to travel, but we have different interests,” he said. Wayne said Pam had recently returned from a fourweek quilting trip. He said they both enjoyed exploring different cultures. “When I told people I was going to Africa, some people asked if I was worried about getting Ebola,” he said. “I told them no, because Ebola was in one part, in north-west Africa, and I wasn’t going anywhere near there. “Then they asked if I was intimidated by the people, or the animals, or falling off my bike. “Well, I went to Africa and didn’t come off my bike once. Then I came home and had a nasty fall in the Grampians. If you worried all the time, you’d never leave home.” Wayne said more people should step outside their comfort zones. “Charley’s motto is, ‘One life – I’m living it’,” he said. “I reckon it’s a pretty good one.”
Wayne Caldow at the Cape of Good Hope, where he visited on a motorcycle tour of Africa.
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26 | HEALTH
SETTING THE PACE
A
ustralia’s over-60s have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with, based on new research. The research has found the age group leads the way in confidence stakes and is claiming a greater appetite for adventure than ever before. In a sign that Australia’s baby boomers are embracing their later years, figures from the Nature’s Own Force of Nature Ageing Audit revealed that people aged 60 and older were more confident to go out and get what they wanted than their younger counterparts. Furthermore, the research revealed that Australians aged 60 and over were more spontaneous than those in their 30s, 40s and 50s, with more than a third, 35 percent, indicating they were more likely to seize new opportunities and challenges now they were older. The research by Online Research Unit in September this year, involved 1487 employed Australians.
“We’re increasingly seeing over-60s living fascinating and fulfilling lives – after all, why should they stop playing because they’re growing old?” – Dr Tim Sharp
Psychologist Dr Tim Sharp, from The Happiness Institute, said the research findings revealed that over-60s were pushing the boundaries of societal norms and contradicting stereotypes. “We have a tendency to assume that once we retire, we simply slow down and allow our age to define us,” he said. “However, this is simply no longer an accurate reflection for the majority of
older Australians who possess the energy, mindset and ambition to give their younger counterparts a run for their money.” More than a third, 38 percent, of over60s who took part in the study were embarking on holidays off the beaten track and enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. Unexpectedly, we are seeing older people taking up more physically challenging activities, with more than one in 10, or 12 percent, partaking in adventurous sporting pursuits such as skydiving and skateboarding. “We’re increasingly seeing over-60s living fascinating and fulfilling lives – they’re running marathons, travelling the world and becoming successful business people – after all, why should they stop playing because they’re growing old?” Dr Sharp said. As well as a positive outlook and zest for life, older Australians are looking after
their physical health better than ever before. Half of those over 60 claimed they had a healthier diet now than in their 20s and 30s. Perhaps surprisingly, more than a quarter of over 60s, 26 percent, indicated they exercised more now than when they were younger. Furthermore, the findings indicated that over-60s are keeping young by socialising with family and friends, staying physically active and pursuing new hobbies. This appears to be the secret to long-lasting happiness with more than a quarter, or 29 percent, of over-60s claiming to be the most content they had ever been. “While looking after our physical and mental wellbeing are no doubt important factors for positive ageing, remaining connected to those around us and having a sense of belonging through hobbies and social activities are the key to living a longer, happier life,” Dr Sharp said.
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HEALTH | 27
AGEING F ADVICE
BY DES LARDNER
or centuries the western world has tried to escape the ravages of age or at least the appearance of ageing.
Des Lardner operates Des Lardner Organic, a holistic natural health and wellbeing centre, and Dimboola Pharmacy.
Scientific studies show that premature ageing can be reduced by following a few basic rules. Firstly try to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a major cause of ageing and of many modern diseases. Scientists have linked obesity, cancer, heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes, Alzheimers and arthritis to inflammation in the body in various forms. If you are getting aches and pains, fixing these might well be a way of preventing the slippery slide to much worse conditions. This is because progressive co-lateral damage from cell components called ‘inflammasomes’ is averted. I suggest adopting an anti-inflammatory life-style by eating anti-inflammatory foods, and avoiding inflammatory ones where possible. Dieticians list heated animal oils, sugar, refined carbohydrate and vegetable oils as inflammatory, while spices, fish, olive oils, flaxseeds, nuts and nut oils, coloured fruit and coloured vegetables are antiinflammatory.
As an example, a 2003 study showed that a low intake of fruit and vegetables doubled your risk of getting most types of cancer. My favourite anti-inflammatories are, glucosamine, chondroitin, both in beef soup, vitamin C – in most fruit, turmeric, in curry powder, pineapple juice, also called bromelain, green-lipped muscle and quercitin, in onions and apples. Each of these is useful in isolation but you will get better improvements by combining many inflammatory foods. A commercial product called Glucosaplex combines all these seven and is recommended if your aches are just starting. Secondly, try to increase antioxidants in your diet. Oxidation is the process of the body going rusty and rancid. While this is essential to life, excessive redox imbalance in the body is bad because it drives both ageing and chronic disease. Green tea and grape seeds are wonderful antioxidants and I like anyone with inflammation to consider rolled golden flaxseeds on their breakfast cereal. These have a double benefit of being antiinflammatory because they contain omega three oils and a powerful antioxidant because of lignans in the seeds.
Research suggests a long list of health benefits in eating golden flaxseeds – notably bowel, breast, ovarian and prostate cancer protection; kidney tonic effects; improved skin and hair; lower blood sugar, cholesterol, lipoprotein, and blood pressure; and, historically in medicine, have been used as a treatment for constipation. Thirdly, make sure you exercise regularly. This keeps muscles and joints lubricated and stretched. About 30 minutes three times a week is a good starting point. Make sure your doctor is happy before you start a vigorous program. The factors I call the medical six-pack are important to avoid. High blood pressure, bad lipid cholesterol, large stomach measurement, smoking, under exercising and being diabetic are important to avoid. If you have all six, you might be older than you think! Increasing social contacts, friends, having a spiritual faith connection, getting out in the sun and getting adequate sleep all help us avoid premature deaths. I suggest we all think about slowing down Father Time, sooner rather than later. A wise man said: “Nature’s mill grinds very slowly but Nature’s mill grinds very sure.”
Are sore feet and joints stopping you from doing the things you love?
The newly redeveloped Horsham Town Hall and Regional Art Gallery reopens late January 2016 and seek new volunteers for various roles. For more information please contact Leticia Parker Phone | 03 5362 2888 or visit horshamtownhall.com.au
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GRAMPIANS ADVENTURES W
ith so many places to explore and outdoor adventures to be had, it can be hard to decide what activity to pursue and what place to visit. Luckily the team at Wimmera Outdoors in Horsham has narrowed down its list of top leisure activities available in the Wimmera and Grampians. Those who enjoy the water can’t go past kayaking on one of the region’s many lakes still holding water despite dry conditions. In the Wimmera and on the Grampians fringe you are never too far away from a body of water, providing kayak enthusiasts plenty of viable locations to explore their hobby. Lakes such as Fyans, Wartook and Bellfield are all perfect places to relax and unwind and enjoy the striking natural surrounding landscapes. If you are looking for a less-energetic activity, fishing under the shade of a river red gum might be more your speed. There are many locations where you can drop a line, but if trout is your fish of choice you can’t go past Lake Toolondo which, when holding enough water to support its big fish, has a national reputation as one of Victoria’s best trout waters. Rocklands Reservoir is also an option and if you want to head north then don’t forget
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picturesque Lake Lascelles at Hopetoun. If you really want to experience the Grampians, there is no better way than putting on a pair of hiking boots. The Grampians has many different types of walks, ranging from steep boulderladen trails to light walks along trickling waterfalls. Venus Baths – A perfect walk to pair with a Halls Gap ice cream. A tranquil walk among native animals, plants and trickling streams. Distance: 2.3km circuit. Duration: 30 minutes. Grade: Easy. The Pinnacle – The iconic trek provides walkers a chance to admire the vast views of the Grampians. Distance: 2.1km. Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Grade: Medium/hard Mackenzie Falls Lookout – Seeing water cascade into a deep pool amid a rainbow mist is well worth this steep descent and climb. Distance: 2km return. Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes return. Grade: Steep. For all of your camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing, boating and exploring needs, visit Wimmera Outdoors in Horsham. There are hiking boots, socks, backpacks, kayaks, fishing rods and tackle, binoculars, plus much, much more.
