WHY SOME PEOPLE WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING, CONNECTING AND ACCRUING MORE ‘POCKETMONEY’
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“You’ll never retire.”
Editor’s note
How many times have I heard that from family members, friends and neighbours?
And they could be right. Let’s face it, writing and editing aren’t physical jobs.
I sit at a computer all day. As long as I get up and about now and then, use my stand-up desk as it was intended and exercise my neck and shoulders (not to mention having the occasional massage), I don’t run the risk of the aches and pains my tradie hubby has been complaining about for years that forced his early retirement.
Sure, the thought of a spontaneous, unscheduled life sounds inviting.
No deadlines, no phone calls, no troubleshooting. No worries.
But having viewed Dr Riley Moynes’ TEDxSurrey presentation on The 4 Phases of Retirement on YouTube, I’m sure the initial ‘honeymoon’ phase would wear off quickly.
I’d soon be searching for something more meaningful to do (especially if my superannuation is the only thing funding my love of gallivanting all over the world).
So, I think I will always be typing words onto a screen some days, somewhere,
for someone. It’s an intrinsic part of who I am and something I may never want to give up.
Most importantly, I still enjoy it.
That’s a bit like Peter Green, who is featured in my cover story this month.
The former flight attendant could have decided to retire completely and live the easy life five years ago when Qantas was forced to shed its workforce at the height of the pandemic.
But he’s always been a ‘people person’ and knew he still had something to offer his community work-wise.
He tried his hand at a few different jobs before finding the right work/life balance in semi-retirement.
At this stage in life, he’s certainly an unretiring type.
And I’m sure he’s not the only one.
But what are the rules governing work in retirement, and its effect on pensions and taxes?
Turn to page 4 for more.
And if you’re keen to enjoy more ‘life’ than ‘work’, our Travel section highlights two men of the Granite Belt who followed their passion for the wine industry. And I’m sure they’ve never really ‘worked’ a day in their lives because they love what they do.
Enjoy the read!
Shirley Sinclair Editor
Contents
4COVER STORY
6WHAT’S HIP
7MUSINGS WITH GARRY
8HISTORY
9IN THE COMMUNITY
10AGES AND STAGES
12TECHNOLOGY
14MOTORING
16ACTIVE LIVING
20BRAIN MATTERS
22PALLIATIVE CARE FEATURE
24AGED CARE FEATURE
26FLIPSIDE
26HEALTH
28WILLS & ESTATES FEATURE
30WHAT’S ON
31RETIREMENT LIVING
32BOOKS
33TRAVEL
37TRIVIA QUIZ
38PUZZLES 14
16 33
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easier and meet all those ‘retirement’ goals. Yet, the closer we get, we can’t quite let go. And if we do finally retire, it doesn’t last long before we end up returning to the workforce.
We admit we enjoy working –interacting with colleagues, connecting with members of the public, staying fit and healthy, and having a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
We still have plenty to offer in experience, wisdom, ability, energy.
Maybe the answer lies in cutting back the hours but still earning enough to make the work/life balance enjoyable.
In fact, like no other time in our lives, we feel like we can finally ‘have it all’.
That’s how Peter Green feels. And his story resonates with those who have decided to put off retirement for now.
Staying in the workforce and loving it
SHIRLEY SINCLAIR looks into the reasons why so many eligible Australians are putting off full retirement and remaining ‘on the job’.
For many Aussies, thoughts of retirement start in our 40s. No matter what jobs we’ve had, career we’ve followed or business we’ve created, the novelty of work can start to wear off after two decades or so.
When we were still in school, we couldn’t wait to venture out into the big, wide world and start earning a living –even if it was as a Thursday night/ Saturday morning check-out chic at Target or flipping burgers at McDonald’s.
The freedom that a wage or salary brings can be euphoric.
As we settle into adulthood, we get used to the routine of work – even becoming comfortable in the monotony.
We try to build the bank account, slowly increase the superannuation, live life and make plans.
But after 20 years, and with possibly another 20 ahead of us, the idea of work changes. It becomes much more of a means to an end. That end is retirement.
We aim to pay off the house, see the world, enjoy the grandkids and become more involved in the community.
Then, a weird thing happens to some of us. Just as we can see the end in sight, with only a couple of years to ‘pension age’ or feeling comfortable financially to give up work, those thoughts of retiring become daunting.
Sure, we want to take things a little
An international flight attendant, Peter was offered redundancy and chose to leave his full-time job of 34 years when Qantas was forced to shed its workforce in January 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was 56 at the time and had expected to continue in his role until retirement around 67.
The Qantas decision was the impetus for many of his colleagues to retire early.
Backed by superannuation and owning his own home, Peter says he was in a good financial position at the time and “probably could have” retired.
“But I just felt like I wasn’t ready,” he says during a break from behind the bar at Kings Beach Surf Club, where the lunch crowd is starting to trickle in.
“I had plenty to give still. I’m definitely still fit enough. I try to match it with the young guys. What I lose in some aspects, I gain in experience.”
Through the federal government’s JobKeeper scheme at the time, Peter, also a former NSW policeman and public servant, was eligible to apply for part-time work.
A succession of interesting and varied jobs has flowed in the five years since then.
An active surf lifesaver, who had brought his two children Erika and Nik through the movement from nippers, Peter tried his hand first as a swimming instructor and lifeguard at Caloundra Aquatic Centre.
Then for a while, he was unloading fishing trawlers but discovered that having “20kg boxes of frozen fish flying past your head” can be quite dangerous.
And he worked as a ‘general dogsbody’ for a mate at his manufacturing business but confesses: “It wasn’t really me – I am definitely a people person.”
A former colleague’s tip about work as a bar attendant at Beerwah Golf Club saw Peter head back into the hospitality duties he’d experienced as a flight attendant.
That led to the club offering him the position as bar manager “which I took but it just wasn’t quite what I wanted to do”.
The surf club rosters are much more Peter’s speed now.
“I thought I just want to be the guy who works day shift, then is at home, gets to know everyone and that sort of thing,” he says.
“I just wanted to ease into retirement rather than going and doing a 40-hour shift. I work between 15 and 25 hours usually a week. It’s gone down to 12 sometimes and at Christmas up to 40 or 35 because they needed me.
“And that’s the beauty of being a person who doesn’t need the 35/40 hours a week which a lot of the young guys do. They need that money to pay the rent.
“I’m flexible, which is great for the business and it works for me, too.
“They are very approachable when it comes to me asking for time off and, as I have given lots of notice, I will be heading to Europe for five weeks with the family
IMAGE AND COVER PHOTO: SHIRLEY SINCLAIR
Peter Green
later this year. (Semi-retired, over-55s) are good for business because we’re more reliable, also more flexible … and they trust us. If you’re like that, the business can be good for you and look after you as well.”
Keep in mind that the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw. gov.au) reports that life expectancy in Australia has improved dramatically for both sexes in the past century.
Life expectancy in Australia has increased by 13.7 years for males and 11.2 years for females since the 1960s.
Men aged 65 in 2021–2023 could expect to live another 20.1 years (an expected age at death of 85.1 years), and women aged 65 in 2021–2023 could expect to live another 22.7 years (an expected age at death of 87.7 years).
Peter can see himself fully retired, but that isn’t any time soon.
“You’re a long time retired,” he says.
“I’ll see how I go. I might just drop the hours back and maybe work one day a week (when that happens) or ‘call me when you want me’. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
And he’s quite happy to let his superannuation keep building. Despite global stock markets taking a hit in recent times, he says a knee-jerk reaction that makes significant changes to his super is not the answer.
“I did that during the GFC (Global Financial Crisis) and got burnt badly,” he recalls.
“I put my super into cash and then it all bounced back and I missed the bounce. I learnt my lesson. You’ve just got to ride the ride. I haven’t even looked at my super (recently). I’m not game to look at it. It will bounce back.
“It’s a great thing not to touch it and it’s been having a life of its own. It’s been growing quite nicely.
“We’ll just wait until the craziness disappears and it all settles down.”
YEARNING to keep earning
THERE are no restrictions on how much Australians can earn after retirement.
But remember: the more you earn, the more tax you will pay, and the more you risk reducing or losing Centrelink Age Pension payments.
Of course, every dollar counts when you’re an aged pensioner.
So, when Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek announced on June 12 that there would be changes to the age pension from July 1 to keep pace with the cost of living (with the CPI rising by 2.4 per cent in the year to March 31), some of the 2.6 million-plus recipients of social security payments surely gave a whispered “hip hip hooray!”.
Among the good news is an increase in the amount pensioners can earn before their pension starts to be
BY THE numbers
reduced under the income test.
The income test cut-off point to receive the full pension has now risen to $380 a fortnight combined for a couple ($8 extra a fortnight, making $9880 per annum), and to $218 a fortnight for singles (up $6 a fortnight, making $5668 per annum).
That might not seem much but can mean more bills are paid on time or extra medical expenses can be covered.
Any amount over the limit reduces the pension by 50 cents for each dollar until payments stop at $2516 per fortnight for singles.
Payments phase out completely at a new limit of $3844.40 per fortnight for couples.
Although the standard Centrelink age pension payment remains at $1149 per fortnight for singles and $1732.20 combined for couples, the raised thresholds mean that thousands more Aussies may now qualify.
But it’s not all cut and dried. Finance guru Noel Whittaker points out, for example, that the rule that a pensioner couple will start to lose pension once income reaches $380 a fortnight does not affect an assets-tested pensioner.
So, it’s worth reviewing your position with a financial adviser and on the ato.gov.au website.
In April 2021, about 619,000 Australians aged 65 and over were employed in the labour force. Of these older workers, three-in-five (61 per cent) were men and two-in-five were women (39 per cent).
In the 20 years to April 2021, the workforce participation rate of older Australians more than doubled (from 6.1 per cent in 2001 to 15 per cent in 2021) . Within these figures, the participation rate for older men almost doubled (from 10 to 19 per cent), while older women’s participation increased significantly from 3 to 11 per cent.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
GET HELP if you need it
• To get advice about your super income options, talk to your super fund.
• For questions about government benefits or retirement, call Centrelink’s older Australians line on 132 300. Ask to speak to a financial information service officer (for free). The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
• To get professional advice on planning for retirement, seek financial advice. Make sure your financial adviser has an Australian Financial Services licence or is an authorised representative. Check they are authorised and registered to give personal financial advice and review their qualifications on the financial advisers register (moneysmart.gov.au/financialadvice/financial-advisers-register).
• For help with tax matters, see how tax applies to your super withdrawals on the Australian Taxation Office website or visit a tax professional.
Source: moneysmart.gov.au
What to book
What to explore What’s
JULY on the Sunshine Coast will see two blockbuster festivals share the limelight. First up is the Queensland Garden Show (QGS) from July 11–13 at Nambour Showgrounds. Organisers of the state’s biggest annual gardening event have announced a powerhouse line-up of speakers. Making his debut is landscape designer Charlie Albone, from Better Homes & Gardens, alongside Costa Georgiadis (pictured), Sophie Thomson, Millie Ross, Jerry ColebyWilliams, Claire Bickle and Phil Dudman. This year, the Cook’s Garden Stage will benefit from The Curated Plate: the 10-day food and drink festival from July 25-August 3. Acclaimed chefs and passionate foodies on the QGS stage include Matt Golinski, Peter Kuruvita, Cameron Matthews, Tom Hitchcock and Sophie Phipps. Visit qldgardenshow. com.au and thecuratedplate.com.au
Reminisce about …
THEY are among the artists who provided the soundtrack to our lives: Crowded House, Angus & Julia Stone, The Church, Mark Seymour with Vika & Linda and The Waifs. And they will be coming together on the same stage for the latest incarnation of the Red Hot Summer Tour. There’s still plenty of opportunity to catch the full tour line-up, including: October 19 (second show added), Sandstone Point Hotel, Bribie Island; November 15, Queens Park, Toowoomba; and November 16, Broadwater Parklands, Southport. Visit redhotsummertour.com.au and ticketmaster.com.au/ search?q=CROWDED+HOUSE for any remaining tickets.
