Your Time Magazine Sunshine Coast - September 2019

Your Time Your premier 55+ magazine

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NO STOPPING RACHEL WARD AND BRYAN BROWN TALK ABOUT LIFE

ONLY THE LONELY PRESERVING FRIENDSHIPS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

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Editor’s note

F

or some years now, I’ve been lamenting that I don’t need to make new friends as I have enough trouble keeping up with my old ones.

Cynical it may be, but I confess to becoming weary of the trite platitudes, inspirational quotes about friendship and exhortations that we need to work on our friendship list.

That’s all very well for social media but I’m not so sure about the real world. (There was a time when my kids boasted about how many ‘friends’ they had on Facebook, not accepting most were just names added to a list.

Mind you, that platform has long since been abandoned and nobody, least of all them, remembers or even cares.)

Lorraine Page this month reports

Sunshine Coast

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Contents on friendships and makes the point that it gets too easy for real relationships to become lost.

Yes, we might have caught up on what the thousands we have known over the years are doing, but this is not friendship. It’s digital connection, one that often means we’ll reach for the tablet rather than the phone to catch up with those who matter.

Some friends I haven’t seen for years and yet I know when we do meet again, we will pick up precisely where we left off. In some cases, we’ll go back to being the carefree young spirits we were when we met in a dingy backpacker hostel decades ago.

These days we discuss grandkids, but the bond forged during that sometimes-brief alliance, has endured because there was a real connection.

It was kept up by sending an annual Christmas card, not a smiley face or a thumbs-up on a screen.

It seems social media is changing the definition of friendship yet there’s still nothing quite like having a good chat with someone you’ve known for a long time. As Bette Midler sang, “you’ve got to have friends”.

Dorothy Whittington, Editor

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COVER STORY LETTERS BITS AND PIECES WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE COMMUNITY NEWS AGES AND STAGES OUR PEOPLE CARE AFFAIRS ON TRACK HISTORY MOTORING IN THE KITCHEN FINANCE WELLBEING HEALTH EXPERTS PROMOTION RETIREMENT LIVING WHAT’S ON TRAVEL BOOK REVIEW TRIVIA QUIZ PUZZLES

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PUBLISHER Michelle Austin 5493 1368. EDITOR Dorothy Whittington, editor@yourtimemagazine.com.au ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES 0438 717 210 or 0413 855 855. sales@yourtimemagazine.com.au.

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September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 5

21/08/2019 10:09:45 AM

COVER STORY superficial. If the last time you shared a jaw-dropping sunset was on Facebook and not with an actual person, then social media may be disconnecting you from people under the guise of allowing you to be more connected.

Pernod Ricard is extending a global invitation to make a new friend a day in a bold bid to encourage greater human connection.

Sociologist and expert on Australian culture, Neer Korn, says making a new friend every day is probably wishful thinking, the point being more about making the effort to go out, even if it’s a

“We’ve used the social media texting screen as an excuse not to have real-life interactions”

Friendship in the digital age The digital world keeps us connected like never before, but the human desire to find meaningful real-life friendships is far from dead, writes LORRAINE PAGE.

T

he Beatles penned Eleanor Rigby, a melodically catchy but lyrically bleak song, releasing it as a single off their Revolver album, in 1966.

Poetic in form and often described as a lament for the lonely, the refrain “ah, look at all the lonely people” weaves throughout the verses.

Despite its dark undertones, the song

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was another big hit with fans of the Fab Four, topping the UK charts for four weeks.

In hindsight, it may have been an early indicator that social isolation can cut across all ages and all levels of society.

More than five decades later, the UK has a Minister for Loneliness.

And a new survey on conviviality by

wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard shows more than 85 per cent of Australians believe friendliness contributes positively to their wellbeing.

On the flipside, two-thirds of Australians think the world is less friendly than it was five years ago, and almost half feel that relationships with their friends are becoming more

bit uncomfortable, and connecting with someone in real life.

“It’s such an obvious thing that we forget how to do it in modern society,” Mr Korn says.

Although the world is bursting with tech and social media for people to hide behind, there are obvious benefits that come with the digital age.

Meetup is one such site that has millions of users globally, where you can find friends, share a hobby or network professionally.

“We need these groups and we need these connections,” Mr Korn says.

“The problem we have in society is we’ve used the social media texting screen as an excuse to not have real-life interactions and that affects people

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21/08/2019 3:26:23 PM

COVER STORY because it’s a necessary human value.”

Most people, he says, find a special interest group through people they already know, which is a more natural way of making first-time connections with strangers.

When Facebook came on the scene it reminded body corporate manager Michelle, 59, of the days when she had a pen pal – except now she was able to write to hundreds of people at once.

She says the gloss of Facebook has since worn off for her and she’s noticing that users are not sharing as much information about themselves online as they did a few years ago.

“It has become more like a phone book in some ways,” Michelle says. “We can go into private messaging and say, ‘do you want to get together?’.”

Before her divorce five years ago after 20 years of marriage, she worked on building up her own social circle through real-life connections close to home. After her divorce, she switched between two online dating sites to meet like-minded singles.

She’s met her share of Fine Cotton ring-ins but doesn’t blame the ease with which the digital world can be manipulated and hidden behind.

“With the first person I met online, I had this fairy-tale belief that we were going to stay together and everything was going to be marvellous,” Michelle says. “I was reading between the lines of things we were texting.”

She says there have been many times she’s met to have drinks with someone who didn’t look at all like the posted photo.

“When you meet people on a site oftentimes it doesn’t go past a first date.

It’s not that they’re not nice people but you don’t get that spark,” she says.

“When you get older, you’re harsher on your expectations.”

Kris, a health professional with many

TIPS TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND MAKE MORE FRIENDS • Be the first to say hello • Focus less on yourself and more on others • Join an interest group • Volunteer for a cause close to your heart • Let your guard down • Be yourself • Ask open questions • Be a good listener • Don’t give unsolicited advice • Accept invitations to go out years of experience, works intensively with people every day and loves how social media has shrunk the world to more manageable proportions, connecting us in ways never thought possible.

“Rapid dissemination of information and communication allows us to feel less alone – we can find hundreds of sites, groups and pages about dealing with depression, parenting, studying, illness – anything!” she says.

“In life we sift through people we meet, finding those with whom we have some commonalities and genuine rapport, equally we do this on social

media. We may have less information online to assess people – sometimes more.”

Kris says she doesn’t use social media as a substitute for real-life contact and if a friend has something major happen, she picks up the phone and meets up.

She has met in real life, friends that she made exclusively on Facebook, from interstate and overseas. She vetted them carefully over time and says she felt only a few moments of awkwardness on actual meeting.

“Through many messages, posts and photos I ascertained a reasonable idea and feel for the personality of these friends,” she says. “When I actually met, they were just as I thought they would be, and it sealed our genuine real friendship.”

The support of Kris’s online friends, including many of those she has actually met, was never more apparent than when her old dog died last year.

She says she received more cards, flowers, gifts, phone calls and messages than she’d ever had in her life.

“I don’t think people are intrinsically different from hundreds of years ago – same emotions, hopes, and that very basic need for human interaction,” she says.

“There are just more of us and we communicate in different ways now.”

The Sunshine Coast Singles 60 and Over friendship group came into being when Maggie Taubman, 74, found herself living a lonely life despite one son and his family living only 30-minutes’ drive away.

Seven years earlier, she had broken up with her partner.

“People retire up here and think they’re going to have the life of bliss, and there’s no friends,” Maggie says.

“I used to be cleaning the silver on Saturday morning and I thought there’s got to be a better life than this.”

She eventually found the courage to

host her own group on Meetup 18 months ago. Once a month, 45 to 50 members, mostly women, have lunch at Coolum. Abject loneliness drove the five brave men who attend, to come along.

Very few are social media focused.

Children or grandchildren have helped them install the Meetup app on their phones for ease of reply to events.

That human hunger for connection and sharing, even without the adjunct of social media, is never more evident than at Tuesday Morning Activities run by The Samaritans.

Samaritans president Jill Crawford doesn’t see lonely people when she hears the lively chatter and laughter of guests aged in their 70s, 80s, 90s and older, who fill a Kedron church hall.

For a modest entry fee, bingo, cards, Scrabble, art classes, bargain goods, a delicious morning tea and more, are available. The model is practical and relaxing – warm greetings on arrival and even warmer hugs on leaving.

Most of the committee and volunteers are in their 70s and have missed the social media boat. To keep the numbers steady they rely on parish notices, printed brochures and follow-up calls to landlines.

“We don’t do anything magic – we know them all,” says Jill. “They’re all happy to be there and it’s a really wonderful atmosphere.”

While social media has widened our possibilities for friendship, it may have muddied the definition of who exactly is a friend.

“When you’re under 20 you want thousands of friends, and by the time you’re 30 you want just five good ones,” Mr Korn says.

“When you experience a real-life connection with all its subtleties and facial expressions, that is an innate human response of warmth and connection that you can’t beat.”

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September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 7

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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 I completely agree with David Parmiter’s article (YT Aug) about the risk facing good English grammar.

Our language and conversation is full of poor grammar, verbosity and gobbledegook and peppered with overused words and expressions. “Essentially� is currently a favourite of reporters and politicians.

One only need listen to the ABC News channel on the radio and ABC Breakfast on TV to hear daily abuse of the language.

The worry is that the presenters seem blissfully unaware of their errors.

I attach a poem I have written as an antidote to what we hear every day: In Memory of Grammar The essence of a language is grammatical construction,

Together with vocabulary, we are able to communicate.

Alas some users nowadays seem bent upon destruction, As speech and writing generally continue to deteriorate.

Subject/verb agreement no longer do we hear. ‘There’s twenty of them’ – one example that seems to be the norm.

And proper use of past tense is lost and gone, I fear, So ‘Yesterday he come’ is acceptable though bad form.

Now we come to quantity, for things they use ‘amount’ So when talking of a number of items they have bought They do not say ‘the number’ although the items they can count.

In school, another grammar point that is incorrectly taught.

Next we have apostrophes, they’re subject to misuse.

Youl’l find them in some places where they clearly do’nt belong.

The proper use of punctuation may seem at times, obtuse, If apostrophes don’t replace letters, you know they must be wrong.

They’re testing grammar in the schools but what exactly do they test?

Do they accept these uses that are grammatically incorrect?

Or do they, like, accept and say “Oh! The students do their best�?

And give high marks for the amount of errors and grammar they forget?

Another matter that renders grammar nothing but a farce, The use of ‘of’ and ‘have’ – it’s misused every day.

Teachers should of known this and taught it to their class But many teachers know no better, I am afraid to say.

Language is a living thing or so the linguists tell us But we are slowly killing it through ignorance and misuse.

To those who think that grammar is something of a fuss Will they continue to ignore it and perpetuate abuse?

We cannot test our students if we, ourselves, can’t see When to use the ‘of’ and ‘have’ and ‘like’, ‘amount’‌ and more.

So learn to use apostrophes and let subject/verb agree, Then students, parents and the teachers will raise their Naplan score.

Dr John Turlik I am speaking for all those decent tenants who have been looking in vain for a liveable rental for several months, my husband and myself included.

My husband Len is 72 and I am 70 and we are A1 tenants. Our two mature pussy cats are classed as A1 pet tenants.

If it had not been for our insensitive and greedy real estate agent, we would have continued living happily in our rental surrounded by nature, which we have been occupying for almost three years.

But we seem to have become persona non grata in the eyes of our agent, because we have been asking for well over a year now, to have the heavily leaking roof attended to professionally.

Now we are suffering under the black mould not only in the lounge, but it has spread to the kitchen, bathroom and laundry entrance.

We were given notice to leave and now we are sitting on half-packed boxes, patiently or, better said, impatiently waiting to find our homely and affordable long-term rental at long last.

My problem is this. Most real estate agents raise your hopes with all those online glamour photos of rentals taken when the house was built 30, 40 or more years ago.

These days, the majority of property managers have not even inspected the property when they sign up for it with the owner. They get as big a surprise as

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LETTERS

AFTER reading: “Think twice before following the dream” by Steve Mendl, (YT, Aug) for retirees who plan to move within reach of family, it struck a chord in my own heart as to why one moves anywhere after work life is over.

Retirees have many golden options, not just proximity to family. But the empty nest syndrome is a dilemma for some.

Children we raise to independent status usually have work and family commitments of their own, as we did.

Nature itself demonstrates how offspring are trained for selfpreservation and independence. Like the Harry Chapin song The Cat’s in the Cradle, we see the same time challenges in our children’s lives that were in ours, when we were working and raising family.

We cannot just assume we are their top priority, when they have other commitments, to fill the void left in our lives.

Grey nomads are taking up the challenge to travel, some around Australia and some cruising, some volunteering; projects which were impossible when once other budget commitments were pressing.

Those with limited incomes cannot move home, so find local activities such as Men’s Sheds and Meals on Wheels to

the rental seekers, or even a shock, when they open the doors for the first viewing, which happened to us the other day.

It would save a lot of time and emotional upheaval, if agents were more conscientious and honest.

Owners of rentals are often demanding exorbitant prices, but they should also offer value for money. This is not a one-way street.

There are laws for everything in Queensland, but how about having a law to make all rental agents show online the latest photos of the advertised property and not airbrush them or use outdated photos to lure people to an open house?

I decided to write this after another disillusioned viewing yesterday, when several people were equally complaining about this shortfall in the rental industry.

It is already humiliating to have to queue with at least 20 people for an open house, and then you find out that the property does not even look close to what those online glamour photos make you believe.

If decent and compassionate people in the real estate industry are reading my plea, please note that urgent help is needed in this grey zone.

Fridelle Stanyer

fill the void. It’s not always about finances.

We all have a niche into which we fit. Some don’t want to be a convenience, such as regular babysitter.

Unlike older European families where generations live together, Australian children prefer their own lives without interference.

Parents who are separated by distance once children move away are better equipped to create new interests where networks are familiar, than those who move to be closer, relying on the

one familiar common denominator. It is a fallacy to assume that our children need us close.

They don’t need more dependents.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Co-dependence does not create good relationships or harmony.

There is life after work. It’s a time to invest in our own interests and pursuits, some which were delayed or denied when we were committed to family and work life.

After all, it is the time of our lives.

Eloise Rowe

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It’s a whisky business A SUNSHINE Coast retirement resort has become a WASP’s nest, but the only sting is that it is home to a group of whisky lovers.

For the past three years, Plantation at Rosemount has been the setting for the monthly gathering of WASP – the Whisky Appreciation Society at Plantation.

From tastings to setting the mood, this group has got its whisky over a barrel.

The concept is simple – 20 whisky lovers invest $20 a month for the purchase of several bottles of whisky, and taste five at each meeting.

A 30ml dram for each person means there is 100ml left over. This is mixed and stored. At first this was in a 5-litre Chivas Regal bottle on a stand, which had been donated to the group.

“When enough money had been saved up, we purchased a 5-litre barrel made from lightly toasted American Oak and that became the receptacle for ‘the dregs’,” WASP member Max Barrenger says.

When the dregs mount up, there’s a tasting from that and the money saved spent on a more expensive whisky.

“In February 2017, before we started using the barrel, the dregs stored in the Chivas Regal bottle actually scored the highest points against some pretty impressive single malts,” Max says.

“The first 12 months or so was a rough time for the barrel and it regularly scored below all other comers. The past 12 months has seen a great improvement

in the quality of spirit with the initial woodiness making way for much better oak contribution.”

Tasting notes, obtained from several online sources, are prepared.

“They provide quite a bit of the entertainment when the author goes completely over the top in what smells and tastes can be gained from the particular whisky,” Max says.

“For example, ‘Nose: not obvious to begin with. Planed wood, light toffee, boat varnish’ and ‘linseed oil behind, even putty, and later lychee-like acidity’.”

Food is an essential part of the gatherings, with a selection of cheese, dark chocolate, dry biscuits, salami and other foods to complement the whiskies.

Low level lighting and table candles add to the atmosphere.

Just over 20 residents regularly attend, and while few women attended the early WASP meetings, this gradually increased to about 40 per cent. Some had never tasted whisky before.

At the end of each evening, the most interesting empty bottles are cleaned and filled with cold tea to imitate original contents and are on display on meeting nights.

By the end of their third year the WASPs had consumed 168 bottles of whisky, plus 14 tastings from the WASP Barrel.

Countries of origin include Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, India, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, USA, and four Australian states.

WISE WORDS Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.

