Australian Unity Flourish Magazine, Issue 8 Autumn 2019

flourish CENTURY MAKER Douglas Wilton’s next milestone

BACK TO THE FUTURE Technology creates connections

flourish AUTUMN 2019

Save your digital memories Cholesterol and dementia Wealth for security

On the road again australianunity.com.au/flourish

Ruth Seymour’s outback adventures I S SUE 8 AU T UM N 2019

flourish AU T U M N 2019

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IN THIS ISSUE 08 BACK TO THE FUTURE

Virtual reality technology 12 LONG WAY HOME

Driving solo across Australia 16 KNOWLEDGE WEALTH Inclusive finances 18 GIVE AND TAKE

A lifetime of giving 21 CHANGE THE SCRIPT

Film fest for deaf teens 24 DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Plan your social media legacy 26 LOVE CONQUERS ALL Centenarian celebrates 30 DO NOT KNOCK Your rights with salespeople 32 STAYING ON Home Care Worker Vicky Boyd

35 Artist Impression

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3 bedrooms from $1,175,000

Penthouse from $4,570,000

Move in May 2019

View the Display Residence by appointment at 114 Albert Road, South Melbourne.

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39 EXERCISE FOR LIFE

Health benefits at every age 42 GREY HEALTH MATTERS

The cholesterol and dementia link

Enjoy Retirement Your Own Way Retirement living is reimagined at The Grace Albert Park Lake in Melbourne with spaces designed for people who want to live rich, purposeful lives. Our amenities and wellness programs enable you to spend your days doing the things you love.

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35 TRAIN JOURNEY

Discover romantic rail travel

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03 COMMUNITY NEWS 44 GARDENING 46 PROPERTY 50 PUZZLES 54 RECIPES 56 SEASONAL FOOD

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WELCOME

COMMUNITY NEWS

Addressing isolation and

loneliness together IMAGINE A TIME when you have nobody to talk with, no family or close friends to discuss events or help celebrate happy occasions such as Christmas and birthdays. Sadly, this is reality for many older Australians.

Loneliness is a growing epidemic in society and has been linked to mental and physical health issues, including anxiety, depression, heart disease and immunity problems.

On Christmas Day 2018, my wife Amanda and I visited two of our wonderful customers in Queanbeyan, New South Wales. Our visit overlapped with the morning service provided by Home Care Worker Janelle O’Brien. It was a tremendous reminder that we provide care to thousands of customers every day of the year. I am extremely grateful to Janelle and her colleagues for the important work that they do.

This issue of Flourish looks at loneliness and social isolation. Australian Unity is serious about the role our workers play in providing physical care to our aged care customers and reducing social isolation.

As we read in the previous issue of Flourish, the wellbeing of Australians is

also affected by their sense of financial control. Read about Australian Unity’s commitment to having a positive impact on the financial wellbeing of employees and customers through our Financial Inclusion Action Plan, which was launched last year (see page 16).

I hope you enjoy the first issue of Flourish for 2019 and have a happy and healthy year.

Kevin McCoy CEO, Independent & Assisted Living, Australian Unity

Flourish magazine is published by Hardie Grant Media for Australian Unity.

Australian Unity enquiries 1300 160 170 flourish@australianunity.com.au australianunity.com.au/flourish The information contained in this magazine about Australian Unity’s products or services is correct as at the time of printing. Please visit the Australian Unity website (australianunity.com.au/assistedliving) or phone us on 1300 160 170 to obtain further information about which of our products or services may be available to you. Such information is of a general nature only. Australian Unity strongly recommends that anyone thinking about obtaining services from us first seek independent professional advice that takes your particular circumstances into consideration. You may also wish to contact the Department of Health on 1800 200 422 or visit myagedcare.gov.au

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Hardie Grant Media Private Bag 1600, South Yarra, Victoria, Australia 3141 Ph: (03) 8520 6444 hardiegrant.com

Australian Unity Home Care Service has partnered with Ormiston Rise Retirement Village in Queensland to offer private respite and support services.

The program will offer short- and mid-term villa-style accommodation, with onsite qualified 24-hour care to both Ormiston Rise residents and members of the wider community. The service can be funded through a customer’s Home Care Package or private funding.

Ormiston Rise is in Redland City, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and offers the benefits of the Queensland climate, plus easy access to shopping, dining, parklands and the waterfront.

Good health is a key to wellbeing, too.

We look at how good cholesterol can boost brain health (page 39), and we offer practical information to help you stay healthy.

Flourish is always packed with interesting stories; however, it’s stories about our customers that I enjoy the most. In this issue, we meet retiree Ruth Seymour (page 12), who delivers campervans across the country, and Lorraine Donohoe (page 18), who recently participated in the New South Wales Milton-Ulladulla Relay for Life.

Tailored respite support

Aloysius Goh, Head of Business Development at Australian Unity, says respite care can offer carers and loved ones time to recharge, holiday support or extra support after illness or a fall.

“We can also offer care from qualified health professionals and care workers, cleaning and laundry services, meals, transport assistance to medical and social appointments, and access to the village’s wellbeing lifestyle,” he says.

PICTURED A recent visit to residents of Peninsula Grange Retirement Village in Victoria (from left): Debra Breward, Care Partner; Bruce Flavel, resident; Kevin McCoy, CEO IAL and Greg Brown, resident; Jill Brown, resident. (top) Ruth Seymour, campervan driver.

Photo by Michael Amendolia.

Managing Director Nick Hardie-Grant Publisher Scott Elmslie Editor Leanne Tolra Managing Editor Lucy Siebert Art Director/Design Dallas Budde Pre-press Splitting Image Print Ovato

Contributors (editorial) Margaret Barca; Jane Canaway; Jo Davy; Graeme Kemlo; Johanna Leggatt; Jo Stewart; Maria Triaca; Beth Wallace Contributors (photography) Michael Amendolia; Jonah Blue; Kirsten Cunningham; Dean Golja; Richard Whitfield.

No responsibility is accepted by Hardie Grant Media for the accuracy of any statement or advice contained in the text or advertisements.

All material appearing in Flourish magazine is copyright. ©2019

For more information, contact 1300 160 170 or customercare@ australianunity.com.au

PARTNERS IN CARE Australian Unity Home Care Service and Multicultural Care Assist have united to provide more culturally responsive aged care and disability services for Vietnamese and Indo-Chinese Australians.

The partnership will focus on meeting specific needs, language preferences and dietary requirements based on cultural-specific values and traditions.

Australia has a growing population of people aged over 50 with Vietnamese and Indo-Chinese heritage – many of whom speak limited or no English.

The initiative will help to educate these community members to make more informed decisions about aged care and disability services.

PICTURED From left: a police officer from Northern Beaches area command, Graham Wittaker, Jane Whittaker and Mayor Michael Regan.

Honour bestowed Graham Whittaker, a wellknown resident of Australian Unity’s Willandra Village Retirement Community, was honoured with the 2019 Citizen of the Year award for the Northern Beaches area of New South Wales at an Australia Day ceremony.

A former Justice of the Peace and suicide prevention counsellor with the Salvation Army, Graham has long played an active role in the community.

“I have always had an interest in people, and in particular young people, for this is where my heart is; showing that someone cares about them and is prepared to listen to them and be of some influence for good,” Graham says.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

COME

TRUE

trip to the Australian Open, thanks to the assistance of Australian Unity’s Home Care Service NDIS Support Coordination team.

The team helps customers realise their NDIS goals and worked with Rebecca to purchase an electric scooter with her NDIS funding. With the social support of Narelle Fairweather from the Australian Unity NDIS Support Coordination Team, and the mobility offered by her scooter, Rebecca was able to realise her dream of watching Canada’s Milos Raonic play live.

“I cannot wait for the tennis to come on the TV each summer. I never thought I would actually get to sit at the Australian Open and watch Milos Raonic playing tennis,” she says.

JEAN SAMUEL LOUIS (SAMUEL)

celebrated his 100th birthday on 29 December 2018. Greatgrandfather of two and husband to Suzy, Samuel was born in Mauritius, where he lived until 1966. He and Suzy had four children. He still gets around with a walking frame and attended his grandson’s wedding in December (just days before his birthday).

Samuel lives in his own home in Roselands in Sydney.

ELVINE ELLIOT HORSFALLS

has celebrated her 104th Rebecca, a customer at Australian birthday.

Unity’s Home Care Service Ballarat Elvine was Branch in Victoria, says it was “the born in Cowra best day of her life”. She hopes her in New South new-found mobility will mean she can Wales and brought up on her also attend a Taylor Swift concert. family property, named Rockview, more than 16 kilometres out of town. In her early years, she was schooled by correspondence.

Aged 15, she started her own private school and charged local children a shilling a week to attend. Later, Elvine worked PICTURED as a nurse for 50 years.

She wrote a book called Rebecca Hoare Rockview, which was enjoyed watching Canadian tennis star published in 2004.

Milos Raonic at the Elvine lives in her Australian Open own home in Cowra. this year.

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IN COONABARABRAN

Four Australian Unity customers have celebrated some notable birthday milestones.

REBECCA HOARE, 27, enjoyed a dream

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Christmas

PERCY LLOYD WATERS

also celebrated his 100th birthday on 29 December 2018.

He was born in London and attended university in the UK. Percy enrolled in the Royal Air Force in 1940 and became a pilot as the war ended in 1945. He worked for the Australian National Coal Board from 1945—1954 and the CSIRO Division of Coal Research until 1975. Percy married Margarita in Sydney in 1955 and they had two daughters. Percy lives at Constitution Hill Retirement Community in NSW. ALLEN BRIERLEY

celebrated his 100th birthday on 4 June 2018.

