A SPORT FOR ALL AGES

Why not get a group together, call your local bowls club, find out when you can play and book in.

Many people think it’s just a case of rolling the bowl from one end of the green to the other.

It’s a lot more complex than that. There is a high level of skill associated with lawn bowls and with the support of an authorised coach you will soon find out what is required to elevate you from playing social bowls to playing pennant bowls or competing in tournaments held at bowls clubs around Australia.

It doesn’t matter how old you are once you get started you will want to get better and better at it and test out your bowling expertise against other bowlers.

The decision to take up lawn bowls rests with you. Don’t just think about it –do something about it.

No matter what Bowls Club you contact you will be welcomed and provided with every opportunity for lawn bowls to become your number one active sport – NO MATTER YOUR AGE.

Heritage games for adults

Fri 28 April, 9:00am - 5:00pm | Lilydale Library

Come and try your hand (and feet) at some heritage games! Many have been lost to time, others are old favourites. Bring some friends for a fun-filled adventure back through history. Games will be available all day for you to try (FREE). Bookings not required.

Robotic companion animals: a new addition to our Dementia Care Collection!

Fri 28 April, 10:00 - 11:00am Realm Library

Just like any other cat or dog, these furry robotic equivalents offer those with dementia comfort, companionship, and joy as they purr, meow, wag their tails, and much, much more. Come and watch library staff demonstrate this special, new addition to our Dementia Care Collection (FREE).

Wed 26 April, 2:00 - 3:30pm Ferntree Gully

Meet Barbara McCarthy, local author of Just a Hint of Autumn and My windows, my views...my life and travels. Barbara will speak about her books and experience of publishing at a mature age (FREE).

Naturopath

By Kathryn Messenger

Whilst most people will experience reflux with extreme fullness occasionally, often with overeating (think Christmas day!), but for some people this is a daily occurrence.

What’s going on?

In healthy digestion, food enters the stomach via the oesophagus through a valve called the lower oesophageal sphincter, which opens only to let food in, then it closes again. Reflux is when this sphincter opens at other times and lets food or stomach acid through, often causing a burning pain in the oesophagus or an acid taste in the mouth.

Why stomach acid is so important?

The acid in your stomach plays a very important role in breaking up foods, killing bacteria (along with other foreign substances like bugs). The stomach is an amazing organ in that the acid can destroy human cells and will burn anywhere else in the body, but the lining of the stomach prevents it from destroying the stomach itself.

The problem with antacids

What most people do when they have reflux, is to take an antacid. This makes sense, of course, since at first glance, the problem is too much acid in the oesophagus. What can happen here though, is that further problems develop because they haven’t treated the cause. The acid is really important in breaking up foods and low stomach acid can lead to reduced digestion. This means that the food sits in the stomach for longer, placing increased pressure on the sphincter, which in turn can lead to increased reflux.

What you actually want to do, is be sure that your stomach has enough acid, strengthen the sphincter, and heal the oesophagus if it has been damaged by the acid. Another important point is that your body produces less acid as you age, so extra care is required as time goes by.

How to increase acid production

Stomach acid is produced when your nervous system is in ‘rest and digest’ mode as opposed to ‘fight or flight’ mode, which I have talked about previously.