Your Time Sunshine Coast January 2016 Edition

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Your Time Your premier 55+ magazine

BEYOND THE OP SHOP

VOLUNTEERING CAN BE YOUR CHANCE TO FULFIL DREAMS AND TACKLE CHALLENGES

SUNSHINE COAST EDITION 10, JANUARY 2016

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Editor’s note

Contents

I

’m not much of a one for New Year resolutions, which always seem to be more about talk than action and seldom go beyond the month of January, if they get past the first week.

I had a good laugh when I read recently “My New Year resolution was to lose 5kg. Yippee, only 15kg to go”. That just about sums it up.

I’ve always found new year celebrations over-rated and a time of forced jollity. Let’s face it, nothing has ever actually changed after the clock struck 12, not even at the turn of the millennium.

Putting aside the “bah humbug”, the start of a new year is a good time

revisit life aspirations, which has led to this month’s talk about volunteering.

As Julie Lake points out, there’s so much to do if the meals on wheels kitchen or an op shop isn’t your thing.

It can be an opportunity to pursue some of the things that you have always wanted to try and can give an ‘in’ to all sorts of places and activities you thought you might never get to experience.

Also for the new year, we are introducing a trivia quiz. It’s compiled

by Allan Blackburn, a retired educator and a trivia buff who keeps himself amused writing trivia quizzes for seniors and trivia events.

He has the right mix of not too hard and not too easy, so hope you enjoy.

Other new features are planned for the year, but please feel free to make suggestions if there is something you would like to see included.

Dorothy Whittington, Editor

4

VOLUNTEERING

7

LETTERS

9

HISTORY

10

COMMUNITY

12

DOWNSIZING

14

MOTORING

16

TECHNOLOGY

18

YOUR WILL

26

AGELESS TIMES

27

HEALTH

28

FOOD

29

WHAT’S ON

30

TRAVEL

36

BOOK REVIEW

37

TRIVIA

38

PUZZLES

4

9

28

32

PUBLISHER Michelle Austin 5493 1368. EDITOR Dorothy Whittington 0435 822 846.

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COVER STORY

Volunteering – Beyond Vinnies Volunteering is an opportunity for people with time on their hands to put their skills and experience at the service of the community. For retirees it can also be a chance to learn new skills, fulfil dreams and tackle challenges outside the usual comfort zone, writes JULIE LAKE. volunteering opportunities for those still young and fit enough to embrace the concept of joining a new workforce – where the rewards are not measured by money. And it’s not only the larger organisations such as the Queensland Art Gallery, Museum and Science Museum that need volunteers – our region is full of smaller galleries and museums, such as the Army Museum and the MacArthur museum, where those willing to donate their time and

“Volunteers are matched with positions that best suit their skills and interests”

The author, Julie Lake, never imagined she would find herself on an excavator until she went hunting for dinosaur fossils at Winton.

A

lthough statistics show that volunteer numbers in Australia have actually dropped, the number of retiree volunteers is growing as fast as the many different options available.

Traditional volunteering situations

such as St Vincent De Paul, Salvation Army and RSPCA thrift shops retain their popularity.

Many of these have now gone up-scale in terms of content and marketing, requiring more expert salesmanship, display techniques and

even computer skills of their volunteers. Libraries, hospitals, art galleries and museums continue to rely on voluntary labour in many aspects of their operation.

Beyond these well-known areas, however, is a whole range of

life skills are always very welcome.

You can get involved in the arts, environmental conservation, sports, community welfare (refugees, people living with disabilities), faith-based programs, emergency services and animal welfare.

You can use or develop skills in research, administration, tutoring, retail and management.

The University of the Third Age (U3A) is always looking for instructors and online volunteering work is also becoming more common.

Volunteering in Queensland is

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COVER STORY

Eileen Walder committed to providing boots for a Bali soccer team and has now moved into helping out in other areas of the community.

sufficiently recognised by having its own patron (Governor of Queensland, The Hon. Paul de Jersey) and an ambassador, currently Diane Morgan, who has played many significant leadership roles in national and international volunteer associations, including as inaugural president of the Australian Association for Volunteering and CEO of Volunteering Queensland.

As such, she has been involved in the development of standards, accredited training courses, policy and procedures for volunteers in non-profit organisations and pays heartfelt tribute to “the great things that are achieved every day in communities through the power of people working together in volunteer action”.

Volunteering Queensland (volunteeringqld.org.au) is the peak body in this state and a good start for those wanting an overview of volunteering opportunities.

Its associated website linkki. volunteeringqld.org.au serves as a platform for directly linking would-be

volunteers to community and nonprofit groups that need them.

This organisation, like others involved in volunteering, offers training programs and endeavours to match volunteers with positions that best suit their skills and interests.

Volunteering Sunshine Coast (volunteeringsunshinecoast.com.au) for example, offers workshops in financial accountability and governance, publishing (e.g. newsletters), submission writing and leading volunteers.

At the time of writing it was seeking volunteers to drive Blue Care buses at Caloundra as well as those with art, music, and theatrical skills to support and assist the running and setting up of creative programs and activities in an aged care setting.

Those with a taste for outdoor activity and adventure can choose anything from citizen science wildlife projects to bush care to digging for dinosaurs.

Birdlife Australia and some private researchers at universities offer various programs throughout the year involving bird banding, monitoring and recording – often in remote parts of the country.

Caretaker positions for bird and other wildlife sanctuaries occasionally become available. Useful websites are birdlife.org.au and goeco.org.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service seeks volunteers for controlling weeds, collecting seeds, planting native trees, helping develop, maintain and inspect tracks, data collection, providing visitor information, taking guided walks, wildlife caring and monitoring.

Local Landcare Australia and bush

care groups always need volunteers and mostly provide training and opportunities to learn more about Australian flora. The work is not all physical – those who can handle administration work and grant applications are just as important.

When it comes to outdoor adventure, Queensland offers some unique volunteering opportunities through the Australian Age of Dinosaurs (australianageofdinosaurs. com) based at Winton.

For a modest fee (to help the project) you can learn to either dig for or prepare fossils –this activity has become so popular that you need to book well in advance.

Nonetheless the collection of unprepared fossils is huge and the number of people to work on them

small, so this volunteering opportunity is very worthwhile and something to boast about to your friends and family.

More information on this is offered through the Queensland Museum which also has several different volunteer categories.

Retired horticulturist and rainforest ecologist Bel Wadman, 70, is a keen volunteer who teaches Japanese with U3A, has designed revegetation schemes for Landcare, banded birds and worked on threatened species surveys and spent a couple of years collating fossils for the Queensland Museum.

“Best of all were the dinosaur digs,” she says. “They not only meant learning new skills but testing myself in tough conditions and weather extremes – they offered the perfect

Peter Hopgood has been a driving force behind providing a birthing suite at the Sigatoka regional hospital in Fiji. See his story on Page 34.

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COVER STORY late-life adventure”.

For some, the ultimate volunteering experience is overseas where projects for self-funded volunteering “holidays” include education, health care, construction, teaching, marine conservation and working with wildlife.

Popular choices with Australians include Project Vietnam and the Boon Lott elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Several websites give information on overseas volunteering and one of the best is gviaustralia.com.au which especially caters for over 50s.

Former teacher and journalist Elieen Walder, 72, has tackled a number of volunteer projects since retiring 10 years ago and one of her more recent ventures is Boots for Bali.

While on holiday she observed Balinese boys playing soccer without boots or uniforms and on her return to the Sunshine Coast contacted local football clubs

Animal rescue organisations, shelters and hospitals welcome volunteers who enjoy working with animals.

to donate their outgrown gear to the kids in Bali.

The project became successful enough to outfit several Balinese teams. She has also raised funds to equip a kindergarten in Bali.

“At first I wondered what the hell I was doing,” Eileen says, because she soon found herself busy with a variety of fundraising events.

“But then when you go there and hand over the clothes and toys and other equipment and see the joy and excitement on their faces your

realise it’s all worthwhile.

Besides,” she adds, “It gets me off my butt!”

Africa also offers volunteering opportunities in both wildlife and humanitarian programs.

Sunshine Coast couple Laurie and Jenny Humphrey, both in their 70s, are currently operating a school for underprivileged children in South Africa and welcome volunteers to help out, however briefly. Those interested can contact the Humphreys at lauriejen. zim57@yahoo.com.au.

Retired school teacher Ed Searles, 62, went to Nepal three times last year, for weeks at a time, working with the Nepal Education Fund (nepaledfund.ca). He loves it and says it gives him real purpose.

So if you’re looking for a really interesting and exciting new challenge in your retirement years why not make volunteering your new year’s resolution for 2016.

POSITIONS VACANT Here are some ideas close to home Noosa Care (Carramar and Kabara) is seeking communityminded professionals to become board members.

There are a number of vacancies available for a fresh and progressive generation of professionals to join our experienced board members.

Skills and experience would be in hospitality services, business or accounting. Noosa Care is a community-based, non-profit organisation. Carramar in Tewantin and Kabara in Cooroy have been providing high quality residential aged care to the Sunshine Coast districts for more than 30 years.

If you would like to be part of this well established organisation, contact Megan D’Elton on 5449 8799 or email megan@noosacare.com.au

Sunshine Coast Council has a variety of volunteering opportunities.

Libraries always welcome volunteers through Friends of the Library. There are also opportunities to work in adult literacy, pass on computer skills in the library, and assist with the detective work for the genealogy collection.

A home library service that ensures library materials are delivered to those who can’t get to the library relies on its volunteers.

A reader’s group has volunteers who visit nursing homes, hospitals and respite centres to read aloud to those who have limited reading ability.

Visit sunshinecoast.qld.gov. au and navigate to community and volunteering, for more ideas.

Volunteer tourism is a great way to really get under the skin of a travel destination. See Travel pages 34-35.

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Letters

Have your say. Send letters to Editor, Your Time Magazine, PO Box 6362, Maroochydore BC 4558 or email editor@yourtimemagazine.com.au

Driving rule makes no sense Like Russell Hunter (Nov) I let my Queensland licence lapse and upon return from PNG where I lived for 38 years, I also had to do the practical and written tests at the age of 68 years.

I had some bad habits according to the instructor on the day, fair enough after driving for all those years in a Third World country.

However I was floored, just like Russell, to be told in no uncertain terms that using the rearview mirror, side mirror or (as I did) the vehicle GPS navigation screen, were enough to fail me for a reverse park!

I did as requested and cricked my neck trying to see behind to do the manoeuvre and wondered why that rule is in place. I could quite frankly see even a tiny leaf behind me on the screen in my vehicle. The reason I was given “you need to actually look in case there is a small child/animal behind you” seems ridiculous.

I had a 100 per cent chance of seeing anything behind me on the screen. Looking manually I could see nothing below the window line!

Perhaps somebody from the Transport Department could enlighten both Russell and myself.

Patricia A Heron

Keep to the right etiquette In response to Delroy Oberg (Oct-Nov) no matter where one learns etiquette in relation to the left or right hand rule, would one drive on the left-hand side of the road if in country where the right-hand rule applies?

Passenger liners are predominantly built in overseas countries where the right-hand rule applies. Maritime law is consequently governed by the right-hand rule, knowledge I gained on my first cruise by attending a very interesting presentation in relation to the ship, history etc. given by a senior member of the crew.

Is it so difficult for us Australians and/or New Zealanders to at least learn that over half the world abides by the right-hand rule, including ships, and then have the courtesy to abide by the rules to leave a clear path.

Therefore Joyce Tozer in this instance was correct, as I have seen first-hand and can identify Australians and New Zealanders when I am continually being accosted by them

shipboard. Delroy’s comment “as if we know no better” hit the nail on the head some obviously don’t!

Heather Stothers Re “walking and driving on the left”. It is safer on roads without a sidewalk to walk or ride a mobility scooter, on the right so that you are facing oncoming traffic and can take evasive action if necessary. This is in fact mandated by the Queensland road rules.

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As we walked home with our warm milk, we dared each other to swing the billy around in a big arc, which we did, and we never lost the lid or spilt a drop – and the handle didn’t come off!

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GOOD TIMES

RETIREMENT GIVES TEACHER TIME TO WRITE

BELLY DANCERS WOW THE CROWDS

Erica Gore may have retired from classroom teaching, but her passion for children’s literacy has not lessened. In fact, it has fired up.

During more than 30 years as a primary school teacher, Erica noticed the difficulty many children had in making the transition from picture books to chapter books.

“They find it so hard to go from having the pictures there to provide cues and connection to the text to having a lot of words and having to create the pictures in their minds to form the connections,” she said.

She observed the frustration this caused and the resulting loss of interest in reading.

Using stories as the base for units of work she planned for her students, was

The Sun 60 belly dance group, with members aged 60 to almost 80, drew an enthusiastic audience when they performed two lively sessions at the Big Top Market Fresh in Maroochydore.

The dancers wowed a large group of spectators with their colourful costumes and their shimmying.