HEALTH | 29
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
“I train hard, I race harder,” – Keith Lofthouse
Columnist Keith Lofthouse provides updates on the fortunes of members of Stawell Amateur Athletic and Stawell and Ararat Cross Country clubs for The Weekly Advertiser. For Lifestyle Wimmera, Keith, a retired journalist and approaching 70, has provided a personal insight into what keeps him ‘running’.
H
aving enjoyed my working life as a racing journalist, radio columnist, film publicist, on-air and print critic and Fantales wrapper writer, I was never going to be idle in retirement. I brought my love of running from Sydney, at age 20, to Melbourne for 40 more years and then to Stawell in 2008. After more than 500 races, I’m still running at age 66, weigh 62 kilograms and surprised myself this year by being faster than I was in 2014. I train hard, I race harder. I am president of Stawell Amateur Athletic Club and secretary of Stawell and Ararat Cross Country Club so there is plenty to do being physically and, yes, emotionally involved in 40 long-distance foot races from April to September. To enjoy life you must have a life and
you fulfil an active life by being involved in sport. I played tennis and squash for many years and watch cricket in all forms at any level. I was close to the Fitzroy Football Club but discovered when it collapsed in 1996 that I loved the club more than the game. When my interest in AFL evaporated, I turned to Melbourne Storm to rekindle my childhood love of rugby league and I am now a passionate member. You can never have too many interests. There is no such thing as ‘nothing to do’. My first short story ‘Blood Red and the Eighth Dwarf’ won a prize in Wimmera Regional Library’s annual competition and it gave me the impetus and the confidence to write 30 more. I intend to publish an anthology next year. I am a prostate cancer survivor and I’ve
ONE-STOP SHOP
Keith Lofthouse, of Stawell, has always loved running and continues to pound the pavement, roads and tracks in the Wimmera at age 66.
had a battle with arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat, for half of my life. It was only because I am a runner that I became aware of the symptoms after returning from overseas. I’m utterly convinced that flying at 30,000 feet with the remnants of flu, and still having the virus when I returned two weeks later caused the problem. My original specialist suggested I stop running so I ‘sacked’ him after receiving a more positive diagnosis from his replacement. So many people make excuses why they can’t run – aches, pains and niggles here, there, everywhere – even in the mind. It’s never too late to start. Condition your body to run one lap of the oval and increase your repetitions over time and you’ll soon be shedding the kilos over five kilometres. Think 10 minutes. Average runners can
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manage two kilometres in that time and that’s how average I am. Running is life after football and netball because the alternative is frustration and the mistaken belief that your sporting life is over. Without family, I gave love, affection and feed to a neighbour’s lonely old mare in the paddock opposite and she made friends with my whippets. I made a difference in Nic Pridan’s life when I prepared Northern Grampians Shire Council’s Young Citizen of the Year to run from Ararat to Stawell raising money for charity. I haven’t had time yet to umpire a cricket match or try my hand at lawn bowls. There is life ahead even after old men stop running. You never regret the things that you do more than the things you haven’t done.
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30 | HOME
TAPPING INTO in your garden
with Jody Taberner
C
an a garden help keep us young? I’m not talking about the mental serenity that many of us experience pottering in our patch.
Nor am I talking about the physical benefits that digging, shovelling and weeding provide… and yes I do try to incorporate the odd yoga move as I am bending down to pull out a weed. But that is a whole other story. I‘m talking about using the plants you grow in your garden to improve your health as you age. Now before I go any further, please note: I am a horticulturalist, not a medical expert. Before using any plant as a remedy, firstly consult with a health professional and
GARDENS
secondly, correctly identify the plant you are using. You would be surprised by the uses of some of the plants that you might already have growing. Here are just a few that are quite common. Aloe vera – Most people know it for sunburn, but it also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It can also improve the appearance of wrinkles. Calendula officinalis, English Marigold – Relieves inflammation of the mouth, throat, and stomach. Make it into an infusion with coconut oil to relieve rashes and heal wounds. Borago officinalis, Borage – Can be used to support healing of chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Salvia officinalis, Sage – Helps with digestion and has been shown to reduce the symptoms of menopause. Rosa canina, Dog Rose, and Rosa gallica, French Rose – Used as a tonic to help build the immune system against colds, flu and chest infections.
Lavandula angustifolia, English Lavender – Used to relieve headaches and manage chronic pain. Viola odorata, Sweet Violet – Helps with spider veins, varicose veins and broken capillaries. Can help with increased immune function and wound healing. Not to mention some of the weeds that you meticulously pull out. Many would already know the health benefits of Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale. But what about the humble Horehound, Marrubium vulgare? It’s been used for centuries to treat colds and coughs. The vicious Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica, has many healing health properties – from treating arthritis to prostate problems. There is also one weed remedy I discovered from a naturopath friend. At first I was a bit horrified as she started looking at my collection of Spurge Weed, Euphorbia peplus. I thought she was going to point out my bad gardening upkeep. As it turns out, this weedy menace is also a topical treatment for skin lesions and
cancers. Music to my fair Scottish-heritage ears. Does it work? I will tell you in another few days. What I can tell you though, it’s not a good idea to try this one if you have any functions to attend, especially if your lesion is smack bang in the middle of your nose. I’m sure everyone who visited the nursery on the Halloween weekend thought I was dressed up as something out of The Walking Dead. Plant remedies are one of nature’s many wonders and can be effective if used appropriately, supporting your overall wellbeing and vitality. They can help with all manner of ailments from insomnia to pain management as part of an overall strategy for managing your health. But I must admit, I do reach for the aspirin if I overindulge in another of nature’s amazing wonders – fermented grapes. Happy gardening. • Jody Taberner, Dip Hort and Dip CLM, is a horticulturalist with a passion for organic, sustainable gardening and food production. She owns Botanical Nursery in Horsham.
Making new memories – RNH Residential Aged Care Our priority is to make you feel comfortable and happy while looking after you and your health. You are cared for as an individual and for this reason we offer a variety of group and individual activities to cater for your enjoyment. We value each of our resident’s rights to individuality and we work with you to find activities and interests that you enjoy.
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ADVERTORIAL | 31 MUSIC LOVERS: Retirees Jenny and Doug Tippet enjoying their new music selection through online streaming platform Pandora via the Sonos system provided by Chisholm Hi-Fi in Horsham.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SONG TO BRING BACK 1000 memories.
TUNING INTO TECHNOLOGY
M
usic is one of the greatest pleasures in life. It can make us laugh, cry and takes us back to a moment in time. No couple knows this more than retired music lovers Doug and Jenny Tippet. The Tippets have always enjoyed listening to their favourite musicians such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bee Gees. But they have recently wanted to upgrade their old home theatre system and also expand their music library to include the world-wide options available with online streaming. “I wanted the ability to listen to a much wider range of music, more than what I have stored on CDs or my computer,” Doug said. Not knowing where to start, Doug and Jenny employed the help of Jeff Allan, the owner of Chisholm Hi-Fi in Horsham. Jeff, who at the coal-face of the home sound-system evolution has developed an in-depth understanding of contemporary opportunities, quickly identified the Tippets’ needs. “After consultations, I realised they were after a system that not only allowed them to stream music but also allowed them to remotely play their music on speakers located in their study, lounge room and outdoor area,” Jeff said. “We spent time going through different types of speakers available to help them make an informed decision. After some
consideration they decided on upgrading their traditional home theatre system as well as purchasing the Sonos setup. The Sonos allowed them to play music from their own collection and stream music directly from the internet.” Doug explained: “It’s not just the access to new music that I love. I can also tune into Pandora Radio which gives you access to radio stations from around the world covering all music genres.” Although new streaming, wireless and portable technology can seem daunting for even the most tech-savvy people, Jeff took Doug and Jenny through every step. “Jeff didn’t just sell us the product and send us off to work it out on our own. He came to our place and set up the whole system and well as teach us how to use the new equipment,” Doug said. “He has been very patient with us in the learning process and I know that if I ever need any help he is only a phone call away.” Jenny echoed Doug’s sentiments, adding: “I feel strongly that everyone should be using their local trader, which is why we chose to go to Jeff, and he did not disappoint. “He has a great knowledge of the most appropriate systems that fitted our needs as well as the experience and knowledge need to help us along the way.”