What to see
A ROAD trip to Canberra with the grandkids might be on the cards, after the National Museum announced Australian children’s TV favourite Mr Squiggle is starring in a major new exhibition. From July 4 to October 13, Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington will treat visitors to an encounter with beloved puppet Mr Squiggle, ‘the Man from the Moon’, who starred in the ABC-TV show b earing his name between 1959 and 1999. Considered TV royalty, Mr Squiggle beamed into our homes for 40 years, delighting and inspiring generations of children to draw, with his distinctive pencil for a nose, charming banter and ability to turn a simple squiggle (usually upside down to keep us guessing) into a masterpiece. The free exhibition, which will also include sidekicks Blackboard, Rocket, Bill Steamshovel and Gus the Snail, will explore the history and magic of one of Australia’s most original and creative minds. Visit nma.gov.au
Boronia Cottage Day Respite Program
Meaningful moments, friendly faces, and a well deserved break for carers
Join us every Friday from 9am to 1pm at Boronia Cottage, where we offer a warm, welcoming and engaging respite program designed to support connection, wellbeing and healthy ageing.
Back in the day…
CAN you believe the Live Aid benefit concert, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, was 40 years ago? Held on July 13, 1985, the sensational global music event raised funds for relief of the 1983-85 Ethiopian famine. Live Aid was two mind-blowing events held simultaneously at London’s Wembley Stadium and John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, featuring the likes of Queen, Elton John, Madonna, Mick Jagger, The Beach Boys, U2, Dire Straits, Tom Petty The world had never seen such an assembly of musical talent in the rock age, and probably never will again. It was one of the largest satellite link-ups and television broadcasts ever.
WHY not go the whole hog and add the Farmgate To Festival Regional Tour to your 2025 Kingaroy BaconFest adventure. BaconFest on August 15 and 16 this year is a ‘crackling’ great event on the foodie calendar, boasting various activities across two days, including the Big Bacon Breakfast. BaconFest chief baconeer Rob Fitz-Herbert says the new regional tour will provide visitors with a chance to step behind the farmgate and discover the people, passion, produce and land that make the South Burnett unique. The exclusive bus tour will showcase six local farmers on August 15 from 10am-4pm. Tickets to the Farmgate to Festival Regional Tour (limited seats) cost $75 plus booking fee. Entry to Kingaroy BaconFest starts from $10. Visit kingaroybaconfest.com.au
Gentle exercise and therapy groups
Local outings and community events
A nutritious home-cooked meal
Engaging activities tailored to individual interests
Transport pick up and drop off may be available depending on catchment
To book or learn more about our Respite Program and transport options, call our friendly
Retiree GARRY REYNOLDS shares his thoughts on the world around us.
RETAINING BRISBANE’S SOUL
I ENJOY my 50-cent train rides exploring Brisbane.
They bring back memories of the 1950s, when our family ventured there on a Christmas holiday from Sydney by exchanging houses for a fortnight with a family in St Lucia.
Dad was fuming most of the way in the old FJ after being booked for speeding at 5am on the Harbour Bridge.
As an eight-year-old, I relished summer’s sizzle and the constant buzz of the cicadas amid the choko vines and banana trees at St Lucia. For my parents, Brisbane was a big country town where the City Hall (pictured) towered over the surrounding buildings.
As a local, Barry Bull, of Toombul Music fame, recalls that slumbering Brisbane was like a coastal Cunnamulla as heavy vehicles ploughed unfettered through the streets.
I remember rattling along on Brisbane’s trams and was surprised by the steam trains puffing through the city,
adding their Sunstate smoke to the atmosphere, drenched in humidity.
Barry says Brisbane had a lot of honesty, no drugs, and you didn’t need to lock your doors. It was a safe place to live and raise a family in an uncomplicated lifestyle.
He recalls “regularly skinny dipping in the creek as part of the innocence of creating your own fun”.
While most people now lock their doors, it would be sad if Brisbane’s traditional charm evaporated, and our capital lost its soul under the weight of unfettered development in preparing for the Olympics.
Hopefully, we don’t destroy in haste what made Brisbane a compelling first-choice venue for the world, and that government heritage promises don’t become continually negotiable downwards to feed corporate greed, political egos and short-term expediency.
Industrious entrepreneurs grab early opportunities
AUDIENNE BLYTH enlightens today’s residents about the pioneering small businesses and secondary industries that sprung up and thrived for a time, aiding farmers, growers and timbergetters.
It was said that in the year 1900, mullet, snapper and tailor were so thick in Pumicestone Passage, you could almost walk across the water.
Two fish canneries were set up on the northern tip of Bribie Island: one was owned by James Clark and the other by Thomas Maloney & Sons.
By 1913, both canneries had closed. The reason given is that they could not compete with cheaper imports.
The Maloneys owned boats and operated a cargo service bringing much-needed supplies to Caloundra and delivering oysters to the city until the mid-1920s.
From the 1920-40s, they collected shell grit which was needed for the poultry industry to avoid soft-shelled eggs.
Leases were held at Shelly, Dicky and Golden beaches and the grit was shovelled by hand into bags. Horses were used to snig the bags up the beach where the grit was dried out,
rebagged and delivered by boat to produce agents in Brisbane.
In the 1920s, oyster shells were taken from Aboriginal middens in Pumicestone Passage and crushed for lime to be used in the Brisbane building industry.
The empty boats returned with supplies for the settlers and were more economical
and efficient than carting by wagons overland.
Bli Bli and Pumicestone Passage were noted for oysters. Oyster cutters carried away the rich bounty to Brisbane.
Passengers also travelled on the oyster cutters but some took the long route and, after 1890, came by train to Landsborough and travelled over a very
rough track by horse and buggy to Caloundra.
As early as 1917, pineapple canneries were set up at Woombye and Palmwoods.
Farms in this area were renowned for their citrus orchards and pineapple farms.
Strawberries and gooseberries were also in demand for canning.
Moxey, Smith and Dawson owned the MSD Cannery. It was one of the biggest ventures and was able to produce 400 cans of fruit a day. From 1921, there were three good seasons before bigger companies undercut the company.
Some smaller companies were owned by Mr Renouf and Mr Fitzgerald at Palmwoods and Mr McClintock at Woombye.
The Blanch Brothers, of Bli Bli, operated a sawmill, making cases for pineapples. When timber ran short, they decided to start a pineapple cannery.
They grew their own pineapples and collected them
in a German wagon. After eight years, production was too costly – so, that cannery closed as well.
In 1927, Ben Love and his son Jim operated a sawmill, making cases for the fruit and vegetable market. He also operated a mill where arrowroot flour was made until the 1970s.
The growth of the fruit industry, especially bananas, produced a demand for cases for transportation.
Using second-grade timber, numerous case mills supplied pre-cut or ready-made cases. Often these mills were small family businesses. The Atkinson family, of Cooloolabin, had a mill “that followed the forest”. By the mid-1960s, cardboard cartons replaced timber cases. That marked the end of all those smaller mills making cases for local agricultural produce.
Audienne Blyth is a member of the Nambour Historical Museum, open 1-4pm Wednesdays to Fridays, and 10am-3pm Saturdays.
A Lighthouse Brand label from the Maloney Brothers, whose fresh sea mullet sold for less than five cents a can
QUILT SHOW
THE Caloundra Quilters are hosting their biennial quilt show this month.
The show – from 9am-4pm on July 26, and 9am-3pm on July 27 – will display a variety of quilts that is representative of the many interests and talents of members.
Members’ handmade craft items will be for sale, alongside local trader tables.
The charity raffle prizes include a quilt, sewing machine and hamper, with proceeds donated to Hope in a Suitcase.
The show is at the Caloundra Arts Centre, 5 North Street, Caloundra. Entry is $5 for adults (accompanying children free). Visit facebook.com/ groups/612588858884225/
SHEDCHOIR
THE Coolum Men’s Shed and Coolum Women’s Shed have combined to present a unique community singing event.
ShedChoir is a pub-style singalong held each month as a fundraiser for the Sheds.
A slightly re-vamped ShedChoir event will be held on Monday, July 14, at the Community Hall/ Coolum Women’s Shed at 26 Research Road, Coolum (in the industrial estate).
The event starts at 6pm.
Bring a plate and your refreshments. Entry is $10.
For details, call Bruce Uhlhorn, of Coolum Men’s Shed, on 0417 466 520.
SANTA PAWS IN THE PARK
THE 4 Paws Animal Rescue Santa Paws in the Park is back on Sunday, July 27, from 10am-2pm at Double Bay Beach Park, Kawana Island.
This free, family-friendly event brings together animal lovers for a day of laughs, food and tail wags.
Have a photo with Santa, grab a bite to eat, browse the stalls or just sit and enjoy the festivities. There are prizes to be won, too. Funds raised go towards 4 Paws Animal Rescue, saving the lives of homeless dogs and cats in our region.
SUNSHINE COAST STAMP CLUB
THE Sunshine Coast Stamp Club meets at 1pm on the first Wednesday of each month, from February to November.
Visitors are welcome at meetings in the Nambour Red Cross Hall in Price Street.
Activities include: stamp trading through club exchange books; a club quiz; philatelic letter of the month; show-andtell activity; club mini auctions; an annual philatelic challenge – stamp treasure hunt competition; annual stamp fair, open to the public; and an annual Christmas party.
Email admin@suncoaststamps.org.au or call club secretary Jeff Marks on 0438 715 925.
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By Mocco Wollert
HATS are things that hang on stands in front of most pharmacies.
They come in all shapes, colours and sizes. There are two iconic hats in Australia: the Akubra and a canvasmaterial hat with a chin strap.
I am not fond of the chin-strap hat, but anyone can recognise Australian tourists overseas by this headgear. The Akubra is a practical head covering, protective and actually quite elegant.
For some reason, the older the hat, the more impressive. Made from rabbit fur, it is the trademark of the Australian Outback and looks good on men, women and children. I mention the Outback on purpose. City dwellers somehow look ‘wrong’ when wearing this wide-brimmed head covering, preferably stained with dust and sweat.
Hazel Hawke, the wife of then prime minister Bob Hawke, wore an Akubra when she welcomed Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Australia (her grandson Prince William is pictured here in one). To me, it looked out of place. A good milliner should have been asked for.
I am not sure whether there are still many milliners in business today. To have a head covering made to suit a particular outfit costs an absolute fortune, but I guess there are enough wealthy women in Australia who can afford them.
When watching the Melbourne Cup, I always love to see the Fashions on the Field. Incredible (and sometimes very silly) headgear is always part of it. However, as the day progresses, a few of the fascinators or huge hats become quite lopsided. I guess alcohol and hats don’t have a good relationship.
Fascinators are whimsical bits of nothing, adorned with netting or feathers – mostly fake – that have the tendency to get into your eyes or mouth. However, I own six of them.
Spotlight had a shelf full of fascinators on sale for $8 each one
day. So, I bought six in different colours, and they now sit on the top shelf in my wardrobe (the one I can’t reach) like a flock of multicoloured birds, waiting for the day when I will choose one of them.