He was born in Ashfield in Sydney and grew up in Canowindra in central NSW. Allen joined the Army in 1941 and married Nella in Sydney in 1947 and they had five children.

Allen was elected to Holroyd Council in 1952 and served for 25 years. He was a founding member of the Holroyd Probus Club. A reserve in Westmead was named the Allen Brierley Reserve in 2006. Allen lives at Constitution Hill Aged Care Retirement Community.

More than 120 people attended a free Christmas Day lunch organised by volunteers in the drought-affected region of Coonabarabran in New South Wales.

The lunch, now in its third year, aims to spread joy and ensure that no local people spend Christmas alone.

Australian Unity donated $2000 to the event.

Jenny Dumble, a Support Coordinator and NDIS Champion at Australian Unity Home Care Service, has been an organiser of the lunch since its inception.

Mower Max’s In November 2018, Max Eggins, who provides customers with garden maintenance services and is from the North Coast Aboriginal Branch (Bundjalung), grew a moustache and raised $841 for Movember.

This cause, of which Max is a passionate supporter, raises money for projects and treatment for prostate cancer and aids mental health treatment for men.

The branch kindly donated $100 to support Max and this worthy cause.

(Pictured above) Australian Unity Home Care Service customers and staff enjoyed the annual Christmas party at the Lightning Ridge Branch, which included preschool children performing carols and a visit from Santa.

PICTURED From left: Branch Service Coordinator Geraldine Lewis and Max Eggins.

A GOOD OIL

This oil is credited with keeping skin supple and making cakes, smoothies and stir-fries even more delicious.

Coconut oil is the pure fat extracted from coconut flesh – leaving behind fibre, carbohydrate and protein.

High in saturated fats, it lends itself well to cooking at a high heat, but like many foods touted as “healthful”, it must be used in moderation for cooking.

Image: iStockphoto

Centenary celebrations

DREAM

Coconut oil is also a moisturising treatment for hair, skin and nails and can be used to sooth burns, too.

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TO GETHER PICTURED (Opposite) Australian Unity Home Care Workers like Michelle Roberts help ease customers’ social isolation with regular visits.

A brighter day A Care Worker’s visit can be the highlight of the week for many socially isolated customers

ease the social isolation and loneliness faced by many of their elderly customers and those living with disability.

One in four Australians is lonely and almost one third of the population doesn’t feel part of a group of friends, according to The Australian Loneliness Report, released by the Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne Institute of Technology in November 2018.

When we first meet a new customer, they can be very shy and quiet, but it doesn’t take long for them to look forward to seeing us.”

MICHELLE ROBERTS, AUSTRALIAN UNITY CARE WORKER

Social isolation is a growing policy challenge for governments around the world. In May 2018, the Australian Government announced a $46.1 million initiative to combat loneliness.

Many of Australian Unity’s customers experience social isolation: their families might have moved away, they may have suffered the loss of a partner or decreased health or mobility, or may find themselves in a new community.

A community session held in Tamworth in November last year was part of a joint initiative to inspire attendees to be proactive and take care of their mental health.

Home Care Workers can provide a practical solution to the problem through uniquely tailored social services that can be funded with a Home Care Package. This might include a lunch visit, a trip to the movies, encouragement to pursue a new hobby or a scenic drive.

“We can take our customers to appointments, or just out to lunch if they wish. For someone who doesn’t drive or get out much, this is such a great thing to do, especially if we can meet up with their friends. It brightens their whole week.”

“Also, it gives them and their families some peace of mind to know that we will be calling in regularly to check that they are OK.”

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Michelle is one of Australian Unity’s team of more than 4000 Home Care Workers who regularly visit the organisation’s 40,000 Home Care Customers across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Their work helps to

(Lead image) Getty Images

“I have customers who rarely, or never, leave their homes so we are their link to the outside world. Sometimes we are the only people they see all week, and it really brightens their day to have someone to talk to,” she says.

Michelle says it is an honour to make a difference in someone’s life and enable them to stay in their own home rather than go into care.

Michelle began as a Care Worker in 2009 and lives and works in the Mudgee region in New South Wales. “I enjoy seeing the happy, smiley faces of my customers when I walk through the door, especially the ones I have known for 10 years,” she says.

AUSTRALIAN UNITY has joined

forces with its community partner The Resilience Project to help tackle drought-related stress and anxiety at the local level in Tamworth.

“We offer such a wide range of services. We can be doing personal care, domestic assistance, shopping, either for the customer or with the customer, and we offer dementia respite,” Michelle says.

Australian Unity Care Worker Michelle Roberts considers it a privilege to help care for someone and be welcomed into their home.

TAMWORTH RESILIENCE PROJECT

“Sometimes when we first meet a new customer, they can be very shy and quiet, but it doesn’t take long for them to look forward to seeing us and having a cuppa and a chat and a laugh,” she says. ●

To find out more about our Social Support Home Care Services visit: australianunity.com.au/home-services

Benson Saulo, Head of Partnerships — Investments Wealth & Capital Markets at Australian Unity, says farmers in regional and remote NSW, including large regional centres such as Tamworth, have been severely impacted by drought, which also affects their mental health.

Benson says more than 60 people attended the session, which raised $300 for the Australian Red Cross Drought Relief Campaign. Australian Unity contributed $5000.

“Tamworth already has a strong social fabric, and a heightened awareness of the impacts of the drought on families and businesses,” Benson says. The event reinforced the power that comes from a community that looks out for people who are doing it tough and encourages them to seek help.

“The Resilience Project was a great fit for the community. Their approach was to acknowledge that things are tough and to encourage the important conversation about how people can support each other.”

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INSIGHT

Back to the future

Virtual reality technology offers people at risk of social isolation the possibility of connection without having to leave their homes WORD S Jo Stewart PHOTO S Dean Golja

W

hether you’re a social butterfly or a bit of an introvert, staying in touch with friends and family can become challenging as you get older. Your family might move overseas, your friends may live far away or health issues might make it difficult for you to participate in community activities.

Dubbed The Highway of Life, the custom-designed virtual world is a space where participants meet up to discuss everything from their childhoods to their favourite books. Once on the highway, each participant is represented by an avatar (a threedimensional figure used to characterise a person in the digital world), which they have helped create in collaboration with researchers.

In response to growing evidence indicating that social isolation can lead to negative health outcomes, researchers at the University of Melbourne are using cutting-edge technology to explore how virtual worlds can help connect people who are at risk of social exclusion due to mobility issues or geographic isolation.

A social work background has given project leader Dr Steven Baker an intimate understanding of how important social participation is for older people.

He says the technology might, in the future, be able to be used in residential care facilities, hospices and remote communities.

Assisted by a group of 25 ‘Technology Explorers’ aged between 70 and 80, who volunteered for the trial, the team of researchers is trialling promising new ways for people to overcome the common barriers that impede social participation.

The Technology Explorers, who live across Victoria, wear virtual reality headsets that allow them to interact with other participants in separate rooms hundreds of kilometres away.

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“Four of the Technology Explorers came [to Australia] from either America or England.

They’d done their schooling there, so they compared school experiences,” Steven says.

“There was lots of discussion about corporal punishment. Some had been shipped off to boarding school and others had gone to public schools. Some people were going to school just after the war, so there was discussion about rationing. Some had lost parents, so it was

When you put a virtual reality headset on, you cease to be in the location that you are in. You are in the virtual space of somebody else.”

DR STEVEN BAKER, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

PICTURED

Technology Explorers like Janice Giannakakis discover social connections in the virtual world.

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challenging for them to go back and think about that time of their life.”

The technology offers a more immersive experience than video conferencing technology like Skype, as users can share items, such as photographs and books, which can be grasped and passed across the table within the virtual world.

“When you put a virtual reality headset on, you cease to be in the location that you are in. You are in the virtual space of somebody else,” Steven says.

It’s not meant to be a replacement for face-to-face conversation.”

PICTURED

Volunteer Janice Giannakakis gets to grips with the virtual world.

DR STEVEN BAKER, PROJECT LEADER, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Other advantages of being embodied as an avatar include having more anonymity and privacy. Users can choose the way they want to be represented, so they can create an avatar that looks like them or one that looks completely different.

Steven stresses that this type of technology isn’t intended to replace real-world conversations and relationships, but rather to offer opportunities for people who are isolated to form new connections and talk with family members who might live far away.

“We are not devising this kind of system because we think this is the age where we don’t talk to people in real life and we only talk to people in virtual worlds,” Steven says. “It’s not meant to be a replacement for face-to-face conversation. We want this to be a way of initiating … the next thing when you can no longer have those relationships you might want.”

“I’m excited for the potential for systems like this to allow people who are in institutionalised environments to transcend the geographic limitations of where they are.” ●

PICTURED

Dr Steven Baker, University of Melbourne

ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY EXPLORERS All aged over 70 and united by an interest (but not necessarily proficiency) in technology, the Technology Explorers come from all walks of life. Comprised of men and women from urban and rural areas across Victoria, they include members with backgrounds in related fields such as academia and information technology, as well as others with little exposure to the technological world. They all volunteered to be a part of the research.

Dr Jenny Waycott, a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne, is seeking older adults who live independently at home for a study that investigates companionship needs. Volunteers are sought for the early stages of an ongoing project investigating the use of emerging technologies for social and emotional enrichment in older age. For more information, contact: jwaycott@unimelb.edu.au; 03 8344 8964.

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TAKE THE

long way home When Ruth Seymour takes a trip down memory lane, she heads across Australia WORD S Jane Canaway PHOTO S Michael Amendolia

The kids said, ‘mum, you can’t do that!’ and I decided I was going to prove I could.”

RUTH SEYMOUR, AUSTRALIAN UNITY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY RESIDENT

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uth Seymour was 71 when she took up her second career as a long-distance driver.