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32 | HOME
PIECE OF PARADISE W
BY LAUREN HENRY
andering through Wartook Gardens it is easy to see the 42 years of dedication to the 1000-plus species of plants. Large garden beds, featuring one of Victoria’s best collection of native plants, sit at the foot of the Grampians National Park. Royce and Jeanne Raleigh’s commitment to their garden extends well past a hobby, rather a keen passion. The couple purchased the idyllic 28-acre patch in the Wartook Valley in 1973, moving from Montrose, near the Dandenong Ranges, to build their new home a year later. Ever since they have spent hours upon hours rotary hoeing gardens, edging the beds with logs and digging new paths. Plants are placed according to size, habit and colour.
Royce Raleigh The garden includes the Garden Plant Conservation Association of Australia’s official Hakea Collection, with more than 100 species. On top of the extensive collective of native plants, there is also a rose garden
with about 150 species, lots of irises, bulbs, clematis and annuals, plus a large, enviable vegetable garden. Many log seats are dotted across the gardens, as Jeanne and Royce believe an important aspect of any garden is taking time to sit, observe and listen. It’s a world of colour, diversity of shapes and forms, and movement from the various bird species. A total of 126 species have been recorded at the property. But for the Raleighs, it’s not just about their garden, and their home. Royce and Jeanne, founding members of Wimmera Growers of Australian Plants, are passionate about spreading their knowledge of natives, and encouraging more people to get involved. “I’d like to see much more co-operation between native plant growers,” Royce said. “We need to share particular species that are not readily cultivated to ensure they
Beaufortia orbifolia
are not lost to cultivation. We would like to see Australian Plant Society groups across Australia take a much more active role in assisting keen enthusiastic growers in trying to bring many more of these plants into cultivation.”
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HOME | 33 Jeanne regularly propagates 2000-3000 plants each year, and sources seeds from across Australia, many from the similar climate of Western Australia. “It’s getting harder and harder to source plants, especially with so many nurseries closing, and less likely to sell rare plants,” Jeanne said. “Gardens are changing. There are fewer people with gardens. Any gardeners will tell you that no garden is low maintenance.” Their multi-award winning garden, one of the original members of the Open Garden Scheme, brings the couple great delight, but the joy also extends to guests. For 16 years, there was bed and breakfast accommodation at Wartook Gardens, with about 70 percent of guests from overseas. However, with the couple well into their 70s, they stopped providing accommodation four years ago. They say one of the most rewarding parts of having their garden is opening it up to appreciative guests. Bus trips from across Victoria regularly visit the gardens, and the Raleighs raised $10,000 for Wimmera Health Care Group Foundation from an open day two years ago. WATERING Wartook Gardens receives about 560mm of rain annually, with most in winter and early spring.
Except this year. Royce and Jeanne have noticed a considerable change in the climate. “Apart from the year of the Grampians floods, we have experienced 18 years of below average rain,” Royce said. Changing climate is just one of the problems the Raleighs have had to overcome in their time at Wartook. Kangaroos, rabbits, fire, flood, drought, as well as usual garden issues such as drainage and finding the right mulch – hint for gardeners: they use scoria sourced from Hamilton – have added extra tasks to Royce and Jeanne’s list of things to do at home. The Raleighs have had to adapt and change their processes over the years to make the garden the success it is today. The northern Grampians fire in January 2014 burnt all the fences at Wartook Gardens, and the Raleighs lost many plants. “The big drought of 1982-83, with a period of nine months without a drop of rain and a dry dam, we saw many of younger plants die,” Jeanne said. “The dryness was coupled with severe frosts. At one stage, 31 consecutive frosts down to minus nine degrees caused many of our established plants to succumb also. “In all we lost about 2000 plants, which was heartbreaking.”
Wartook Gardens is set at the foot of Grampians National Park. Owners Royce and Jeanne Raleigh have created a superb garden since purchasing the property in 1973.
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34 | HOME
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
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T
BY MAURICE LAWSON
here’s a great deal of satisfaction and botanic education in successfully growing the upside-down orchid. Most Wimmera orchid growers baulk at the prospect of flowering the species orchid Stanhopea nigroviolacea, which grows naturally in a steamy semi-tropical region extending from Mexico to Brazil. What a challenge for newcomers to orchid culture, in fact for most growers, in a region renowned for its blistering summers and freezing winters. The upside-down orchid flowers downward, which means it should be grown in a suspended wire basket, without any obstruction to the descending flower spikes. The potting medium must be loose and easily penetrated by the vigorous spikes. Stanhopea can be cranky in traditional pine bark, sulking for years without the hint of a flower. We decided to go for it! Our helpful but skeptical colleagues, most of them veterans in orchid growing, gave us little chance of success. John Welsh of Stawell urged: “Stick with your cyms, catts and sarcs. You’ll never flower Stanhopea in the Wimmera.” Cymbidiums, cattleyas and sarcochilus, comparatively easy to grow, are ‘backbone’ plants in nurseries and orchid shows across Australia. Other veterans warned: “You’ll be wasting your time. The upside-down orchid will not tolerate our summer heat, winter frosts and wind, especially in an open-air culture without the benefit of heat and controlled temperature.” We were adamant. We’d have a crack at growing Stanhopea to full flowering and
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hopefully to show-bench standard. But where do you buy a seedling? The late Alan Tangey of Stawell, a quiet gentleman of the Wimmera orchid fraternity with many champion ribbons to his credit, came to our aid. He had spent ages trying to flower his well-grown Stanhopea without success. He broke his recalcitrant orchid in half, handed one of the halves to us, and said: “I can’t get the thing to flower. See how you go.” The ‘piece’ grew strongly in a hanging wire basket and standard mix of pine bark and fine stone but never looked like producing a flower. John Richards of Dimboola, doyen of orchid culture, told us to ‘chuck out’ our pine bark and stone growing medium and replace it with lightly-packed sphagnum moss. Replanted in its new bed, the Stanhopia ‘took off’ with strong leaf growth, while pencil-sized flower spikes eased their way downward through the sphagnum moss. In February 2005, our nigroviolacea produced 18 ham-fisted flowers from nine meaty spikes. The yellow-brown flowers gave off a strong vanilla-like perfume. Our orchid ‘piece’ excelled itself in 2006 when 18 spikes thrust their way downward to produce 36 fragrance-filled flowers. This massive flowering featured in the national magazine, Orchids Australia. • Advice on growing orchids or joining a society is available by calling: Horsham, 5382 5520; Stawell, 5358 3742; Ararat, 5352 2715; Dimboola, 5389 1431; St Arnaud, 5382 2830. • Maurice Lawson and his wife Joan are members of Horsham and District Orchid Society.
RECIPE | 35
THE NATIONAL PARK & CULTURAL CENTRE Located in Halls Gap, Brambuk is a must see when visiting the
Grampians National Park • Make your stay in the park an enjoyable and informative one; with information such as what to do, what to see, where to walk and camp. • Discover the culture of the Aboriginal communities of Western Victoria through multimedia shows, art exhibitions, displays, cultural talks and lots of activities such as didgeridoo music, boomerang throwing and painting workshops. • Learn about the six seasons of Gariwerd, explore the native gardens and see the animals. • Browse through our gift shop and enjoy a coffee, cake and bush tucker on the outside deck overlooking the water at the Bush Tucker Café.
CHOCOLATE DESSERT CAKE
Lighter than flourless cakes, the whole family will think this glutenfree option is a ‘normal’ rich chocolate cake. Finished with crimson raspberries and a dusting of icing sugar – it looks like a French gateau. Suitable for dairy-free, gluten-free and wheat-free eaters. INGREDIENTS 125g dark dairy-free chocolate 100g dairy-free margarine 100g caster sugar 100g almond meal 3 large eggs 1 tablespoon brandy 1 tablespoon strong black coffee 100 millilitres water 100g gluten-free self-raising flour 300g raspberries, fresh or frozen Pure gluten-free icing sugar for dusting METHOD 1. Separate the egg whites from the yolks and set aside. 2. Grease and line a quiche pan with a removable base with greaseproof paper. Then grease the paper as well. 3. Melt chocolate over hot water and mix in hot coffee and brandy. When combined add margarine and roughly three-quarters of caster sugar and remove from heat. Stir in almond meal, sifted GF flour, water and lightly-beaten egg yolks.
