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SUNSHINE COAST EDITION 32, NOVEMBER 2017 01.indd 1
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Editor’s note
W
hen I first set off to travel Europe in a Kombi van bought outside Australia House in London in 1978, travel wasn’t the rite of passage it has since become for young Australians. In fact, at the time, word spread that we must have won the Golden Casket as this was the time of the Great Australian Dream, when the goal was to buy your own home. As one older and wiser said to me though, “I’m glad you are heading off to see other castles rather than build your own.” At that time, the jumbo jet was only four years old and it towered over the Brisbane International Airport, a terrifying image for
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Contents someone who had never been in the air. It proved just as well, as when the first landing was so rough overhead lockers broke open and spilt bags into the aisle, I thought it was normal. Today, I would find that terrifying. We also predicted that by the new millennium the exciting new Concord would be flying Brisbane-London in 12 hours or less. Look how that turned out! Fares have come down, flights are more frequent but nothing much has changed for the long-haul. Nevertheless, Baby Boomers are increasingly hitting the road in all forms. This month the O’Connors tell of their epic motorbike ride, while the Briggs discuss how they manage their many trips to soak up the culture of exotic destinations. Although my days of backpacking and sleeping in airports and ferry terminals are well and truly done (an ensuite is now non-negotiable) the sense of really living that comes with travel hasn’t changed. And this is a perfect time of life to indulge. Dorothy Whittington, Editor
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TRAVEL FEATURE LETTERS OUR PEOPLE CONSUMER WATCH LANGUAGE WATCH TIME WARP READER STORY FASHION YOUR GARDEN MOTORING TECHNOLOGY HISTORY CARE AFFAIRS COMMUNITY NEWS FINANCE LIFE IN FOCUS RETIREMENT LIVING WELLBEING HEALTH WHAT’S ON TRAVEL BOOK REVIEW TRIVIA QUIZ PUZZLES
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PUBLISHER Michelle Austin 5493 1368. EDITOR Dorothy Whittington, editor@yourtimemagazine.com.au ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES 0438 717 210 or 0413 855 855. sales@yourtimemagazine.com.au. FOR DIGITAL EDITIONS AND MORE yourtimemagazine.com.au. DISTRIBUTION ENQUIRIES distribution@yourtimemagazine.com.au. Your Time Magazine is locally owned and published by The Publishing Media Company Pty Ltd ATF The Media Trust (“the Publisher”). No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher. The Publisher does not assume responsibility for, endorse or adopt the content of any advertisements published in Your Time Magazine, either as written copy or inserts, given such content is provided by third parties and contains statements beyond the Publisher’s personal knowledge. The information contained in Your Time Magazine is intended as a guide only and does not represent the view or opinion of the Publisher or its editorial staff. Professional advice should be sought before applying any of the information to particular circumstances. Whilst every reasonable care is taken in the preparation of Your Time Magazine, the Publisher and its editorial staff do not accept liability for any errors or omissions it may contain.
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 5
18/10/2017 1:30:31 PM
COVER STORY
It’s time to hit the road The Baby Boomers are now well and truly seniors. This group, born in the years after World War II when the boys returned home from long years away, are today in their 60s (or close to) and 70s, with a disposable income and, increasingly, time to use it, reports RUSSELL HUNTER.
The Eiffel Tower and Big Ben are “been there, done that�. Now it is about adventures such as exploring an ice cave at the Vatnajokull glacier in Iceland.
T
hey’re empty nesters. The kids are long grown and gone while many are single through tragedy or choice. They’ve done life’s hard yards and now want something easier. And they’re cruising. Just ask Elizabeth Clarke. Her company Savenio specialises in the cruise business and a large percentage of her clients are seniors, many of whom are repeat buyers, a source of great pride for Ms Clarke.
Peace of mind at a great price
And they’re not looking for little old lady cruises either. “People are starting to look for new experiences,� she said. “Cruises to Iceland and Cuba are becoming popular while European river cruises are still a favourite.� But to the standard Amsterdam to Budapest cruise adventurers are now adding Russia, Portugal and the lesstravelled rivers of Germany. And domestic cruising, voyages from
Australian ports, is booming with the world’s cruise lines adding more ships and ports of departure to their Aussie fleets. But whether they’re going by land, sea or air, there does appear to be an emerging trend of senior women travelling alone – that’s to say, without partners. Some are widowed, some divorced and some just determinedly single. But they’re all travelling.
Cheryl Ryan of 123 Travel has noticed a definite increase in women travellers. “Many tours are being put together for ladies solo travel,� said Ms Ryan. “Ladies-only tours have become very popular.� Favourite destinations include Norfolk Island while New Zealand coach tours remain a staple, as is cruising. “We also have a high demand for seniors taking river cruises. The most popular would be European rivers,
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COVER STORY Canada and Alaska and the Northern Lights,” she said. And the ladies-only market is a focus for Judith Polkinghorne of Girls on Tour, who leads groups domestically and overseas. She has covered something like 40 countries. “They’re not all seniors,” she says. “There are also younger ladies looking at women-only tours.” Seniors do represent a large chunk of her clientele though. She regularly takes groups to the Kimberley on camping tours – not often considered a trip for seniors. But they’re loving it. “I think our oldest so far on the Kimberley trip was 80,” Ms Polkinghorne says. They’re not expected to be athletes “but we do expect that they’ll be basically
fit and able to get around”. But even out in the Kimberley, seniors expect a degree of creature comfort and so tours are restricted by the number who can reasonably fit into the custombuilt all-terrain vehicle that’s used for the purpose. At the same time she’s finding tours to central Africa and Croatia to be increasingly “hot” items as senior travellers seek ever new experiences. Domestic travel is still big in the seniors market. “Uluru is still popular while North Queensland is always a draw in the winter months,” says Cheryl Ryan. Bruce Drysdale of Trade Travel who also counts seniors as a large part of his clientele, agrees that the ladies are travelling more and more.
VALUE STILL KEY EVEN WITHOUT A BACKPACK Our backpacker days are long gone. Some travelling seniors are looking for that seven-star experience while others, perhaps the majority, just want to enjoy their trip. Yet others want a little bit (but not too much) of adventure thrown in. All are looking for value. And safety. The ladies, for example, who join Judith Polkinghorne’s Girls on Tour demand a degree of comfort and convenience while recognising that these come at a certain cost. “The ladies we cater for do want a degree of comfort,” she said. “They want at least four-star hotels, comfortable coaches and intimate group sizes where a good camaraderie can quickly develop. “These are ladies who know who they are and are comfortable in their own skins. They know very well what they want.” Elizabeth Clarke is also finding the senior traveller to be looking for a degree of comfort. Her cruise clients are spending anything from $100 to $1000 a day – but they all demand value. “They’re well aware that you get what you pay for,” she said. “But smaller ships where you can get off and on again without queuing are becoming popular.” As is river cruising in Asia. “In Cambodia, for example, there isn’t always the comfortable hotel option, so the boats have to offer that comfort that our travellers want,” she says. Cheryl Ryan’s clients tend to prefer premium economy or business class for air travel while cruise travel – a growing market for her – is comfort-oriented. “They’re not necessarily looking for luxury,” she said. “But they like comfort. And price still plays an important role in finding the right balance.”
Her clients are increasingly cruising for pleasure with family or friends – but the comfort and safety elements are still vitally important. Bruce Drysdale, who manages up to 400 tours a year, agrees safety and comfort are crucial. He has at least one client who refuses point blank to travel into the USA through Los Angeles (anybody who has endured the ordeal of LAX will understand why) while younger folk take it in their stride. “Interest in overseas travel is definitely impacted by the goings-on there,” he said. “So people have been taking their Ghans, Indian Pacifics and Murray Rivers and so on at home. “But overseas travel will always be a big part of seniors travel.” He too has noticed that seniors are looking for value. It’s too often forgotten that seniors have lived through the birth and development of the computer age. They are computer and internet savvy. “And we baby boomers aren’t always in a hurry to take part in organised events so people are using the internet to buy direct online,” he said. It may save a few bucks but there can be problems. There have been instances of people arriving at their destination to discover hotel bookings haven’t been confirmed or that the car company hasn’t heard of them – and worse. “They have nothing to fall back on,” said Bruce Drysdale. “But if they have booked with a reputable agent, they at least have access to someone who can assist.” All of our industry sources agreed that good agents do much more than package holidays and take commissions. “We add value,” said one. “Most of us have been to the places we’re selling. We know the local customs, the pitfalls and the pluses. It’s our job, after all.”
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COVER STORY “We’re seeing increasingly that of a party of 40, as many as 38 will be women,” he said. His senior clients are increasingly turning to new destinations also – with Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Cambodia high on the bucket lists, while what might be seen as the more traditional markets in the UK are slightly less popular than a decade ago. “The newer hotels in Sri Lanka, for example, offer the comfort our clients want at a price they’re willing to pay, he said. “There are another two six-star properties on the way so our seniors are able to find the comfort, value and safety that are so important to them.” They’re not necessarily looking for luxury but value is vital, says Cheryl Ryan. “And price still plays a big part in getting the balance right.” A large percentage of her clients are opting for premium economy or business class when it comes to air travel. Elizabeth Clarke agrees that seniors don’t choose to rough it. “Our clients go across the scale in terms of cost,” she said. “But they are looking for value. They realise that you do tend to get what you pay for and are looking for more local experiences at their cruise stops.” And the single traveller market is becoming important for the cruisers also.
As the Australian-homed cruise fleet expands, smaller ships are seeking to offer more intimate experiences – and they’re making space for people travelling alone. It’s not so simple for the cruise industry. “They’ve invested heavily in that space (cabin),” Ms Clarke says, “and they need to get a return so two people sharing the cost of that space makes sense. However, they’re increasingly realising that there is a demand for single spaces and are starting to look at that.” Book early if you want privacy is the way to go, she urges.
KEEP YOURSELF COVERED Travel insurance – don’t leave without it. In fact an increasing number of tour operators won’t let you. Let’s face it, at our stage of life we tend to see doctors a lot more often than we used to and we can’t – or shouldn’t – pretend that by going away on a holiday that’s going to change. And while travelling we don’t have access to Medicare and it’s unlikely that our private cover is even relevant. So travel insurance becomes vital. It’s probably the most expensive service we’ll (hopefully) never use, but if you were to break a leg in America, let’s say, it’s crippling in more ways than one. Pre-existing conditions, level of risk, cost of treatment in countries where you’ll be travelling and (though we obviously hope it’ll never happen) cost of a Medivac. (Bruce Drysdale recalls one medical evacuation that cost an insurance company $40,000 – and that was 10 years ago). So a massive industry has built itself around the need for travel insurance. Google it and you’ll get literally thousands of hits. None of the best options are cheap. “If you can’t afford the insurance the chances are you can’t afford the
trip,” said Mr Drysdale. “It’s really that basic.” Cheryl Ryan agrees, while pointing out that domestic travel can avoid at least some of the financial grief associated with insurance. “Insurance is based around an individual’s health, while any conditions one has may impact the policy selection,” she says. All good travel agents and tour operators will offer a range of travel insurance policies, but it’s important to know what you are – and more vitally what you’re not – covered for. So read the fine print before signing. And as always the golden rule is: If you’re not sure, ask. Remember the people you’re booking with are as anxious as you are that your trip should be memorable for all the right reasons while the wrong reasons are at least well covered.
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We love reading your magazine and look forward to it each month. We particularly enjoyed the article on “The joys (and guide) of grandparenting” (YT October). Please pass thanks to Mocco Wollert for keeping me sane. We have just had our two grandchildren to stay for five nights and at the end of the visit, I was feeling like the worst and grumpiest grandmother in the world, despite my husband trying to convince me I was a wonderful one. He then found the article in Your Time and it gave me hope that perhaps I wasn’t abnormal after all. I love my grandchildren dearly and love being a grandmother, but I did feel guilty that I was being a terrible grandmother because it seemed that I was constantly trying to get them to do basic things (without having to ask them several times). So thank you, Mocco. Your article made me feel much better about myself. Linda Hardman Ava Jameson’s story “What happened to Pete?” really touched my heart (YT October). Families can be brutal. This lady will be wondering what happened to Pete for the rest of her life. I live alone and will be moving into a village very soon. I don’t have Alzheimer’s yet, but I’m pretty immobile and been suffering with osteoporosis for 10 years. I’ve had depression in the past for years on and off. I have three grown up children, but none of them give me any kind of help in the way of domestic chores. I have a service to help me with social support and shopping and my children visit occasionally. I hope they don’t stick me in a nursing home facility as soon as they can so they can sell my property. Sometimes it gets hard, but I keep going as long as possible. Try to keep going Ava. G. Adams I worry about the growing divide between the youth of our nation and our senior citizens. Their dependence upon mobile devices to communicate by texting and twitter does not equip them for the real world. I see it in my own family with their dependency on mobile phones and grandchildren spending too much time on their tablets watching kids programs rather than conversing with parents, grandparents and friends. As parents and grandparents we appear to be abdicating our responsibilities Sunshine Coast
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of ensuring they learn the importance of having a one on one conversation with their fellow human beings. Only then can you see their body language, listen to their point of view in a timely manner and learn the art of conversation. Our leaders of industry and politics in the future will be the ones who learn to communicate with their fellow Australians. One can only hope they develop skills that realise the importance of listening to the concerns of our senior citizens when introducing legislation that will affect all of us. Bill Glasson An “understatement”: Today certainly is a different world to the one Baby Boomers grew up in, during the post war years. Guaranteed employment, with an influx of skilled immigrants from Europe, working people who made Australia the great nation it is today. Many families survived on one income. But some attributes such as “emotional intelligence” are timeless. A legacy of work ethic, education, fiscal intelligence and the adage “present pain for future gain” still apply, regardless of time. Children learn what they live. If parents as role models lead by example, without wanting the latest, without maxed-out credit cards, they demonstrate solid practices for living and surviving in a competitive global community. For children to expect their parents to mollycoddle them while they do little or nothing to contribute, is doing them a disfavour. The dole is too easy to get, giving a false sense of security. The workplace is becoming more competitive, requiring employees to sacrifice time or money, or work permanent part-time, rather than fulltime. Money is there to be earned, but many of the unemployed refuse choices if they are not their ideal job. Therein lies the problem. They must learn to pay their way starting from the ground up. There are no free lunches! Even our governments are making it difficult for seniors on their savings, past their work life, to survive without some assistance. Every generation has its challenges. Proactive individuals will always find a way through without being a burden on their already stretched parents or governments. Too many rely on handouts and live with unrealistic expectations. Eloise Rowe
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OUR PEOPLE
Easy riders do it their way Travelling the world on a motorbike sounds an audacious, adrenaline-fueled plan but, writes DOT WHITTINGTON, for a couple hovering around 60, it was the chance to live the dream.