Julie Miqueaux, the founder of the belly dance group, said when someone suggests to a friend they might try a class the response is usually, “oh no, I could never show my belly to anyone”.

Her reply is that she has danced for 15 years and that her belly is always covered. She said dance movements are gentle, the music delightful and the costumes lots of fun.

Belly dance is a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise and is thus suitable for all ages. It is a good exercise for the prevention of osteoporosis in older people. Dancing with a veil can also help build strength in the upper body, arm and shoulders.

Belly dancing has traditionally been a dance for women, by women.

“It is an expression of joy, celebration and self expression,” Julie says.

The belly dancing group meets

the keystone of her teaching practice.

“I think stories are an easy way for children to engage with, and form understandings of, the world around them,” she said. And retirement meant there was time to write her stories down for a wider audience to enjoy..

Erica’s characters are average kids.

They do not have any special powers.

They do not live in any fantasy worlds.

They are like the kids she grew up with, the kids she taught, the kids who live in her street.

The main character, Taya, is the adventurous little girl who wonders about things and likes to figure out puzzles. She can be a scaredy-cat and she can be amazingly brave.

She has a best friend, Chris, who teases her and occasionally tries to curb her enthusiasm, but who is always there to back her up when things become difficult.

They are likeable kids with whom young readers can easily identify.

The Taya Bayliss mysteries have been used for literature units in Queensland and in English classes in Croatia.

Visit tayabaylissbooks.com or from independent bookstores.

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There is also an annual membership fee of $10 for Sunshine 60 & Better Group Inc. Although the Sun 60 office has moved from Maroochydore to Buddina there are still some activities at the Girl Guide Hut at Beach Rd, Maroochydore.

These are: Cards, Tuesday and Thursday 12.45pm-4pm; mahjong, Wednesday, 12.45-4pm; Croquet and Rummikub, Friday 9am-3pm; Darts and Rummikub, Tuesday 9am-noon.

Activities previously held at Maroochydore such as art, cards, computer tutorials, craft, gentle exercise, mah jong, moving to music, tai chi and brainazine will continue at the new Buddina location.

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HISTORY

The best bush tucker around The bunya nut and the bunya tree were deeply significant to Aborigines and historian AUDIENNE BLYTH writes that bunya season is now in full swing.

Last January saw a large crop and cones were often given away.

I

n the 1840s, Tom Petrie was the only non-indigenous person ever to witness a great bunya feast in the Blackall Ranges.

Aboriginal groups from near and far gathered in the bunya season for feasting and celebration, singing and dancing, retelling stories and holding sporting matches .

Here was a major cultural event, a kind of inter-tribal parliament and well established pathways led to the event.

Andrew Petrie, Tom’s father, recognised the bunya tree as a valuable food source for Aborigines and in 1842, he persuaded Governor Gipps to

declare the district north of Moreton Bay and south of the Maroochy River off limits to timber-getters and squatters.

The declaration was called the Bunya Proclamation and forbade the issue of licences to cut timber but in 1860 it was reversed when Queensland became a separate colony. Timbergetters and pastoralists moved in.

Bunya trees, Araucaria bidwillii, are named after John Carne Bidwill (1815 – 1853) who migrated to Sydney in 1838. He explored and collected botanical specimens in both New Zealand and Australia. As Commissioner of Crown Lands in Wide Bay he returned specimens of the bunya tree to Kew Gardens in London and so the tree was named after him.

Poor Bidwill died while only a young man due to privations suffered when lost in bushland.

Some people believe the bunya tree should have been named Araucaria petriana after Andrew Petrie (1798 – 1872) as he was the first to return with

Bunya nuts about to be boiled.

Aborigines did not have cooking pots so enjoyed the nuts raw or roasted in hot coals.

specimens to Sydney. Petrie was appointed Supervisor of Works to the convict settlement of Moreton Bay and in the early 1840s explored bunya country, the area now known as the Sunshine Coast.

Where bunya trees are grown in parks or streets, councils use cherry pickers to collect the cones before they fall and before damage is done. They are best grown well away from civilisation as they are too dangerous for suburbia. The large cones generally weigh up to 6kg, sometimes more, and contain dozens of hard-shelled nuts that can be kept in the crisper or cold room for year-round supply.

Last January produced a record crop. Some trees dropped more than 30

cones. It is expected that for at least the next two years the trees will produce very little or nothing.

Your local fruit shop may have some or if you drive out into the country there may be some at the roadside.

Newcomers generally do not like the taste of bunya nuts, while those who have acquired the taste like to have a seasonal feed, raw, boiled or roasted.

Old timers cooked them long and slow with the corned beef. Bush tucker advocates use them in curries and stir fries as well as grinding them for biscuits and cakes.

When they are roasted on hot coals the outside husk is easily removed.

Since 2007 local indigenous groups have been rebuilding the tradition of an annual bunya celebration.

At Mimburi in the Obi Obi Valley alongside the Mary River, at the peak of the bunya season, they gather to tell stories, have competitions, play games, present cooking demonstrations and generally socialise at Bunya Dreaming.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

CROQUET’S HIGH HOOPS BRING IN A LIST OF LOCAL WINNERS

Members of the Sunshine Coast Doll, Bear, Craft and Miniatures Club hand the trauma teddies to Senior Constable Mark Readman.

DOLL CLUB DONATES TRAUMA TEDDIES The Sunshine Coast Doll, Bear, Craft and Miniatures Club has donated dozens of trauma teddies to the care of Senior Constable Mark Readman, to assist investigators when dealing with child abuse and domestic violence cases.

This gifts comfort children going through difficult circumstances and provide police with a way to show empathy and establish a rapport. The club raises money from activities and its annual show at Buderim in July.

Money raised is used to support children’s charities on the Sunshine Coast. The club’s next show is July 16.

The club meets on the second Monday of each month at 9am at Kawana Library.

Ross Rillie of Maroochydore Kyle Mula of Deniliquin.

Croquet has been overlooked with so many sports on offer but it’s alive and well, with local members proving their sporting ability on the national and world scene.

HeadlandBuderim Croquet

Club members, Ross and Helen Rillie, recently competed In the Australian Croquet Association national golf croquet handicap tournament in Deniliquin NSW. Ross won on home turf at Headland-Buderim in 2013, travelled to Deniliquin NSW to unsuccessfully defend his title in 2014, vowed to return to Deniliquin this year and he did. Ross and Helen were doubles runners-up at Deniliquin, and were reserves for the Queensland team in golf croquet in Tasmania in late

September. Kathleen Colclough, also from HBCC playing Association has also had success competing in the Scottish Open at Edinburgh, WCF women’s championship in Nottingham and many Australian events.

Croquet has all the elements for great competitive and social play for all ages. Three disciplines - association, ricochet and golf croquet are all played at Headland-Buderim.

Visit croquetqld.org or call 0423 534 909

USE IT OR LOSE IT – LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE AND EXERCISE YOUR MIND Does the card game of bridge improve your memory and ward off dementia?

Many scientists think so, and bridge players are among a select group often chosen by scientists for study and on-going research. But staying mentally alert and relevant is just one aspect of learning and playing bridge.

Friendship and the social interaction that rises from a shared interest is also part and parcel of the game.

The Sunshine Coast Contract Bridge clubs runs beginners classes just once a year. Bookings are now being taken for the next series starting Wednesday,

March, 2. The course runs over 14 weeks, including four review sessions.

The classes are held Wednesday mornings from 9am to 12 noon.

Instructor Wendy O’Brien said beginners were then skilled enough to join supervised play which is held at the club every Wednesday morning when the course has completed.

Beginners or those taking the course as a refresher can then choose from several levels of play with games held throughout the week at the clubrooms at the northern end of the Elizabeth Daniels Sports Complex on

Syd Lingard Drive, Buderim.

Visit suncoastbridge.com.au call 5444 7574

At Chancellor Park, Buderim Contract Bridge Club, meets at the Hibiscus Retirement Resort and will offer bridge lessons for 10 weeks from February 3.

Lessons commence at 9am and text books, lesson sheets and homework will be provided. Cost is $30. After the lessons, supervised bridge with planned hands is held for six weeks.

Call Joan Keeley 5456 1934 or visit buderimbridgeclub.com

10 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TOY MAKERS DELIVER FOR CHILDREN

The Sunshine Statesman perform for the Glasshouse Country View Club.

GLASSHOUSE VIEW Glasshouse Country View Club enjoyed an informative talk on smoke alarms by Adrian Butler, a former full-time fireman and co-founder and chairman of the World Fire Safety Foundation.

He spoke about “photoelectric alarms” which detect smoke and “toaster” alarms which detect burning toast but not smouldering smoke.

The newest member Chris Essex received her badge.

The Sunshine Statesmen entertained for the Christmas party.

The next outing is Wednesday, January 6, at the Glasshouse Lookout Café, Woodford road, at 10am.

Call Pauline 5438 7589 to attend.

Residents of Buderim Gardens, have made hundreds of children’s gifts of soft toys and dolls and wooden toys, through the women’s craft group and the men’s hobby shed, for donation to needy children through the Salvation Army.

Four other charities supported this year were the Women’s Shelter, RACQ Flight Rescue, Guide Dogs and the Rural Volunteer Fire Brigade, who received donations of money raised during the year by fundraising activities.

The annual toys appeal was started

by Ness Crosthwaite in 1983 and has grown into an annual event.

Sadly, at the age of 97 and because of ill health, she is unable to continue her activity.

Craft group convenor Linda Luxford paid a special tribute to Ness for her generous effort in the past.

Buderim Gardens craft group members.

OVER 55s DESIGNER LIVING

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Here you will find a place to capture the precious moments that define, enrich and centre you. An over 55s community where you can find yourself again, at your own pace.

It’s Beachmere time.

CALOUNDRA VIEW

GIFT GALLERY SURPRISE The Gift Gallery is a treasure trove tucked away at 5 North St, Caloundra, opposite Rydges resort.

A creative outlet for quality local art and craft from members of the Caloundra Arts Centre Association, it celebrated its 20th birthday on December 2.

The Gift Gallery has a selection genuine and unique, locally hand-made goods, including pottery, fine needlework, crochet and tatting, porcelain painting, art works, silk painting, woodwork, baby and children’s wear, jewellery, quilts and homewares, cards and more.

Items make beautiful gifts for all occasions. Visitors are welcome to call in and browse.

The gallery is open every day from 10am-4pm except Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day.

Caloundra Evening View welcomed 24 members to the Naked Turtle at Kings Beach last month.

This is a monthly social event which has proved very popular, especially with women new to the club. As well as supporting The Smith Family, View clubs give members of all ages the opportunity to become involved in activities and connect with others who share their interests.

The club meets for dinner on the second Tuesday evening of each month at the Caloundra Power Boat Club, Golden Beach.

To find out more about Caloundra View in 2016 call Sandra 5491 3669 or email caloundraview@hotmail.com

View members enjoying the social, from left, Val Davis, Sandra Harding, Maurine Lamont, Sue Anderson, Rosemary Laughren and Judy Gardiner.

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January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 11

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PROPERTY

Look back and move forward with your downsize The thought of downsizing from a big home, your safe haven, can be daunting but JODIE McDONELL says look back and you can move forward.

O

ne of the most effective starting points to downsizing is found in looking back.

Take the time to remember what it was like when you first moved out of the family home to live in a unit or house with friends.

Remember how you were chasing the freedom and fun of living independently?

Remember how you only needed a certain amount of space since you were actually looking for lifestyle?

Remember how location was important, close to restaurants, night spots, and the beach?

Remember how you could get by with the minimum of “stuff” and still live and love life?

You didn’t need much and guess what ... nothing much has changed.

You can still choose to live like that.

If you can look past where you’ve come to - the amount of furniture you have acquired, the ornaments you’ve collected, the crockery you’ve treasured - and lay yourself bare, you will find the ideal starting point to

downsizing.

You see, it’s those overwhelming thoughts of “how can we possibly fit all our possessions from our family home into a three bedroom/two bathroom unit or townhouse?”

The fact is, you can’t, and there’s every chance you don’t need to.

You really need to get your mind around that first and once you have, there are many strategies to successfully achieve the downsizing process.

Start by being honest with yourself as you move through the home and see the amount of “stuff” you haven’t used for years. Begin in the kitchen and be brutally honest with yourself in regard to the crockery you possess, the cutlery you store, the bowls, pots and pans you have.

How about all those electrical appliances? How long since you’ve used even half of them, really? Dig and delve, pause and reflect.

Move along to the garage now and be astonished by the amount of gear you don’t even take off the shelf any

more - the water skis propped up against the wall, the gym equipment which has been shoved into a corner, the surf boards and golf clubs.

How about all that “stuff” the kids have asked you to store?

The bedroom and hallway cupboards will reveal even more in regard to how little you need to get by

“Be honest with yourself as you move through and see all the ‘stuff’ you no longer use.” as you recognise things you haven’t set eyes on for years.

Another very important thing to look back on is the amount of maintenance that big home has required over the years.

