Yt brisbane feb2017

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NO STOPPING A 73-YEAR-OLD WHO MANAGES IT ALL

GOING POTTY

A DUTY OF CARE

WHEN THE GARDEN IS DOWNSIZED

UNTIE THE RED TAPE BEFORE IT’S YOUR TURN BRISBANE EDITION 23, FEBRUARY 2017 1.indd 1

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Editor’s note

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he Federal Government this month introduces reforms to home care, which has to be good news if it means fewer rules and more choice. It’s hard not to be a little sceptical though. When the Government is using words like “consumer-driven” and “market-based” and there is a big percentage of the population, the Baby Boomers, heading rapidly towards the “aged care” bracket, it’s hard not to wonder what else they’ve got up their sleeve and if this isn’t the precursor to something more sinister. Call me cynical if you like, but with all the changes to pensions and super that continually downgrade the promises and expectations we’ve known most of our lives, one can only wonder what else might be in store in the next decade.

Brisbane

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Contents Constant references to the My Aged Care portal are unnerving. A friend was recently taken to hell and back trying to organise some home care for her mum. The site was no use at all and in fact, she was able to get more current information from other sources than from the website itself. Day after day, she was shoved from pillar to post and treated like a nincompoop. As she pointed out, if she found it frustrating, difficult and depressing —and she has a PhD — how was her old dad (and thousands like him) ever supposed to manage it on his own. Which means the Baby Boomers have a vested interest in finding a way through the maze so that hopefully, they will know what to do when it’s their turn. I say hopefully because there is always the risk the rules will change again … and again. Lorraine Page, who investigated the situation for this month’s cover story, also found it a big job wading through all the issues. Her report makes informative reading. Alas, few of us can look forward to the same golden handshake that our politicians get from us.

Dorothy Whittington, Editor

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COVER STORY

Duty of care – finding your way through the maze of red tape Old age will force many of us into abandoning our care to others and, as LORRAINE PAGE reports, Baby Boomers can learn by helping their parents.

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one of us aim to spend our older years in a nursing home. We all want to stay mentally alert and physically fit for as long as possible; preferably in our own homes, and on our own terms. But no matter how well you may think you are holding back the years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics tells us what is really happening in the populace. The proportion of Australians turning 65 years is projected to increase more rapidly over the next decade as further

cohorts of Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) reach this age. And if you’re wondering who’s permanently warming a bed in an aged care facility, the average age of entry is 82 for both men and women, according to a 2008 Government report into ageing and aged care in Australia. Plenty of time – you may be tempted to think of delaying or even scuttling your plans for that unwelcome journey. However, increasing life expectancy is another reason for not ignoring an

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action plan for our future ageing needs because the longer we live, the greater our risk of developing some type of dementia. While dementia can happen to anyone, the condition is more common after the age of 65 according to Alzheimer’s Australia. Paradoxically, many Baby Boomers are already feeling the sting of advancing age by proxy. When home care services can no longer support the escalating needs of frail-aged relatives, there is the

sudden call to find suitable nursing care. Jenny, in her 60s, recalls how she and her husband were mostly unprepared for the convoluted crisis that lay ahead when her mother-in-law’s dementia worsened. “I knew nothing about nursing homes or assessments,” Jenny says of that time before comprehensive information was available on the Government’s My Aged Care website (myagedcare.gov.au). “I didn’t even know where to start.” She eventually had her in-laws, May and Bernard, assessed and approved by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) for home help. But as Bernard’s own health deteriorated, Jenny and her husband James were spending more and more time with his parents. “May stopped being able to sign her name and because she had Alzheimer’s, she thought people were stealing from her so the support workers couldn’t do much cleaning,” Jenny says. “I would fill out cheques for her to sign, and it was all very tricky and difficult. Finally Bernard’s health deteriorated to a point where he had to ask James to look after his finances, but only in a limited way. “We formalised James’ appointment as his father’s attorney through a solicitor because it would have been opposed by his brothers.” Jenny also organised pensions for May and Bernard as they had never sought any assistance from the government. “That was just the most dreadful and time consuming process,” she says. “So many questions and forms, and their claim was complicated because they were born overseas and had used various

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COVER STORY names during their lives.” In the end, Jenny and James had to source a nursing home for May. Through word of mouth they found an aged care placement consultant who recommended a number of facilities they could inspect, making their daunting task much easier. May went into care first, followed by Bernard some months later. Though both have since died, Jenny says collateral damage to the family from that desperate time has been lasting. “I think we should have had an official diagnosis of Alzheimer’s earlier for May,” Jenny says. “When you have brothers saying nothing is wrong, and their mother should never have been put into a nursing home, diagnosis is fairly important.” Though the Government subsidises a range of aged care services, including home care packages, you are expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you can afford to do so. In keeping with the Government’s health reform agenda, packages of support around the home for those not quite suitable for admission to an aged care facility will increase from 70,000 to about 100,000 nationally by 2018. Two years ago, 50-something Barbara was introduced to the aged care system when her grandmother, Violet, fell and broke her hip two weeks before her 95th birthday. “Gran and her partner Bob had been assessed for high care community packages, but would only accept domestic services once a fortnight. I think they may have not understood the help that was available,” she says. “Bob still did the shopping despite his health problems. My cousin would stay with my grandmother at night if he had to go to hospital.” But when Violet broke her hip and was in a Toowoomba hospital at the same

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time Bob was hospitalised in Brisbane, both were told they couldn’t go back home. “She had macular degeneration, but quite frankly at her age she didn’t have the mobility to go back home,” Barbara says. “And we thought, my God what are we going to do?” She says confusion and ill feeling between family members who were trying to help could have been avoided at the outset if they’d known who her grandmother had appointed as her enduring power of attorney. If it’s too overwhelming to navigate pages of information on the My Aged Care website to find essential information on accessing the aged care required, a facility, estimate fees and charges and apply to an aged care home, a search on the Aged Care Guide website (agedcareguide.com. au) can track down an aged care placement consultant. For internet-savvy, time-poor Baby Boomers acting on behalf of elderly relatives, a placement consultant may be worth considering. Former personal carer, Berenice Wadham, operator of Aged Care Assistance Consultancy, offers an independent service she is at pains to explain differs considerably from that of a broker. “The broker may have a client in hospital and the hospital rules are to list with at least five aged care facilities,” she says. “And then the client is to accept the first offer without having the opportunity to visit those facilities.” She and other placement consultants,

have an in-depth conversation with the client, find out their criteria for a nursing home and combine that with further information from the hospital about their care requirements. “I present the family with the list of facilities, sometimes up to 10, and I get them to make appointments and go along and look at these facilities. When they’re happy they get me to send applications through,” she says. “Family members care about each other and they want the best. What they don’t understand is that there’s so much research that has to go into which facility is going to be suitable. “It used to be first to the top of the list is going to get in. It’s not like that now.” Ms Wadham says aged care funding is complex and nursing homes are selecting people from their waiting lists that will generate a high level of funding. People on the low to mid-range of the care spectrum are finding it more difficult to find placement. Another important component of her work is guiding clients through the costs involved for entry to residential aged care, whether the applicant is supported or not supported by Government. Her service fee is $880 (including GST) but, as Ms Wadham points out, when she submits an application it’s concise and contains all the documentation required by Government departments and the aged care facility. Though every client is different, depending on whether a person is still at

“Many Baby Boomers are already feeling the sting of advancing age by proxy”

START HERE with a free booklet

Five steps to entry into an aged care home is a downloadable booklet found on the My Aged Care website. It’s an easy read and a sound starting point for older people, families and carers in understanding the process of moving into an aged care home. For a free printed version and more information on aged care for yourself, a family member, friend or someone you’re caring for, call the My Aged Care contact centre on 1800 200 422 between 8am and 8pm weekdays, and 10am and 2pm Saturdays. Seniors groups and aged care providers in south-east Queensland can book free interactive information sessions delivered by Council of the Ageing (COTA) Peer Educators on staying well as you age in your community and accessing aged care services. In conjunction with The Public Trustee, a new program is helping older Queenslanders better understand power of attorney and the responsibilities of your appointed attorney. For bookings call COTA on 1300 738 348.

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February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 5

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COVER STORY <from previous page home on a home care package and waiting for a crisis to happen, or in hospital or transition care, her work is often frantic. A Baby Boomer herself, who has placed both parents in care, she’s working on her generation to be prepared. “They say, ‘what’s going to happen when it’s our turn? I don’t think I’m even going to be able to afford aged care,’” she says. “All of these sorts of conversations come up because inevitably they bring it up.” Invariably, she stresses the importance of making an enduring power of attorney, in accordance with your instructions while you still have capacity, and having a retirement plan overseen by a financial advisor with expertise in aged care. Avoiding falls that can put a person in care can be as simple as ensuring any modifications made in the home now, are disability friendly into the future. At the end of the day, she says, a person requiring aged care is competing against every other applicant and that’s why it’s important to have a strong application. “A lot of people in the community just think the ACAT will do but it’s normally not enough,” she says.

THE FACTS OF THE MATTER in brief such as demands on health, size of the working-age population, housing and skilled labour. From 1995 to 2015 the proportion of people aged 85 years and over almost doubled from 1.1 per cent of the total population to 2 per cent (Australian Bureau of Statistics). • A person is assessed and approved by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT), in line with the Government’s Aged Care Assessment Program, before being able to access home care packages or residential aged care (myagedcare. gov.au). • One-third of all men and half of all women will go into permanent residential care at some point in their later lives, though community care is the preferred option of most Australians (ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) 2012. • Over the next several decades, the ageing population is projected to have implications for Australia, including the more obvious ones

• A power of attorney is a formal document giving another person the authority to make personal and/ or financial decisions on your behalf. There are two types of attorney: general and enduring. • An advance health directive is a formal way of instructing another person about your future health care, effective only if you become unable to make your own decisions.

GOVERNMENT’S PLAN FOR FUTURE THE Australian Government announced significant reforms to home care in the 2015-16 Budget. The CDC (Consumer Directed Care) reforms are aimed at improving the way home care services are delivered to older Australians and will be implemented in two stages. In the first stage, from February 27, funding for a home care package will follow the consumer who can choose a provider suited to them and to direct the funding to that provider. The consumer will also be able to change their provider, including if they move to another area. There will be a consistent national approach to prioritising access to home care through the My Aged Care gateway. The second stage will move towards a more integrated care at home system. There will be consultation with the sector on these reforms. The changes are said to be an important step in moving towards a future aged care system that is more consumer-driven, market-based and less regulated. The number of home care packages is to increase from about 72,000 places to about 100,000 places nationally next financial year.

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COVER STORY

Home care reforms – where to now? Are you getting the best value from your home care package? MARY BARKER explains the six questions to be asking.

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n February 27, the home care industry is in for a shake-up with government reforms to home care that will affect thousands of older Australians. According to Kendall Morton of Home Care Assistance, the changes are good news for older Australians and their families as for the first time, clients will be able to move their funding to other agencies if they are not satisfied. They will have more choice and more control over their own home care. Until now, the federal government has given a number of home care packages to agencies who have used them to support clients with different needs. “Under the current funding arrangements, if you go into permanent care or pass away, the funds remaining in your package stay with the service,” Ms Morton says. “There hasn’t been a lot of incentive for the agency to see that the person is getting all the care that they need. If a client leaves the agency, the provider may have a $10,000 excess that they are allowed to keep.” This all changes on February 27, when home care package funds will be assigned to the individual, rather than the service.

From a practical perspective, low fees mean that the client gets more hours of support each week. For instance, someone getting 10 hours of care with a 40 per cent management fee could get 16 hours of care with a 15 per cent management fee.

If you are satisfied with when and how you are getting home care, there is no need to do anything. This reform gives choices. Ms Morton said there were six questions that older Australians and their families needed to ask when choosing a home care service.

2. Check for extra charges such as entry and exit fees. Many agencies have them and some don’t. Watch out for add-on fees. For example, if they find someone to mow the lawn, they may add a $5 charge. If they buy a new shower chair, they may add a shopping fee. Ms Morton believes that imposing these fees is highly unfair as finding home help services or equipment is the service’s management responsibility.

1. Check the management fees. These are legitimate fees that each agency charges but they vary greatly. Home Care Assistance, for example, charges 15 per cent management fees, others charge up to 40 per cent. This means that 40 cents of every dollar is gone before you a home helper walks through your front door.

3. Ask about service times. Some agencies will make a commitment to have a staff member at your home at a set time, say 7.30am, for a morning shower. Others will only give a time band, such as 7am to 10am. This leaves the client waiting and for clients with incontinence problems, it can be a long, uncomfortable and undignified wait.