L
et’s make it clear from the start. Lee and Paul O’Connor are not your stereotypical “bikies” they just happen to love the freedom of motorcycle riding, especially when it can be combined with a love of travel. “Motorcycle tragics” is how they describe themselves. Both learnt to ride as teenagers when “it was the poor man’s form of transport” and they were living in New Zealand. Then marriage and four children intervened until the recession we had to have in the early 1990s. “Tax rules on company cars changed and Paul decided it was time to get a bike again,” Lee says. “I rode on the back with him a few times but I couldn’t do it. I had to have my own.” Just over a decade ago, with their children leading their own lives, they become truly addicted and began to take short two to three week trips in Australia, a tent in the saddlebags. It started with southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales but soon turned into Melbourne and Tasmania. Long distance travel had them hooked. Then, in 2013, Paul, a mining
Paul and Lee O’Connor on their journey. engineer, was working as a FIFO in Kuala Lumpur. Bored with sitting in an office, he began looking for motorbike rides in Malaysia and came up with a group that did tours. Lee, an artist, joined him and for seven days they rode around the Malay
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Peninsula in company. One in the group asked if they would like to join them on an overland trip to the TT races at the Isle of Man. And that was that. “It was a random, on the spot decision that we would go but in the end, nobody else did except us,” Lee says. “It took 18
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months of planning and the timing was right as the mining industry had really slowed, so we could get the time off.” So, in April 2015, with their four children having stepped into adulthood and 40 years of marriage behind them, the O’Connors rode out of the suburbs and into a 13-month escapade that took them 80,000km through 40 countries around the globe. Paul was 60 and Lee 58. Their two KTM SMT-990 motorcycles were flown to Kuala Lumpur and they set off north through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and to China where it was necessary to have a guide across the Silk Road to the “Stans”, Iran and Turkey and into Europe. From there it was across to Spain and a ferry to Plymouth in England and then a flight to Halifax in Nova Scotia. They rode across Canada to Vancouver and then turned south through Central America and into South America, finally leaving from Santiago to arrive back in Brisbane in May 2016. “It was an endless summer,” Lee says. “Paul planned it all so we didn’t have to worry about the cold. We stayed in hotels in Asia where it’s cheap and started
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Riding is being part of the movie. camping in Turkey and then in Europe. We were not tourists but took the road less travelled. We avoided the big cities but rode 20 alpine passes.” They would ride for five days and then take a day or two off, although Lee says it only takes three days to “get a worn-in bum”. They didn’t go to the Isle of Man in the end. It didn’t fit with their schedule and would have meant rushing. Highlights were China and Peru and the lowlight was in Mexico when Lee came off her bike and it fell on top of her, pinning her leg. “There were roadworks and it had poured rain all night so it was like soup,” she says. “I was in front at the time so had to wait for Paul to come along. My ankle was crushed. It was a pivotal moment.” They had to deviate to pick up parts and it slowed them down but they “slogged on” through Central and South
America to Peru, finding it hard to adapt back to Third World travel. “We were also getting travel weary so we struggled in Mexico,” Lee says. “We were able to continue but it was just tougher.” The hardest ride was on the rough roads of Tajikistan and there’s no doubt that riding a bike gives quite a different perspective of a sandstorm in the Gobi Desert, but Lee puts it this way: “In a car, it’s like being at the movies watching it through a screen. On a bike, you are in the movie”. She blogged the journey and since settling back at home, says it feels like they have “taken a giant chill pill”. They have written a book about their adventures, We Did It Our Way chronicling the journey with anecdotes and lots of photographs “so the armchair traveller can come along for the ride” but it also provides the budgets, mileages, the best roads and tips and tricks for all the people wanting to know “how can we do it”. It’s a hard journey to match but at the end of the month Lee and Paul, now semi-retired, are off again, this time for a more sedate trip around New Zealand for five months. “The kids are really proud of us,” Lee says. Visit bikesnbeers.com.au
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CONSUMER WATCH
Scammers abandon phone for online
T
he ACCC is warning the community to watch out for common online scams. The online sphere – email, the internet, social media and mobile apps – has overtaken telephones as scammers’ preferred tool of the trade to contact potential victims. In 2017, the ACCC’s Scamwatch site has received more than 51,000 reports of scammers trying to con people online. Online scam losses total nearly $37 million so far in 2017. “It’s difficult to spot a scammer online these days as they go to great lengths to trick the public and steal personal information and money,” ACCC deputy chairman Delia Rickard said. THE TOP THREE SCAMS MOST LIKELY TO BE ENCOUNTERED ONLINE ARE: • Phishing – often delivered via email, scammers will pretend to be from well-known businesses and government departments to con unsuspecting victims out of their personal information and money. For example, they may offer you a gift voucher to a major supermarket for completing a “survey”. • False billing – scammers will pretend
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to be from a utility provider such as your phone or energy company and send you a fake bill. These scams can be very hard to pick as the fake bills scammers send look authentic. • Buying and selling – scammers will trick people who are looking to buy or sell goods online. For example, they may set up a fake online store that sells well-known brands at seemingly too-good-to-be-true prices; or a fake listing on a classifieds website. Ms Rickard said there were some simple techniques to avoid being stung by a scammer online. “While scammers are often after your money, they’re also trying to steal your personal information, which is just as valuable. It’s important to safeguard your personal details online the same way you would your wallet,” she said. “If you’re ever contacted out of the blue, particularly via email, by someone asking you to pay a bill, complete a survey or update your passwords, it pays to be sceptical.” If unsure about the legitimacy of something online do your research as others who have been stung by scammers will often post warnings. For useful tips visit scamwatch.gov.au
TICKET BUYERS RIPPED OFF BY TRICKSTERS A study of the ticket resale industry has found unfair sales tactics are being used to deliberately confuse, overcharge and hit consumers with sneaky fees. Consumers are being hoodwinked into thinking they’re dealing with the official ticket seller when it is in fact a resale site. A study by consumer group Choice, of 1051 complaints from Australia, New Zealand and the UK found 79 per cent of Australian case studies were tricked into thinking the website they were using was the official seller. “Search engines such as Google are complicit in the confusion because they allow resale websites to place paid links above official sites in search results,”
Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said. “Our study found 76 per cent of fans in all three countries, who found their ticket through a Google search, thought they were visiting an official primary ticketing site, not a resale site. “Once you land on a resale site you don’t really stand a chance with resellers using tricky tactics such as disguising buttons to look similar to authorised sellers or making ‘official’ claims.” He said Viagogo, Ticketmaster Resale, Seatwave and Stubhub were named in more than half of the complaints (56 per cent) for sneaking in additional, unavoidable fees throughout the checkout process. Another 11 per cent said credit cards had been overcharged.
CALL TO BIN JUNK HEALTH POLICIES Consumer group Choice is asking the Federal Government to stop providing tax breaks and rebates for “junk” health insurance policies. It defines junk policies as those that either exclude treatment for almost all illnesses, including heart attack, stroke and cancer, or that only allow the policy holder to be treated as a private patient in a public hospital “With more than $6 billion of taxpayer funds being spent on health insurance rebates, it’s essential that this
money is used to reduce the strain on the public health system and not on policies that are unlikely to cover consumers when it counts,” Choice spokeswoman Nicky Breen said. “These junk products account for around 13 per cent of all hospital and combined policies on the market.” A recent Choice survey found that 44 per cent of policyholders found it difficult to compare health insurance policies. There are more than 40,000 private health insurance products on the market.
Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:42:07 PM
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
Trapped by French into a trip to the old country At our age, you can get caught by the travel bug. I was, but it doesn’t always turn out the way you expect, writes DAVID PARMITER.
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y sister, still living in Hampshire after 50 years, invited me to my nephew’s wedding in England. I, of course, immediately thought “no way”. Being on the pension, my travelling days were over. Worse, she also invited my two adult children since she had recently come all the way out here to witness their weddings. How could we possibly refuse? When I put it to my own children, my daughter said “Sorry, but I can’t. No spare money and no rec. leave from my work.” I expected the same from my adult son but I was in for a shock. “Yes, Dad, I’d love to come with you.” What? Why would you want to come just for a cousin’s wedding? “I want to go the Lake District and climb Skafell Pike.” Why the hell would you want to do that? “Well, I’ve done the Everest Base Camp, Mt Cook in New Zealand and Mt Aconcagua in South America. Now I want to do Skafell Pike because it’s the highest peak in England.” All right, I said, nervously. And then what? “Well, Dad ... France and Belgium. I’ve
Simon and David at the top of the VillersBretonneux Memorial always wanted to visit the World War I battlefields, but I’ve never had anyone to go with. And besides, Dad, you can speak French.” So that was it. I was dragooned into an expensive travel trip to Europe by a sister who expected me to do my family duty, and a son who would use me as a French-speaking guide to tour the battlefields and cemeteries. I couldn’t wait! To cut a long story short, Simon and I flew to London and spent a few days doing the sights. I took him to all the places that I had known as a teenager
growing up on the River Thames, where my father had been the River Superintendent of the Port of London Authority in the 1960s. I was back home on the River and all the Cockney memories came flooding in, know what ah meang? We hired a car and drove north to the Lake District. We stayed at Lake Windermere; visited the cottage of Beatrix Potter and were the only tourists on a small historic steam launch up Lake Windermere and back. Then I took him up to Skafell Pike. “You’re on your own with this one, mate” I told him. And while he toiled up the mountain, I visited the home and museum to William and Dorothy Wordsworth in Kendall. “I wandered lonely as a cloud ... etc”. Yes, the daffodils. Been there, recited that from memory. After the wedding we headed off Waterloo station in London and on to Belgium and that other Waterloo, battle of, Wellington, 1815. We took the Eurostar from Paddington to Lille, and the local train to Haute Picardie. You’ve never heard of it; neither had we. It’s where the “roses are
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blooming, in Picardie”. The local bus was waiting, and took us to the historic town of St Quentin. We didn’t know where we were, or what we were doing. Mais, je parles français. Savvy? We then went out on the town, where Simon was somewhat impressed that I could immediately fall into conversation with anyone we met. “Non, nous sommes pas des Anglais. (They still hate the English, after Agincourt, 1415) Regardez mon capot, nous sommes vraiment Australiens.” Look at my hat my green and gold Aussie cricket cap always worked! The next morning, our tour guide arrived for a minibus tour of the battlefields. Our tour was wonderful. By the time we got back to London, for our return flight to Australia, it dawned on me that for Simon, this had been a very impressive and informative trip. He knew most of the history but to come here and see the places, memorials and consequences of the dire decisions made by ambitious and ignorant politicians a century ago had made a deep and lasting impression upon him. At least, I hope so.
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Sunshine Coast
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TIME WARP
Heading west in a Ford Cortina A visit from her granddaughter during the school holidays brings back memories of a road trip for KATE CALLAHAN, who recalls the days when kids were just bundled into the car.
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In between, we cook Anzac biscuits, gem scones, savoury muffins, sausage rolls, tacos and Bolognese sauce. We groom the ponies, plait their manes, and treat them to carrots and biscuits of lucerne. We select fabric from the local craft store, practise straight stitching and zigzag on the sewing machine, draft a pattern and make mummy a reversible apron with pockets. We play Yahtzee, dominoes and I-Spy. We talk endlessly about Harry Potter and the minutiae of J.K. Rowling’s characters. If only she were this devoted to her times table, I muse. In a stroke of grandmaternal genius, I introduce her to my girlhood favourites, The Chronicles of Narnia, and am rewarded for my brilliance with a restorative afternoon nap while the youngster devours The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in her room. It’s now sun-up on Friday morning. The house is still quiet, so I settle my head back on the pillow, pull up the covers and contemplate the day ahead. I berate myself for exhausting my tool kit of school holiday entertainment before the week is out. Perhaps I peaked too
t’s school holidays and every morning, straight after the hugs and did-you-sleep-well courtesies have been exchanged, I am asked “What are we doing today?” by my darling granddaughter. Full of youthful expectation and exuberance, she has come to stay for a fun-filled week with grandma and pop. I hope we don’t disappoint! We’ve been looking forward to her visit for months as the vagaries of distance mean we see little of her during school term. And so the fun begins. Monday is the zoo where the meerkats are a hit. Tuesday is the aquatic centre and we swim until we are both wrinkly, which in my case represents only marginal change from the status quo. On Wednesday we shop until grandma almost drops, and yet we still only scratch the surface of the ludicrously large shopping centre we visit. On Thursday, we hit the beach, eat fish and chips in the park and finish off with cartwheels and ice cream. With so many varieties on offer, a double cone is mandatory.
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TIME WARP
soon. Maybe I should’ve left the zoo for today. The critical inner voice is very active this morning. My thoughts turn, as if for consolation and inspiration, to my own childhood and I wonder how my hard-working, dairy-farming parents coped in the school holidays. The answer is obvious: they carried on regardless. Milking cows do not respect school holidays. They expect to be milked twice a day, every day, unless they’ve been “dried off” and “turned out” for a well-deserved rest. In 1967, after working the farm for seven years non-stop, Mum and Dad turned out the cows and announced to the delight of my two brothers and myself that it was time for a holiday. Destination – the station property in north-western Queensland we had left seven years before. It was two days’ drive away and was still run by my beloved bachelor uncle, who offered free board and lodging for as long as we wanted to stay. In the wee hours of the morning, my brothers and I were piled half-asleep into the back seat of the Ford Cortina and we set off into the darkness. By sunrise, we were on roads unfamiliar.
Dad sat close to the steering wheel, as was his habit, puffing on a rollie wedged between the index and middle fingers of his right hand and glaring at the road from under the brim of his felt hat. For Dad, driving was a joyless activity, designed for the sole purpose of getting driver and passengers from point A to point B, safely and without delay.
“Just before dusk on that first day, Dad slowed the Cortina and pulled off into a rather dingy rest area” Mum couldn’t drive at all, except the old Land Rover on the flat, so with a captive audience she read aloud from P.C Wren’s, Beau Geste, an adventure novel my brother was studying at school. My brother had refused to read it and I can understand why. The book was about as much fun as this driving business. After initial excitement, the mood in
the car soon turned sombre. Such was Dad’s determination to reach our destination that we were “shushed” by Mum if we dared to ask for a toilet break. At intervals, Mum would put the novel down, roll another cigarette for Dad, and distribute bread and butter to quell the appetite. Food is not that appetising when all you want to do is empty your bladder. Just before dusk on that first day, Dad slowed the Cortina and pulled off the highway into a rather dingy rest area that mercifully was equipped with a toilet, a “thunderbox” to be precise, and an undercover picnic table. This was to be our campsite. As the light faded, the mosquitoes, big enough to saddle, descended. A light rain began to fall. From the boot, Dad extracted the tent he had borrowed from the neighbours – payback for seven years of horse shoeing – and started to erect it. The prospect of camping under the stars had seemed so adventurous, but for me, as a child of 10, it was apparent from the outset that Dad, though an experienced bushman, was a novice at erecting tents. The mood darkened as the sun
departed. For failing to cooperate, the tent was cursed up hill and down dale with a rich cocktail of swear words that Dad usually reserved for special occasions and never in front of the children. His language was reminiscent of the time he played his last competitive cricket match, when a bouncer hit him in the mouth and broke his false teeth. My brothers and I retreated to the back seat of the car. It was raining steadily now and pitch black. Mum got behind the wheel, started the engine and pointed the headlights in the direction of the tent. Finally, after an hour’s hard slog, it was up. But Dad had not counted on rain when he selected the campsite. He’d pitched the tent over a hollow that was steadily filling with water. Dad spent the night on the picnic table, while the rest of us were cramped like sardines in the Cortina. We never camped again, although Dad continued to shoe the neighbour’s horse until he retired. With a smile, I threw back the covers and prepared to greet the day, safe in the knowledge that there were plenty of things for us to do today and camping wasn’t one of them.
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 15
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READER’S STORY
A day at the races It’s the race that stops a nation, but, as RITA MALONE advises her snobbish English friend, it’s not Royal Ascot.
“I
can’t believe I am finally here,” said my excited English friend. “I am finally at Flemington race track, first Tuesday in November at the Melbourne Cup and with an Australian (pronounced Ostralian). The weather is brilliant, hot even. “Am I in Melbourne?” I asked myself, as I had been almost drowned attending the Cup over the years. My friend, English to the core, was a serious and socially well-heeled horse racing fan, with comments on all the courses she attended and the people therein. Royal Ascot, “every year off course my dear, so Royal. Known Elizabeth since they were children”; Chantilly in France, “what does one say about the French except to praise their champagne?”; the Curragh in Ireland, “I love Ireland and the Irish. We never did really tame them, however they breed the best race horses in the world”; Hong Kong Sha Tin and Happy Valley, “such a lovely name for a race course. The Chinese are the greatest gamblers in the world and we English brought horse racing to them”; Japan, “never really trusted them after the last war; and India was removed from my list after I developed a bad case of Delhi belly one year, so undignified”.
My friend was a snob. A true snob. The last of a long line of snobs. She lived in a forgotten era. Did I, an Ostralian hold this against her? No, she fascinated me as I was raised in a classless society and had never met a real snob until I met my friend. We were going into the Upper Circle (of course) where men of all ages were suited and booted, field glasses at the ready, membership badges fixed to their coats or dangling from waistcoats. The young men had suitable wraparound sunglasses. There were a few cut-away suits and top hats, suitable for Royal Ascot, but not really popular in Aus, as I told my friend. The women were a picture, a real fashion parade, having spent a small fortune on their attire including hats. Hats were the thing. Big hats, small hats, fascinators, hats with sweeping feathers, hats with ribbons, tassels and big bows. A riot of colour. Some young beauties nearly fall out of what there was of their frocks. The young, the middle aged and the aged all were a credit and delight to the eye. My friend was deeply impressed. “Nearly as good as Royal Ascot.” Better, I thought.