Think about the weekends in the garden when you could have been relaxing over a long Sunday lunch overlooking the water somewhere.

The housework is a major factor.

The handyman hours spent on little jobs around the home, let alone the regular mowing of the yard and cleaning of the pool.

Looking back on all this will motivate you to move forward into making a decision to downsize.

Finally, make sure you take the time to reflect on the many happy times of years gone by.

They are precious memories and you can take them with you when you go to your next home.

They don’t take up any space to store and you can call on them whenever you want. You’ll continue to add to them, just in a different place.

So, looking back will actually help you move forward into a lifestyle like no other where you’ll have time, precious time, to travel, read, ride a bike, go for a walk, do coffee with friends, shop, snooze, breathe, pray, live.

Jodie McDonell is a downsizing specialist at Century 21 On Duporth Call 0419 762 309.

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12 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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WE’VE GOT ROOM FOR ALL SORTS OF CHARACTERS. Lendlease Retirement Living has a place for everyone.

Ask us about our $7,000 bonus offer today!*

One of the great things about living in a Lendlease retirement village is the characters you meet.

We call them “lifestyle inspirees”. Our residents inspire each other with their hobby groups, socialising, health activities, tours and events.

They are living proof that life in a retirement village is good for you!

Right now, we’re inspiring more people to join the Lendlease community, with a $7,000 incentive.

PURCHASE AND SETTLE BEFORE 30 JUNE 2016 AT ONE OF FIVE QUEENSLAND VILLAGES AND WE’LL GIVE YOU $7,000 TO SPEND AS YOU WISH.* Offer applies to Buderim Gardens, Hibiscus Chancellor Park, Bellflower Retirement Resort, The Terraces and The Gardens on Lindfield.

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MOTORING

Victory over the dreaded vehophobia Vehophobia, the fear of driving, is a very real condition and as KATE CALLAHAN explains, it can happen to anyone at any time.

I

n 2003, while driving back to Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast, I fell asleep at the wheel. It was a microsleep that could not have lasted more than a second or two, but for a brief moment on that warm Sunday afternoon I lost consciousness and was unaware of driving south in the fast lane.

Jolted awake by I know not what, I felt fear, the like of which I had never before experienced. My body surged with adrenaline and I was overwhelmed with a desire to pull over, but somehow resisted.

I knew for sure that if I stopped the car, that would be it. I would be stranded on the side of the highway, somewhere east of Glasshouse, paralysed by fear.

In a state of horrible hypervigilance, I completed the trip home uneventfully enough, but for me the pleasure of driving was gone forever.

I had always loved driving. Just days after turning 17, I had a driver’s licence to go with the new yellow Volkswagen Super Bug Mum and Dad

had so generously bought me. In the ‘70s, driving tests were still undertaken by police officers. As luck would have it, I scored a handsome redhead, a senior constable with a charming smile that matched his good looks.

He was quick to tell me he had gone to school with my older brother, which made him a good bloke in my books.

Frank, which is what he told me to call him, put me through the usual battery of on-road tests – hill starts, reverse parks, three point turns. Then he tested my knowledge of road rules.

Being a conscientious type of person, I knew my motoring theory backwards and passed with flying colours, or so said Frank when he handed me my newly minted licence.

For the next 29 years, there was no stopping me. I drove with the supreme confidence of youth. I beetled (pardon the pun) around the highways and byways of Queensland, clocking up 30,000km a year, often more.

My car was my most prized possession. It meant freedom, exhilaration, and adventure. Provided I

had fuel in the tank or money in my pocket, I could jump in the car on a whim and go wherever the spirit moved me – and I often did.

In the 1980s I drove back and forth from the Sunshine Coast to uni in Brisbane and nothing kept me from class. Rain, hail or shine, I was there.

To say I felt comfortable behind the wheel is an understatement. I particularly liked driving the road between Mapleton and Nambour. It had sweeping curves and winding sections that I knew by heart. And the views were spectacular, particularly in spring when the sunflowers on Dulong Range were in bloom.

In those days, I was unphased by

fog, rain and dark nights and the steep descents; and precipitous roadside drops along the Blackall Range were opportunities to admire the view from the driver’s seat.

Even a nasty collision with a stray steer in pea-soup fog failed to dent my confidence, although if luck had not been with me that night I could have ended up as dead as the beast I hit.

So what went wrong that Sunday afternoon in 2003? How did a momentary snooze behind the wheel turn me from Courageous Kate to Nervous Nellie in the blink of an eye?

I’m stumped if I know, though I have had years to come up with a sensible answer.

What I do know is that driving anxiety is very common, although few people care to admit they suffer from it.

It can range in severity from a minor reluctance to drive to a total refusal to drive, in which case it moves into the territory of a genuine phobia, a fear that is as paralysing as it is irrational.

Irrational and insidious. As anxiety erodes confidence, it is slowly but

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14 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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17/12/2015 10:37:57 AM

MOTORING The Man from Snowy River was a particularly effective distraction.

I nibbled on carrots, raw almonds and apples but eventually the crunch came as crunches invariably do.

In 2012, life threw me another curveball and I absolutely, definitely, positively had be able to drive to the Gold Coast. It was clear choice between confronting my motorway fear head-on or living as a disappointment to myself and those around me.

To employ the modern idiom, it was a no-brainer. I sought professional help and two months later I drove solo to the Gold Coast.

Was it hard? Very. Was it pleasant? Not at all. But I did it and have done it many times since.

Earlier this year, I undertook a 1300km solo road trip from the Southern Tablelands of NSW to the Gold Coast.

The satisfaction I experienced as I pulled into the garage at the end of the trip was simply sublime.

That disruptive child that once ruled the roost had been well and truly tamed.

IT’S NOT your imagination Driving phobia is one of the most common phobias.

Anxiety can range in severity from a hesitation to drive, where anxiety is always present, all the way up to a total refusal to drive at all, in which case it becomes driving phobia. A phobia is a fear that is paralysing but irrational.

bottom of the fear, traces why it has taken root and helps provide Driving • Face your fear with positive thoughts and visualising ideal situations. • Talk about your fear • Take defensive driving lessons or join special groups.

Email me kate@yourtimemagazine. com.au or write to Kate Callahan, Your Time Magazine, PO Box 6362, Maroochydore BC 4558.

OVERCOMING VEHOPHOBIA • Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective therapies as it gets to the

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surely replaced by dread. What was once taken for granted and done almost automatically becomes increasingly difficult, insurmountable even. Like driving over bridges and down steep hills, or overtaking B-doubles out on the highway.

Motorways become no-go zones and the prospect of rain is enough to change firm plans and keep the car in the garage.

At its most severe, my driving anxiety was debilitating. Particularly when I was tired and stressed, it ruled the roost and, like a disruptive child, seriously curtailed my movements.

I had to choose my routes carefully to avoid areas of special sensitivity.

Sometimes I was unable to drive over the Story Bridge or use the Riverside Expressway.

The motorways to the north and south of Brisbane were beyond me and the Gateway Bridge became a massive metal symbol of my fear and failing.

For 10 years, I battled the beast. I read widely in search of a cure and tried all manner of self-help remedies from relaxation exercises and meditation to active distraction.

I listened to music, talking books and poetry CDs. Fred Hollows reading

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35 Walter Hay Drive, Noosaville www.noosadomain.com.au January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 15

15.indd 3

16/12/2015 1:26:19 PM

TECHNOLOGY

Why is my internet not working?

Take control of your TV

The modem router can be easily overlooked. NATHAN WELLINGTON explains its importance.

TV is changing for the better, says iPad Man COLIN DUNKERLEY

I

f Santa Claus brought you many wonderful new technology presents to play with, then it’s time to check your modem router.

Many clients when buying the latest computer or tablet ignore this little device that is gathering dust beside the phone.

I usually suggest if you are upgrading your computer, it’s best to upgrade your modem router at the same time.

This little box with lights flashing and connected to the phone line, is now one of the most important pieces of technology in your home.

It connects all your devices, your smart TV and stereo to the internet.

Even wireless security cameras, air-conditioning units and fridges are set to use this little modem router as well.

Look at replacing you modem router every three years, as more and more devices are connected.

There are many different modem routers out there and you definitely get what you pay for, so don’t skimp on the

cheapest as it will only cause you headaches.

If you are on the hunt for a new modem router, look for one that is NBN ready, has 2.5ghz and 5ghz wireless and using a 802.11ac network at around 1000mbps.

I can explain the ins and outs of what all this means but suffice to say these specs will help future-proof the growing need for internet and for helping your household items talk to each other, and to stream media.

Next month, we will look at troubleshooting tips to get you back on track if you are having issues with your current modem router.

Email: Nathan@hometechassist. com.au or call 1300682817.

The quality of live TV has been deteriorating for years but it is especially evident at this time when there are no serious ratings surveys and the free-to-air stations keep throwing repeats and fill them with lots of ads.

It’s your time so take control of it.

Instead of watching a show when the TV station wants to deliver it, you can watch what you want, when you want through your iPad, laptop or even send it to your TV through a small black box called an Apple TV (starting from $109 at your local electrical retailer) If you are prepared to spend a little more ($269) you can even have an Apple TV that has the simplest remote control that has ever been made.

It has just seven buttons and voice control. Yes, Apple’s voice assistant Siri is built into the remote allowing you to ask the TV to find you movies, apps, the weather plus much more.

You can even ask it “what did that person just say” and it will back up 30 seconds and put the subtitles on the screen.

It is brand new technology and is

only going to get better as more apps are produced for the platform.

Look out how apps have changed mobile phones. This will do the same for television.

Every TV station now has an app for iPad: ABC iView, SBS On Demand, 7Plus, 9Jumpin, TenPlay and if you are a Foxtel subscriber, you can even watch Foxtel on your iPad. Services such as Netflix, Stan and Presto allow you to watch incredible amounts of TV shows, all without ads, when you want starting from just $10 a month.

YouTube has millions of hours of great content from gardening shows to cooking shows (and everything in-between). Apple TV’s There’s much to see. Siri remote Want to know more? Email The iPad Man yourtime@ipadlessons.com.au

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16 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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16/12/2015 1:26:40 PM

Halcyon Lakeside BLI BLI

17.indd 3

14/12/2015 4:23:44 PM

WEALTH

Any resolutions for your estate?

Give some thought to a resolution for this year. JOHN DE GROOT suggests a review of your will and assets, their current status and whether there is need for revision.

L

et’s consider two aspects of estate planning: Protecting our assets and their value by use of a testamentary trust and gaining control of perhaps our most valuable asset – our superannuation fund, which is not part of a deceased estate and so is not distributed under the terms of the will (unless the trustee pays it to the estate).

Two reasons for including a testamentary trust in a will are to provide protection for assets and beneficiaries.

A discretionary testamentary trust allows the trustee to distribute all or part of the estate to beneficiaries.

Of course, the will maker can give certain directions, but

the fundamental premise of the trust is that the estate assets, while they remain in the trust, are not under the ownership of any particular beneficiary, but are subject to the trustee’s discretion.

Recently, these trusts have expanded to include unit, fixed, hybrid and linealdescendant trusts.

The type of trust can be chosen to meet particular circumstances. Briefly, benefits include: BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION Where the will leaves property absolutely to a beneficiary, the property is not protected from a trustee in bankruptcy.

However, a trustee in bankruptcy cannot access the assets of a testamentary trust

under the Bankruptcy Act 1966.

FAMILY LAW Without a great deal of judicial consideration given by the Family Court, it is difficult to determine the Court’s attitude to testamentary trusts.

To date, assets held in a testamentary trust are regarded as a financial resource, but have not been the subject of division in a property settlement.

Although a financial resource potentially has some effect on the terms of a Family Court order, it is preferable to an absolute gift by will which will undoubtedly be at the disposal of the Family Court.

TAXATION A testamentary trust can attract considerable tax

Time to talk aged care?

fund can be established that will not affect social security benefits received by the beneficiary.

Next month, your superannuation fund.

savings under 102AG, Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 which provides that children are assessed at the normal tax rate (being $18,200 tax free and the balance at the normal marginal adult rates).

VULNERABLE BENEFICIARIES Will makers express concern about beneficiaries who are vulnerable, for example, a spendthrift or a substancedependent child. The trustee is given the discretion to distribute the assets, which are held in trust, to a vulnerable beneficiary.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES It is not uncommon that people suffering from various disabilities are unable to manage properly their financial affairs. An adequate

Dr John de Groot is Special Counsel at de Groots Wills and Estate Lawyers.

Visit degroots.com.au

A look on the light side An elderly client went to see her solicitor. “Oh dear, you’re a good lawyer, I want you to make me another will, just like the one you made for me last time. “It’s been 10 years since you made it and it hasn’t given me a moment’s trouble.� ( A true story)

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SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL PROMOTION

Shaping our

Future

Becoming Australia’s most sustainable region – vibrant, green, diverse

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14/12/2015 4:18:22 PM

The Sunshine Coast is on the move and Council is working with our community to become Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sustainable region â&#x20AC;&#x201C; vibrant, green, diverse.