Nearly 13 years later, the former bookkeeper and great-grandmother is still going strong — regularly driving the length or breadth of Australia.

Ruth’s idea of a quiet year would exhaust most people.

“I’ve [driven to] Perth twice and Cairns-toMelbourne and Sydney-to-Brisbane a couple of times,” she says. “At times I’m away more than I’m home.”

Ruth relocates campervans across Australia.

The hire company she works for has depots in every state and if a particular vehicle is needed in another city, Ruth is called to take it there.

“Sometimes I might take one vehicle from Sydney to Perth, then there’s something in Perth that Darwin wants so I drive up, then fly back from there.”

These are massive journeys even by truck drivers’ standards, so it’s understandable her two sons

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and daughter — grandparents themselves — would worry about Ruth being on her own.

“After my husband died, I thought I’d never get out of Sydney again, but through a friend I was offered this job,” she says.

“I wasn’t going to tell my kids — then two weeks later [the company] rang me up and asked if I would take a LandCruiser to Adelaide and bring back a Holden Combo. The kids said, ‘mum, you can’t do that!’ and I decided I was going to prove I could.

“Then I was offered a job to Perth and my daughter said, ‘I hope you said no’, and I said, ‘No, I said when?’.

“My daughter still thinks I’m mad.”

Petite Ruth couldn’t look more different to a stereotypical truckie, but her no-nonsense approach has served her well. She admits she has done less in the past couple of years because her son and son-in-law have been unwell.

“I look after the vehicle and I can drive anything,” she says. “I have never had any major problems, just flat tyres. They were all on LandCruisers and I know I’m not strong enough to lift up those AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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huge tyres, but I’ve been lucky that I’ve always been near help.

“I don’t get het up; I just think about what I need to do to get out of the situation.”

PICTURED Ruth Seymour’s unpaid but all-expenses-paid job involves relocating campervans across Australia. This has seen her driving across the Nullarbor to Perth, plus numerous other outback journeys.

I’m a million-star person, not a five-star person.”

RUTH SEYMOUR, AUSTRALIAN UNITY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY RESIDENT

She also follows some strict rules.

Ruth prefers free-camping sites to caravan parks — “I’m a million-star person, not a five-star person” — but she never camps alone.

And she never drives too early or late: “There’s a risk you’ll hit something — a camel, roo or an emu.

Goats are the most sensible road users — you rarely see them dead on the road.”

Finally, she always pulls over for road trains. “They can do 130km/h in the Northern Territory and I like to stick to 100, so I let them pass.”

While there are deadlines, she rarely drives more than seven or eight hours a day, breaks included.

And, as she points out, she has lots of experience.

“When my husband was alive, we did a lot of outback travel — all the most extreme points of the country, the Canning Stock Route, the Pilbara and Kimberley and lots of other trips.”

When her husband Don was diagnosed with a brain tumour and given 12 months to live, they started planning ahead. Ruth put her name down for Australian Unity’s Willandra Bungalows in North Sydney.

“It was the only place I wanted to be, and one became available eight months later. My husband was with me here for six weeks before he died.”

Now she gets huge enjoyment from remembering their trips as she drives alone around the country.

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“I love being in the outback — it’s so different.”

Her role is unpaid but her expenses are covered, so Ruth sees it as “free holidays”.

“I stay in the vehicles, I can cook in the van and there are fridges, so I can carry all my food,” Ruth says.

She could write a book on the best showers and rest stops — “the cheapest shower is $1 on the Nullarbor” — and never uses a GPS — “I hate the voice telling you where to go”.

She loves calling in on friends and family on her travels and meets some lovely people on the road, too. “I’m no more lonely out driving than I would be if I was sitting at home.”

To appease her children, Ruth takes a mobile phone and she switches it on between 7am and 8pm every day, in case they need to contact her.

“But after that it goes off.”

Since she turned 75 she’s had to take an annual medical, but a teetotaller who has never smoked, she passes each year with flying colours.

At 85 she’ll have to retake her driving test but is confident she’ll pass. “I only need glasses for reading, don’t take any pills or potions and only go to the doctor for a flu shot or check-up.”

Even when Ruth is at home you’ll find her outside, working as a volunteer at a nearby sanctuary or catching up with her five great-grandchildren.

Then she’s happy to hit the road again.

“I thoroughly enjoy it; why wouldn’t I?” ● AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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The following year, the Australian Government outlined its commitment to the cause, appointing Good Shepherd Microfinance to develop a Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP) program.

Australian Unity is one of 30 organisations involved in the FIAP program, which aims to take measurable steps towards a more financially inclusive society. “The role that we play is to ensure that our products and services are accessible, affordable and appropriate for people at different stages of their lives,” Benson says.

“We’re supporting the development of financial skills and knowledge across our customer and employee base, while also encouraging a more inclusive workforce — all of which are enablers to financial wellbeing and inclusion.”

BUILD A WEALTH OF

knowledge

Who stands to benefit Certain demographic groups are more likely to experience financial exclusion. According to the Centre for Social Impact research, those most at risk are aged under 35, born in a non-English-speaking country or suffering a mental illness. Unsurprisingly, the likelihood of financial stability increases the greater a person’s income, education and participation in employment.

Australian Unity is striving to support customers and equip them with the resources for a positive future WORD S Beth Wallace

“It’s a confronting thought,” says Benson Saulo, Australian Unity’s Head of Partnerships — Investments Wealth & Capital Markets adding that the $2000 question is a common benchmark for financial exclusion. “The definition of financial exclusion is not having access to a transaction account, general insurance and credit. It’s also the inability to make choices in regards to your financial interactions,” he says.

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Triggers for financial exclusion can be linked to specific costs, such as interest rate rises. They might also be due to an illness, which forces someone to take time off work.

Benson says that the negative effects of financial exclusion are plentiful, explaining that it can lead to high-risk borrowing habits and even poor health.

“If it’s not directly impacting our customers today, it may impact them tomorrow,” Benson says.

“There are really strong links between financial wellbeing and overall wellbeing,” he says. “If you think about the impact of financial stress and the levels of anxiety it can trigger, the roles that financial knowledge and access to services play are critical.”

Finding a solution Financial exclusion is not a problem unique to Australia. In 2014, the World Bank’s Global Financial Development Report called for an international push towards financial inclusion.

Educating customers about financial services is key to helping them overcome financial setbacks.

“If they do experience financial hardship — which most of us do at some point in our lives — they know that they can rely on Australian Unity to support them.” ● Illustration: iStockphoto

I

n an emergency, would you be able to raise $2000 in a hurry? According to a 2017 report by the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University in Melbourne, almost one in five Australian adults could not — leaving them vulnerable to debt should unexpected costs arise.

“But financial hardships can occur at any level of the social ladder,” says Benson. “We need to break the stigma that financial exclusion only affects people from a low socio-economic background.”

Find out more about the Financial Inclusion Action Plan program: australianunity.com.au/about-us/fiap

TAKING ACTION As part of its commitment to the FIAP program, Australian Unity recently rolled out changes to its billing system with its Home Care Service and disability clients.

Customer feedback revealed that the old billing system was problematic: delays were causing confusion and clients weren’t always sure which products or services they were paying for.

“The billing process has been restructured to better meet customer needs,” says Beverly Smith, Executive General Manager of Residential Communities, Independent & Assisted Living.

“We’ve improved the timing of the bills being sent out, so they’re received much closer to when the services are actually delivered.”

“The bills are far easier to read, are more transparent and improve people’s understanding of how much of the allocated Home Care Package budget they have spent, what they have spent it on, who has delivered those services. That assists customers and puts them in a stronger position to manage their Home Care Package funding.”

Under the new billing system, Australian Unity’s Customer Service Team is able to respond quickly if clients are having difficulty paying their bills.

“We’ve been able to put payment plans in place to support them as they catch up with their bills and regain control of their financial position,” Beverly says.

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THE JOYS OF

give and take Support at home helps this great-grandmother look forward to life’s next chapter WORD S Maria Triaca PHOTO S Jonah Blue

C

aring and community go hand in hand for Lorraine Donohoe.

Lorraine, 77, who lost her beloved husband Barry to cancer 18 months ago, took part in the Milton-Ulladulla Relay for Life in New South Wales in November 2018.

It was a tough quest physically as well as emotionally for Lorraine, as a few weeks later doctors operated on her to repair a debilitating hernia.

Chris, my carer, has become a friend.”

LORRAINE DONOHOE, AUSTRALIAN UNITY HOME CARE SERVICE CUSTOMER

The Milton-Ulladulla Relay for Life has become something of a ritual for Lorraine. She and Barry did the 24-hour non-stop Relay for Life community event together for four years, raising money for research, support and advocacy for the Cancer Council of NSW. “I was the carer and he was the survivor,” says Lorraine, who lives at Mollymook Beach on the New South Wales coast.

“This year, I did 12 hours non-stop. I just walked because of the hernia.

“It’s a very friendly event, because they are all cancer survivors or carers and everyone wants

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to know how you are going. There were lots of stalls and it was great fun.”

Along the way, Lorraine and her team raised $1800 for Relay for Life.

Family matters The dynamic matriarch revels in her role as mother of two sons, grandmother to eight and great-grandmother to five little boys. She’s also itching to return to her shift at her local opportunity shop and pull on the boots again for line dancing.

But since her recent operation, things have changed for Lorraine.

For years she was her husband’s carer. Now she is on the receiving end — and, thanks to a Home Care Package with services from Australian Unity, she’s entitled to lawn mowing, cleaning and shopping. There’s also an evening welfare visit three nights a week to make sure she has taken her medication and had dinner.

“Chris, my carer, has become a friend,” says Lorraine. “I got to know the carers when they helped Barry.”