My father’s generation always wore a hat. Father would politely lift his when greeting someone.
Who can forget that classic film clip of the man dancing with joy and lifting his hat the day World War II ended? Today, caps have largely replaced hats for women and men. Where, as a young woman, I would not have stepped out without a smart hat, today people just throw on a cap. And actually, most look quite smart.
Don’t forget, sturdy helmets are required to protect your head from aggressive magpies. Many countries have national head coverings. The sombrero is typical for Latin American countries. To see a bowler hat reminds us of England; a beret and the La Marseillaise rings in your ears.
I once asked a Sikh friend why he wore a turban. “An old tradition,” he explained. “It was worn to keep a man’s long hair from getting into his eyes while fighting with his sabre.” A very old tradition, indeed.
May you wear a hat covering to protect your head or just for fun.
Email mocco.wollert@bigpond.com
Life in the slow lane Life’s an adventure
By Cheryl Lockwood
FOR those of us who love to travel, Bali is often among the first to be ticked off on the destination list.
That said, I only visited the Indonesian island hotspot for the first time recently.
In the past, headlines involving drug smuggling, terrorist bombings and drink spiking didn’t exactly sell the place as safe or relaxing.
Throw in reports of general bad behaviour by Australian tourists and I decided it wasn’t a must-see for me.
Last year, more than 1.5 million Aussies made the journey. So, I thought that it couldn’t be all bad.
Bali’s proximity to Australia and its affordability has made it a popular choice and people always give glowing reports about the happy, friendly locals there. As a first overseas trip since the Covid pandemic, I thought it was worth a try.
As I arrived solo and past my bedtime, I spent a night at a resort close to the airport to await the arrival of other family members.
That included two of my toddler grandchildren. So, we opted for a stay at Sanur as well as four days on Lembongan Island as, through our research, these places were deemed family friendly.
Holidaying with small children can be challenging and is much more enjoyable for
everyone if they can be kept happy.
After a trip away, people often ask, “What was the highlight?”
Where do I start? Warm, sunny days perfect for swimming? Or leisurely bike rides along Sanur’s shorefront path, stopping to eat and drink at the numerous eateries? Snorkelling among an incredible array of coloured, tropical fish? Dining on delicious food while watching the sunset glow across the water?
Bali had all of that, but maybe it was the hair-raising trip along the roads on Lembongan in a hired golf cart that brought the most laughter.
‘Roads’ may not be the right word. It was more a series of alleyways – some sealed, some not. All pretty rough.
We left the driving to my capable son-in-law, who navigated by referring to a Google image of the island.
The two-year-old, wedged between her parents in the front seat, was singing most of the way. Clearly, she was not concerned about the bouncy adventure
without a seatbelt. A wrong turn meant reversing back the way we came.
I’m not sure what was rattling the most: the poor, little cart or my teeth!
At one point, my daughter and I jumped out and walked so the golf cart could make it up a hill.
We all made it back in one piece with some great photos and happy memories of our day out.
I’d also recommend a visit to the Satria Agrowisata in Ubud. This coffee plantation tour offers free tasting of the locally produced coffees and teas.
If you’re brave enough, you can sample the infamous luwak coffee (aka ‘catpoochino’). This rich, dark coffee is produced from beans which have been through the digestive system of the luwak (or civet cat). This cute creature – like a cross between a possum and a fluffy cat – is partial to a feed of coffee beans.
The beans are collected from the excrement of the cat and I’m told are thoroughly cleaned before being roasted and ground to produce one of the world’s most expensive coffees.
I had to try it. After a tentative sip, I found it not too bad at all, especially if I ignored the unusual process it took to get into a cup.
The only downside to my visit to Bali was that nine days was not long enough. Clearly, I will have to return.
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Palms Retirement Living, home and garden maintenance is taken care of, convenient in-home support
Don’t fear tech change: what software updates really do
EDIN READ explains why a little inconvenience on your computer or device every now and then can prevent a mountain of worry and regret.
If you’ve ever seen that little pop-up on your phone or computer saying: “An update is available” and felt your stomach tighten just a little, you’re not alone.
Many people worry that pressing ‘update now’ might change something we’re used to or, even worse, break it altogether.
But here’s the good news: most software updates are small, safe and extremely helpful.
They’re like taking your car in for a service. You might not notice every little change under the bonnet, but you’re left with something that runs more smoothly and keeps you safer on the road.
So, what exactly is a software update?
In simple terms, it’s when the company that made your device – such as Apple, Microsoft or Samsung – sends out improvements to your system.
These might fix little bugs that were causing problems, close security gaps that hackers could exploit, or make the device run faster and more efficiently.
In some cases, updates also add
new features, but they’re usually careful to avoid changing things too much, especially on devices where simplicity matters.
Security is one of the biggest reasons to keep your devices up to date.
Scammers and hackers are always trying to find new ways to trick software into doing things it shouldn’t.
When companies discover these weaknesses, they send out updates to fix them – sometimes before criminals even have a chance to take advantage.
If those updates aren’t installed, your phone, tablet or computer becomes like a house with a broken lock: still standing, but not as safe as it should be.
Many modern devices now update themselves automatically, often while you’re not even using them.
This is usually a good thing.
It means you don’t have to remember to do it yourself.
But if you ever see a message asking if you’d like to update, don’t feel pressured to do it right away. It’s perfectly fine to wait until a time that suits you, such as
when the device is plugged in and not in use. Just don’t ignore it forever: those updates are there to help.
Some people worry that an update will make their device look or feel unfamiliar. While that can happen occasionally, it’s far less common these days. Most companies know how important it is not to confuse people with large changes.
Changes are usually subtle, and they often come with little tips to show you what’s new.
If something does look different, remember that you can always ask someone to walk you through it – or reach out for support. You’re not expected to figure everything out alone.
When an update begins, the device might restart, or the screen might go blank for a few minutes. That’s
completely normal. It’s best not to press buttons or try to interrupt it.
Just let it do its thing.
If in doubt, give it time. If it still seems stuck after, say, half an hour, then it might be time to ask for help – but most updates finish without a hitch.
The Greyology team likes to think of software updates as digital tune-ups. They don’t just keep things running smoothly. They also protect your privacy, your personal information and your peace of mind.
So, next time you see that little notification, don’t feel alarmed. Feel reassured that your device is doing exactly what it should: looking after itself and you.
Edin Read is founder and chief technician at Greyology Tech Support for Seniors. Visit greyology.com.au
A whole new life. Over-50s living redefined.
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Built Ford tough: from the ‘Squatters Joy’ to Ranger utes
BRUCE McMAHON puts time in reverse and takes a look at the contribution one manufacturer has made to the Australian drive market.
Ford Australia is 100 years old – no longer a local manufacturer, yet still a major player in Australia’s automotive scene.
This year, the home-grown Ford Ranger ute is a best-seller. In 1925, it was the Model T: the redoubtable ‘Tin Lizzie’, known in Australia as the ‘Squatter’s Joy’ for its rough country ability, reliability and value.
The Model T was the first Ford out of the company’s Australian assembly plant in Geelong and soon conquered one-third of the local market.
Fast forward to 1935 and it was the Ford coupe utility: the Lew Bandtdesigned ute which answered a farmer’s question for a vehicle in which he could head to church on Sunday and off to the livestock market on Monday.
In Detroit, Henry Ford dubbed this ‘the Kangaroo Chaser’.
Others had built light truckstyle vehicles – covered seats up front of a tray – but this Ford ute was the first with a one-piece body and sedan comforts.
By the 1960s, Ford Australia was designing and building the local Falcon, taking the fight to General Motors’ Holden.
There was competition on the sales floors and the race tracks. Bathurst 1000 battles between Falcon GTHOs and Holden Monaros, then Falcon Hardtops and Holden Toranas, were annual sporting highlights.
By the time the 21st century rolled in, both Ford and Holden had lost ground for a range of reasons. By 2017, both stopped building cars here.
While General Motors decided to close shop completely, Ford kept on with research, design and testing vehicles, leading to the acclaimed Ford Ranger utes and Everest SUVs.
The Ranger remains one of Australia’s most popular vehicles.
Built in Thailand while engineered here, these utes are well regarded for on- and off-road manners, general performance and comforts.
Full credit to the Ranger crew, while other Australian Fords this century have
also well fulfilled intended purposes.
There was the Falcon RTV ute: a two-wheel drive with 2.5” suspension lift, wider track and lockable rear differential.
This – in particular with the optional 220kW V8 – was proper hard to beat down a rough country road.
There was the 2004 Ford Territory: a five-door SUV that was one of the most competent of family wagons found anywhere in the world (if a bit thirsty).
Best of these was the Territory Turbo Ghia, with all-wheel drive, 254kW of turbocharged power and as good as premium, more expensive European rivals.
And among the last of the Falcon sedans was one of Australia’s best tourers ever.
The 2008 Falcon G6E ran with a turbocharged, six-cylinder engine pushing out 270kW and 533Nm of torque through a six-speed transmission.
Perhaps others were a tad sharper through the turns, but the G6E was forever quick, comfortable, wellmannered and engaging (and well-loved by highway patrol officers).
Ford’s honourable Australian history also includes one of the world’s longest sporting sponsorships, having backed the Geelong Cats since 1925.
And for the first time, more than 2300 brochures and images of Australian Fords have been added to the online Ford Heritage Vault and its 19,000 digital items.
It’s worth a look at the Ford Heritage Vault: fordheritagevault.com
The top reasons exercise helps osteoarthritis
CAITLYN HUTH looks closely at how to help ease a debilitating and painful condition.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition that affects millions worldwide, causing pain, stiffness and a reduced quality of life.
While managing OA often involves medication and lifestyle changes, one of the most effective, yet under-appreciated, treatments is exercise.
One of the primary benefits of exercise for those with osteoarthritis is its ability to reduce systemic inflammation and lower pain sensitivity.
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of OA, contributing to joint pain and discomfort throughout the body. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce levels of inflammatory markers, offering a natural way to combat this persistent issue.
Exercise enhances strength and loading tolerance, allowing individuals to better manage the demands placed on their body by everyday activities. While muscles and tissues around the joint strengthen, they become better equipped to handle the
load, lessening the pressure on the affected areas. This not only reduces the likelihood of pain flare-ups but also provides a greater sense of confidence in performing daily tasks.
Building self-efficacy is another significant advantage of regular exercise. For many with osteoarthritis, the condition can feel overwhelming and lead to avoidance behaviours. However, exercise can empower individuals, providing them with a sense of accomplishment and control over their condition.
When people see the improvements in their ability to move and perform activities,
their self-belief grows, and they are more likely to return to meaningful activities they once feared or avoided.
The ‘motion is lotion’ concept also highlights the importance of movement in reducing joint stiffness. Movement helps lubricate the joints, reducing sensitivity and discomfort.
Even light exercise can promote this natural joint lubrication, making it easier to move and reduce stiffness.
One of the most rewarding aspects of exercise is the release of endorphins: the body’s natural painkillers. These feel-good chemicals act as a counterbalance to pain signals, helping to reduce discomfort and promote a sense of wellbeing. As exercise increases endorphin production, individuals not only feel better physically but also experience an emotional uplift that can improve their overall quality of life.
Caitlyn Huth is an exercise physiologist at Full Circle Wellness. Call 5456 1599 or visit fullcirclewellness.com.au
FIT HAPPENS with Tom Law
IF YOU have maintained a level of fitness and good health most of your life, you may never know the effort required to walk upstairs, push a wheelbarrow, pick up your grandchildren or break into a trot to catch the bus.