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4. Check if help is available weekends and evenings. Home care packages are meant to meet individual needs so don’t accept “no, we don’t do weekends”. Also, ask the agency if they have a 24-hour assistance number. 5. Ask for a monthly statement. An agency should provide a monthly statement to keep track of funds and fees. Be sure to ask. 6. Ask how many different care workers will come into your home. Having strangers in your space can be intrusive, especially when you are physically frail. Some agencies will arrange rosters to give you two or three carers over a week, others may have up to seven. During February and March, Ms Morton is offering Sunshine Coast residents a free audit of their home care package and a safety assessment of their home, answering questions and helping understand the package to see if there are ways to get more hours of care from your funding. Call 5491 6888 or 0499 022 567.

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18/01/2017 12:54:20 PM

CONSUMER WATCH

Start the year on the front foot REFUND RIGHTS From illegal ‘no refund’ signs to pointless extended warranties, knowing your refund rights can help you avoid being ripped off at the register. If you’ve purchased a faulty product, something which doesn’t do what you would reasonably expect or is dangerous, you are entitled to a refund, replacement or repair. BETTER BANKING DEAL Despite the RBA leaving the cash rate on hold, the big four banks were among lenders who increased interest rates on home loans last month. It almost certainly costs your bank more to find a new customer than to keep you happy so ask for a better deal. UNIT PRICING Unit pricing is the simplest way to see exactly how much supermarket products cost. The price per hundred grams or millilitres reveals a lot more about the true value of an item than yellow discount deals, flashy red spot signs or packaging. Research shows shoppers can save up to $1700 a

year by using unit pricing. CONSOLIDATE SUPER Aussies are losing up to $1.96 billion dollars a year as people pointlessly sign up for multiple life insurance policies through different super funds. Super funds are required to include life insurance on an opt-out basis when a member joins. If you have more than one super fund, you could be paying for multiple life insurance policies. CREDIT CARDS About a third of Australians carry their credit card balance forward. Given the high interest rates consider switching to a low rate card and a more competitive deal. ELECTRICITY DEAL Electricity prices are the biggest cause of financial concern for Australian households and have been since June 2014. Find a cheaper deal and even better, reduce your energy use with more efficient appliances, heating and cooling. INSURANCE POLICIES Too many of us renew annually without testing the market. It pays to do your homework,

request quotes from different providers, and challenge your current insurer to beat them. HEALTH INSURANCE Health insurance can prove a minefield to consumers with the dizzying array of policies and premiums that have soared almost 50 per cent since 2009. Review individual needs and using simple health insurance hacks, cut through the confusion to find a policy that better suits your requirements. DANGEROUS PRODUCTS Australia is in the grip of a shonky product boom, with recalls up 12 per cent in 2016, so make sure you don’t have a recalled item in your home. Check on productsafety.gov.au RIGHT TO “COMPLANE” Travellers are being taken for a ride by Australia’s airlines yet are reluctant to complain about their rights in flight, believing it’s too much hassle or won’t get a result. Try the Complane tool for consumers facing flight delays and cancellations – use it and help change the way airlines treat customers. Visit complane.com.au

“COMPLANE” — AIRLINES NOT PLAYING FAIR CONSUMER group Choice is calling for an overhaul of the way airlines deal with customers after an extensive investigation revealed systemic breaches of consumer law. These include widespread use of “no refund” signs, excessive cancellation fees and no compensation for airline mistakes. While other businesses are banned from making blanket “no refund” claims airlines blatantly do so on tickets. “Our investigation reveals the significant power imbalance between consumers and airlines, who are not being held to the same basic standards as other industries,” Choice’s Matt Levey said. “Under Australian Consumer Law, you have a right

to a refund no matter how many times an airline lands you with a no refund message as you make your way through an online checkout.” The Choice report, Fare Play? Terms and conditions in Australia’s Airline Industry, also reveals that excessive cancellation fees, a lack of redress when flights are delayed and cancelled, and other unfair terms and conditions are the norm in the industry. Particularly unfair are ‘no show’ clauses, that allow airlines to unilaterally cancel tickets on multiple flights if you are unfortunate enough to miss a leg of the journey. These clauses have already been banned in other countries such as Germany and Spain.

ACCC WIPES OUT FLUSHABLE CLAIMS DON’T be caught by the promise of flushable wipes. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleges that Kimberly-Clark and Pental gave the impression that the products were suitable to be flushed down household toilets in Australia, when they’re not.

By labelling the products “flushable”, consumers were led to believe that the products would break up or disintegrate like toilet paper, and were suitable to be flushed down the toilet. They are contributing to blockages in household and municipal sewerage systems.

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LETTERS

Letters

Have your say. Send letters to Editor, Your Time Magazine, PO Box 717 SPRING HILL 4004 or email editor@ yourtimemagazine.com.au

I’M fascinated with the recent comments on language in your magazine and I love reading what David Parmiter writes. I’m convinced we’ve produced a whole generation who are bordering on illiteracy, but with all the signs in shops and mistakes in media, it’s inevitable. Can we send all the TV presenters back to school for a refresher course in basic English? Explain prepositions to them: it’s “similar to”, “different from”, “compared with” etc. The other one is, “people who” not “people that”. None of them know these simple rules. Teach them that a “picture” isn’t a “pitcher”. And for goodness sake, stop using that appalling American expression “snuck”. The past tense of “sneak” is “sneaked”. If we continue with that use, we can no longer say we “peeked” at something,

we’ll have to say we “puck” it. Can someone also tell me who decided that “listen” became a noun? They say “take a listen”. Where do they want me to take it? Make all the supermarkets change the signs at their express lanes too. It’s not “less” than 15 items, it’s “fewer”. And we can’t forget those people who give us the biggest laugh of all - real estate persons. Several of them are locked into a “sort- after location”. They also have no idea of the difference between “it’s” and “its”. Just remember folks, one means “it is” and the other is a pronoun, as in “that is its charm”. My very favourite though is “if your looking for you’re dream home”. That deserves the Oscar for the most appalling ad of all time. Judy Campbell I am writing to highly commend Jay Field for the article (YT, Dec) about dogs. As I have lived in an over 50s village for the past 15 months, and next to a suburban street, I have noticed that most homes have a dog. One dog is an alsation and has barked continuously. On several Saturdays it barked from 1pm to 10pm. I approached the owner who informed that he had been away at the time. I have advised him that if the situation does not change I will be reporting him to the council. The dog has been fairly quiet since. B. Percival

rly UT! 00 a Ne D O 9,0 L 36 SO $ m fro

Long writing career ends here GOOD ONE, GRANDPA – With Peter Richardson Now that I am well into the sixth of Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man, I have come to realise that although wellworn sayings are now dismissed as passé or quaintly old hat, they collectively make up a priceless store of wisdom and guidance as we deal with the ups and downs of life. Take “little things mean a lot”. I was reminded of this the other day when I came across a piece I had written in my memoir Aged in the Ink, published in 2009. It related a family holiday trip from Toowoomba to Mooloolaba and in it I wrote: “Dad was driving without due care and attention, but it didn’t really matter. The A-Model Ford had the road to itself, and as it chugged steadily northwards, Dad painted pictures for us. Left hand lazy on the wheel, he waved the right expansively at the fiery red of the callistemons, the honeyed gold of the banksias, the grotesque graffiti on the trunks of the scribbly gums and the

timeless symbolism of the of the grasstrees. “For us kids in the back seat, he brought the wallum alive, a clear generation before the environmentalists fought the developers for what was left of it. To the farmer in him, it was rubbish country, to the artist, a riot of fantastic forms and subtle hues. “Suddenly he stopped the car, put a telescoped hand to his right eye and made a mental note of a subtle triumph of Nature in her tantalising game with colour. ‘See that patch of bladey grass over there? What colour would you say it is?’ “I knew Dad would expect something more than the obvious, so with little confidence, I ventured ‘Sort of pale green?’ ‘Look again son. Look again. Yellow. Daffodil yellow. Colour is what you see, not what you think you ought to see’. » That advice, given some 80 years ago, has sharpened, strengthened or modified my thinking all my life. Thanks Dad. Yes, little things do mean a lot. Sadly, this is Peter Richardson’s final column. His failing eyesight has won in the end. All here at Your Time wish him well.

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18/01/2017 12:51:55 PM

OUR PEOPLE

Life goes according to plan for a busy all-rounder Physiotherapist, sculptor, author and champion of men’s health, Peter Dornan has packed the most into every day of his 73 years, writes DOT WHITTINGTON.

T

here is little that Peter Dornan hasn’t tried his hand - and excelled - at. He’s a talented sculptor, has written eight books, climbed the peaks of Africa, South America and Europe, led the charge in sports medicine and, one of his proudest achievements, made a difference to the lives of men with prostate cancer. “I like to challenge myself in any way I can,” he says. It’s hard to imagine that one person could cram so much into one life, but Peter is the ultimate time manager and plans his days, weeks, months and years meticulously so that he researches, writes, exercises, pursues his art, plays the saxophone and still manages to run his business, have family and social time and even set aside 20 minutes each day for quiet meditation. It began in 1977, when he, his wife Dimity and two young children spent six weeks touring Europe in a van. “ I came back with the decision to arrange my life like it was a business plan,” he says. Not that he had been idle before he left. In 1966, he was the only male physiotherapy graduate in his class of 36 at the University of Queensland. He started his practice in 1967 and within a week became physio to the Queensland Reds rugby team. He then worked for the Wallabies and Kangaroos among other state and national teams, was a co-founder of Sports Medicine Queensland and has attended every AGM

Peter Dornan and some of his work at his rooms at Toowong. since its inception 44 years ago. He has also written two books about sports medicine. After returning from Europe, Peter was examining a body in the UQ anatomy department when he noticed some young people in jeans. “Students didn’t wear jeans in those days so I went to see who they were,” he says. “They were sculpture students studying body form under the Russian sculptor George Virine. I met him the next day and then I sat with him every Thursday morning for the next 10 years.” Since then he has completed 75 sculptures, including a bust of Governor Brisbane cast in bronze, which now sits in City Hall near the door from Brisbane’s home in Largs. “I realised there was no bust of him in existence so after communicating with some of his relatives in Edinburgh, I had

two paintings to work from,” he says. “He looked quite different in each so I worked out from his bone structure what I imagined he would have looked like.” His work is now displayed around the country, including seven sculptures at UQ. Peter’s next great adventure was walking the Kokoda Track in 1983, a time when only 40 people a year were doing it. It led to the first of his eight books, The Silent Men. Since then he has written another three military books, two on sports injury, another on prostate cancer and incontinence (2003) and most recently, pelvic pain. Life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery in 1996, at the age of 52. This was another time for re-calibration – “cancer really cyrstallises the importance of

life” – and it was to change not only his own life but also that of thousands of other men. “I was looking for a way out and there was nobody to talk to about it,” he says. “Men didn’t talk about prostates and incontinence and cancer” His solution was to form a prostate cancer support group that did. It has three aims – to educate the community, to help men to help themselves and to raise money for research. “Guest speakers to talk about all aspects, the emotional and the physical, as well as side effects and treatment,” he says. For the first year, meetings were held every month at his Toowong rooms and there were 80 to 100 men at every meeting. Since then he has convened 240 meetings during the past 19 years and was instrumental in starting the Prostate Council of Australia and has been on the Cancer Council Queensland Board for the past five years. Peter celebrated his new lease on life in 2003 when, aged

Peter’s bronze bust of Governor Brisbane is the only one.

60, he climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa. “I was alive and I had to prove my continence and my competence and I was ready for the challenge,” he says. At 66, he climbed Mt Aconcagua in the Andes, and at 71, Mt Elberus in the Russian Caucasus Mountains. Peter was awarded the 2000 commemorative Australian sports medal for his early work as a sports physiotherapist and in 2002, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his men’s health activism. He is also riding a new wave of business success with his work in pelvic pain and has just returned from a conference on the subject in Chicago. “I’m still as busy as I ever have been,” he says. “I went back to anatomy at uni and dissected the pudendal nerve, tracing where it emerged form the back of the spine. I identified the key and worked out how it all connected so it could be treated by manipulating the spine. “My practice just took off again and is as busy as ever.” It’s hard to imagine anyone could be busier but he says it’s his wife of 50 years. Dr Dimity Dornan was the first speech therapist in Queensland and founded Hear and Say, a not-for-profit which teaches deaf babies to hear and speak, 25 years ago. And with his 74th birthday coming up in March, Peter is showing no signs of slowing. “I would like to climb another mountain. There is always something,” he says.