4. Whip the egg whites with the remaining caster sugar until it forms stiff peaks. Gently fold these into the chocolate mixture. Pour the mixture to two-thirds full in the quiche pan. Do not use more mixture than this because it will rise and spill in the oven. If there is any left over you can make a few individual rich chocolate puddings using patty pan cases. 5. Bake at low heat – 170 degrees celsius for about 20 minutes. Then carefully turn the cake around in the oven to ensure it rises evenly. Bake for a further 20-30 minutes. It is baked when it springs back to a gentle touch in the centre. SERVE Allow to cool in the pan. Turn upside down onto a plate to become cold. Ten minutes before serving, pour on a generous amount of frozen raspberries. Then dust with the pure icing sugar. The raspberries soon thaw on an Aussie summer day. – Supplied by Food Intolerance Institute
Open 9-5 daily, admission is free. 277 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap Ph: (03) 53614000 info@brambuk.com.au • www.brambuk.com.au
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West Wimmera Health Service
Where you’re number one! Are you looking for help to stay in your own home?
Surgical services close to where you live Specialist and general surgeons operate at the Nhill hospital each weekday in our contemporary, well-equipped operating suite.
At West Wimmera Health Service we provide a range of services to enable older people to stay in their own homes independently and safely as long as possible.
Visiting Specialists
We do this through offering: • Commonwealth Home Support Programs • Home Care Packages
Dental Services
Specialist surgery includes • Ear, Nose and Throat • Orthopaedic • Oral
• General Surgery • Ophthalmology and • Gynaecology.
Are new dentures on your wish list? Then wait no more! If you currently hold a Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink, you can receive dental treatment at just $27.00 per appointment. Covering all general dental treatment including general examinations, scale and cleans, fillings, extractions and even root canal treatment. We also offer vouchers for partial and full dentures, which are $65.50 per denture – or $131.00 for a new set.
What do you need to do? When it is time to move to a Residential Home When the time comes for you or your loved one needs to move into Residential Care We have the very best Residential Aged Care choices. With 123 beds to choose from we have the exact type of accommodation to suit the needs of that special person. Whether it is Nhill, Jeparit, Kaniva, Rainbow or Natimuk, our modern, light, tastefully decorated and well maintained facilities will provide an attractive homely, comfortable environment to keep you or your special person safe, contented and as active as possible.
Goroke • Jeparit • Kaniva Natimuk • Nhill • Rainbow Cooinda Disability Services Tel: (03) 5391 4222 Fax: (03) 5391 4228
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Telephone (03) 5391 4266 and make an appointment with our dentists. Our dental clinics also offer a wide range of other dental treatments including: • Whitening • Bridges and • Veneers • Implants will be starting soon. • Crowns For appointments at our Kaniva, Rainbow, Nhill, Goroke Clinics or more information please contact the Nhill Dental Clinic Monday to Friday from 8.30am-5.30pm on (03) 5391 4266.
How do I book in? Make an appointment with your doctor and ask for a referral to one of the specialties above. It doesn’t matter If your doctor doesn’t practice in a West Wimmera Health Service medical clinic, they will still be able to write a referral for you. If this is difficult then make an appointment with the doctor at your nearest West Wimmera Health Service medical clinic. A telephone call to the Executive Director of Clinical Services at (03) 5391 222 will solve the problem.
HISTORY | 37
BUSY IN RETIREMENT
T
o suggest John and Gillian Francis of Horsham are keeping busy during their retirement would be an understatement.
In fact Gillian, 63, a former home economics and textiles teacher, and John, 67, with a background in everything from the Royal Australian Navy to Victoria Police, are so busy they have won a major award for their latest work. The couple has spent the past two years compiling and editing material for a book that provides insight into Wimmera life during the First World War. The end product is a two-volume book that attracted statewide recognition. The Horsham Historical Society book project Strewth! An Insight in Local Involvement In World War One, was among winners at Victorian Community History Awards. The book won the awards’ Local History Project category. John said the award took the couple by complete surprise. “There were about 500 people in the Arts Centre Pavilion in Melbourne and more than 200 nominations that involved professionals as well as amateurs,” he said. “When we were shortlisted we were flummoxed and then when we won the top prize we were flummoxed again.” Gillian said the project started from a simple suggestion. “Horsham Historical Society wanted to commemorate the
John and Gillian Francis with the ‘Strewth!’ volumes.
Centenary of Anzac and John suggested we do something, thinking it would be some sort of folio. Little did we realise it would morph into two volumes,” she said. “It became an important job for us to document the community’s involvement in the First World War – not only for posterity but for the future generations to study about local involvement.” The couple fell short of saying it would compile another
book but has committed to researching Second World War personnel ‘while there are still people around who can help’. “We’re trying to get a list together and at the moment we have about 3500. We expect that to grow,” Gillian said. “We’re not writing the book, but gathering information for the book for the next generation, which can write the book when national archives open files on all those people.” The couple agreed that of all the projects they thought they might pursue in retirement, neither considered book research and development on military history. “If someone suggested that I would have shaken my head and asked what planet they were on,” Gillian said. “I suppose I find social history interesting. I like to know the motivations that made people do the things they did.” John, who was heavily involved in the Tall Ships extravaganza during Australia’s 1988 bicentennial and has an OAM, said he had an interest in military history and in particular Australian naval history. The couple agreed retirement had provided time to pursue new interests. “There is no need to sit around in a chair at home twiddling the thumbs and thinking life has come to an end. There is so much to do and it is only a matter of getting out there,” Gillian said.
53 Roberts Avenue, Horsham. Ph: 5382 3605 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
38 | HISTORY
DRILL HALL CENTENARY
I
t’s a building that appears far from imposing or impressive and while obviously solid and functional, it has all the tell-tale signs of age.
But Horsham Drill Hall, now the James Lawson Depot, oozes history and will be the subject of a major birthday celebration on November 28. It’s a fact far from lost on Horsham RSL and the Australian Army’s 15 Transport Squadron, RACT, based at the depot, that the site has enormous significance for the Wimmera. And as organisers busily prepare for the hall’s 100th birthday celebrations as part of Reserve Forces Day, they have invited the many people across the region who would have spent time at the depot during National Service training. The hall was built in 1916 during the First World War when it provided a home for the 19th Yarrowee Light Horse Wimmera Squadron, and became the centre for an Australian military presence in the region. Perhaps its most profound role in drawing
“It was truly a Wimmerawide involvement of National Servicemen who fulfilled their obligation to train at the drill hall for their two years.” – Jim Amos
The picture shows the James Lawson Depot in Horsham today.
people from across the Wimmera together came during the many of years of National Service after the Second World War. Event spokesman Jim Amos said it would be hard to put a figure on how many people would have had some sort of connection with the Horsham base.
“Our area covered virtually from the South Australia border and north of Warracknabeal through to Ararat,” he said. “We are looking forward to the centenary year and, considering the regional connectivity it represents, it is an occasion really worth celebrating.
“There is a considerable historical connection with people from across the Wimmera and we’re urging them to come along for the occasion. “At the height of National Service we would have had Horsham personnel from headquarters, three transport platoons and RAEME workshop on parade. “The whole parade ground was covered in troops at one stage. Considering National Service went from 1948 to 1973 and for some up to 1975, that’s a lot of people over time.”
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HISTORY | 39
CELEBRATES REGION
(continued from page 38) Mr Amos said the day was open to the public as well as any people who had a military connection to the hall. “We’ll have special guests, there will be displays of modern vehicles and equipment and memorabilia and a kitchen set up for lunch,” he said. The drill hall is named after Colonel James Lawson who, apart from being heavily involved in the region’s role militarily, was one of the primary commanders in the famous Light Horse charge on the wells of Beersheba in the Middle East during the First World War. History of army units based at Baillie Street, Horsham: 1988-1902, ‘C’ Company Victorian Rangers – recruited from rifle clubs; 1903-1912, 9th Australian Light Horse – Victorian Mounted Rifles; 1912-1932, 19th Yarrowee Light Horsham – Wimmera Squadron; 1933-1934, 19th Light Horse Armoured Car Regiment; 1934-1938, 1st Armoured Car Regiment – Wimmera Regiment; 1939-1942, 19th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment; 1943-1945, 19th Machine Gun Battalion – Darwin; 1043-1948, Volunteer Defence Corp; 1948-1952, ‘A’ Squadron 4/19th Armoured Regiment – Prince of Wales Light Horse; 1952-1973, 36 Transport Company RAASC and workshop RAEME; 1973-1975, 36 Transport Company RACT – Horsham and Stawell; 26 Company Workshop RAEME; 1975-2015, 15 Transport Squadron RACT – 128 Transport Troop.