Prrottec P ectit ng g and en nh han anc ciing ng our ur env nvia abl ble lifest sttyl yle a an nd na natura ttu ura rall en e viro ro onm nmen e t an and bu uilild ding ing g a str tron on o ng ec con ono omy wh omy om hic ch cr crea ate tes es jo obs bs iss att the e cor o e off everyyth t in ing ng w we e do.

Everr y day, in a variet etyy of et o way a s, s Cou o nc ciill is w rk wo rkin ing g wi with th ourr co om mmu m uniitiies so they eyy can an contin ti ue e to en enjo oy a life fest fe e tyle thatt is se econd cond d to non o e.

W et Wh ethe herr it is ma he main in nta ain ning road ds, s, pat athw hw way ays ys an nd br brid idge ges; ge s sup s; uppo po port ort rtin in ng comm co omm mun unitity ty grou gr oups ou ps; ma ps; ps m na nagi ging gi ng our parks arrks k , bu bush s la sh and and rese an rese re s rrv ves;; or pro oviidi ding ng sport po ortt, r cr re c ea eati tion ti o , cu on cultltltur ural fac ural acilillititie ie es an nd lilibr brar br arie ar ie ies, es tth hesse fa aci cililiti ties ti ess, se serv r ic i ess and n nat nd atur ural ral a ass s ets etts all su al upp ppor o t ou or ourr co comm mmun mm u ittie un iess to t rem emai ain ai n conn co n ec e te ed, acc cces essi es sibl si ble bl e an a d viibr b an nt. t Su unshi hiine ne Coa ast s Cou o nc ncilil has one e of th the e stro st rong ng ge esst fi f na n nc n ia al p po osi s ti t on ns am mon ong g co oun unci cilss in cils n Au Aust stra st alia. Thi hiss e en nab able le es Co oun unci ciil c to inv to nves nves e t in n the fac cillittie es a an nd se erv rvic ices ic e tha es hatt ourr co ou commun unititty re requ eq qu uires ires â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whi ir hile le e at th t e sa ame me tim me pr p og gre ress ssin ss ing in g majo majo jor in jor inititia ia ati tive ve es to t shap sh ape a sttro ong fut utur ure e fo or ou ur re r si s de d nts nt an nt and d futu fu tu ure gen e er erations.

Very Ve ery y few cou unc cills in Queen en nsl slan a dh ha ave ave e the ca apa p city and d res e ources to do both.

We e are sha api p ng g a Sunshine Co oas a t where ourr re essiide entts ca can ac a cess what they need, re ema main n con onne onne ect cted ed with th he world, pursu su ue a wo w rt rth hwhi hwhi hw hile le car le aree ee er locally and live in an n envi viro onm men e t th ha att is both beautiful and po pr op perly er y nur urtu tu ure red d â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a place where we e can liive ve, w wo orrk k and play.

Our social vision Our co Our Ou comm mmun nitty wi will illll con onti tn nu ue to o thr hrivve a hriv an nd e en njo njo joy a OLO IHVW IH HVW VW\O VW\ \OH H WWK KDW D VHW HWV V XV XV DSD XV SDUUWW ,Q ,,Q Q DOO RI RX RXU U FR RP PP PXQ XQLWLWWLH LHV V SHRS SHRS SH RSOH H DUH H LQ QFFOX XG GH HG G DQ QG WU WUHD HDWH WHG Z ZLLWK WK UHV HVS HVSH SH HFW F DQG QG RSSR RS SSR SRUWXQ SRUW UWWXQ XQLWWLLH XQLW HV V DUUH D DYYDL DLOD DEO E H WR WR DOOOO

Serving the community 7KH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW LV RQH RI WKH EHVW SODFHV RQ earth to live thanks to the many who came before us and contributed in so many ways.

We are embarking on one of the most exciting chapters in the history of the Sunshine Coast and it is our responsibility to build on the contributions and achievements of those who came before us and add to the vibrancy and desirability of the Sunshine Coast.

The Sunshine Coast Social Strategy 2015 outlines Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s priorities in building a stronger Sunshine Coast community.

The strategy aims to achieve four targets: 1. Sunshine Coast to maintain its ranking as the healthiest region in Queensland

Council achieves this by: â&#x20AC;˘ maintaining nearly 3000 kilometres of roads, 448 bridges and more than 1100 kilometres of pathways â&#x20AC;˘ working with more than 1800 not-for-profit community groups on services and programs that help our community in a variety of ways â&#x20AC;˘ helping our residents remain informed and connected with each other through our eight libraries and two mobile libraries. There are more than one million visits to our libraries each year â&#x20AC;˘ encouraging active lifestyles through 10 aquatic centres with more than one million visits annually

2. Increase in the number of people who benefit from Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s funding programs

â&#x20AC;˘ supporting the staging of significant events and performances which generate $65.5 million in economic activity within the region

Win an Events Centre Caloundra Golden Theatre Pass

3. Increase in the frequency that the population attends Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s venues, aquatic facilities, libraries, gallery and events

â&#x20AC;˘ providing about 10.4 million domestic and commercial garbage collections each year through contracted arrangements

4. Increase in the population contributing to volunteering from one in five to one in four.

â&#x20AC;˘ providing more than $3 million per annum in rate discounts to pensioners

Win a double pass to any 10 of the best shows playing at The Events Centre Caloundra during 2016, as chosen by the winner.

Underpinning our Social Strategy are the services and facilities Council provides for its residents and visitors.

â&#x20AC;˘ enhancing beach safety through contracted patrols of 21 beaches

Imagine that â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a whole year of music, comedy, dance, theatre and concert tickets valued at about $1200!

Visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and view the Shaping the Future Ă&#x20AC;LSERRN ÂżOO RXW WKH VXUYH\ and go in the draw to win. Entries close 22 February 2016. &RQGLWLRQV DSSO\

20.indd 2

Council serves a community of more than 280,000 permanent residents every day in many ways.

Much of this work often goes unnoticed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; however it is crucial for maintaining the liveability of our region.

â&#x20AC;˘ providing development approval fee reductions and rebate discounts of more than $300,000 annually to not-for-profit organisations â&#x20AC;˘ supporting the community to lead an active, vibrant, lifestyle through 16 sports venues, 10 performance venues, a gallery and eight community halls.

14/12/2015 4:19:30 PM

Did you know?

• the Sunshine Coast region has been ranked the healthiest in Queensland • 307 not-for-profit organisations benefit from Council’s community funding program

Melbourne Storm $Q H[FLWLQJ QHZ SDUWQHUVKLS KDV EHHQ IRUPHG EHWZHHQ 6XQVKLQH Coast Council and Melbourne Storm NRL club. Sunshine Coast Stadium is now home base for the Storm under 20s National <RXWK &RPSHWLWLRQ WHDP DQG $FDGHP\ 7KH 6WRUP VHQLRU VTXDG ZLOO KROG SUH VHDVRQ DQG LQ VHDVRQ FDPSV RQ WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW as well as a trial game in February 2016 against the West Tigers.

• on average, one person attends Council’s major venues, aquatic facilities, libraries, gallery and events 10 times per year • one in five of our population contributes to volunteering • about 640,000 people enjoyed 4300 events at Council-owned venues.

• about 800,000 people enjoyed Sunshine Coast Stadium, Caloundra Indoor Stadium, Nambour Showgrounds and Maroochydore Multi-Sports Complex.

Connecting our residents through our venues and facilities

The world is coming to the Sunshine Coast in 2016

3HUIRUPDQFH DQG FRPPXQLW\ YHQXHV DUH D YDOXDEOH DVVHW RI WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW 7KH\ KHOS EULQJ SHRSOH together and add to the vitality of our region.

The Sunshine Coast is fast becoming the major HYHQWV FDSLWDO RI UHJLRQDO $XVWUDOLD

These vibrant hubs support many community and cultural activities including theatre, concerts, cinema, major touring productions, cultural initiatives, recreation activities, programs and workshops. School-based activities, conferences, expos, meetings, and key community events such as school formals, weddings, graduations and eisteddfods also take place in Council’s venues.

Council’s community venues hosted almost 4300 events this year, attracting more than 638,000 patrons.

Council has five key performance and community venues: • The Events Centre Caloundra – Council’s primary performance venue welcomed 100,000 patrons in 2015 • Lake Kawana Community Centre – Council’s primary community venue • Coolum Civic Centre which has been newly refurbished and adjoins the upgraded 2.6 hectare Jack Morgan Park • Kawana Community Hall

Kicking goals in sport The Sunshine Coast Stadium is the premier venue for sport, leisure and outdoor entertainment for the Sunshine Coast.

The stadium has a capacity of 1050 in the tiered grandstand, and can accommodate 15,000 people for an outdoor event.

For the love of art If art is to your liking, then the Caloundra Regional Gallery and the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden Arts and Ecology Centre hold regular exhibitions. More than 50 exhibitions and programs are held annually and their popularity is increasing. In fact the number of program attendees doubled in 2015 as residents and visitors discovered these community assets.

wide range of exciting national and international level events, strengthening our reputation as a destination of choice. Join us in putting out the welcome mat to our guests. Highlights include: 11 to 13 March Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival (est. 11,300 visitors) 16 to 24 April Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (est. 22,000 visitors) 5 to 15 May Va’a World Outrigger Sprint Championships (est. 5000 visitors) 4 September Ironman 70.3 World Championships (est. 9600 visitors) 8 to 15 October Australasian Police and Emergency Services Games (est. 7400 visitors)

Caloundra Regional Gallery

• Beerwah and District Community Hall.

Council is also working with Majestic Cinemas to ensure the former Nambour Civic Centre continues to contribute towards the revitalisation of Nambour.

21.indd 3

14/12/2015 4:19:11 PM

Nurturing our environment 7KH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW LV ZLWKRXW TXHVWLRQ D VSHFLDO SODFH 2XU QDWXUDO DVVHWV DQG ULFK ELRGLYHUVLW\ DUH D GHÂżQLQJ IHDWXUH RI RXU UHJLRQ DQG DUH VHFRQG to none.

And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why protecting our greatest assets, including our beaches, foreshores and bushland, and moving to a clean-energy environment are major priorities.

More than 2700 hectares of land have been purchased by Council to conserve our important environmental assets for future generations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the children who will one day be charged with continuing the work being done now to protect and enhance our Sunshine Coast.

Council is also negotiating to acquire further land to add to our important conservation estate.

The hard work begins once the land has been purchased. This year $1 million will go towards preparing 12 reserves to join Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conservation network. This work includes new access points, fire trail upgrades, bush regeneration and weed control.

Ongoing investments ensure we properly manage our waterways and coastal foreshores and maintain our diversity of native flora and fauna.

This includes in ncl removing weeds in road reserves, rehabilitating rehabi ilitating ting coastal dunes and reserves, and restoring waterway way vegetation in the Pumicestone Passage and d the Maroochy River.

Council works closely with the community to protect and enhance our environment and the Sunshine Coast is well known for its many environmental volunteers. Council engages with and supports 24 Sunshine Coast community partnership arrangements and environmental organisations and an army of more than 50 volunteer and community nature conservation groups.

Council is working with the community every day on maintaining our environment:

â&#x20AC;˘ 857 Land for Wildlife members are managing 6374 hectares of retained habitat and restoring a further 596 hectares. This is the largest local government managed program of its kind in Australia

Â&#x2021; NLORPHWUHV RI ÂżUH WUDLOV are maintained in 12 established reserves â&#x20AC;˘ $2.1 million has been spent on improving our dunes over the past five years

â&#x20AC;˘ 66 Voluntary Conservation Agreement partners are helping Council protect 1056 hectares of habitat for flora and fauna

â&#x20AC;˘ $843,000 is being spent this year on removing weeds, rehabilitating coastal dunes, and restoring waterway vegetation.

SunCentral Maroochydore

Protecting the Inter-Urban Break The inter-urban break â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the 613 3 square kilometres straddling the boundary between Moreton Bay and d Suns n hine Coast councils â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is recognised ed as ou ur front door.

You know whe h n yo y u arrive and you o know w en you leave. wh This Th is is wh whyy Co C un unci cill ha h s wo w rk r ed d clo lose s lyy se wiith w with th ourr nei eig gh hb bo our urss in n Mo orret e on n Bayy to join jo intl in tlyy ad tl dvo voca ca ate t and con o vi vinc vinc ce th he Stta atte Gove Go ve ern r nme ment to pr p es eser e ve er v th he e reg egio ona n l in nte tererr-urrba ban nb brrea ak on bot oth h side sid si de es off the e bo b boun oun und da ary y an nd d to c co omm miitt to ma m ppin pp pin ing g an nd prot pr prot otec tec ecti ting ti g thi his sp his spac ace in ace ac n the rev evis vissed d So ou utth uth h Ea E ast st Qu ue een een e ssllan and R and Re e egi gio gi ion onal a Pla lan. n.. n Lose Lo e it and an a nd we we lose osse ou our id ide en nti tity y as a un u niq ique ue reg gio ion an and we we los ose on one of of our ur most mo st sig gni niffiica ica ant nt env nvirron onme ment ent ntal al fea eatu attu urre es. s.