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TO GETHER

INSIGHT

PICTURED

DEAF TEENS

Lorraine Donohoe described her late husband Barry as a “real sweetheart”.

change the script

Love and loss Lorraine has known her fair share of tragedy.

The only girl in a family of seven, she was 12 when her 17-year-old brother Max was killed in a collision with a truck on his way to football training in Wentworthville, Western Sydney.

Now in its third year, a national film festival is putting hearing-impaired teenagers in the spotlight

Her first husband left her with three young sons aged 14, 12 and 10.

“I was on my own for six years and I really didn’t want to meet anyone. I had my boys. But I went out one night and Barry asked me to dance.”

They married, and Lorraine says Barry was the love of her life.

It gives me peace of mind knowing she’s got this support” DAVID SMITH, SON OF LORRAINE DONOHOE, AN AUSTRALIAN UNITY HOME CARE SERVICE CUSTOMER

Lorraine’s younger son David Smith — who lives in Sydney and, according to his mother, organises her life — echoes Lorraine’s sentiments. “From my point of view, the Home Care Package gives mum the independence she needs and deserves to stay in her own home, especially as I am so far away,” David says.

“She’s down the coast with her friends and it gives me peace of mind knowing she’s got this support.”

Lorraine and David learned of Australian Unity Home Care Service when Barry was in hospital and Lorraine also had a few health issues.

A hospital social worker recommended Home Care Service for Barry. When he died and Lorraine wanted to remain in her own home, it made sense to investigate a Home Care Package for his mother, David says.

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“He was so loveable. He was a real sweetheart.”

There was more sorrow for Lorraine. Her son Max, who she named after her brother, died at the age of 24 in a freak accident while in the Army.

Barry and Lorraine retired to Mollymook Beach nearly 20 years ago. There, they were known for their community work.

“Barry had prostate cancer. He had the operation in 2005, but it came back,” Lorraine says.

“My doctor said I grieved for months before he died, because I was the carer and he was the survivor.”

Lorraine and Barry were married 40 years, a milestone celebrated — despite Barry’s illness — with a party, complete with heart-shaped balloons.

“It made him so happy, because he got his 40 years,” Lorraine says.

Lorraine says she hopes to be in good health and join the Milton-Ulladulla Relay for Life again this year. ●

Photography: courtesy Hear For You

Home Care Worker Christine Shepherd plays a special role in Lorraine’s life. She’s dedicated to her role, having been a Home Care Worker for more than 24 years.

WORD S Beth Wallace

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INSIGHT PICTURED

Teens Raymond, Richard, Pauline, Tiana and David, at Hear for You workshops discover new ways to be themselves.

Yet Pauline believes the program offers participants more than a chance to ‘win’.

“Creating a filmmaking workshop and deaf festival allows them to tell their stories so their family, friends and the wider community can understand their unique challenges,” she says.

The workshops provide a place for deaf and hard-ofhearing teenagers to really be themselves. ” JOHN LUI, NSW PROGRAMS MANAGER AT HEAR FOR YOU

Throw hearing loss into the mix and adolescence can be an even rougher ride, says filmmaker and author Pauline Findlay.

“Deaf and hard-of-hearing teenagers can feel they are an island in a hearing world,” she says.

“They can be bullied for their hearing loss and feel isolated.”

That’s why Pauline has spent the past three years running filmmaking workshops at Hear For You, a non-for-profit group that supports young hearing-impaired people through mentoring programs and events.

In 2017, the organisation was looking for ways to provide teens with a fun and interactive learning experience; it engaged Pauline to run a two-day filmmaking workshop.

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Indeed, it was the possibility of meeting people who shared his interest in theatre that attracted Raymond Moreno to the program.

Five films emerged, giving rise to the inaugural Hear For You Film Festival: a redcarpet event at Golden Age Cinema in Surry Hills, where the teens watched their creations come to life on the big screen.

all were hearing-impaired, including Emilie Biggar, the first hearing-impaired contestant on television cooking show My Kitchen Rules.

John Lui, New South Wales Programs Manager at Hear For You, says this is just one factor that contributes to the program’s success.

“The workshops provide a place for deaf and hard-of-hearing teenagers to really be themselves without worrying about their deafness being a point of difference,” John says.

National initiative Following its successful first year, the program ran again in 2018, but this time as a nationwide competition open to any hearing-impaired secondary school student across Australia.

Twenty-two teens took part in the workshops — 10 in New South Wales, eight in Queensland and four in Victoria — which covered every aspect of the filmmaking process, from writing a script to storyboards, character development, cinematography, sound, editing and music rights.

Students left the workshops with a finished film that was eligible for entry into the Hear For You National Film Festival, or any other short film festival around the world.

Several professional filmmakers and mentors helped run the workshops. Aside from Pauline,

“It means the anxiety and stress of not feeling included or worrying about missing out in conversations or instructions are greatly lessened, as they know everyone else is in the same boat.”

Stories shared

Photography: courtesy Hear For You

A

dolescence isn’t always smooth sailing. Hormonal shifts, relationship dramas, social media stress: it’s no wonder teenagers are known for their moodiness and angst.

“It also brings deaf teenagers together. Some may not know another deaf person like them, and the workshops and film festival help them feel part of a broader community.”

Adhering to the theme ‘Love @...’, as chosen by the festival’s key sponsor, Australian Hearing, 10 completed films were entered in the 2018 contest. Winners were announced at the redcarpet event for categories including best film, best director and best screenplay.

Three of the winning films were selected by Australian Hearing to show in its clinics across Australia and on its social media channels.

“I have always been passionate about acting,” says Raymond, whose 2018 entry The Bus Stop was named best film. “My favourite part was being the one to create the storyline and then act in it. I also really enjoyed attending the red-carpet film festival.”

The prospect of making a film as part of a team also appealed to Samira Cox, whose film What Am I Missing? won two awards at last year’s festival.

Samira says the workshops and festival have inspired her to make more films. “Hear For You has given me opportunities and challenges to find my future career,” she says. “I am doing a VET course in year 12 in film design and editing, which is exciting.”

This year, the program will continue with a new theme and — depending on enrolment numbers — extra workshops and a larger screening venue.

“We hope to attract more participants to the workshops and encourage every deaf or hard-ofhearing teenager to submit a film entry into the competition,” John says. ●

Hear For You is a NDIS accredited not-for-profit organisation. Find out more: hearforyou.com.au

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INSIGHT

Your digital footprint Your social media accounts and the images on them should be considered as part of estate planning

The content of social media accounts, known as a digital footprint, is proving to be a grey area within estates. If direct access has not been granted by the deceased, who owns the footprint?

Anna Hacker, National Manager of Estate Planning at Australian Unity Trustees, says people rarely give any thought to their digital footprint when making a will. But estate planners can assist families to ensure valuable digital memories and information are protected for the future.

“The treatment of social media accounts and content is an issue that should be incorporated into all estate planning considerations,” Anna says.

“For close relatives and friends, the real meaning of many of these social media platforms is access to the photographs and images saved there.”

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Different social media platforms have different procedures and actions that occur on a user’s death, but the options for family members are usually to have the account memorialised or closed.

An Australian Unity Trustees estate planner can help guide the conversation with family members so images are not lost forever once an account is closed.”

“Facebook, the most popular platform, allows users to nominate a legacy contact who can control what happens on the account on the user’s death. This takes in a simple account closure, to downloading content, to establishing a memorial site with pinned content,” Anna says.

ANNA HACKER, NATIONAL MANAGER OF ESTATE PLANNING AT AUSTRALIAN UNITY TRUSTEES

“Instagram, similarly, will memorialise an account on the death of the user if a family member requests it. It will also remove an account on a family member’s request.”

“But we have shifted our minds from a focus on physical things and many people store their important documents and treasured photographs using digital methods such as back-up electronic devices and online storage.”

Anna says an Australian Unity Trustees Estate Planner can help guide the conversation with family members so images are not lost forever once an account is closed.

She says protecting digital records should be considered in estate planning, too.

“In the past, if you asked people what they would save in the event of a fire, they said they would grab their photo albums,” Anna says.

Images: iStockphoto

A

fter the loss of a loved one, it’s only natural to want to collate their images as keepsakes to share among family members. But, in the digital age, social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram can add another layer of complexity to the grieving process.

This creates another layer of complexity as people need to provide passwords and access codes to loved ones with whom they want to share their images and valuables. Regularly storing and backing up photographs is an important part of the process.

“The estate planning process at Australian Unity Trustees is thorough and looks at not only the financial outcomes of your will but also guides you and your family through the process of protecting your digital footprint,” Anna says. ●

Australian Unity Trustees can provide more information: 1800 87 87 83 or australianunity.com.au/trustee-home

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TO GETHER

Love conquers all At 102, Douglas Wilton and his wife Adriana look forward to yet another milestone WORD S Maria Triaca PHOTO S Richard Whitfield

D

ouglas Wilton is a cricket fan and a century-maker with a new target.

He’s looking forward to celebrating a different half-century — come June, Douglas, 102, and wife Adriana, a mere 87, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first meeting.

It was in an Adelaide hotel and Douglas remembers it as if it were yesterday, not way back at the end of the 1960s.

We’ve been together 49 years and married for 42.”

PICTURED Douglas and Adriana first met in the 1960s at the local pub in Adelaide where Dutch-born Adriana worked as a waitress.

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DOUGLAS WILTON, 102 AUSTRALIAN UNITY HOME CARE SERVICE CUSTOMER

“She was a waitress in the pub where I used to go for my counter meals,” Douglas says. “That’s my fondest memory.”

Adriana also remembers that first encounter well.

“He used to come to the pub every day for lunch.

I thought he was very kind that first day,” she says.

Within six months, Douglas and Adriana had moved into a flat together, but it was a fair while before they tied the knot.