The picture shows National Service personnel involved in a 1950 Horsham Centenary Parade in Pynsent Street. In front of the parade is a Canadian Scout vehicle with, from left, Gordon Ballinger and Harry Williams. Second in a Staghound Armoured Car is Holder Rogers and Ron Sayer, third in another Staghound are Jim Amos and Stan Ballinger and in the first of the General Grant tanks is Joe Kirsopp.
SUNNYSIDE LUTHERAN RETIREMENT VILLAGE Trinity Drive Horsham 3400 (off Culliver Street)
Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village has been providing Aged Care to Residents of Horsham and surrounding areas for many years from the original ‘nursing home’ in Roberts Avenue, to the current site in the 1970’s. The first Independent Living Units began construction in 1989 and the current Trinity Manor was opened in November 2004. The number of Independent living units was increased from 24 to 66 shortly after, and the first residents moved into the those units in late 2006. Whilst the Village is a project of the Lutheran Church, there is no requirement of religious affiliation to enter the village. ing en pm . v E 00 er ion 7. tis at 015 dver m 2 A or nf r 9th ek’s I c be we i l b t Pu ecem nex D ails t De
Trinity Manor
Independent Living Units
Trinity Manor is a 75 bed Residential Aged Care Home. Rooms are single bedrooms with ensuite, and meals, laundry and cleaning are provided. Staff assist residents with daily living tasks such as dressing and hygene as required and are rostered on 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Social activities are also provided. Care staff are on site at all times. Eligibility to enter an Aged Care home generally includes assessments for care requirements, and Income and Assets.
There are a total of 66 Independent Living Units in the Village. These units do not have any personal care services provided, although individual residents may receive home care or meals on wheels. A fortnightly fee covers council rates, water rates, insurance on buildings, and provision of a maintenance service to the building and equipment supplied. All units are 2 bedroom with garage accessible from the unit. Full details and information fact sheets are available on request.
6 Trinity Drive, Horsham (off Culliver Street) Ph: 03 5382 0034 www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
40 | PUZZLE PAGE
WORD The 11 X 11Easy 1
2
3
Release No. 2521 Way
4
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7 8
9
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Mind Twister
TWO880
ACROSS 1 Explosives 7 Type size 8 A ship 10 Mine entrance 11 Small measures 13 Upsetting 16 Arcade 18 Small mammal 20 Fastened 21 Release 22 Clothing
20 21
DOWN 2 Regretted 3 Bird’s home 4 Release from bonds 5 Gaps 6 Peak 8 Wilful destroyer 9 Drinks slowly 12 Drooped 14 Labelled 15 Graven image 17 Belonging to us 18 Fail to hit 19 Tilt
1. What is this saying? Ambulating at a relatively sedate velocity and furthermore continuing to proceed thus in a consistent and enduring manner with the twin virtues of purpose and patience combined is extremely likely (at least in a non-literal and thus more metaphorical sense) to place one in a premier position in relation to competition or any set course of achievement. 2. What numbers are missing? 11, 22, 31, 62, ?, ? ,151, 302, 311 3. How many times does the letter “a” occur in this sentence - the man ran away? 4. Which is the odd one out? Sunset, twilight or dusk? 5. What do you find at the back of a crow and the front of a wren?
22
Solution next issue
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WORD The 11 X 11Cryptic 1 7 8 10 11 1 13 16 18 20 8 21 10 22
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30-Second Challenge 30-second challenge
ACROSS DOWN 1 Sad withsentence green dis2 Was sorry for rude 30-Second Challenge here. In the Lord Word Worm Twospeed Crossword Sudoku Combo Solution No. 2521 play of explosive action 15 - 84 - 75 whole of it, “a” occurs six G R E N A D E S A projectiles 3 Someone standing in times. 5 6 1 U E E P I C A cosy place S I N K S A N K Mind Twister 7 A typical piece of 3 2 8 V E S S E L A M type characteristic 4 Giving up of a formal 1. Slow and steady wins 4. Twilight. It can refer to 7 4 9 A D I T I N C H E S the race. dawn as of well. 8 Container type pronouncement 1 8 7 N P V E A ship 5 Areas for second D I S T R E S S I N G LINK LICK TA N K 2 5 6 2. 71 and 142. Double first 5. The letter “w”. 10 Nowadays it shows a steps A A R D G 4 9 3 to get second. Add 9passage to in mine 6 Highest point mace L O G G I A M O L E second to get third. 9 1 4 11 Double He has first incorpocan be used U G N A I L E D third and so on (x, x*2, L A C K TA C K 6 7 5 F R E E C S A rated short little mea- 8 One who deliberately x*2+9). S D R E S S I N G 8 3 2 sures destroys vehicle lad backed onto 3. There is only 13 one Girl to sing about hair can be causing 9 Takes in when left a lot of worry out of fielding posiCombo Solution No. 2521 16 Flog giant for retaintion ing semi-open 12 Lost tension as dagACROSS DOWN gallery gers moved without 1 Grenades 2 Rued 18 Spot on the face of right 7 Pica 3 Nest hidden agent 14 Followed closely 8 Vessel 4 Deliverance 20 Tacked when in lead when given identify10 Adit 5 Spaces again ing mark 11 Inches 6 Acme 21 Let go without cost 15 I do love leading 13 Distressing 8 Vandal 22 Attending to wound holy statue 16 Loggia 9 Sips when putting on 17 Sour disposition we 18 Mole 12 Sagged clothes have 20 Nailed 14 Tagged 18 Pine for a young girl 21 Free 15 Idol 19 Not at all fat part of 22 Dressing 17 Ours whole animal 18 Miss 19 Lean
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To solve the puzzle, all the blank cells must be filled in using numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and in the nine 3x3 blocks. You can successfully solve the puzzle just by using logic and the process of elimination.
5
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Lord Word Worm
LORD WORD WORM
Create a single continuous loop of four-letter words by filling in missing letters and drawing lines to join all hexes together. Create single loop oftwo four-letter Every hexamust becontinuous joined to exactly adjacentwords hexesby fillinghexes in missing letters and drawing all hexes (some are already joined). Eachlines pairtoofjoin joined words together. Everyone hexletter mustdifferent. be joined Words to exactly two adjacent must have only cannot be hexes (some hexes are already joined). Each pair of joined repeated. words must have only one letter different. Words cannot be repeated. Difficulty
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Created in QUARK XPRESS. Vers. 4.03 Items not needed for publication can be erased as each is in a separate text box.
Cryptic Clues No. 2521
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QUIZ | 41
QUIZ
1. What was the name of the largest marsupial member of the Australian megafauna family known to have lived in prehistoric times. 2. What is the name of the precision instrument we often see surveyors using to measure angles in horizontal and vertical planes? 3. Wimmera conscripts were involved in the Vietnam War, two losing their lives. Australia became part of the war in August 1962 and its involvement in hostilities ended in January in what year? 4. What common insects of the Wimmera are the longest living of all insects? 5. Many towns, some in the Wimmera, have a Plumpton Road or Plumpton Street. What is the word Plumpton in reference to? 6. What do backswimmer insects we occasionally see diving through Wimmera creeks and ponds and even swimming pools carry to allow them to sneak up on surface prey?
7. The relatively flat and open landscape of much of the Wimmera, coupled with the region’s many clear nights makes it an ideal place to view rare appearances of the ‘southern lights’. What is the scientific name of this phenomenon and what causes it? 8. The population of what historic Ararat district gold-mining settlement reached 10,000 in the early 1900s and what is it named after? 9. What did General Electric Company introduce to kitchens worldwide in 1909, which has become part of everyday life in the Wimmera? 10. Parts of the Wimmera record incredibly hot conditions during summer months. But imagine what it would be like on the hottest planet in our solar system – which is? 11. Dadswells Bridge between Horsham and Stawell is home to a turkey farm. What are male turkeys called? 12. Apart from a soft children’s toy of the same name, what has become known as a puggle? 13. The Wimmera township of Murtoa gets its Aboriginal name from which animal? And what was Murtoa’s alternative name?