22.indd 2

Gamechanging projects The Sunshine Coast is renowned for many things â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our lifestyle, our vibrant and distinct communities and our environmental assets. However, it is our vision for the future that really sets us apart.

0RUH WKDQ DGGLWLRQDO SHRSOH DUH forecast to be living on the Sunshine Coast by Âą LQ WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW (QWHUSULVH

14/12/2015 4:18:59 PM

Delivering outcomes Sunshine Coast Council, businesses, FRPPXQLW\ JURXSV DQG UHVLGHQWV DOO KDYH DQ LPSRUWDQW SDUW WR SOD\ LQ DFKLHYLQJ RXU YLVLRQ WR be Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sustainable region. ,W UHTXLUHV HYHU\RQH WR HQJDJH LQ SRVLWLYH DQG SURGXFWLYH GLDORJXH DERXW WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW DQG LWV IXWXUH $IWHU DOO WKH UHJLRQ¶V UHSXWDWLRQ is in everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hands.

0DQ\ RI WKH UHJLRQ EXLOGLQJ SURMHFWV WKDW ZLOO KHOS PDNH WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW DQ HYHQ EHWWHU SODFH WR OLYH DQG ZRUN ZLOO EH GHOLYHUHG RYHU WKH QH[W GHFDGH &RXQFLO¶V SURMHFW GHOLYHU\ WLPHOLQH shows what will be delivered and when.

of the

40% 53ha

site will be retained as

parklands and waterways

Project delivery timeline

2015 SunCentral Maroochydore Council takes possession of the site and early works begin

2016 Sunshine Coast University +RVSLWDO Hospital opens Sunshine Coast Solar Farm Completed

2017 SunCentral Maroochydore First buildings commence &RUULGRU EHWZHHQ WKH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW $LUSRUW and Caloundra.

7KHVH JDPH FKDQJHU SURMHFWV LQFOXGH

$V RXU UHJLRQ JURZV DQG GHYHORSV ZH ZLOO QHHG QHZ VHUYLFHV LQIUDVWUXFWXUH DQG HPSOR\PHQW RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR JURZ ZLWK LW VR RXU UHVLGHQWV DQG visitors can access the services and facilities they need.

â&#x20AC;¢ SunCentral Marochydore

This is why Council is looking to the future and PDNLQJ LPSRUWDQW GHFLVLRQV QRZ WKDW ZLOO VHFXUH RXU SURVSHULW\ OLIHVW\OH DQG QDWXUDO DVVHWV $V ZHOO DV SURYLGLQJ HVVHQWLDO GD\ WR GD\ VHUYLFHV Council is building a strong future for the Sunshine &RDVW WKURXJK D QXPEHU RI PDMRU UHJLRQDO SURMHFWV ZKLFK ZLOO PDNH WKH UHJLRQ DQ HYHQ EHWWHU SODFH WR OLYH ZRUN DQG SOD\ IRU SUHVHQW DQG IXWXUH generations.

23.indd 3

Â&#x2021; 6XQVKLQH &RDVW $LUSRUW ([SDQVLRQ â&#x20AC;¢ Sunshine Coast Solar Farm â&#x20AC;¢ Sunshine Coast Light Rail

2020 SunCentral Maroochydore Five star hotel and first stage of entertainment, convention and exhibition centre proposed to be delivered

â&#x20AC;¢ Sunshine Coast International Submarine Cable.

Council also works in a variety of ways to generate RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU ORFDO FRQWUDFWRUV DQG UHVLGHQWV from the Queensland Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $1.8 billion 6XQVKLQH &RDVW 8QLYHUVLW\ +RVSLWDO SURMHFW Council is also advocating to both the Federal Government and the Queensland Government IRU XSJUDGHV RI WKH %UXFH +LJKZD\ DQG WKH 1RUWK &RDVW 5DLO /LQH &RXQFLO LV SXVKLQJ KDUG WR VHH ERWK SURMHFWV UHFRJQLVHG LQ WKH 4XHHQVODQG Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s State Infrastructure Plan, which is due for release early in 2016.

6XQVKLQH &RDVW $LUSRUW Expansion delivered

2021 Sunshine Coast University +RVSLWDO Stage 2 completed

2025 Light Rail System First stage delivered

14/12/2015 4:18:49 PM

Sunshine Coast Airport Expansion Sunshine Coast Light Rail

SunCentral Maroochydore

Light rail is a long-term mp proje project. If selected ected as a suitabl itable pub public lic transpo transport nsport option, the first rst stage ge will likelyy be delivered deliv in 2025.

2 It is estimat timat imated it will deliver $ $3.6 3.6 billion in benefits backk into the region gional economy.

SunCentral Maroochydore is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only greenfield CBD at this time and will include: â&#x20AC;˘ 53 hectares of Council-owned land in the centre of Maroochydore ce â&#x20AC;˘ new community facilities, retail and dining options

Air New Zealand: The number of weekly 6XQVKLQH &RDVW Âą $XFNODQG Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV ZLOO LQFUHDVH IURP WKUHH WR IRXU Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV SHU ZHHN GXULQJ SHDN season next year.

The Light Rail system will:

Qantas: Daily services to Sydney will commence from 21 December, 2015 with business friendly Ă&#x20AC;LJKW WLPHV VWDUWLQJ LQ )HEUXDU\ SURYLGLQJ DQ additional 68,000 seats each year.

â&#x20AC;˘ potentially cut pollution by reducing fossil fuel use

â&#x20AC;˘ a strong focus on sustainable building design

â&#x20AC;˘ provide affordable transport

Construction of the first buildings will commence in 2017.

Jetstar and Virgin Australia: Jetstar has added 40,000 seats to their Sydney and Melbourne Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV DQG 9LUJLQ $XVWUDOLD KDV LQFUHDVHG Melbourne services.

These new services are a win for Sunshine Coast residents. Our residents have told Council they want to travel to more destinations directly from the Sunshine Coast. To do so, they need to travel RQ ODUJHU PRUH IXHO HIÂżFLHQW DLUFUDIW ZKLFK QHHG a wider and longer runway from which to take off and land.

7KH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW $LUSRUW ([SDQVLRQ 3URMHFW ZLOO Â&#x2021; SURYLGH DFFHVV IRU ODUJHU PRUH IXHO HIÂżFLHQW aircraft â&#x20AC;˘ contribute $4.1 billion to the Sunshine Coast HFRQRP\ IURP

Â&#x2021; JHQHUDWH PRUH WKDQ MREV

â&#x20AC;˘ result in 3500 fewer dwellings being affected by QRLVH HDFK GD\

Â&#x2021; HQDEOH PRUH GLUHFW Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV WR PRUH ORFDWLRQV LQ $XVWUDOLD $VLD DQG WKH :HVWHUQ 3DFLÂżF Â&#x2021; KHOS ERRVW WRXULVP

â&#x20AC;˘ create 9000 jobs directly and indirectly during construction and operation â&#x20AC;˘ reduce reliance on car travel

â&#x20AC;˘ cost an estimated $1.3 billion for stage one (SunCentral Maroochydore to the Kawana Health Campus).

International Submarine Cable Council plans to link the region directly to global communications in Asia, the Pacific and the United States, providing faster, more reliable and affordable broadband connectivity for Queensland.

â&#x20AC;˘ a premium hotel â&#x20AC;˘ an entertainment, convention and exhibition centre â&#x20AC;˘ more than 10,000 new jobs.

Sunshine Coast University Hospital The first stage of the Queensland Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital is scheduled to open in November 2016 with 450 beds, increasing to 738 beds by 2021.

About 10,000 fewer patients each year will not have to travel to Brisbane for complex treatment when SCUH is fully operational.

The International Submarine Cable will: â&#x20AC;˘ place Sunshine Coast as the closest digital connection point in Australia to the leading markets of Asia and the United States â&#x20AC;˘ provide the opportunity to market the Sunshine Coast as a place in which to invest and operate a business â&#x20AC;˘ generate an additional $700 million to the Sunshine Coast economy every year â&#x20AC;˘ generate $1.1 billion annually to the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy â&#x20AC;˘ provide milli-seconds of advantage and significantly improve speed and bandwidth from Queensland.

Sunshine Coast Solar Farm The Sunshine Coast Solar Farm will be the first Council-owned grid-connected, utility-scale farm in Australia. It will generate sufficient power to offset all of Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity demand. The solar farm: â&#x20AC;˘ is a 15 megawatt utility-scale grid-connected solar farm â&#x20AC;˘ will generate significant cost savings for Council â&#x20AC;˘ should be operational by December 2016.

5.1163 12/15

7KH 6XQVKLQH &RDVW $LUSRUW LV JRLQJ IURP strength to strength and has recently been named $XVWUDOLDÂśV IDVWHVW JURZLQJ DLUSRUW 0RUH Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV DUH being scheduled to cater for the Sunshine Coastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LQFUHDVLQJ SRSXODULW\ DV D EXVLQHVV WRXULVW DQG residential destination.

Â&#x2021; KHOS RXU H[SRUW EXVLQHVVHV SDUWLFXODUO\ WKRVH RSHUDWLQJ LQ WKH IRRG DQG DJULEXVLQHVV VHFWRUV JHW WKHLU SURGXFWV DQG VHUYLFHV WR PDUNHWV IDVWHU DQG PRUH HIÂżFLHQWO\ Â&#x2021; EH FRPSOHWHG E\ VXEMHFW WR REWDLQLQJ DOO QHFHVVDU\ DSSURYDOV DQG IXQGLQJ

24.indd 2

17/12/2015 10:44:25 AM

RETIREMENT LIVING

Work starts on Halcyon Lakeside

A

ward-winning over 50s developer Halcyon has commenced earthworks on its new community at Halcyon Lakeside in Bli Bli. Featuring 450m of lake frontage the new, gated community is on a unique 13ha site within the master planned Parklakes 2 community.

The community will be set against a backdrop of natural bushland and features two lakes, undulating hills and access to 6km of walking

tracks. Project director Chris Carley said Halcyon Lakeside would set a new standard for over 50s living on the Sunshine Coast.

“The community will feature a range of clever and spacious architect designed homes. Our favourite designs have been refined and we also have some new designs which are all energy efficient with low energy usage,” he said.

“We are also planning to make this the most exciting over 50s development on the Sunshine Coast with a

comprehensive 5-star recreational and leisure precinct,” he said.

Located 12 minutes drive from Sunshine Plaza, Halcyon Lakeside will benefit from the $522 million in infrastructure investment planned for the Bli Bli region.

Plans have also been recently revealed for a new 4000sq m, three-level Bli Bli Village Centre beside the recently upgraded Supa IGA and River Markets shopping complex, while the new Maroochy River Golf Course opened for play in June.

Construction of homes will commence early in 2016 and the first home owners will be moving into their lakeside homes in the second half of the year.

Homes in early releases start at less than $400,000.

Visit the display home at Halcyon Landing, Bli Bli or call 1800 050 050.

When a resort lifestyle becomes home An active lifestyle with security and freedom is waiting at the Noosa Domain Country Club Village which has a philosophy of freedom of choice in living options, without sacrificing quality of living, independence and the social aspects of life.

The Country Club Village in the heart of Noosaville has the usual larger than typical resort-style villas and is five minutes from Hastings Street and the beach and a short stroll to Noosa Civic Shopping Centre.

The village is managed by friendly staff and has a growing and active over 55 population enjoying the facilities and amenities.

The enviable resort-style living facilities include an outdoor bowling green, hobby workshop, gymnasium, outdoor heated swimming pool, alfresco dining and a beautifully appointed community clubhouse with a

ALLOW ME TO APPRAISE AND ND SELL YOUR HOME FOR YYOU U

cinema, rooms for billiards and craft, a medical room, library, fully equipped kitchen, club bar and even indoor carpet bowls. The village even has its own luxury pontoon boat, moored on the Noosa Marina for exclusive use by Noosa Domain Country Club Village residents.

If you are seeking low maintenance, a quality living environment which offers security, social companionship, freedom and lifestyle choices, Noosa Domain has the address.

Visit countryclubvillages. com.au call 1800 2 738473 or visit Brian Williams on site.

ALLOW ME TO FIND THE RIGHT RTY FOR YOU TO BUY PROPERTY

... CAN BE A CHALLENGE! LET ME GUIDE YOU THROUGH IT AS I HAVE FOR MANY CLIENTS OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS ARS OF REAL ESTATE ON THE SUNSHINE COAST.

ADFX-15727 DFX-15727

6 Cyst Cystal Waves, Alexand Headland Alexandra

502 Duporth Riverside, Maroochydore

402 Duporth Riverside, Maroochydore

13 Lindsay Street, Alexandra Headlandd

Jodie McDonell 0419 762 309 jodie.c21@century21.com.au January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 25

25.indd 3

16/12/2015 1:27:45 PM

AGELESS TIMES

No rush hour, it’s the year of living quietly In these hectic times when there’s always something on your to-do list, PETER SHIP suggests making 2016 the year you claim the time to relax.