Anything that’s invented between when you’re 15 and 35 is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.

Anything invented after you’re 35 is against the natural order of things.

Douglas Adams, Author of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 12 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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AUDIOLOGISTS at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital have helped in the development of an Australian-first app that guides hearing impaired people through the new environment of sound after a hearing implant.

The innovative Hearoes app is the first game-based offering of its kind.

Brisbane-based app creator Elliot Miller received a cochlear implant in December 2013 after a lifetime of deafness but found there were few tools to help him learn at his own pace.

He started developing what would become Hearoes after hearing a strange noise while jogging, which stopped every time he did. It turned out to be coins jangling in his pocket.

“Getting a cochlear implant is like being given the keys to a really fast car, with absolutely no idea how to drive it,” Mr Miller said.

RBWH audiology team leader Carla Rose said switching on a cochlear implant was just the first step in a long and often frightening journey, even for those who’d lost hearing in their later years through accident or degeneration.

“A hearing implant is not going to replicate natural sound, so it’s a new experience for every patient, no matter the circumstances behind their hearing impairment or previous hearing level,” she said.

“It can take anywhere between three months and a couple of years to learn how to interpret the myriad sounds patients suddenly find themselves trying to navigate.”

The Hearoes app is available on the app store and Google Play and is being rolled out for use at RBWH.

FUN fact!

The day of the weatherman is almost done. A cool change is sweeping through the Bureau of Meteorology, with almost 50 per cent of graduate meteorologists now women, compared to just 21 per cent in the late 1980s and 90s.

During the past three years, 24 women of 49 students have successfully completed the nationally accredited Graduate Diploma in Meteorology, at the bureau’s Melbourne training centre.

And since 2003, 94 women have graduated. Between 1988 and 1999 just 30 of the 137 course participants were female.

Women now account for almost 30 per cent of all staff at BOM, including meteorologists, climatologists, hydrologists, senior executives and three deputy directors.

IN THE GARDEN – with Penny

Time to get planting for summer colour.

SPRING has sprung and it’s the perfect time to plant summer flowers and vegetables.

Prepare the ground by digging over, adding compost and aged animal manure or dynamic lifter Root crops require a lot less fertiliser.

Too much will see growth going into tops with smaller carrots, beetroot etc.

I prefer to sow seed of all root crops, as most do not respond well to transplanting.

Punnets or seed of lettuce, spring onions, tomatoes, corn and cucumbers etc can be planted now.

Smaller seedlings are best with less transplant shock.

Water in well, keep moist and use a liquid fertiliser fortnightly for best results.

Plant marigolds, snapdragons, begonias, alyssum etc to attract bees. Trim any shrubs that have finished flowering.

Keep an eye out for grubs and grasshoppers before they do any damage.

Gladioli corms flower about 90 days after planting. Don’t forget to stake them.

Fertilise lawns, keep weeds at bay by removing when small.

No garden area? Plant in pots or join your local community gardens.

Happy planting! penny.hegarty@gmail.com

CONTEST WINNERS THERE was an overwhelming response to the competition to win double passes to see Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, the dramatic exploration of war illustrating heroism, tragedy and the sacrifice of battle, which was filmed in Queensland.

Winners were David Stark, Buderim; Anne Roy, Kulangoor; David Stannett, Moffat Beach; Andrew Winchester, Currimundi; and Jen Chamberlain, Mount Coolum.

Thank you all for your entries.

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WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE

Catchphrases pretty much rule At the end of the day it’s, like, y’know ... sunset. DAVID PARMITER asks why we keep using meaningless catchphrases.

I

s it because we cannot think of the next word?

Australian politicians love to use the phrase “at this point in time”. Well, that simply means “now”, as does “at this moment”.

Trump loves to use phrases such as “as of now” and even “as of yet”. Both also say nothing beyond the simple “now”.

Some critics have accused me of being pedantic. Maybe I am, because I was brought up by an English master who was pedantic, insisting that we use correct language not only in class, but also in written essays.

“Boy, you have split your infinitive twice on page two.”

A respected journalist writing about Boris Johnson quoted him as saying “there’s the dark arts”. He went on to write: “he has also been forced to embarrassingly and repeatedly talk about his cocaine use ...”. Whatever that means.

This failure to make nouns and verbs agree is another modern abomination.

Singular subject must take a singular verb.

And then there are the challenges of “less” and “fewer”. Less is only of quantity – less milk, less petrol. For numbers, it has to be fewer.

You can’t have less people, less cars on the road or less things to do.

I note that on Sunrise, the presenter insists on saying “tell us in 25 words or less”, while his co-presenter corrects it to “tell us in 25 words or fewer”. The producer gets it right on the graphic: “fewer than”.

The English language today is being mongrelised, pretty much. And there’s another one. What does “pretty much” mean?

There is nothing pretty about mongrelising the language.

In a recent interview about the ABC, our Ita said that “It’s early days”. Sorry, these are early days.

She went on to say (ie she continued): “It’s a wake-up call for all of us to have a look at the laws and pretty much the press.”

That would pretty much mean the laws and the press.

How to cope with Modern Gobbledygook is a book review from the English International Express, by James Moore. It covers everything from algorithm to zip file. You know what those mean? Me neither.

The book is called The Older Person’s Guide to New Stuff, by Mark Leigh (published by Robinson, 2019).

It contains 325 new words in the English language, from android to vaping.

And if you don’t know the difference between your Bluetooth and your Blu-ray, you must be over 30.

Now, before someone gets out their angry-pen to criticise me as a GOM (Grumpy Old Man), let me confess.

More than 100 years ago, a new word was introduced to the language: “telephone”.

An amalgam of two Greek words meaning “far” and “sound”, nobody knew what it meant.

There are two more words that I present for your enlightenment –”mindfulness” and “wellness”.

Neither is true English, and both have been hijacked by the alternative health industry.

The first means introspection. The practitioner clears his or her mind of external pressures and reflects only upon internal thoughts. We once called it relaxation.

The second means wellbeing or simply good health. So why don’t we say so?

Wellness is an “un-word”.

The health industry really must try to avoid confusing their patients.

COLOUR of rhymes COLOURS have long provided the answer to the word-nerd’s conversational question, “what words don’t have a rhyme?”

Orange, silver and purple are the old favourites to get minds ticking over.

But this debate can be easily settled.

Orange rhymes with the name of the Welsh mountain Blorenge .

There’s also a sporange, which is a technical word for a sac where spores are made.

Mind you, neither work terribly well for an aspiring poet to weave into a verse about love and life, even if it is set in a citrus orchard.

What about silver then?

A chilver, from the Old English cilfor, is a female lamb but it is more likely to be used to prove that silver has a rhyme than in a poem: “The sun has set, the sky is silver, I wonder about the little chilver”.

Which leaves purple. Try curple for a horse’s rump; hirple, used by the Scottish for a hobble or limp; and quirpele, an Indian mongoose.

Turtle and circle could work at a pinch.

So if the conversation demands a quest for rhymeless words, try bulb, opus, dangerous, marathon or discombobulate.

And words ending in “th” – month, seventh – are always on the list too, as is angel, which so far remains rhymeless.

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COMMUNITY

Men’s Shed mission accomplished

Members put up the sign made by the Shed’s metalwork team BUDERIM Men’s Shed, one of the largest in Australia, has moved to new premises at Kuluin after two years of fundraising and hard work.

Members tackled much of the work to be done to establish the new headquarters, which has a workshop, studio and administration building, as well as revegetating the site.

During the first half of this year, they planted more than 4800 native trees and bushes; laid 1000sq m of turf; wheelbarrowed more than 60sq m of garden mulch; laid more than 6100 pavers around the buildings; painted the interior of the three buildings; built 20 benches and made cupboards, shelves and desks; installed fittings; and move their equipment and tools.

And that’s just the start of the list of jobs tackled by members.

“All of the work was done with good humour and banter,” president Barry Cheales said. “Not bad for a bunch of retired men with an average age of more than 70.”

The group was formed in 2011, with the support of Buderim Rotary Foundation. The 20 members would meet at St Mark’s Church hall.

Later, Dr Bill Glasson kindly offered to make his premises in Mill Road, Buderim, available to the group. More activities could be provided, and more members arrived.

But the need remained to establish a permanent home. A 90-year lease with the Department of Transport and Main Roads was signed for occupation of 1.1ha of unimproved land at 38 Advance Rd, Kuluin.

With generous portions of grit, determination and enthusiasm, members set to work. The Kuluin shed now can cater for the current 250 members, with room for more, and will also be a venue for community events.

The aim is to provide a safe, supportive and friendly environment where men of all ages can do meaningful work for themselves and make a contribution to the local community.

“We give a sense of new purpose to retired men so that they feel that they have a worthwhile contribution to make to their fellow members and to the community,” Mr Cheales said. “We provide a safe environment for men to connect socially.”

Activities at the Buderim Men’s Shed include woodwork, wood turning, toy making, metal work, gardening, art and sketching, computing, discussion groups, sport and recreation, French polishing, leather work, library and book group, health and welfare group, music and instrument playing, billiards and upholstery.

A welfare officer supports members who are “doing it tough” and keeps members informed.

The group also carries out community projects, such as cleaning and painting a 300m fence in Chancellor Park for those who had low cost housing and helping women whose husbands have died with tidying up his effects.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS ARTISTS are invited to submit entries for the Seasons of Life art competition before September 20.

There are no entry fees but great prizes to be won.

Works will be on display at the Spring Art Show organised by the HTK Kawana Anglican Church which is now in its third year.

Members of the public will decide the winner by vote during the show.

Artwork will need to be delivered on September 28 and collected on October 8.

Prizes are $500 for the winner “Seasons

SUPER SALE DIVERSITY is key as local artists mix styles, surfaces and subjects to offer art that’s original and accessible at the Buderim Craft Cottage’s Off the Shelf super art sale.

Everything from acrylic paintings to collage works, eco prints and gift cards will be on sale as the mixed media group artists declutter their studios and stack the gallery walls and shelves.

Nothing will be more than $80.

Artists will be on hand to talk about the works.

A commission from each piece sold will go to the Craft Cottage to fund ongoing improvements and towards supporting original artists in the area.

Atrium Gallery, Buderim Craft Cottage, 5 Main St, Buderim September 27-29, 10am-2pm Visit buderimcraftcottage.com.au or call 5450 1714.

WOODCRAFTERS GET THE TIPS

A RECORD 190 members and visitors attended the Buderim Garden Club’s combined Friendship and Patron’s Day. Representatives of 12 garden clubs from as far as Redlands, Esk and Tarragindi, Garden Clubs of Australia and Queensland Council of Garden Clubs joined members to 16 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

16.indd 2

hear informative talks by club patron Marjorie Van Roy and member Nev Douglas.

The flower competition was of the customary high standard and visiting garden club members brought a great array of plants to add to the raffle prizes.

PROBUS TAKES A TOUR THE Probus Club of Caloundra 86 has been out and about exploring the region.

In June, they visited Kilcoy and enjoyed lunch, wine tasting and participated in a play reading at Woongooroo Estate winery.

Next was a visit to QCamel at Bells Creek where the owner, Lauren, explained the operation’s history and showed how camels are milked. Members were able to discover the friendliness of the camels and were treated to a morning tea including camel milk products, Hum Honey and local fruits. After lunch in Mooloolah, the bus stopped for ice-cream at Strawberry Fields, Palmview.

Anyone who would like to join the group should call 5492 6721.

WALK WITH A PURPOSE

Chis Pouncy (centre) with local woodies Greg McCosker (left) and Rick Vickers.

BIG DAY FOR GARDENERS

of Life”; $400 winner for section 2 “Spring”; $100 winner of school student section; $50 Caloundra Framing voucher encouragement award primary school; and $50 encouragement award to high school runner-up donated by Design by Danni.

The show has attracted well known artists in the past but also provides a platform for emerging and young artists to develop their skills and provide a competitive experience.

HTK-Kawana Anglican Church, 11 Meridan St, Bokarina. October 3-7 Visit htkchurch.com

THE Blackall Range Woodcrafters Guild hosted renowned English wood turner, Chris Pouncy, who was touring and demonstrating as part of the Robert Sorby 2019 tour in conjunction with Carbatec.

Chris’s demonstration over three hours was packed with useful information and handy hints. It included faceplate turning and spindle turning.

More than 30 woodies, men and women, including those from other clubs, attended.

The BRWG’s annual Wood Expo saw the Montville State School assembly hall filled with a large variety of wooden items for display and/or sale.

THE annual Walk for Women’s Cancers is coming up on Sunday, September 15.

This family-friendly, fun-walk for people of all ages and abilities, will start at the Alex Skate Park at 8am for either a 3km or 6km walk.

Activities on the day will include entertainment on the outdoor stage, market stalls and food vans.

Registration is free for those who raise more than $200. The walk helps fund research for lifesaving treatment and support programs for women with cancer.

Call Annelize 5451 6010 or visit walkforwomen.org.au Sunshine Coast Scrabble Club meets at the Nambour RSL on Fridays at 1.30pm. Call Trevor 5445 7770.

Aglow Sunshine Coast will meet on September 13, 9.30am, at Flame Tree Baptist Church hall, 27 Coes Creek Rd, Burnside. All welcome.

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AGES AND STAGES

Life has its ages and stages. MOCCO WOLLERT, who has just celebrated her 85th birthday, revels in life in the slow lane, while CHERYL LOCKWOOD is looking for adventure after turning 55.

This month, both have ended up pondering their fitness.

by Cheryl Lockwood

EXERCISE. Yes, the dreaded “E” word.

In my quest for new adventures and for fitness as I age, I decided to take part in Parkrun.

“Never heard of it!” I exclaimed, when a friend, who is also considerably fitter, invited me to join her.

The first part sounded great. I love parks. Parks mean relaxation, picnics and

18 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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other pleasant activities. I am not a fan of the second part though, the run bit.

Running and I are not friends. In fact, it usually occurs in the same sentence as hate. My version of the activity is about as smooth as an elephant jogging in flip-flops.

But, my pact with myself about trying new things meant I accepted the challenge.

Parkrun involves running (jogging or walking are equally acceptable) a 5km set course through, you guessed it, a park.

It started in the UK in 2004, has been in Australia since 2011, is run in about 22 countries, takes place on Saturday mornings and entry is free.

Once registered, participants are allocated a barcode which allows them to take part in Parkrun events anywhere.

This also makes it possible to time individual runners and email the results.

According to the cheery volunteers who explain the event to newbies, Nambour is one of the toughest courses in the country. And, naturally, this is where I was to make my debut.

My friend swears she told me this before I accepted.

At 7am, 85 participants walked a few hundred metres through beautiful bushland to the start line.

I tried a light, jogging pace and progressed to what I hoped was a run. In reality, it was probably not a lot faster.

My companion politely stuck with me for a while, but soon shot off like a rabbit for her weekly challenge.

Mine was simply to complete the course without injury and hopefully without stopping. As I may have indicated previously, I am not a runner, so I gladly accepted advice from others.

One tip was to breathe in a way which apparently makes it a whole lot easier.

Faced with a daunting uphill run, I gave it a try but wondered if it might be a ruse to distract from the task at hand.

Like most women, I am an accomplished multi-tasker, so I had no trouble thinking about the pain in my legs at the same time. I was overtaken by many people and forced to walking pace up the steeper hills but refused to stop.

I was very tempted to dart into the bushland to answer a quick call of nature but pushed on. I began to wonder if incontinence aid suppliers should become sponsors to support people like me.

Finally, I glanced up to see the flags of the finish line ahead. I had made it. I was exhausted and sweaty, but I had made it.

I still dislike running, but it was an adventure.

by Mocco Wollert

IT can’t possibly be 6am! I can hear the alarm clock ringing incessantly, while trying to bury my head under the pillow. I still have one of those old-fashioned clocks that have a loud, shrilly tone.

It won’t stop ringing until I’m out of bed. I cautiously open one eye and look at the window. It is still pitch black. The temptation to throw the clock out into the darkness is nearly overwhelming. Instead, I stumble out of bed and into my gym clothes.

They are daggy and have no brandname. Rather than spend money on designer gym wear, I buy on special at Target or Big W. The treadmill in the gym doesn’t know the difference and my fellow gym occupiers don’t look at me.

Who would look at an old biddy

Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 10:43:43 AM

AGES AND STAGES

labouring to lift 2kg when a goddess with the cutest bottom and legs that never end contained in designer clothes, lifts weights to challenge an Olympian?