Both sexes stood together, champagne glasses held correctly in the left hand (never, my friend, in the right hand) finger food was circulated by well dressed, polite, non-intrusive wait staff. Name dropping was the order of the day, with everyone. Some of the crowd were well-known faces, cricket and football being well represented. An air of absolute prosperity reigned and excitement was mounting. “I must warn you about something,” I said to my friend who, by this time, had ingratiated herself into the middle of the crowd. I advised her to stand clear of the crowd once the race started as if their chosen horse showed promise in the straight they would, men and women of all ages, change completely. Some ancient geneses going back to early Africa or kangaroos seem to kick in. The men, young and old, start to yell madly while jumping higher and higher into the air, arms and field glasses swinging wildly. Hats fly off. Sunglasses hang on to one ear. “It seems to happen at all our big important meetings,” I told my friend. “But most of all at the Cup.” If the chosen mount wins, beware and flee, as the men run madly around in
circles looking for fellow males to hug, lift off their feet regardless of weight, swing around and then pound them madly on their backs. Women are forgotten and when they do remember the wives, partners and girlfriends and even complete strangers, are hugged, swung off their feet but not so much pounding on the back. Everyone in sight is included in this bizarre ritual. “Follow me when I move away from the main group,” says I. Then we hear the magic words. They are off and racing. Dead silence, not only at the track but all over Australia for the race that stops the nation has begun. There’s uproar as the horses hit the straight. As we left the track, my friend, her hat askew and a heel missing from one shoe, turned to me and said, “it could never happen at Ascot and I think I will put India back on the list. They looked so refined and … civilized.” They usually are, but seem to lose control at the big race days, especially our second national day, the wonderful Melbourne Cup. She should have followed me when I moved away from the crowd when the big race started.
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Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:40:18 PM
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18/10/2017 1:37:23 PM
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FASHION
Dress to immerse as well as impress While some Baby Boomers can afford luxury, others seek the immersive experience, but either way, writes KAY McMAHON, there is the dilemma of packing.
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ashion magazines are full of high-end resortwear for the traveller spending time in upmarket hotels and boutique resorts. However, there is another Baby Boomer traveller hitting the travel trail. Baby Boomer market expert and author of Generation Reinvention, and Marketing to Leading Edge Baby Boomers, Brent Green, says there is a new focus for many in this generation. “Leading edge Baby Boomers are looking for something outside of cookiecutter travel experiences,” Green said. “They want immersive activities. They don’t want to just eat pasta; they want to make it. They don’t want to just make it; they want to see where the wheat is grown that makes the pasta.” These Boomers are embracing travel, from solo excursions staying in backpacker accommodation, through to voluntourism where many support and spend time annually working in remote communities volunteering their expertise, skills and experience. Fashion is not high on their list of priorities but there is still the dilemma of what to pack – or what not to pack, if venturing past the resort’s gates. Who better to discuss this dilemma
Jo at the Taj Mahal in India. than a dear friend of mine, Jo, who admits only to being over 60 years old. Jo’s married but has travelled several times to India and Nepal with a girlfriend, to trek and stay with local villagers and experience their culture and lifestyle. This has also focused her involvement with NAFA (the Nepal Australia Friendship Association) which supports projects improving the education and sustainability of women and children in Nepal. She now combines her trips to India with a visit to Nepal to check on the
progress of NAFA’s contributions. The fashion conundrum is packing for city sight-seeing and shopping in places such as Delhi, en route to trekking kilometres into remote Nepalese villages. “I still haven’t achieved the perfect packed bag,” Jo says. “You realise when you travel in India and trek through Nepal that you don’t need a lot of stuff.” Her main tip involves the mantra that clothes the locals are wearing have developed for that climate so must be appropriate. She always takes this into consideration, but will also add snippets of her Western aesthetic. And she knows that cultural differences are extremely important when considering outfits so always try to blend in if you are trying to have an immersive experience. She would never wear shorts, short skirts or revealing outfits in India as she never wants to offend. Here are her tips for an immersive travel pack: 1. Always pack (and wear daily) a large cotton scarf. It’s the most versatile piece in your bag. It covers your face if it’s dusty, wraps for warmth, or covers your head when needed for showing respect or entering a temple. 2. The Indian locals wear Salwar Khameez; a slim tapered pant with
loose- fitting colourful long overtop. This works well for Westerners as it can equate to a slim cotton or linen pant or pair of jeans with a long cotton top brought from home. Jo always packs at least one top but as soon as she lands, hits her favourite stores and markets to purchase colourful local Indian Salwars that also look amazing in our Queensland summers. 3. For shoes, Jo packs a pair of fashion sandals and a soft sneaker for city sight-seeing, a slip-on sandal for in local homes and hotels, and trekking boots. 4. Her accessories are minimal. She has a small shoulder bag for her passport, phone, money and lipstick, but this can fit into a small backpack for daytrips and shopping. She then has a larger soft backpack which holds all her clothes. 5. She buys several of the large sarong-like scarves once she’s in the country and, perhaps, one sterling silver bracelet in the myriad of silver markets. It may seem spartan but for Boomers keen for an immersive experience this bag could take you anywhere. I intend to heed her advice when accompanying her on a textile trip through India next year. For Styleboomer answers and ideas: styleboomer@gmail.com
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Sunshine Coast
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 19
18/10/2017 1:36:40 PM
YOUR GARDEN
Hot stuff for the garden this summer
TRIBUTE TO GARDENING
If you really want to spice up your garden this summer then, GARDEN EZI says, now is the time to plant a chilli bush or two.
M
aybe you don’t much like the hot taste of chillis, but consider this – there is more vitamin C in a chilli than in an orange and other health benefits besides. Chillis are also rich in vitamins A, E, potassium and folic acid and, despite their fiery flavour, are (used in moderation) very good for stimulating digestion. The hot zap is all in the seeds and the secret is all in the cooking. If chillis are cooked long and well they lose some of their fire (but also some of their vitamin content). If you want to reduce chilli heat in a recipe, remove some of the seeds or buy one of the several less fiery varieties. Chillis are easy to grow, in the ground or in a pot. They will tolerate poorish sandy soil but not heavy clay. The best growing environment is an improved, loamy soil and a sunny position. Water well every day or so for the first month after which a chilli bush will only need watering a couple of times a week. Feed with blood and bone or an all-purpose fertiliser, although for best fruiting results I recommend using a special fruit and/or vegetable fertiliser. Cut the bush back once fruiting is finished.
The peppery fruit is, not surprisingly, repellent to most birds and insect pests – but not all! Currawongs and some parrots will take the fruit so your plant may need protection. Caterpillars and grasshoppers will eat the leaves and if this starts to happen use a spray or dust recommended by your garden centre. Chillis are in the same genus as tomatoes and though less susceptible, are still prone to the same wilt diseases so make sure the ground or container is well-drained and always use a good quality potting mix. Chillis today come in large and small fruit shapes and sizes – long or round or “udder” shaped and in decorative colours from white to purple as well as red and orange. All can be used in cooking and green, unripe chillis are better than mature red for some dishes. If you have a large crop you can freeze or dry them and then use them whole or ground to make your own chilli powder. Crushed or powdered chilli spread on the ground around plants also makes an effective slug and snail repellent. gardenezi.com
Fay Thorogood and Jeanette Morrison of the Nambour Garden Club with the book A Tribute to Gardening. Nambour Garden Club launched its book, A Tribute to Gardening, which was funded by the Sunshine Coast 50th Anniversary Fund, when nearly 150 people celebrated the inaugural National Garden Week, themed Dig In and Celebrate. The book was compiled by members Jeanette Morrison and Fay Thorogood. It pays tribute to varied gardening pursuits, from the indigenous tribes to district pioneers, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden and schools, as well as other gardens including those of members. It demonstrates that gardening is an active pursuit of many on the Sunshine Coast. A Tribute to Gardening retails for $15, and profits will benefit charity.
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Sunshine Coast
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MOTORING
Pack up the car for a road trip THE world is stacked with swags of great drives and roads to remember and some are just around the corner, writes BRUCE McMAHON.
A
mong the top highways and byways around the globe are many Australian roads offering an enriching getaway, from Cape York to Wilsons Promontory, Bryon Bay to Broome. Straight up, there’s a thing – by far the best way to appreciate Broome is to drive in from the Kimberley, dusty, thirsty and eyes-wide-open rather than cossetted and drowsy in an airline seat. Australia does deserts well, so here’s a long-distance favourite drive: BrisbaneBirdsville-Adelaide. This takes the traveller through the magic of Queensland’s Channel Country, the charms of Innamincka and the history of the Dig Tree, down the open stretches of the Strzelecki and into the rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges. It’s a tour best tackled in cooler months with time and a reliable vehicle. Some SUVs may handle it but better is a “proper” four-wheel drive. Take a satellite phone, extra spare tyre, water and listen out for changing weather and road conditions in this very special slice of Outback. For a weekend away there’s always the forested delights of northern New
Australian roads offer a real getaway. South Wales (if they’d drawn the border straight from Ballina to Mungindi instead of being sneaky about the area’s timbers this would all be Queensland anyway). These days there’s easy access down the Pacific Highway and then a myriad of
back roads to explore in and around Bangalow and Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah and Nimbin. And then retreat to a beachside overnighter, tonnes of choices here from Fingal to Ballina. If looking to go that bit more country for the weekend, try the StanthorpeTexas road. This stretch, just under 100km long, is a wonderful touring road and showcases a piece of Australian scrub and rural life without getting the car too dirty. Best of all, there are good places to eat and sleep at either end of this road. Check out the Stockman Hotel in Texas and Zest Pastries in Stanthorpe. Closer to south-east Queensland a good day out of Brisbane remains up and over Mount Glorious (watch for bikers), north past Lake Wivenhoe, then around Somerset Dam and into Kilcoy; from here options include looping up through Maleny or heading east to Caboolture. This one is to be taken steady, there can be swarms of weekend traffic and some of the road surfaces aren’t great. But there are top picnic spots along the way. For name-dropping drivers, little can touch the Pacific Coast Highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Even after
half-a-dozen tours this remains a firm favourite for the ocean views, magnificent forests and the towns, Carmel and Monterrey in particular. And while it can be a journey slowed by rubber-neckers, it is never as frustrating as Victoria’s Great Ocean Road (plus it’s prettier). And it’s a far, far longer stretch – needs at least two days – than the Cairns-Port Douglas ocean drive.
Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.
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www. ShineRetirement.com.au November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 21
18/10/2017 1:36:11 PM
TECHNOLOGY
NEW VIEW OF THE WORLD
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING ONLINE
Augmented reality will change the way you use iPhone and iPad, writes COLIN DUNKERLEY.
Online privacy can be protected, but it comes at a price, writes NATHAN WELLINGTON.
W
ith the release of iOS 11 overnight Apple has become the largest augmented reality delivery service company in the world. What is augmented reality? Also referred to as AR, it is a technology that superimposes a computer generated image or video on a user’s view of the real world, creating a combined view where the superimposed image looks like it is in front of you. You can walk around, toward or back from the image and it will stay at the correct scale it was originally set at. So many industries will be changed by this technology. Education will never be the same when you can view anything from the internals of a lock, the transmission of a car to the entire human body in 3D as you walk around it in your room. Games will be even more addictive when the chess board just appears on your coffee table as you play someone on the other side of the world. For kids, there is a Math game (Math Ninja AR) that has already been downloaded more than two million times and had more than six million problems solved in less than one month! Retailers need to gear up for the
change as well. IKEA has already jumped on board with their App “IKEA Place”. You can use it to view true-to-scale models of everything from sofas and armchairs to footstools and coffee tables. You place these items where you want in your home using your finger on the screen of your device and you can see how it looks. It will stay in place as you walk around. Great for seeing if the colour matches your decor and if the size is right for your room. You can view the entire solar system in your backyard or even use your iPhone as a tape measure simply by tapping on the two edges you want to measure. There is even an app that shows the heart in full 3D with your latest workout data driving its beat! To use these apps you must have iOS11 installed on your iPad or iPhone and then, just visit the App Store and search for “AR”. Currently there are a couple of dozen apps that are true AR, but every day more will be added and once again technology evolves. Follow the iPadMan on Facebook for regular helpful updates or visit theipadman.com.au
L
ast month I introduced you to the world of IP addresses. Every website you visit records metadata, and this data is now kept by your internet service provider. In 2015, the Government passed legislation compelling all telecommunications companies and internet service providers to keep consistent and reliable metadata on their customers for two years on your phone calls, text messages, emails, and internet. This is for ASIO and the AFP to sequester your information for the purposes of national security. On April 13, 2017, this clandestine bill became law. On a philosophical note, I understand the need for safety and security of Australian citizens, but at what cost? You may be of the opinion “well, if you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to worry about”, but saying you have nothing to hide automatically foregoes your right to privacy. This is a slippery slope. In June this year a man has already had his counsel attempt to use this law to sequester his wife’s online records in a divorce suit to prove she had been unfaithful. If you would like to protect your right to online privacy you can install a VPN. Put simply, a Virtual Private Network
(VPN) is a service or program that allows your computer or device to connect to a secure offsite server over a network using an encrypted, “tunnel-like” connection. It masks your IP address, providing a layer of all-important privacy and anonymity. You can sign up for a VPN quickly and easily depending on the devices you use and whether they support Mac or Windows. Simply sign up for their service, pay their subscription fee, which costs anywhere between $40 and $70 a year, then download their software, activate it and off you go. I must also forewarn you of some of the disadvantages of using a VPN. It only applies to the device you have downloaded the software on. To hide your IP address VPNs, use many thousands of servers around the world. On the odd occasion, you may find your internet service gets slow or disconnects, you may need to refresh your VPN connection to gain your speed back. Lastly, although VPNs provide you anonymity, it won’t protect you completely. ASIO and the AFP have sophisticated software that can burrow into that tunnel to gain access, but you need to be a person of interest for them to make the effort to do this. Nathan@hometechassist.com.au
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22 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
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Sunshine Coast
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Halcyon Lakeside BLI BLI
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HISTORY
Where the wildflowers bloom This year marks 50 years since Kathleen McArthur began a crusade to make us aware of the beauty of the coast’s wildflowers, writes AUDIENNE BLYTH.
“K
athleen McArthur, artist, author, educator, conservationist, stirrer and general greenie,” was the remark made by a friend at the naming of the Kathleen McArthur Currimundi Conservation Park in 2003. She was led by her passion. There are many stories told about the extraordinary Kathleen McArthur (1915 – 2000). She was named Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Century in 2002, such was the impact of her work. This year was the
50th anniversary of the Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival. A series of talks by members of the Wildlife Preservation Society was recently held in libraries throughout the region to mark Kathleen’s pioneering contribution. Sunshine Coast Wildflower Shows originated at her home Midyim in Caloundra in 1967. A visitor would easily have recognised her home, because it was the one house in the street where native plants and trees spilled out on to the
Enjoy the fellowship THE BUDERIM MALE CHOIR IS SEEKING NEW MEMBERS Established in 1974, the Buderim Male Choir is the longest running choir on the Sunshine Coast. Singing in the Welsh tradition, the choir is proud of its long history and commitment to the community. SING for HEALTH and ENJOYMENT | Contact ROD - 5456 4473
NOVEMBER 14 BUS TOUR... Explore 3 Sunshine Coast Lifestyle Communities The best way to discover what retirement living is all about Jump onboard and let us guide you to 3 different retirement villages and over 50s communities on the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy morning tea at Natures Edge Buderim, lunch at Living Choice Kawana Waters and afternoon tea at IRT Woodlands. The bus is hosted by retirement living consultants from Freedom Retirement Living, so you will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The bus tour is a great way to learn about retirement living and meet like-minded people along the way.
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footpath. For the first five years, the shows were held there until they became too popular. Thousands of visitors were coming to buy native plants and see her gallery of paintings. The festival continued for many years in the Coolum Civic Centre. Coast councils now promote a series of guided tours and publish a booklet on self-guided walks with photographs of wildflowers for easy identification. By taking our children and grandchildren along on those walks a tradition of conservation care is created. Kathleen first came to the coast as a teenager in the 1930s and was impressed by the beauty and abundance of wildflowers everywhere, from the headlands to the wallum. The problem was that local and state government was unable to see the value in wildflowers. Even in the 1970s, some wildflowers were disappearing. Coastal development, new roads and subdivisions were their death knell. Kathleen’s lifework was not only with flora but with fauna as well. With Judith Wright and David Fleay, Kathleen founded the Wildlife Preservation Society in 1962. Wildflowers and wildflower tours have always been well promoted in Western Australia but the recognition of our own
Kathleen McArthur busy sketching. wildflowers have taken many years. Kathleen’s lifelong battle was to get people to see and value the region’s wildflowers. They did not see that wildflowers were worthwhile, yet botanists came from all over the world to study them. Kathleen has left us an inspirational legacy, beautiful drawings of native plants and flowers, her newspaper articles, her lunch-time theatre, her fights to preserve national parks and the environment such as Pumicestone Passage and Cooloola National Park. Her books are collectors’ items; the topics were close to her heart.