W

hen we left the church on Christmas morning, the minister was at the door shaking hands.

When I reached him he smiled and said “How are you today?”

Now being naturally mischievous, I replied that Santa Clause had repossessed all my presents.

Without a flinch the man said, “that’s marvellous, have a great week.”

Difficult to believe but true none the less; the fact is he was so caught up in rush hour traffic at the front door that he didn’t listen to what I said.

I suddenly asked myself “how often do I listen, I mean really listen, to what my family, friends, work colleagues and customers are saying?”

We are living in a time when life is a constant rush hour, from the moment we wake to when we fall into bed exhausted, not from physical labour but more from mental fatigue.

Children to organise, pets to feed, work, gardening, sport, exercise, cleaning, washing, constantly checking emails and text messages and on and

Thinking you will do it one day when you finish some task won’t make it happen on it goes. Truly, it’s enough to make you want to shout “stop this wild ride and let me off. I need a break, some peace and quiet”.

We all need to make 2016 the year we cultivate the ability to slip into quiet time and not feel guilty about doing nothing for a while.

Thinking you will do it one day when you finish some task won’t make it happen. There will always be another task and another and guess what, there will still be something to do even when you leave this life of rush

NATURAL MEDICINES FOR NATURAL PROBLEMS SUNSHINE COAST COMPOUNDING PHARMACY

SLEEP APNOEA, SNORING, ASTHMA, NASAL, STRESS Fix the CAUSE not just treat SYMPTOMS Watch a 6 minute video @

www.buteykohealth.com.au

“Our compound pharmacy prepares personalised medications for your specific needs.”

AusCare Pharmacy Yandina

Phone 5446 7989 Fax 5446 8813 | 5/18 Farrell St, Yandina na yandina@auscarepharmacy.com.au sunshinecoastcompounding@gmail.com m

and bustle. Isn’t it time you made a little time for you and the ones you love?

Turn off the mobile, go for a walk, read, paint a picture, get down and dirty with a lump of clay, play that instrument that’s been gathering the dust of your whirlwind life, do some needle work or cut some timber and smell the fragrance of the sawdust.

Just do something for you. So what if it is not a masterpiece, it is your masterpiece and that is all that matters.

The older I become, the more I am convinced that we all need to take the

ELIMINATE

Info Seminars - Find out what you don't get told:

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time to step away from the “every day” and just relax. There’s a novel thought.

What does it mean?

Relax, to become less anxious and tense, to cease work, indulge in recreation or pursue happiness simply for the pleasure of it.

When I design a memorial for a family I ask “What interests did your loved one have?”

Sadly, too often the reply is “They had no interests.”

Imagine having that on your headstone “Lived, died but had no interest” Friends, it is not too late to improve your life and it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg.

Go fishing. Fly a kite with the grandchildren. Sit and watch the ocean.

Have a picnic. Get together with friends. Walk the dog.

May 2016 be your year to realise it is OK to relax. After all, It’s Your Time.

Enjoy it.

Peter Ship has spent 30 years working in the aged care and funeral industries.

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26 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

26.indd 2

17/12/2015 10:46:13 AM

HEALTH

There’s nothing vain in veins

T

hey have long been seen as an “old person’s problem” and there’s no doubt that the older you get, the more likely you are to suffer from varicose veins.

As well as being unsightly, veins can also cause tired, aching legs.

So what are varicose veins? What causes them? And why do so many people put up with the unnecessary pain, discomfort and unsightliness when they don’t need to?

Dr Karl Schulze of Sunshine Vascular Vein Clinic at Buderim is one of a handful of specialist vascular surgeons on the Sunshine Coast.

He has treated thousands of local patients over more than 16 years.

“Varicose veins are a common problem. Some people think that they are caused by crossing your legs or a job where you stand a lot,” Dr Schulze said. “But while some situations, such as pregnancy, can exacerbate the problem, the cause is primarily genetic.”

Varicose veins occur when the valves in the veins stop functioning properly, allowing the blood to flow in the wrong direction.

This can result in abnormally and permanently enlarged veins - and the aches and pains that come with them.

They can also lead to skin ulcers,

A breastscreen is part of life and taking care of yourself

bleeding or superficial blood clots, particularly in older people.

“That’s one of the most important reasons for having them treated,” Dr Schulze said. And it’s not just women who suffer. Many men also get varicose veins as they get older.

The surgical treatment for varicose veins has evolved in recent years.

In the traditional “vein stripping” surgery, small incisions are made in the legs and the veins are tied off before the rest of the vein is removed.

Dr Schulze is now performing procedures using a new approach called Endovenous Thermal Ablation for some veins.

“EVTA uses a laser or radiofrequency energy to cause the feeding vein to constrict and ultimately block up. This stops the reverse blood flow in the feeding vein and reduces pressure on the varicose veins, which can be treated at the same time with very minor surgery,” he said.

“While this treatment still requires an overnight stay in hospital, patients are able to return to their normal activities sooner.”

“After the post-operation check-up, it’s great to see them walk out with a spring in their step,” Dr Schulze says.

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Sunshine Coast www.faceink.com.au 0400 700 875 January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 27

27.indd 3

16/12/2015 1:30:11 PM

FOOD AND WINE

Feed your brain

A

growing body of evidence suggests that the health of your gut may play a much bigger role in brain health than previously realised.

“The gut is our second brain. What goes on inside our bellies has a direct effect on how we look, feel and think,” nutritionist and author of The Lean Body Formula Nik Toth says.

Studies have shown that bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract can activate neural pathways and central nervous system (CNS) functioning.

Researchers have uncovered connections between intestinal bacteria and anxiety, depression, ADD, autism-spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic pain, among others.

Some believe that this is due to the connection between intestinal bacteria’s ability to make small molecules (metabolites), which can reach the brain and affect how it works.

Here are some simple ways to ensure your gut becomes healthy and stays that way:

MAKE IT SIMPLE AND TASTY USING JUST 4 INGREDIENTS

Eat prebiotics –whole plant-based, fibre-rich foods that support the growth of good bacteria. These include raw onions, garlic, asparagus, leeks, chickpeas, lentils, artichokes and bananas.

Take a probiotic –live microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and yeasts) can have health benefits in the right amounts. Strains of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are the most common. But do your research before you buy. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) says fermented milk beverages and yoghurts that claim to be probiotic must have a minimum of one million live bacteria per gram to be effective.

Add fermented food to your diet – such as sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, pickles, sourdough and kefir.

Maintain a healthy diet –low in high-GI refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed food and high in fibrerich fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

Drink more water –essential to healthy functioning of the digestive system.

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Ingredients 4 x 200g avocados ½ cup (45g) raw cacao powder ¾ cup (180g) agave nectar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Method Halve the avocados and scoop out the flesh. Place all the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth, using a spatula to scrape the sides. Spoon into serving glasses or a healthy, raw Cheesecake Base (see 4 Ingredients Gluten Free Lactose Free, page 124) and chill for a couple of hours before serving. You will be amazed how rich and creamy this amazing mousse is and made mostly with raw, nutritious ingredients.

From 4 Ingredients Diabetes.

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28 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

28.indd 2

16/12/2015 1:30:40 PM

WHAT’S ON

EXPLORE THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ

POPULAR TENOR LAUNCHES POPS CONCERT SEASON

Leading Australian jazz guitarist Bruce Woodward and local singer Robyn Brown lead a journey of exploration through the development of jazz and blues in their show Mood Indigo.

In the tradition of George Golla and Joe Pass, Bruce’s beautiful guitar playing will be a feature in itself, complemented by the sultry vocals of Robyn Brown.

Mood Indigo will be an entertaining journey through different styles and genres as they bring a selection of songs from Mamie Smith, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, through to Billie Holiday, Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald and even modern composers.

“I love to find songs that are a bit more obscure, songs that aren’t so well known, and adapt them and bring out my own interpretation of the song,” Robyn says. “There are so many great songs out there from many years ago that are still entertaining to a modern

Tenor Mark Vincent will launch the Queensland Pops Orchestra’s 2016 concert season with “The Best So Far”.

Vincent, who has carved out an impressive career on the concert stage since winning the third series of Australia’s Got Talent in 2009, aged just 16, is welcomed back to the Pops after his spectacular debut at the 2014 Best Of British concerts.

His commanding stature

audience.”

Joined by respected bass player Pete Walters, Bruce and Robyn will be bringing their intimate concert “Mood Indigo” to the The Jazz Sessions in Nambour this month.

Previous shows have been sold out and with limited seating available, it is recommended you book early to be guaranteed a seat.

The Bison Bar, Centenary Square courtyard, 52-64 Currie St, Nambour.

Sunday, January 31, 3pm.

Tickets $15 at the door or call 0403 152 397, email info@ sassyjazz.com.au

and powerful voice earned him a contract with Sony Music, which resulted in five albums making the ARIA Classical Top 20 music charts.

He will showcase his biggest hits in his very own “Best Of” show, drawing from a broad repertoire of the most memorable songs of all time for “The Best So Far”.

Vincent’s tenor voice, which has a depth and clarity that belies his years, together

with the genuine affinity he enjoys with his audience and accompanied by the Queensland Pops Orchestra will make this premiere event for 2016 a night of unforgettable songs from the very best popular music has to offer.

QPAC Concert Hall, Saturday, March 5, 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets $71-$89.

Book now at qpac.com.au or call 136 246

DOO WOP DOLLS A FUN TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE Melissa Isles from Eumundi is an unstoppable force when she’s focused, and her focus is squarely on her brainchild, the Doo Wop Dolls.

Her latest plans also include a Rock’n’Roll festival with all the trimmings in Eumundi this year and Eumundi Rotary Club is right behind her.

“I visited GreazeFest in Brisbane a few months ago and it had attracted a huge crowd, was so much fun and

had such a great feel to it,” she says. “I thought Eumundi and the Sunshine Coast could do with something big like this.”

Melissa has been singing since she was very young and has always loved the music and fashions of the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

“I’ve been dreaming about starting the Doo Wop Dolls for years. We finally formed in 2013 and now we’re breathing new life into those fabulous numbers,” she said.

The Doo Wop Dolls are at the Eumundi Markets on Friday nights until January 15. Call 0432 917 176 or on Facebook

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January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 29

29.indd 3

17/12/2015 9:58:27 AM

TRAVEL

Gunning for a good time when you least expect it Sometimes the best things turn up when you are not even looking for them, as grey nomad BEVERLEY EVERSON discovers.

W

e had to get back to Queensland in a hurry after a house-sitting in Albury in the very south of New South Wales on the Victorian border.

For the first night back on the road, we turned off the Hume Highway about halfway between Yass and Goulburn, to free camp at a place called Gunning at the headwaters of the

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Lachlan River. And what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be.

The locals are friendly and happy for a chat and the town is filled with history.

The original occupiers of this land were the Pajong “Fish River” tribe followed by European settlers after Hume and Hovell explored the area in 1824, less than half a century after the arrival of the First Fleet.

Since then, Gunning has been on the main route, both road and rail, between Sydney and Melbourne.

The railway arrived in 1875 and the Hume Highway bypassed Gunning in 1993.

Gunning’s claim to fame, as boasted on the signpost at the town’s entrance, is that it’s “part of the richest wool growing area in the world”.

Not surprisingly, there are a lot of sheep in them thar hills.

Base yourself here and venture out on leisurely drives through rolling hills in a green patchwork. See wind farms on the horizon, pass paddocks with neatly rolled bales of hay and livestock of all kinds, including beautiful draught horses and find yourself in towns such as Crookwell, Bigga, Tuena, Laggan, Binda and Taralga.

Gunning has retained its respect for history and and pride in the old and gracious buildings in the town.

In 1901, Gunning was described as “a prosperous town” meeting the needs of travellers and community.

It had a courthouse, banks, stock and station agents, blacksmiths, five hotels, produce store, department stores, saddlers, bakers, butchers, bootmakers, chemist, flour mill, soft drink manufacturers, boot polish factory, printing works, rabbit freezing works, barber shop and wool store.

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30 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

30.indd 2

17/12/2015 9:21:14 AM

TRAVEL

Cruise Packages

The Gunning railway station

Many of those services are still available today.

The Pye Cottage (museum) is circa 1850 and is the first place to head to get your bearings and information about the place, along with a self-guided historical walking tour brochure.

The only remaining hotel, Telegraph Hotel, was built 1880 and the top floor was added in 1916, as a resident proudly informed us as we walked along the path. The railway station and stationmaster’s house and outbuildings are also very impressive.

Check out a tribute Holden wall of fame at Baileys Garage in the main street or the more-recently built Shire Office from 1915.

There are no big supermarkets and no problem. The local servo sells most groceries and fresh produce but there’s also a butcher, pharmacy, mechanic, newsagency, primary school, swimming pool, tennis courts, bowls club, huge showground and caravan park and accommodation places along with many cafes.