Those who have maintained a good level of activity will be able to do simple things for a lot longer and, once again, we are reminded that if you do not use a particular skill or level of mobility, eventually the skill or ability diminishes.
You may find this out by surprise – as I did.
A few weeks ago, I visited my son and his family on their little farm. I normally entertain my two young grandchildren with games outside the house.
This particular day, the game was to see how far we could jump off the rope-swing platform. So, to be clear, we were not using the rope to jump off: just the platform which was basically an old pallet raised up and wrapped around the tree. We had to take a step and jump off the platform.
Easy, right? I was fairly confident that I would be able to win the game by jumping further than my oldest grandson, 7.
How wrong I was. As confident as I was, I started doubting myself when it was my turn. As much as I wanted to, my body would not let me jump off the pallet. I was really puzzled. I tried again and again to leap off the pallet, but the best I could do was a longer step.
When I got home that day, I told my wife what had happened and how I could not beat a seven-year-old at a converted long jump. My wife reminded me of my age and the fact that my grandkids played games for a greater part of the day.
Nonetheless, the next day, I practised long jumps and box jumps until I regained some competence. I can’t wait to compete against my grandson again.
Tom Law is the author of health and exercise-related books. Visit facebook.com/tomslawtraining or call 0409 274 502.
Shillings, Six Pences, Three
JEWELLERY
Rewild your life
New luxury over 50s living at Halcyon Yandina
Nestled on scenic farmland with panoramic views, Halcyon Yandina brings village charm to life in one of the Sunshine Coast’s most historic towns. This thoughtfully designed community combines the ease of low-maintenance living with the sophistication of luxury homes and modern amenities.
Every home comes with luxury inclusions as standard, with the option to personalise even further.
Expressions of interest now open. Visit the website for more information.
Call 1800 050 050 or scan the QR code to register for an information session.
Artist’s impression. Subject to change. Images relating to landscaping are indicative only and may show mature plantings which may not be mature at settlement.
YOUR LOCAL EYE DOCTOR
Associate Professor
Kristopher Rallah-Baker
for eligible Medicare cardholders if you are attending a new cataract consultation ✔ Bulk billed new cataract consultations available for medicare-eligible patients ✔ Experienced and caring team of professionals ✔ Comprehensive care tailored to your needs
reception@sconoosa.com.au
sconoosa.com.au
New kid on the block ready to fight
KAILAS ROBERTS discusses the first medication available in this country that modifies the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s.
Many of you may have heard the recent news about a medication that has recently been approved for the treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease.
This understandably has created hope for those affected by the condition.
The medication (donanemab) has already been approved for use in a number of countries overseas, including where I am writing this article: the US.
In May this year, it was approved for use by doctors in Australia (through the Therapeutic Goods Administration). Unfortunately, it has not yet been approved for subsidisation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, meaning that it can only be prescribed privately.
At this point, with a 12-month script you may not see much change from $50,000. And that is just the cost of the medication itself, not the associated expense of monitoring investigations and doctors’ visits.
For some, however, this might be a price worth paying. Donanemab is the first medication ever available in this country that modifies the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s.
So how does it work? Well, you may recall from previous columns that Alzheimer’s disease is underpinned in part by the build-up of a protein, amyloid, in the brain.
This accumulates in plaques between the nerve cells and is associated with the damage and death of those cells.
Donanemab binds to amyloid. It induces an inflammatory response in the brain, whereby the amyloid is engulfed and removed. This can be dramatically demonstrated using special brain scans called amyloid PET scans.
The great hope has been that removal of amyloid will lead to a cure or a reversal of symptoms, including improved memory. This is not the case with donanemab.
What it does do is slow down cognitive decline for some. In the major study to date, this is in the order of 30 per cent. Compared with a group not receiving the drug, over an 18-month period, those on donanemab showed a decline equivalent to 13 months. In other words, they were five months better off. What is unknown, and what might be more convincing for sceptics, is if this 30 per cent slowing persists over the longer
term. If it did, that might mean that the drug could buy you an extra three years of better quality of life over a 10-year period.
This month, perhaps even before you are reading this article, the PBS will decide whether to pay for cost of the medication – meaning that it will be financially accessible for most people.
If it does, this will radically change the treatment landscape of Alzheimer’s in Australia.
And taking donanemab is not without risk. It is given as a monthly infusion and there is the possibility of a reaction to that infusion. Then, there are the specific side effects of the medication on the brain. These fall into two main categories: brain swelling and brain bleeding. The risk of both is relatively low, but not insignificant.
Most of the time, these problems are
Carpal tunnel pain impacting
only detectable on an MRI brain scan, and anyone on donanemab needs to have these regularly while on the treatment. Sometimes, however, they can result in serious side effects, including death –more so for the brain bleeding.
So, the decision about using the medication is complicated and ultimately a personal one. I’m sure I will be having plenty of conversations with those under my care about it in the coming months, and many more so if it is PBS subsidised.
What is certain is that, exciting as the progress being made is, when it comes to a cure, it is important not to forget all the other lifestyle choices that influence the brain.
Kailas Roberts is a psychogeriatrician and author ofMind Your Brain: The Essential Australian Guide to Dementia, available at bookstores and online. Visit yourbraininmind.com or uqp.com.au
Naval Association of Australia
Maroochy Waters Sub Section
Once Navy - Always Navy, is the proud motto that underpins the fellowship spirit embodied in the Australian Naval Association’s principles and in this same spirit, the Maroochy Waters Sub Section, extends its warm invitation to former personnel of the: RAN, RN, RNZN and the MERCHANT NAVY, to join our enthusiastic members for pleasant fellowship.
We are an accredited Not for Profit organisation committed to the support of worthwhile veteran and community welfare programmes.
If you have served in any of the above listed units, you and your family are welcome to join the comradeship of fellow, like-minded people, at our monthly social meetings at the RSL Branch office on Memorial Ave Maroochydore, opposite the RSL Club.
Enjoy, also, the quiet ambience of our museum of naval memorabilia containing a wealth of original artefacts, uniforms and models of naval ships used in conflict, all representing a worthy reminder of the contribution by the men and women in their military role of the Australian and Allied Navies through the years.
For further information on becoming a member of our association, with a proud naval heritage, please contact the Maroochy Waters Sub Section, Naval Association of Australia:
Bill Hayward, President, 0411 024 985, bloggshayward@yahoo.com
Michael Wilson, Secretary, 0457 852 122, michaelwilson1@bigpond.com
Hospice feature
LIVING LIFE TO THE END, ON YOUR TERMS
By SHIRLEY SINCLAIR
A DEAR friend and neighbour of many years knew he was dying of bowel cancer.
Always full of life, a keen golfer and footy fan, he loved nothing more than enjoying the company of his family, travelling the world, entertaining friends and having a laugh over a beer or two.
He lived large. So, he wanted to die in his way, on his terms.
He chose his end-of-life journey in a local hospice, where he could say his farewells, be surrounded by loved ones, have quality medical and nursing care and savour a few of his favourite things.
As hard as it was for those he left behind, his final days
were filled with love, peace and quiet.
And that is perhaps the best we can hope for.
Few of us know what lies ahead in the next days, weeks or years. But if we can have a say in how our life ends, we should have that conversation, make a plan and prepare a directive.
The Australian government advises creating an advance care directive as an important part of your end-of-life care.
The directive can contain all your needs, values and preferences for your future care, as well as details of a substitute decision maker.
Learn more about palliative care at health.gov.au
HIGHLY SKILLED NURSES SUPPORT A PEACEFUL PASSING
LUTHERAN Services’ palliative care specialist nurse Regina Huang discovered the profound impact of end-of-life care early, inspired by her family’s loving support for a grandmother.
Now Regina supports aged care residents with comfort and dignity in their final days.
“My grandmother passed peacefully where she wanted to be and that early experience has stayed with me,’’ she says.
“Now, it’s my privilege to support our residents at the end of life where they are most comfortable and to make the experience as positive as possible for them and their loved ones.”
Regina, a registered nurse with a Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care, is studying for a Master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner, supported by Lutheran Services’ industryleading program to place highly skilled nurses at its 11 aged care sites in Queensland.
“As a palliative care nurse practitioner, I’ll have advanced clinical skills and the ability to
prescribe medication, ensuring residents can receive the necessary care and comfort in their familiar surroundings, without the need for hospital transfers,” she says.
A key aspect of Regina’s role involves early conversations about advance care directives.
“While death can be a difficult topic, preparing a directive with your loved ones helps everyone be proactive and provide the special care you desire,” she says.
“It tells us what’s important to you, what brings you joy, your spiritual needs, your dignity and even what you don’t want.”
Regina developed an interest in therapeutic communication during palliative care studies.
“Therapeutic communication establishes connections and encourages open dialogue with strategies that include active listening, compassion and even silence,’’ she says.
“Often, I find it’s difficult to have the right words, but I learned that sometimes all you need to do is listen and spend time with the person and their family.’’
overseeing the nurse practitioner initiative, says positive changes have occurred in aged care, especially the focus on personalised, family-centred palliative care.
“Palliative care is a specialised field and we’re committed to upskilling our nurses,” Melanie says.
“Nurse practitioners play a crucial role in supporting complex clinical needs and providing guidance to the clinical team, while also supporting families on this emotional journey.
“Collaboration with GPs and external palliative care specialists enables residents to receive care according to their individual needs and preferences.”
For more information, call 1800 960 433 or visit lutheranservices.org.au
Melanie Wagner
Founded to meet the need for an
in-home hospice service in the community
ESTABLISHED in 1995, Cittamani Hospice Service in Palmwoods has been supporting people at the end of their life, as well as their families and friends, by providing an at-home specialist palliative care service on the Sunshine Coast.
Executive Director Melanie Bruhn says Cittamani is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘compassion and wisdom’, and these values are the bedrock of the service.
“The aim is to support and empower people at the end of their own life or someone close to them, to live their life on their own terms and in a way most meaningful to them,” Ms Bruhn says.
The service provided by Cittamani balances professional care with a holistic
approach and community involvement.
“As a not-for-profit organisation, what we do is only possible because of the funding we receive from many quarters including Queensland Health, donations from our community – local businesses, organisations and clubs, bequests and community members,” Ms Bruhn says.
“Our caring staff work with the intention of our founding vision: to provide a high-quality, professional palliative service and to nurture a healthy community for the dying and bereaved.
“It’s gratifying that we are able to offer our services free of charge.”
Cittamani acknowledges that people have different needs, and the staff do their best to respect individual preferences.
People who choose to die at home are able to access specialist palliative care nursing with 24-hour contact, specialist loan equipment, counselling, spiritual support and ongoing bereavement support for carers, families and friends.
“We are always incredibly grateful for donations of any size,” Ms Bruhn says.
To make a donation, go to: cittamanihospice.com.au/donation or see below.
Your gener ity makes these precious moments p sible
Cittamani is a free service providing at-home, end-of-life care and bereavement support to people in the Sunshine Coast community.
We offer a supportive community, where death, dying and bereavement are openly discussed and accepted.
To donate, please call 5445 0822 or visit our website: cittamanihospice.com.au or scan the QR code to access our secure donation platform.
“To have someone that you can call that just decodes that for you ... and take you through every stage of that right through to the end ... and knowing we could do it ourselves in our own home ... we were able to give mum exactly what she wanted in her death .... From the moment we called Cittamani, we felt like everything fell into place ... “ Carlie.