I look with admiration at the young stallions working out, muscles bunching on thighs and arms. I think of the man I married back in the ’50s who had just such a body.

His muscles though, were forged by hard work as the gym culture was still in the future.

Most of my friends think I am mad.

Who in their right mind tortures their body in a gym at age 85? To make it worse, I start training at 6.30am.

Why not in the afternoon? For me it is first thing in the morning or no-go.

I am a morning person, ready to rock-and-roll by 5am and absolutely ready to hit bed by 8pm at the latest.

I set myself a quirky challenge each year: to achieve as many push-ups as the number of the years I have been on Earth.

As a concession this year, I will do 85 push-ups on knees only. Full extension push-ups are finally no longer in the program for this gym junkie.

After 10 minutes on the treadmill I always try a plank - 30 seconds should do it. If I count fast, I’ll reach 30 in record time. If you call that cheating, you might be right.

I diligently suck on my water bottle

Sunshine Coast

19.indd 3

between exercises. I am not thirsty but it is expected. Everybody wanders around the gym with a water bottle.

I do not like drinking water. Water is for washing, hosing the garden or watering animals. Now there’s a thought, would anyone notice if I filled my water bottle with wine?

I am surrounded by mirrors. I believe they are there to check that I work out correctly. I do not want to see my reflection. It’s not a good look. Maybe I should have invested in designer gym gear after all.

But would that have hidden the obvious bulges around the middle and the sagging skin on my arms? I soldier on, secretly checking my watch. I find 45 minutes a reasonable and desirable time to keep this body in shape.

After 20 minutes, I can smell coffee. I know it’s all in my mind, but I also know that coffee is waiting in my favourite coffee shop.

Resting after my plank effort, I check my watch again – 12 minutes to go and my gym duty is done.

The deeply philosophical question arises – how important is 12 minutes in my life? I decide not important enough to keep me away from my coffee. I’m out of here.

May your knees bend easily and your weights be light.

THREAT inspires art

CERAMIC artist Robyn Baker has, through her art, forged a special connection with the island of Borneo.

Robyn is passionate about native animal protection and the focus of her current body of work is raising awareness of the rapid deforestation in Borneo for palm oil production.

“The World Wildlife Foundation estimates that the Borneo orangutan population has more than halved in the last century and the species is listed by WWF as in danger of extinction,” she says. “That’s 150,000 of these beautiful apes killed in just 16 years. By using my art to highlight the plight of the orangutan and other critically endangered species, I hope I can help, even in a small way, to avoid that”.

Robyn has spent 20 years

volunteering to work with threatened species at zoos around Australia, and four years caring for koalas as a volunteer at Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

A portion of all sales of her art, which includes painting, jewellery, pottery and sculpture, is donated to raise funds for rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals, and habitat restoration.

Borneo has a strong arts culture and one day she hopes to take up her dream job as artist-in-residence at a Borneo cultural institution.

Robyn’s other connection with Borneo is that her great uncle died as a POW in the infamous Sandakan camp.

“I think my personal commitment to help the animals of Borneo springs in part from this connection and being raised on stories about Borneo,” she says.

Robyn will be showing her latest work at the Buderim Craft Cottage Sculptured Garden exhibition next month. On display and for sale, will be more than 150 sculptural works for gardens as well as indoor display.

The second weekend of the exhibition coincides with Buderim’s Garden Festival at the adjacent Memorial Hall and other sites around Buderim.

Atrium Gallery, Buderim Craft Cottage, 5 Main St. October 12-20, 9am-4pm daily. Free entry.

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 19

21/08/2019 10:45:38 AM

OUR PEOPLE

Stage set for Baby Boomers to rule What does the new Australian film Palm Beach have in common with Your Time? Both have got the Baby Boomers covered. DOT WHITTINGTON talks to director Rachel Ward and producer/lead actor Bryan Brown about their generation.

B

illed as a dramatic comedy for the over 50s, Palm Beach is about a group of Baby Boomers – men and women with their adult children, gathering for a milestone birthday (presumably 70th, maybe 65th).

Brown plays the lead character, Frank, a wealthy and successful entrepreneur whose long-time friends, not so wealthy or successful, join him to celebrate at his

fabulous villa in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

As it turns out, they are mostly people with concerns and relationships we can recognise; who have the baggage that comes with being a Baby Boomer.

The film is backed by a brilliant soundtrack, the songs of a generation, from the Easybeats and Frank Sinatra to Marvin Gaye and James Reyne.

“The music themes resonate,” says Rachel Ward. “I love soul and blues. It’s nostalgic; the hits we grew up with.”

Ward co-wrote the script with Australian playwright Joanna MurraySmith and also directed the film. Brown was producer. She wanted the women to take a strong role, reflecting their place in the world and family as wives and mothers with their own identity and issues.

“We had to suck it up for years seeing only the male experience,” she says.

Ward says she finds ageism insidious.

“It is affecting successes and failures,” she says. “We aren’t seeing our generation, a big and significant generation, reflected in society. There needs to be more films about this group, this era. We have to vote with our feet and demand more attention; demand representation.

“It is all market motivated and it’s up to us to participate and be interesting to have society interested in us,” she says.

Ward says values of strength and courage must come before sex appeal.

“These conversations are out there,” she says. “The Baby Boomers are a large percentage of the population.”

Brown says he’s not sure if getting good roles playing his age is a fluke or if it is that people are actually rating the age group.

“I’m not going gently,” he says.

“Someone else invented the word seniors.”

Ward points out that at high school, the seniors were the groovers who were in charge and wore the special uniforms, “so it’s not so bad being considered a senior”.

She doesn’t intend to wear a twin set and pearls though.

“You hit 50 and you think ‘where are my peers?’ I see them dressing like they are old. You have to feel comfortable.”

Both remain active. Brown surfs and does pilates and Ward rides horses. This month they off to Spain for a six-day ride.

Do they think about retirement?

“No, but unemployment has been something that we have had to deal with all our lives,” Brown quips.

“I worked for AMP in pension funds for a while and saw the word ‘retirement’ all the time back then. As the years have gone by, I’ve come to see that people in their 60s still have years in front of them.

“Social change is here, and the younger generation have gained an extra 20 years on us. Someone else is going to have to determine my retirement, not me.”

It’s just that these days his roles reflect his age, such as playing Frank in Palm Beach who is still out surfing, scuffling with his mates and coming to grips with retirement after making his pile.

For Ward, it’s the shift in identity, finding purpose: “Work for a reason for being alive,” she says.

And finally, the meaning of life?

“Do stuff,” Brown says. “I found acting and I like to surf. I’m always doing something.”

Ward says she has come to stoic indifference.

“I’ve been bashed about by the winds and now I’m standing firm,” she says. “I’m no longer rocked by whatever comes at me, a bad review or a nasty remark. I’m much more stoic.”

Brown nods: “It too shall pass”.

349

20 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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339

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CARE AFFAIRS

Taking care of the carers Caring for a loved one with dementia is a massive responsibility, and although it can be rewarding, it can also take a major toll on the mental and physical health of the carer, writes KATHRYN SMITH.

S

tatistics show that 1 in 10 people over 65 years have dementia, which ranks the disease as the third leading cause of national disability burden.

Carers are often strapped aboard a rollercoaster of emotions, experiencing an array of feelings from love and tenderness to guilt, despair, anger and intense worry.

The weight of responsibility gets heavier for the carer as the patients lose their independence and the journey often brings great sadness to those who bear witness.

During this journey, it is of utmost importance that carers ensure they are prioritising their own physical, mental and emotional health.

Dementia is terribly sad for friends and relatives to see, as the degenerative state of the disease closes all windows of hope.

As humans we naturally seek out positives as we grapple at snippets of the suffererâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former self.

When it comes to degenerative disease, seeing the positive rather than weighing in on the negatives, is crucial to emotional health.

particularly when in caring for someone with dementia.

Denying feelings, even if they are ones of anger, guilt or exasperation, will not be helpful in the long run. Confiding in a friend or a professional about how you are feeling, will not end in judgement.

This is a great life challenge and practising self-compassion is vital to your mental health.

Cry, talk to a friend or a professional, write a journal; just let the feelings out.

They cannot heal when they are trapped inside.

Taking time out from carer duties to enjoy something you love is one way to be kind to yourself. Exercise and meditation also are effective outlets, helping you to relax and improve mood, sleep and cognitive function.

Learn to find some joy in a time that may not seem like your happiest and remember, the person may not remember who you are, but you can still honour and remember who they are.

Kathryn Smith is a clinical psychologist. Visit psychologyconsultants.com.au

Children are often wondrous in these situations, taking a fresh and unique perspective. Rather than shy them away from the person it can be helpful to encourage their visits and allow them to understand what is transpiring.

Communication is key when it comes to expressing feelings in all situations but

In 2015, there were 2.8 million unpaid carers in Australia, the majority of them women.

Whether caring for a parent with dementia, a partner with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, a sibling or child with a brain injury, or a friend who has suffered a stroke, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generally not a role freely chosen.

Most carers had a different lifestyle before they became carers and have seen all, or most, of that old life vanish.

They might have had to stop work, interrupt their education, drop out of some parts of their social life, abandon hobbies, interests and plans for the future â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of which means they have experienced significant losses.

This in itself can lead to grief, although it is not always recognised as such. Caring is intensely demanding and stressful, and carers tend to find they have little or no time for self-care.

Over time, it is not unusual for a carer to find themselves becoming exhausted, empty, resentful, angry, lonely and depressed. They wonder how long they can go on yet push themselves to continue.

Carer fatigue is normal.

Take the advice that airlines give passengers: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fit your own oxygen mask first before you try to help othersâ&#x20AC;?. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, both of you will go down. Take care of the carer.

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Sunshine Coast

22/08/2019 9:21:27 AM

CARE AFFAIRS

Fresh ideas to keep your brain ticking A new book is making a splash with seniors who are keen to build their memory muscles, and the strategies are intriguing, writes KENDALL MORTON.

M

emory Craft is by Australian researcher Lynne Kelly, who claims she has always had a poor memory.

She set out to discover memory aids through the ages. The result is a fascinating and practical book exploring and testing memory tools from indigenous Australia, medieval Italy, old English prayer books and other sources.

Kelly and other researchers recommend building up a “cognitive reserve” against dementias by giving your brain a serious workout.

There are loads of popular ways to do this, including learning a language, joining a choir or doing online brain training programs. Kelly takes her own advice seriously. She is 67 and she competes in international memory championships.

She points out that memories of people, places and events are what gives us our identity. Losing memories due to dementia is distressing and painful for the sufferer and their loved ones.

Some of the techniques she shares in Memory Craft may mitigate these losses.

Kelly came across a memory technique used by the Lakota and other tribes, called the winter count. It can support our

Lynne Kelly identity as it reinforces the memories we treasure.

The winter count is a physical memory aid traditionally made on a leather hide where users build up a spiral of symbols that help recall a significant event for each year. On the first day of winter, a new symbol is added.

Winter counts were valuable to the whole tribe. Stories were remembered and

shared and history is kept alive through the retelling.

Today the winter count technique has become a popular memory tool for people of other backgrounds and cultures. The count is sometimes made as a tapestry or a piece of embroidery.

Kelly recommends the winter count for seniors as a way of keeping memories and stories alive. One advantage of the winter count over photographs is that they refer to a significant event.

This drawing or symbol triggers recollections and conversations. Another advantage is that as the memories have these physical cues, they are great for sharing. There will be less of “you told me that story, Grandpa” and more shared recounting as children build their own memories of these family events.

Moving on to another ground-breaking book, in The Longevity Paradox, Steven R. Grundy puts forward a brain health strategy that anyone can try as it does not require great physical or mental prowess.

It is the brain wash. Think of it as a daily bath for your brain. Your precious and amazing brain has its own cleansing mechanism known as the glymphatic system. Each night cerebrospinal fluid

flows through your brain, cleaning out spaces between the cells.

When you are in a deep sleep, your brain cells actually shrink which allows more space for this process to happen.

To get the most effective brain wash or brain bath, you need to get a long night’s sleep. You also need to eat your evening meal early. Otherwise your blood supply, which is needed for the brain bath, will be taken up with digesting your meal.

Dr Grundy and other researchers recommend a four-hour gap between eating your evening meal and going to bed.

Your blood supply then will be freed up for its important brain work.

If you go to bed at 10pm, finishing your meal by 6pm may seem a stretch, but why not try it twice a week and see if you wake more refreshed and alert.

As for supper, the word is, you’re better off without it.

I hope you find these strategies practical and intriguing, and perhaps they will lead you to explore your own brain health more deeply.

Kendall Morton is director of Home Care Assistance Sunshine Coast to Wide Bay. Call 5491 6888 or email kmorton@ homecareassistance.com

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September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 23

22/08/2019 9:37:19 AM

ON TRACK

Design your retirement lifestyle Before you can plan the lifestyle you want after leaving fulltime work, you have to be clear about exactly what it is you want to do, writes STEVE MENDL.

R

ecently, on an executive business course, I met a quietly spoken gentlemen with no sense of fashion at all.

He was single, retired and, as it turned out, destined to be my roommate for the duration of the course.

It wasn’t until later that I learnt that this silent and socially awkward man was not only very wealthy, but very smart.

He also had one of the most defined ideas of preferred lifestyle that I had come across in my time working with people transitioning from full-time work into the next stage of their lives.

Over a few drinks, he shared with me that he loved maths and preferred nature on all levels to the company of human beings. As a result, when he left his final role, he bought a plot of land in the middle of nowhere. It was close enough to town to get what he needed when he needed it but far enough away to enjoy the silence of nature.

Three times a week, he would be up at 2am to trade the US stock market. His eyes lit up as he told me that he liked nothing better than sitting with a warm coffee on his wrap-around balcony, frantically trading numbers at the speed of light, yet aware of the relative stillness of nature

around him, all under a crystal-clear, star-studded sky.

When I asked him why he was on the course, he acknowledged that he believed in lifelong learning. He actually took at least three short courses a year in different life areas to keep him connected with people and to keep his mind stimulated.

My roommate knew the lifestyle he wanted and had acted to make it a reality.

He lived a life that matched with what he found important and true to his values, and embraced a life that he was content with. A smart man indeed.

So, what lifestyle do you want?

There’s an old saying: If you don’t know where you are going, how do you know when you get there?

People transitioning out of the full-time workforce need to have a clear idea of: • Who they are; • What is important to them; • What they prefer to do (and not do); • What knowledge and skills they have (or would like to have); and • How all of these aspects interconnect to provide opportunities for further work, self-development, activities, hobbies, social interaction and being part of communities in the next stage of their lives.

There are so many things to consider

when it comes to lifestyle, whether you choose to focus on more recreational or professional pursuits. It’s about what you will occupy yourself with in the stage of your life – a massive source of wealth.

Continuing self-development may include online or campus-based courses or seminars, writing, blogging, researching, and using and keeping up with technology.

Sport and active recreation may include walking, hiking, jogging, going to the gym, swimming, golf, tennis, bowls, as well as other sports and indoor and outdoor games.

Amusements and cultural interests can encompass a wide range of activities, like movies, theatre, TV, radio, music, playing an instrument, travel, vacations, museums, art shows, card games and board games.

Service activities include volunteer work and being active in service clubs and civic groups.

Social activities include phone calls, social networking through sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, in-home entertaining with small or large groups, family get-togethers and calling on friends.

Interests and hobbies could mean any variation of arts and crafts, collecting, DIY home improvement, gardening or scrapbooking, etc. The key to determining

your lifestyle is to work out what you want to do and then design your days, weeks, months and years ahead to incorporate all the aspects that make up a satisfying lifestyle according to you.

Then, where necessary, you can negotiate and collaborate in order to create your desired lifestyle.

Some people want the beach lifestyle, some want the tree change, others want warm weather or the decadent lifestyle, luxury lifestyle, tranquil lifestyle, adventurous lifestyle, the mixed change and variety lifestyle… the list goes on.

There is no right or wrong way to create a lifestyle that you wish to enjoy. For many, it is something that evolves over time. The point here is to unpack your head and get your ideas down on paper.

When asked, people who are in the last few months of their lives and know the end is near rarely make reference to the material ownership of “things”.

What they do reflect on is experiences, memories and people. This is your chance to do it consciously. What experiences do you want in the next stage of your life?