The love story between the British-born fitter with a passion for cars and cricket and the Dutch-born waitress with the no-nonsense attitude spans two states and almost five decades.

Douglas attributes his longevity to “marrying a younger woman”. “We’ve been together 49 years and married for 42,” Douglas says.

Adriana says she has “spoilt him rotten”. “I do everything for him — cooking … taking him to the bathroom in the middle of the night … everything.”

“I asked him if he was married and he said he was, but his wife didn’t like Australia and went back to England.

The couple relocated from South Australia to Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales 23 years ago. They moved into a retirement community 12 years ago and live independently with support from a Home Care Package and services from Australian Unity.

“One day he asked me to come and choose fabric for upholstering a lovely wing-backed chair, so I went and then he asked me out to lunch. We’ve been together ever since.”

They have funding for a level 3 Home Care Package and this entitles them to a carer who comes for an hour every morning. Duties include showering Douglas, washing up and making the

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TO GETHER

If we go out, we go out together. Our friends say we are joined at the hip.”

PICTURED

ADRIANA WILTON

(From left) Douglas enjoys watching cricket and going for lunch at the local rugby club; Douglas and Adriana married in 1977.

beds. They also have a cleaner who visits every two weeks to keep the house clean and tidy and someone who takes Adriana shopping fortnightly.

“They are all lovely,” says Adriana of her Care Workers. “But if I had to pick one out, I think my husband’s favourite is Damien. I think Douglas enjoys bonding with another male. They joke together and sometimes they will even start singing together.

“I find him very kind and helpful — and he does a very good job of the cleaning, too.”

Douglas has been in a wheelchair for six years and stopped driving 13 years ago, but Adriana is still behind the wheel. Every week they go to lunch at Seagulls Rugby League Club in Tweed Heads.

“I was born in the Netherlands and came to Australia at 19,” says Adriana. “I’m a no-nonsense sort of person and can be stubborn if I have to be.

“We never had a marriage that he went to the pub with his mates and I went out with the girls. If we go out, we go out together. Our friends say we are joined at the hip.

“We go to Seagulls for lunch and he likes a little flutter. If you can’t do that at 102, what can you do?”

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Douglas was born and bred in Bedford, most famous for being the home of 17th century author John Bunyan, who wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress.

Entertainer Ronnie Barker, of The Two Ronnies fame, also came from Bedford.

Douglas’s working life was spent as a fitter at General Motors — first in Britain at Vauxhall Motors in Luton and then at Holden in South Australia.

“It was a pretty good job,” he says. “I came here [Australia] because we knew other people who came here and liked it, so we gave it a go. My sister was here. She made it to 98.”

Like so many Englishmen, Douglas brought his love of cricket to Australia — and that interest has continued. He saw Don Bradman play in Adelaide and still loves watching cricket on television, although macular degeneration means his failing eyesight makes it difficult to see.

Adriana confirms they both barrack for Australia and prefer Twenty20 and 50-over matches to Tests, which she says are too long and boring.

The couple had a big bash for Douglas’s 100th and 101st birthdays. His 102nd birthday was a quieter affair, and they are yet to decide how to celebrate their anniversary milestone. ●

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INSIGHT

6 TIPS FOR YOU 1 You have a right to ask visitors to leave your premises.

5 Across Australia door-to-door sales people are not allowed to visit on Sundays or public holidays, before 9am and after 6pm on weekdays and before 9am or after 5pm on Saturdays.

2 Do not sign anything under pressure.

3 Ask salespeople who they work for.

6 Telemarketers have similar restrictions. They are

4 A genuine salesperson will agree to an

not allowed to call on Sundays or public holidays and are only allowed to phone between 9am and 8pm on weekdays and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.

To close the sale, they often pressure the consumer to sign the contract on the spot.

full terms of the sale, including a mandatory 10-day cooling-off period.

In New South Wales, Fair Trading provides a support and advocacy service for consumers.

Legal Aid Victoria provides advice for consumers about door-to-door salespeople and the Queensland Government website provides consumer advice, too.

The Consumer Action Law Centre produces ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers, which can be displayed in a prominent place to inform salespeople that they are breaking the law if they knock on your door.

Go to donotknock.consumeraction.org.au to print your own or ask for a sticker to be mailed to you.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has strict laws around unsolicited sales that govern the conduct of salespeople, contracts of sale, and consumer cancellation rights.

But even without a sticker, Gerard says you always have the right to ask a salesperson to leave immediately. “If they don’t , get their contact details and a registration number and make a complaint to the company they work for, or report it to the ACCC.” ●

appointment time when you can have a support person present.

Do not knock Know your rights when pushy door-to-door salespeople come calling ast November, John Stevens*, from central Victoria, received a knock at the door. The visitor said she was conducting a health care survey, so he let her in.

John, who is in his 50s, had been in a car accident more than three decades earlier that left him with vision and hearing loss, as well as problems with speech and mobility.

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Gerard Brody is CEO of Victoria’s Consumer Action Law Centre, a consumer advocacy organisation investigating John’s case. He says reports of pushy door-to-door salespeople targeting elderly and vulnerable people are all too common, despite the advent of online shopping rendering door-to-door selling “an outdated business model”.

The salesperson began questioning John about his needs, but he eventually realised she was there to sell him a bed worth about $4000.

“It comes in waves — years ago, they were selling encyclopaedias, then it was roof cladding, then it was energy retailer contracts, and now we’re getting a lot of reports of solar panels,” he says.

Due to his vision impairment, John wasn’t able to read the contract for the sale, and the sales representative didn’t explain the terms to him.

One of the most common tactics employed by door-to-door salespeople is misleading consumers about who they are working for.

When the bed arrived, John found it failed to meet the specifications outlined by the sales rep, but the cooling-off period had passed and he was locked into the contract.

“This gets them a foot in the door, at which point they might start using psychological techniques to get people to agree with them; questions like ‘don’t you like cheaper energy?’,” Gerard says.

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Salespeople must inform you who they work for and provide a written contract setting out the

STOP THOSE PHONE CALLS The Australian Government runs a free Do Not Call register that allows people to securely register home, mobile or fax numbers to reduce unsolicited telemarketing calls.

To find out more visit: Images: iStockphoto

L

WORD S Jo Davy

*John Stevens is a pseudonym

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: IMPORTANT CONTACTS Australian Competition and Consumer Commission accc.gov.au Consumer Action Law Centre consumeraction.org.au Fair Trading NSW fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

donotcall.gov.au

Legal Aid Victoria legalaid.vic.gov.au

1300 792 958

Queensland Government qld.gov.au/law

or phone

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DISCOVER

TO GETHER PICTURED (Opposite, from left) Vicky Boyd shares a laugh with Jean-Mary Fagan, one of her favourite daily Home Care Service customers.

Staying on This energetic and devoted Home Care Worker has made a difference to many lives WORD S Margaret Barca PHOTO S Kirsten Cunningham

A

fter more than three decades, Vicky Boyd’s ability to ensure her customers are at the centre of her care remains one of her strengths. That and her ability to have a good old chat while whizzing through her chores.

“My son Shannon started school and then, 12 months later, my daughter Clarissa started and l thought, ‘what am I going to do?’. I was sitting on the back steps at 9 o’clock in the morning, bored.”

Vicky’s solution was to get a job. That’s how she started as a Home Care Worker in Cowra, in central New South Wales, almost 34 years ago.

Shannon is now 40, Clarissa is 39 and there are five grandchildren, but Vicky is still a Home Care Worker. “I just love it,” she says.

“I leave the house before seven in the morning. I like to make sure my house is in really good order and then I like to make sure that the customer’s house is [cleaned and tidied to] perfection, too.”

On an average day Vicky makes four or five visits, though she will sometimes do up to seven.

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“I might help shower people first, then do an hour or so domestic work. Make the bed, hang the washing out, vacuum, mop, sweep the front veranda. And then off to the next person.”

It’s not just the physical aspect, of course, and Vicky is well aware of that.

“It can be lonely for people. Most of them live by themselves. You talk a bit. That’s a big thing. They might tell you what’s happening: ‘My daughter is coming for the weekend’ or, something like that.

They can share it with you.

“I might be the only person they’re seeing all day.

You chitty chat about things, and they love it. You need the ability to communicate, and I’ve still got that ability and that interest.”

Vicky has had “regulars” over the years. “I have three or four people I’ve been seeing for a long time. I have one lady who is 92 — I’ve been going to her for years and years. She is just a lovely lady.”

Vicky is old school – down-to-earth and nononsense. She’s had tough times in her own life, but it adds to her sense of empathy.

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journey, destination IT ’S THE

PICTURED Three decades as a Home Care Worker has done nothing to dull Vicky Boyd’s enthusiasm for her job. Each day is different, but she says often simply having a chat with a client is the most valuable service she can provide.

NOT THE

You don’t have to be a trainspotter to love riding the rails on an overnight express WORD S Graeme Kemlo

Decades of dedication

She feels strongly that Home Care Workers play a critical role and are sometimes undervalued.

“It means people can stay in their own homes for longer, which so many people want to do.”

Vicky admits that she is past retirement age.

“I could have retired last year but I love helping.

“I’m taking a cruise for four days in June — just as a trial, to see how I’d go with a bit more time to myself.”

Chatting with Vicky, however, you get the sense she won’t be retiring anytime just yet. ●

Sandra Massurit started working with Vicky 29 years ago, as a Home Care Worker. Now a Branch Manager for Australian Unity Home Care Services, she has high praise for Vicky.

“I’ve found her to be honest, caring and very reliable,” Sandra says. “Vicky’s been a friend to customers in their most desperate time of need, supporting them when they had no-one else, and she has earned the respect and friendship of her fellow workers.