Phone: 5445 0822
Email: info@cittamanihospice.com.au
Aged care feature
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN THE TIME COMES
By SHIRLEY SINCLAIR
IT CAN happen so quickly. A heart attack or stroke. A fall. Increasing confusion in everyday life. An escalation of a long-term condition.
Mum/grandma is too frail to cook, shower or bathe themselves at home. Dad/Poppa has become more aggressive and refuses to let anyone help them.
Family, friends and neighbours may sense that the time has come. A greater level of care is needed – one that will see them leave their home and surroundings for good.
But it has to be done. It is what’s best for their quality of life or to receive the expert care and attention they truly need and deserve.
Often, that’s when the scramble starts. Loved ones may have known for a while that this time would come but somehow, they didn’t want to face it. They put off any decision on “what happens next” out of respect for their elder or it was simply too hard to contemplate.
Then come the frantic internet searches, phone calls, facility visits.
Finding the aged care home that is the right fit for the loved one is crucial, however. Make a checklist of what might be the ideal facility.
Consider and compare a few online and in person.
Do all your options meet government standards and hold
all proper accreditation? Are they award winners, well respected in the community?
Is the right aged care centre in the loved one’s immediate neighbourhood for familiarity, or is it better they move closer to you for more regular visits?
Once you have a few in mind, you and your loved one need to get a feel for what’s provided with regard to staffing levels and care, meal plans and visiting hours, activities and stimulation.
What can they bring with them from home? Can they see their own doctor for check-ups? Is there much socialising and celebrations? Does the facility promote health and wellbeing, not just nursing?
Can the facility cater to changing needs of patients by moving them to suites with higher levels of care?
Make sure you understand the fee structure. Are there any ‘hidden costs’?
The more questions you ask, the better.
While the new living circumstances can be stressful, the end result should be a rewarding experience for all.
RELATIONSHIP-FIRST APPROACH MATTERS
AS Southeast Queensland continues to grow, so, too, does the need for aged care that offers more than just clinical support.
The care must provide genuine connection, comfort and a sense of belonging.
Across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, Arcare Aged Care is meeting this need with purpose-built residences that support independence, dignity and personalised care.
With more than 45 years of experience and in excess of 55 residences nationally, Arcare is recognised for its relationshipfirst approach: a model that ensures residents are cared for by consistent team members who truly know them.
This approach builds trust and creates a calm, reassuring environment where residents feel seen and supported.
An exciting new expansion in Springwood is set to open in late 2025. The extended Arcare Springwood residence will feature extra-large private suites, complete with
kitchenettes and walk-in wardrobes, combining the comfort of home with the security of 24/7 care.
All Arcare residences offer beautifully designed suites –many with balconies or courtyards, alongside boutique amenities such as a cinema, hair salon and private dining room for family gatherings.
Arcare also plays an active role in local communities, partnering with volunteer groups and supporting regional initiatives that bring enrichment and connection into residents’ daily lives.
To learn more or book a tour, visit arcare.com.au
From Holidaymaker to Award-Winning Carer on the Sunshine Coast
warmth, dedication and natural gift for connecting with people.
Fast forward 25 years and she’s now a proud Sunshine Coast local — and one of Home Care Assistance’s most beloved carers.
“I used to come to Bulcock Beach on family holidays, and I just fell in love with the area,” Toni shares. “As soon as my made the move.”
Inspired by her youngest daughter, Eden, who worked in aged care in Brisbane, Toni decided to give care work a go — and she hasn’t looked back.
“I wish I had become a carer years ago,” she says.
It hardly feels like work most days. I laugh with my clients every day. It’s the best!
Toni is now a familiar and friendly face to her cherished clients across the Sunshine Coast.
In 2024, she was recognised as Team Player Champion of the Year at Home Care Assistance’s annual awards night
“The trust our clients place in us is very special,” she explains. “They welcome you into their homes and treat you like family. One of my clients even knitted
Christmas — it meant the world to me.”
Toni is especially passionate about supporting clients who live alone. “I always make time to chat with them about how they’re feeling and if there’s anything they need. It’s about showing up 100% for each visit and making sure they feel heard and cared for.”
She also has high praise for the Home Care Assistance team.
“They’ve been so fair and supportive. I’ve been able to choose my hours and travel areas, and I have regular clients, which helps build real relationships.”
When asked what she’d say to someone considering care work, Toni doesn’t hesitate:
“If you’re even thinking about it, you’ve probably already got the right heart for it. Would you rather sit behind a
it Would you rather sit behind a computer or be out there making someone’s day brighter? It’s the most
Want to become a carer like
Home Care Assistance is currently hiring care workers across the Sunshine Coast, supporting clients from Beerburrum to Noosa and throughout the hinterland. If you’re compassionate, reliable, and Assistance would love to hear from you.
Apply today! Email the HCA team at support@hcasupport.com.au or visit
Scan the QR code to apply via
Ready for better support at home?
At Home Care Assistance, we’re here to make ageing at home easierwith genuine care, expert help, and someone you can call any time of day.
ake ageing at home easiere can call any time of day 5491 6888
Toni?
CHARLIE GRIFFITHS taps into the energy still burning within, even if the outside is a little worn.
Our Sun is halfway through a 10-billion-year cycle of mind-blowingly intense light and power generation before morphing into a resplendent red giant for another five billion years.
At the end of its life, it will put on a fantastic supernova display as it ordains a designated patch in the Orion spiral in the Milky Way galaxy with a glorious planetary nebula full of raw material ready for the next star birth.
As a red giant, our Sun will engulf and probably destroy our Earth but will honour its new status and responsibility as a massive star breathing life into previously uninhabitable regions of the solar system, frozen since their inception.
Don’t panic. There’s plenty of time for humanity to adapt and travel to planets and moons to support our enlightened lives.
The parallel between our Sun and our own lives cannot be overlooked: we burn super bright for a long time until one day we realise that the intensity just isn’t
there anymore. Like our Sun, we will go through a middle-age period of denial before eventually coming to grips with our new magnificence and lighting up an old world with new inspiration.
Nothing wrong with cooling down a little after a frenetic life raising families, building fortunes, breaking sporting records and gracing social circles with our pulsating personalities.
Those of us who believe we have lived a vibrant, productive life to this point may be terrified about the prospect of fading into insignificance, unable to continue a driven existence after middle age. If we look at the flames instead of the fire, this is a reasonable assumption. Crook knees and hips will slow us down. Receding hairlines will expose
our thin brain capsules to dangerous gamma rays. Delayed memory recall may ruin punchlines and add curious nuances to everyday journeys.
But it’s all still there. We can get around fine with titanium joints, we can wear hats, we can tell shorter jokes and what the heck if it takes an extra 10 minutes to get into town? We see the flames, but others see us as a fully involved fire. We are what we project.
If we consider ourselves to be red giants in our golden years, we will tap into an enormous fuel load and radiate gloriously for a long time. We can’t be superheroes forever, but we can be super influencers for a very long time – well after the cape has frayed and the underpants must be worn on the inside.
Charlie Griffiths is a certified life coach and Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner dedicated to helping fellow professionals refocus after being diagnosed with a chronic disease. Visit charliegriffithscoaching.com
MAINTAINING SKIN HEALTH AFTER 50
AGEING can cause changes to your skin that you are not expecting.
Sun exposure, seasonal changes, poor diet and medications can contribute to skin problems as we age.
Eczema is a skin condition that can affect people of any age. Certain types of eczema are more common in people over 50.
With age, several changes occur in the skin such as slower healing, loss of moisture and increased vulnerability to skin damage. The Eczema Association of Australasia Inc (EAA) offers these tips for healthy ageing skin:
• drink plenty of water
• always patch test any new products prior to use
• use moisturising, sensitive, hypoallergenic and fragrancefree products
• get outside for some sunshine, but wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing
• keep your shower routine simple: have a warm water temperature, not hot, and pat yourself dry after showering/bathing
• apply moisturiser directly after showering to lock in moisture
• speak to your pharmacist to direct you to the best skin lotions/creams on the market for your skin type. Look for products that feature the EAA logo
• reach out if you are experiencing skin rashes or flares that you have not had before, and speak to your doctor or carer to help you.
If you think you have eczema, talk to your doctor about your skin symptoms and diagnosis. You may need to be referred to a dermatologist if you are experiencing severe eczema.
To become an Eczema Association of Australasia Inc member, call 1300 300 182 or email via eczema.org.au
SLEEP APNEA COULD BE A HEREDITARY TRAIT
YOUR genes influence everything from eye colour to sleep patterns.
And yes, they can affect your risk for sleep apnea, too.
Sleep apnea, especially obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), often runs in families. If you’ve inherited traits such as a narrow airway, extra throat tissue or a tendency toward weight gain, you may be more likely to develop OSA.
Even snoring (a key warning sign)
has a hereditary link. If your family gatherings sound like a symphony of chainsaws, you might have inherited more than just your dad’s nose.
That said, lifestyle factors play a big role, too. Weight, alcohol use, sleep position and overall health can all influence your risk.
Think of genetics as the starting point, not the full story. Even if sleep apnea is in your DNA, smart choices can still reduce your chances.
While OSA is the most common type, there are others to be aware of.
Central sleep apnea, caused by the brain’s failure to signal proper breathing, can also be linked to genetics, especially in people with certain heart or neurological conditions.
Complex sleep apnea is a mix of both and often requires more specialised treatment.
If sleep apnea runs in your family, the best thing you can do is stay alert to the signs: loud snoring, daytime fatigue and gasping for air during sleep. A home sleep study can help you get answers quickly and comfortably.
The good news? Sleep apnea is highly treatable. With the right diagnosis and support, you can get the rest your body needs and take back control of your health.
Call CPAP Direct on 1300 800 985 or email support@cpap.com.au
A TESTAMENTARY trust is one created by a will, specifying that some or all of the deceased’s assets are to be held in trust rather than distributed outright to beneficiaries.
The trust is managed by a trustee, who is responsible for administering the assets in accordance with the terms set out in the will. Unlike other trusts, a testamentary trust does not come into existence until the testator passes away.
It is often used to provide for beneficiaries in a controlled and structured manner, particularly in cases where beneficiaries may be minors, vulnerable or need financial management.
Key features of a testamentary trust:
1. It is created through the provisions of a will and only becomes active upon the testator’s death.
2. The will nominates a trustee (or trustees) who will manage the trust. The trustee has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries.
3. The will specifies the beneficiaries of the trust, who may include family members, dependants or others.
Benefits:
1. Testamentary trusts can protect assets from creditors, bankruptcy or family law disputes involving beneficiaries. This is useful in cases where beneficiaries are at risk of financial instability or relationship breakdowns.
2. Testamentary trusts offer significant tax benefits, particularly for income distribution. Income can be distributed to beneficiaries in a tax-effective manner, often taking advantage of lower marginal tax rates for minors.
3. The trust allows the testator to control how and when assets are distributed to beneficiaries. For example, distributions can be delayed until a beneficiary reaches a certain age.
To establish a testamentary trust, the testator must include specific provisions in their will. It is essential to work with an experienced legal professional to ensure the trust is properly drafted and aligns with the testator’s intentions.
Key steps:
1. The will must clearly outline the terms of the trust, including the assets to be held, the beneficiaries and the trustee’s powers and responsibilities.
2. The testator should carefully select a trustee who is trustworthy, capable and willing to take on the role.
3. The will should identify beneficiaries and any distribution conditions/restrictions.
4. Regularly review the will to ensure it reflects the testator’s current wishes and circumstances.
WORDS: Mel Crosby, Solicitor, Wills & Estates Department, Bush to Beach Legal. Visit bushtobeachlegal.com.au
WHY EVERYONE NEEDS AN ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY
WHILE many are familiar with the importance of a will, an enduring power of attorney (EPOA) is equally as important.