Steve Mendl is author of Beyond the Money: A Practical Guide for Successful Men Leaving Full-time Work. Visit beyondthemoney.com.au

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HISTORY

Young players had a ball at the Country Cup In 1946, the Country Cup basketball competition came to Nambour. It was a big event for the young girls from Maroochy, writes AUDIENNE BLYTH.

M

rs McGregor-Lowndes MBE founded the McGregor-Lowndes Country Cup in the 1930s.

It was open only to country teams who each year came from around the state to compete for honours, often in Brisbane.

Families had to fundraise to send teams away for the competitions, and basket picnics were made for visitors.

In 1946, the Country Cup basketball competitions were held in Nambour.

Teams from Cunnamulla and Quilpie played Yandina. In the 1940s, there were seven girls to a team.

The competitions continued into the 1950s, but excluded the World War II years, when the government placed restrictions on travelling groups.

Other Queensland country towns hosted competitions as well.

Dalby won the Country Cup in 1946 and in 1947, Toowoomba hosted 600 players competing for both the Country Cup and the Jersey Ice Cream Cup. Caboolture won.

Church groups began basketball competitions for young ladies as early as the 1910s, when there were nine girls to a team.

26 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

26.indd 2

Quilpie Team 1946, with “Bub” Doneman on the right.

Mrs McGregor-Lowndes also founded the Queensland Ladies Basket Ball Association in 1920.

After World War II, in 1946, the Maroochy Basket Ball Association was formed and teams competed for the W. Potter trophy.

William (Bill) Potter was a wellknown shoe repairer and bootmaker in Nambour, and also a keen supporter and referee at matches.

Buderim won the trophy that year.

Later, other shields and trophies were awarded for teams not competing in the Country Cup Basketball became very popular and

Yandina team 1946, from left, Maisie Robe, Lizzie Robe, Olive Smith, Hazel Parnell, Vida Rutch, Evelyn Smith, Val Low and coach Miss Brett at front. (Picture courtesy Bob Carroll) teams from local towns joined in the competition.

Games were played at the Nambour Rural School until 1948 when courts were established at Price St. Players in the Queensland Ladies Basketball Association were Maroochy A and B teams in 1947. Young women of South Sea Islander, Aboriginal and European descent made up the teams.

Other athletic events such as tunnel ball, sprinting over 75 yards (68.5m) and

relay races were often held during basketball competitions.

Women’s basketball has undergone many changes since it began in England in the 1890s. Two Englishwomen brought the men’s game from the USA and developed a set of rules to suit women.

A wicker basket was used as the goaling target and the referee had to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball.

Women wore flowing skirts and leg-ofmutton sleeves.

The name of basketball was changed to netball in Australia in the 1970s and rules and costumes have indeed changed.

International tournaments now generate tremendous interest.

Audienne Blyth is a member of the Nambour Historical Museum, open Wednesday to Saturday 1pm-4pm.

SMALL WORLD: The brother of Bub Doneman, who played for the Quilpie team, later met Audienne Blyth’s sister Maureen. They married in 1955 and the late Merv Doneman became a well-known businessman around Nambour.

Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 11:11:12 AM

MOTORING

Luxury hybrid the car of tomorrow Hybrids with petrol and self-charging electric motors are gaining traction among Australian buyers, writes BRUCE McMAHON.

L

atest sales figures also show that diesel-engined passenger cars are slipping from favour.

Toyota, the Lexus overlord and an early mover on hybrid technology, looks smart with four hybrid Toyotas and eight petrol-electric Lexus now in showrooms.

Demand (if not the hype) for electric vehicles remains sluggish, even in subsidy-driven European markets.

And hybrids may have better range for long-distance drives while still lighter and greener on fossil fuels and emissions than conventional automobiles.

So the compact Lexus UX 250h is in the right place for those who can afford a luxury hybrid SUV and stay on trend.

This is the smallest and cheapest Lexus, a new doorway to an expensive stable.

It sits on much the same platform as Toyota’s CH-R so promises a decent drive, especially from the all-wheel drive F Sport version.

It looks the part, like tomorrow’s car, with mangle of sharp body lines and creases from wide-mouthed frog grille through to finned tail lights.

The UX’s swoop-coupe style though does compromise practicality. It’s not the best for more than two adult-sized

Australians – even then the driver’s spot is pretty snug.

Plus, there’s the issue of visibility, restricted to the sides and almost nonexistent to the rear.

The roofline’s slope and that large C-pillar mean blind spot monitors, rear cross traffic alerts and rear view camera are essential. Head, leg and shoulder room is limited for adults in the back and cargo space is shallow.

The front cabin is stacked with all manner of switches. The instrument panel and infotainment screen are loaded with

all manner of graphics and calculations about energy flows to and from the two-litre petrol motor and electric motor up front to the nickel metal-hydride battery down back.

As befits a Lexus, fit and finish is superb, although that strange brew of infotainment controls, with finicky touch pad for screen instructions and curious device for the eight-speaker stereo, can be distracting.

For all that, the UX 250h F Sport is a fun driving car with excellent road manners and enough punch out of 131kW

all up. That combined petrol-electric power is delivered seamlessly and the Constantly Variable Transmission one of the least-complaining of all CVTs. The power train includes another, 5.3kW, electric motor in the rear axle for all-wheel drive when needed.

For an SUV, the Lexus sits down tight, steers with well-weighted authority and holds on with composure.

F Sport models add a sports suspension tune to the package and 18-inch run-flat Dunlops no doubt contribute to good grip but can create intrusive tyre noise on coarse chip highways.

Over a week of belting around town and country, dodging duels with interstate transports and the like, the Lexus came in at 5.8 litres per 100km on the highway while the best around stop-start suburbs, where the electric motor is more used, was 4.6 litres per 100km.

That’s good enough for government work but with a 43-litre fuel tank, you’d need a few downhill runs to get better than 220km without a top-up.

Still, this luxury Lexus UX 250h F Sport at $67,250 offers an engaging drive in a premium SUV, albeit in a compromised cabin.

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Sunshine Coast

27.indd 3

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 27

21/08/2019 11:11:55 AM

IN THE KITCHEN

Mandarin Friands Makes 12 • 2 large mandarins, peeled and seeded • 1½ cups almond meal • 3 eggs, separated • 2½ tablespoons agave nectar or rice malt syrup Preheat the oven to 180C. In a food processor, combine the mandarins, almond meal, egg yolks, and agave and blend for 10 seconds.

Whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes.

Gently fold the mandarin mix into the egg whites.

Divide among 12 nonstick muffin or friand moulds and bake for 20 minutes.

Bacon and Pea Soup With all the flavour of traditional pea and ham soup but with a fraction of the effort and cooking time Serves 4 • 400g bacon rashers, chopped • 1 onion, roughly chopped • 500g frozen peas, thawed (reserve a few for garnish) • 1 litre vegetable stock In a large saucepan, fry the bacon until golden. Move to the side and, in the oil, gently fry the onion until just translucent.

Add the peas and vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the peas are tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

Using a handheld blender, blend the soup until smooth. To serve, pour the soup into a bowl and garnish with a few whole peas and a little crispy bacon.

Making it easy The team from 4 Ingredients gives a new slant to some traditional family favourites.

Serves 8 • 500g lean beef mince • 300g fruit chutney • 800g potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed • ¾ cup (75g) grated cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 180C. In a nonstick frying pan over moderate heat, brown the mince, season and stir through chutney. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes.

Pour into a casserole dish, top evenly with mashed potato and sprinkle with grated cheese (a combination of cheddar and Parmesan is also nice). Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until cheese is nice and bubbly.

TIP: Slice a tomato or two over the mince before topping with potato or finely chop in any number of veggies to the mix. It’s the delicious sweet and savoury flavour of the chutney. Serve with steamed greens.

28.indd 2

Wellness Tip: Like all other citrus fruits, mandarins are characterised by their high vitamin C content. Just two mandarins a day satisfies the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C.

They’re quick and simple and best of all, require only four ingredients.

Shepherd’s Pie

28 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

Optional: Substitute mandarins for oranges or limes.

Tray Bake Chicken Serves 4 • 4 150g skinless, boneless chicken breast halves • 1 tablespoon (20ml) garlic infused olive oil • 4 tablespoons (80g) basil pesto • 250g cherry tomatoes

Leftov e If any is r Tip: le ftover, slice it a favour nd use it in yo ite pa ur pizza to sta dish or as pping. a It terrific in fresh is also ly -m sandw iches a ade nd wraps.

Preheat oven to 180C. Place the chicken breasts in a large, shallow roasting tray and drizzle with the oil. Season with sea salt and cracked pepper. Bake for 15 minutes, then brush generously with basil pesto and add cherry tomatoes. Bake for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.

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21/08/2019 11:13:06 AM

FINANCE

The silver lining of deeming rates

Risk vs return dilemma deepens

Opportunities are presented by the rules around the income and asset test calculations and NARELLE COOPER recommends exploring the opportunities to maximise your income.

As interest rates continue to fall, the hunt for income intensifies. MARK DAVIDSON explains the options – and risks – of where to put the savings.

I

tried really hard not to address this topic, mostly because it’s old news, right? And because in all honestly, if you had asked me six months ago, I would have said “they are not going to change the deeming rates”.

I hate being wrong.

If you were wondering if you had missed something, at the time I wrote this article, the new deeming rates had not been implemented. When they are and if you qualify, any increase in your pension will be backdated to July 1.

If you are a full pensioner or your pension is calculated under the assets test, the new deeming rates will not change your pension payment.

The next quarterly review of payments is in September. You may see an increase then.

Don’t get me wrong, my pride aside, I am very happy to see deeming rates drop.

It is a win for all part age pensions being assessed under the incomes test – however small, however minor; some may say, however not enough.

You see there is more to the humble deeming rate than meets the eye and as I remind my clients, 3 per cent may be higher than current bank rates but it is lower than other good quality investment options in the market place.

The way deeming rates are calculated presents opportunities, and in the words of the Humans Services Department themselves: “If your investment return is higher than the deemed rates, the extra amount doesn’t count as your income”.

I am so getting into trouble for this one, but I will bravely carry on … we just need to achieve investment returns higher than the deeming rates.

I hear you, for some you might as well say a good fling on the pokies will do the same thing.

The Government clearly acknowledges that one of the reasons deeming rates were introduced in the first place was to, and I quote, “increase incentives for income support recipients to maximise total income and encourage the choice of investments for their merits”.

So, the powers that be want you to maximise your income and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the rules around the income and asset test calculations.

Whether you are under the income or assets test, there are strategies such as the deeming rates, using the work bonus, applying the gifting rules, looking at annuities and funeral bonds etc, that can be applied to increase your overall income.

All these options can be part of a well-planned investment portfolio that maximises your pension payments and improves your bottom line.

I am not advocating stepping out of your comfort zone, investing in howtoloseyourmoney.com nor do I want to over-simplify the nature of the investment markets, or make any promises that your situation may improve, but I am advocating exploring the opportunities available.

The above information is presented as general information and should not be relied upon in isolation. The complexity of Centrelink’s assessment processes means that your individual circumstances affect the results and differ from person to person. Always refer to Centrelink or a Centrelink expert for advice relating to your personal situation.

Narelle Cooper is director of the Centre for Age Pension Admin (CAPA) Services. Call 1300 043 197 or visit capaservices.com.au

W

ith the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cutting rates to 1 per cent, the hunt for yield becomes even more difficult.

In addition to this, globally bond yields are at all-time lows and term premium is virtually non-existent. Retirees face a reduction in income that is becoming more difficult to address.

Ultimately, recent reductions in the official cash rate are a reflection of the concern the RBA has about the subdued inflation environment and weak wages growth.

Our economists expect that the RBA may cut the official cash rate to 0.5 per cent by mid-2020. At this point, the real cash rate – the official cash rate less inflation – would be negative.

The reduction in rates now forces those with savings to think harder about where to allocate their capital to earn them the most income.

Let us examine some alternatives, starting with low risk and rising.

Cash: Most major bank accounts pay little to no interest. It is possible to receive a higher rate by utilising an “online only” account.

Term Deposits: An analysis of current TD rates indicates a range of 1.1 to 2 per cent for terms of three months to five years. That’s not attractive at all, considering the rates available via online cash accounts.

Bonds: Bonds tend to pay higher yields than term deposits. For example, a Treasury Bond maturing in April 2023 has a yield of 4.62 per cent. Here’s the rub though – bonds move up and down in price. As interest rates fall, the price of bonds rises. So, for that April 2023 Treasury Bond, you have to pay about $119, and its maturity value is only $100.

Thus, investors have bid up the price to attain a higher yield, and investors who purchase now are looking at a yield to maturity of just 0.74 per cent. The only

reason to buy bonds is if you think interest rates will fall further and the price will appreciate, resulting in a capital gain.

Hybrid Securities: Preference shares and capital notes make up the majority of this asset class. They are one of the vehicles that many retirees have flocked to, as they tend to pay floating rates locked into a good margin above the bank bill rate. They are issued by most of the major banks and financial institutions and return of capital is not guaranteed if the issuer experiences financial difficulties.

As with bonds, the price is floating, so, if for example some of these instruments are trading at a price of $105, investors will only receive $100 back on maturity.

Shares and Property Trusts: Australian shares and property trusts generally pay higher dividends than international shares. While some companies reinvest their profits to enable continued growth (they may pay nil to, say, 3 per cent), other companies focus on maximising income to shareholders.

Such companies tend to trade off growth for dividends, but it is common for companies to pay between 5 and 10 per cent income per annum. Our forecast for BHP this financial year is 7.3 per cent, ANZ Bank 9.1 per cent, Boral 7.5 per cent.

However, you must be able to ignore sensationalist media and to tolerate volatility. Return of capital is definitely not guaranteed, but a well-constructed share portfolio should result in higher returns than most other asset classes over the longer term.

As you can see, nothing is easy. The lower the risk, the lower the potential return. Investors must analyse how much risk they are willing to take and invest according to that risk tolerance.

Suffice to say, things are only going to get tougher.

Mark Davidson is a senior financial adviser at Ord Minnett Sunshine Coast.

Visit ordsbuderim.com.au

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One stop shop for Seniors moving forward 30 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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21/08/2019 11:14:22 AM

FINANCE

Which retirement village model suits you?

Most people buy into a retirement village for lifestyle, not investment. But, writes DON MACPHERSON, there are different ways of obtaining tenure.

W

e spend a lot of time assisting people into retirement villages. The main thing to understand is that buying into a retirement village is very different to buying and selling a house the way you have done all your life.

Each village has its own way of creating rights for residency. There are four main ways that retirement villages offer tenure to an incoming resident: 1. FREEHOLD This is the way that people are used to owning property. They buy the property (like buying a house) and can sell it at the end. Usually they pay stamp duty.

Usually they get any capital gain. The title is registered in the Titles Office. This is the traditional ownership method.

2. LEASEHOLD This is the most common way that retirement villages offer their properties to incoming residents. The lease contract creates a right to reside for an extended period (usually 99 years – though we are yet to see someone outlive their lease).

A lease is registered in the Titles Office. There is no stamp duty.

Sometimes there is capital gain, but not always.

3. LICENCE Less common than leasehold (at least in Queensland), a licence creates a right to reside but is not registered against the title deed. However, there are additional protections under The Retirement Villages Act. Usually there is no capital gain. There is no stamp duty.

4. MANUFACTURED/RELOCATABLES This model involves owning the house, but not the land. One pays a site rental to have one’s house on the land owned by the operator. Because you own the home, there is usually capital gain available.

Whatever the ownership model, all retirement village contracts provide extensive rules in relation to occupation of the home in which you live.

There are always ongoing fees while in the village. There are usually

significant fees payable at the end of the ownership period – called various names including exit fees or deferred management fees. Retirement village contracts are always long and complex.

Specialist advice should be sought before entering into a contract for any type of retirement village arrangement.

Don Macpherson is a family law specialist at Sunshine Coast Elder Law. Call 1800 961 622 or visit sunshinecoast elderlaw.com.au

had enough of centrelink paperwork?

Best intentions pave road to hell The idea for an ageing parent to live with a child arises from a loving relationship but PETER PORCELLINI warns good intentions can turn bad.

J

oint living arrangements, commonly called granny flat arrangements, are useful, especially when one considers the uncertain future for the aged care system. Unfortunately, many family relationships are put at risk because the arrangements are approached informally.

This informality is understandable because everyone is naturally buoyed – maybe blinded – by loving feelings and the bright future the arrangement promises. The reality is that there are countless non-documented or poorly documented arrangements that have a sad and disastrous end.