Time: 10am – 4pm Join our next tour Call or email now to book your seat and find out more RSVP Ingrid 0434 887 846 Barbara 0437 199 790
1800 841 999 www.freedomretirementliving.com.au info@freedomretirement.com.au
Sunshine Coast
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CARE AFFAIRS
Six steps to home care Frequent falls, not coping with daily tasks or skipping meals can be signs that living at home without support is becoming a challenge. It’s time to reach out for help, writes KENDALL MORTON.
H
ere’s a guide to get you on the road so you or your loved ones can remain living at home, safe and happy for longer. Step 1: Arrange an assessment Book an appointment with the ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) in your local area which is responsible for assessing the support needs of older Australians. A home care provider can help you to get referred for an ACAT assessment. If you prefer, your local doctor can book your ACAT assessment or call My Aged Care 1800 200 422. Step 2: Your ACAT assessment A member of the ACAT team will come to your home to
do this assessment. You can have family or a friend present. It should take about an hour. You will be asked about your daily routines, your health, what difficulties you are having and what your concerns are. You will not be asked to make decisions at this meeting. The ACAT team will then decide which level of support is right for you now. This may be a Home Care Package. Step 3: Your two letters My Aged Care will send you two letters, an approval letter and later, an assignment letter. The first letter says what level of home care package has been approved for you. Now your name is added to the national queue. You are not allocated
any funds yet. Then a second letter will arrive telling you that funds have been assigned to your name. This means your funding is available to start using. You are ready for the next step. Step 4: Choosing a home care provider You now choose a service provider and they will be given your funding so they can deliver your care. You will find a full list of local providers at the My Aged Care website. Although you can change your home care provider later on, it’s easier to check out the services thoroughly before making your choice. Ask questions that are relevant to
your needs now and your possible needs in the future. For instance, you may want evening care later on. Ask about fees. The lower the fees, the more hours remain for your care or health-related purchases. Fees can vary from 15 per cent to 40 per cent. This can add up to 5 extra hours a week, in lawn-mowing, cleaning or a visit to a café for example. Step 5: Making a care plan When you have chosen your service provider, they will sit down with you and work out a care plan. This is based on your routines and goals. They will show you how to get the best value from your funds. You then sign a service
agreement and will be given a copy of this. You should also get a timetable showing who will be helping you and at what times. Keep talking to your provider until you are clear about all the details. Step 6: Get on with living With your home care package operating smoothly, you are likely to feel more confident and in better spirits. You can relax and live your life your way. As time goes on, your needs may change so it’s important to tell your home care provider so that your care plan can change too. Email kmorton@ homecareassistance.com
TAKE THE PAIN OUT OF THE BIG MOVE DOWNSIZING from family home to retirement living is intimidating by any measure, from selling one place to finding the next. For many seniors, it’s a draining task, both emotionally and physically, at a time in your life when you least need the anguish, which has led Seniors Advocate, Margaret Warren, to providing a service to help. Inspired Outcomes is a one-stop shop to lend a hand, from finding the right place to live to selling your property including grooming it ready to go on the market, de-cluttering, moving and re-connecting utilities. Margaret personally supervises each step to make one
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of life’s big decisions stress-free. A free consultation includes a survey to ascertain what type of living is required – retirement resort or village or nursing home. Appointments are then made to inspect three different types of resorts or villages to find what best suits. Once a choice is made, there is help with making an expression of interest or hold on the property. Next is sale of the family home, and assistance is available for preparing it for sale, from organising tradespeople to undertake repairs to providing a real estate agent for valuation and assessment. “Our consultants understand that this can be a challenging
time and so sit with clients to help to walk them through this process, and be the buffer between them and the real estate agency,” Margaret says. “We take photographs of the current home to ensure
“It’s a draining task both emotionally and physically at a time when you least need anguish” furniture and beloved keepsakes, including photographs, favourite items of china and even coffee mug, are placed where they should be
after the move.” Furniture and the floor plans of the unit are measured so that it remains as homely as possible. In cases where the items won’t fit, the consultant will help with shopping for a replacement, right down to new blinds or curtaining. There’s also help with de-cluttering and organising the sorting and sale of items, organising insurance and dealing with Centrelink, solicitors and accountants. Four weeks before the move, a consultant from Inspired Outcomes arranges for utilities such as electricity, gas, phone or Foxtel to be disconnected and reconnected to the new home, as well as mail redirection.
The consultant then calls for quotes for the move, arranges cleaners and on removal day, coffee or lunch while the work is underway and before arriving at the new home ready to move in. Everything will be in place – crockery and saucepans in cupboards, medication in a familiar place, and the bed made. “In many cases seniors seem to be the ones who get left behind or forgotten about, but this beautifully companioned service has helped many clients to a better outlook and introduced them to a better and easier way of life,” Margaret says. Call 0448 201 884 or email info@inspiredoutcomes.net.au
November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 25
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COMMUNITY NEWS
PENSIONER CONCESSION CARD IS BACK
CHRISTMAS FAIR IN BUDERIM
THOUSANDS of seniors will have their Pensioner Concession Cards reinstated, giving access to significant discounts. Former part pensioners lost their cards in January because of reforms to the pension assets test, designed to make the system more affordable and sustainable into the future. Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said 1680 former part-pensioners on the Sunshine Coast would again be entitled to a range of benefits with their new cards. “The Pensioner Concession Card enables people to benefit from a range of state, local government and private sector savings such as reduced power bills, property and water rates, public transport and rego,” he said. “These savings really add
up and can make a huge difference to the cost of living for older Australians.” The January reforms provided an increased pension for people with lower levels of assets while some part pensioners with high levels of assets, lost access. The cards have been automatically reinstated. Those expecting a reissued card don’t need to do anything to receive it, it will be sent automatically. “They will also retain the Commonwealth Seniors’ Health Card, which continued to be provided after the January 2017 pension changes,” Mr O’Brien said. “This means they will continue to be paid the energy supplement that they formerly received with their pension.” Visit humanservices.gov.au
MEDITATION MEETS MOVEMENT
COME TO THE BAZAAR
VAJRA dance, one of the practices taught at Namgyalgar, a retreat centre in the Glasshouse Mountains, is gentle movement and sound that can help us to focus. “Science confirms what the yogis and mystics have known for centuries, that meditation is good for us,” said Sally Price. “But often, our western minds are not used to stopping and some people feel overwhelmed.” To the accompaniment of slow, rhythmic mantras which are sung to music and with specific movements of the feet and graceful, flowing arm movements, dancers move around a large, coloured mandala on the floor. Vajra dance helps balance and integrate the body with the movement of the dance. Visit dzogchen.org.au
BUDERIM Gardens Retirement Village’s Chistmas Bazaar will be held in the Community Hall on Saturday, November 18, and everyone is invited. Home-made cakes, sweets, jams and pickles will be available as well as a variety of hand-crafted goods including jewellery, collage, stoneware and ceramics, paintings and artwork, and children’s clothes, toys and books. Doors open 8.30am until noon. Buderim Gardens is opposite Headland Bowls Club at 405 Mooloolaba Rd Buderim and parking is available on site. Buderim Gardens was the first retirement village to be built in Australia and provides a variety of homes in wellestablished grounds. The community welcomes visitors for a fun morning.
FIND all the answers to Christmas gift questions at the Buderim Christmas Fair at the War Memorial Hall, Craft Cottage and gardens on Saturday, November 25. From quirky ceramics to original artworks, tasty treats to good quality used books, discerning shoppers will find what they’re looking for as well as some surprises to help fill Christmas stockings. The Craft Cottage gallery and studios will also open all afternoon on Friday, November 24 and will be full of artisan handmade crafts and artworks, paintings, pottery, sculpture, greeting cards by awardwinning calligraphers, jewellery in silver, other metals and gemstones. The fabric artists will offer fashion, toys, quilting, embroidery and other needlework. Spice up your Christmas tree with unique baubles and
decorations Cottage members are busy making and which will sell for $5 and under. On Saturday, as well as the Craft Cottage, the Memorial Hall and gardens will be dotted with about 90 stalls ready to help with Christmas gift-giving and Christmas treats. Organised by Buderim Lions and with an emphasis on handmade, quality, local goods you will be able to pick up gourmet goodies, gifts, toys, homewares, homemade soaps and plants with all stalls run by local community groups and market traders. As well as original crafts and art, the Buderim Library will again offer readers stacks of good quality pre-loved books from their sale in the War Memorial Hall. Refreshments will be served by the Lions Club on the verandah and the Cottage kitchen will offer tea and coffee and homemade yummies.
SPEAK up
ageing to find happiness and live your best years yet, as well as learn the tricks of personal styling to reflect beauty and confidence at any age. Workshop Guides are Deb, an accredited Louise Hay Heal Your Life Coach and Cat, a trained Personal Stylist. The workshop is on Saturday, November 11, 10am1.30pm at the Cooroy Library. Morning tea is included. Email insideoutsidegreat@ gmail.com or call 0436 104 237
The Probus Club of Caloundra 86 meets at the Pelican Waters Taverns at 9.30am on the third Tuesday of each month. Probus is a world-wide organization dedicated to fun, fellowship and friendship for active retirees. Visitors are welcome. Contact membership officer Terry Sternberg 0418 749 042
SHOW your style Are you an older woman wanting to enjoy each day to the fullest, but feeling constrained by society’s limitations on ageing? An Ageing with Wisdom & Style workshop will show how to transcend limiting beliefs on
It’s all happening at the Buderim Memorial Hall and Craft Cottage, corner Church and Main streets, Buderim on Friday, November 24, 1pm-5pm and Saturday, November 25, 8am-3pm, with some market traders closing at 2.30pm. Street and nearby parking is supplemented by supervised parking at signed locations behind the Hall, beside the park and at Buderim School. Fee $2.
All ages are welcome to attend and anyone interested in picking up the musical instrument is welcome, whether you have just learnt to play or would like to learn a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Call Myron 0468 572 726 or email beginners@ buderimconcertband.com
JOIN a band Buderim Concert Band is a friendly group of musicians who meet Monday nights for an hour at Mountain Creek State High School.
Are you interested in
downsizing
or Retirement Living
and don’t know how or where to start?... Then call Margaret at Inspired Outcomes for some answers.
One stop shop for Seniors moving forward 26 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
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Call Margaret today for a Free, no obligation consultation on:
0448 201 884 Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:34:08 PM
FINANCE
Plan to enjoy the journey Surveys confirm that those who plan for their retirement are better off than most, so if travel is your aspiration, then take flight, writes BRIAN MOONEY.
O
ne of the exciting aspects of getting older is you have the money to see the world and it follows that good planning your holiday will make it a better experience. This doesn’t mean you have to plan to the hour or the day where you will be. Here are some of the things to consider: SINGLE The reality is that more people are single in the 50-plus age group than ever before. Some singles enjoy travelling alone while for others, it is a cause for trepidation. Going with a small group of friends, work colleagues or relatives is an option, or maybe an organised tour that has other singles. AGENT OR SELF Lots of people use the internet for planning their travel and it works well for some. There are some fantastic online flights or travel packages, but it helps if you know someone who has used that
company previously. Sometimes travel agents have seats left on cheap flights that are fully booked online. Also, they have often been to the country you are visiting and have valuable experience to share. There is no right or wrong way, however, one approach might be to do some research online and then go and talk to an agent. MEDICAL AND INSURANCE It is good practice to have a medical before you travel and make sure you have adequate insurance. If you break your leg in a remote location it may cost a small fortune to be evacuated. Some credit cards offer free insurance but check the benefits and conditions of eligibility, for example, minimum spend required on the card. Make sure you have your family contact details on your phone. HOW TO PAY It does depend on where you are going as some countries still use cash for a lot of transactions
outside of hotels etc. It is best to take some cash and other funding options include traveller’s cheques, debit and credit cards and pre-paid cards. While traveller’s cheques are more secure than cash, the exchange rate is not competitive and they are not accepted everywhere. The Pre-paid cards are good if you want to lock in the exchange rate and you can pre-load more than one currency. There can be hidden fees with these cards. Debit and Credit cards allow you to get cash in multiple countries, but you are subject to the exchange rate at the time of each transaction. The best solution is a combination of cash, pre-paid travel cards and a debit and/or credit card. A lot of my clients are in the travel or SKI (Spending Kids Inheritance) part of their life and I learn a lot from them. Bon voyage. Brian Mooney is a Certified Financial Planner ay Logiro. Email brianm@logiro.com
How is your financial future looking?
TEN GOOD REASONS TO HAVE A WILL If you die without a Will, the law says you have died intestate. It means you have left no valid instructions on how you want your property to be distributed. The court will decide how your estate will be divided up according to a formula in the legislation. Here are 10 good reasons why it’s worth getting around to making a Will. 1. The decisions on how your estate will be distributed will be made by you, otherwise there are no guarantees that your intended desires will be carried out. 2. It helps minimise argument within the family. 3. A Will informs the court how you want your estate to be distributed. 4. You will decide who will administer your estate. The executor is responsible for paying the bills, cancelling your credit cards and notifying the bank and other establishments of your death. 5. There may be someone you do not want to gain from your estate and you can disinherit
individuals (such as an ex-spouse from a bitter divorce). 6. Minimise estate taxes because the value of what you give to family members and charities will reduce the value of your estate when it is time to pay taxes. 7. Make gifts and donations. Your legacy can continue to live on and can show your personal values and interests. Make sure current laws are checked. 8. Avoid legal challenges – if you die intestate, your estate may pass to someone who you didn’t want to leave anything to. 9. You can change your mind when your circumstances change such as births, deaths and divorce. A Will allows you to make provisions while you are still alive. 10. Death is part of life. Procrastinating about making a Will and thinking you will get around to it one day can result in unnecessary trauma when an unexpected death occurs. Visit weaps.com.au
Drop by for a cup of coffee and a chat! Erica Jackson CFP ® Senior Financial Adviser
Tax, legislation, strategies, markets and Centrelink are ever-changing so no matter your stage in life, it’s never too late to review your current retirement plan. This is where receiving sound, ongoing quality financial advice is the key to achieving peace of mind, particularly when it comes to managing your pension and retirement incomes. Infocus Sunshine Coast is part of one of the leading quality advice providers in the nation. Our highly qualified and dedicated team are on hand to assist you achieve your retirement goals and the advice you receive is tailored specifically to your needs.
Call us today on 5443 4311 to arrange a no obligation chat to make sure you’re on the right track.
Level 2, Cnr Maroochydore Road & Evans Street, MAROOCHYDORE, QLD 4558 T:5443 4311 E:sunshinecoast@infocus.com.au W: www.infocus.com.au / sunshine-coast
Infocus Financial Planning Pty Ltd ABN 34 133 955 736 is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities Australia Pty Ltd ABN 47 097 797 049 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523 trading as Infocus Financial Advice and Infocus Money Management.
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 27
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LIFE IN FOCUS
The good, the bad and the ugly of change Lucky, lucky me! I am always winning money according to my emails and texts, writes PAULINE DU RIETZ.
I
was recently looking after some kids aged between 10 and 12 years. We were discussing computers and I mentioned that, some 34 years ago, I had one of the first Apple Macs in Australia. I was asked what type of computer I had prior and I stated that I didn’t have a computer. You can imagine the response from kids who have always known computers. Their questions featured a tone of amazement, including “where did you get your information?” and “what did you play with?” We got into a long conversation about how things were before computers, television and supermarkets, let alone, Facebook and buying things online. Eventually one of the kids told me that listening to how life used to be some 60 years ago was like a listening to “some weird fantasy story”. I tried to explain we didn’t have refrigerators and the “iceman” would deliver a large block of ice each week for the ice chest. I explained how the washing was done prior to the arrival of washing machines. I told them how kids did not call adults by their first names, that the neighborhood kids would all play together and the neighborhood mums would challenge and discipline your
behaviour as if you belonged to them. I mentioned that not every family owned a car and that going on holidays was almost unheard of, unless you went to your cousin’s house. I might add, I did not mention that in my early days at school, we wrote on slates, that toilets were out in the backyard and that the toilet pans were collected by someone called “the Dunny Man”. When I mentioned that in my early days of working on television, it was in black and
white and finished around 10.30pm. They were aghast and couldn’t imagine TV not being in colour or not being available all the time. As we chatted, I considered what TV commercials were like in those days. I remember one where the product being sold was floor cleaner and the woman demonstrating the floor cleaner was wearing a beautiful “going-out” style dress and high-heeled shoes. During the post-war period, especially since the 1960s, we
have experienced great change. The good, bad and ugly aspects of life: social, economic, cultural and political, as well as enormous global influences, that we automatically accept and take for granted. Until that conversation with the kids and during the next couple of days, I kept thinking of the technological progress that you and I, dear reader, have experienced. On the positive side we have to include some things like medicine; travel; aspects of education and workplace training; occupational health and safety; better opportunities for women in the workplace and opportunities to exit marriage and property settlement in a better way than we did prior to 1975. There have been changes in the family structure; opportunities for mature age students to enter university and for individuals to retrain and change their careers. On the bad side, we have seen the loss of our manufacturing industries and changes to the production of food and farming. And on the ugly side, we have experienced the deterioration of our values of respect, consideration and acceptance. The nature and manifestation of crime has also changed. Our grandchildren do
not have the same freedoms and safety that we, or our children had. Another ugly and frustrating aspect that we now experience is the exceptionally poor standard of debate and representation that we get from our politicians. Not all is bad though. Like most of you who use technology, I continually get spam emails and text messages from unsolicited sources. Over the years, I have won millions of dollars according to the senders. Their tactics frequently amuse me, however I never open the documents. Sometimes, the subject header suggests that someone has left me huge amounts of money in their will, or some person has come into a lot of money and wants to share it with me! I have only once responded. The message came via text and the sender said, “I am from the United Nations and they have sent me to give you $1.5 million in cash. I am at the Brisbane airport and need you to email me $110 to buy a label to get out of the airport so that I can bring you the cash.” I thought about it for some time and then responded, “Take the $110 out of the cash that you have there, see you soon.” Lucky, lucky me! Strangely, I did not hear from them again!
important for siblings to identify the types of services that a parent needs. There is a variety of organisations and resources available to help. Both health.gov.au and commcarelink.health.gov.au are good places to start.