Unlike a will, which only takes effect upon your death, an EPOA ensures your interests are protected while you are still alive. An EPOA is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more trusted individuals (your attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. Decisions can relate to:
• financial matters, such as managing your bank accounts, investments and property
• personal and health matters, such as consenting to medical treatment or deciding where you live.
You can tailor your EPOA to your needs. Some of the things you can do are:
• assign different individuals to handle specific tasks, such as one for financial matters and another for personal or health decisions
• designate back-up people to step in if your primary choice is unavailable
• limit their authority to make decisions or require them to consult others before acting
• specify when the EPOA comes into effect, such as immediately upon your incapacity or whatever you need.
If you lose capacity – due to unconsciousness, a stroke, dementia or another condition – and you have not enacted an EPOA, no one will have the legal authority to manage your finances, pay your bills or make decisions about your care.
WHY GARTH AND KAY HAVE INCLUDED A GIFT TO CHARITY IN THEIR WILLS
GARTH and Kay Stephens made the decision to include gifts in their wills to Cancer Council Queensland after the passing of a beloved close family member.
The couple is among many Queenslanders who want to fund local cancer research, prevention programs and vital support services.
“When Garth’s father died, that’s when we decided: ‘Let’s put something in’.
We updated our wills and decided to formalise the gift,” Kay says.
“I see Cancer Council Queensland really trying to get to people with cancer to help them live a good life, even if it’s terminal cancer.
“There are solutions around. And people don’t always know what’s available to them.”
Garth says he was keen to act because
Once you lose capacity, you cannot establish or modify an EPOA. In such situations, your family or friends must apply to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to be appointed as your guardian (for personal matters) and/or administrator (for financial matters). This process is costly, timeconsuming, and emotionally draining and there is no guarantee that the person QCAT appoints will be the one you would have chosen.
QCAT may appoint the Public Trustee of Queensland to manage your personal and health matters and financial affairs if no suitable private individual is available or willing to take on these roles. This means strangers would be making critical decisions about your life.
Who can be your attorney? You can appoint anyone you trust, if they meet the following criteria: 1. over 18; 2. have legal capacity; 3. have not been your paid carer in the past three years (a paid carer is someone who receives a fee or wage to care for you, but not someone receiving a carer’s pension or benefit); 4. are not your healthcare provider; 5. are not a service provider for a residential service where you live; and 6. are not bankrupt.
This means you can appoint a trusted family member, friend or professional such as a solicitor or accountant.
Call 5445 1213 to schedule your free, no-obligation, 15-minute phone consultation. Mention this article when you call.
WORDS: Johanne Viavattene, solicitor, Cameron Rogers & Co Solicitors. Call 5445 1213 or visit cameronrogers.com.au
of the family’s medical history: “Mum had cancer, dad had cancer, Kay’s father had cancer and I’ve had cancer.”
Kay adds: “Everyone is touched by cancer. Every family has a cancer story.” Cancer Council Queensland provides a free will service to make it easier to include a gift in your will.
For more information, visit cancerqld. org.au/free-will-service
Do I need a will?
Every day, people make excuses for why they don’t need a will to ensure their valuable assets pass to their family.
Classic excuses include:
1. I don’t need a will because my wife/kids are going to inherit everything anyway. She/they’ll take care of it.
2. Isn’t that for rich, old people?
3. I only have a house – not much to worry about, really.
4. Getting a will is too expensive and time consuming.
5. I’ll be dead anyway, so it’s not my problem.
6. If I talk about it too much, I’ll probably jinx myself.
The response to all of these furphies is a resounding “wrong!”.
The absence of a will is a great way to waste money and ensure that your beneficiaries lose out.
While not having a will may mean that ultimately assets eventually find their way to next of kin, the pathway is longer, more expensive and requires court involvement
By DON MACPHERSON
– overall, a much slower and more expensive way to achieve the outcome that a straightforward will could ensure.
Of course, not having a will means that your intentions are irrelevant, and what you wanted to happen may not occur.
When people die without a will (called an intestacy), the law sets out a formula that applies to distribute assets in different proportions between next of kin in a specified sequence.
That may, for example, mean a house has to be sold, even if the wife is living there, to satisfy the intestacy formula.
The absence of a will may open the door to a contested estate.
A simple will would prevent unintended consequences occurring.
A simple will is not expensive (usually under $750). Unless the estate is complex, there is no need for a testamentary trust or other complications to blow out the costs of a will.
In fact, lawyers make much more money when people don’t have a will, as the sorting out of people’s estates without a will significantly increases the time and expense involved.
Sunshine Coast Elder Law are experts in wills, estate disputes, estate management and retirement village contracts. Contact the team on 1800 961 622 or visit sunshinecoastelderlaw.com.au
The lawyer, the iPhone and $13m
For a Will to be validly executed, it must meet certain requirements.
For example, it must be signed by two witnesses.
The Court recently had to consider whether a digital note saved on an iPhone by a Mr Colin Peek – a multimillionaire – was in fact his Will.
If it was his Will, Colin’s $13 million estate would be received by a longterm friend, his cleaner and his long-term solicitor. If it was not his Will, Colin’s estate would be received by his brother – Colin’s only surviving relative.
The Court wasn’t satisfied the note was intended by Colin to be his Will, although:
• the digital note was made just days before Colin’s death, shortly after a near-fatal medical episode
• the note was headed: ‘Last Will of Colin L Peek’
• Colin told his cleaner he had made a Will
• Colin had made it known he didn’t want his brother to benefit.
Several factors influenced the outcome, including:
• the note remained in Colin’s iPhone without being signed or witnessed
• significant evidence (texts and emails) had been deleted from the iPhone after Colin’s death.
Colin’s substantial estate was received by his brother.
If you want your wishes carried out, obtain legal assistance with your estate plan.
NOOSA will come alive with 10 magical days and nights filled with theatre, music, ballet and world-class performances from July 18-27.
Headlining the program is the world premiere of Sleeping Dogs by acclaimed Australian playwright David Williamson (pictured), directed by Ian Mackellar and starring Erik Thomson (All Saints, Packed
THE Sunshine Coast’s premier vocal group Oriana Choir presents The French Connection: Faure’s Requiem plus a bouquet of French choral masterpieces. Under the direction of Kim Kirkman, the choir will present a selection of works c elebrating the elegance, passion and rich musical heritage of France. From the shimmering harmonies of Fauré to the impressionistic beauty of Debussy, the program invites audiences on a journey through romance, reflection and reverence. These works evoke the charm
to the Rafters), Alison Venning, Jo Hendrie, Louisa Williamson and Samantha Sherrin. Presented across three exclusive performances at The J Theatre, the darkly funny and emotionally resonant Sleeping Dogs is a piercing look at memory, regret and the lingering impact of the past.
Queensland Ballet presents a special double bill performance by its Jette Parker Young Artists. Back to Bach by Greg Horsman is an elegant return of the 2016 world premiere, while Curious Beings is a world premiere by Amelia Waller in collaboration with Dead Puppet Society. The festival closes with a free event at Noosaville’s foreshore.
View the full program and book at noosaalive.com.au
of Parisian streets, the serenity of ancient cathedrals, and the vibrant spirit of French artistry. Accompanied by a string orchestra and piano, the choir will be joined by talented solo performers.
WHERE and WHEN: Saturday, July 26, at St Patrick’s Church, 14 Church Street, Gympie, at 2pm; and Sunday, July 27, at Stella Maris Performance Centre, Stella Way, Maroochydore, at 2pm.
TICKETS: $42 adult, and $36.88 concessions, via oriana.org.au. For inquiries, call 0431 542 343.
DYING to Know Day events are held across Australia in August, to foster deep conversations about the one thing everyone has in common: death.
Have you ever wondered what to do if you were asked to organise a funeral? Burial or cremation? Where would you find information?
For most people, arranging a funeral is not something they do every day but Gregson & Weight Funeral Directors do.
By raising awareness, the funeral directors can de-mystify the topic of death and dying.
They can talk about end-of-life planning and encourage open discussions, to help people make informed decisions.
Meet the team at the Gregson &
GET ready for a heartwarming winter experience that blends art, community and food.
The Sunshine Coast Art Group (SCArt) is hosting its annual Soup & Soul – A Creative Feast for the Senses. For $20, attendees can select a unique, handmade ceramic bowl, lovingly created and decorated by Sunshine Coast artisans. Once chosen, these one-of-a-kind pieces can be filled with a piping hot, soul-warming bowl of homemade soup, served with crusty bread.
Weight Funeral Directors Open Day from 8am-noon on Saturday, August 9.
The team from 104.9 Sunshine FM will be hosting a live outside broadcast and there’ll be displays including the fleet of hearses, eco-friendly coffins, urns and jewellery.
Information will be available about Sunshine Coast cemeteries, funeral bonds, voluntary assisted dying, grief support and body donation programs.
Guided tours of the mortuary and chapel will be held.
WHERE: Gregson & Weight Funeral Directors, 159 Wises Road, Buderim. WHEN: Saturday, August 9, from 8am-noon.
TICKETS: Free. Call 5491 1559 for details.
For added convenience, hand-sewn, microwaveable soup bowl holders, crafted by the SCArt sewing group, will also be available for purchase.
The event will showcase a diverse treasure trove of locally made arts and crafts, including pottery, paintings, sculptures, jewellery, garden art and much more.
WHERE: SCArt Studios, 1 William Parker Place, Buderim.
WHEN: Saturday, July 12, from 9am-2pm.
TICKETS: Entry is free.
LUXURY MEETS NATURE IN NEXT-LEVEL RESORT LIVING FOR OVER-50S
A STUNNING new collection of architecturally designed homes has been unveiled at GemLife Moreton Bay. The homes offer over-50s buyers a rare opportunity to secure premium lakeside living in one of Queensland’s most picturesque lifestyle resorts.
The Emerald Collection – GemLife’s most elevated home series to date –blends effortless luxury with a breathtaking natural backdrop, setting a new benchmark in over-50s resort living.
GemLife, one of Australia’s leading developers of over-50s lifestyle resorts, is renowned for creating vibrant, active communities for independent retirees who value quality, security and connection.
At Moreton Bay, the Emerald Collection represents the pinnacle of this philosophy.
“Set along the edge of two tranquil lakes or on selected perimeter sites, these homes reflect the highest standard of design and lifestyle GemLife has ever delivered,” sales manager Samantha Stevens says.
Buyers can now view new architectural renders showcasing three distinctive home designs – the Costeau, Goodall and Bellamy – each crafted with open-plan layouts, seamless indooroutdoor living and elegant inclusions such as Gaggenau appliances, walk-in pantries and designer finishes.
“The Costeau living area opens fully
to the al fresco, creating a real sense of connection to the outdoors,” Samantha says.
“The Goodall features an entertainer’s kitchen, luxurious master suite and a full-width entertainment unit, all wrapped in a calming, earthy interior design palette.”
Now selling in Stage 2, the release includes 22 homes with uninterrupted views of the resort’s nine-hectare lake and island, plus others with serene bushland or secondary lake outlooks. Prices start from $1.3 million.
At completion, GemLife Moreton Bay will feature a multi-million-dollar Country Club, wellness centre, walking trails, indoor and outdoor pools, tenpin bowling, cinema, creative studios and more – all set within 150 hectares, over 60 per cent of which is dedicated to conservation, including a protected koala corridor.