It’s very often just too hard for a parent to do anything about this predicament. Common refrains include “it’s family” or “it’s my own fault”.

While every case is different, common threads are the best of intentions; poor documentation, often none at all; changes in life circumstances for parent or child, such as illness or marital breakdown; small misunderstandings, or not wanting

to live that close any more; tensions; the parent being forced to leave without money, without a home and without the relationship that led to the arrangement in the first place.

The possible cost of not properly documenting joint living arrangements is the loss of a supportive and loving relationship with your child, as well as the collateral damage that often occurs in other relationships, such as those between your child and your other children or, sadly, damage to your own relationship with grandchildren.

This cost is a far greater than the money required to pay for good advice and the preparation of a document to properly regulate things such as who pays for what, who can do what, when can or must the arrangement end, who should receive what when it ends etc.

Set clear ground rules and do it early in the planning before it’s too late.

Peter Porcellini is a special counsel with CRH Law. Visit crhlaw.com.au

CAPA Services can organise and help manage your Age Pension, by providing ongoing administrative support and liaising with Centrelink on your behalf.

Our professional staff can take the stress out of the process, while ensuring that your best interests are being represented with integrity and diligence.

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1800 961 622 | www.sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au | Maroochydore and Caloundra September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 31

21/08/2019 11:15:50 AM

WELLBEING

Make no mistake, food affects mood Depletion of agricultural soils means more nutrient-dense food is needed to get the right levels in the body, writes TRUDY KITHER.

I

nvestigating the relationship between your mood and the physical parts of your body, as opposed to considering your mood to be a mental problem, should always be your first step – and often, it then can be your last as well.

Here are some pointers: Potassium is one of the most important minerals for a healthy, relaxed body. It is a physiological tranquilizer that calms the nervous system and heart rate.

It is also important to maintain blood sugar levels.

You might think, “well, I eat a banana a day so there’s my potassium intake”.

Wrong! A banana is 400mg a day and your body needs 4700mg of potassium

every day. Eating 12 bananas a day is not the answer (which, by the way, you shouldn’t do anyway due to the high amount of sugar bananas contain).

You need to consume a large, leafy green salad (or 6-8 cups of vegetables or salad) every day.

B Vitamins (especially B1) are used up in your body when you are stressed. They are water soluble. Should you have a stressful incident, you are going to deplete B Vitamins through your body. This makes you more anxious and restless.

Restless Legs is a B Vitamin deficiency.

The B Vitamins are important to calm down, help sleep, and prevent nightmares.

They also convert the food you eat to energy and nourish and support the nervous system.

Calcium is also important to help relax, calm down and reduce stress.

When you’re under stress, calcium is depleted. This is not about the calcium supplements you buy either.

Most one-a-day calcium supplement brands are actually made from calcium carbonate (which is crushed limestone) and this doesn’t absorb in the body well.

You may as well eat some cement.

You can get calcium from calcium

citrate, or other sources such as cheese or plain yoghurt.

Omega 3 is crucial for cognitive function, especially in children and the elderly. The problem with fish oils are that they are usually rancid. If you open the capsule to check the quality and it smells fishy, then it usually is. It shouldn’t have too much of a fishy smell at all.

It also needs to be low in mercury and other heavy metals which, unfortunately, is what a lot of the “cheaper for more” fish oils are. Try to purchase a fish oil that has been tested by numerous sources and has certificates of cleanliness and purity.

Iodine supports the thyroid and should come from a sea kelp source. If the thyroid becomes a physical problem, it can cause depression, apathy, weight gain, dry skin and hair, lack of circulation, cold extremities and so on.

If it doesn’t function properly, then cognitive (as well as physical) function in the mind and body starts to slow. Sea kelp is packed full of iodine.

Blood sugars need to be perfectly balanced. If your blood sugar is too high you will get brain fog and suffer memory loss. If blood sugar is down, you are going to have irritability, ADD and feel edgy.

Make sure that your breakfast is protein, which will support blood sugars throughout the day, rather than one packed full of carbohydrates.

Having low blood sugar doesn’t mean you need to eat more sugar. You need to have a large salad and loads more vegetables to fix it. Seven cups of salad, as mentioned earlier, will stabilise blood sugars and increase potassium levels at the same time.

Cortisol is the stress hormone. If you are constantly stressed, you will eventually stop getting decent sleep because it is continually rising in your body (especially when you should be sleeping). It needs to be improved by walking, sleeping MORE, keeping the diet nutritious, avoiding stressful people and situations and modalities such as acupressure, massage and other calming treatments.

Sleep is even more important when stressed. If you get six hours a night, then you will need seven if you’re stressed.

Without the right amount of sleep you’re going to have anxiety, depression and mood and physical health issues.

Trudy Kither is a naturopath and nutritionist. Visit naturestemple.net

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22/08/2019 10:04:28 AM

HEALTH

Stay stronger forr longer You’ve retired. Why bother with fitness? tness? TRISTAN HALL gives some excellent reasons for keeping up an exercise routine.

F

or starters, if you do nothing your body will lose muscle mass, your joints will start to ache, and your bone density will drop.

Women after menopause lose 2 per cent of bone density a year.

Strength exercises will rebuild muscle and improve bone density.

In strength training, you move your muscles against a resistance. Some examples are doing leg lifts in a pool where the water provides the resistance or using a stretch band to build up your torso and arm muscles.

Other options are pushing and holding up your own body weight and, of course, lifting weights.

Every day 133 older Queenslanders have a fall that requires medical attention.

And about 30 per cent of falls result in broken bones, including hip fractures, head injuries or forearm fractures.

If you have strong muscles you can rebalance yourself more easily and reduce falls and if you do fall, higher bone density can protect you from broken bones, hospitalisation and incapacity.

Here’s a few ways to start at home: The Kitchen Bench Press – Simply use your kitchen bench to do 10 push ups.

Place your firmly on the bench top o r hands firml at your body width, your legs away from the bench and tighten your abdominal and bottom muscles.

Then do 10 push ups, keeping your head up. If you are struggling by the last few, this is the right level of effort for you.

Take a short break and do two more sets.

The Chair Squat – place a standard dining chair behind you, place your feel a bit wider than your shoulders and bend your knees until you are just touching the chair with your bottom. Rise up to a standing position and repeat. Do 10.

If you can’t get down to the chair, that’s no problem. Hold your arms out in front for balance. This exercise uses your leg and abdominal muscles and challenges your balance. You could always put a chair near the TV and do three sets during ad breaks.

Tristan Hall is an exercise physiologist.

Visit fullcirlcewellness.com.au

ANCIENT ART TREATS MODERN PROBLEMS THE ancient Japanese art of Jin Shin Jyutsu is a natural therapy treatment that balances the body’s energy system, healing and restoring the body to a more harmonious state.

Deborah Callan, who is also a bowen therapist at Kansha Natural Therapies in Noosaville, says it is similar to acupressure and works on the mind, body and spirit.

Energy pathways feed life into our bodies and when one of the paths become blocked, disharmony results.

Jin Shin Jyutsu has 26 safety energy locks along these pathways. Holding them in combination restores balance.

“The stress of daily life – habits, emotions, illness and physical activity can have an adverse effect on the natural flow of energy along these pathways,” Ms Callan says. “For optimum health, energy needs to flow freely.”

Jin Shin Jyutsu is effective for all conditions as a complementary therapy.

The treatment takes one hour and there is no massage or physical manipulation of the body.

The experience is unique to each individual and each session, but the most commonly reported effect is deep relaxation of mind and body during and after treatment.

Benefits of a treatment include relief from chronic and acute pain, improved mobility, a deep sense of relaxation, better sleep, and relief from anxiety and depression.

For those without an ailment, regular sessions keep the mind in harmony and releases stuck behaviour patterns and tensions, which in turn helps prevent illness.

Jin Shin Jyutsu can be beneficial with arthritis, back, neck and knee pain, carpal tunnel, hip and shoulder and sinus and thyroid issues, and vertigo, as well as for relaxation and general wellbeing.

Visit kansha.com.au

TAKE A WALK Walking is the most natural form of cardio-vascular exercise around. The benefits of walking include: • burning calories and aiding weight loss • reducing stress • reducing risk of stroke and heart disease

• improving muscle and bone strength.

• improving mood, motivation and self-confidence • improving sleep patterns, appetite and quality of life • providing opportunity to meet others and enjoy social companionship.

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EXPERTS PROMOTION

INDUS T RY E X P ERTS AGED CARE

FINANCIAL

DENTISTRY

Retirement matters

Enhance your smile

Question: How do I know if I have enough money to retire?

Answer:

Help is on hand Home Care Packages can be a great way of staying in your own home for as long as you wish. Believe me when I say that navigating the system can be worth it to access services for yourself or someone you are caring for.

The system can be tedious and overwhelming, and with 128,000 people on the national wait list for Home Care Packages, it can be a long wait. The good news is that going through the process eventually leads to a fantastic funding

“There is a fair amount of flexibility as long as we can relate it back to your care needs” stream, allowing you many choices and great control of services.

These government-funded services can contribute to a higher quality of life with the right service provider. And it doesn’t matter how old we are, we always need a reason to get out of bed in the morning and have something to enjoy.

This can be as simple as feeling fear or anxiety around leaving the house and having a regular carer you trust to assist with transport and purchasing a ticket to the movies, or playing bingo. Anything that you 34 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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used to enjoy that you have let go due to factors associated with ageing or ill health.

There is a fair amount of flexibility as long as we can relate it back to your care needs. For instance, you can have therapies, buy equipment or pay for transport to appointments. You can use it for a carer to accompany you to an event such as the football.

The key is to find a provider who takes the time to listen and understand how your Home Care Package can best meet the needs of you and your family. As we age, we don’t necessarily feel older, and it can be frustrating when our bodies let us down.

Quality of life is so important when planning your senior years.

At Home Care Assistance, we are happy to support you through your journey. As you age, make sure you are living the life you want.

KENDALL MORTON DIRECTOR, HOME CARE ASSISTANCE SUNSHINE COAST 5491 6888 HOMECAREASSISTANCESUNSHINE COAST.COM.AU

Here is an overview of a simple* five-step calculation you can use to determine if you’re likely to have enough income and savings to cover your expenses in retirement.

1. What are your total annual contributions to retirement savings?

2. Multiply that number by the number of years left until retirement.

3. Add your current retirement savings to that number.

4. Divide by the number of years you expect to live in retirement.

5. Add that to any other guaranteed sources of income.

When you are done with the calculation, compare the answer to your current annual expenses to see if the amount you projected to have is enough to cover the living expenses you normally have.

There is a bit more to it than just this calculation, but this little five-step plan will give you some idea. (*This example will not address inflation, investment returns or losses.)

JULIE SCHAFER-EVANS SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, ES&A FINANCIAL SERVICES 5445 6044 ESAFINANCE.COM.AU

Dentures are not only important for chewing when you lose teeth. They also enhance your smile and give you confidence in social settings. Here are some tips to keep them looking good and functioning well.

Remove and clean your dentures twice a day with a denture brush and a non-abrasive detergent or anti-bacterial hand soap.

Brush your teeth and gums with toothpaste once the dentures are removed.

“Remove dentures at night to give your gums a rest” This will help fight infections and decay and refresh your mouth and breath.

Remove dentures at night to give your gums a rest. This is the perfect time to soak them using a suitable denture cleanser tablet.

Prevent staining by limiting tea, coffee and red wine. Otherwise, make a habit of rinsing your dentures after meals.

Visit your dental prosthetist if your dentures are cracked, stained or loose.

Your dental prosthetist can schedule regular visits to check your dentures for fit and function, and can also examine your mouth for any ulcers or sores.

JONATHAN MIDGLEY J J DENTURE DESIGN UNIT 3/6 NORVAL COURT MAROOCHYDORE JJDENTUREDESIGN.COM.AU Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 4:23:11 PM

EXPERTS PROMOTION

INDUS T RY E X P ERTS ORTHOPAEDIC

PHARMACY

AUDIOLOGY

LEGAL

What is the anterior approach for total hip replacement?

Diabetes – what’s the big deal?

Struggling to hear?

There are solutions

When my grandad was 58, he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. He had actually had diabetes for a number of years prior and these high blood sugar levels had started causing damage to his eyes and kidneys.

The symptoms of diabetes had been there.

However, like many people, he passed it off as old age. He was passing more urine and he tired more easily. He loved to garden, but found when he cut himself, it took longer to heal. His vision was blurry despite wearing his glasses.

These are classic signs of type 2 diabetes.

Our sedentary lifestyle has led to an increase in type 2 diabetes. Typically, it was generally diagnosed in people aged over 45, or from the age of 35 in Indigenous people.

Now we have people in their early twenties being diagnosed. Interestingly, in 58 per cent of type 2 cases, the disease is preventable. To reduce your risk: • Maintain a healthy weight – carrying extra fat around the waist is a big risk factor • Engage in regular physical activity • Make healthy food choices • Manage blood pressure • Manage cholesterol levels • Don’t smoke.

There are screening tools to help identify your risk of diabetes. Talk to your GP or your local pharmacist for details.

One of the most common complaints we receive in our practice is that people struggle to hear conversations in a restaurant or a crowded room. Most people instinctively place themselves in the corner, so that they can see everything going on.

This is the worst thing you can do if you have hearing problems. Our ears face forward, so if you’re facing the crowd, you’re hearing the crowd. For those suffering from hearing loss, the best place to sit is towards the corner of the room with your back to the noise. Face those you want to hear, not the crowd. This position ensures you block out as much background noise as possible, get less reverberation from the walls and focus your hearing onto those in your party.

Even better, if they have an outdoor area, take a coat and sit outside, away from the noise. Restaurants 30 years ago were comfortable places to communicate. Changing regulations and interior design have conspired to make dining out a frustrating exercise for many. With more background noise, everyone speaks louder.

The same problem exists in many homes with the trend for open-plan living creating issues. Repositioning the TV so that the noise is behind you, or running the dishwasher when you go to bed instead of straight after the meal, can help to reduce the problem.

Three reasons to make your Will with a lawyer

JULIANNA NEILL B.PHARM PHARMACY FOR LIFE PHARMACYFORLIFE.COM.AU

MICHAEL WILLIAMS EARS AUDIOLOGY 5/21 NICKLIN WAY, BUDDINA. 5452 6288 EARS.COM.AU

If you are experiencing debilitating osteoarthritis pain in your hip and you’ve tried everything, a total hip replacement can restore function and decrease pain.

The contemporary approaches for hip replacement surgery are posterior, anterolateral and the anterior minimally invasive approach. When performed well, all of these are likely to have an excellent result.

My preference is to perform the anterior, minimally invasive approach for nearly all hip replacements. This is a technique that I teach to other surgeons and am quite passionate about. My preference is due to the potential benefits of less pain, quicker recovery, lower dislocation risk and a smaller scar. Obviously, all approaches have potential complications as well.

With your GP, choose a surgeon who is highly skilled in their preferred approach, not based on which approach they perform. Your surgeon should make you feel comfortable with their recommended approach.

Always ask your surgeon the number of these procedures they perform and their outcomes. Never be afraid to ask for a second opinion if you are not comfortable.

DR DAEVYD RODDA SUNSHINE COAST ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP SUNSHINE COAST UNIVERSITY PRIVATE HOSPITAL SUITE 12, 3 DOHERTY STREET, BIRTINYA 5493 8038, SCORTHOGROUP.COM.AU

Sunshine Coast

35.indd 3

Many people shy away from making a will for fear of the process and the cost. Here are a few key reasons to consider seeing a lawyer to help you with your will and estate planning.

1. A clear and well-drafted last will can help your family avoid additional legal costs associated with applying to court to have a person appointed after the fact to administer your estate.

2. Discussing your wishes with a legal professional will ensure you have all the information about the best way to achieve your intentions.

3. Writing your own will or recording your wishes informally (for example, making a video about your wishes) can be accepted as legally valid will. However, the process for having informal wills recognised usually requires an expensive court application and there is no guarantee of success.

These unintended consequences can cause added stress and financial burden on your loved ones. Whilst we do our best to make these processes as stress free as possible, the best way you can protect your family is to take proactive steps to set up your estate plan early, and review your documents regularly.

BROOKE MCMAHON TURNER FREEMAN LAWYERS 148 HORTON PARADE, MAROOCHYDORE 5458 9500 WWW.TURNERFREEMAN.COM.AU

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 35

22/08/2019 10:17:58 AM

RETIREMENT LIVING

CONVENIENCE IS KEY FOR THE OVER 50S IMAGINE being able to leave the car at home and take a leisurely stroll or bike ride to your local shopping centre.