KEEP YOUR COOL ON THE ROAD THIS SUMMER Planning an exciting road trip this summer? Here’s a few simple hot-weather driving tips to help ensure you and your car are ready to tackle the long, hot summer days: ALWAYS CHECK THE BASICS BEFORE HEADING OFF ON A ROAD TRIP. Oil, windshield washer, tyre pressure – and don’t forget to check your spare tyre too. TYRE BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT should be checked every 10,000km, closely inspect your tread and sidewalls for cuts and abrasions, bulges, unusual wear and road damage. KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR GAUGES. If the temperature needle budges, pull over and let the car cool down.Summer means hot interiors, so consider a windscreen shield, try to drive in the cooler hours, keep plenty of water stashed away, and take frequent stops to keep you and your car cool.

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Brisbane

18/01/2017 12:50:46 PM

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE

Get out the dictionary, English is changing There is often comment about the demise of the English language but, writes DAVID PARMITER, it’s not dead. It’s simply mutating.

I

have to paraphrase the American writer Mark Twain, who said: “The report of my demise was an exaggeration”. Similarly, our language is not dead. It’s just changing, as it always has. Whether it’s for the better is for each of us to judge, and maybe comment upon. Englishman, Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784), described his literary efforts as being made not to sound the deathknell but “to arrest the decay” of the English language. Some hope … Before the Age of Enlightenment under King Charles II from 1660 onwards, there had been no definitive English dictionary. Dr Johnson’s dictionary, published in 1755, marks the beginning of what we call Modern English. It was a statement of the language as it was in his time, not what he or anyone else considered that it should be. His preface is as important as the dictionary itself; it is his own Apologia. He writes that he deplores the decadence of the English language in his time, the 18th century. No surprise that in the 21st century some of us are saying the same about our

degenerating speech and writing. He admits to knowing that his dictionary will not cure the disease of the language but he fervently hopes that it will slow its decay. I commend his preface to you, if you also deplore the slide in modern speech. Half a century earlier, in 1712, Jonathon Swift penned his Proposal. This was a plea to the English Academy to halt the decline in language standards. The Academy itself had backed the idea of “liberty of speech” where anything that is said, is said – and must be accepted.

The Royal Academy (of Art) and the Royal Society (of Science) both survived; the English Academy did not. Dr Johnson, in his preface, also acknowledged that one cannot stop the development of language at any point, but he insisted that “men still want a grammar” and so they needed a dictionary. His proposal was: “a dictionary by which the pronunciation of our language may be fixed (my emphasis), and its attainment be facilitated; by which its purity may be preserved, its use ascertained, and its duration lengthened.” Johnson’s biographer, James Boswell (1740-1795), praised him as “the man who had conferred stability on the language of his country”. Those who study language, from that of the ancient Celts through the ages of Chaucer and Shakespeare to the present age of memes, tweets and George Orwell’s Newspeak, observe and record the changes in English usage. Is that cool, or what? But that does not mean that we should welcome them. All too often in the digital age they cloud rather than clarify or ennoble our discourse. “Like,

y’know, she goes: whadevah.” And what was the “Word of the Year” for 2016, as accepted by the OED (no doubt with a groan): “post-truth”. Yeah, right! Linguistics (the study of language), lexicography (the study of words, their origins and usage) and orthography (the art of writing, including with the correct spelling) took me three years of burning the candle at both ends. The more you learn, the more you marvel at our language and its roots. So Grimm’s Law, Verner’s Law, the Great Vowel Shift from Indo-European to West Germanic, the oral “mistakes” of metanalysis, which turns “a næddre” into “an adder” (snake), and metathesis, which turns “a waps” into “a wasp” are linguistic delights to the student of language. How lucky that I kept all my uni workbooks! So, thank you for your comments on my columns each month. I trust that I have not been too pernickety. Like Dr Johnson, I have tried to describe our language as it is and not as I or anyone else thinks it should be. But I do draw the line at bad grammar and sloppy pronunciation, so just watch your language, know wot ah meeng?

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18/01/2017 12:58:41 PM

HISTORY

In a manner of speaking Queensland has produced many talented dancers, singers and actors who have succeeded at home and overseas, writes DIANA HACKER.

I

n the 20th century, clear speech, also known as good diction, was considered an asset and teachers of elocution were employed not only to round the vowels of cultured young ladies, broadcasters, singers and actors but also to help those unfortunate enough to have a lisp or stammer. Remember that wonderful film The King’s Speech? Sadly, today clear speech is seldom heard on television and radio. As a follow-on from teaching speech, drama was included in the curriculum and Brisbane has been fortunate to have had many excellent teachers of speech and drama. They have then involved themselves in small theatre groups and produced excellent entertainment. Remember the good shows produced at Theatre Royal, the first proper theatre building in Brisbane, the Cremorne, and Library Theatre? In the present era, we are able to enjoy productions at the Brisbane Arts Theatre, La Boite and Twelfth Night Theatre, as well as indulge in entertainment and the arts at QPAC, Powerhouse at New Farm, Roundhouse and Judith Wright Theatre in the old Bushells Tea building in Fortitude Valley.

Left: Daphne Roermermann. Above: Doris Waraker The latter is famous for its poetry festival. Older members of Brisbane society will remember the wonderful recitals played on the Wurlitzer organ in the Wintergarden and Regent Theatres. A few who participated in these early dramatic productions were Barbara Sisley and Daphne Roermermann nee Francis OAM who were teachers and producers. Nell Graham formed her own little theatre company at the Cremorne Theatre in 1932. Her career unfortunately was cut short by her death at 31. In 1936, Jean Trundle along with Vic Hardgrave was the instigator of the Brisbane Amateur Theatre (now Brisbane Arts Theatre), the first such company to own its own premises in Petrie Terrace.

Jean also taught speech and drama and formed her own company the JT Players. Joan Whalley, after lecturing at NIDA Sydney, became the director of the Twelfth Night Theatre and for 40 years oversaw the construction of the theatre complex at Bowen Hills. Phyllis Danker, a ballet teacher, trained Garth Welch. Gladys Moncrieff, born in Bundaberg, became known in Australia as “Our Glad”, while Molly de Gunst, also born in Bundaberg, sang mainly to overseas audiences. Carol Burns, another Queensland girl played at the Brisbane Arts Theatre and became known in the TV production Prisoner Cell Block H – the forerunner of the equally well known Prisoner. Among the writers of operas, plays, poems and music was Mary Mulry. Born in Ireland in 1863, she came to Queensland with her brother. She toured the countryside extensively and wrote novels as well as composing patriotic songs during World War I. She died in Charters Towers from severe burns. Emily Congeau was another who came to our shores as an adult. She and her husband Norman were successful business operators for many years.

Emily was a poet, librettist and philanthropist, making many donations to the Queensland Art Gallery and the Church of England. Doris Waraker was born in the country town of Gayndah to a school teacher mother and surveyor father. She began writing while still attending the Brisbane Girls Grammar School and became a successful journalist, playwright and poet. Her considerable estate was left in trust for the benefit of several charitable organisations, one of them being the Queensland Women’s Historical Association. These talented people and many others alongside posters, programs, theatre costumes, jewelry and patrons apparel are featured in the exhibition Theatre and Music and Those in the Wings at the the historic house Miegunyah, which is open to the public in Jordan Tce, Bowen Hills. Make your visit extra pleasant by enjoying a devonshire tea on the veranda; the “coolest” place in Brisbane during the summer. Diana Hacker is the Queensland Women’s Historical Association archivist at Miegunyah. Visit miegunyah.org

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18/01/2017 12:57:26 PM

READER’S STORY

Accident prone A short story by MARGARET DAKIN of the Society of Women Writer’s Queensland.

I

was serving Mrs Gardiner and I didn’t notice the children come in. Mrs G, as she is referred to in our small community, demands my full attention when she’s in the shop. She has a finger in every pie and without her the Country Women, the progress association, and the P&C would collapse. As I moved quickly gathering items from the list in my hand, I saw them waiting patiently, close to the end of the display cabinet. The little boy, the top of whose tousled head could just be seen over the counter, had his eyes fixed on the lolly jars. The girl, about two years older, was following my every move as I put the items in my customer’s basket. Her brown pigtails had been plaited painfully tight and looked somehow in keeping with her faded dress which would soon be too small. A couple of stringbags were slung over her shoulder. Finally, I was able to turn my attention to the children. “And what can I do for you today, Sir and Madam?” I asked with a small bow. The hint of a smile touched her lips as the girl solemnly handed me the note she was clutching. I was reminded momentarily of her mother, and the old

BEFORE

regret passed through me. “Well, she chose him.” I mentally berated myself for my vengeful thought. “I suppose it wasn’t Hugh’s fault the sawmill closed.” I smoothed out the paper the girl had given me and noted the items. I weighed the potatoes, sugar, flour; took a few things from the shelves and assembled them all on the counter. The children watched, wide-eyed and grave. Then I took down the account book from a shelf and opened it. For the sake of the kids I tried not to frown at the tally already recorded there. “They’re the ones who are suffering because their father’s out of work. And she, also. Why can I not put her out of my mind? But it won’t do the town any good if I also go under, will it?” I pushed to one side some of the goods assembled before me – half a pound of dried apricots, custard powder, one pound of broken biscuits – and as I wrote, looked up at the children. “What have you been doing to yourself, champ?” The little chap had a large piece of sticking plaster partly concealed by the uneven fringe of his hair and instinctively put his hand to his

forehead and touched the plaster. The girl immediately brushed his hand down. “Billy, Mum said to keep it covered. You don’t want to get germs in it.” She turned to me. “Fell out of the mango tree,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper. I winced and gave a low whistle. “Must have hurt?” Billy nodded and pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and turned his shoulder towards me. I leaned over the counter to examine the scar on the soft white skin. “That’s where he fell down the back steps and landed on the corner of the cement,” the little girl confided. “He’s rather accident prone.” “I can see that. Did you cry?” Billy turned to his sister. “Just a bit,” she said. I held out my hand for the stringbags. “I don’t know who will look after him next year when I go back to school. It’s my birthday today and I’m six. I’ll be in Grade Two after the holidays. Mum’s going to make my favourite for tea – stewed apricots and custard.” I looked at the three items I’d pushed to the side and packed them in the bags with the other groceries.

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“Well, happy birthday,” I said, and went round the counter to help settle the bags on the small, bony shoulders. “Silly old fool,” I told myself. “Wait a minute.” I took two red and white bullseyes from the jar and presented one to each of the children. “Thank you,” they said in unison and turned to go. The little girl put hers in her mouth and her cheek bulged around the lolly. Billy carefully licked his as his sister reached and took his free hand. “You forgot to tell him about the time I nearly stood on the snake,” he said. “You’d better put that in your mouth or you’ll be getting all sticky,” his sister said. I put the account book back on the shelf and sighed. “Next time they come in I must remember to bring the conversation round to snakes.”

Do you have a story to tell or memories to share? Submissions should be about 600 words and if you have a jpeg image, you can send that too. Email editor@ yourtimemagazine.com.au

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OVER55PALMLAKE.COM.AU All illustrations are artist impressions only. Images may depict fixtures, finishes and features such as furniture, homewares, refrigerators, window coverings and decorative lighting which are not supplied by Palm Lake Resort. Whilst every endeavour has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, Palm Lake Resort Beachmere cannot be held responsible for any consequences resulting from misdescription or inadvertent errors contained herein.

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18/01/2017 12:55:55 PM

FASHION

Future trends are in the safe hands of young designers This will be the year of Australian fashion labels taking on the world – for young and old, predicts KAY McMAHON.