“Vicky’s always been there when we needed her, and I hope she will be there for many years to come.”

PICTURED

Home Care Services with Australian Unity can help you live independently for longer, offering assistance with daily activities, jobs around the home, health services and getting out and about. Like to know more?

Visit australianunity.com.au/home-services or call 1300 160 170 8am–8pm.

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The Ghan, which travels between Adelaide and Darwin, is one of Australia’s best known rail journeys.

It’s pictured against the MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory.

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DISCOVER

Y

ou climb aboard your carriage and set off to the sound of a 4000-horsepowered diesel engine that glides with a rising hum as it leaves the platform and suburbia. Before long, it has delivered sunset landscapes and sweeping vistas, underscored by a rhythmic clickety-click and a gentle sway that lulls you to sleep.

While Australia cannot boast the whistlestop transcontinental grid of other continental railway networks, it does have the world’s longest single stretch of straight track (478 kilometres) on the Indian Pacific route between Sydney and Perth.

Together with The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, these are two of Australia’s globally renowned rail journeys. They attract many international clientele and are often booked 12 months in advance.

PICTURED The Indian Pacific plies the route between Sydney and Perth, showcasing dramatic landscapes outside and slick onboard service.

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low as $50 for a standard seat. Premium provides extra legroom (36 seats per carriage instead of 50), reclining seats, complimentary in-seat dining and trolley service, plus extra luggage. There is no single-traveller supplement.

Journey Beyond also has a new train trip, the Great Southern, which will travel between Adelaide and Brisbane from December 2019. This three-day, two-night journey will use rolling stock from different trains and will visit the Grampians, Canberra and the northern New South Wales coast before arriving in Brisbane. Fares are up to $3899 for platinum and $2299 for gold, but discounts are available.

Photography: courtesy Journey Beyond; Alamy

For Sydney professionals Ian and Susan Sutherland, who are in their 50s, “it’s about the journey, not the destination”. Faster (air) or less expensive options up to $4599 a person, while standard gold class is (coach or self-drive) were not a consideration $2549. Seniors can get up to 25 per cent discount, in their decision to take the Indian Pacific, a and an advance purchase at least six months 4325-kilometre, four-day, three-night trip one-way ahead also yields savings. Low-season travel starts across the Nullarbor, and more recently The Ghan Expedition, a 2979-kilometre, four-day, three-night from $3799 for platinum or $2239 for gold. trip from Darwin to Adelaide that offers extra Ian and Susan have travelled on international highlights beyond the standard Ghan journey. trains — including bullet trains in Japan and a Turkish express. But Australian trains were on their They chose the first-class platinum service for bucket list given their international reputation, its larger double-bed cabin, lounge cars and the ever-changing landscape, The Ghan’s history, gourmet dining. They said it was “an outstanding the gentle pace of travel, the off-train experiences experience … well worth the extra cost”.

(Katherine and Alice Springs) and the quality of the “Platinum was very social and the highlight for all-inclusive food and drink service. us was being able to spend time getting to know the eight other couples. They were from Hawaii, Across the nation Ireland, England, plus a few Aussies,” Ian says.

Both trains are part of Journey Beyond tourism On their Ghan journey, an unexpected bonus group, as is the Overland that runs between occurred as they returned from an excursion to Melbourne and Adelaide and rose to fame postKatherine Gorge. “It was December and we just got war as the first train in the world to offer showers back aboard when a tropical storm burst, filling the in sleeper cabins. landscape with lightning and thunder,” Ian says.

The Overland is a 10.5-hour, twice-weekly During the shoulder season (April—August), daylight service, with premium fares of $269. platinum class on the Indian Pacific route can cost Concession discounts and seasonal offers are as

Shorter, cheaper choices Not all of Australia’s best train experiences are as long or expensive as the trips that traverse the nation.

Among those that might vie for legend status is Queensland Rail’s Spirit of the Outback, which takes 26 hours to cover the 1325 kilometres from Brisbane to Longreach.

It is an area rich with history. Highlights include the birthplace of Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda (Dagworth Station, near Winton in central Queensland), the Tree of Knowledge (a 10-metre ghost gum at Barcaldine that is considered the base of the Australian labour movement), the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum at Corfield, the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach and Winton, the town where Qantas was founded.

A one-way, first-class sleeper on the Spirit of the Outback costs $427 a person (twin-sleeper cabins are available) and an economy seat is $141.

Discounts of up to 50 per cent are available for seniors’ cardholders, while seasonal fare offers can be found online.

First class includes an exclusive lounge and dining car access and amenities, including entertainment and 240-volt power.

Another Queensland Rail highlight is the Tilt Train, which offers a 160km/h trip between Brisbane AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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Exercise for life

PICTURED Australia is home to quirky shorter ‘rail’ journeys too, such as Cairns’ Kuranda Scenic Railway and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

and Rockhampton. Covering more than 639 kilometres in seven-and-a-half hours, fares begin at $102.

the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, which offers a unique perspective gliding just above the rainforest canopy. Fares are from $114.60 to $163.50.

Scenic and sensational

Visitors to Perth can discover the historic Kalgoorlie goldfields on one of Australia’s fastest trains, the Prospector. It was built to travel at 200km/h but is restricted to a maximum speed of 160km/h — and still manages to cover the journey to the goldfields in less than seven hours.

Fares range from $45.90 concession to $183.60 full adult return.

Arguably one of Australia’s most interesting train trips is Kuranda Scenic Railway near Cairns, which runs from the coast to the World Heritage rainforest at Kuranda.

In less than two hours, the train — with heritage and gold-class carriages — climbs 328 metres through handmade tunnels and across high pedestal bridges. It stops to allow passengers to admire Barron Falls before arriving at the photogenic Kuranda station and village.

Fares are from $50 one way (heritage) to $174 return (gold). Passengers can also take the train up to Kuranda and return to Cairns on

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was of the opinion that I was too old to take up this gym business but, actually, it’s been quite rewarding,” says John Las Gourgues. John took up “this gym business” a couple of years ago, aged 86.

But then, he had played tennis until he was 83 and was still playing hockey in his 70s. “I played a lot of sport over the years – cricket and squash. In fact, almost every sport and it’s helped keep me pretty fit,” John says.

Photography: courtesy Journey Beyond; Alamy; (opposite) iStockphoto

The 90th Originally The anniversary named the journey journey departs Afghan Express after covers 2979 Adelaide for Darwin the 19th century camel kilometres.

The final on 4 August 2019 . drivers who explored Travels at an leg of the Operates Australia’s remote average speed journey was between areas. of 85km/h and completed by camel Adelaide, Alice a maximum of until the railway Springs and 115km/h. was finished in Darwin.

1929.

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“I

WORDS Margaret Barca

Most rail services offer discounts for holders of Commonwealth and state concession cards, as well as seasonal and advance purchase discounts.

While some trains offer accessibility services, such as special narrower wheelchairs on board, it is wise to check in advance, as some platforms require passengers to use steps. ●

THE GHAN – 90 YEARS OF OUTBACK ADVENTURE Construction of the railway track began in 1878.

Exercise can help you prevent and manage chronic disease, slow the ageing process and transform the way you feel.

It’s never too early or too late to start

PICTURED Excercising in water is a great way to get active, as it works muscles strongly without putting pressure on joints.

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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BAL ANCE

The road to fitness

John is a reminder of the value of regular exercise and that continuing to move can help maintain good health. The resident of Australian Unity’s Drummond Place Retirement Community in Carlton, in inner Melbourne goes to the gym twice a week. He enjoys classes supervised by a physiotherapist at Remedy Healthcare, at Rathdowne Place, part of Australian Unity’s Retirement Community, also in Carlton.

You can exercise safely at any age or ability just with a little guidance and not doing too much too quickly.”

“I noticed my legs had lost some strength – and maybe my balance wasn’t quite so good – but gym has improved that enormously and also put my core strength up a bit.”

Core strength maintains good balance and strong bones and is essential as we age, and exercise is the way to achieve it.

MARION ADENEY-STEEL, CLINICAL LEAD PHYSIOTHERAPIST AT REMEDY HEALTHCARE

Getting started

Health Services with Australian Unity can be funded through a Home Care Package and can include experienced healthcare professionals to support you to increase your physical and mental wellbeing. This might include support with balance, breathing and respiratory care, falls prevention, foot care, mobility, muscle strengthening, nutrition, rehabilitation and safety.

To find out more, speak to your local Australian Unity branch or phone one of our Home Care Service experts on 1300 160 170.

Of course, not everyone has John’s background in sport and many can find it hard to get started.

Marion Adeney-Steel, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist at Remedy Healthcare, says: “There’s every barrier known to man why people can’t exercise: ‘I’m too old, I’m too fat, I’m too busy, I’ve never exercised …’

“Pain is a genuine excuse,” she says. “But even then, it’s about finding the right type of exercise.

EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES

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Park the car a bit further away from where you are going.

F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

Exercise is also a preventative when managing many chronic conditions. Arthritis, for example, is about management rather than cure.

“Particularly as people get older, the chance of heart disease, stroke, even cancer, can all be reduced by taking up regular exercise.”

Ride a bike rather than taking the car on short trips.

Don’t get the papers delivered – walk to the shop to buy them.

If you are looking after the grandchildren, take them to the park and get active with them.

“You can put off or avoid joint replacement by using various components of physiotherapy,” Marion says. “One of the main therapies we use at Remedy is hydrotherapy. Water enables people to exercise their muscles really strongly without the pressure and impact through the joint.”

Photography: iStockphoto

It’s easy to build extra activity into your everyday life.

Chronic conditions

You can exercise safely at any age or ability just with a little guidance and not doing too much too quickly.”