Nature’s Edge Buderim is within walking distance of Forest Glen and a stroll to their local shopping centre is just one of the many benefits enjoyed by the residents.

With plans well underway for an exciting redevelopment, they’ll soon have no need to go anywhere else. That adds up to a lot of savings in fuel costs.

Home to Kunara marketplace, which has an enormous wholefoods warehouse, organic café, garden centre, organic butcher, craft brewery and wellness centre, Forest Glen is a hub for residents to enjoy fresh, local produce in a laidback environment.

The new village will allow residents even more choice when it comes to the shopping experience.

Plans include a Super IGA, medical centre, hairdresser, indoor sport and recreation centre, bottle shop and more; as well as the addition of trendy new restaurants and cafes designed to take full advantage of the Sunshine Coast lifestyle.

Start your day with a stroll to one of the cafes for a lazy breakfast, take the

WORK STARTS ON PREMIUM RESORT

grandkids for fish and chips, or relax and read the paper over coffee after your grocery shopping – the vibrant new village will be the perfect place to bring family and friends who visit.

Touted as the heart of the Sunshine Coast, Forest Glen is well on track to becoming a tourist destination and a mecca for those who want to enjoy good food, good coffee and great shopping with plenty of parking – and living within walking distance makes it even better.

Call 1800 218 898 or visit naturesedgebuderim.com.au

PET PADS TOP RETIREMENT WISH LIST A welcome mat for pets is the No.1 must-have for Queenslanders considering retirement living, according to a new study.

A survey of more than 750 Queenslanders aged over 45 found that allowing pets in retirement homes was more important than access to on-site health care, Wi-Fi technology, a garden or exercise facilities.

The survey coincides with controversial reforms proposed for Queensland’s strata laws, including a super-law restricting pets.

Retirement village developer Chiou See Anderson said banning pets was a bad idea. “Numerous studies have proven the health and happiness benefits that come with owning a pet, not just for older people but for all ages,” Ms Anderson said.

HOMELESSNESS A RISING THREAT TO OLDER WOMEN MARRIAGE or long-term relationship break-ups can be tough, but it’s not just the emotions that hit Australian women the hardest – it’s their wallets.

About 60 per cent of women experience financial hardship in the first year after divorce and it’s older women who are the most vulnerable. Women over 55 are the fastest growing demographic of homeless in Australia.

Already at a disadvantage thanks to the gender pay gap and the fact that motherhood can affect career progression and superannuation contributions, many women also lack the financial knowledge and confidence to help stay on top of finances. Women who are divorced or separated are about half as likely to own their own home after they’ve turned 50, compared to those in a relationship.

Jacqueline Gardiner was a single, older women struggling financially.

At the age of 50 she found herself twice divorced, undergoing cancer 36 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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treatment and completely broke with no savings and a $10,000 debt.

It was a pivotal moment where things could have become even worse. She signed up for a six-week financial education course.

“I was shocked to discover how much I was spending each week, and I’ve been able to decrease that by $200 a week, giving,” she said.

SkilledSmart is a six-week money school for adults to learn about money from professionals at more affordable prices than traditional advice.

“I started spending less and started to value my money a lot more,” Jacqueline said. “I’m more aware of opportunities to save or make a few extra dollars, whether that’s selling old stuff on eBay or hunting for a higher-interest rate for my savings.”

About 80 per cent of students are women. Adults from all over Australia have participated in the course through SkilledSmart’s virtual classroom.

GEMLIFE has launched a new over-50s lifestyle resort at Pacific Paradise.

The multimillion-dollar development will comprise 96 luxurious homes within a secure, pet-friendly, gated community and with extensive, first-class recreational and sporting facilities.

To be built on a prime 4.4ha site, GemLife Pacific Paradise represents a premium offering, with larger-thanstandard size homes, ultra-high ceilings and top fittings and finishes.

In keeping with GemLife’s other over-50s resorts, the Pacific Paradise development is designed to support active, engaged living in a resort-style environment, providing high quality, low maintenance homes for empty-nesters or anyone looking to downsize.

GemLife Pacific Paradise brings the company’s portfolio to six over-50s resorts in three states.

CEO Adrian Puljich said GemLife had set out to transform over-50s living with an innovative approach that recognised the changing lifestyle demands of older Australians.

“Wellbeing and vibrant living are a priority. Our resorts deliver an exceptional blend of first-class recreational and leisure facilities for active and social lifestyles, together with meticulously designed, modern and stylish homes,” he said.

“We want homeowners to have maximum opportunities to connect and enjoy a quality lifestyle. Our country clubs, which form the heart of our communities, play a big part in this.”

The GemLife Pacific Paradise country club will be modelled on GemLife’s award-winning clubhouses at Bribie Island and Highfields.

It will accommodate an extensive range of recreational facilities including an outdoor yoga studio, pool with spa, fully equipped gym, sauna, 10-pin bowling alley, tennis, bocce and pickleball courts, a gold class style cinema, art and craft studio, music room, wine room and bar and coffee lounge.

The Sunshine Coast is the second most popular destination for interstate migration, driven by its mild subtropical climate, relaxed lifestyle and comparatively affordable housing.

“We build our resorts at premium, sought-after locations,” Mr Puljich said.

“Pacific Paradise is close to beaches, vibrant local communities, shopping, dining and medical facilities, and only an hour from Brisbane airport.”

GemLife Pacific Paradise has eight home designs, each with multiple façade and colour-scheme options.

All homes are three-bedroom with seamless indoor-outdoor living, and feature top-of-the-range appliances, integrated surround-sound systems, security alarm systems and energyefficient inclusions such as solar PV panels.

GemLife does not charge entry or exit fees, providing financial transparency and certainty for home buyers.

Homeowners retain 100 per cent of capital gain.

Construction at the resort’s Menzies Drive site is scheduled to begin before the end of the month, with the first homes ready early next year.

Based in Queensland, GemLife launched in late 2016 as a joint venture with parent company Living Gems and financial partner Thakral Capital.

Visit gemlife.com.au Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 10:45:08 AM

WHAT’S ON

AFTERNOON OF JAZZ

CONCERT FOR SAILABILITY

CROWD pleasers Russell Bayne and the All Stars present an afternoon of music at the Maroochydore Jazz and Blues Collective’s next Jazz N Blues Sunday.

The All Stars are skilled musicians, who are individually recognised as some of the best performers in the country.

Russell Bayne is one of the most versatile guitarists in this country and is also a vocalist. Peter Uppman is on sax and vocals; Mike Hawthorne, trombone and vocals; Pat Robbins, drums; and Jo Hawthorne, keyboard.

Together they have decades of experience in all aspects of the music industry.

Versatile and always fun, the swinging band is skilled in performing dixie, swing, modern jazz, Latin, rock, pop and country. The focus is entertainment, with superb musicianship and humour.

Old Soul Bar, 19 Ocean St, Maroochydore. September 8, doors open 1pm, music 2pm-4.30pm. Tickets $24, Seniors $21. Bookings at ticketebo. com.au or call 0417 633 734.

THE Sunshine Coast Concert Band presents a concert to celebrate life and the achievements of Sailability, which provides “freedom on the water” for Sunshine Coasters with disabilities.

Sailability’s Swing’In will be an afternoon of top entertainment with music, song and dance presented by the 40-piece concert band and talented vocalists under the baton of music director Ken Chadwick.

Proceeds benefit Sailability..

Kawana Community Hall, Nanyima St, Buddina. September 14, 2pm.

Tickets $15 incl afternoon tea, at the door, cash only. Call Toni 0404 193 912 or visit sccb.org.au

SURF LEGEND’S BOOKED IN MEET surfing legend Nat Young when he tells tales from the surf at the launch of his book Church of the Open Sky. The Australian world champion surfer was inspired to reflect on the waves and the people on his 70th birthday. Candid and wryly observed, it explores what it means to be a surfer, with true stories of Nat’s surfing life – and the friends, foes and heroes he’s met along the way.

Noosa Land & Sea Brewery, Noosaville. September 12, 6pm Admission $28 incl drink and grazing table. Bookings essential 5448 2053 or email anniesbooks@bigpond.com

DISABILITY EXPO THE Steps Group presents Disability Expo Sunshine Coast to bring everything disability under one roof.

This year there will be more than 65 exhibitors covering a wide selection of support services, including products, employment and education, health and fitness, modified vehicles and assistance products.

Visit the Endeavour virtual reality room or the come-and-try sport sessions being held by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.

A comprehensive range of workshops are being held throughout the day.

Register on the website or at the door.

Proceeds will benefit Wheelchair Sport.

Free parking – use the Drop and Roll facility at the front of the venue which is wheelchair friendly.

Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Pde, Birtinya. September 5, 9.30am-4pm.

Admission free or gold coin donation.

Visit disabilityexposc.com.au Sunshine Coast

37.indd 3

TRUE BLUE PERFORMANCE REVERED Australian performer John Williamson is celebrating the release of his 52nd album, Butcherbird and will share his latest original compositions as well as favourites from his 48-year career with Sunshine Coast audiences.

Williamson takes the audience on a journey through the country, combining humour, romance, environmental issues, travelling songs and campfire stories woven together by the master storyteller’s songs. From his roots as a man of the land, he makes people feel proud to be Australian and deserves his place as a living legend. His audiences now regularly span four generations.

Events Centre Caloundra, September 5, 8pm, Tickets $54, concessions $52.

Bookings 5491 4240 or theeventscentre. com.au

REJOICE IN VIVALDI THE Viva Vivaldi Festival will celebrate the music of Antonio Vivaldi and his contemporaries.

The brainchild of local musician Kim Kirkman, the festival will showcase six performances of Baroque period music at interesting locations.

“Many people in Maleny have said that they don’t get a chance to hear classical music in town, well we are changing all that for a weekend,” says Kim. “Vivaldi had a vibrant, unique style 300 years ago that sounds fresh today, especially when it is performed passionately by local performers.”

Solothurn Chapel, Reesville; White Eagle Lodge, Witta and Maleny Primary School Hall, October 19-20. Visit Viva Vivaldi Festival Maleny Facebook page.

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 37

21/08/2019 11:19:04 AM

The WORLD in Your Hands

Travel in Your Time

The treasure chest that is Budapest The lights of its elegant old buildings glitter in the Danube like stars, but it’s not only by night that Budapest sparkles, writes DOT WHITTINGTON.

The lights of Parliament House and Chain Bridge sparkle on the Danube by night.

D

ESPITE, or perhaps because of, its dark recent past, the Hungarian capital is vibrant, teeming with action and, well, just so alive.

The cafes are packed with sippers and diners – paprika flavours almost all dishes – and the skyline is dotted with cranes.

Plazas are being refurbished. Streets are lined with buildings from all periods, and the Danube is pumping with the river cruise ships that ply between Budapest and Amsterdam.

Budapest was heavily bombed in 1944-45, and didn’t emerge from behind the Iron Curtain until 1989. Rebuilding, mostly to original design, is still a work in progress. But ready or not, there’s plenty to see and learn and plenty of walking tours and guides to tell the story.

In 1873, the towns of Buda, on the right bank of the Danube – “if you see a hill that’s Buda” – and Pest (pronounced Pesht) on the left, were amalgamated along with Old Buda or Obuda. Many of the city’s most beautiful buildings, including the superb Great Market Hall and the richlydecorated Parliament, went up during Hungary’s “Golden Age” which was around the turn of the 20th century.

Facing the Danube, with 691 rooms and 20km of corridors, the parliament opened in 1902. It is magnificent and the pride of Pest, as it looks across to Buda Castle on the hill on the other side of the river. The castle is another impressive pile with its own collection of stories to gather while wandering the cobbled streets of the Castle precinct.

This area also has glorious views from Buda across the river to Pest, evoking thoughts of a more romantic, classical time when grandeur ruled.

Much of the river sparkle at night comes from the Castle and the Parliament, and this is best observed on a walk across the most famous of the river crossings, Chain Bridge with its huge stone lions on guard at both ends.

Although famous for its thermal baths, there is much more to Budapest. In fact, even with seven days, I still didn’t manage to find time to lounge about in a pool.

This is partly because it has one of the most advanced public transport systems in the world, making it a city that is easy to get around.

For $25, a seven-day pass gives access to trams, trolleybuses, buses, metro, boats

and suburban rail – and a cogwheel railway that steadily rises 5.4km to the top of a hill in Buda. Only the funicular to Buda castle is excluded.

It’s easy to jump from tram to bus to metro to get wherever you want to be, and even if you have no idea where you want to go, it will take you somewhere worth seeing.

Budapest had the first underground railway on continental Europe when its Yellow Line opened in 1896, the city’s 1000th birthday. It is still handy for getting about the inner city and the old stations are worth seeing.

Other parts of the Metro were built during the Soviet era and are deep underground. The escalators are so long you can’t see the bottom from the top.

There is also the option of walking, whether it’s along the banks of the Danube (which, by the way, is brown not blue at this point) or one of the many tree-lined avenues and boulevards.

Margaret Island, a walk, bus or tram ride away, is a peaceful slice of green in the Danube where, amid the gardens, a fountain “dances” to the work of one of the great composers (or pop songs) every hour.

There’s a poignant reminder of

House of Terror is a monument to its victims.

Shoes on the Danube a poignant memorial.

Budapest’s past on the Pest river bank where 60 pairs of shoes – big and small, boots and heels – cast in iron, are a memorial to the 3500 who were shot into the Danube during the reign of terror of the Hungarian Nazi party, Arrow Cross, in 1944-45.

The grim past is also laid bare at the House of Terror. Now a museum, the building was taken over by Arrow Cross during World War II, and then by communist terror groups from 1945-56.

It is a sobering walk through Hungarian history and the traumas its people suffered while young Australians were happily going about their business in the second half of the 20th century.

Today there are queues to get in, but it was in my lifetime that few got out alive.

Hope sits at its entrance in the form of a chain sculpture, an iron curtain, with the words: It isolated the east from the west. It spilt Europe and the world in two. It took away our freedom. It held us in captivity and fear. It tormented and humiliated us.

And finally we tore it down.”

From grand churches to impressive monuments; colourful gardens to pretty pools; and leafy courtyards where a string quartet plays to the bustle of the Central Market Hall, Budapest has a fresh liveliness that mingles with its rich history.

123TRAVEL CRUISES & TOURS CULTURAL TREASURES OF JAPAN 12N/13D FROM $7799 PP TWIN SHARE 5-17 OCTOBER 2020, MAX 15 GUESTS ONLY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT AVAILABLE Locations: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima

BOOKINGS 07 5476 9368 Email: info@123Travelconferences.com.au | www.123TravelConferences.com.au Subject to availability, Terms & Conditions Apply, Subject to international conversion rates - surcharges may apply 38 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 1:44:48 PM

2020 Canada, Alaska & USA

Eastern Canada & USA Explorer This sojourn through eastern Canada and the USA not only takes you through some of the most iconic locations in North America, you’ll also get the rare opportunity to visit both national capitals.

Hightlights Montréal . Québec City . Ottawa . Toronto . Niagara Falls . Washington D.C. . Philadelphia .

New York City Cruise departs 21 May 2020

15-day tour from $10,225*pp

Icons of Western Canada & Alaskan Cruise Things don’t get much greater than the Rocky Mountains, which tower over northwestern Canada.

As you’ll discover, everything in this part of the world is monumental in scale.

Hightlights Victoria . Butchart Gardens . Whistler . Sun Peaks . Jasper . Lake Louise . Banff . Rocky Mountaineer . Vancouver . Alaska cruise . Glacier Bay . Ketchikan Cruise departs 25 April 2020

22-day tour & cruise from $12,570*pp

PARTNER FLIGHTS INCLUDED^ BOOK EARLY AND SAVE $300+pp PLUS, BOOK WITH TRAVELLERS CHOICE AND SAVE AN ADDITIONAL $125+pp

You're invited to learn more about Scenic's exciting range of destinations, products, Scenic Enrich experiences and allinclusive journeys at the Scenic Getaway Travel Showcase event.

01 October 2019 | Noosa Springs, Links Drive Noosa Heads Europe & France River Cruising Canada, Alaska & USA Touring Mekong & Irrawaddy River Cruising Scenic Eclipse Ocean Cruising

9.30am – 10.30am 11.30am – 12.30pm 1.15pm – 2.00pm 2.30pm – 3.30pm

To RSVP to any of these sessions, visit scenic.com.au/events/showcase/qld.