On the northern side of town is Barbour Park, which has picnic spots beside the beautiful Meadow Creek and also a FREE camp (toilets and showers at the pool) for a maximum stay of two nights. Gunning also has FREE camping at the showground with clean toilet facilities and heaps of room under shady trees.

The highway noise at night can be a bit challenging for the light sleeper but it’s a lovely spot to watch the local footy team practice or observe the early morning walkers.

Goldfields sprung up across the Snowy, South West slopes and Central West of New South Wales where overnight 20,000 fortune seekers might arrive looking for the new “El Dorado” and this area was no different.

Large quantities of gold, sapphires, garnets and zircons were discovered in many of the feeder streams of the Lachlan River around Grabben Gullen.

Along with gold came the bushrangers who prowled the rocky country. A much respected colonist, Mr Hume, was shot by bushrangers in Gunning and the chief of the gang was captured and eventually executed at Goulburn.

In September each year there is the Gunning Fireworks Festival – a display of fireworks second only to Sydney’s New Years Eve. Other events in the surrounding towns are Collector Village Pumpkin Festival (May), Crookwell Potato Festival (March) and Crookwell celebrating locally-born poet Dame Mary Gilmore with a weekend of singers, poets, composers, musicians, authors, artists and quilters (August).

There are other town festivals as well, such as the Lavender Festival, Herb and Chilli Festival, rodeos, the famous Binda Picnic races, freshwater fishing competition, swap meets, farm field days and monthly markets.

Take a detour for a few days or longer and you won’t be disappointed.

As the brochure says, “so close yet a world away”.

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BONUS: Includes unlimited complimentary onboard beverages, Captain’s Welcome cocktail Recep on and Gala Dinner.

SOUTH AMERICAN SALSA TO CANADIAN CULTURE 26 NIGHT FLY, DOUBLE-CRUISE & STAY FROM $7999 Departs April 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Return flights Sydney to San ago, (returning from Vancouver); 1 night in San ago; 24 night South America to Canada cruise aboard ms Zaandam; 4 night Discover Vancouver & Victoria with whale watching tour, including 2 nights at the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver, Vancouver City & The Lookout Tour, 2 nights at the Inn at Laurel Point Victoria, Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour, whale watching tour; 7 night Alaska cruise aboard ms Noordam round trip from Vancouver.

BONUS: US $75 Onboard Credit per Twin Cabin & Pinnacle Grill Specialty Restaurant (ms Zaandam) BONUS: US $50 Onboard Credit per twin cabin (ms Noordam) GREEK RUINS & ITALIAN RAIL 17 NIGHT FLY, CRUISE, RAIL & STAY FROM $5399 Departs June 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Return flights to Venice, return from Rome; 1 night on Venice Island; 14 night Aegean cruise round trip from Venice aboard Norwegian Jade; First Class Rail journey from Venice to Rome; 2 nights in Rome.

ROCKY RAIL & ALASKAN ICE 12 NIGHT FLY, CRUISE, RAIL & STAY FROM $7999 Departs August 6 HIGHLIGHTS: Return flights to Calgary, return from Vancouver; 5 night Rocky Mountaineer rail-tour Calgary to Vancouver, including 1 night at Banff Caribou Lodge, Yoho Park Tour Banff to Lake Louise, 1 night at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise to Jasper Icefields Parkway Tour, including Ice Explorer, 1 night at Marmot Lodge Jasper, 2 day Rocky Mountaineer SilverLeaf Service Jasper to Vancouver with overnight stop in Kamloops, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 night at Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver Lookout; 7 night ms Nieuw Amsterdam Alaska cruise round trip from Vancouver.

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Pye Cottage built in 1850 is a good place to start.

January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 31

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TRAVEL

SLIP INTO THE REAL ITALY

Relaxing over a glass of wine in Montalcino

I

magine yourself sitting in a piazza, the sun is shining, the day is warm.

The passing parade of locals go about their business and the tourists take photos before rushing off to the next destination.

You, on the other hand, are sitting relaxed, enjoying the local wine and maybe a bit of cheese or salami.

That first sip of wine awakens your tastebuds and says “relax, enjoy, let the world rush by; this moment is the only

moment”. Ah, this is how life should be. Carolinasusi Italia Tours offers these exact moments.

“We spend time talking to producers who are passionate about their cheese, their wine, their bread and their olive oil,” says joint managing director Elizabeth Clarke.

“They can tell you the exact moment for harvesting the grapes or the olives. The pasta makers might even give you their secret blend of flour to get the certain pasta flavour.”

Carolinasusi Italia Tours travels to places off the mainstream tourist trail and spends time in each area, be it Sicily, Tuscany and Umbria, the Italian Lakes or Emilia Romagna.

Tours are a museum of food, wine, culture, art and history, a gastronomic landscape waiting to be discovered.

Experience the passion and excitement of the real Italy and earlybirds may catch a 10 per cent discount.

A free seminar will be held on January 21 to learn more.

Call 3368 3733, email: travel@savenio. com.au or visit savenio.com.au/ carolinasusi-italia-tours

Our local knowledge means you get an

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TRAINS, BOATS AND PLANES FOR THE SOLO TRAVELLER the English seaside and ride the London Eye for spectacular views of the city’s landmarks.

Then it’s off to the continent on first class seats on the Eurostar, arriving in Amsterdam for a pre-cruise night and dinner in a Michelin Star Wander the historic streets and bridges of Prague. restaurant.

Board the luxury river boat for 14 ravelling with Solo Connections nights cruising the Rhine, Main and takes away the worries of solo Danube Rivers while days filled with travel without losing the sense of the rich history and amazing scenery independence. of Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Single supplements, the bane of solo Next it’s a train to Prague for three travellers, are gone while enjoying fascinating nights in the Czech private rooms on fully escorted, Republic before flying off to all-inclusive, luxury small group Singapore for a night’s stay and a itineraries.

Singapore Sling on the way home.

In October, Solo Connections will The tour is fully escorted and head off on a European Indulgence includes return economy class airfares tour, 25 nights in your own room in from Brisbane.

5-star hotels with all meals included.

As this is a small group tour seats Arrive in London and spend four are limited. nights between a Victorian Country Manor House and central London. Visit Call Solo Connections 1300 044 444.

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Please contact your tour host, Penny Hegarty 07 5441 2814 | 0416 028 787 penny.hegarty@gmail.com 32 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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TRAVEL

PENNY ADDS THE PERSONAL TOUCH

UCANGO BRINGS HOME THE HONOURS

P

S

enny Hegarty has been hosting and organising garden and general sightseeing group tours for more than 15 years.

Australian tours include Cairns, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and Perth as well as international tours to the UK and Europe, Singapore, Mauritius, Taiwan, NZ, China, PNG and Norfolk Island.

Penny, who is president of the Nambour Community Gardens and the Sunshine Coast Garden Club as well as tour director for the Nambour Garden Club, looks after everything, including airport transfers to Brisbane.

“All you need to do is pack,” she says. “All passengers are well looked after from start to finish, including special requirements” She also works to team up those travelling alone who would prefer to twin share.

“Small group tours are a

great way to travel so you enjoy the sights at an easy pace,” Penny says.

“My tours are garden orientated but we never miss out on visiting the local attractions.”

Penny’s 2016 tours include Melbourne Flower Show, Longreach/Winton, Melbourne Cup cruise, Broome to Perth, Singapore and Sydney/Leura/Canberra.

As well as being a perfect host, she also has an advanced diploma in horticulture to answer garden questions along the way. Before departure, a morning tea is held for passengers to meet and to have their questions answered.

Tours are value for money with flights and taxes, coach, accommodation and most meals included, plus gratuities where applicable.

Call Penny 5441 2814

unshine Coast travel agency Ucango Travel and Cruise Centre has been officially recognised as one of Australia’s top 10 travel retailers, winning a Gold Choice award at the Travellers Choice annual shareholders’ conference in Melbourne.

The award goes only to a company ranking in the top 10 performing travel agencies in the national retail group.

Ucango Travel and Cruise Centre was also named top agent for a number of suppliers, including P&O Cruises, Travelcube, Holland America Line Cruises, Driveaway Holidays, and Globus Family of Brands which includes Cosmos, Globus and Avalon Waterways.

On top of that, it was named one of five finalists in the Brian Pateman Award, which recognises outstanding performance in five categories including preferred suppliers

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sales, attendance at network and industry events, marketing strategy, support for fellow members and positive attitude.

Travellers Choice Managing Director Christian Hunter said winning agencies demonstrated outstanding customer service, travel expertise and business acumen.

“Ucango Travel & Cruise is

one of Australia’s leading travel agencies because it combines exceptional travel knowledge and skills with an understanding of its local community and the unique needs of its client,” he said.

A thrilled Ucango Travel and Cruise Centre managing director Dave Hulsman said it was a remarkable effort.

“We topped it off by being invited to P&O’s five ship spectacular on Sydney Harbour,” he said. “It’s great to be recognised for all the hard work that’s gone in.”

Ucango Travel and Cruise Centre is now invited to send one of its senior agents on an exclusive river cruise educational tour to France in 2016, ensuring customers benefit from the most up-todate knowledge of the increasingly popular destination for Australian travellers.

Call 5451 8617 or email dave.hulsman@ucango.com.au

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Full brochure coming soon! CALL 1300 044 444 or email info@soloconnections.com.au *Conditions apply. Solo Connections reserves the right to amend all tours for an equal substitute at any time. Beverages not included. Tours subject to availability. Further bookings conditions apply, please check all prices, availability and other information with your travel agent at time of or before booking. Package cancellation fees apply. Denise Marie Falsay trading as Solo Connections. ATAS Accredited A11424. ABN 92 582 582 996.

January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 33

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TRAVEL

Add local spice to a Fijian escape Volunteer tourism has captured the imagination of travellers wanting to really get under the skin of a destination. In Fiji, as DOT WHITTINGTON reports, Peter Hopgood has found opportunities to make a difference and is encouraging others to join him.

S

kinny brown-eyed children line up before a benevolent Father Christmas who is handing out chocolate from an esky where the goody bags are packed in ice.

It’s a very special treat in this little Fijian village where an average bar of Cadbury sells for $8 and the people are subsistence farmers.

“Thank you, Mr Peter” the children say as they politely accept the special treat and the smile on Peter Hopgood’s face is as wide as that of any of the youngsters.

Peter calls Coolum home even though he spends much of his year in Fiji where he is manager of the Outrigger Fiji resort - when he’s not initiating and overseeing a wide range of projects in the surrounding community.

At an age when many would be thinking of retirement, Peter says he wakes up every morning and looks forward to each day, happy to have so much to do.

A great believer in being part of the

Hopgood” whereupon Peter stops and says “do you know who Mr Hopgood is? That’s my father”.

They both laugh and Mr Peter is soon asking a group of children about school.

He gets home to Coolum about every two months and has been based in Fiji for the past six years.

Soon after his arrival he took himself off to visit surrounding schools to see Peter Hopgood hands out chocolate to the kids. where he might be able to help “these beautiful children”. community, he has most recently been It was suggested he head inland, up a key player in the construction of a the Sigatoka River valley where community meeting bure for the families were all subsistence farmers remote Conua school but that comes at and desperately poor. the end of a long line of community “I could immediately see the head projects he has undertaken. teacher’s passion and said, ‘this is the He walks through Sigatoka, the school we want to get behind’,” Peter nearest big town to the Outrigger and says. “We help about a dozen others but greets everyone by name. Everyone, it we focus the big projects here. A tree seems, is happy to see Mr Peter in had fallen through the roof of one town. building. I could see we needed to start One man says “good morning Mr

straight away.”

Before long he had organised a bus shelter, bathrooms and fenced the school “to keep the animals out, not the children in”.

Peter says he always makes it clear that it’s not a handout but the school needs to make an effort as well. The grateful Conua school swung behind him.

While he was at a meeting in the school shed last year, a rainstorm hit and before long water was pouring through the roof and rising from the ground. Peter decided it was time the school had a new, secure and dry meeting bure.

He invited guests at the Outrigger to pay $100 and become involved in the building project.

“Basically they paid to be able to work during their holiday,” he said.

“They said it was the best day of their holiday and they would be back.”

The new building was opened by the Fijian Tourism Minister last month.

Peter also had a special surprise for

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07 5476 9368 | info@123travelconferences.com.au 34 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE /January 2016

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TRAVEL

A bus shelter was one of the first projects.

the head teacher and excitedly led her into the library he had turned into a computer lab.

He now has his sights set on a doll’s house size building that is the classroom for 30 kindergarten children which he enthusiastically explains will be doubled in size.

The resort’s engineers are working on the design and work is to start this month.

Another baby is the regional hospital which serves 80,000 people in a 100km radius that has been built to one of the best in Fiji from nothing. It

now has an A&E and an operating theatre and most importantly, a maternity section.