Plan ahead – Once you’ve identified needs and explored available resources, start planning how to share the load. If a parent wants to remain living at home, it will be important to plan for the years ahead and work out whether the duties can be shared by siblings and whether professional help is required. Be flexible – Life is fluid and circumstances change. Accept that each of you may not always be able to share the responsibility, and that’s ok. It is important not to insist that all caregiving tasks be split down the middle. The division of care should take into account the family member’s interests, skills
and availability. The needs of your parent/s will also change over time. Talk to each other – Communicate if you are feeling overwhelmed with the stress of caring for a parent. Carers Australia found that 55 per cent of primary carers spend more than 20 hours a week providing care, which is the equivalent of a second job. If you’re struggling to cope, call a meeting with your sibling/s to discuss how they can assist. They might be able to contribute more hours into caregiving or help with looking into private care support options. Visit homeinstead.com.au
CHILDREN SHARE THE LOAD CARING for ageing parents is a difficult task and can lead to some sensitive situations between siblings as they navigate the process. According to Carers Australia, there are almost three million unpaid carers in Australia and almost all primary carers are family members. “Sharing does not necessarily come easily to siblings. They may have squabbled over toys as kids, household chores in their adolescence and now, in later life, they have to consider how to share the responsibility of caring for Mum and Dad, Home Instead Senior Care founder Martin Warner says. His advice for siblings is:
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Talk to your parents – It’s crucial to communicate with your parents and understand their needs. Seniors are often fiercely protective of their independence and may even refuse help. Do your homework – It’s
Sunshine Coast
19/10/2017 10:03:05 AM
RETIREMENT LIVING
Halcyon proves a winning move
H
appily retired couple Ken Day and Sylvia Lewis have packed up their lives on the Gold Coast and upsized their home to enjoy Halcyon days on the Sunshine Coast, while pocketing a handy capital gain on the way. Converts to the Halcyon lifestyle, the couple sold their waterfront home in the five-star over 50s lifestyle community, Vision by Halcyon, to enjoy the state-ofthe-art bowls facilities at Halcyon Lakeside on the Sunshine Coast. “We really like the Halcyon brand and the community spirit and lifestyle offering that comes with buying a home at Halcyon,” Ms Lewis said. “We’ve met so many people and made lifelong friendships at Vision and we are so excited to do it all over again at Lakeside. “It’s the right time for us to move on. We purchased our home at Vision primarily for the boating aspect and, as time went on, we found that we weren’t using the boat very often and our lawn bowls hobby became a more enjoyable pastime.” The move to Halcyon Lakeside has come with an added bonus for the couple who achieved a handsome capital gain
)\ZOÄYL YH[LK N\[[LY guard! Stop Snakes, Rats & Possums!
FINAL OPEN DAY AS PEBBLE BEACH HITS CAPACITY
from the sale of their Vision by Halcyon home. “Moving to Lakeside worked out great for us financially and we are looking forward to settling into our new lifestyle in this vibrant community,” Mr Day said. “We’ve now got a larger home and were also able to put some money in the bank for holidays.” The couple was drawn to Halcyon’s home ownership financial protection framework as there are no hidden costs, no exit fees, no deferred management fees, sinking funds or capital replacement fees and homeowners are free to sell their home at any time. “The fact that Halcyon’s communities don’t have an exit fee was a major drawcard for us, and we definitely wouldn’t consider living in any community without the safety of no exit fees,” Mr Day said. “At our age, we need to make sure our investment is safe and Halcyon offers the whole package – the lifestyle aspect and the financial freedom.”
Award-winning retirement community developer Parker Property Group’s Pebble Beach freehold retirement community has completed its final stage of development, with only a handful of homes remaining for sale. With nowhere left to expand, it is the last chance to secure freehold retirement freedom and dodge deferred management fees. The final open day, on Friuday, November 17, 10am-2pm, is an opportunity to inspect remaining homes and join residents for refreshments. Pebble Beach is an example of a rare but popular independent living freehold retirement community where residents own their homes outright and have all the rights of freehold home owners. This means no deferred management fees or hefty ongoing costs. Owners retain all the capital gains achieved, while enjoying the security and community atmosphere of a registered retirement village. “In this way Pebble Beach has been designed to bridge the gap between full service retirement living and owning your own home” sales manager Elaine Quinn says. “We might not provide all the bells and whistles of some other options, but
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that is exactly what the developer intended and is just how the residents like it. “Its proximity to services, clubs and facilities on Bribie Island allows residents to pick and choose without being burdened with the ongoing management costs associated with on-site facilities they may not even use.” Basics such as rubbish removal, lawn mowing, grounds and building maintenance and insurance is covered by a simple low body corporate fee (currently less than $40 a week) which is administered by the resident-run body corporate. The final stage of new homes is adjacent to The Village Shopping Centre, with a convenient security gate which provides access to a range of shops including Premier IGA supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, newsagency, liquor store, bakery, hair salon, coffee shop and dental surgery Home prices start from $399,000, which includes tiles, carpets, security screens and planted courtyard garden.
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WELLBEING
Don’t let your trip become a pain in the gut There’s nothing like a dose of Delhi belly or Bali belly to spoil a holiday, so naturopath TRUDY KITHER recommends preventative measures for gut health as an essential part of the planning.
H
olidays are always wonderful until yourself or someone you are travelling with gets sick. Whether it is due to the water, food or something else out of your control, tummy bugs are common and can really put a downer on the holiday when you or your fellow traveller is sick and suffering from any type of gastro upset. Here are some easy and effective preventative measures which are simple to do and can help reduce the likelihood of gut pain ruining your next trip. Start by taking with you a good probiotic that has a protective strain of good bacteria in it. This helps to reduce the instances of bad bacteria getting into your gut. This can happen for any number of reasons, such as water quality, tainted foods (it only takes one little bite of food that has one tiny bad bacteria starting to grow in it, or being cooked in something that doesn’t agree with you, for this to happen). Bad bugs can come from any source picked up along the way in your travels. Remember, not all probiotics do the same things and one probiotic’s action is different to another. You just need to look
Ginger quickly settles nausea at all the different strains that different brands and products have to know that they are all different, and this is for good reason. The probiotic you need to arm yourself with to keep your gut defences up is one that has the Saccharomyces cerevisiae (bouldardii) strain in it. This strain supports the establishment of friendly bacteria in the gut and
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discourages the growth of harmful micro-organisms. It is used extensively for the symptomatic relief of traveller’s diarrhea, antibiotic associated diarrhea and candidiasis (thrush). Another herbal staple for preventative travelling measures for any gut/gastro discomfort is a bottle of what I call “Gastro Calm”. I ensure that my patients take a bottle
with them for any unforeseen gut irritability, indigestion, cramping, bloating, nausea and any other general gut uncomfortableness. It has a combination of marshmallow (herb acts as a lubricant and is calming to the gastrointestinal system), meadowsweet (acts as an antacid for burning, indigestion), fennel (to calm the bloat), chamomile (for any tension or constriction in the gut that occurs) ginger (for nausea) and peppermint along with maybe one or two other herbs (dependent upon individual requirements). This little bottle of magic can help calm any unhappy gut and settle it quickly, leaving you to enjoy your holidays, upset free. I highly recommend these preventative measures for anyone considering travelling here or overseas to ensure your holiday is not spoilt because of gut problems. By taking this strain of probiotic and variety of herbs you can cover all bases when it comes to possible gastro or gut upsets that make gut problems a pain in the gut! Trudy Kither is a registered naturopath. Visit naturestemple.net
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Sunshine Coast
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HEALTH
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STAY IN HOSPITAL AT HOME Hospital and health services are benefiting from inpatient care in their own home or residential care facility. The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, in partnership with Silver Chain Group, delivers care for patients with its HITH (Hospital in the Home) service. Clinical Director Dr Nova Evans said the 1000th patient had been cared for through the model of care which was launched in October 2014. She said HITH was short-term and after-hospital care in the patient’s home as a substitute for being in hospital. “Most patients prefer to be treated in the privacy of their home, with family or friends on hand. They can resume their usual activities and routines more quickly.” Ms Evans said patients tended to have improved recovery and outcomes at home, generally with fewer complications.
Local Silver Chain clinical nurse Sue Murphy said treating people in the comfort of home provided better outcomes for patients and freed up hospital beds. “People don’t have to adjust to a hospital’s routine and can eat meals, watch TV when they choose in their own familiar surroundings,” she said. “Reaching our 1000th patient is a huge achievement, and we look forward to helping more people in their homes.” HITH care is provided by clinicians from many specialties including infectious diseases, gerontology, general practice, emergency medicine, orthopaedics, cardiology, paediatrics, respiratory, and surgery. Patients remain classified as hospital inpatients for the duration. Silver Chain is a not-for-profit organisation and one of the largest in-home health and aged care providers in Australia.
DEMENTIA UPDATES ONLINE More than 400,000 Australians live with dementia and that number is expected to climb to 1.1 million by 2056. University of Queensland experts are keeping people living with or affected by dementia up to date on the latest dementia research and care through the online publication The Brain: Dementia. Queensland Brain Institute director Professor Pankaj Sah said the 24-page publication, produced in partnership with Alzheimer’s Australia, was designed to shed light on all aspects of Australia’s second-biggest killer. “The publication is an essential resource for anyone living with or affected by dementia, one of society’s most pressing health problems,” Prof Sah said. “We explain the science behind
dementia, its causes and risk factors, in an accessible and informative way. We also share some of the compelling progress our researchers have made.” This includes the breakthrough discovery of ultrasound as a potential treatment for dementia. “The QBI team has found ultrasound could one day be used to better deliver Alzheimer’s drugs into the brain and reduce disease symptoms,” he said. The Brain: Dementia is available on the Queensland Brain Institute website. “Dementia’s tendrils reach far and wide. Nearly all of us know somebody affected by the condition, whether it be a family member, friend or colleague,” Prof Sah said. Topics covered include types of dementia and their causes, risk factors including genetics and lifestyle choices; and diagnosing and living with dementia.
STROKE AWARENESS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH About 56,000 strokes are expected in Australia this year, yet most people are still unable to recognise the signs. “Stroke is treatable and it is beatable,” says Stroke Foundation volunteer Rodney Hopson. With the right treatment at the right time many people are able to make a full recovery, but first people need to recognise the signs of stroke and get to hospital.” The former farmer, who suffered a stroke seven years ago, is now committed to spreading the word about preventing this potentially deadly disease along with knowing the steps to take in a stroke emergency. The simple way to recognise the signs of stroke is by remembering the word FAST. Using the FAST test involves asking these asking simple questions: Sunshine Coast
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Face – Check their face. Has their mouth drooped? Arms – Can they lift both arms? Speech – Is their speech slurred? Do they understand you? Time – Time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000 straight away. “I am honest with people about the impact stroke has had on my life, on my loved ones and my business which I had to give up,” Rodney says. He said most people didn’t realise stroke killed more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer. StrokeSafe ambassadors such as Rodney, are available to deliver talks in a range of locations throughout Australia. To arrange for an ambassador to visit your community, call 1300 194 196 or book online at strokefoundation.org.au
ROBOTIC SURGERY AVAILABLE HERE ON THE SUNSHINE COAST. September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness month and according to the Cancer Council, Prostate Cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian men. 1 in 7 men are diagnosed by the age of 75, meaning that around 17,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer each year in Australia. The measurement of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood is the primary method of Prostate Cancer detection. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends men discuss PSA testing with their GP and if they are average risk of Prostate Cancer they undergo a PSA test every 2 years from 50 years of age. Men with a family history of Prostate Cancer should be tested every 2 years from 40 years of age. The Cancer Council advises men experiencing the following symptoms to see their GP. • Feeling an urgent need to urinate • Difficulty starting to urinate • A slow or intermittent stream of urine • Leaking or dribbling after urination • Blood in the urine • Pain when urinating • Pain in the lower back or pelvis. If you have any of these symptoms it does not necessarily mean you have prostate cancer. It may well be that you have benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). This is common in men over 50. The advice for men with
any of these symptoms is to make an appointment to see your GP. For men diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, the Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital has many specialist Urologists and expert staff ready to care for you. The hospital has a range of treatment options should you require surgery, that your surgeon will discuss with you. This may include robotic surgery using the Sunshine Coast’s only Da Vinci Xi Robot. The hospital’s robot was installed earlier this year and gives the surgeon a 3D view of the prostate, which is magnified up to ten times. Operations are performed using keyhole surgery through a small incision in your lower abdomen. The robotic arms, which hold various instruments are inserted through these incisions. The 3D vision and smaller instruments used, allow the surgeon to more precisely operate in confined areas of the pelvis while also eliminating the need for larger incisions. The surgical instruments are manipulated as an extension of the surgeon’s hands to complete the operation. To find out more, please talk to your GP, call 07 5390 6000 or visit the website: sunshinecoastuniversityprivate.com.au
3 Doherty Street, Birtinya Q 4575 07 5390 6000 | sunshinecoastuniversityprivate.com.au November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 31
18/10/2017 1:45:54 PM
WHAT’S ON
IMAGE: JOHN DUMBLE
COUNTRY MARKET DAY
Lancelot, King Arthur, Bedevere, Robin the Brave and Galahad.
RELAX IN THE ROUND FOR SPAMALOT Coolum Theatre Players presents, Spamalot, the new musical lovingly ripped from the motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It’s the story of King Arthur’s quest for the Holy Grail and features a cast of 22 with 21 songs and almost as many costume changes. Travelling with his servant Patsy, he recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Bedevere, Sir Robin, Sir
Lancelot, and Sir Galahad. Besides the rabbits and farting Frenchman, they meet the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight, and the Knights who say Ni. Directed by Linda Gefken, this show will be performed “in the round” at Coolum Civic Centre on November 17, 18, 24 and 25 at 7.30pm; and 19 and 26 at 2pm. BYO nibbles and drinks. Bookings at coolumtheatre. com.au or call 5446 2500.
Enjoy a day in the country at the inaugural Village and Valley Market at Eudlo. Stalls will include organic and biodynamic local fruit and veg; eclectic home and garden wares; crafted ceramics, timber, cloth, hide and macramé; silk, cotton and linen threads made into subtropical fashions by local designers; house and courtyard plants; upcycled fashion and recycled plastics and alternative therapies, massage, spiritual and crystals. Entertainment features local musicians and there will be a variety of foods from Japanese Gyoza and Falafel Baraka to Jam Factory donuts, Sunshine Coast Fruit Cups, a barbecue and sausage sizzle, Just Coffee and specialty chilled tea. A revamped version of the original Eudlo Village Market that was formerly held in the Eudlo Hall, next year, it will be held seasonally in March, June, September and December with all proceeds benefiting the Eudlo State School. Eudlo School, Rosebed St, Eudlo. Sunday, November 26, 9am-2pm.