BOOK WITH YOUR LOCAL TRAVELLERS CHOICE AGENT CALOUNDRA - Ucango Travel & Cruise Centre - 5437 4000 • COOLUM BEACH - Coolum Cruise & Travel - 5446 1727 KAWANA WATERS - Kawana Waters Travel - 5444 6500 • MAROOCHYDORE - Ucango Travel & Cruise Centre - 5451 8600 NAMBOUR - Easy Travel and Cruise - 5313 4980 • TEWANTIN - Tewantin Travel - 5447 1011 *

Conditions apply: Prices are per person twin share ex AUS in AUD unless otherwise specified, in lead cabin categories where applicable. Prices are correct as at 15 Aug 19 & are subject to change without notice & availability at time of booking. Seasonal surcharges & single supplements may apply, & prices may vary due to currency fluctuations & changes to taxes & surcharges. Advertised price is inclusive of all discounts & savings. Offers valid until 30 Sep 19, unless sold out prior. Valid for new bookings only & not combinable with any other offers unless otherwise specified. Flight offers are subject to availability ex BNE/SYD/MEL & based on an airline of Scenic’s choice. Airfares must be booked through Scenic. Any requests outside of the tour dates may incur seasonal surcharges as enforced by the airline. Airline/ Airport taxes up to $270pp included. ^PARTNER FLIGHTS INCLUDED INCLUDING TAXES: Book & deposit on selected journeys for two people travelling together & receive one return airfare including taxes.

Offer is based on SYD/MEL/BNE departures. Surcharge will apply for ADL/PER & other ports. +EARLY PAYMENT DISCOUNT: Price includes Early Payment Discount of $300pp where full payment is due by 31 Oct 2019, & Travellers Choice exclusive bonus discount of $125pp. EASTERN CANADA & USA EXPLORER: Prices & offers based on TTUN210520. ICONS OF WESTERN CANADA & ALASKA CRUISE: Prices & offers based on RPCL250420. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000pp is due within 7 days of booking. Further conditions may apply. Booking, credit card & cancellation fees may apply. ATAS No. A10430.

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22/08/2019 7:59:43 AM

TRAVEL

Golden opportunity for a once-in-a-decade experience

Painted houses in the alpine village of Oberammergau

O

nce every 10 years, the worldfamous Passion Play is presented in the tiny but picturesque Bavarian village of Oberammergau. The 42nd re-enactment is coming up next year.

The Oberammergau Passion Play began in 1633. After months of suffering and death from the plague, the people pledged to act out the “play of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ”.

At Whitsun in 1634, they fulfilled their promise for the first time and by the middle of the 18th century, spectators from all over Germany were coming to Oberammergau, attracted by the great power and atmosphere

of the play. In a five-hour-performance, more than 2000 participants – almost half of Oberammergau’s population – will bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to the impressive open-air stage of the Passion Play Theatre.

Golden Compass, which itself has two decades of experience working with the organisers of the Oberammergau Passion Play, has once again secured some excellent tickets to the 2020 event, and quality accommodation in the village of Oberammergau.

“We believe it is extremely important to stay in the actual village of Oberammergau rather than in an outlying village, for two

nights –before and after the play – to get a full taste of the unique atmosphere of Oberammergau during a Passion Play year,” Golden Compass general manager Kerry Kyriacou said.

“Villagers adapt to their roles in the performance and you can feel some of the deep meaningfulness of this very special occasion.”

To enhance the experience, stays in Oberammergau have been included in two quite different but equally exciting programs with experienced tour leaders, Hugh Morgan and Mark Goodwin. Both speak German and know intimately the workings of Oberammergau and the Passion Play.

The first tour is a European Alpine Discovery starting in Munich on June 6, and returning on June 27.

The second is the Hapsburg Cities, also from Munich from June 8-27. Both feature the Oberammergau Passion Play.

Hugh Morgan will lead the 21-night tour which explores the scenery of Bavaria, Austria, Italy and Switzerland, as well as the Heidi and Glacier Express trains.

From the wooden mountain villages of the Jungfrau to the sophisticated alpine resort of Davos and the mediaeval towns of the Rhine Valley; cosmopolitan Salzburg to the fiercely independent province of the Tyrol; the Hapsburg domain of the Dolomites

Oberammergau’s picture perfect setting. to the former kingdom of Bavaria, it will be a journey into diverse cultures, traditions, dialects and customs of the alpine countries.

Mark Goodwin will lead the 19-night tour to the Hapsburg cities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and back to Bavaria for the Passion Play.

Vienna, Prague and Budapest were influenced not only by politics, but also by the creativity of the great composers, artists and architecture.

The Oberammergau Passion Play tours, a once in a decade opportunity, coincide with the anniversary of Golden Compass which has been leading educational small group tours for the past 25 years.

Call 1800 132 385, email info@ goldencompasstours.com.au or visit goldencompasstours.com.au

Small Group Tours with Penny!

DUBAI & SINGAPORE 10 days. Departs Feb 13, 2020

$

5,350

Per person, Twin share Single Supplement $1325

• 5 nights Dubai • 3 nights Singapore Inclusions Dubai: City tour, river cruise, Miracle Gardens, Green Planet, Dune Desert Dinner, Gold & Spice Souks & Jumeirah Beach and much more Singapore: City tour, Gardens by the Bay, Orchid Gardens, Sentosa, China Town and free time for shopping.

MELBOURNE FLOWER SHOW 5 days, Departs March 25th 2020

$

1,998

Per person, Twin share Single Supplement $395

Inclusions: • Full day at Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show • Yarra River Highlights Cruise, Cactus Country at Strathmerton • Crown Melbourne Casino, Puffing Billy Rail Journey • Queen Victoria Markets

Register your interest now for Uluru, Western Australia, Northern Lights, New Zealand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nashville, Memphis and Grand Canyon

All tours fully hosted by Sunshine Coast local Penny Hegarty: Over 20 years tour hosting experience.

Includes Flights • Accommodation • Coach Travel • Entry Fees • Meals as specified. Your touring expectations are my priority.

Please contact, Penny Hegarty 07 5441 2814 | 0416 028 787 penny.hegarty@gmail.com 40 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

40.indd 2

Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 11:19:59 AM

TRAVEL

PACKAGE SPECIALISTS

ADVENTURE SOLO TO THE ARCTIC

WE DO IT ALL FOR YOU

LUXURY INDIA ESCORTED BY US 16 Day Fly & Exclusive Tour | $5499per person | INFO SESSION: WEDNESDAY SEPT 4. RSVP ESSENTIAL

✓Return flights with Singapore Airlines ✓5 star tour of Rajasthan region incl Taj Mahal, Jodphur (Blue City) & Jaipur (Pink City) ✓Staying at hand picked & unique luxury hotels... some need to be seen to be believed ✓Limited to 10 couples or single traveller equivalent. Departs February 2020 Bucket list with an escort

THERE’S much more to the Arctic region than lots of ice and polar bears.

Firstly Iceland, the land of fire and ice, has everything from bubbling hot springs and snow-capped mountains to red-hot volcanoes and rushing waterfalls.

One third of Iceland’s coastline is in the Westfjords, where the entire peninsula is cut by long fjords.

This is the part of Iceland that most tourists don’t see with its craggy bird cliffs, coloured beaches, and miniscule fishing villages which still embrace the traditional ways of life.

There are high mountains on one side and the sea on the other and some of the most diverse birdlife around.

The remote Jan Mayen is a remote, volcanic island first occupied in the 17th century by English and Dutch whalers. It has had a meteorological station since 1921.

Often shrouded in mist, the northern part has the northernmost active volcano in the world.

In the summer, bright green moss spreads like a blanket across the land, and small wildflowers, lichens, and fungi are dotted like jewels.

NORWEGIAN FJORDS IN JUNE 16 night Fly, Cruise & Stay | From $4799per person | Vessel: MSC Preziosa

✓Return airfare to Hamburg with full service carrier ✓2 nights Hamburg accommodation plus heritage city tour ✓14 night Norwegian Fjords & North Cape cruise ✓See all the highlights at www.ucango.com.au Stay back/arrive early available

AROUND THE WORLD IN 40 DAYS 40 Day Fly, Cruise & Tour | Just $6999per person | Typically $10,999 Watch for the albatross-like fulmar and the puffin as well as seals and, of course, whales.

On the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, we find more untouched wilderness and the realm of the polar bear.

In addition to these bears, the islands are home to almost 3000 human inhabitants. More than 2000 of them live in Longyearbyen. It’s the largest settlement of the islands and a thriving modern community with a surprisingly wide range of cultural activities.

Solo travellers can see it all on a fully escorted tour aboard the Greg Mortimer, an Aurora Expeditions small ship expedition to this beautiful part of the world.

Aurora Expeditions promises an adventurous yet sensitive exploration of the astounding north on a state of the art vessel, plus all the extras that Solo Connections guests have come to expect.

Visit soloconnections.com.au or call 1300 044 444.

✓ Return flights ex Brisbane, plus 3 internal & international flights ✓ 16 night Cruise; 20 nights accommodation & 70 meals included ✓ Vietnam: Halong Bay junk boat, Ho Chi Minh & Hoi An ✓ Europe: Tour from London to Barcelona via Paris, Cannes & Montepellier ✓ Sth America: 16 night cruise Barcelona to Rio; then 2 nights Rio stay Stay back/arrive early available

ESKIMOS TO KIMONOS WITH CUNARD 33 night Fly, Cruise & Stay| From $7999per person | Vessel: Queen Elizabeth

✓ Economy airfare to Vancouver; return airfare from Tokyo ✓ 2 nights Vancouver with City & Capilano Suspension Bridge Tour ✓ 29 night Canada Inside Passage, Alaska and circle Japan cruise on Queen Elizabeth ✓ 2 nights in Tokyo with Mt Fuji & Hakone tour (return by Bullet Train) Ask us about a Japaon-only cruise

CANADA & ALASKA 14 day Fly, Cruise & Tour | From $3999per person | Typically $5999 Vessel: Celebrity Eclipse

✓ Return flight ex Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane ✓ 4 night Calgary to Vancouver Tour ✓ 7 night Inside Passage & Hubbard Glacier cruise ✓ Taxes, transfers & national park fees included Bucket list tour

PERFECT HOLIDAY with Travellers Choice

As Australia’s leading network of accredited, independent travel agents, Travellers Choice can offer you a world of experience.

• Tailor-made holidays • Cruise holidays • Flights & accommodation • Escorted tours

• Car rental & rail passes • Travel insurance • Group bookings • Travel money & visas

Contact your local Travellers Choice agent (refer pg ăĊ) or visit www.travellerschoice.com.au ATAS No. A10430

Sunshine Coast

41.indd 3

AUSTRALIA BY RAIL, NZ BY SAIL 21 Night The Ghan & Princess Cruises package from $6799 ✓ Flight to Darwin; 2 nights accommodation with tour; 3 day The Ghan rail to Adelaide ✓ 2 nights Adelaide; 17 night Sapphire Princess NZ cruise; return flight home 25 Night Indian Pacific & Royal Caribbean from $5799 ✓ Flight to Sydney; 4 day Indian Pacific rail to Perth; 2 nights Perth accommodation ✓ 2 nights Margaret River with car hire; 18 night Australia & NZ cruise; flight home Combine a rail & cruise holiday

Maroochydore p. (07) 5451 8600 www.ucango.com.au Pelican Waters p. (07) 5437 4000 info@ucango.com.au Ύ ůů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ ƚŽ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ Θ ĂǀĂŝůĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ŵĂLJ ĂƉƉůLJ͕ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĂƐŬ ƵƐ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ͘

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 41

21/08/2019 4:09:26 PM

TRAVEL NEWS

AWARD HONOURS TRAVEL GROUP

Door-to-Door shuttle bus transfers!

NOOSA TO CALOUNDRA • Brisbane Airport • Brisbane Cruise Terminals • Sunshine Coast Airport p Use promo-code: YOURTIME to receive 10% discount off your next shuttle!

BOOK NOW! - Safe, Reliable, comfortable and affordable way to travel!

email: bookings@cxn.com.au web: www.con-x-ion.com.au

TEL: 1300 266 946 OR 07 5556 9888

TEWANTIN Travel is thrilled to be part of Australia’s finest travel group.

The Sunshine Coast agency is a member of the Travellers Choice network which has been named Australia’s Best Agency Group at the prestigious 2019 National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).

Owner Cathy Hewett says the award, presented at Sydney’s International Convention Centre, is the Australian retail travel industry’s ultimate accolade.

“There is no higher honour than to be recognised as the best by your peers,” she says. “This award acknowledges the unrivalled commitment Travellers Choice and its members have to

delivering personalised service, expert advice and outstanding value.

“We are immensely proud to be part of a national group that brings together and supports Australia’s leading independent travel agencies.”

Established more than 40 years ago, the Travellers Choice network includes more than 150 travel agencies in every state and territory.

As independent travel agencies, Travellers Choice members tailor their products and services to meet the specific needs of their clients, while accessing the support and deals that come with being part of a powerful national travel group.

Visit tewantintravel.com

SCENIC ENRICHES ITINERARIES IT takes more than a day to explore new destinations and with this in mind, Scenic is creating a new way to see the natural wonders of Canada and Alaska.

Scenic has refreshed its signature itineraries for 2020, and will have overnight stays swapped out for longer stays where possible.

New Scenic Enrich options have also been added, including a visit to one of the world’s largest dark sky reserves in Jasper, and a wildlife walk with local nature experts.

MYSTIQUE and SPLENDOUR of ASIA

Scenic has become synonymous with luxury touring and cruising during the past 30 years.

Scenic’s Canada itineraries are handcrafted to give the most luxurious and exclusive experiences at every destination, and with the new 2020 Scenic Travel Styles, the experience can be fine tuned. Choose one that suits your style. Intimate small group tours have a maximum of 24.

Call 1300 78 78 58 or visit travellerschoice.com.au

The award-winning Crystal Experience offers the thrill of anticipation and excitement of surprising discovery. The mystique and splendour of Asia has non-stop activity mixed with serene spirituality of centuries past. Marvel at UNESCO treasures, the glittering lights of towering skyscrapers, and palm-fringed, sun-kissed beaches.

And Crystal Cruises puts you in the middle of it all.

SOUTHEAST ASIA SOIREE ASIA

HONG KONG PACIFIC OCEAN

Da Nang Sihanoukville Laem Chabang/ Bangkok

Ho Chi Minh City INDIAN OCEAN

SINGAPORE

HONG KONG TO SINGAPORE 13 NIGHTS | CRYSTAL SYMPHONY 31 MARCH 2020

From the colourful markets of Thailand and the history that runs deep in the former Saigon to Cambodia’s stunning white-sand beaches and cosmopolitan Singapore, journey to the heart of the Orient.

Fares from US$5,794* per guest

FAR EAST FESTIVITIES

ASIA

HONG KONG Sihanoukville

Exclusive High Tea Monday 2nd September 2pm Suncity Travel: 2/6 First Ave, Caloundra Limited spots available. Contact us now to secure your spot

Ph: 07 5302 4188 Email: ishoa@suncitytravel.com.au SIGNATURE HALLMARKS Unlimited select fine wines, champagnes and premium spirits Michelin-inspired Cuisine^ Gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff Onboard Crystal Visions Enrichment Series Nightly Entertainment Unlimited Wi-Fi/Internet Access

LAEM CHABANG/ BANGKOK Ko Samui INDIAN OCEAN

Da Nang SOUTH CHINA SEA

Ho Chi Minh City Singapore

HONG KONG TO BANGKOK 15 NIGHTS | CRYSTAL SYMPHONY 22 DECEMBER, 2020

Two nights in Hong Kong begin your holiday voyage with colourful traditions and culinary adventures. Explore the many facets of Vietnam and ring in 2021 celebrating in the glittering international kaleidoscope of Singapore.