Exercise, specifically strength-training exercise, can also help prevent and manage diabetes.

“Strong muscular contraction uses blood sugar very efficiently so if you get your muscles working really hard, your blood sugar will be better controlled.

It can also improve the use of insulin in the body.”

Another benefit is that if you are exercising regularly you will be losing some weight,

which is useful for all chronic conditions, not only diabetes.

Osteoporosis, in which bones become brittle and weak due to low bone density or thickness, affects more than one million Australians. Exercise can improve bone health.

“You need weight-bearing exercise and resistance training. The body needs to be challenged and you need to progress your program regularly,” Marion says. “This is where a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can really help to get you on the right track and exercising safely.”

Help and guidance are available, but Marion believes it’s important for people to take responsibility for their own health.

“The way of the future is prevention – we can’t be always picking up the pieces. When people can make lifestyle changes that will help reduce these illnesses.” ● AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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BALANCE

BAL ANCE

Grey health

FYI

MAT T E R S

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried around the body in the blood.

Manage your cholesterol to decrease your risk of developing dementia

More than one in three adult Australians are thought to have high cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels vary from person to person and may be linked to family history and other risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure or weight.

Most people with high cholesterol levels are unaware of it, because they don’t have any symptoms.

WORD S Johanna Leggatt Source: The Heart Foundation

M

ost of us realise that healthy cholesterol is vital for our wellbeing, but researchers have also uncovered the crucial role it plays in warding off dementia.

Melbourne neurologist Professor Cassandra Szoeke is at the forefront of research investigating the link between vascular risk factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes — and the kind of brain degeneration that can cause dementia in women.

Cassandra points out that even those who have lived fairly sedentary lives on junk-food diets can still do plenty to reduce their risk.

Heart Foundation Clinical Manager Cia Connell says people should aim for the highest possible level of healthy cholesterol — known as highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — and as low levels as possible of “bad cholesterol”, also known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which blocks the arteries.

“Not to undermine the seriousness of breast cancer, of course, but people don’t realise how your lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is actually half your risk of getting dementia as a woman.”

“Healthy eating — so lots of fruit, vegetables and whole foods — helps maintain cholesterol levels, which should be paired with exercise,” Cia says.

Two recent pieces of research from the University of Melbourne’s 20-year study, the Women’s Healthy Ageing Project, have unearthed what makes some women more likely to develop dementia than others.

“We recommend 30 to 45 minutes of moderate exercise, or a brisk walk, five or more days a week, and for people to limit alcohol intake and not to smoke.”

Images: iStockphoto

F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

“These are people who were still 100 per cent healthy and showing no signs of dementia yet.

Thankfully, there is still plenty you can do to look after your vascular health and keep the grey matter firing.

“When you ask women what they’re worried about dying of, they will tell you breast cancer.

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“A heart health check will assess your cholesterol health, blood pressure and family history, among other things, so it gives you a complete picture,” she says.

“So what you do today determines what we see in the scan in 10 years’ time.”

“Dementia is now the leading cause of death of women in Australia,” Cassandra says.

Researchers studied women’s brain volumes and found that women with higher vascular risk at 55 had fewer brain cells, or grey matter, at 65.

And fewer brain cells, researchers discovered, resulted in reduced cognitive function 10 years later.

“We also looked at white matter hyperintensity — or white matter damage on the brain — and found that people with unhealthy levels of cholesterol had this damage.

Cia also recommends people over 45 (35 for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples) who have not had a heart attack or stroke should have their cholesterol checked as part of a broader heart health check.

“You can definitely make changes,” she says.

“It doesn’t matter what age you are, make changes today and keep going. It’s never too late, but the longer you leave it the more catch-up you have to do.”

If you aren’t sure where to start, begin with walking.

“The number one thing we should do is move more,” Cassandra says.

“Even if it’s just walking the dog every day. Thirty years down the track your brain will thank you.” ●

HEALTH CHECK For more information on how to plan your next health check or assistance with exercise or meal planning, contact to your local Australian Unity Home Care Service Branch or call 1300 160 170. We’ll explain what services might be available to you.

To learn more about managing your cholesterol, visit: heartfoundation.org.au/ healthy-eating

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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BALANCE

BAL ANCE

FYI Many succulents and cacti have leaves arranged in perfectly positioned spiral patterns that follow the Fibonacci sequence of numbers.

I

n Australia’s complex climate, succulents bring big rewards for little effort. Their thick, fleshy stems, roots or leaves store water and they are quite at home in places with unreliable rainfall.

Give succulents

Succulents are native to deserts, high mountains and even humid forests. Despite their lowmaintenance reputation, it is worth checking a plant’s ancestry for clues to how to keep it happy.

The succulent family includes well-known and popular houseleeks, hardy cacti, dramatic bromeliads and Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) or tillandsias, which grow as epiphytes on host plants.

A T RY

Local Aussie succulents include the groundcover pigface you see at the beach, and even outback boab trees.

Succulents are fashionable, and they may be the easiest plants you’ll ever grow

Edible succulents include prickly pear, samphire, dragon fruit and purslane. Others rate a mention for their medicinal value, including aloe vera, with its cooling sap often used in skin treatments.

WORD S Jane Canaway

Their survival skills are a blessing for busy or novice gardeners, and they will grow in containers, rockeries, rooftops and vertical walls.

Succulents also come in a range of shapes, colours and textures, so they are perfect for plant art.

Images: iStockphoto

While some succulents are happy in garden beds — think sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, which suits any perennial border — others do best in containers with sharper drainage. However, they do need the right growing mix.

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F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

Combine three parts potting mix with two parts coarse sand and one part perlite (a volcanic material available at nurseries). Water once a week in summer and maybe once a month in winter, depending on your climate and the plant’s position.

KNOW YOUR SUCCULENTS

THESE HARDY PLANTS ARE GREAT CHOICES FOR LOW RAINFALL AREAS. ALOE VERA This plant is well known (and loved) for its medicinal properties.

It can be used to soothe sunburn or even to help heal wounds.

HOUSELEEKS This is an easy-to-grow and attractive plant.

Known as Hens and Chicks, it is also hardy.

HAWORTHIA A native of Southern Africa, these plants grow well in either pots or garden beds.

Nearly all succulents prefer full sun, but a few will take indoor shade: haworthias, sansevieria (mother-in-law’s tongue) and aloes.

The other great thing about succulents is they’re easy to share. Many grow from a single leaf or a stem cutting, so you can swap with friends and neighbours. ●

To learn more, contact the Cactus and Succulent Society of Australia to find a local group: cssaustralia.org.au

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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australianunity.com.au/retirement-communities/properties-for-sale

F E AT UR E D R E T I R EM ENT COM M U NI TY

The art of downsizing and de-cluttering

You’ll have to make decisions and you might have to be ruthless – but getting rid of ‘stuff’ can be a liberating experience

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F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

than others, and if grief or loss are involved it can be a lot harder,” she says. “If you can’t make decisions, consider getting a family member, friend or professional to help.”

Mary advises downsizers to have “a space reality check”.

“If your new kitchen will be 50 per cent smaller than your current kitchen, then you’ll have to let 50 per cent of your stuff go, simple as that,” she says.

You also need to be realistic.

“One of the difficult discussions is how much people’s possessions are worth. People often think their things are worth more than they really are,” she says.

“You can try to sell it, but if you can’t, you have to move on to the next step, which is to give it to family or friends or donate to charities. You can’t get stuck on this,” she says.

Giving it away Some people say “Oh, it’s too good to give to charity”, but we live in an affluent society and charities want good-quality things, too. “We did feel good about the stuff we gave away,” Anne says.

TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING Start with the easy stuff – the things you know you can definitely part with. The more you get rid of, the easier it becomes.

Tackle the project room by room.

Some people say “Oh, it’s too good to give to charity”, but … charities want goodquality things too.

Get rid of multiples.

Yes, you need multiples of practical items (towels, plates and so on), but how many dinner sets do you really need?

Sort into piles. Mary recommends the “three Fs – functionals, favourites and farewells”.

ANNE O’DONOVAN

Take photos of things you like (or love) but don’t need.

FEELING CHARITABLE

Avoid putting things in storage if possible – it’s just delaying the inevitable (and it’s costly).

Anne O’Donovan has a few suggestions for donating to charities, such as Sacred Heart Mission. “They’re grateful to have something they can sell or turn into money — and to think that they serve meals to 500 people a day.”

Don’t leave it too late to downsize, or other people might have to do it for you.

When in doubt, Mary recommends “the power of the cup of tea” – have a cup of tea, relax, then start over again.

Photography courtesy Sacred Heart Mission; iStockphoto

Anne O’Donovan and her husband Brian downsized from a large family home in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn to a two-and-a-half-bedroom city apartment with one living space and a ‘cage’ for storage.

“We had five bedrooms and three living spaces – we had a cellar, we had stuff stored in the ceiling, and we never seemed to throw anything out. The house was chock-a-block,” Anne says.

She was in her 60s and Brian in his 70s when they moved.

“You have to be tenacious and you have to be ruthless; but just know that you have a window of opportunity to simplify your life. It can be quite liberating. I haven’t regretted anything we parted with,” Anne says.

Downsizing, or even decluttering your existing space, can be challenging. How do you go about it and how do you let go of treasures you’ve collected?

Mary Harnan, from Melbournebased online business Allsorters, is a downsizing, ‘home-sorting’ specialist who has seen it all. Plus, she has been through the process herself.

“Some people are more emotionally attached to things

You don’t have to donate only to major charities.

There might be a local op shop or refugee support group; or organisations such as Men’s Sheds, which can repurpose or recycle some goods, giving them a new life.

And if it’s not good enough to donate, you might have to toss it.