OZ MANOUCHE FEST COMES TO NAMBOUR Jazz Manouche is a term for gypsy jazz music and features virtuosic guitar playing, often incorporated with double-bass, violin or accordion or clarinet. Get swept up in the Gypsy fever at the Sunshine Coast’s first mini Oz Manouche Fest with music from The Mistachios and Sancha and the Blue Gypsies. The Mistachios play classic tunes from the Paris Café 1930s era to fiery rumba flamenco in the style of the Gitanes of the Camargue. Doris Day meets Django Reinhardt in the sweet swinging quartet Sancha and
TRIVIA AFTERNOON Join the regulars, test your general knowledge and maybe win a prize at a fun afternoon of trivia, the final for this year. Make up a table for six or come on your own and match up with others. Nibbles and sweets available. Maroochydore Library, November 4, 1pm-4pm. Entry $7. Call 5475 8989 to book.
the Blue Gypsies. With a refreshing take on traditional folk, bluegrass, jazz and gospel tunes and a lifetime of performance experience, this collaboration of some of Sydney’s most respected musicians is headed your way. The Bison Bar, 52-64 Currie St, Nambour. November 25, 2pm-6pm. Tickets $38 online, $40 at the door. Book at trybooking.com/SJWO.
WINNERS TO SEE FINAL PORTRAIT Many entries were received to see Geoffrey Rush in Final Portrait, a fascinating look at worldrenowned artist Alberto Giacometti. Congratulations to the winners: Cathy O’Brien of Maroochydore; Jim Ryan of Pelican Waters, Wendy Livdans of Caloundra, Dorothy and John Whitfield of Warana and Jiuliana Rawson of Mudjimba.
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The WORLD in Your Hands
Travel in Your Time
Good planning, not good luck Travel is becoming an increasingly popular way to make the most of retirement. Two hardy travellers share their tips with DOT WHITTINGTON.
I
f there’s one thing Kevin Briggs really dislikes, it’s when people call him “lucky” because he travels. “We make it happen,” he says. “We thought when we retired five years ago that maybe we could get away every two years, but in fact it has been at least once every year.” Tip 1: You don’t have to be a millionaire. Travel is much more affordable these days, it’s just a case of wanting it badly enough. The 65-year-old retired school principal and his wife Anne, 63, also a retired teacher, head offshore for an average of two months a year and agree that it helps that travel is something they are both passionate about – and have been for decades. “I’m lucky to have a partner who also likes to travel,” Kevin says. “I think it also helps that we travelled when we were younger and we don’t find it daunting to head into the unknown, but once you do it once, you soon get a feel for it.” Tip 2: Travel with someone who shares the interest and finds it adventurous, especially for when the road gets rocky. Their first taste of travel was in the early 1980s when they visited Hong Kong and Singapore. They were bitten by the bug, but their first real travel lesson came in 1988, when they booked a Eurail trip through Europe with their two young daughters, aged eight and two. That turned out an adventure because despite must-have Frommers’ guide Europe on $10 a Day, they still over-ran the tight budget. It was the days of traveller’s cheques so it wasn’t as simple as pulling money out of a wall. “If we had known just how expensive it was going to be we may not have gone, but then we learnt a lot of ways to save money on the road, so it turned out to be a good thing,” Kevin says. “We weren’t
Kevin and Anne Briggs keep their memories in photo books. going to let kids stop us, so I carried the baby on my back.” Tip 3: Budget but be prepared for the unexpected and how to survive on a loaf of crispy French bread and a lump of cheese … and wine of course. Fortunately their jobs allowed them to make an international exchange and they lived in England and taught at an inner London school in 1992-93. After that there were regular trips to Europe and a decade later, with their children grown up, they continued on the path – they’ve now been to Greece seven times and know the islands well. Tip 4: Retirement means you have more flexibility on times and can travel outside of peak season well away from school holiday crowds. Their interest is always the people and the culture and they tend to
“centralise” by booking an apartment for a week or more and moving out from there to really get to know an area, the neighbourhood and to live like a local. “We took an apartment on the Cinque Terre and really indulged in the local culture. We were able to communicate even without language. It was a great experience,” Kevin says. House swapping has been another way to pursue that interest and it has worked well. It means they can base themselves in one spot and stay longer. On the other hand, hotels have the advantage of language – the manager can point the best direction and explain where and how to find things, especially pharmaceutical items. “We usually travel three-star and just like it to be safe and clean and we need our own bathroom,” Kevin says. “If
booking a hotel we try to find one that has breakfast included and then we really only need something light for lunch and only have to buy dinner each day.” Tip 5: Explore accommodation options, but you have living costs at home too, so the food budget is going to be similar. Not a lot has changed now that they are past 60, although these days they organise a stopover on the long-haul flights. They also have changed their travel times and will only take a 6am departure or a red-eye if there is no other choice, even if it means paying a bit more. They are also more aware of safety and if they feel unsafe, will forget the local buses and take a taxi – “once, we never would have done that”. Tip 6: Go with whatever airline works for you on price and convenience and know your limitations. You don’t want to start the trip exhausted at midnight. They have also tried a few cruises – the Baltic and Alasaka – and appreciate that if there is limited mobility it is good not to have to live out of a suitcase. But they do organise their own tours from the ship. It’s often much cheaper. But having said that, they also find there are a lot of advantages in booking through a travel agent. “We often do our research online and then go to an agent. We have found that they are often able to match or beat the accommodation prices we can find. There is also extra security in that as they know the areas to go to,” Kevin says. “It doesn’t always pay to do your own bookings. Tip 7: Price and location knowledge are two good reasons to use a travel agent. They are off to the US for Christmas where they will meet with family before continued page 36>
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TRAVEL
BY THE NUMBERS
<from page 34
Kevin and Anne Briggs on one of their many adventures. heading south to Central and South America which they say will be out of their comfort zone as it is an area less-explored. Then they are planning Italy for next September and October and have a house swap organised for England. Choosing a destination has been random and generally they play it by ear, seeing what comes along and what takes their fancy. “You don’t have to plan every detail,” Kevin says. “We usually pick destinations at random, in countries where we know we can do it by ourselves. Anne likes to paint water colours so if she finds something with buildings she likes, we will go and see them. Tip 8: Experience is a false argument. It is not hugely expensive or cost as much as you might think. Now seasoned travellers, they have the art of packing sorted. Luggage will be 18kg at the very heaviest and they carry one suitcase and a small backpack each. Packing for a cruise with something more
formal is different to lounging on a Greek island in summer and if travelling between climates, they will use “packing pods” to fit the cold-weather gear. Kevin is diabetic so he likes to keep his medication close in his carry-on bag, along with a letter from his doctor and a list of the medications. Tip 9: If you can’t lift it, then don’t take it. Watch the weight, carry medication with you and be security conscious as some countries can confuse medication with drugs. Kevin and Anne plan to keep going while they still can, although they admit there could come a time when they won’t want to do the long-haul flights anymore. “We have to make the most of our time now so we work around it and do things a little bit differently to what we did when we were younger,” he says. “We are always on a countdown to our next holiday.” Tip 10: Just be confident. You can do it and do it on your own. People like Australians.
AUSTRALIANS took overseas 10,039,700 trips in 2016-17 – that’s an average of 27,500 every day and an increase of five per cent a year for the past five years. There are an estimated one million Australian citizens resident overseas at any given time. Visits in 2016–17: New Zealand: 1,316,000; Indonesia: 1,248,000; USA: 1,053,000; UK: 588,000; Thailand: 529,000; China: 451,000; Singapore: 377,000; Japan: 363,000; Fiji: 345,000; India: 319,000. The 50-59 years age group accounted for 17 per cent (20-29 was 15 per cent); 60-69 years for 12 per cent and 70-plus for five per cent. The highest was 30-39 years at 18 per cent. The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website urges travellers to “be informed, be prepared”. In 2016–17, it published travel advisories for 174 countries, two more than in 2015–16. Assistance was provided to 12,440 Australian travellers, 1641 of them arrested abroad, most of them in the United States (285 cases). Although requests for consular assistance dropped slightly, the number
CRUISE INDUSTRY KEEPS ECONOMY AFLOAT The upcoming cruise season will see almost 60 cruise ships sail Australian waters, carrying out more than 1200 port calls across the country. A number of ships will also make their maiden voyages to our shores. The latest CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association Australasia) report found: • A record of 58 cruise ships sailing local waters in 2016-17 with a 19 per cent increase in cruise ship visit days to 1401 in total • Passengers spend an average $527 a day
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of Australians finding trouble has risen – particularly among older travellers. DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) recorded 1653 cases of Australians who had died overseas, an increase of nine per cent (1516) from the previous year. For the second year in a row, illness proved the highest cause of death with 446 cases, while fatalities due to natural causes saw the greatest increase – up to 340 cases from 282 last year. Accidents (211), suicide (68) and murder (45) all decreased by less than five per cent. Thailand remained the leading overseas destination for Australians to die with 203 deaths, followed by Philippines (126), Indonesia (107), USA (99) and Vietnam (87). DFAT concluded the increase in deaths as a result of illness or natural causes was a combination of an ageing population travelling more and retiring overseas. It recommends Australians register their travel and contact details on Smartraveller before going overseas so DFAT can contact them in an emergency. Visit smartraveller.gov.au
in a port before and after their cruise, compared to $153 during transit days • Domestic cruise passengers spent $758 million in Australian port cities, and international passengers $392 million • Accommodation, transport, food and beverage, and shore excursions, accounted for 79 per cent of total passenger onshore expenditures, more than $900 million • Operating expenses accounted for 91 per cent of cruise line expenditure. Port charges, food and beverages, fuel, and travel agent commissions account for most (63 per cent) costs. DEPARTS:
10 FEB 18, 15 APR 18, 14 OCT 18, 02 DEC 18 ,ŽƚĞů ƐƚLJůĞ ĂĐĐŽŵ͕ ƌĞĂŬĨĂƐƚ ĂŝůLJ͕ Ϯ dž ŝŶŶĞƌƐ͕ Ϯ dž >ƵŶĐŚĞƐ͕ Touring Old Havana in a classic ĐĂƌ͕ &ŽƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ,ĂǀĂŶĂ͕ DŽŶƚĞƐŝŶŽƐ dŽďĂĐĐŽ &Ăƌŵ͕ WĂůĞŶƋƵĞ ĚĞ ůŽƐ ŝŵĂƌƌŽŶĞƐ͕ ŝĞŶĨƵĞŐŽƐ Θ ĂLJ ŽĨ WŝŐƐ͕ dƌŝŶŝĚĂĚ >Ă ĂŶĐŚĂŶĐŚĂƌĂ WƵď͕ ŶĐŽŶ ĞĂĐŚ͘
DISCOVER ENCHANTING HONG KONG
ŚŽƐƚ ZŽĚŶĞLJ sŝŶĐĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ Ă ůƵdžƵƌLJ ĐŽĂĐŚ ƚŽƵƌ ǀŝƐŝƟŶŐ tĞƐƚ DĂĐĚŽŶŶĞůů ZĂŶŐĞƐ͕ ŽŽďĞƌ WĞĚLJ͕ &ůŝŶĚĞƌƐ ZĂŶŐĞƐ͕ W>h^ ƚŚĞ magical Uluru Field of Lights and much more including two fabulous shows with John O’Dae and Dave Prior.
ESCORTED TOUR
$3,545 per person Twin Share ex BNE, SYD, MEL Single supplement $615
23 - 2 8 MAY 2018 ZĞƚƵƌŶ ĂŝƌĨĂƌĞƐ Θ ƚĂdžĞƐ͕ ϱ ŶŝŐŚƚƐ ĂĐĐŽŵ͕ ϱ dž ďƌĞĂŬĨĂƐƚƐ͕ ϰ dž ůƵŶĐŚĞƐ͕ ϯ dž ĚŝŶŶĞƌƐ͕ sŝĐƚŽƌŝĂ WĞĂŬ ĨŽƌ WĂŶŽƌĂŵŝĐ ǀŝĞǁƐ͕ ^ƚĂŶůĞLJ DĂƌŬĞƚ͕ <ŽǁůŽŽŶ tĂůů ŝƚLJ͕ Śŝ >ŝŶ EƵŶŶĞƌLJ͕ ͲDĂ dĞŵƉůĞ DĂĐĂƵ͕ ^ĞŶĂĚŽ ^ƋƵĂƌĞ͕ ĂďůĞ ĐĂƌ ƚŽ EŚŽŶŐ WŝŶŐ sŝůůĂŐĞ͕ >ĂŶƚĂƵ /ƐůĂŶĚ
28 JULY - 4 AUGUST 2018
GO SEE ALASKA 27 AUGUST - 09 SEPT 2018
ϳ EŝŐŚƚƐ EŽƌĨŽůŬ /ƐůĂŶĚ ʹ ŇŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶ ĨĂďƵůŽƵƐ ƚŽƵƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞĂůƐ͘ W>h^ dǁŽ ďŝŐ ͞>ŝƩůĞ Bit Country” shows with your host ƉůƵƐ >ƵĐŬLJ ^ƚĂƌƌ͕ ZŽĚŶĞLJ sŝŶĐĞŶƚ and Graeme Hugo.
$8,350
CONNOISSEUR LAND & CRUISE PACKAGE FROM
per person Twin Share ex BNE & SYD, Single supplement $4,069
ZĞƚƵƌŶ ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ĂŝƌĨĂƌĞƐ͕ ϭ EŝŐŚƚ ŶĐŚŽƌĂŐĞ͕ Ϯ EŝŐŚƚƐ ĞŶĂůŝ WƌŝŶĐĞƐƐ͕ tŝůĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ >ŽĚŐĞ͕ Ϯ EŝŐŚƚƐ Dƚ DĐ<ŝŶůĞLJ WƌŝŶĐĞƐƐ tŝůĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ >ŽĚŐĞ͕ ϳ EŝŐŚƚ ƌƵŝƐĞ ĨƌŽŵ tŝƫĞƌ ƚŽ sĂŶĐŽƵǀĞƌ͕ 'ůĂƐƐͲĚŽŵĞĚ tŝůĚĞƌŶĞƐƐ͕ ZĂŝů ĨƌŽŵ ĞŶĂůŝ ƚŽ tŝƫĞƌ͕ ƌĞĂŬĨĂƐƚ ĚĂŝůLJ͘
Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:43:57 PM
BUCKET LIST ADVENTURES AT UNBELIEVABLE PRICES NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK WITH US
5451 8600 | Plaza Parade Shopping Centre, MAROOCHYDORE 5437 4000 | Pelican Waters Shopping Centre, CALOUNDRA www.ucango.com.au | 100% locally owned & operated
37.indd 3
No. A10644
18/10/2017 1:43:44 PM
TRAVEL
STUNNING NEW VIEW OF THE KIMBERLEYS THE Kimberley is an ancient land built on 1.8 billion year old sandstone that has been uplifted, contorted and eroded to form spectacular gorges, desolate mountains and magnificent waterfalls. Here is a living indigenous culture dating back more than 40,000 years, and Australia’s oldest rock art galleries contained within the rocky outcrops. The isolated coastline boasts more than 2633 islands, extensive mangrove forests, wild rivers and important seabird breeding colonies. It is a national biodiversity hotspot listed in the top 3.7 per cent of least impacted marine environments worldwide. Ponant delivers an authentic expedition blended with luxury to explore the Kimberley coastline in refined adventure on board luxury small ship, Le Laperouse which has only 92 staterooms and suites. Boasting comfort & service, sophisticated cuisine, fine wines and an open bar, it has all the facilities of a 5-star yacht, including a pool. Le Laperouse will be the first cruise ship on Earth to be equipped with a multi-sensory underwater space, called Blue Eye. Located within the hull beneath the water line, the state-of-the-art technology developed with Ponant allows guests to become modern-day explorers and observe the fauna and flora of this sub-aquatic universe.
All focus is drawn towards the two portholes, shaped like the eye of a cetacean and looking out upon the subaquatic world while listening to the underwater world by hydrophone. The natural symphony of the deep sea is captured across a 5km radius and transmitted live into the lounge in the form of acoustic waves. Innovative underwater vision is enhanced by non-intrusive underwater projectors developed expressly for Ponant. These enable the observation of the seabed and photo-luminescent organisms from the Blue Eye lounge as well as from the outside decks, balconies and the marina. A Kimberley expedition cruise with Ponant also offers a qualified local expedition team and regular Zodiac outings and shore visits. Up to 30 per cent savings are now available for 2019. Call The Cruise Centre 1800 428 105 or email cruise@thecruisecentre.com.au
GUIDED HOLIDAYS
EUROPE
ON SALE ‘I want to live the good life.’