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fter much moaning and groaning about the influx of international high-end and fast fashion labels stealing their customers, many are now saying “bring it on” and are ready to establish themselves globally. Designers such as Camilla, Alex Perry, Kym Ellery, Dion Lee and Alice McCall are all infiltrating European and Asian markets to get a slice of the fashion pie. And with this push, there is no better time to check the local talent for potential stars. The Queensland University of Technology’s 2016 fashion graduate parade in late November, showcased a new breed of local fashion designers ready to follow in the footsteps of their successful Australian predecessors. With collections highlighting a diverse range of inspiration, there was something for everyone, including those of us in the Boomer generation. Several graduate collections focused with passion on hand-embellishment from embroidery through to beading. Sofia Moreno-Marcos was a standout with her combinations of colour, texture and artisanal techniques. “This collection is a celebration to my heritage and an ode to my South American roots,” she said. “The embroidery and beading were carefully hand-made by skilled artisans in Cusco, Peru, and I used natural fibres such as sheep wool and alpaca on denim, beautifully mixed with silk organza and hand sewn details.” Courtney Foster also created colourful pieces but used her love for visual arts by creating fabric prints that mixed the abstract with the tangible. Claire Woodfield played with textile manipulation but was inspired by ’60s glamour and innovative fabrics such as neoprene to create a collection that has several pieces that are lust-worthy. Many of us will reminisce at the silhouettes and be impressed by the new,

Design by Shannon Lewis

Design by Claire Woodfield

Design by Sofia Moreno-Marcos

but wearable, look she has created. Shannon Lewis was one of the award winners on the parade night, reaping several awards from industry panels. Her collection Heart Art was an attempt to address the impact the fashion industry is having on the environment. “Heart Art began when considering sustainability in terms of providing an alternative to the throwaway culture that is increasingly prevalent within our society,” she said. “I questioned why I have certain clothes that I never throw away and continue to wear. The conclusion I reached was that these garments are dear to me; I’ve attached sentimental value to them in the form of memories.” This led her to produce a collection that has a variety of detailed and timeconsuming hand processes so the

garments are special and, in some cases, unique to the wearer. Others designs such as Ellen Chandler’s Vuja De collection embraces contemporary lifestyles while challenging many of the perceived traditions of fashion. “Taking ‘staple’ garments such as a pair of pants and re-imagining its purpose leads to the creation of new ways of thinking,” Ellen said. Her pieces push the boundaries of function and introduce a conversation on the use of proportion and the perception of beauty in a deconstructed and unique way. While many of these designers are creating new and innovative looks, the common thread is the love of fabrics, colour, hand-made details and all things wearable. If this is a glimpse of the future for

There is so much more to life

Design by Courtney Foster Queensland fashion design then we are in good hands. Remember these local designers and support their journey to future international fashion accolades; there will be something for all of us. For Styleboomer answers and ideas email styleboomer@gmail.com

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Call us on 1300 556 575 now and we will prove it. FOLLOW US 18 Romulus Street ROBERTSON www.LiveLifeVillages.com SUBSCRIBE 16 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / February 2017

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Brisbane

18/01/2017 12:55:13 PM

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18/01/2017 1:01:13 PM

MOTORING

Hats off and pay your respects to the historic Jeep THE humble Jeep is now 75 years old. BRUCE McMAHON pays his respects to a time-honoured icon of the automotive world.

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t’s a machine which has lasted the distance, conquered all manner of territory and spawned 101 imitators. First, an American military vehicle, the Willys Jeep, also created a civilian craze for getting out into the woods on wheels rather than horseback. It is an icon and trendsetter in the automotive world. Along that 75-year trail, the business of Jeep expanded from being a single, rudimentary model to a line-up of what became known as Sports Utility Vehicles. And just as the first Land Rover was inspired by the original Jeep, the first Range Rover was inspired by the Jeep Wagoneer. Other manufacturers have followed and some have produced half-decent rivals to the point now where SUVs will mostly likely outsell passenger cars on the Australian market this year.

drive Wranglers. The back seat can be hard to access for older folk, get warmish on a summer day, and have limited luggage space. But this isn’t the vehicle for a family holiday, more for a

And so while a Jeep Wrangler, a direct descendant of the wartime Jeep, may not be everyone’s cup of coffee, it is right and proper that it be saluted at every opportunity. To mark the 75th anniversary, Jeep tarted up some special editions for their model line-up, most of it cosmetic with badges and special body colours – but not a deal has changed with the basic concept over the years.

There’s still that long-nosed, bob-tailed Wrangler style, seven-slot grille and round headlights, traditional wheel arches and tailgate that are recognised around the world. There are hard and soft tops, two doors and a high-riding, short wheelbase stance from about $41,000. Inside is easy-care, flat surfaces and good driving position, except for a cramped driver’s footwell on right-hand

“A Wrangler, direct descendant of the wartime Jeep, may not be everyone’s cup of coffee.” couple of adventurers of any age. It’s a vehicle for weekend outings to the bush or beach, knowing the Jeep, slipped into four-wheel drive, will conquer most off-road obstacles with ease. There’s plenty of V6 power – and shifted manually the optional auto transmission is a willing worker – for belting through traffic, down the

highway or through the creeks. Best to be judicious with that throttle out on the main road though. That short wheelbase and suspension designed for off-road abilities can have the Jeep Wrangler’s rear end skittling a bit over bent and broken bitumen; the steering feel is pretty light too. Yet the Jeep is still pretty matchless at slower speeds, climbing and crawling and splashing where many fourwheel drives would not dare tread. So the Wrangler is perhaps best here for mature-age drivers as a second vehicle, ducking down to the shops, or as the weekender for taking grandkids camping (with a trailer maybe), or heading off for a spot of bird watching or photographic expedition into the wilds. But drive one or not, understand it or not, the Jeep Wrangler will always deserve respect.

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GRAND OPENING SUCCESS After years of planning and months in construction so far, Palm Lake Resort CooroyNoosa recently held a very successful grand opening event to celebrate the completion of the Pavilion Wellness and Recreational Centre – the undisputed jewel in the resort’s crown. The event doubled as a gala house-warming party for those first residents who excitedly moved into the resort in November. Among the hundreds of visitors and invited guests on the day (including Palm Lake Group founder Walter Elliott, director Scott Elliott and the company’s management team), Noosa Shire mayor Tony Wellington was on hand to officiate the opening. “Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa is one of the more substantial developments that this shire will see in coming years,” Tony says. “This master-planned residential lifestyle resort is both an addition to the Cooroy township and a sub-community in its own right.

the Cooroy Butter Factory, the festivals and events centred here, and perhaps join one of the many community organisations this wonderful town has to offer – groups like the car club, woodworking groups, genealogical society, community garden and so many more.” Stilt walkers, a balloon artist, musical entertainment, local Surf Lifesavers, free

“We councillors had a tour of the facility a few weeks ago when it was under construction and I must say that we were all quite literally gobsmacked at the planning and thought that has gone into its design. “From the state-of-the-art gym to the indoor bowling facility and the big-screen cinema, it is clear that no-one is going to feel a lack of

recreational opportunities when they choose to live here.” Cr Wellington says that while the resort itself offers so much, the greater Cooroy area would prove to be an additional asset to Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa residents. “No doubt they will also enjoy the town’s state-of-the-art library, the art exhibitions at

“No-one is going to feel a lack of recreational opportunities when they choose to live here.” massages and, of course, tours of the stunning display homes and facilities had guests in awe – with many putting deposits down on their dream home!

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Over 55s & Lifestyle Resorts

18/01/2017 12:59:52 PM

GARDENING

Try a bit of pot luck With more of us downsizing to retirement homes and apartments, GARDENEZI recommends it’s time to go potty.

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ecently I was asked to look at a cumquat tree that for three years had been growing in a pot quite happily and producing good fruit. Then, suddenly, the fruit and leaves began to drop and the branch tips to darken – the sinister signs of root disease. My advice was to put the poor thing out of its misery, give it a decent burial and buy a new one. There ARE treatments that might have worked but really, to the average householder they are not worth the work and expense. Better to start again – but with greater awareness that potted plants are like pets and need a certain amount of care and grooming. Now that more of us live in apartments, townhouses and retirement communities our gardening focus has shifted to creating small gardens using pots and other containers.

Inside this terracotta pot is a lighter plastic pot which can be lifted out for repotting, making handling of this large shrub much easier. The plastic pot also retains water better than terracotta which is very porous.

If you want to do this successfully you need to follow these basic rules: The RIGHT pot. The RIGHT mix. The RIGHT regime. Plastic and glazed earthenware pots retain water better than terracotta containers and are easier to keep clean. Drainage holes are essential, so buy self-watering pots or those with plenty of holes in the bottom – usually the more expensive the pot, the better the drainage. A pot should be deep enough and wide enough to contain the whole root system, with the top of the growing mix about 2.4 cm below the pot rim for small pots and 4 cm for large pots. Pots with solid bases that curve outwards to a wider top offer great stability. Pots that are square, rounded or oblong with straight sides are easier for re-potting - it’s very difficult to remove plants and replace mix in tall, narrow, urn-shaped pots, or any pots where the top is considerably narrower than the base. If you don’t like plastic pots a good solution is to place them inside decorative terracotta or ceramic containers – the plant and lightweight plastic pot can be easily removed and re-potted when required; the decorative outer container can be cleaned… but put some crocking in the base to ensure good drainage. The next step is to choose the right potting mix, one that will sustain the plant in good health for a long time. Don’t go for the cheapest. There’s no sense in putting a $20 plant into a $2 mix. Look for one that has the Nursery Industry standard “ticks” on the bag. Extras such as water-retaining and fertilising granules are a bonus but more important are the basic ingredients which should consist of some peat moss and well-composted forest material. A good mix should be dark and crumbly to the touch without large,

petal drop, darkening of stems and twigs, “mushiness” of stems, browning or yellowing of leaves and wilting. Treatment is to first check that moisture is adequate. It may be that the mix is so poor it is either repelling water or allowing it to run through too fast. If this isn’t the problem remove the plant, chuck out the existing mix, wash the pot thoroughly to get rid of pathogens and refill with a good mix. If you use saucers drain and clean them weekly. Top up or change the potting mix once a year, twice a year with small pots. More on plants in pots at gardenezi.com

A wall container like this needs to be able to hold water adequately yet still drain freely… small pebbles or crocking (broken up old pots) will improve drainage. coarse bits of twig or bark or chip. Be prepared to pay $7-$10 a 25 litre bag for a standard product; more for specialist mixes such as those for orchids or seedlings. Cheap mixes will “slump” quickly in the pot, repel rather than hold water and possibly contain ingredients harmful to sensitive plant roots – or even to humans! Potted plants need to be regularly but not overly watered. Check with your finger – if the mix is too wet and sloppy then drain the pot; if it’s too dry then water at once. Ideally the mix should always be just nicely moist. Feed regularly with liquid or granular fertiliser, following the instructions on the packet for potted plants. Over-feeding loads the mix with unwanted salts and nutrients and can kill plants stone dead. This is the most common reason why potted plants, both indoor and outdoor, don’t thrive. Fortunately container-grown plants very quickly show if they are in trouble. Symptoms may be excessive leaf and

SHOW OF BEGONIAS THE largest and only show of begonias in Queensland will this year have the theme A Burst of Colour. The Queensland Begonia Society’s annual show will be held one-day only at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens auditorium on Saturday, March 4, 9am-4pm. Admission is $4. It will feature many outstanding hybrids created by keen begonia growers from Queensland, other Australian States and internationally. Begonias are favourites with many gardeners who love the colourful and varied foliage and flowers of these spectacular plants. A feature of the show will be a demonstration workshop by society president and experienced grower, Carmel Browne, 11.30am. Plants will be for sale and refreshments available. Email: rohan1@aapt.net.au or call 3353 1131

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WELLBEING

Best reward for effort is not needing a reward You exercise but it’s still difficult to lose the kilograms. MICHELLE LOCH explains our brain’s reward system.

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inally, the answer we’ve been looking for – to lose weight, you have to stop “exercising” and start having fun! Ok, so it’s not that straightforward but here’s the secret. Your brain spends most of its time either avoiding threat and/or risk, or seeking reward or pleasure. That’s what it is designed to do, and these two activities ensure our survival as a species. Avoiding threat is our default system (for example, running away from sabre-toothed tigers) and seeking reward keeps us going until the next threat comes along (for example, eating food). Research in 2014, found that: “Engaging in a physical activity seems to trigger the search for reward when individuals perceive it as exercise but not when they perceive it as fun.” In other words, when we think we have put in a big effort to do something we have to do or should do, we feel a need to reward ourselves for that effort. On the other hand, when we are just doing something fun for ourselves, like having a game of tennis or walking the dog, we are less likely to seek extreme or luxurious reward. Your brain non-consciously suggests the reward-seeking behaviour based on

the messages it is being given by your reason for the physical activity: “OK brain...I have to do this, so let’s make sure I get a bit of an extra reward today for the effort I am making!” In my experience, this is not limited to physical exercise. If I have put in a big day sorting out the junk in my cupboards (not physical, but definitely mentally taxing!), I find myself allowing that extra piece of chocolate or shortbread biscuit because “I deserve it”. Keeping control of the tendency to self-reward is about two things. Firstly, your capacity to be present to the internal voices encouraging you and suggesting (and excusing) the behaviour, and also about the way you frame or think about the activity you are engaging in that is tiring you out. If you consider exercise to be an effort or an inconvenience, a should do or a have to do, there is a chance you will later over-indulge and eliminate the positive caloric effect of the activity. If you start to become more curious and aware of the thinking patterns and the relationship between effort and reward, you can be in more of a mindset to control the follow-on behaviour.