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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australianunity.com.au/retirement-communities/properties-for-sale

F E AT UR E D R E T I R EM ENT COM M U NI TI E S

*Artist’s impression

Drummond Place 500 Drummond Street, Carlton VIC

Express your interest

Priced from

$325,000†

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SPECTACULAR RETIREMENT LIVING PENTHOUSE IN MELBOURNE The Penthouse (Apartment 806) at Drummond Place is a contemporary, premium, generously proportioned home offering open-plan living and stunning city views.

Just over one kilometre from the CBD, Drummond Place presents a rare window to buy

Priced from

$400,000†

into this highly desirable pocket of Carlton. Enjoy boutique style hotel independent living in this increasingly vibrant Australian Unity community.

Learn More Call 03 9240 7040 or email martine@drummondplace.com.au

Units available now

Peninsula Grange 431 Racecourse Road, Mornington VIC

INTRODUCING APARTMENT LIVING AT PENINSULA GRANGE

$550,000†

The final stage of our Peninsula Grange Retirement Community is now complete. Twenty-two new two- or three- bedroom apartments have been designed for low-maintenance living.

Located in the seaside suburb of Mornington, this vibrant, lively area offers a host of delights,

Priced from

Priced from

Enquire now!

Priced from

$515,000†

*Artist’s impression

$99,000†

Contact Ray Wood (03) 9013 8492 rwood@australianunity.com.au

Priced from

$570,000†

Geelong Grove

Morven Manor

Walmsley Village

Constitution Hill

50 Barwarre Road, Marshall, Geelong VIC

77 Tanti Avenue, Mornington VIC

Greeves Drive, Kilsyth VIC

1 Centenary Avenue, Northmead NSW

Contact (03) 5244 0822

Contact 0437 456 839

Contact (03) 9723 8287

Contact (02) 8868 9090

Contact (02) 4862 2977

Contact (02) 9971 8035

Geelong Grove provides comfortable and convenient retirement living in a welcoming community. With wide streets and established gardens, Geelong Grove is a spacious and relaxed environment for you to enjoy.

Steeped in local history and conveniently situated in the heart of Mornington, this idyllic community is the perfect environment for those who are looking to live their retirement years in tranquil and welcoming surrounds.

Set amongst 12 hectares of gardens and close to the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, this warm and inviting community is the perfect place for a rewarding retirement.

With the amenities you need, you will feel right at home at Walmsley.

Set among landscaped gardens, this inviting community has been designed to offer a comfortable and peaceful lifestyle at whatever pace you choose. Enjoy the range of onsite resort-style facilities, communal spaces and community rooms.

If you are looking to move to a friendly community where you can live independently with just a little extra assistance around the home, then a serviced apartment at Mt Eymard may be perfect for you.

Nestled among the gum trees and ferns of Sydney’s Cromer, Willandra Village is a peaceful and comfortable environment for you to enjoy. The thoughtfully designed community incorporates winding paths and boardwalks with bushland views.

F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

Mt Eymard Serviced Apartments

including the sparkling waters of Port Phillip Bay, a range of retail outlets and seashore strolls.

502 Moss Vale Road, Bowral NSW

† Starting price only, subject to availability and current at the time of publication.

Willandra Village 81 Willandra Road, Cromer NSW

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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PUZZLES

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22. Utzon’s masterpiece and one of the 20th century’s most famous and distinctive buildings, the Sydney ... House (5)

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10. The British Government did its best to prevent the publishing in Australia of retired MI5 employee Peter Wright’s autobiography, ...

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Remember, no number can occur more than once in any row, column or box.

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round the world single-handed and unassisted (3,6)

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Anagram square solution: Yeast, Aural, Clove, Hobby, Tweet. Mystery keyword: YACHT Lost its head: 1. Jeep, 2. Emit, 3. Lava, 4. Link, 5. Yank, 6. Burn, 7. Else, 8. Army, 9. Noon.

Mystery keyword: JELLYBEAN

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Sudoku puzzle

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F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

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1. “Out on the patio we’d sit; And the humidity we’d breathe; We’d watch the lightning crack over the cane fields,” sang GANGgajang, “Laugh and think, ...” (4,2,9)

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Do your block solution AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

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KANGARO O KOALA LACTATION MAR SUPIUM MILK NUMBAT PADEMELON PROTECTION Q UOKKA Q UOLL SUSTENANCE TEAT WOMBAT

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1 2 3 4 5 J E M A I A Solution: Yeast, Aural, Clove, Hobby, Tweet E I V N N Mystery keyword: YACHT P T A K K

9-letter word: SPECTATOR.

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Place all the words listed into the grid. Each word can be used once only.

the correct first 4 letters to spell a nine-letter word reading across, starting with the given letter.

5 This is the mystery keyword.

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Find all the words listed hidden in the grid of letters.

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Create words of four letters or more letters once only, but always including the middle letter.

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Rearrange the letters in each row to form a word.

Write your answers into the blank grid. The first letter from each word, reading down, will spell the mystery keyword.

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S E T Y A 2 L A U R A Anagram square Difficulty: 3 L V C E O Rearrange the letters in each row to4form a word. Write your answers Y B O B H into the blank grid. The first letter from each word, reading down, will spell the mystery keyword.

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PUZZLES

Sudoku solution AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

53

BALANCE

Speedy, healthy, versatile This quick vegetarian dish can easily be adapted to other greens: try it with asparagus, broccoli or broad beans

Zucchini, lemon and basil pasta SERVES 1

Ingredients 100g spaghetti or linguine 2 tbsp olive oil 1 banana shallot or 2–3 smaller shallots, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped A pinch of chilli flakes 1 zucchini, roughly grated or chopped Images courtesy Pan Macmillan, copyright Patricia Niven, 2018

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F LOU R I SH | NOV AU T U E M BER N 2019 2018

Leaves from a few sprigs of basil Grated zest Juice of ½ small unwaxed lemon Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Parmesan cheese, grated, to serve 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted, to serve

Method Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.

Meanwhile, heat half the olive oil in a separate frying pan over a low-medium heat, add the shallot and fry for about five minutes until soft, then add the garlic and chilli flakes and fry for a further minute.

Add the remaining olive oil, tip in the zucchini, season with salt and pepper and cook for a further one to two minutes, just long enough for the zucchini to absorb some of the flavour from the garlic, shallot and chilli.

Switch off the heat, add the basil leaves and allow the basil to wilt slightly before adding the lemon zest and juice.

Drain the pasta, and if the frying pan is large enough to hold the spaghetti or linguine, add it while it’s draining so you get a little of the pasta water mixing with the zucchini. Otherwise, add the zucchini mixture to the pasta pan after you’ve drained the pasta. Stir through and serve hot, with lots of grated Parmesan and the pine nuts scattered on top. ●

This is an edited recipe from Solo The Joy of Cooking for One by Signe Johansen. Published by Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan. 2018.

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

55

BAL ANCE

tip Revisit the 1970s and wrap bite-sized bits of cantaloupe in wafer-thin slices of prosciutto or jamon ham as a starter.

Prawn and seedless watermelon salad SERVES 2

Ingredients

Y Fragrant and delicious Melons offer scent, colour and flavour to make a salad delicious WORD S Jane Canaway

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F LOU R I SH | AU T U M N 2019

ou say cantaloupe and I say rockmelon. But you might also mean charentais, hami or new century — and that’s without exploring the lookalike cousins of the watermelon: honeydew, canary, bitter, horned and gac melons.

These delicious varieties are all members of the cucurbitaceae family — related to pumpkins and cucumbers — and share tough rind and soft, edible flesh that holds a mass of seeds. They grow on vines, their heavy fruit often hanging by fleshy stems that don’t look strong enough to hold them.

Nutritionally, melons have a high water content and provide good levels of minerals and vitamins A and C. When buying melons, choose ones that feel heavy for their size without soft spots. In Australia, we can harvest many varieties from spring to autumn. ●

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper 16 large prawns, peeled, tail intact 50g goat’s cheese or feta, cubed ¼ cup mint leaves 1 bag fresh baby rocket leaves 1 medium wedge seedless watermelon, cubed

Mix the olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper in a bowl. Reserve half of the mixture.

Add the prawns, and toss well.

Add the rocket and mint and gently mix.

Place the prawn and lettuce mix on a platter, sprinkle over the feta or goat’s cheese and top with the seedless watermelon cubes.

Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad and serve immediately.

Source: melonsaustralia.org.au Recipe provided by the Australian Melon Association Illustrations by Clementine (Illustrationroom.com)

AU T U M N 2019 | F LOU R I SH

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Australian Unity opens two new Aged Care facilities

est care when you need it, with t for your everyday choices.

- Campbell Place residents * Artist’s impression of Racecourse Grange Aged Care

Racecourse Grange Aged Care 428 Racecourse Road, Mornington VIC Located in the idyllic coastal suburb of Mornington, this brand new stylish residence with 127 private rooms is ideal for those who love open space and fresh air.

* Artist’s impression of Sienna Grange Aged Care

Sienna Grange Aged Care

32 John Oxley Drive, Port Macquarie NSW Sienna Grange is located in the beautiful coastal town of Port Macquarie. Whether it’s respite care or permanent care, with 68 private rooms, Sienna Grange delivers the right care when it matters most.

Call 1300 282 |604 arrange Campbell a tour today. on, Rathdowne Place GlentoWaverley, Place | Kilsyth, Walmsley Call 1300 290 598 to arrange a tour today. nsula Grange | Vermont South, Victoria Grange

ALES Northmead, Constitution Hill

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Permanent | Residential Care | Respite Care | Memory Support | Palliative Care australianunity.com.au/aged-care australianunity.com.au/assisted-living

es Pty Ltd ACN 065 558 134, Level 14, 114 Albert Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205. May 2018.