ITALY & SPAIN FLY FREE*
+ 19 night fly, cruise & tour + Return economy airfare to Barcelona + 1 night pre and 3 night post cruise accommodation in Barcelona + 7 night Western Mediterranean cruise on Symphony of the Seas from Barcelona + 8 day Back-Roads Highlights of Northern Spain tour + 1 night post tour accommodation in Bilbao + Transfers included
$194/wk
Departs: 9 June 2018
INTEREST FREE^
from
$9999*
MEDITERRANEAN DELIGHTS
ITALY & THE GREEK ISLES
+ 26 night fly, cruise & tour + Return economy airfare to Rome + 1 night pre and 2 night post cruise accommodation in Rome + 11 night Best of the Western Mediterranean on Celebrity Reflection from Rome + 11 night Back-Roads Italian indulgence tour + Transfers included $221/wk
+ 24 night fly, cruise & tour + Return economy airfare to Rome + 1 night pre and 2 night post cruise accommodation in Rome + 10 night Italy and Greek Isles cruise on Celebrity Reflection from Rome + 11 night Back-Roads Italian indulgence tour + Transfers included
SAVE OVER $1400PP* + $50 ONBOARD CREDIT*
SAVE OVER $1400PP* + $50 ONBOARD CREDIT*
$223/wk
Departs: 17 May 2018
INTEREST FREE^
Departs: 6 May 2018
from
$11,390*
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from
$11,490*
START PLANNING TODAY, ORDER A FREE TRAVEL BROCHURE INSTORE OR ONLINE escapetravel.com.au/travel-brochures
CALOUNDRA
1300 212 896
NOOSA CIVIC
1300 652 981 escapetravel.com.au
*Travel restrictions and conditions apply. Book through Infinity Cruise. Prices and taxes are correct as at 7 Aug 17 & are subject to change at any time without notice and limited availability. Valid for sale until 7 Nov 17. Price is based on travel wholly within the travel dates. Minimum deposit amounts = $2500pp. Cancellation fees: Once deposit paid it is non-refundable. Full payment is required by 31 Dec 17. Onboard credit is per cabin. Balcony Cabin Cat: 9 Jun 18 8D, 6 May 18 1C, 17 May 18 2D. ~60+ DISCOUNT: Offer valid until 31 Dec 17. New bookings only, limited to one $100 discount per senior. Minimum booking value of $2500 per person consisting of air & land/cruise arrangements, or a land/cruise only booking over the value of $2500 per person. Valid State/Territory accredited seniors card must be presented to consultant at time of quotation. ^INTEREST FREE: Approved applicants only on a Lombard 180 Visa card. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply including a $99 Annual Fee charged on the account open date and annually on the anniversary of the account open date. Minimum finance amount applies and is valid on holidays over $999. Interest, currently 22.99% p.a., is payable on any balance outstanding after the 12 month Interest Free period. Offer ends 31 Dec 17. Credit provided by Lombard Finance Pty Limited ABN 31 099 651 877, Australian Credit Licence number 247415. Lombard® is brought to you by FlexiGroup®. Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (ABN 25 003 377 188) trading as Escape Travel. ATAS Accreditation No. A10412. ETTF79046
38 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
38.indd 2
Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:43:34 PM
TRAVEL
FEELING THE HEAT IN TURKMENISTAN
JOIN JIM IN AFRICA
It may seem an unlikely spot for a dinner party, but the Darvaza gas crater located in the middle of Turkmenistan’s Karakum Desert hosted just such an event for a group of Australians who visited the country recently. Travelling with independent travel company, Travel Directors, the group camped overnight at the crater to experience the full dramatic impact of the sight of the burning pit against the night sky. In 1971, Soviet geologists were drilling in the Karakum Desert when they tapped into a cavern filled with gas. The ground beneath the drilling rig collapsed leaving a large hole about 80 metres in diameter. To avoid poisonous gas discharge, it was decided the best solution was to burn it off. The geologists had hoped the fire would use all the fuel in a matter of days, but the gas is still burning today – 46 years later. Locals have dubbed the cavern The Door to Hell. Travel Directors’ groups spend a night at the crater. “The Darvaza gas crater is an
After mapping out more than 7500km to research Back Track Adventures’ first fully-guided and escorted six-vehicle safari, Jim Drapes and a group of adventurers set off for 29-days through Namibia and Botswana. In a crowded world, I found an escape, a place to be totally with nature. I fell asleep to the sounds of the African bush and woke to a cacophony of different birds. On our 4WD safari, we traversed two countries in the southernmost region of the African continent – Botswana and Namibia. We were gobsmacked by the beauty of the terrain, and the animals reminded us that this was Africa – elephants, lions, giraffes. Getting over Van Zyl’s Pass was a major technical challenge for us. This notorious pass in
Some of the group at the rim of the Darvaza Gas Crater. amazing sight during the day, but after dark it is simply spectacular,” tour creator Tony Evans says. “We camp at the crater to fully appreciate the spectacle. It’s quite a boast to say you’ve camped in a Turkmen desert, had a candlelit dinner, and woken up in a place that most people haven’t heard of.” The dinner party at the crater is a fitting finale to Travel Directors’ Five Stans tour, which
also takes in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It includes flights, taxes, accommodation, meals, sightseeing and entrance fees, all tipping and visas, which on this tour is an exercise in itself. The 30-day tour departs May 6 and September 2, 2018, priced from $17,750. Phone 1300 856 661 or visit traveldirectors.com.au
Namibia is between two very steep mountain ranges. The day of our crossing, it was raining and foggy. We listened, tuned into each other, everyone helping and it definitely had the adrenaline pumping. Once we crossed, it was like being completely off the map. We were now in the home of the Himba, one of the last truly nomadic people on earth. Meeting them was humbling. At night, it was great food, great wine, great company, and the night sky had to be seen to be believed, so totally filled with stars. After a lifetime of travel, this is where I see myself – selfdriving in nature – getting away from the cities and getting back to what’s real. You’ll discover more than just nature. Join Jim in 2018. backtrackadventures.com. au/4wd-self-drive-safari
INSPIRE
your spirit
SALES OPEN FOR 2019 KIMBERLEY LUXURY EXPEDITIONS
Book early to SAVE up to 30%
Enjoy a luxurious small ship Expedition in the spectacular Kimberley accompanied by a specialist Expedition team. Your cruise will be enhanced by Zodiac® outings, absorbing shore visits, fascinating lectures and insights into the region’s culture, history and wildlife. Aboard our new Expedition ship, Le Lapérouse, you will sail to this remarkable land of ancient Rock Art and billions of years-old landscapes comprised of spectacular gorges and waterfalls. Enjoy gourmet cuisine and included open-bar.
Cruise between DARWIN and BROOME: May, June, July & August 2019 10 nights in a Deluxe Stateroom from $8,870pp
THE CRUISE CENTRE
PHONE: 1800 428 105
TOLL FREE: 1800 428 105
EMAIL: cruise@thecruisecentre.com.au
Ponant Bonus discount subject to change based on availability. (1) Ponant Bonus fare per person, based on a double occupancy, including port taxes and transfer (Ship - Broome town/airport), yield managed, correct at time of printing. Refer to au.ponant.com for T&Cs. Photo-graphs © PONANT Nick Rains, Sterling Design International, Jean- Philippe Nuel.ABN: 35 166 676 517.
Sunshine Coast
39.indd 3
November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 39
18/10/2017 1:43:20 PM
TRAVEL
Spreading the word, room by room They’re as much a part of hotel rooms in 200 countries around the world as the towels in the bathrooms, writes DAVID ELLIS.
W
hile most of us know they are there, of all things in a hotel or motel room that we use or play with, only an estimated quarter of guests actually use what we are talking about – despite not only being encouraged to use, but to actually knock it off when we leave. I’m referring to the ubiquitous Gideons Bible that you’ll find in your bedside table drawer or tucked away in the wardrobe, and which the people who put them there suggest that if you’ve any wayward thoughts upon leaving, “you steal the Bible, not the towels.” And remarkably, Gideons International that put that Bible in your room all came about because a hotel called the Central House in Boscobel in Wisconsin was over-booked one night in the American autumn of 1898. It meant that two commercial travellers, John H. Nicholson and Samuel E. Hill had a choice: sleep on the street, or share a room. They chose the latter, quickly discovered that they also shared strong Christian beliefs and values, and established a life-long friendship. As a result they also gradually
room of every hotel in America. The first went into 25 rooms at the Superior Hotel in the boisterous little mining town of Superior, Montana and were paid for by one devout Gideon, Archie Bailey. Since then two billion Bibles and New Testaments printed in 94 languages have been put free of charge into places as diverse as 5-star hotels, cheap boarding houses, prisons, Antarctic bases, desert military camps, cruise ships, hospitals and nursing homes in 200 countries worldwide.
Archival snap of the lobby of the Central House Hotel that’s always been a haven for commercial travellers. (Photo: Gideons International) brought together a fraternity of other Christians in their profession – men who spent long and lonely hours away from their families, moving from hotel room to hotel room as they flogged their wares along the highways and by-ways of America. By September 1899, these men had formed a small group that called themselves the Gideons, after a warrior in the Book of Judges who would do
anything God wanted him to. At a meeting in 1904, they decided that to provide spiritual comfort for travellers, each man would contribute towards the cost of a Bible at the reception desk of the hotels in which they stayed. Four years later, at a convention in Louisville, Kentucky, the Gideons voted to go further than a Bible at every reception desk – they’d place one in every
Plaque on the Central House Hotel in Boscobel, Wisconsin, the genesis of Gideons International. (Photo: Travel Wisconsin)
The Majestic
The The Canadian Rockies Alaska &Canadian Rockies
13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS
20 DAYS/19 NIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS: Lake Okanagan • Okanagan Valley • Glacier National H
Park • Yoho National Park • Kicking Horse Pass • Banff National Park • Canadian Rockies • Lake Louise • Jasper National Park • Fraser River • Mount Robson • Seton & Duffey Lakes • Whistler • Strait of Georgia • The Gulf Islands
PPark • Yoho National Park • Kicking Horse Pass • Banff National Park • C Canadian Rockies • Lake Louise • Jasper National Park • Fraser River • M Mount Robson • Seton & Duffey Lakes • Whistler • Strait of Georgia • The Gulf Islands • Scenic Cruise Inside Passage
INCLUSIONS: Services of a professional Tour Director • Ferry crossing ing
IINCLUSIONS: Services of a professional Tour Director • Ferry crossing ing
to/from Vancouver Island; private, deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach while touring • Twin rooms • Hotel taxes • Service charges
tto/from Vancouver Island; private, deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach w while touring • Twin rooms • Hotel taxes • Service charges
$2,379*
EXCLUSIONS: Personal expenses, camera/video fees, visa applications, meals not listed in itinerary. Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply. Subject to international conversion rates – surcharges may apply.
Visit our website: www.123Travelconferences.com.au Drop into our office: Shop 5/56 Burnett Street Buderim 40 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
40.indd 2
$3917 *
FROM
FROM
HIGHLIGHTS: Lake Okanagan • Okanagan Valley • Glacier National
EXCLUSIONS: Personal expenses, camera/video fees, visa applications, meals not listed in itinerary. Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply. Subject to international conversion rates – surcharges may apply.
07 5476 9368 Sunshine Coast
19/10/2017 11:29:02 AM
TRAVEL
A typical Gideon’s Bible found today in 200-countries world-wide. (Photo: Gideons International) They are currently being distributed at a rate of 80 million annually, which is 2.5 for every second of the year. Initially, members of the Gideons met the costs of the Bibles and their distribution, but later Christian churches began contributing to the cause. And in almost 50 years of travel within and without Australia, only three hotels in Christian countries have been found not to have a Gideons Bible in their
rooms. One of these was at Cunnamulla in Outback Queensland, where the hotelier said that while there may not be a Bible in every bedside cabinet, they did have one for every room. “They’re in the office,” she said. “We found some blokes who came in on weekends from cattle stations where they worked were sneaking the pages out of our Bibles because they’re rice paper – and those blokes reckoned they made the best roll-your-own smokes. “There’s now a note in rooms saying they can borrow a Bible from the office if they want.” Our second encounter was at the Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island in Canada, where the owners said they’d
Central House Hotel in Boscobel, Wisconsin. (Photo: Travel Wisconsin)
Wickaninnish Inn, Canada. Gideon Bibles are in reception, not in the rooms. (Photo: Wickaninnish Inn)
told the Gideons they could put a Bible in every room – if they also gave a holy book for all other major religions. “They didn’t of course, but we relented,” they said. “And while not in each room, we do have Gideons Bibles available at reception.” And the third was in New York where guests at a hotel are offered a complimentary pet goldfish in a tank
during their stay, but not a Gideons Bible. Their explanation was that “society evolves”. And to think it all began two billion Bibles and 119 years ago, when two commercial travellers were forced to share a room in an over-booked hotel in a small town in rural America. Feature supplied by: wtfmedia.com.au
2018 SALE ON NOW 16 DAYS VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA DELIGHT
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Sunshine Coast
41.indd 3
REQUEST FOR FREE BROCHURES
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inclusion: All flights with taxes and fuel surcharge, meals, 4-5* hotels, sightseeing& transfers, English speaking Tour Guide, tipping for most of tours. * Travel insurance, visa are excluded
November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 41
19/10/2017 8:38:03 AM
TRAVEL
DRIVE AWAY IN NEW ZEALAND
NEW Zealand is a little different from most other holiday destinations, simply because it really is so compact and yet extraordinarily, despite its small size, is home to an enormously diverse range of scenery and landscapes. There are many ways to enjoy New Zealand – play a round of golf at some of the country’s best courses, visit film locations as part of a Hobbit or Lord of the Rings tour, immerse in an amazing array of eco-tourism experiences, tantalise taste buds with world-class food and wine, or thrill your socks off with adrenaline-charged activities. Kirra Tours has a range of self-drive
packages created to get the most out of your time in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Choose an existing itinerary from seven to 22 days that includes some of the finest holiday locations, or customise a journey and design the perfect self-drive getaway. New Zealand’s obvious charms have made it a hub for tourism since the late 1800s, when international visitors first discovered the unique attractions of this land. Since then, the world has caught onto this little secret Call Travellers Choice 1300 78 78 58 or visit travellerschoice.com.au
PARTNERSHIP BEST OF TWO WORLDS A TEAM of Sunshine Coast travel agents has entered into a ground-breaking partnership that will allow travellers to book low cost TripADeal itineraries in a traditional retail environment. TripADeal creates competitivelypriced itineraries which, until now, could only be booked online or through their national call centre. The new deal, signed by local Travellers Choice agencies Ucango Travel & Cruise, Kawana Waters Travel, Coolum Cruise & Travel, Tewantin Travel, Easy Travel & Cruise and GroupTravelNow, means consumers have the comfort of booking face to face with a local operative who can also talk them through all travel options. In addition, TripADeal will develop bespoke packages to key destinations exclusively for sale through Travellers Choice agents. Travellers Choice managing director Christian Hunter said the partnership represented a pioneering convergence of offline and online distribution channels. “Travellers Choice and TripADeal are creating a new business model in which offline and online enterprises combine their respective strengths to generate new business rather than continually competing to shift customers from one channel to another,” he said. “We are providing consumers with a
new level of transactional flexibility, convenience and confidence.” TripADeal chief executive officer Norm Black said the decision to work with Travellers Choice came in direct response to customer feedback. “Some people want to take advantage of the attractive cost savings and inclusions our packages offer, but still prefer to book face-to-face through a traditional retailer,” he said.
“Offline and online enterprises combine their respective strengths rather than competing” “For us Travellers Choice was a natural partner because it offers a strong and broadly-distributed national network of successful, independent travel agents. “In addition, the company has consistently adopted an innovative approach to technology and shown an unrivalled commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences.” Call Dave Hulsman 5451 8600 or email info@ucango.com.au
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Antarctica Expeditions! WITH PONANT
16-day expedition onboard Le Lyrial Visit Montevideo (Uruguay) • Fortuna Bay • Grytviken • Gold Harbour • Cooper Bay • Deception Island • Wilhelmina Bay • Port Lockroy • Paradise Bay • Neko Harbour • Ushuaia Departs 03 November 2018
Prestige Stateroom Deck 4 from $13,630*pp
The Great Austral Loop 16-day expedition onboard L’Austral Visit Ushuaia (Argentina) • New Island • Grave Cove • Salisbury Plain • Fortuna Bay • Saint Andrews Bay • Grytviken • Gold Harbour • Mer de Weddell • Wilhelmina Bay • Deception Island • Half Moon • Passage de Drake • Ushuaia Departs 20 November 2018
Prestige Stateroom Deck 5 from $21,070*pp
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Call 1300 822 646 www.ucango.com.au *Conditions apply: Prices are per person twin share in AUD unless otherwise specified and include port charges. Prices are correct as at 09 Oct 17 & are subject to change without notice & availability at time of booking. Seasonal surcharges & single supplements may apply, & prices may vary due to currency fluctuations & changes to taxes & surcharges. Valid for new bookings only & not combinable with any other offers. Valid for sale immediately until sold out. Domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia included in price and flight details will be provided approximately 30 days before departure. Cruise Taxes are subject to change at anytime up until sailing date and may be charged onboard. Ponant reserves the right to apply a fuel supplement surcharge at anytime and can be charged after final payment Further conditions may apply. Booking & cancellation fees may apply. Credit card service fees may apply. ATAS No. A10644.