14. What exotic stinging flying insect first noted in Tasmania in 1959 is now a major pest in parts of the Wimmera but for some unknown reason has failed to successfully colonise in Horsham district? 15. England’s ‘father of cricket’ W. G. Grace led 11 players against a Stawell team at Central Park in a two-day match at Central Park in 1874. How many players were in the Stawell team and who won? 16. Victoria’s floral emblem is found in the Grampians and the Little Desert. What is it? 17. The substance lycopene is found in tomatoes and some other types of fruit. Its presence is immediately obvious in ripe fruit because it is what? 18. Engineer John Dixon Derry had a major influence on the development on the Wimmera-Mallee. In what project did he have this influence? 19. Mt Arapiles in the central Wimmera sits in the heart of Tooan what? National park, state park, state reserve or wildlife reserve? 20. What north-south road cutting through Horsham district wheat country shares the same name with a temperance movement created by American Francis Murphy who died in 1907?
Answers: 1. Diprotodon. It was similar to a giant wombat. It lived from about 1.5-million to about 46,000 years ago. The largest found measured about three metres long from nose to tail, stood two metres tall at the shoulder and weighed up to 2800 kilograms. 2. Theodolite. 3. 1973. An Australian Embassy Platoon remained until July 1. Forces were briefly deployed in 1975 to evacuate embassy personnel during the fall of Saigon. 4. Ants. They can live for up to 30 years. 5. A type of greyhound course racing event where two dogs compete for a lure on a straight track. In the past this involved a live lure. It was a popular form of greyhound racing. 6. An air bubble. This allows them to stay submerged. 7. Aurora Australis or Southern Aurora. Solar winds, ions continuously flowing from the sun, become trapped in the earth’s magnetic field. These particles collide with atmospheric atoms and molecules creating a release of energy, which appears as auroras or ‘curtains of light’ in the sky. Aurora colours generally range from red to green. 8. Mafeking. It was named after the siege and relief of Mafeking during the Boer War in South Africa. Gold discoveries were brief and most people had left the town by 1912. 9. The electric toaster. 10. Venus. It has a surface temperature of more than 470 degrees Celsius. It is the second planet from the sun and is so hot because of a runaway greenhouse effect caused by high levels of carbon dioxide. 11. Toms. Male chickens are roosters or cockerels. 12. A baby echidna that has yet to grow spines. 13. Lizard, as in home of the lizard. It was also known as Marma Gully. 14. The European wasp. Unlike the European honey bee, this aggressive wasp can sting continually. 15. 22. Stawell won by 10 wickets. The W. G. Grace team made 43 and 91 and the Stawell team 71 and 11-64. Grace made 16 and 14 and his brother Fred top-scored for the game with 30. In Stawell’s first innings, right-arm slow bowler James Southern captured 10-52 and right-arm quick Martin McIntyre 9-10. Thomas Wills, the father of Australian rules football, also played in the game. 16. The pink form of the common heath or Epacris impressa. Proclaimed in 1958, it was the first state floral emblem in Australia. 17. It is a pigment and what makes tomatoes red. It is a carotene and an antioxidant. Research suggests it might be a powerful ally against disease, particularly prostate cancer. 18. Regional water supply. He was a key figure in the development of the region’s expansive and now defunct open gravity-fed channel system. 19. Tooan State Park. 20. Blue Ribbon Road.
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RETIREMENT OPTIONS | 42
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“When they move into our units, they invariably say they should have done it ages ago.” – Peter Jenkin
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Sometimes staying in the family house can become no longer appropriate, be it based on size, convenience and other factors. Retirement villages represent suitable options for people keen remain comfortable but also connected to their communities, families and friends. Wimmera centres have a variety of retirement villages for people to consider, based on individual circumstances. Horsham’s Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village chief executive Peter Jenkin: “We are extremely proud of our village, which comprises 75-bed aged care home Trinity Manor, as well as 66 independent living units all on the one site. “The unit residents also have access to
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our community centre, which has a dining area, lounge, library and chapel and can be used for family occasions, as well as events put on by the village social club.” Mr Jenkin said a feature of unit licences was that maintenance of the building and items such as hot-water services, airconditioners and even light globes were taken care of by a maintenance team. “This is great peace of mind for occupants. We often hear from people who say ‘I’m not ready for this’, and battle on at home, in many cases with older houses requiring a lot of effort to maintain, heat and cool. When they move into our units, they invariably say they should have done it ages ago.” Mr Jenkin said Trinity Manor was generally near full occupancy but encouraged families to familiarise themselves with the process of entering aged care.
RETIREMENT OPTIONS | 43 “Sometimes people wait until the need is immediate, and then find that there are various unforeseen requirements of the system that need to be addressed.” Mr Jenkin advised families to find out what the steps were and possibly start to complete some of the government assessments depending on the need of their family member. “People often ask me if they need to be of Lutheran faith to enter our home but this is certainly not the case,” he said. “This is a service provided by the Lutheran Church but caters for community members with no reference to their religious status.” The Wimmera is no stranger to the concept of retirement-village living. For example, Eventide Homes of Stawell was established in 1953 and promotes itself as
the ‘perfect choice for Wimmera seniors wanting to downsize with independence, or requiring low to high residential care’. Eventide chief executive Sue Blakely: “Some people believe that entering an aged care environment means your life starts to slow down. At Eventide, this couldn’t be further from reality. Our residents are very active and social – some actually experience a new lease of life. “Our residents are also an energetic part of the broader Stawell community and are always out and about in town, at local events or taking advantage of the beautiful surroundings, such as the Grampians.” Ms Blakey said Eventide had grown considerably during the past decade, with an independent living estate built opposite, featuring two bedroom modern houses.
Sunnyside Lutheran Retirement Village
Wimmera Lodge
“Our Plantation Village is home to several residents who have chosen to downsize. At the same time, they are nice and close to us, so they can attend social events, access our services and are linked to a 24-hour emergency service,” she said. Retirement-village living is on offer across the region and Wimmera Lodge in Horsham is another option. Lodge village manager Natalie Raeck said Wimmera Lodge residents could continue to enjoy an active lifestyle, with full access to a community centre featuring a library, fitness room, areas for indoor and outdoor dining and entertainment. She said there were also plans to include caravan parking, a men’s shed and a
community vegetable garden as the village grew. “Retirement living in the village is low maintenance. Your home is fully maintained externally, and with all fixed appliances such as hot water units, air-conditioners, cookers and so on are all maintained,” she said. “The village front gardens, roadways, lighting, as well as the community centre are kept neat and tidy and looking their best – all this while enjoying the freedom of doing your own thing with your private backyard, and your own internal decor. “Family is welcome if you wish to have grandchildren stay over or friends who visit, and Wimmera Lodge is also petfriendly.”
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44 | FUN FACTS
DID YOU KNOW?
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he Wimmera-Mallee is only broadacre farming country with little more to it than mountains to the south and deserts to the north, right? Wrong! There is a lot more than meets the eye to this unique part of western Victoria, which has as much a colourful history as anywhere in Australia. Here’s a snapshot of the many curiosities about the region that Lifestyle Wimmera readers might or might not know. Stawell is named after Victoria’s first attorney general William Stawell, who held the position from July 15, 1851 to February 24, 1857. In his role he was in charge of keeping order on the Victorian goldfields and was a strong supporter of the mining licensing system, which perpetuated ill feelings that led to the Eureka rebellion in Ballarat. He was also the prosecutor in the trial of the
1.
Eureka miners charged with treason. There is strong suggestion that Horsham, which shares a name with a settlement in England, could easily qualify to have an alternative name based on early human settlement of the area. An ancient campsite on the Wimmera River near Curran Road on the western outskirts of the centre and the subject of regional Aboriginal legend is called WopetBungundilar, which broadly translates to ‘house or place of feathers’. The site, thousands of years old, is so significant that it is protected under the State Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972. The Grampians and Little Desert national parks are major attractions in the region but are vastly different in everything from wildlife and temperature to geography. Yet both are historically linked. If you think the link has something to do with the sandy nature of the Little Desert,
2.
3.
you would be right. The Little Desert sand came from the Grampians, which is primarily made of tilted sandstone ridges courtesy of an ancient section of the Southern Ocean that crashed up against the northern and western edges of the ranges about 40 million years ago. Erosion created a sandy ocean bed, which is now the Little Desert. A crow is a crow is it not? Not necessarily. If you live in the Wimmera-Mallee and other temperate sheep-wheat belt areas, the chances are the birds are actually ravens. We have three ravens in Australia – the Australian, Little and Forest and two crows – Torresion and Little – that live in tropical and arid zones. Ravens and crows are corvids, which in the bird world means they have incredibly developed brains and, therefore intelligence, including long-term memories and problemsolving abilities.