A number of studies have shown that when we get curious about our behaviour and thinking, and accept it for what it is – “this craving is just my body seeking a reward for the effort I have just put in” – then we are more able to reframe and control the behaviour. You might, for example, change your thinking to “the payoff for the effort I have just put in is to stay healthy and at a comfortable weight, so I will distract myself and ignore that craving.” MY THREE TIPS: 1. Practise mindful activity – always be conscious of what you are doing and why you are doing it and how it is making you feel. 2. If you start to see the effort-reward pattern in your behaviour, then move to doing exercise you consider fun or get others involved and be more social in your physical health activity 3. Be kind to yourself – this is a natural response, so take some time to refocus your attention on habits and thinking that will serve you better in the long run. Michelle Loch is an expert in the neuroscience of human motivation, author and director of Rewired Leadership. Visit michelleloch.com

WALK TOWARDS active ageing Qualified fitness Leader, Marjie Andrews, who developed the concept of “active ageing” on the Sunshine Coast, invites other “mature age citizens” to join her walking for fitness, fun and friendship combining riverside walks with exercise interludes. “Few activities exemplify the joy of living as much as healthy exercise in the fresh air at your own pace,” she says. “It’s a friendly, non-competitive environment. Lively legs are the pillars of support on which to build a healthy upper body.” Anyone with leg injuries or ailments, who can only comfortably walk for short distances, benefit from the aerobic exercise interludes of toning, stretching, resistance, and light dumbbell routines. Principal of Aerobics Sunshine Coast for 27 years, Marjie also includes Tai Chi for arthritis management and falls prevention in the interludes. After the sessions, it’s time to adjourn to a nearby coffee shop for social time. Marjie’s walking group meets at the Cod Hole boat ramp carpark in Bradman Ave, at 9am Mondays and Tuesdays. Sessions resume February 13. Call Marjie 5448 4229

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HEALTH

Herbs help when you are feeling it on the liver If you want to get a clean start to the new year without the burden of a long detox, TRUDY KITHER suggests trying herbs to restore liver function.

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ood and drink, routinely ingested in the mouth and digested in the stomach would actually be poisonous for us if we injected it directly into our blood stream – that’s why we need a healthy functioning liver, one of the body’s most important organs. A liver which is not functioning correctly results in digestive problems such as acid reflux, indigestion, poor protein or fat digestion, bloating, pain, sluggishness, low bile production and skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and skin rashes. In addition, symptoms of an overburdened or sluggish liver will result in emotional problems such as anger, low tolerance, mood swings, depression, anxiety, inability to cope or a “wired but tired” feeling. As well as the food and drink we consume daily, the environment of the body needs to be kept in good working order. Low thyroid or metabolic disorder can also contribute to overburdening the liver, which is called liver congestion or toxic liver. The gall bladder works in conjunction with the liver to ensure the organ works as efficiently as possible. So, when

It is an excellent herb to use for irritable bowel syndrome, jaundice, gout, arthritis, high cholesterol and conditions that require a diuretic action such as clearing the complexion and itchy skin. It is invaluable for the long-term prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, however is contraindicated in people with gall bladder obstructions. St Mary’s Thistle an antioxidant, liver protective and restorative, it increases the volume of secretion of bile by the liver and the solids secreted. Great for treating abnormal liver function, fatty liver, liver damage from alcohol, chemical drugs and toxic overload from chemical pollutants (environmental, food and drink). Excellent for skin conditions that involve liver dysfunction, preventing the formation of gallstones, gall bladder problems, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, belching, upper abdominal pain and the experience of feeling full.

treating and cleansing the liver, the gall bladder should often be included too, unless there are concurrent adverse health conditions with the gall bladder. Herbs that are wonderful for cleansing the liver and gall bladder without the side effects of pharmaceuticals, are as follows: Dandelion Root restores the action of the liver and bile function, helping to relieve intestinal boating, flatulence, loss of appetite, constipation and fluid retention. It is a bitter tonic, mild laxative and also anti-rheumatic. However, it is contraindicated in people sensitive to the Ragweed species. Globe Artichoke is a liver protective, restorative and diuretic. It helps to increase bile flow and reduce associated symptoms such as constipation, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, flatulence, belching and an intolerance to fat consumption.

Bupleurum a liver protective and anti-inflammatory, it increases the excretion of toxins via the sweat glands. Excellent for inflammatory problems, poor liver function due to overburdens, toxins and even conditions such as the flu, common cold and feverish conditions. It regulates and restores gastrointestinal and liver function, liver enlargement, gastric pain or ulcer development and helps to lower cholesterol. Schizandra is an antioxidant, liver protective, tonic for the nerves and adapts to the body’s immediate requirements whilst also being a mild antidepressant. Improves the detoxifying capacity of the liver and acute or chronic liver diseases including hepatitis. Highly recommended for poor liver function, chemical liver damage, spontaneous or night sweats, chronic cough and asthma. It is however, contraindicated in pregnancy, the early stages of cough, rash or excessive heat patterns in the body. Please keep in mind that some herbs are contraindicated for important health reasons so they should only be taken on advice from a registered naturopath. Visit naturestemple.net or call naturopath Trudy Kither, 0408 900 596.

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February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 23

18/01/2017 1:12:08 PM

NEWS

Research finds a little care extends life

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randparents who care for their grandchildren live up to five years longer than those who don’t, according to new research from Edith Cowan University. The research found that half of the grandparents who provided occasional care for their grandchildren or other members of the community lived for about five additional years after first being interviewed for the research. In contrast, half of the grandparents who did not provide childcare died within the first five years after the initial interview. Dr David Coall from ECU’s School of Medical and Health Sciences said it showed caregiving helped improve longevity among older people. “This research shows the positive link between caregiving and a longer lifespan in older people however we can only speculate as to why,” he said. “Previous research points to helping behaviour as a stress buffer which involves, for example, the hormone oxytocin which can strengthen bonding

between people. This link could be a mechanism deeply rooted in our evolutionary past when help with childcare was crucial for the survival of the human species.” He said the research showed the benefits of caring also extended beyond grandchildren. Older people who cared for their own adult children or other members of the community showed the same increase in longevity. However there can be too much of a good thing. Other research conducted by Dr Coall’s group at ECU has found negative physical and mental health impacts among

grandparents who care fulltime for their grandchildren. Dr Coall said there was no magic bullet amount of caregiving to boost longevity “It is very important that every individual decides for themselves what ‘moderate amounts of help’ means,” he said. “As long as you do not feel stressed about the intensity of help you provide you may be doing something good for others as well as for yourself.” The study analysed data collected as part of the longitudinal Berlin Aging Study, collected from more than 500 people aged between 70 and 103 years of age between 1990 and 2009.

ARE WE THERE YET? SO just how much do you need in the back to settle into a comfortable retirement – and what’s your definition of comfortable. According to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia it costs $59,000 a year for couples and $43,000 a year for singles. Comfortable allows for an annual holiday in Australia, eating out regularly, owning a reasonable car, bottled wine, good clothes and regular haircuts. You can also have private health insurance, replace your kitchen and bathroom over 20 years, own a range of electronic equipment and have regular leisure activities.

This means having $640,000 saved at retirement for a couple and $545,000 for a single, despite some financial planners suggesting you need $1 million in retirement – which only about 1 per cent of Australians have in super (probably the politicians). If you are retiring on the age pension, your holiday will be a day trip in your own city, cheap takeaways, not car as repairs will be too expensive, drinking home brew, getting a friend to cut your hair. There will be no private health insurance, no budget to fix the leaking roof and if you’re lucky, the heater can go on for a couple of days in the middle of winter. Certainly no aircon. Leisure might be a trip to the cinema on cheap Tuesdays.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER IT was a year of extreme weather, wetter than average overall, and the fourthwarmest on record for Australia, according to the weather bureau’s Annual Climate Statement. Assistant director of climate information services, Neil Plummer, said 2016 had

been an eventful year with significant climate drivers affecting the country’s weather. The year started off warm and dry and a nationwide heatwave from late February to mid-March. This broke down in May and was followed by record wet May to September. Widespread, drought-

breaking rains led to flooding in multiple states. Flooding occurred from June to September in western, central and southern Queensland following the State’s second-wettest winter on record. For Australia as a whole, annual rainfall was 17 per cent above average.

Alzheimer’s Queensland provide friendly and supportive aged care services. Alzheimer’s Queensland is your local provider offering 24-hour specialist aged care for over 30 years. Families come to us for our dementia skills, experience and knowledge. We can provide you with the care and support you need and want through our Dementia Care Hub, seven Multiservice Centres and three Aged Care Homes. Alzheimer’s Queensland’s key services available to you include: • 24-hour Helpline 1800 639 331 • 24-hour, 7days/week community respite throughout Southeast QLD • Residential care in Windsor, Paddington and Upper Mount Gravatt • CDC Home Care Packages • Wellness services through our allied health team • Statewide carer support groups • Dementia design advice • Dementia workshops

For further information call: 1800 639 331 or visit www.alzheimersonline.org 24 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / February 2017

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Brisbane

18/01/2017 1:11:33 PM

RETIREMENT LIVING

Lynne shares her love of life with her new community

RECALIBRATE AND LIVE THE DREAM IN 2017 A New Year often heralds change – to some it might be just some new resolutions but for others it is a time to re-evaluate life and look at where you’re heading, what you want to achieve and how you can improve the quality of life. If you have been thinking about travelling more, maybe an annual cruise or a caravan trip around Australia, spending less time in the garden or on housework, having more social time with like-minded people or all of the above, perhaps it is time to put Nature’s Edge Buderim on your shopping list. Speak to anyone who has moved into this delightful over 50s community and you will find them overjoyed with their

new life. Here are just some of the reasons people move into Nature’s Edge Buderim. Imagine living in a street where everyone has the same interests, where most of your neighbours are also retired and there are no rentals. Imagine a community where your home is safe, your lawns are looked after while you’re away and you return from holiday to find your home exactly as you left it. Imagine having your own heated pool, bowling green, tennis court, bar, spa, cinema, library lounge, workshop, massage room, Teppanyaki bar, semi-commercial kitchen that you can use whenever you want.

Imagine if you finally retired and were able to live in the rainforest, with native birds, rainforest and then imagine it was also affordable. Imagine living in a community where every day is a Saturday and feels like you are on holidays. Why would you live anywhere else? With no entry or exit fees, no stamp duty and no rentals unlike other retirement models, it means that should you choose to sell your home you will keep all capital gain. With home prices starting at only $429,000 for two bedrooms plus multi-purpose room and lockup garage, the dream is affordable. Call 1800 218 898 or email info@naturesedgebuderim.com.au

LIFESTYLE PRECINCT A WINNER WITH HALCYON RESIDENTS

F

rom directing stage plays to being a shoulder to lean on within Forest Lake’s The Terraces retirement community, Lynne Wright has been a nurturing and guiding figure to many people throughout her life. Starting out in the entertainment industry at the age of 16, Lynne worked on countless productions with respected theatre groups for five decades. From touring Australia on large shows to working with Queensland Theatre Company and La Boite, Lynne has an impressive resume. “I’ve been really lucky because I’ve had huge opportunities, travelling around, visiting cities, seeing the country. It’s amazing,” she says. But it’s her compassion for

others and celebration of connection that comes across as Lynne’s true calling. “Moving to a retirement village was a difficult transition to make,” Lynne said. “What I was looking for was that intense friendship and close proximity.” Her love for people means Lynne sees the best in everyone she meets and wherever she has gone in life, celebration has followed. Lynne, along with her talented social committee, now organises many social events for residents of The Terraces retirement village, from cocktail dinners and a weekly coffee club to live concerts and trivia nights. She loves that everyone is willing to join in the fun. Call 1800 550 550 or visit retirementbylendlease.com.au

THE record run of sales continues at Halcyon Glades over 50s lifestyle community in Caboolture North, following the opening of the community’s 5-star Lifestyle and Recreational Precinct. Project director Marie Cone said the community’s expansive recreational facilities and lifestyle amenities were the icing on the cake for purchasers looking to upgrade their lifestyle opportunities. “Caravan and Boat storage, gated security and CCTV cameras allows for lock and go living which appeals to over 50s downsizers who love to travel,” she said. The architecturally stunning Recreation Club features an indoor gym, library and cinema, craft room, fireplace, dance floor, kitchen with bar, function space and additional barbecue and outdoor gathering spaces.