Call 1800 490 705 or visit gemlife. com.au/gemlife-moreton-bay-resort
RURAL ESCAPE SET TO BOWL YOU OVER
STOCKLAND has launched Halcyon Yandina – a new land lease community in the heart of the Sunshine Coast hinterland – with expressions of interest for the first homes now open.
The $200 million-plus community will span a 17-hectare site between Steggalls and Brandons roads, transforming into a vibrant, resort-style community designed for over-50s.
Work is set to begin later this year and is expected to take about four years to complete. Homes are anticipated to be available for purchase from next month, with the first home owners moving in by mid-2026.
Stockland project director Andrew Astorquia says this launch marks an exciting new chapter of lifestyle-focused living for the area.
“Halcyon Yandina will provide a connected and active community for those looking to make a rural escape,” he says.
“The launch of Halcyon Yandina follows years of careful planning and collaboration with Sunshine Coast Council and locals to create a vibrant community that complements its surroundings. We’re excited to now open expressions of interest and look forward to creating something truly special for the area.”
As part of the community’s development, works are expected to include pedestrian-friendly pathways linking the community to the township, upgrades to local sewer, water and road
HOW A HOME EQUITY RELEASE LOAN CAN CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER
FOR many older Australians, retirement brings new freedom, but also financial uncertainty.
Rising living costs, medical expenses and limited superannuation can make day-to-day life challenging. That’s where a home equity release loan can help. It allows homeowners aged 55 and over to access part of their home’s value without
needing to sell, move or downsize. But it’s not just about covering essentials. For many, a home equity release loan offers the freedom to live life on their own terms.
This may include uses such as renovations, refinancing an existing mortgage, helping children or grandchildren, or even taking a long-dreamed-of holiday.
A home equity release loan empowers
people to remain in the place they call home, surrounded by familiar faces and memories. And thanks to protections built into Australian law, including a ‘no negative equity guarantee’, borrowers and their families have peace of mind knowing they will never owe more than the value of their home.
Visit Inviva.com.au or call 1300 222 223.
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infrastructure, and environmental rehabilitation and restoration.
The Yandina Bowls Club, located across from Halcyon Yandina, is set to receive a significant upgrade supported by Stockland over the next four years.
The investment will help enhance the facility and foster new social connections, with the club expected to become a shared community space for Halcyon homeowners and existing members.
Surrounded by rolling paddocks, towering gum trees and mountain views, Halcyon Yandina is within walking distance of Yandina village and just a short drive to Coolum Beach and Noosa Heads. It is expected to feature a range of resort-style facilities, including a 25-metre lap pool, sauna, steam room, and clubhouse with a gold class-style cinema, games room and private dining.
A creative hub will provide a library, workshop and arts studio, while extensive outdoor green spaces will foster connection within the community’s natural surroundings.
To register your interest, visit stockland.com.au/halcyoncommunities/qld/halcyon-yandina
Disclaimer: The information here is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, objectives or financial situation. Before acting on any information and for legal, tax, or financial questions, you should consult with an appropriate professional. Loans are subject to eligibility and lending criteria. Fees, interest rates and terms and conditions apply. Inviva Lending Pty Ltd, serviced by Inviva Services Pty Ltd. Australian Credit Licence No.533319.
World-class performance leather business celebrating 130 years
Packer Leather, one of the oldest and most respected family businesses in the Moreton Bay Region, has just celebrated 130 years of operation.
World Wars, the Great Depression, the Global Financial Crisis, a factory relocation and new technologies have built resilience and fostered an open-minded approach with the six generations of family leading the Packer Leather business based in Narangba.
Packer Leather’s point of difference globally is not just delivery of high-quality leathers, but reputation for a business that could be trusted
and one committed to the very best environmental practices.
For more information visit www.packerleather.com.au. If you would like to purchase our Australian-made leather you can go online at www.packerdirect.com.au or visit the Leather Shop onsite at Packer Leather, 101 Boundary Road, Narangba.
Packer Leather - the early years. Packer Leather team today.
THE LAST DAYS OF KIRA MULLAN
By Nicci French Psychological thriller
Reviewed
by
Jan Kent
THIS story begins with Nancy and her partner Felix making a fresh start in their new apartment, hoping to put the dark days of her breakdown and loss of her business behind them.
She is determined to quell the voices in her head, take her medication and move forward, but the over-protectiveness of Felix and the patronising attitudes of the other house residents make her question her sanity.
When the body of the resident downstairs is discovered, Nancy is the only one doubting the death is a suicide. But how could she be believed, with her history of mental illness?
Ploughing through the mix of busy-body neighbours, chauvinistic and judgmental policemen and a partner who seems determined to quash her self-confidence, Nancy at times makes questionable decisions which had me fuming and squirming in equal measures.
When Detective Maud O’Connor takes up the cudgel, hope flares at last.
An unexpected conclusion capped off my enjoyment of this novel, which handles the delicate subject of mental illness sensitively and realistically.
Another great product of the author.
SPEAK TO ME OF HOME
THE VANISHING HALF
By Brit Bennett Modern fiction
Reviewed by John Kleinschmidt
MALLARD, a fictional town in Louisiana, is inhabited by light-skinned African Americans “who would never be white but refused to be treated like Negroes”.
In 1938, “creamy-skinned, hazel-eyed” identical twins Stella and Desiree Vignes are born. When the girls leave home, one marries a dark-skinned man and the other moves to California – marrying a white man and living as a white woman.
Each has a daughter: one very black and the other white – the latter and her mother living a perpetual lie. The daughters’ lives eventually intersect and result in the lie being revealed.
This book is not a comfortable read from a racial perspective and not helped by the author’s writing style which was hard to follow at times, with lots of jumping around chronologically and adding backstories in the middle of present-day ones.
Not my type of book but great for a book club.
By Jeanine Cummins, Modern fiction
Reviewed by Rebecca Walker, of Annie’s Books on Peregian
A STORY about marriage, family and identity, Speak to Me of Home tells the tale of a mother and her daughters as they contemplate their shared cultural roots.
Set in Puerto Rico and America, the plot examines the interconnected lives of three generations of women over a 65-year period.
assimilation and the struggle to belong.
RESPECTED travel journalist
Celeste Mitchell chose Noosa last month to launch her latest book: Ultimate Beaches: Australia.
If you’re a beach babe or aquaman at heart, this is the book – whether you’re after a swim, surf, reviving walk or fun with the family.
Australia’s mainland and islands are home to more than 10,000 beaches, but you don’t have to visit them all.
Mitchell has done the footwork for you, sharing her top 80 picks of the best.
The co-founder of slow and sustainable travel platform Life Unhurried and author of Life Unhurried: slow and sustainable stays across Australia, the meticulous, sun-loving researcher has curated a guide to the ‘big names’ and lesser-known spots.
Detailed information covers what makes each beach special, when to go, whether it’s dog friendly or appropriate for families, and how accessible it is for all visitors.
Also included are must-do nearby attractions and experiences.
Whether you’re seeking a day-trip hero beach, world-class surf break, romantic weekend away or ultimate tropical holiday for the family, this coffee table book has you covered.
Published by Hardie Grant Explore. RRP $45.
I WANT EVERYTHING
By Dominic Amerena, Australian fiction
Reviewed by Karen Weiber, of Books@Stones, Stones Corner
IT STARTS with a lie. One small lie to get everything he wants.
But one lie leads to another and another.
Caught in his own web of deception, how can he recognise the truth? And what is it going to cost him?
With a feisty cast of characters and an exotic backdrop, the book weaves multiple viewpoints into one sweeping tale that ultimately asks its reader: “What does it mean to call a place home?”.
Jumping between the past and present, the narrative dances across time while touching on complex issues such as displacement, cultural
Absorbing and evocative, Speak to Me of Home is a modern saga with plenty of multigenerational appeal.
The legendary career of reclusive cult author Brenda Shales remains one of Australia’s last unsolved literary mysteries. Her books took the world by storm before she disappeared from the public eye after a mysterious plagiarism case.
But when an ambitious young writer stumbles across Brenda at a Melbourne pool, he
realises the scoop of a lifetime is floating in front of him: the truth behind why she vanished without a trace.
The only problem? He must pretend to be someone he’s not to trick the story out of her.
This is a compelling tale of deception that explores the question of success at any price and who makes the most reliable storyteller.
Dominic Amerena draws us in with his unusual style of doing away with quotation marks. This is a memorable debut by the Melbourne author and a book that keeps you wondering how it will all end.
Security, Independence & Peace of Mind
Providing privacy and independence with the security of proximity to family.
Glendale Granny Cabins provide comfortable, self contained accommodation for elderly relatives on the same site as the family home.
Road trip Southwest QLD Granite Belt
Taste the passion that goes into every drop from this
unique terroir
SHIRLEY SINCLAIR meets two heavy hitters in the state’s burgeoning industry.
‘FATHER OF QUEENSLAND WINE’
ANGELO Puglisi had a dream.
His dream was to develop a viable and sustainable commercial wine industry in the Granite Belt, southwest of Brisbane. That dream had its genesis long before he planted the first block of Shiraz vines with his bride Mary on their Ballandean farm in 1968. Even as a teenager, Angelo believed in himself. He believed in the soil
of his surrounds. And he had a few points to prove: he knew Australians one day would enjoy drinking wine as much as their beloved beer; and he knew that the Granite Belt had the potential to create great drops.
Ever the storyteller, and with a captive audience of travel writers and local identities during a ‘long lunch’ at Adam Penberthy’s Dear Vincent Winery, Angelo
goes back in time. ‘New Australians’, such as his grandfather, journeyed halfway around the world to give themselves and their families a better life after war. They were not afraid of hard work or getting their hands dirty. In non-politically correct Australia in the early 1920s-’60s, Italians were considered ‘different’ – how they looked, their traditions and way of doing things.
Many ‘established’ Aussies of British and Irish heritage called these Italians ‘wogs’, ‘dagos’ and ‘eye-ties’ – and not always as terms of endearment.
Stanthorpe and the greater Granite Belt was one of the areas they gravitated to for farm and fruit-harvest work each November to March: the off-season to sugarcane. Catholic parish priest Father Jerome Davadi had planted the first wine grapes in the Granite Belt in the 1860s, and new-settler Italian families grew vines to make wine for their own enjoyment.
“All the old Italians and all the Europeans who were here were already making wine,” Angelo tells us.
“After the farmer had gone through and picked all the best ones (grapes) for market – the first grade – anything overripe, underripe, bird-eaten, hail-marked, not fit for human consumption, we went around and salvaged it and turned it into wine.
“Those old people used to drink one or
two bottles a day of that rough red and rough white. It was cloudy, it was thick. It was just crushed, pressed, fermented. It was still fermenting and they drank it. If it was cloudy, it meant they got a feed and a drink – not just a drink.”
Like most Europeans, young and old Italians consumed a glass or two of wine at every meal – an oddity in the eyes of other Australians but one that had its benefits, as Angelo discovered.
“All the memorial halls used to have these country dances,” he recounts.
“Those of us of Italian descent, we didn’t have to bring any girls because all the Aussie boys would bring their girlfriends, dump them in the hall, then go outside behind the boot of the car and get stuck into the grog.
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Angelo Puglisi
schoolmates. In the last 10 years, most of those have sold their vineyards to a winery. Hasn’t the wheel turned.”
“Their only opportunity to get drunk was on a Saturday night because at home, they weren’t allowed to drink (unlike us).
“So, we danced with the girls. And you know, we made a lot of girlfriends.”