4.
Sir William Stawell
5.
Ararat has the unique claim of being the only city in Australia founded by Chinese immigrants. During the mid-1850s it was often a tough start for the new arrivals to the goldfields. The Chinese diggers, subject to a racial poll tax when arriving by ship in Victoria, were forced to land at Robe, South Australia. They then had to trek hundreds of kilometres overland to the goldfields. During this journey many worked the goldfields on their way to Ballarat and Bendigo and some stayed, setting the foundation stone for today’s Ararat.
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FINANCE | 45
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Succession planning is a difficult process for many Wimmera farming families. Professionals can help deal with the many related issues.
SUCCESSION PLANNING
F
arm succession planning is one of the most difficult planning issues I confront when providing financial advice to the farming community.
The task becomes even more difficult when farmers face poor years, like the Wimmera is currently going through. Consider for a moment some of the parts to this complex puzzle – the farming business itself; handing it over to the next generation of farmers in a viable state because there is no point setting the next generation up to fail; and looking after the income needs of retiring farmers. On top of this we need to consider non-farming children and how they might benefit from the estate down the track. The strong emotional and financial interests, which are difficult to balance, are only part of the puzzle. There are also complex income tax, capital gains tax, and Centrelink considerations. The most desired outcomes are to ensure retiring farmers have an adequate income, the farm remains a viable operation and that there are adequate provisions made for non-farming children via the estate. Many of the desired outcomes can be achieved by having off-farm assets such as superannuation or shares. This can enable retiring farmers to obtain an income independent from the farming business. The remaining off-farm assets from the estate can help provide for the non-farming children. In farm-succession planning, I find that open communication is one of the key parts to a successful outcome.
Keeping non-farming children wellinformed of the possible outcomes is extremely important, given it is often a near impossibility for a farm-succession plan to treat each sibling equally from a financial point of view, but a fair outcome can often be achieved. The use of Self Managed Superannuation Funds can provide retiring farmers with an opportunity to safeguard part of their retirement assets and income needs by transferring farming land into superannuation. Unfortunately with tough farming conditions, rising input costs and low commodity prices, it is not always possible to build substantial off-farm assets. If this is the case, there are Centrelink options for farmers of pension age to receive the aged pension. The use of ‘foregone wages’ and the ‘granny flat right’ can provide powerful methods to gift assets that would normally be counted as a deprived asset by Centrelink for five years. Obtaining specialist advice in this area is vital before making any decisions. Due to the complexity of farm-succession planning, it is vitally important that a solicitor, accountant and financial adviser are used in a team effort for the best outcome.
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46 | FINANCE
POWER OF ATTORNEY
P
owers of attorney are legal documents that let people choose others who can make decisions for them.
Changes involving powers of attorney came into effect on September 1 this year with the introduction of the Powers of Attorney, POA, Act 2014. Authorities have urged people to protect themselves in the future by taking care of affairs now. They want people to consider carefully who they would give power of attorney to. Powers of attorney are designed to give people choice and control over how their affairs are handled. Under current law, an enduring power of attorney, financial, is a legal document that appoints one or more people to make financial decisions for others. Unlike a general power of attorney, it continues to be legal even if the person in question is unable to make these
decisions for themselves. This means that someone you choose can take control of your financial affairs if you ever lose the capacity to make these decisions. A summary of changes to the law include: • The enduring power of attorney, financial, and enduring power of guardianship will be consolidated, so that one form can be used to manage your financial and personal matters. • The POAs Act sets out the responsibilities and duties of an attorney and limits on their powers. • New safeguards have been introduced to increase the protection of people making enduring powers of attorney. • The POAs Act includes a new definition of ‘decision-making capacity’ and makes clear that a person is presumed to have decision-making capacity, unless otherwise evidenced.
• The introduction of a new form of attorney – the supportive attorney – who cannot make decisions for the person appointing them but can assist the person to make or give effect to their own decisions. It’s important to remember, however, that enduring powers of attorney, financial, and enduring powers of guardianship made before September 1, 2015, will remain valid after the new legislation commences. It’s also possible to make an enduring power of attorney regarding medical treatment decisions as the new POAs Act does not affect medical enduring powers of attorney. People seeking further questions about powers of attorney for financial, personal and medical treatment decisions, or haven’t arranged powers of attorney can call the Office of Public Advocate Advice Service on 1300 309 337 or visit website publicadvocate.vic.gov.au.
Changes involving Power of Attorney laws came into effect on September 1.
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EVENTS AND SIGHT-SEEING | 47
MUSIC TO THEIR EARS Country music has a prominent place on the Wimmera’s event calendar, according to Lyall Wheaton.
T
here are only two types of music – country and western! It’s an old line borrowed from the iconic 1970s film The Blues Brothers but it certainly has a ring of truth about it when summing up the musical sensibility of many regional people. Country music has a huge following. It is one of the most enduring popular musical genres. As people get older, they are often drawn to country music’s familiar rhythms and story-telling backbone. It seems it comes down to how good an artist is at either interpreting a familiar tune or whether they can break away and produce something new, while maintaining the ‘sound, feel and culture’ of the genre. Performers, like their fans, can be young or old, individuals or groups or families – country music comes across as all-embracing and offering something for everyone. That’s why country music has such a foothold in regional areas such as the Wimmera and Mallee. Horsham Country Music Association secretary Lyall Wheaton said country
TALENT: Brisbane country music singer Kiara Rodrigues will headline the first show in a redeveloped Horsham Town Hall on January 31, presented by Horsham Country Music Association.
music was alive and well in the region with festivals, events and regular shows at various centres offering a broad range of styles. “For me country music is all about the meaning of songs. Musical interests tend to change as you get older. As you mature you are often looking for something with a strong story lines
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or messages – good stories of which people can relate,” he said. Mr Wheaton, who co-ordinates the four-day Horsham Country Music Festival in March, said Ararat, Stawell, Lake Charlegrark, Goroke, Edenhope and St Arnaud each provided different country music experiences. “Country music followers have a range of options in our region with different styles and different artists,” he said. “For example, Edenhope seems to go for the bush-balladeer style while Lake Charlegrark Country Music Marathon seems to be more country-rock and pop. Stawell seems to have quite a following for traditional country music, Ararat consistently presents a broad range of music, while in Horsham we tend to have balladeering and traditional styles that also extend into gospel. “There is seriously something for everyone in our region. “We’ve presented 19 shows in the calendar year, which included the festival. It also included eight dinner and eight morning melody shows in Horsham and also shows at Goroke and Rupanyup. In the past we’ve also been to Hopetoun, Minyip, Beulah and Great Western.”
48 | EVENTS AND SIGHT-SEEING
DAY TRIP DELIGHT
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ooking for a day-out? Here is a list of 10 places in the Wimmera to fill in a day, and experience what the region has to offer.