The Lifestyle and Recreational Precinct has flood-lit tennis and pickleball courts, a 25m heated swimming pool and spa, championship bowling green, communal veggie and herb gardens and a fire-pit. Purpose designed to be the social and physical hub of the community, the Rec Club has become a hive of activity with special interest groups utilising the facilities and the Halcyon Happy Hour. With more than 150 home

owners now living in the community and more moving in every week, special interest groups are rapidly being formed with more 30 different options to choose from arts and craft to Zumba. Priced from $361,000$515,000, the latest release of superior energy-rated homes, showcases a range of Halcyon’s favourite designs and introduces the affordable double-garage home, the Allara. Cleverly designed and the newest addition to the suite of Halcyon homes, The Allara brings to life the best of architectural and design principles. It has two bedrooms plus study, the master with an ensuite, and generous outdoor living areas. Even the study enjoys access to an outdoor courtyard . Call 1800 814 567 or visit lifebeginsathalcyon.com.au

New Farm Nash Theatre Inc. 2017 Laughter is the Best Medicine A LUX RADIO PRODUCTION

The Philadelphia Story By Philip Barry & Directed by Sharon White

February 24 to March 18 BOOKINGS: www.nashtheatre.com | 3379 4775 Our theatre is in the Brunswick Room located at Merthyr Road Uniting Church, 52 Merthyr Rd, New Farm 4005. Ample street parking available.

Brisbane

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February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 25

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CHRIS KEEBLE - A FISH OUT A WATER PRODUCTION

WHAT’S ON

COMEDY LAUNCHES SUNNYBANK THEATRE GROUP’S SEASON

The Janis Joplin Story

Blues, soul & a good dose of pure acid bohemian vintage rock! Featuring Cry Baby, Move Over, Me and Bobby McGee, Piece of My Heart and many more.

SAT 18 FEB, 8PM REDLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE - CONCERT HALL

TICKETS: $38 - $45 BOOKINGS: 3829 8131 or www.rpac.com.au* Presented by Redland Performing Arts Centre *Booking fees: $3 per ticket online; $4.10 per transaction by phone

and band

SUNNYBANK Theatre Group debuts its 2017 season with playwright Elizabeth Coleman’s Australian comedy Secret Bridesmaids’ Business. Cast and crew are rehearsing three times a week to bring this delightful show and director Leonie Walsh is confident audiences will be thrilled with the results. “The cast are delightful, talented people working hard to bring their characters to life,” she said. She isw supported by STG’s president Pam Cooper, production manager June Gemmell and lighting and sound designer David Gemmell. “These people are terrifically artistic and keen to see the theatre perform stellar work,” Ms Walsh said. In true Australian style, Secret Bridesmaids’ Business is for mature audiences.

It’s a funny play about serious issues such as truth, loyalty, denial, sex, love, the meaning of marriage, female friendship and the plight of Modern Woman with a biological clock that just won’t keep up with the times. It’s the night before Meg Bacon’s wedding. She’s waited 33 years for this and she knows she’s going to love every moment. She has gathered her mum and her bridesmaids together for one last night of girlie fun. While the bride prepares for the biggest day of her life and her mum Colleen fusses over ribbons and shoe fabrics, Meg’s bridesmaids, Lucy and Angela, stumble upon some information that has the potential to shatter Meg’s dream. Should they tell or not tell? Hilarious yet painful push and pull follows and Lucy and Angela discover that sometimes there is no right answer when it comes to doing what’s best for your friend. The box office opens this weekend. Performance dates are Fridays February 3 and 17 at 8pm; Saturdays February 4, 11 and 18, at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, February 12, 2pm. Book online at stg.org.au or phone the theatre 3345 3964. Get in early and enjoy a fun-filled evening at Sunnybank Theatre.

JOPLIN “ROCKUMENTARY” A PEARLER AT REDLAND

FOR the first time in Australia, a production about a rock legend whose individuality became a hallmark that shocked and inspired a generation — to her intimate friends she was known as

Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Saturday, 11 March All tickets $25.00

Friday, 17 March Tickets $35.00 – $75.00

Award-winning entertainer John McSweeney returns in 2017 with his band and special guest Dennis Knight

Explore the glittering cultural jewels of Venice and Vienna in an evening of glorious music including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Vilja from Lehár’s The Merry Widow

Ipswichciviccentre.com.au

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WHAT’S ON Pearl. To her public she was Janis Joplin, the greatest female singer in the history of rock and roll. Pearl – The Janis Joplin Story is a jazz, blues and bohemian rock musical presentation, celebrating a woman who exploded on to the music scene and became the queen of rock ‘n’ roll and mother of thrift shop vintage funk. Joplin continually left audiences speechless with hits like Cry Baby, Me and Bobby McGee, Piece of My Heart, Move Over and many more. The show pays homage to the legacy of a captivating woman, who stunned fans with her extraordinary performances and shattered stereotypes, leaving a life-long impression in the rock ‘n’ roll world. Starring Australian blues triple Chain Award winner Liza Ohlback, the show delivers in words and music the short but spectacular life of Joplin, an extraordinary story interwoven with 20 hit songs that shaped an era when rules were broken. This “rockumentary” is at Redland Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, February 18, 8pm. Tickets adults $45, seniors/pensioners $42, groups of 10+ $40. Bookings call RPAC box office 3829 8131 or visit rpac.com.au. Booking fees are $4.10 per transaction by phone and $3 a ticket online.

Brisbane

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IPSWICH SPELLS ENTERTAINMENT FROM ROCK TO THE CLASSICS

John McSweeney IPSWICH Civic Centre has entertainment covered next month, with top rock followed by the glorious classics. John McSweeney returns with his band and special guest Dennis Knight. Loved by country music fans around Australia, McSweeney is an all-round entertainer and has appeared with major acts including Charlie Pride; Slim Whitman; Peter, Paul and Mary; Daniel O’Donnell; Jon English and Marcia Hynes. His reputation is further enhanced by his ability to play not only guitar but also saxophone, clarinet, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and drums. Dennis Knight is dedicated to rock ‘n’ roll. This passion has led to working with some of the biggest names in history including Roy Orbison, The Big Bopper,

Johnny O’Keefe (JO’K), and the Bee Gees. In the late ‘60s, Dennis recorded Every Breath I Take with the backing of the Bee Gees which led to two Gold albums for sales in excess of 80,000 and winning the Queensland Entertainer Of The Year award five times in a row. Book now for Saturday, March 11 at 1pm. All tickets $25. If classical music is more your style, don’t miss Venice to Vienna. Queensland Symphony Orchestra leads an exploration of the glittering cultural jewels of Venice and Vienna in an evening of glorious music including waltzes, polkas and a roll-call of all-time favourite orchestral work. Join Queensland’s largest performing arts company as it powers through Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Strauss’ famous

Czardas from Die Fledermaus, and Vilja from Lehár’s The Merry Widow. Conducted by Nathan Aspinall and featuring soprano Judith Molnar, QSO is renowned for its breathtaking performances of classical and modern compositions that engage audiences of all musical tastes, interests and ages. Gallery Club Dining is available for this performance and includes an exclusive 2-course dinner delivered above the lobby on the private gallery level, plus a ticket to the performance of the evening. With only 30 seats available, it’s a rare experience. Friday, March 17, at 7.30pm. Tickets $40, concessions $35. Visit ipswichciviccentre.com.au or call 3810 6100.

Venice to Vienna with Queensland Symphony Orchestra

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WHAT’S ON

OPERA IN THE OLD RESERVOIRS CELEBRATES A DECADE

THE Underground Opera Company (UOC) launches its 10th anniversary year this month, with West End to Broadway at Brisbane’s historic Spring Hill Reservoirs. The UOC provides “extraordinary performances in breathtaking spaces”. The new season themed The Movie Musicals features solo, duet and ensemble renditions of showstoppers from the golden

years of Hollywood, to the modern musical blockbusters. UOC Director Bruce Edwards said he launched West End to Broadway last year in the 150-year-old Spring Hill Reservoirs, to a strong response from audiences. A stellar cast includes Dale Pengelly with theatre credits Hot Shoe Shuffle (London’s West End), Chicago (Asian Tour), Singin’ in the Rain (Singapore,

FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE AND DANCE Hong Kong), while he understudied Todd McKenney in The Boy From Oz (Australian Tour). “Just like all our cast members, Dale is of world class stature. He’s a fantastic addition to the cast, while contributing to some of the great choreographed moments,” Mr Edwards said. Mr Pengelly will be joined by Lionel Theunissen (Opera Q; Gateway Theatre Productions), Louise Dorsman (Opera Q; Victorian Opera), and Pia Frangiosa makes her UOC debut, having performed previously with the Queensland Conservatorium and Wax Lyrical Productions. Brendan Murtagh will accompany on piano. West End to Broadway is at The Spring Hill Reservoir, Brisbane February 10-26, or if you fancy a different setting, head to the Sunshine Coast where it will be at the Bli Bli Castle from February 3-5. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.com.au or visit undergroundopera.com.au

Alice Owen (left) and BeverleyAnne Jansen in Moments of Self. AT 70, Alice Owen is still dancing, still learning and still loving it all. “It’s never too late,” she says. “I started dance therapy training in 1991 when I was 44 and it took about six to seven years because of the way it was structured. I just kept going.” She is among the dancers, aged 26 to 70 years, who will bring a diverse range of cultural, creative and life experiences to a performance that celebrates creativity and reflects on life through dance. Tiina Alinen presents Moments of Self which explores place, identity and ageing. With inter-generational exchange at the heart of her

artistic practice, Alinen has created a community dance performance that seeks to invite audiences to look at ageing through new eyes. She has engaged with a group of Brisbane residents who she said inspire her through the way they live life. The group has been dancing together since 2014. Ms Alinen said she was trying to capture a moment of their true self in a place that inspires them. The project has embraced gender and life experience and highlights the diverse beauty of Brisbane and its people. Alice, who says she always thought not being able to communicate would be the worst thing that could happen to her, has used her artistic passion and skills as a speech therapist for the past 50 years. “The thing about the disability alternative within the field is that everyone is really different so it’s not like dishing out menus. I have been working with the disabled for 22 years now. “Creative story-telling and

COMING SOON TO SUNNYBANK THEATRE

SECRET BRIDESMAIDS

ELIZABETH COLEMAN

BUSINESS

director L LEONIE WALSH in association with The Cameron Creswell Agency Pty Ltd

Season runs from 3 - 18 February Ticket prices range from $18 to $28 Sunnybank Theatre Group. Cnr Mains and Beenleigh Rds, Sunnybank

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN ONLINE OR PHONE SEASON WILL SELL OUT - BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW 28 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / February 2017

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www www.stg.org.au w.sstg.org.aau Phone Box Office 3345 3964 Brisbane

18/01/2017 1:02:09 PM

WHAT’S ON dance therapy is the best way to go. It’s so rewarding.” Alice worked for the NSW health department and then worked overseas for more than two years, which she enjoyed because she was in a special unit for children with speech disabilities. “That put me right there in the hot seat,” she says. “I used dance, drama and music, so our end of year concerts were brilliant. Transdisciplinary teaching in that school was wonderful.” Her love for dance from a young age is a fire that continues to burn in her everyday life. “Dance uses every part of you and teaches you so much,” she says. “We have to all dance for the sheer joy and love of it.” View ageing with fresh eyes in Moments of Self, Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC) at 102 Main St, Kangaroo Point, on Friday, February 3 at 7pm and Saturday 4, at 2pm. Tickets at the door $10 or four for $30. Visit pozible.com/ project/tiina-alinen-momentsof-self or tiinaalinen.com.au

VALENTINE’S NIGHT OUT WITH THE POPS

QUEENSLAND Pops Orchestra’s first performance of 2017 is a Big Band concert at one of Brisbane’s oldest musical venues – the legendary Tivoli Theatre in Fortitude Valley. Roll up for a Valentine’s Night Out of great music steeped in atmosphere and nostalgia on Saturday, February 11, at 7.30pm. Led by maestro Patrick Pickett, the Big Band will play great swing hits by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and other greats. Share the vibe of this centuries-old celebration of love and affection and soak up the atmosphere. Latin rhythms will be performed by special artist and one of Australia’s top entertainment talents, Adam Lopez. He is the two-time

Guinness world record holder for singing the highest vocal note by a male singer (C Sharp in the 8th Octave, a semi-tone higher than a grand piano). Deborah O’Toole is a regular performer in front of a big band having entertained troops on deployment in Iraq, East Timor, Bougainville, and the Solomon Islands. She joined the Australian Army Band as lead vocalist in 2002 and has since performed in all capital cities and many regional towns around Australia as well as at the MCG, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli. Arrive at 6pm for a free swing dance lesson with instructors from Corner Pocket Swing, and take to the dance floor, which has been reserved for guests to swing, dance and tango, with confidence. The Tivoli is at 52 Costin St, Fortitude Valley. Doors open 6.30pm for bar and snacks. Tickets $64 at ticketmaster. com.au or call 136 100.