“Until now, the mums would have to travel so far that they often opted for a home birth which led to a very high mortality rate,” he says.

New mums proudly show Mr Peter their new babies and smile and greet him as he wanders through the wards.

There’s also a pharmacy, children’s clinic and an eye clinic with new equipment recently installed to give early testing for diabetes.

As chairman of the Coral Coast Hoteliers Association, Peter has encouraged managers of other big resorts to get behind projects such as the hospital with him.

In November, 20 US eye surgeons were hosted at the resort while they worked voluntarily at the hospital.

They restored sight to 93 people.

Under Peter’s guidance, the Outrigger has come to lead the way in community tourism.

“If you are going to come and live and work in Fiji then you have to give,” he says. “But it’s always nice to have a break in Coolum too.”

Email gm@outriggerfiji.com.fj or visit outriggerfiji.com

ALL SYSTEMS GO for Vietnam Project Vietnam is taking volunteer tourism to new levels in Southeast Asia, where happy holidaymakers mix with the locals, do their bit for the community and contribute to the fabric of the country.

Coordinators in Vietnam and Cambodia are already arranging accommodation, visas and a meet and greet for new “recruits” who have committed to ventures this year.

“There is no stress or concerns for the ‘newbies’ who have chosen to undertake a worthy thing to do,” says Claire Simpson.

“The final get-together to meet travelling and working companions before departure is on January 31, on the Sunshine Coast. We also look to share the generous charitable contributions we receive throughout the year into our individual suitcases, so all donated goods are personally carried and delivered by members.”

The challenge is to negotiate excess baggage allowances and thanks go to Singapore Airlines for its support.

The Cambodian Team will leave in February, as it just slightly cooler.

Planned projects are to provide toilets

at three schools and renovate classrooms including electrical work and painting. The Vietnam Team leaves in March, again for the milder weather, headed for beautiful Hue. Building Coordinator, Tony Van Boxmeer leaves a few weeks earlier loaded up with donated goods from Bunnings and other suppliers so everything is ready when teams arrive.

This project includes the alteration and renovation of a building to be converted into an opportunity shop, medical consulting rooms and a sheltered workshop.

Anyone who would like to contribute while discovering the real Vietnam is welcome to call Claire on 0402 746 048, email simpsonxmaglane@bigpond.com Visit projectvietnam.com

WHY TRAVEL TO ITALY WITH CAROLINASUSI ITALIA TOURS? Let us explain...

• We tailor to clients’ special interests wherever possible

Our small group tours to Italy have something extraordinary around every corner and offer more than just the well-trodden tourist paths.

• We visit off-the-beaten-track areas, as well as some major tourist destinations

• We are specialists in travel to Italy

• We hand-select centrally located hotels

• Itineraries are personally designed and researched and our small groups provide an intimate experience

• Slower paced, we spend up to a week in each location

• Take an extended holiday in Italy – tours run consecutively, so you can link one or more experiences together • We travel when it’s less crowded

• Our tours are all-inclusive

• We host all of our tours together with a team of handpicked, highly experienced locals • Meet Italian families and be introduced to the real Italy, with opportunities to visit your favourite local ristorantes and osterias

UPCOMING TOURS: Tuscany and Umbria Tour: 22 April or 12 September 2016 Italian Lakes, Venice and the Veneto 16 May 2016 Italian Food & Wine Tour with chef Massimo Mele 30 September 2016 Secrets of Sicily Tour 16 October 2016 FREE SEMINAR Toowong Bowls Club 59 Gailey Road, Taringa 4068 Thursday 21 Jan from 6pm RSVP: (07) 3368 3733

33 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064 | E: travel@savenio.com.au | FREECALL 1800 770 599 | www.savenio.com.au/carolinasusi January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 35

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BOOK REVIEW

ELIZABETH PASCOE

I found this a most compelling story. Lisa Genova has flung back the curtains and opened the window, to let some light in on this horrible disease, Alzheimer’s.

There is so much to this story– the snub from her colleagues when she stands up and tells them why she is leaving Harvard, as if they may catch the disease; the wayward daughter who is the first to respond to be there for her mother; the can-do lists she writes for the following day; the bottle of pills hidden in the bedside drawer.

The highlight for me was Alice’s address at a conference giving a full and personal account of living with Alzheimer’s. Most importantly this is about family, the strength and love. I recommend this book and I am sure you will never look on dementia in the same way again.

TONY HARRINGTON

This interesting and educational novel provides a keen insight into the mind of a highly intelligent 50-year-old Harvard psychology professor whose mental capacity progresses rapidly from early onset to severe dementia.

It is an extremely well researched and accurate picture of the thoughts and feelings of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Alice feels that this is a condition much worse than cancer.

Cancer is something you can fight!

The effects of her illness on her work and family are also very well written. Every senior 55+ should read this book.

Excellent 8/10.

BOOK review JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT I almost dreaded reading this book on my first impression that it would be another fluffy “my journey” episode.

How misleading the cover of a book can be.

Alice takes us through her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer’s disease toward the inevitable outcome.

However, this book is so well written that the reader has a virtual experience of the symptoms as they develop and the disease takes hold.

I would suggest this is a worthwhile read for all people over 50, if for no other reason than to better understand this insidious disease and how it might affect you, your family, or others close to you.

SHEILA BRYDEN

Still Alice Lisa Genova Simon & Schuster

Neuroscientist and novelist Lisa Genova mines years of experience in her field to craft a realistic portrait of early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Alice Howland, 50, is a respected psychology professor at Harvard, living a comfortable life with her husband, John, when the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin to emerge.

First, she can’t find her phone, then she becomes hopelessly disoriented in her own town. Alice is shocked to be diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s as she had suspected a brain tumour or menopause. Her life begins steadily to unravel. She loses track of rooms in her home, resigns from Harvard and eventually cannot recognise her own family. The brutal facts of Alzheimer’s are heartbreaking.

This is a well-crafted book about a distressing subject.

Lisa Genova writes about early onset dementia with true empathy and lucidity.

Even though I knew that this was a fictional account the writer’s gift for storytelling ensured that I remained captivated and engaged with the very “real” emotions that the protagonist was experiencing.

I felt Alice’s anguish at each new memory loss, endured with her when the diagnosis was given as irreversible and cried for her when she struggles to perform simple tasks of daily life.

This is not an “enjoyable” book but one that should be read if only to have some understanding of those suffering with this disease.

DRESS FROM HEAD TO TOE! FOR YOUR FORMAL, CASUAL, WORK WEAR AND ACCESSORIES

JO BOURKE

MARY BARBER

This book reminds me how precious and precarious life is. Things can be going along swimmingly and then with one roll of the dice, everything changes.

It’s an uncomfortable book at first, until you get drawn in to caring about Alice.

The book follows her hopeless battle to maintain her life and memories as Alzheimer’s takes hold. By describing the progress of the disease as Alice experiences it, the author has created an engaging, informative and important book.

Well worth reading.

It makes me want to make a bucket list and live every day as though it matters, because it does.

Lisa Genova is one of my favourite authors. She embraces a difficult topics such as Alzheimer’s disease, researches it thoroughly and then merges the facts seamlessly into a story where the characters are totally believable. It is a sobering and often disturbing story, one that tended to have me identifying a bit too closely with Alice Howland as she innocently accepted her memory lapses in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to be caused by stress, menopause and work overload.

This is a book everyone needs to read. It is one of inevitability, of sadness, frustration, adjustment and eventually acceptance. It is the perfect portrayal of the effect of Alzheimer’s on the whole family. Definitely recommended.

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TRIVIA

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

By Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

QUICK CROSSWORD

1. In which month of 2015 did Malcolm Turnbull become Prime Minister?

2. In a car’s safety system, what does SRS stand for?

3. In meteorological terms, what is the shortest day of the year called?

4. Who captained the Australian cricket team against New Zealand recently?

5. In what city are the Petronas Towers?

6. What is the only chemical commonly found on Earth in all three states of matter?

7. What colour is in the middle of a rainbow?

8. In what country was rock singer Jimmy Barnes born?

9. In the Southern Hemisphere, do cyclones spin clockwise or anticlockwise?

10. What service do you get if you phone 131008 in Australia?

11. What is the national airline of Germany?

12. To what is a coeliac allergic?

13. Which car company makes the Landcruiser?

14. What is 49 in Roman numerals?

15. In what country is the tourist attraction Petra?

16. What is the rare metal in the movie Avatar?

17. Who wrote the novel Moby Dick?

18. Who was the original inventor of the bifocal lens?

19. In Greek mythology, who is God of the Sea? 20. How old was John Lennon when he died?

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

SUDOKU (MEDIUM)

SUDOKU (EASY)

WORD FIND

CODE WORD Z KM T G R L V AWN B U 15

14

2

1

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

S C D J Q F E X HO P Y I 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

PERMUTATE SALLY, RALLY, ROYAL, FORAY, FORTY, FORTH There may be other correct answers

SCATTERWORD MILITANCY, anility, italic, limina, litany, cilia, claim, malic, intal, inlay, laity, manly, licit, limit, linty, laic, calm, clam, clan, talc, clay, ilia, mail, lain, nail, alit, tail, tali, malt, amyl, limn, milt, limy, lint, liny.

Answers: 1. September ; 2. Supplemental Restraint System; 3. Summer Solstice; 4. Steve Smith; 5. Kuala Lumpur; 6.

Water, H2O; 7. Green; 8. Scotland; 9. Clockwise; 10. Taxi; 11. Lufthansa; 12. Gluten; 13. Toyota; 14. XLIX; 15. Jordan; 16.

Unobtanium; 17. Herman Melville; 18. Benjamin Franklin; 19. Poseidon; 20. 40.

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January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 37

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PUZZLES

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

DOWN

1

1

6 7 9 11 12 13 15 17 18

For a few pence, recite poetry to be the most conspicuous item in the show (11) Made a recognition error as it was too skim, somehow (7) Initiated a call which echoed (4) Peas, say, charged with a little electricity for extra vigour (3) Do without roof renovations planned around the third of August (5) A gale blows about the scum on the pond (5) Sounds like the part of the leg you pull on (3) You see I was shocked on a Wednesday (4) Bright red traces left hanging around (7) A couple that works well in pairs tidies up their differences (11)

No. 2509

Those suffering glaucoma fed those who were hard to distinguish against the backdrop (11) 2 Wield a timetable holding nothing before the start of everything (4) 3 Elicit an artless takeover (5) 4 Somehow make the general greater! (7) 5 Takes up an axe, an egg and rates them somewhat “overinflatedly” (11) 8 Stripes around “cloth” workers (7) 9 You want to top up the container? (3) 10 I hear he’s not well off, my foot! (3) 14 Imagine us leaving succour to happen by itself (5) 16 Be overly concerned about the ridge on the guitar (4)

CODEWORD

1

2

14

15

C

No. 700

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

16

17

18

19

20

21

V

H

22

10

11

12

13

23

24

25

26

WORK IT OUT!

SUDOKU WORDFIND

Level: Medium

No. 24

amateur arena baton best clock coach fast finish games javelin jump loser marathon medal

No. 744

oval polevault race record run score shotput silver sprint stadia tape timer track win

Please refer to reubenspuzzles.com.au for a cryptic solving guide.

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38 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / January 2016

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PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD

No. 3610

SCATTERWORD

I N

M Y

A

Today’s Aim: 23 words Good 28 words Very good 32 words Excellent

SUDOKU Level: Easy

No. 743

T

L I

No. 2946

C

Form at least one nine letter word from the given letters and as many other words as possible of four or more letters. Each word must contain the letter in the central circle. Simple plurals, formed by adding “s” are not counted as extra words. No prefixes or suffixes. Reference: The Macquarie Concise Dictionary.

PERMUTATE

ACROSS 1 5 10 11 12 13 15 17 19 20 22 24 26 27 30 31 32 35

Behaves Erroneous Monarch Small shrubby tree of coastal Queensland Abominable snowman Research thoroughly Simple boat Japanese monetary units Correct (test papers) Small piercing instruments Occur as a result Brag Avoid Plant Wise men Wild goat Change ship’s course Give birth

36 38 40 41 42

Robbery Couples Former monetary unit Monastic superior Persuade by mental pressure 43 Fuel

DOWN 2

Funerary establishments 3 Shame on you (interj.)

4 Most smooth and glossy 6 Night bird 7 Fleet 8 Mirth 9 Colouring materials 13 Out-and-out 14 Water creatures 16 Negative (Scottish)

18 Sewing 21 Institute legal process 23 Relating to an oval shape 25 Stomach (informal) 28 Governmental regulations 29 Pastry dish 32 Bean curd 33 Crack through exposure 34 Knows (Scottish) 37 Cold 39 Seek the affection of

No. 019

WORK IT OUT!

Your aim is to change the top word one letter at a time, each time rearranging the letters to create a new word. Perform one such permutation for each blank line until you arrive at the last word. There may be more than one correct solution.

S A L LY

_____ _____ _____ _____ FORTH

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January 2016 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 39

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