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HALLS GAP ZOO Set at the foot of Grampians National Park, Halls Gap Zoo features 160 species of animals. Giraffe, cheetah, red panda, American bison, meerkats, plus a plethora of native and exotic reptiles and birds added to a mixture of Australian native animals make up the zoo. For a special treat, try the hands-on animal encounters with a meerkat, dingo or reptile or being zookeeper for a day. The zoo, open from 10am to 5pm daily, is at 4061 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap. HORSESHOE BEND, DIMBOOLA Set in the Little Desert National Park on the edge of Dimboola, Horseshoe Bend is a top spot to make the most of the Wimmera River. Sandy beach access provides an ideal spot to picnic, swim or fish in the river. There are barbecues and toilets on-site, and if you want to stay a little longer among the river red gums, campsites are available. There are also walking trails and four-wheel drive tracks in the national park for those interested. You could also stop in to one the region’s best hidden treasures, Mason Clarke Preserving in Dimboola, for coffee and home-made cake. CHINESE HERITAGE AT ARARAT Discover Ararat’s rich Chinese history at Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre. The imposing building on the Western Highway details the Chinese influence on Ararat, since 1857, when 700 Chinese miners travelled across from Robe to settle in the central goldfields after travelling from southern China. They discovered, by chance, the Canton Lead, one of the world’s richest shallow alluvial goldfields stretching eight kilometres. Within weeks, Ararat’s population grew to more than 30,000. The two-storey centre, with its authentic Chinese tiled roof, houses rotating displays of Chinese artefacts. TAKE A DRIVE UP THE HENTY Located on Yarriambiack Creek, the name Warracknabeal comes from the Aboriginal word describing gum trees shading the
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Mackenzie Falls, in Grampians National Park, is renowned as one of the best waterfalls in Victoria.
watercourse. A walking track along the creek makes the most of the water and native birds attracted to the creek, flowing through Warracknabeal. Stop at Creekside Hotel, with a beer garden overlooking the creek, for lunch, or visit the fauna park and picnic area in Craig Avenue. Keep driving north to Hopetoun to discover Lake Lascelles, a popular venue for water sports and fishing. Some unique accommodation is also available at the lake, with the Mallee Bush Retreat offering silos, cow sheds, a machinery shed and a limestone grain store to stay in. MACKENZIE FALLS, GRAMPIANS The iconic Mackenzie Falls provides a spectacular treat for visitors. To walk to the base of the falls is a two-kilometre return trip, estimated to take about one hour and 20 minutes because of the many steps. Starting at Mackenzie Falls car park, the walk also takes in Broken Falls Lookout, providing a sweeping view of the Mackenzie River as it cascades over Broken Falls. For an easier walk, the Mackenzie Falls Lookout Walk takes about 40 minutes. The Bluff Lookout provides the only opportunity to capture the multiple cascades of Mackenzie River as it flows through the gorge, including a wonderful view of Mackenzie Falls. Afterwards, why not swing by Halls Gap for a famous ice-cream as a reward?
EVENTS AND SIGHT-SEEING | 49 THE WILD WEST Okay so it might not be so wild, but the western corner of the Wimmera hides some hidden gems. Apsley, not far from the South Australian border, is home to Amber Ridge cafe – an oasis of wholesome food set among a garden nursery. Another great find in Apsley is the Border Inn Hotel – a pub brought back to life by a group of Apsley people. If you have time while over in West Wimmera Shire, why not take a drive to Kaniva, via Lake Charlegrark, and visit the Rotary and Lions Fauna and Wetlands Park or Kaniva Car Museum. GIFTED MEMORIES IN STAWELL Famous for its annual foot race at Easter, Stawell also offers striking gold rush architecture and is a short drive to the Grampians. If you can’t make it to the Stawell Gift, why not check out the history of the race, dating back to 1878. The Stawell Gift Hall of Fame, located at Central Park, showcases the iconic 120-metre footrace, complete with artefacts, memorabilia, multimedia clips and archives. Did you know only five females have raced against the men in the Stawell Gift, including Olympic champion Cathy Freeman? More information can be found at www.stawellgift.com.
Pink Lake, alongside the Western Highway, near Dimboola, is a natural phenomenon.
REGION’S CAPITAL The centre point of the Wimmera, Horsham offers plenty to see, do and enjoy. Horsham Regional Art Gallery, in its temporary home at Jubilee Hall in Roberts Avenue, will soon move back to its permanent base in Wilson Street. The gallery specialises in Australian photography, but continually changes exhibitions that are well worth a look. If
art is not your cup of tea, Horsham offers plenty of others activities, such as movies, ten-pin bowling, fishing, shopping and eating out at various cafes, hotels and restaurants. THE DESERT AND A PINK LAKE Drive past Dimboola and an inconspicuous lake sits alongside the Western Highway. Don’t be alarmed by its pink tinge – it’s meant to be that way! A high concentration
of salt makes Pink Lake, well, pink. In fact, there is so much salt that it is harvested from the lake and sold commercially. Some days it is pinker than others, but if you pull into the rest stop, you can find out more about the natural phenonenon. If you keep driving through Nhill to Little Desert Nature Lodge, you are in for a wildlife treat. The lodge is home to the rare Malleefowl, stunning wildflowers, birds and wildlife. WINE TIME The Wimmera is home to various wineries, many producing renowned red varieties, such as shiraz. While many are located at Great Western and at the foot of the Grampians, Norton Estate and Barangaroo are a short drive from Horsham. The first vines were planted at Great Western in 1862, and by the 1880s, the region was famous for its sparkling wines. But it was soon realised the cool climate viticulture could also produce wines of intense varietal definition. While shiraz is the signature variety, the region also produces crisp, riesling and chardonnay. Pinot gris, cabernet and pinot noir are also in abundance. Wineries in the Grampians include Best’s Wines, Grampians Estate, The Gap Vineyard, Seppelt Winery, Mount Langi Ghiran, Montara and Kimbarra Wines.
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50 | BEAUTY
Horsham’s Denise Boehm is pictured above with her parents, Rayda and Alick Boehm before embarking on her weight-loss journey. Right, Denise holds 30 kilograms of wheat to showcase her achievement after losing 30 kilograms.
HEALTHY HABITS T
BY SARAH SCULLY
wo years ago, Horsham’s Denise Boehm could barely walk around the corner from her house without needing to sit down. At 106.1 kilograms, tying her shoes was a strenuous task. With her health deteriorating, Denise made a commitment to change her life. She joined Slenders Weight Management with the support of her mother, Rayda Boehm. “Mum decided to do the program with me, to support me,” Denise said. In her first week, Denise went up three kilograms. “That was a bit tragic,” she said. “Then I had a couple of weeks where I would lose a kilo. “It took 22 weeks to lose 10 per cent of my body weight, but it was easier after that because I could exercise.” Denise has lost 37.6 kilograms since joining Slenders in January 2014. January 2016 will mark two important milestones – two years since Denise took the first step to change her life, and her 50th birthday. “I’m turning 50 next year and Mum is turning 80,” she said. “I am aiming to reach my goal weight by Christmas.”
“You can’t just lose the weight and then go back to your old habits. You are choosing a healthier life – it is a lifetime commitment.” – Denise Boehm Denise said Slenders co-ordinator Lorna Hommelhoff determined her goal weight – 75kg. As part of the program, Denise follows a meal plan created by Annette Sims, who provides recipes and weight-loss tips in her ‘Simply Too Good To Be True’ books. She also completes a home exercise program three to five times a week. “The eating plans are flexible. Because it can get quite expensive, and most of the recipes make enough for six days, I will pick a couple of different meals each week,” Denise said. “If I go out for a meal, I will generally order a half-serve of something that is already on my meal plan, so I know it’s okay to eat.” Denise said she aimed to consume less than 1500 calories a day. “Years ago I lost a lot of weight doing Weight Watchers, but then I got sick and put it all back on,” she said.
“The thing I like about doing it this way is that I don’t have to count points.” Denise said she never thought she would enjoy exercising. “I went to a gym twice, once when I lived in Queensland and once here,” she said. “I was intimidated by all the blokes doing weights, so I never went back.” Denise started by walking. Now, she can run more than six kilometres. “Things shifted once I lost the first 10 kilograms,” she said. “I built up to jogging, and now I only walk when I cross roads. When I get home I do 20 minutes with dumbells and ab work to tighten everything up. Not going to a gym also means I can do it on a budget.” Slenders’ participants weigh in once a week, on Tuesdays. “I’m one of the youngest and Mum is probably the oldest, but everyone brings something different to the group,” Denise said.
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“Even if I’ve had a bad day or a bad week, I go to weigh-in. It keeps me honest, and it’s a supportive group to be around. I don’t usually stay for meetings afterwards, unless I need a bit of a boost or if there is a topic I want to learn more about.” Denise said routine was key. “Sometimes I have a bad week and make bad choices. For example, I had kids’ birthdays this week, so I ate cake and chips,” she said. “But I know that I can lose it again by getting back to my routine.” Denise said visual inspiration also helped. “When I first started, I went through my closet and got out all the size 12 and 14 clothing I presumed I would never fit into again,” she said. “I sat them in piles on one side of the bed, so I would see them each time I walked into my bedroom. “Each time I wear something from that pile, I get a feeling of satisfaction.” Denise said she was lucky to have a supportive family. “My daughter calls me to see how I’m going, and my parents have been terrific helping me with my health plans,” she said. “They are continually checking on me and encouraging me to keep going.” Denise has gone from a size 24 to a 14. She said she would continue to participate in the program once she hit her size-12 goal.
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