JAZZ SINGER TURNS CHALLENGE INTO TRIUMPH RAISING a son with cerebral palsy has given jazz singer Robyn Brown a life of heartwrenching challenges and rewards and with it, a new strength to seize the day. The silky-voiced singer has performed regularly at jazz clubs and festivals around the country, released her first CD, toured with international guitarist Libor Smoldas, organised a regular jazz event on the Sunshine Coast and become a highly-respected singer on the Queensland jazz scene. Now she is releasing her second album of vintage jazz and blues songs accompanied by Queensland’s finest jazz instrumentalists. A self-described storyteller, Robyn Brown has a voice that echoes the sass and sultriness of Diana Krall, but also the wholeheartedness of Eva Cassidy. Wholehearted, because it has been a long, emotional road to get to this point. Her eldest son Joel requires extensive care and for a long time, musical aspirations had to be shelved.

But now that he is grown up, Joel’s lust for life is proving to an inspiration to his mother. Her new 12-track album is a collection of elegant, moody and upbeat favourites. Inspired by early jazz singers, Robyn puts her own soulful stamp on the music with her heartfelt interpretations. She is supported by Sean Flynn on guitar, Marnix van Bruggenon piano, Peter Walters on double bass and Max Sportelli on drums. The album will be launched at Brisbane Jazz Club at 1 Annie St, Kangaroo Point on Saturday February 18, at 7pm. Tickets are $25, bookings brisbanejazzclub.com.au

FEBRUARY PROMOTIONS Thursday 9th February 10.15am-12.00 noon-1.00pm. 10 x$300 Trebles, 4 x $500 Trebles, 1 x $1,000 Full House, 2 x $2,000 Trebles + Bonus $5,000 n Calls

Sunday 19th February 1.15pm-2.50pm. Members Giveaway Draws. 13 x$300 Trebles, 1 x$1,000 Full House, 2x $1,500 Trebles + Bonus $5,000 in Calls.

Friday Night 24th February 7.30pm-9.00pm-10.30pm 13 x $1,000 Trebles, 1 x $2,000 Treble, 1 x $2,000 Full House, 1 x $7,000 Treble + Night Owl.

Info Line: 3340 3961 www.southsidesport.com.au 76 Mt. Gravatt Capalaba Rd Upper Mount Gravatt Phone: 3340 3960 Brisbane

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The WORLD in Your Hands Travel in Your Time And now for something completely different Full of colour with beautiful beaches and colonial mansions, DOT WHITTINGTON finds Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is still waiting to be discovered by Aussies. It’s colourful, vibrant, friendly, noisy interesting and has white sandy beaches lapped by the blue-green waters that have made it famous in movies and novels. For a day trip, the island of Cozumel, less than an hour by ferry, is one of the less busy places on this resort-bound coast of Mexico and offers swimming, snorkelling or just exploring in a “Mexican Ferrari” – a beaten up VW Beetle convertible. The Yucatan Peninsula juts into the Gulf of Mexico and yes, we felt perfectly safe. It’s a long way from Mexico City and is made up of the provinces of Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche all of which have numerous sites to visit Mayan ruins. Swimmers in a cenote

“R

emember me? I’m Miguel. I served you at dinner last night”. Hmmm, not really. In fact, I hadn’t even arrived in Playa del Carmen in time for dinner last night. Miguel is young, handsome and very friendly, and I quickly discover that there are plenty of others just like him in this resort town on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula who are using the same line. “Remember me? I carried your bags at your hotel. I’m Jose”. Yes, delightful. But pause, even for a second, and they’ll have you in their “uncle’s” shop before you can say “I’m not an American”. It’s a novel approach to stake a claim to the tourist dollar, but the market strip is packed, the weather is stifling and everyone is using the same tactic. We soon learn it is easier to whizz around the parallel streets rather than run the gauntlet of hawkers in this avenue of brightly coloured stalls filled with rainbows of shopping opportunities. We have landed in Mexico, two old

girls seeking adventure, after a long flight from Brisbane – 27 hours including a few hours in Dallas waiting for the connection to Cancun. On the bright side, we did score an upgrade to business class for the last leg but only because, we discovered, we were the only passengers who had paid more than $5 for the ticket in the first place. And so the journey begins, with a hire car at Cancun International Airport, late at night in pouring rain. We turn south to Playa del Carmen, which is a similar distance from the Cancun international airport as Cancun itself, and in many ways the better option for starting a holiday on the Yucatan. Cancun’s greatest attraction we decided on our way back to the airport a week later, is being the gateway to the beautiful but busy Isla Mujeres “Island of the Women” about 13km offshore. Playa del Carmen further south is on the Riviera Maya, a popular resort strip in this part of the Caribbean.

Always plenty of colour Further south is Belize, the only English speaking country in Central America, but we decided to limit our activities to the eastern tip of the peninsula. After a pleasant but lively break in the bustle of Playa, we set off south down

The Caribbean from Isla Mujeres the coast road, which meant we could avoid the major highway heading west. Tulum had been recommended, mainly for its Mayan ruins but since our destination was Chichen Itza, one of the largest Maya cities, and the weather was like an oven set to “high”, we quickly decided to simply wave on the way past. We turned right at Tulum with no regrets. The detour had been worth it to explore some more of the Caribbean coastline. Most surprising was that there wasn’t an esplanade and often, to see the sea, it was necessary to squeeze through tiny villages and hope for a glimpse at the end of a lane. Despite fears of a rough ride, the road to Chichen Itza isn’t too bad and we arrived late afternoon, perfect timing. Leaving the Hotel Dolores Alba for dinner in the nearby village of Piste, we discovered the ruins were quite literally down the road. Handy. Even better, it was right across the road from the Ik Kil Cenote, a deep, cold waterhole for a much-needed swim. Until then, I had never heard of a cenote, but it turns out there about 7000 of them in Mexico. Essentially, they are sinkholes where the rain has eaten away continued page 32>

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TRAVEL <from page 30

Old bus tours Merida at the limestone over millions of years to create deep pools surrounded by cliffs. This means trudging down dozens of stone steps to reach the water but once there, the view up is astounding (and the view down from the top equally so) and the water, filtered by the limestone, clear and fresh. It’s not your average swimming hole. We allowed a day for the Chichen Itza, home of the famous El Castillo pyramid and were glad we took the advice to arrive early. Apart from missing the worst of the heat, we also missed some of the longest queues. It seemed bad enough having to line up for half an hour to get in, but by

the time we left in the afternoon, queues were twice as long. Nevertheless, it was worth the wait and El Castillo (Spanish for “the castle”) was glorious as the light played on its 365 steps. Also called the Temple of Kukulcan, it was built by the Mayans between the 9th and 12 centuries, 300 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. There are many other equally fascinating ruins on the site and although popular, it’s not crowded and it was possible to wander at leisure. The real reminders of this being a big earner for the local area were the dozens of market stalls selling all manner of souvenirs from leatherwork to colourful earthenware (none of it expensive) and groups of young men wandering around in full Mayan costume. Next morning we set off on the short 120km journey to Merida, the Yucatan capital and largest city on the peninsula. Not being archaeologists, we’d seen enough ruins and decided to skip Uxmal, which offers insight into life before the Spanish conquistadores. Until now, the skills acquired in my three-month crash course in Spanish had served me well, but I came unstuck in Merida. It was a relief to discover that I wasn’t going mad, but that with 60 per cent of its population of Mayan ethnicity, Merida

has its own parlance with a distinctive accent. With its colonial history giving it Spanish, French, British and even a little Dutch, influence it has the typical historic centre with a Plaza Grande. This is a city made for wandering, with magnificent colonial buildings, fortress-like churches, plazas and squares filled with the music of squadrons of buskers as well as plenty of restaurants offering good food, cheap margaritas, cheerful staff and a vantage point for the passing parade. Streets that appear to be nothing more than lines of roller doors at siesta open up to reveal colourful shops while

Temple of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza

avenues of superb old houses tell stories of glory days past. The Paseo de Montejo is lined with original sculptures that change each year. An old Merida bus was a worthy tour and the Hotel Dolores Alba again served us well, its foyer and corridors a Frida Kahlo gallery. Being only 35km from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico we set off north to Progreso where the beaches were uncannily like those of Spain’s Costa Blanca, with pastel-coloured lowset houses, shutters and quiet out-of-season esplanades. The narrow strip of land with the highway to Telchac Puerto has the Gulf on one side and the Laguna Rosada on the other. These bright pink lagoons are coloured by the same algae that turns its resident flamingos pink. From there, it was back to Cancun and against all advice, which we came to appreciate too late, we took the back roads across the tip of the peninsula. Riddled with craters more than potholes, it was a long, slow trip but made us feel we were making an effort to explore the real Yucatan, off the beaten track. A part of the world less explored by Australian tourists, Mexico’s Yucatan offers something completely different to the trails of Europe and Asia – and the food is cheap and worth the trip too.

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Brisbane

18/01/2017 1:18:39 PM

TRAVEL

FOR THE LOVE OF EUROPE

Journey that will eclipse all others

T

otal solar eclipses have fascinated and terrified mankind for millennia. Temperature drops of up to 20 degrees have been recorded during an eclipse and can have some confusing impacts on animals. In Mana Pools National Park, in June 2001, we watched in amusement as baboons, thinking they had been caught stranded and vulnerable as it got dark, panicked and ran for their roosting spots. Hippos began emerging from the Zambezi river, ready to begin their night’s foraging for grass, only to return minutes later confused. In Hwange National Park in December 2002, the African bushveld suddenly hushed and slowly, nocturnal insects started tentatively practicing their choruses. A solar eclipse is caused by the moon blocking out the sun and therefore only occurs at new moon. In the future there won’t be any total eclipses, as the moon moves slowly away from the earth, but as that is still millions of years away, there’s nott much rush for current generations. The width of the path of totality is usually about 160km across and can

Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore.

travel along an area up to 16,000km. Total solar eclipses occur on average, somewhere around the world, about once every 18 months and cannot be viewed from either North or South Pole. They can last up to 7½ minutes, but are usually only a couple of minutes. In August, Journeys Worldwide travels to the United States to view their first total solar eclipse on mainland in almost four decades. The trip will also travel down the West Coast from Seattle to Los Angeles, visiting the Spruce Goose (the largest flying boat with the largest wingspan of any aircraft), Redwood National Park and the Boeing factory among many other sites. Visit eclipse@journeysworldwide.com.au

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Ruins of the Forum in Pompeii.

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*Pricees are per adult in AUD, based on twin share accommodation including port charges and government fees, correct as 12 January 2017. Prices include cruise aboard Ponant L’Austral round-trip from Sydney, all main meals on board, select alcoholic and nonalcohholic beverages throughout your cruise (some premium brands excluded) and onboard gratuities. Offer is capacity controlled and subject to availability at time of booking. Single passengers must pay a single supplement. Domestic airfare between Brisbane and SSydney not included. Agents may charge service fees and/or fees for card payments which vary. Cancellation penalties and conditions apply. To be read in conjunction with full terms and conditions in the Cruiseco Ponant - Australia in Depth charter brochure.

Brisbane

33.indd 3

February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 33

18/01/2017 1:17:39 PM

TRAVEL

Circumnavigate Australia with style

The magnificent expedition vessel L’Austral

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hen English navigator Matthew Flinders led the first circumnavigation of Australia in 1801, it took two years and he had been forbidden to take his wife with him on the journey to New Holland. Today, it is a 40-night luxury expedition aboard Ponant’s magnificent L’Austral.

Cruiseco, the leading provider of cruising options in the Southern Hemisphere, has designed a remarkable itinerary for for expedition departing Sydney on January 25, 2018. L’Austral has the capability to dock in smaller ports, providing guests with the opportunity to access unique destinations and the ability to explore

secluded locations via Zodiac. The introduces historic towns, spectacular wilderness areas, indigenous communities and rare coastline views. To further enhance the experience, guests will be accompanied by a specialist expedition team who will provide insights into the history of each port and the flora, fauna and stunning landscapes. Highlights of the voyage include zodiac trips around pristine Wineglass Bay, Tasmania; the 12 Apostles in Port Campbell, Victoria; and the National ANZAC Centre in Albany, Western Australia. Explore Darwin in the Northern Territory with optional tours to Kakadu and its surrounds; and enjoy a more sophisticated resort-style routine in Hamilton Island. Matthew Flinders himself would have been overwhelmed by the facilities on L’Austral – an al fresco bar to sip a cocktail, an appointment with a spa and an opportunity to join the captain to inspect the ship’s charts and navigational equipment. For prices and more information on the voyage, call The Cruise Centre 1800 428 105.