Fares from US$5,749* per guest

SUNCITY TRAVEL 6 First Avenue, Caloundra Phone: 07 5302 4188 Email: enq@suncitytravel.com.au

*Fares listed are cruise-only, per person in US dollars based on double occupancy and include taxes, fees and port charges, which vary by departure. Fares listed include all applicable savings, are for new bookings made before 31/10/19, vary by category and are correct at time of printing. Solo Traveller fares available on request. All offers may not be combinable with other promotions, apply to first two full-fare guests in stateroom or suite, are capacity controlled and subject to availability and may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. ^Crystal Cruises offers each guest the opportunity to dine at least once on a complimentary basis in Prego and at least once in Umi Uma or the Sushi Bar. Additional reservations including “walk-in” visits are subject to a US$30 per person fee, subject to availability. Optional dining in the Vintage Room attracts an additional fee. Cruise-only fare does not include land programs. †You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer member to earn Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. If you are not a Qantas Frequent Flyer member, you can join at qantas.com/join. Membership and Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions, available at qantas.com/terms. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can earn 1 Qantas Point per US$1 spent on the cruise fare.

Members must add a valid Qantas Frequent Flyer number and surname to their booking before the itinerary sailing date. Qantas Points will be credited to the Qantas Frequent Flyer member’s account within 14 days of the itinerary sailing date. Cancelled bookings will not be eligible for this offer. All itineraries, fares, programs, promotions and policies are subject to change at the discretion of Crystal Cruises and are correct at time of printing. Crystal Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions. Visit crystalcruises.com/legal for full Terms & Conditions. ©Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registries: Nassau.

42 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / September 2019

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Sunshine Coast

22/08/2019 10:10:35 AM

TRAVEL NEWS

SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS LIVES AT THE MARKETS THE Christmas markets of Europe are perhaps the ultimate yuletide holiday experience – inhaling the aroma of mulled wine and cinnamon to the sounds of Christmas carols in the chilly air while delving into market stalls packed with handmade crafts and festive foodie fare.

Towns and cities around Germany and its neighbouring countries get into the Christmas spirit for the festive season in the four weeks of Advent leading up to December 25.

The tradition is thought to have originated in the late Middle Ages. Vienna first hosted a December Market in 1298.

Frankfurt’s Weihnachstmarkt was first mentioned in 1398.

Markets with long histories can be found in Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Alsace and Barcelona.

In more recent times Prague in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania and Britain have joined the Christmas market movement.

Typically, the markets will take over the town square, but they often spread further along main avenues and open spaces, many with more than 100 stalls, and some, a lot more.

Popular attractions are the Nativity Scene, Zwetschgenmännle figures of decorated dried plums, Gebrannte

HAVE A SIX-STAR CRYSTAL BALL

The traditional Christmas market in Frankfurt’s historic city centre.

Mandeln candy toasted almonds, Lebkuchen traditional gingerbread cookies, and of course, Gluhwein, a traditional hot mulled wine (perhaps with a shot of brandy) which helps to keep the good folks warm. And you won’t have to look far for an appetite appeasing Bratwurst sausage.

Regional specialities in the state of Hesse include Frankfurter Bethmannchen marzipan cookies and hot Apfelwein.

Arcadia Travel at Noosa is hosting its own 14-day Christmas markets escorted tour with Gabriella Erb. It will cover 11 markets in Rhineland, Luxembourg and Hesse.

Cities and towns include Trier, Bernkastel and Cochem on the Mosel River; Koblenz, Rudesheim and Mainz on the Rhine River; Frankfurt on Main; and Giessen and Marburg on the Lahn River.

Visit arcadiatravel.com.au

MODERN and sophisticated, yet infused with a classic heritage, Crystal Cruise voyages go beyond all-inclusive luxury to curated six-star luxury travel experiences.

The stylish fleet covers ocean and river, yachts and expeditions.

Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity enjoy a reputation as the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line.

The ships are about half the size of the mega-ships for the mass market, but focus on personal and public space throughout.

They have one of the highest space and crew-to-guest ratios in the industry.

The award-winning ships sail on world-wide voyages to the South Pacific, Australasia, Europe, Mexico and Central America, and the US. Crystal River Cruises has reimagined luxury river cruising in Europe with extraordinary attention to detail.

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Making its debut in August next year, the all-suite, purpose-built polar class expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavor will be the largest, most spacious expedition yacht in the world.

The ship will feature the latest technological advancements, including offshore dynamic positioning capabilities, offering both comfort and safety while exploring the polar regions.

Suncity Travel, Caloundra, are specialists in Crystal Cruises.

Call 5302 4188.

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Credit: Miles Holden

From

$2,745 *Per Person

*Prices are per person, twin share and are subject to availability. Prices were correct at the time of submission, but are subject to change without notice. Valid for sales until: 30 September 2019. Valid for travel 01 October – 15 December 2019. Surcharges may apply at certain times. Car Rental - insurance excess applies, please enquire for conditions. Excess reduction options are available. Car parking fees may apply at some properties. Please enquire for more information.

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From

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admin@tewantintravel.com

September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 43

21/08/2019 11:22:58 AM

BOOK REVIEW

ELIZABETH PASCOE

Accolades shown on the front jacket of this book are very much deserved. On the surface it appears to be a simple enough story about a dysfunctional family living – well, surviving – in a suburb of Brisbane.

Among the mayhem, ruin and hopelessness are two brothers who stick together through thick and thin.

This is a stunning story that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next. It’s scary, laugh out loud funny, brutal, and sad.

And it’s for real, written by the author from his own experiences as a child growing up in Brisbane.

Masterfully written, this story gripped me from the very beginning. 10/10 from me.

BOOK review

JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT

This is a truly remarkable story based on the boyhood memories of the author. While reading, I tried to decide whether the story was about a dysfunctional family, small time suburban crime, alcoholism, unemployment, drugs, or the almost complete mix of generational social curses.

The characters are all very different – his lovable but eccentric brother, an endearing, drug-addicted then rehabilitated mother, estranged father, a stepfather who is a convicted murderer who has served his time, and neighbourhood friends who are mostly smalltime criminals. Ultimately, it is a love story that oscillates between wonder and heartbreak. A very good read.

SUZI HIRST

BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE

By Trent Dalton

Set in Brisbane’s violent working-class suburban fringe in 1983, this is a story of love, crime, magic, fate and coming of age.

With his father lost, a mute brother, his mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious criminal for a babysitter, Eli’s life is complicated.

He’s trying to follow his heart, learning what it takes to be a good man, but life keeps throwing obstacles in his way – not least of which is drug dealer Tytus Broz.

And now he’s about to fall in love.

This is a story of brotherhood, true love and the most unlikely of friendships.

As Trent Dalton says of his book, he wanted to “turn all these crazy and sad and tragic and beautiful things I’ve seen into a crazy, sad, tragic and beautiful story”. Ultimately, it’s a love story.

Eli’s life as a 13-year-old is far from normal. In fact, it is very complicated.

To write in 100 words about this book is impossible. I absolutely loved it from the moment I started reading and could not put it down.

That it is basically autobiographic is heart breaking, yet the book is happy, honest, dark and about family sticking together no matter the hardships they face. I encourage you to read it – best book I have read in a long time. 15/10

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TONY HARRINGTON

I think this book is an exceptionally good read and refreshingly different to most novels. It took me back to my childhood in the suburbs of Brisbane.

The coconut fibre-filled mattresses, grey blankets, eiderdowns and pink chenille bedspreads were all integral to a great description of life in Brisbane in the 1960s. This story is a perfect mix of facts and fantasy.

To come through a childhood mincer full of criminals, killers and drug pushers as a good man with love in his heart for flawed and often bad men, is an extraordinary feat.

The boy discovers the importance of details, of writing, and a keen sense of good and evil. The moon pool, the red telephone and the Vietnamese crime gangs add some special spice to this great book. 9/10

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JO BOURKE

MARY BARBER The back cover claims this book is a future classic. I have to agree.

Eli is a wonderful central character full of boyhood dreams. The language is vivid and simple, in tune with the age of Eli the narrator.

It’s easy to see the Brisbane suburbs and move into Eli’s world.

I liked the way lessons and themes recur, for instance the wise words from Eli’s criminal friend Slim.

The adults in this book are all flawed and believable. The story is fresh and unpredictable.

Just as I was recovering from one crisis or disappointment, another blow would hit young Eli and his brother Gus. The tension is palpable.

I will never forget this book! It is powerful and confronting. To top everything, it is autobiographical. Trent Dalton states, “all of me is in here; everything I’ve ever seen; everything I’ve ever done”.

This is a novel from the heart, the imagery so stunning that it challenges our minds to pause so we can visualise and retain the brutal and the tender events. I want to read it again.

There was familiarity for me in the setting. My first teaching appointment (at 17 years of age) was at a school right beside Boggo Road gaol. The suburbs mentioned had a shady history even then. Those years were a struggle against poverty, crime and insecurity.

It is worth reading Trent’s reasons for writing this outstanding novel. Somehow the entire over-riding message is one of survival and the realisation that no matter how hard life becomes, there can be acceptance, even contentment, at the end.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

8 1 7 4 3 2 5 6 9

5 9 6 8 7 1 4 3 2

1 7 4 2 9 3 6 8 5

2 3 8 5 4 6 9 7 1

6 8 3 5 1 2 7 4 9

9 2 4 6 8 7 1 3 5

1 5 7 9 4 3 2 6 8

CODEWORD O K H E N C P X F I QD T 15

14

2

1

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

4 7 5 8 3 1 6 9 2

5 4 2 1 6 8 9 7 3

3 6 8 7 9 4 5 2 1

7 9 1 3 2 5 4 8 6

Secret message: Our game

26

B VM Z R J WG A L U S Y 4

8 1 6 2 7 9 3 5 4

9-LETTER WORD

3

2 3 9 4 5 6 8 1 7

WORDFIND

SUDOKU (EASY)

6 4 2 9 8 5 7 1 3

SUDOKU (MEDIUM)

9 5 3 6 1 7 2 4 8

1. What kind of creature is a nannygai?

2. “Genera” is the plural of what word?

3. What is the most southerly capital of Australia?

4. What is the main business of the company BOQ? 5. Express 1 in 20 as a percentage.

6. “Denier” is a unit for measuring the weight of a given length of what?

7. True or false: a palindrome is a word like “regal” which spells a different word backwards.

8. What does the French phrase “le bon livre” mean?

9. How many types of poultry are in the dish turducken?

10. What is the main interest of a hedonist?

11. On an envelope, what does “Tce” mean?

12. How many months does the Earth take to complete two orbits of the Sun? 13. According to the saying, the road to hell is paved with what?

14. What general parts of the body are affected by arthritis?

15. What type of transport is a sampan?

16. What comic Gilbert and Sullivan opera was set in Japan?

17. What hill is traversed in the Bathurst 1000 motor race?

18. According to Boney M’s 1978 hit, who was the “lover of the Russian queen”?

19. What is the usual colour of plaster of Paris?

20. What was a box brownie?

7 8 5 3 6 9 1 2 4

QUICK CROSSWORD

4 6 9 1 2 8 3 5 7

With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

3 2 1 7 5 4 8 9 6

TRIVIA

13

WORD STEP LORRY, LORDY, LORDS, LARDS, BARDS, BANDS There may be other correct answers

abed, abet, absent, bade, band, bandy, bane, banter, bard, bards, bare, bared, barest, barn, barnet, barney, base, based, baser, bast, baste, basted, bate, bated, bayed, bead, beady, bean, bear, beard, beast, beat, bend, bent, best, beta, betray, brad, brads, brae, bran, brand, brandy, brat, bray, brayed, bread, breast, bred, brent, byre, BYSTANDER, byte, dabs, debar, debt, derby, drab, drabs, nearby, sabre, stab, standby

1. Fish; 2. Genus; 3. Hobart; 4. Banking; 5. 5%; 6. Fibres such as cotton and nylon; 7. False; 8. The good book; 9. Three; 10. Pleasure 11. Terrace; 12. 24; 13. Good intentions; 14. Joints; 15. Boat; 16. The Mikado; 17. Mount Panorama; 18. Rasputin; 19. White; 20. Camera;

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www.homecareassistancesunshinecoast.com.au September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 45

21/08/2019 11:25:05 AM

PUZZLES

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

DOWN

1

2 3

7 8 10 13 14 15 16 17 19 22 24 25

Amaze, say, by left handed train construction (9) Lumbago ended in former times (3) A model soother (5) Sounds like a high ranking grain of wheat (6) Consider the media boss returning with a printer’s measure (4) Renowned escapologist hides something for the guitarist (4) Holy man dressed in a styled drape? (5) Recount the tale of the famous fruit archer (4) Right to the rear of the seagoing transport (4) Preoccupy in addresses bound to return (6) Lovingly log off the record? (5) Blue sky above darkens initially (3) If you want to see the timer, peer around the border (9)

4 5 6 7 9 11 12 18 20 21 23

CODEWORD

No. 2553

Fractured and destitute (5) Laugh loudly when the boarder leaves the bed (4) Having nothing to cover the dune erosion (4) It’s that man who presents a sacred song, by the sound of it (3) Avoided trade with them by giving the company to Ted by arrangement (9) Should ill-advised divas diet on chemicals in food? (9) If you get the right clues wrong they can be very painful (6) Use a certain ruse before backing me (6) Have one’s lymph glands done second? (5) That useful quality that hid from the shadiest characters (5) Rub back the first layer on the inside to get out the smear (4) Test each 1010 combinations (4) Pin back and cut off (3)

No. 026

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

WORDFIND

Copyright © Reuben’s Puzzles www.reubenspuzzles.com.au.

Refer to the website for a cryptic solving guide.

MONDAY TO THURSDAY

D T

The leftover letters will spell out a secret message No. 026

Barrack Blues Bombers Bounce Brownlow Bulldogs Dockers Eagles Goal

WORK IT OUT!

Handball Kangaroos Lions Magpies Oval Power Premiership Tackle Umpire

SUDOKU Level: Medium

6 9

No. 832

4 5 3

3 4 7 9 2 1 4 2 4 5 3 6 9 1 7 2 6 9 5 9 5 8 7 1 6

everyone has a story A story filled with love, loss and adventure.

It is a history that is priceless to family.

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Call for further info

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Ph: 0413 994329 number41.lifestory@gmail.com www.number41.com.au Sunshine Coast

21/08/2019 11:27:44 AM

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD

No. 3654

9-LETTER WORD

No. 026

Today’s Aim:

E Y N

47 words: Very good

S D

Level: Easy

31 words: Good 63 words: Excellent

T

B

A

SUDOKU

R

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once.

No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

WORD STEP

ACROSS 1 6 10 11 12 13 15 16 19 21 22 24 27 28

Counterintelligence (9) Employer (colloq) (4) Separates with a sieve (5) Decision-making group (9) Denial (8) Duds (6) Pitfall (4) Huge statues (10) Artists who embrace post-classical styles (10) Circle of light (4) Variety of nut (6) Plane hubs (8) Bandit (9) Fraudulent schemes (5)

29 Appendage (4) 30 Sponsor (9)

25 Sat (5) 26 Italian meatbased sauce (4)

DOWN 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 14 17 18 20 22 23

Protect (9) Implant (5) Cemetery (10) Courageous (4) Excel (5) Appears to be (5) Apple drinks (6) Refuge (7) Lucky (10) Methods of travel between floors (9) Husbands or wives (7) Staggered (6) Military student (5) Japanese dish (5)

No. 026

2

9

No. 831

7 9 6 8

1 7

4

3

6 8 5 6 1 8 3 7 4 9 2 3 2 6 9 3 7 7 3 9 2 WORK IT OUT!

Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. One possible answer shown below.

LORRY

_____ _____ _____ _____ BANDS September 2019

Self Funded retirees protest the high cost of hearing aids Sunshine Coast: July 2019

The high cost of good quality digital hearing aids has been a significant barrier to Self Funded Retirees obtaining help for their communication problems. One local clinic has decided to take the issue head on. Senior Clinician Lisa Burley says “It became apparent to us that it was becoming almost impossible for people to get the help they needed and it was effecting their day to day lifestyle.”

If you have been quoted thousands of dollars for hearing aids you need to get a second opinion.

Ms Burley says “ We have set up the only Locally Owned and Operated fulltime Hearing Clinic in Golden Beach to specifically help Self Funded Retirees get high quality hearing aids at sensible prices”. As the clinic is independently owned it has access to all major brands of hearing aids and the pricing is quite often thousands of dollars cheaper than what is being quoted elsewhere.

Senior Clinician ,Mark Paton stated, “We feel its time for a fair deal for the self funded folk, our local status also allows us to provide trials of new technology, we want our patients to get great results without it costing a fortune.”

The Hearing Centre, 5/56 Landsborough Parade, Golden Beach. Ph:

Sunshine Coast

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Digital Hearing Aids from

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(07) 5477 0144 September 2019 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 47

21/08/2019 11:28:27 AM

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