But often, well before midnight at these dances, the Aussie males would run out of beer and ask Angelo to “go and try to pinch a couple of flagons of plonk from your father’s shed”. These were the same blokes who were adamant: “This is Australia, mate. Only wogs and dagos drink plonk. We drink beer.”
“My dream was to create a wine industry and to get Aussie people to drink wine breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Angelo says.
“It might not happen, and I know it is hard for some people to drink it for breakfast if you are in a town or city.
“But if you’re out in the country, and you’re working bloody hard and you’ve been out in the paddock since 5 o’clock in the morning and you come home at 7 or 8 o’clock – yeah, you’re pretty thirsty. Just a glass of milk doesn’t help. So, I had this dream. I started to put the dream together.”
Angelo planted his first commercial wine grapes, Shiraz, in 1968, soon followed by his inaugural Semillon and Rhine Riesling.
“From ‘only wogs drink wine’ to ‘all of us drink wine’ has been my dream.
“My dream has been achieved and to tell you the truth, half a dozen guys used to criticise me and laughed at me for trying to produce wine. ’Why are you making wine? Do you think you’re going to make a living out of wine? How do you think you’re going to live?’. That’s what I got told over and over. Some of them were my
Considered by many to be ‘the Father of Queensland Wine’, Angela is the founder of the state’s oldest family-run winery and this month celebrates his own 82nd ‘vintage’. From humble beginnings, producing wine since 1932 and opening a cellar door in 1970, Ballandean Estate boasts five generations of the Italian winemaking family. It has become a multi-million-dollar business, with Angelo and Mary’s daughters Robyn and Leeanne now at the forefront.
But the man who has lived and breathed all things grapes and wine for nearly 60 years says he is ready to hang up the farm clothes.
“My dream came true and it might surprise you but Ballandean Estate is now on the market,” he says.
“People want to know why. Well, this vintage has been the best vintage ever. The quality has been amazing. When would you sell a business? When it’s up on a high or when you’re down in the dumps?
“Why do we have to hang around? We can and go live a bit better life. We should get enough to pay the bills and buy a bottle of champagne or two.”
And knowing Angelo, when the time comes, he will be partaking of that celebratory champagne at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ballandean Estate is at 354 Road, Ballandean. Visit ballandeanestate.com
WINEMAKING WITH HEART
BALANCING Heart winemaker Mike Hayes is on a mission to take the snobbery out of wine appreciation.
With 40 years’ experience in viticulture and winemaking, the 2017 Australian Winemaker of the Year aims to educate more people about grapes and what it takes to create a quality drop.
A true trailblazer in his field, he champions sustainability in this era of climate change and is raising the profile of underrated Granite Belt winemaking by planting, nurturing and turning alternative (or emerging) varieties of grapes into small-batch hero vintages.
Australia’s highest elevated wine region produces elegant, cool-climate drops.
Shiraz and Chardonnay dominate the 15 or so mainstream grape varieties.
But more than 40 non-signature grapes – from Arneis in the whites to Zinfandel in the reds – are the point of difference that is really putting the Granite Belt Wine Country on the map and distinguishing it from other regions around Australia.
Known as ‘Strange Birds’, these alternative varieties are rare: each makes up less than 1 per cent of Australia’s total bearing vines.
Italian/Mediterranean grape varieties, such as Malbec, Saperavi, Tempranillo and Fiano love the altitude and thrive in the unique terroir with its longer growing season and deep granitic gravels.
The boutique-sized production means that the cellar doors of these small wineries are usually the only place the wines will be found.
Mike encourages everyone, including families, to visit Granite Belt wineries to be better educated about the vineyard-tobottle production and gain an appreciation for the wines through tastings.
Talking to the vineyard owner or winemaker at the cellar door helps to demystify the grape-growing and winemaking process while soaking up the ambience of the surrounds.
In addition, Balancing Heart now has a free, self-guided vineyard walk that takes about 15 minutes, with an information board at nine different spots.
Mike suggests taking the stroll with a
glass in hand as a five-senses treat.
Drink in information about each variety of grape and where it comes from, and learn about the textural building blocks of nature over the past 250 million years that have gone into every vintage.
On one such sunset vineyard walk towards the Balancing Heart natural rock formation, Mike can barely hold his enthusiasm as we stop beside a block of grapes that is extremely rare in Australia.
“This is called Carménère and this is one of our flagship varieties,” he tells us, grabbing a cluster of grapes.
“Carménère is an ancient variety that the French have claimed, but it’s not actually French.
“Its parent is Cabernet Franc and another variety called Gros (Cabernet).
“DNA has now proven that Cabernet Franc comes from the Pais Vasco region in the Basque Mountains.
“Gros Cabernet is a natural cross in the wild between Hondarrabi Beltza and Fer Servadou, also Basque Mountain varieties.
“So, Fer Servadou and Hondarrabi Beltza crossed to give us Gros Cabernet, then Gros Cabernet and Cabernet Franc crossed to give us Carménère.
“It was taken by the conquistadors to Chile, and they’d been selling it as Merlot for 200 or 300 years.
“In Chile (today), they make an absolute fortune out of selling it as Carménère, and it’s now their premium wine with exuberant prices. Some of them are over $1000 a bottle.”
Mike Hayes
A long lunch at Dear Vincent
The Balancing Heart rock
Petals & Passages
All-Inclusive Azamara Immersive Japan Voyage, CosmosFlowers&MountFujiDiscovery Cosmos Flowers & Mount Fuji Discovery
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Highlights Tokyo • Nagoya
Beppu
Kagoshima
Nagasaki
Fukuoka • Busan • Yeosu
Seoul
Includes
Hotel stays in Tokyo and Seoul • 14-night all-inclusive cruise on board Azamara Pursuit • Reserved seat on the Bullet Train • Photography • Views over Lake Kawaguchi with Mount Fuji • Views over Oishi Park with Mount Fuji Departs 29 September 2026
Savour the charm of Italy’s sparkling gems in the scenic Italian Lakes, then cruise through the captivating Eastern Mediterranean.
Highlights Milan • Lake Maggiore • Lake Como • Florence • Civitavecchia • Naples • Crete • Kuş
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Mike has been experimenting with growing Carménère for many years at Balancing Heart – and it is about to pay off.
“I’ve got three combinations of pruning that I’ve been trialling to get it to fruiting, “It worked. We’ve had up to 300 kilos off these five rows. But now, the last couple of years, I’m getting two tonne, which gives me enough to make wine out of and do something commercial. We’re opening up our canopies here. As you can see, we’re letting more air flow through and more sunlight onto the vines. We let Mother Nature make the wine here, and I am the mere gatekeeper in the winery.”
Balancing Heart Vineyard is at 221 Old Wallangarra Road, Wyberba. Visit balancingheart.com.au
Download the free Southern Downs and Granite Belt App (southerndownsand granitebelt.com.au/official-visitor-app/)
THE Granite Belt is less than three hours’ drive from Brisbane or Caloundra.
1. See the epic boulders that the Granite Belt (and Girraween National Park) is famous for. parks.desi.qld.gov.au/parks/girraween
2. Pick your own in-season apples and sunflowers at Nicoletti Orchards’ harvest experience. nicolettiorchards.com.au
3. Stanthorpe Holiday Park has added a Bath Haus, Sauna Retreat and Cedar Chalets. stanthorpeholidaypark.com.au
4. Try an intimate tasting at the Rokkwell cellar with co-owner and the winemaker Dawn Walker. rokkwell.com.au
5. Take an elevated perspective from View Wine’s new ‘Big Red Shed’ Grape 2 Glass Centre. viewwine.au
6. Ballandean Pub is a great place to meet the locals. ballandeanpub.com.au
7. Take a heritage train ride on the Downs Explorer between Ballandean and Stanthorpe. downsexplorer.org.au
FOLLOW THE FLOWERS
EVERYONE knows about Japan’s cherry blossom season, with delicate sakura painting the scenery in shades of pink between late March and early May.
But what if the flower-filled magic didn’t end there? What if you could travel a little further or stay longer and discover even more blooming beauty across Japan and Europe?
That’s where Imagine Cruising steps in, offering curated cruise packages with hotel stays included before and after your voyage. It’s more than a holiday – it’s a floral journey across continents.
Japan is a country where each season brings fresh floral beauty. In autumn, cosmos flowers bloom in soft shades of pink, purple and white, with fields near Mount Fuji offering a particularly stunning setting.
Spring sees wisteria draping over garden paths in waves of violet, especially at the Kawachi Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu. Throughout the year, colourful blooms such as irises, hydrangeas and lilies brighten temple grounds and public parks.
Now shift your gaze west to Europe. Imagine Cruising also offers holidays that explore the continent’s floral wonders.
In Italy, especially around Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, springtime brings camellias with their elegant white, pink and red blooms perfectly complementing
the alpine backdrop and shimmering lake views. As you stroll through villa gardens and lakeside promenades, it’s easy to see why this region has long been favoured by poets and painters.
Travel south to Florence and you’ll find yourself in the birthplace of the Iris Florentina: a delicate bloom that is the very symbol of the city. In May, the Iris Garden near Piazzale Michelangelo bursts into life, overlooking the red-tiled rooftops of Florence.
Further along the Mediterranean, bougainvillea adds splashes of colour to the whitewashed walls of Mykonos and Santorini – a striking contrast against the deep blue sea and sky.
With Imagine Cruising, the best of the world is brought to your fingertips. These holidays offer exceptional value and seamless experiences, combining hotel stays, cultural immersion and cruising into one complete package. It’s time to stop and smell the flowers.
Contact your local Travellers Choice agent via travellerschoice.com.au
AUGUST 2025
North Queensland Savannah (12 Days) - CLOSING SOON
SEPTEMBER 2025
Fraser Island Whale Watch (4 Days)
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers (4 Days)
Flinders Ranges (11 Days)
Brisbane Sights at the Star Casino (3 Days)
NOVEMBER 2025
Tasmania (15 Days)
O’Reillys Rainforest Retreat (4 Days)
FEBRUARY 2026
Scottish Tattoo in Brisbane
MARCH 2026
Norfolk Island
O’Reillys
APRIL 2026
Easter in Port Stephens
With Quizmaster Garry Reynolds
1. Which two countries share the longest border?
2. Which Beatle was the narrator for Thomas the Tank Engine?
3. What sport uses a wooden ball and mallet on a lawn?
4. Who is the fairy in Peter Pan?
5. What is an haboob?
6. How many hours are there in a year?
7. What is the colour of a zebra’s stripes at birth?
8. What country did Justin Bieber come from?
9. What is the smallest state in the US?
10. What tree produces acorns?
11. What is the name of our solar system’s galaxy?
12. Whose Pop Art featured Campbell’s soup cans?
13. What alcoholic drink is made from fermenting agave?
14. What is the computer program containing PowerPoint?
15. Who is the founder of Amazon?
16. How many legs do insects have?
17. Which Irish saint is said to have turned water into beer?
18. What was the name of the East German secret police?
19. What is the body’s largest organ?
20. What force makes objects float?
? nt? er? ?
14. Microsoft Office. 15. Jeff Bezos. 16. Six. 17. St Brigid. 18. Stasi. 19. Skin. 20. Buoyancy.
7. Brown. 8. Canada. 9. Rhode Island. 10. Oak. 11. The Milky Way. 12. Andy Warhol. 13. Tequila.
1. US and Canada. 2. Ringo Starr. 3. Croquet. 4. Tinkerbell. 5. A type of sandstorm. 6. 8760.