Cape Leeuwin lighthouse in West Australia, the most south-westerly mainland point of Australia

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34 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / February 2017

34.indd 2

THE KIMBERLEY $4,730* (excluding airfares) 16 days. Departing 11th July 2017

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Log onto www.girlsontour.com.au & download the tour brochure *twin share, ex Brisbane. Other capital city departures available on application.

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19/01/2017 10:01:26 AM

TRAVEL

A perfect place for a walk on the wild side Grey nomad BEVERLEY EVERSON takes a detour off the Newell Highway to Melbourne and discovers the wonder of sculptures in the scrub.

T

he National Parks brochure describes Pilliga forest and Timmallallie National Park as “vast, ancient and unique”. Pilliga Reserve is off the Newell Highway between Narrabri and Coonabarabran NSW and covers 500,000ha of open forest, woodland and scrubland. There are a few turnoffs from the highway, all of them reasonable dirt forest roads. We chose No. 1 Break Road, which is almost a straight line – about 30km – to Baradine and the Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre. Here you can obtain a map to assist in locating all the magical sites the Pilliga State Forest Reserve and National Park offers. Its history dates from Aboriginal life to timbergetting, mining and grazing. The Pilliga is to the east and west of the highway. with many highlights such as sandstone caves, salt caves/fire tower, numerous bird routes and sculptures in the scrub at Dandry Gorge in Timmallallie National Park, where this story takes you. We only recently camped here en route to visit grandchildren in Melbourne. It was the last week of December, so firstly I must recommend that this is NOT the best time. Temperatures were high, in the 38C-42C range with, understandably, total fire bans and in this instance, threatening bush fires which closed the park to campers the day after we arrived. We had originally intended to camp the first night at the Salt Caves about 20km off either No. 1 Break Road or Pilliga Forest Way, down Rocky Road/ Country Lane Road, but there was a large bush fire burning in the direction of our destination.

non-flush but immaculately clean toilet buildings. It is only a short stroll from the camp to the day facilities and walking trail that takes an easy two-hour or less round trip to the bottom of the gorge and then an easy climb up along the rim where there are the amazing five sets of Sculptures in the Scrub. This is a special place for the Gamilaroi people, and through the

“The bush music of frogs and night creatures lulled us into a deep sleep”

“The first lesson” says it all.

Sculptures in the scrub precinct.

cooperation and partnerships with artists and community, the Gawambaraay Pilliga Co-Management Committee have presented the history, culture and natural beauty clearly with beautiful signage and storytelling. There were remnants of abundant blossoms and wildflowers which only reinforced our decision to return during

Instead, we turned around and headed for Dandry Gorge down Top Crossing Road in the opposite direction. And what a surprise when we arrived and parked in one of the six camp sites (no power or water and no phone reception as you would expect in this isolated area). We were the only ones there! This was probably because of the hot temperatures and time of year but it was so quiet, especially at night, the bush music of frogs and night creatures, lulled us into a deep sleep. The almost completed visitor facilities were excellent including sheltered barbecues and two

Wildflowers in bloom.

Walking path through the bush.

Camp site among the trees is a piece of peace. Brisbane

35.indd 3

spring when it would be a sea of colour and much cooler. However, we were still fortunate to see some flowers and smell the cypress pines and eucalypt, which certainly made up for our late-season arrival. The plants provided the indigenous people not only with food and weapons but also medicines for their sick and along the 2km walking trail, visitors are introduced to cultural sites, bush tucker and 115 plant species. The Sculptures in the Scrub precinct is both educational and spiritual. The artists who contributed spent many hours with the community to inspire their creations.

Guide to the wildflowers It was overwhelming and impressive, particularly in the setting on the ridge overlooking the gorge. Pilliga prides itself with an abundance of wildlife including 350 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs. Take the time for a stopover and you won’t be disappointed. It’s an area that took us by surprise and well worth it – even in the extreme heat. February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 35

19/01/2017 11:16:10 AM

BOOK REVIEW

ELIZABETH PASCOE

Over the years I have read or been given books on how to be happy, get the most out of life, make most of your potential etc – and about dying. Reading this book, I didn’t get the rush of empathy or connection with the writer or the patient. They obviously reconnected after many years and it was beneficial for both of them. I did like the “living funeral” idea, when family and friends called and they celebrated Morrie’s life and gave him the hugs and attention which meant so much to him. After all the conversations and diagnosis of living, Mitch just turned to Morrie and said “It’s all about loving, to love and be loved. Isn’t it?” ... Morrie just smiled.

TONY HARRINGTON

It is 15 years since this heartfelt classic was published. The relationship between the author and his old and dying sociology professor, while unravelling the meaning of life, is both touching and tender. Although dying from the worst possible condition anyone can die from, motor neurone disease, Morrie is still happy to impart his wisdom, experiences and life lessons. Lessons on love, marriage, family, death and the interconnectedness of all things are delivered with great compassion. We all need a life coach like Morrie and we all need to learn how to die with dignity and a lack of fear of death. A must read. 9/10.

BOOK review JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT This is a short read – too short for my perception of the wisdom and truths in Professor Morrie Schwartz’s weekly lessons on life given to one-time student and author Mitch Albom. There is little depth to each subject discussed and almost no recognition of the inherent difficulty in changing ourselves for the better if we were to follow his teachings. One certainly gets from Morrie, a dying man, confirmation that human relationships and health are ultimately the more important things in life. The story of Morrie is told with dignity and compassion but falls well short of the mark as a must-read book.

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE An old man, young man and life’s greatest lesson By Mitch Albom

This has to be one of my all-time favourite books. Its lessons about life is for all ages. It is simply written and a quick read with a huge impact. In our busy lives we forget how to talk, communicate and listen to each other. The important things in life are not how successful you are or how much you have, but how to love, laugh and appreciate all that you do have. Morrie’s lessons are simple – live the now. He is dying but in dying he is teaching Mitch the art of living.

SUZI HIRST

In this international bestseller, newspaper sports columnist Mitch Albom recounts the time spent with his 78-year-old professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying. Albom had not corresponded with him since attending his college classes 16 years earlier. A newspaper strike frees Albom to commute weekly, on Tuesdays, to visit with Schwartz. The book is based on the 14 Tuesdays they meet, supplemented with Schwartz’s lectures and life experiences and interspersed with flashbacks and allusions to contemporary events. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final “class” – lessons in how to live. First published in 2002, 12 million copies later it is still a magical chronicle.

JO BOURKE

MARY BARBER I read this book some years ago and thought it was trite. This time I found it moving and full of wisdom. I must be getting less cynical with age. I liked the raw honesty of the author who was caught up chasing material goals at the expense of his personal life. He was the hollow man. Morrie Schwartz, on the other hand, had created a personal culture that nourished him. For Morrie, riches were hugs, laughter and being surrounded by the people he loved. Having death knocking on the door is plenty of reason to review our priorities. Morrie’s point is you don’t have to wait until then. I can highly recommend this little book.

In 2005 I started my record of books”. Beside Tuesdays with Morrie I typed “Excellent – to re-read”. Now, 12 years later, I loved it as if it were my first reading and encourage everyone to read it. The inevitability of death is, for most of us, something we try to not think too much about. For me, it is a reminder to continually sort out what is important! We face social craziness and materialism pressure daily. Do we really need that bigger TV, that super diet, that new car? Morrie says: “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.” A meeting with a friend or family member can leave me feeling recharged and content. Morrie urges us to take such interactions further to dare to connect with others, even when bridges need be built. Why? To quote Morrie: “Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.” I find that a comforting concept!

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19/01/2017 12:09:53 PM

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

SUDOKU (MEDIUM)

SUDOKU (EASY)

WORD FIND

CODE WORD 15

2

1

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

S Q T I O K V NWD X F Y 3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

PERMUTATE EARTH, ASTER-STARE, ARISE-RAISE, ANISE, SINEW-SWINE, WINDS

1. Alphabetically, which month comes second? 2. In what year did NSW last win an NRL State of Origin series? 3. To what major city are Cariocans native? 4. Is there an island called Cook Island in Australia? 5. Financially, what does “ROI” stand for? 6. Excluding special editions, which Australian coin does not feature a wild animal? 7. Doctor Seuss’ Cat in the Hat has what two colours on its hat? 8. Which element is found in crystal but not in ordinary glass? 9. What relation is your daughter’s husband to you? 10. What is a horse’s fastest gait? 11. In the Bible, what is the first book of the New Testament? 12. What three-letter word is a traditional Hawaiian garland? 13. What is two squared squared? 14. Where are your phalanges? 15. What sacred Indian flower is also the name of a motor racing team? 16. If music is diminuendo, it gradually becomes what? 17. The movie “Saving Private Ryan” was set in which country? 18. What colour is angelica? 19. Which Australian author created the detective Napoleon Bonaparte? 20. What is the fluid called that surrounds an unborn baby?

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS QUICK CROSSWORD

H U B Z J CMA R G L P E

By Quizmaster Allan Blackburn

14

TRIVIA

There may be other correct answers

SCATTERWORD

1. August; 2. 2014; 3. Rio de Janeiro; 4. No; 5. Return on Investment; 6. $2; 7. Red and white; 8. Lead; 9. Son in law; 10. Gallop; 11. Gospel according to St Matthew; 12. Lei; 13. Sixteen; 14. Fingers and toes; 15. Lotus; 16. Softer; 17. France; 18. Green; 19. Arthur Upfield; 20. Amniotic fluid. 37.indd 3

THUMBLIKE, thimble, tublike, hutlike, blithe, humble, tumble, helium, umbel, built, lithe, ileum, bile, belt, blue, lube, bilk, limb, bulk, helm, like, lime, mile, tile, lieu, melt, mule, lute, hilt, hulk, milk, kilt, milt.

Brisbane

February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 37

18/01/2017 1:14:59 PM

PUZZLES

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

No. 2522

CODEWORD

1

ACROSS 1 7 8 9 10 12 14 15 17 18

See him perspire dreadfully when he plays the ultimate match (11) In Samoa, regional union provides a useful pole (3) The executor of personal justice may cryptically engrave his name (7) Makes itself scarce when it is involved in sex scandal (5) A sudden rush of twilled fabric, I hear (5) Those from the wild herds champ at the bit (5) What a century in ruin may have to bear (5) Drawn so as to be towards the front (7) Make a delicate network when no charges are laid at the station (3) Raconteur will sort out telly roster (11)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 11 13 14 16

S

14

Making public statements about various careers (11) The noble one came before the queen less tardily (7) The Hun left the development of humanism to the Muslim leaders (5) I hear he enjoys literature amongst the plants (5) Commandeer the whole ham, perhaps (3) Criminal who used to treat proper crooks (11) Write a scathing article about the performance (7) The curious bystander missed seeing Stanley in the middle of the race (5) Dig out disguise and distribute it! (5) Court swooned endlessly without stopping leader (3)

2

3

4

5

6

15

16

17

18

19

C

No. 713

7

8

9

20

21

22

W

10

11

12

13

23

24

25

26

WORK IT OUT!

SUDOKU WORDFIND

Level: Medium

No. 42

albatross anchor barnacle bay catamaran coast coral cove current dive dock dolphin fin gull

No. 770

liner ocean pelican pier radio reef rip rock sail sea tuna wind yacht

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

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C r e a t e Yo u r O w n S a n c t u a r y Brisbane

18/01/2017 1:20:20 PM

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD

No. 3623

SCATTERWORD

U B

M T

E

Today’s Aim: 22 words Good 27 words Very good 30 words Excellent

Level: Easy

No. 769

H

L K

SUDOKU

No. 2959

I

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

PERMUTATE

ACROSS 3 9 10 11 12 15 16 20 21 22 23 25 27

Meals where guests all bring food to share Curved fruit Lighten Foolish talk Thinly distributed Japanese alcoholic drink Floor covering Musical speeds Licentious revelry Reposed Attended by both sexes (2-2) Wombs One who makes assessments of the value of items

29 Small deer whose coats change colour in winter (plural) 31 Guarantee against risk 32 Agricultural labourers of low social status 35 Monetary unit of Bosnia-Herzegovina 36 Pill 37 Emblems of regal power (US spelling)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

Deep gulf Entrance of a pipe Members of a TV show panel Cardinal number Rope cattle

6 7 8 13 14 17 18 19 23 24 26 28 30 33 34

Employ Middle (US spelling) Hot and humid Quality that evokes emotion Formed again Nudists Those who prefer solitude Less attractive University grounds Avoid Russian monetary unit Begin Chairs Tree juice No (Scottish)

No. 032

WORK IT OUT!

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

EARTH

_____ _____ _____ _____ WINDS

All puzzles Copyright © Reuben’s Puzzles www.reubenspuzzles.com.au

February 2017

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February 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 39

18/01/2017 1:19:37 PM

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