42 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
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18/10/2017 1:48:00 PM
TRAVEL
A glorious time for Venice The Venice Biennale is the world’s most beautiful city playing host to the world’s most prestigious international arts event, reports JAN NELSON.
I
t was the third Venice Biennale for me and my husband Mike, but our previous visits were too short to take it all in, so this time we rented an apartment on the Grand Canal for 12 days and plotted a path around the venues. Venice or La Serenissima, the “most serene republic”, as it was known in the Renaissance period, is a fitting location for the Biennale. The term, Italian for biennial, was first used for the Venice International Art Exhibition in 1895. Curators, museum and gallery owners, major collectors and ordinary art lovers flock to Venice every second year for this great event, often referred to as the “art Olympics”. Artworks occupy about 50,000sq m of exhibition space, with the two main locations being the Venice Giardini (public gardens in the historical centre), and Arsonale, a building complex used for ship building and rope making from the 13th century. In the Giardini, 29 nations, including Australia, have their own pavilion, an architect-designed permanent building for housing the artworks selected to represent the nation for the six months of the Biennale from May to November.
The sculpture of a giant pair of hands “holding up” a building; Mike and Jan Nelson. The artist selected by the Australia Council for the Arts to be Australia’s representative this year was photographer Tracey Moffat. Arsonale could be described as the renaissance equivalent of a chain of large aircraft hangars. It took a day for us to stroll through its truly cavernous chambers enjoying sculptures, paintings, photography, drawings, video/sound art, textile and paper art. The historic pedestrian-only city, which consists of over 100 islands linked by small bridges, becomes exhibition space for the Biennale. About 40 centres throughout the city are taken over for the duration, including
piazzas, public buildings, hotels and formerly grand palazzos (palaces), many bequeathed to the city by owners who can no longer maintain them in the watery Venice environment. Even the Grand Canal is an art site. After checking in to our apartment, we were astonished to look out the window to see a giant pair of hands “holding up” a building on the opposite side of the Grand Canal. The hands turned out to be a sculpture by Lorenzo Quinn, son of actor Anthony Quinn (famous for Zorba the Greek). Quinn junior, a highly-respected international artist named it Support. He intended it to highlight the effects
of climate change. A side benefit of visiting Venice over the Biennale period is that many palazzos not generally open to the public are opened up temporarily so visitors get to see some splendid renaissance and baroque period architecture. About 86 nations have mounted exhibitions by one or a group of their artists for 2017. In addition, the curator has selected the work of 123 internationally acclaimed artists for inclusion in the program. Just about every visual art form you can imagine is represented and whatever you might think of it as art, it is a great spectacle. It is also worth mentioning one of the masters of renaissance art. Tintoretto, the 15th century master lived and worked in Venice all his life. One of his best known works is The Marriage Feast at Cana which resides in the Venice church of Santa Maria della Salute and is currently undergoing restoration. We were very lucky to see it while the restorer sat on the floor painstakingly scraping off crusty old paint and mixing a palette to replace it, centimetre by centimetre. It’s worth making a note for 2019.
$500 Saving * Soul of the Balkans CROATIA | BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA | MONTENEGRO | MACEDONIA | ALBANIA
25 DAYS | ALL INCLUSIVE | DEPARTS 27 JUNE 2018 | $16,350 $15,850
Beginning with a week-long cruise along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, we then head to the amazing Bosnian ‘bridge town’ of Mostar and on to Sarajevo. From here we cross the Dinaric Alps into the hidden gem of Montenegro. Travelling further south we enter Macedonia visiting Lake Ohrid before finishing our tour in Albania.
Adventures of a Lifetime WORLDWIDE
ESCORTED
TO U R S
The Five Stans
AFRICA | ASIA | CENTRAL ASIA EUROPE | LATIN AMERICA MIDDLE EAST | RAIL JOURNEYS
KAZAKHSTAN | KYRGYZSTAN | TAJIKISTAN | UZBEKISTAN | TURKMENISTAN
28 DAYS | ALL INCLUSIVE | DEPARTS MAY & SEPTEMBER | $17,750
These diverse and unspoilt Central Asian nations offer the discerning traveller an opportunity to experience ancient cultures and pristine natural beauty! Join us on this extraordinary journey into one of the least-visited pockets of the planet.
Call 1300 856 661 or visit www.traveldirectors.com.au *Discount available for new bookings deposited by 31 Oct 2017.
Sunshine Coast
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Adventures Adventures of a Lifetime of a Lifetime NEW 2018 BROCHURE OUT NOW, CALL 1300 856 661 FOR A COPY
November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 43
18/10/2017 1:47:43 PM
BOOK REVIEW
ELIZABETH PASCOE
The story gently unfolds, as Tom Sherbourne, deeply affected by his war service, on a rare visit to the mainland meets Isabel (Issy), a vibrant young girl who goes back to the remote island with him as his wife. This is a beautifully told story with warmth and compassion, but life rarely goes according to plan. Tom and Issy are caught in a catastrophic dilemma and this becomes the central theme of the novel. I enjoyed this book immensely and thoroughly recommend it. 5 stars.
TONY HARRINGTON
I loved this book. It is a beautifully written and emotionally moving story. The classic themes of love, loss, rejection and guilt are crafted with great sensitivity. The settings, on a remote island and a small rural town in southwest Western Australia, in post World War I Australia are truly captivating. I liked the descriptions of the love a man can have for beautiful inanimate mechanical creations, for example, the light of a lighthouse. The story of two main characters expertly outlines the differences between a man’s brain and a maternal brain, a mother’s biological craving for children and the basic and primal instincts of mothering behaviours. Excellent work 9/10.
BOOK review Tom Sherbourne returns after four harrowing years fighting on the Western Front during World War I and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, a remote and isolated island off the West Australian coast. A supply boat comes once a season and shore leave is granted every other year but his young and loving wife Isabel agrees to join him there. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s THE LIGHT cry and finds a boat has BETWEEN OCEANS washed up with a dead man and a living baby. Tom and BY M.L. Stedman Issy make a devastating decision that forever changes two worlds.
JOHN KLEINSCHMIDT I love books about Australia and even better if by an Australian author. M. L. Stedman, although based in London, was raised in Perth and displays a natural understanding of our country and its characters. The fictional Janus Island is so vividly described that it is easy to imagine living out the extremes of isolation, wild weather, peaceful calm and natural beauty and the characters are strong and believable. Janus Rock is named after the Roman twofaced god of beginnings and transitions and there are many in this story. We are frequently compelled to contemplate the dichotomies of light and dark, life and death and especially right and wrong. I enjoyed this book and recommend it as a good read.
SUZI HIRST
Did I enjoy this book? Not really. It is a book about love, isolation, lies, grief and the result of actions taken that can only have one result. It is well written as a debut novel, but I did not like the characters at all. Isobel is despicable and makes Tom go against all his rigid beliefs and morals to keep the baby that they find washed up in a row boat with her dead father and live her lie with her. When they leave the island and rejoin the world, Tom eventually has to tell the truth and Isobel allows him to take the blame. The end was disappointing for me.
JO BOURKE
MARY BARBER I read this book a few years ago and its powerful storyline has stayed with me. Tom, a returned soldier is a stickler for rules and his young wife Isabel is the indulged daughter of a well-to-do family, so there’s bound to be conflict. The drama gets you thinking about right and wrong. There were times I wanted to shout at Isabel. I could understand her pain, but her actions had consequences she could not imagine. This novel also showed me how World War I coloured the years after it. Families were broken. Town life was full of absences and hatreds.
This is an unusual and polarizing story, as evidenced by the many, often lengthy and differing reviews on Google. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely! The story opens in 1926 with the pivotal event which shapes the plot and then transports the reader back eight years to introduce Tim and Isobel and the beautiful isolation in which they lived on Janus Island. I loved the detail with which the characters were contrasted – a warweary older man, scarred by his experiences and a young, naïve girl without the maturity to deal with the tragedies she would have to face. For those of us who may have wondered or dreamt of living on an island and keeping the light going, it was also a fascinating description of a time before automation was introduced. The description of four-year-old Lucy wrenched from the people and surroundings she loved was heartbreaking! Would it have happened if the rattle had not been remembered and the reward claimed? Personally I think not. What will you think? For me – an excellent read!
ALL ABOARD FOR A RELAXING JOURNEY Saturday 2nd December 2017
Security, Independence & Peace of Mind
SHORNCLIFFE Board a steam train at Roma St & travel to Shorncliffe, the man in red will be on board for part of the tour. Grab a sausage in bread from the BBQ set up return journey. Tickets on sale now!
Providing privacy & independence with the security of proximity to family. Glendale Granny Cabins provide comfortable, self contained accommodation for elderly relatives on the same site as the family home.
27th to 31st December 2017 BURNETT & CAPRICORN Travel by coach visiting closed railway lines & some country pubs along the way. Accom & some meals included. Limited seats available.
20th January 2018
Book early as seats are limited
BUDERIM Coach tour to visit the remains of the railway that used to run from Palmwoods to Buderim & view one of the engines that worked the line.
Website Email Hours
www.arhs-qld.org.au arhsqld@bigpond.com.au Tues, Wed & Thurs 10am to 3pm
SUNSHINE EXPRESS RAIL TOURS G.P.O. BOX 682, BRISBANE Australian Railway Historical Society Queensland Division 44 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
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18/10/2017 1:47:29 PM
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU (EASY)
1 4 9 5 8 7 2 3 6
7 2 6 4 3 9 8 1 5
6 9 5 7 4 2 3 8 1
4 7 1 8 5 3 6 2 9
2 3 8 1 9 6 5 7 4
SUDOKU (MEDIUM)
8 5 3 2 6 1 9 4 7
3 6 7 8 5 9 1 2 4
8 9 4 7 2 1 6 5 3
2 5 1 6 3 4 9 8 7
1 2 9 3 4 8 7 6 5
4 3 6 2 7 5 8 1 9
CODEWORD 15
14
2
1
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
5 7 8 9 1 6 3 4 2
9 4 5 1 8 3 2 7 6
6 8 2 5 9 7 4 3 1
7 1 3 4 6 2 5 9 8
WORDFIND
MD A I OW Y X L N B K T
1. Which New Zealand city is built around Waitemata harbour? 2. The dog Laika was the first to do what? 3. What is the only chess piece that can move diagonally? 4. What medical procedure imitates the function of the kidneys? 5. What is the study of time called? 6. What country is sometimes called the Hellenic Republic? 7. Who did boxer Jeff Horn defeat in July this year? 8. Which women’s tennis star has the middle names Ebony Starr? 9. On a radio, what does FM mean? 10. What is the name of the official office of the President of the USA? 11. What is the Spanish word for “no”? 12. What is five ninths of 63? 13. Which champion surfer has two given names that are the same? 14. Who was the Federal Treasurer who brought down the 2017 budget? 15. What is the closest planet to the Sun with a natural moon? 16. Off the coast of which state or territory is Thursday Island? 17. “Go ahead, make my day” was spoken by Clint Eastwood in what 1983 movie? 18. Basenji, Malamute and Bichon Frise are types of what domestic animal? 19. Which art gallery is home to the “Mona Lisa”? 20. The projecting part at the front of a saddle is called what?
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
3 8 4 9 1 5 7 6 2
QUICK CROSSWORD
9 6 7 3 2 4 1 5 8
With Quizmaster Allan Blackburn
5 1 2 6 7 8 4 9 3
TRIVIA
metal detector
26
J U H Z E G S V C R Q P F 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
9-LETTER WORD
WORD STEP GROAN, GROWN, GROWS, CROWS, CREWS, CHEWS There may be other correct answers
acme, acne, actin, acumen, acute, antic, came, camp, cane, cant, cape, caput, catnip, cent, cine, cinema, cite, cumin, cute, enact, encamp, epic, iceman, impact, incept, mace, manic, mantic, mica, mice, mince, nice, pace, pact, panic, pecan, pectin, pica, PNEUMATIC, puce, pumice, puncta, teacup, tunic, uncap
1. Auckland; 2. Travel into space; 3. Bishop; 4. Dialysis; 5. Horology; 6. Greece; 7. Manny Pacquiao; 8. Venus Williams; 9. Frequency Modulation; 10. Oval Office; 11. No; 12. 5; 13. John John Florence; 14. Scott Morrison; 15. Earth; 16. Queensland; 17. Sudden Impact; 18. Dog; 19. Louvre; 20. Pommel.
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 45
18/10/2017 1:47:15 PM
PUZZLES
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 4 7 9 10 12 13 14 15 17 19 20 21
Can you really sit on the committee head? (5) I saw an unidentified object one stormy night (5) Those who travel light and support those who fill cardboard containers? (11) So many remove the reds from worsted weaves (3) Most of the digit is anaesthetised? (4) Performing seal serves beverages (4) The eminent conductor sat more unconventionally than most (7) Buy nothing other than a float (4) Urges one to stagger artlessly (4) Being a bit cramped in the middle of the current (3) Keen on relating good news in any place, even glacial resorts! (11) Must one promise with such bad language? (5) Sounds like he savagely attacks shopping areas (5)
No. 2531
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 11 12 14 16 17 18
Residence for archetypal murderer with a big head (5) Make room for the modern “doc” in the coma team (11) Pleased to demolish the trap (4) Turncoat seeks Mexican food (4) Philosophical thoughts of long ago collide uncomfortably with one who is figurative (11) The usual anaesthetic applied by the emergency crew overcomes one with fumes! (5) It’s wonderful that we share the same woe somehow (7) Semi-protected environment to which most of the yabbies returned (3) Metric region sounds like it’s in the atmosphere! (3) Be nice to someone, but not so much after a bad start (5) Disposes of batteries by the sound of it (5) The distraught manager fired the men over some gelatinous extract (4) A sweet food served in a gooey lump (4)
Copyright © Reuben’s Puzzles www.reubenspuzzles.com.au. Refer to the website for a cryptic solving guide.
CODEWORD
No. 003
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
WORDFIND
The leftover letters will spell out a secret message No. 004
alloy aluminium atoms bar copper foil forge gold gun ingot iron leaf mine money nickel
ore pipes platinum rivet rod rust silver smith steel tin welding zinc
TUESDAY 10am Start JACKPOTS: $2000 on progressive calls $500 on progressive calls $300 on progressive calls
WORK IT OUT!
SUDOKU Level: Medium
No. 788
2 7 4 7 6
9
4
1 9 7 2 5 7
2 5
8 1 8 5 3 1
3 7 4 5 6
Everyone Welcome
WEDNESDAY 7.30pm Start JACKPOTS: $1000 on progressive calls $500 on progressive calls $300 on progressive calls
THURSDAY 10am Start JACKPOTS: $1000 on progressive calls $500 on progressive calls $300 on progressive calls
INDOOR BOWLS MONDAY TO THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 1pm Start Caloundra District Indoor Bowls Club president@caloundraindoorbowling.com Burke St, Golden Beach QLD 4551
Call for further info
46 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / November 2017
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(07) 5492 1684
COURTESY BUS AVAILABLE FOR MORE INFORMATION PHONE: 0424 601 043
Sunshine Coast
18/10/2017 1:47:00 PM
PUZZLES
QUICK CROSSWORD
No. 3632
9-LETTER WORD
No. 004
Today’s Aim:
I M U
45 words: Excellent
7 4 3
E
7 2
A
4
Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.
WORD STEP
ACROSS 1 3 9 10 11 12 13 15 17 18 20 22 24
Cleaning implement (3) Illegally entering (11) Component of blood (5) Front end of computer program (9) Normally (7) Highest in temperature (7) Female name (5) Fraternal (9) Male name (9) Parts (for actors) (5) Docket (7) US president, Bill - (7) Quivering (9)
25 Monarch’s headwear (5) 26 Four-sided with right-angles (11) 27 Total (3)
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8
Govern incompetently (7) Prickly animal (9) Language spoken in parts of Sri Lanka (5) Poet, - Dickinson (5) Implement traditionally wielded by angry mobs (9) Injured player carrier (9) Silly (5) Tremendously (7)
14 Stuff associated with the USA (9) 15 Standing on end (hair or fur) (9) 16 Family members (9) 17 Eternally (7) 19 Word with same meaning (7) 21 Like dice or square boxes, eg (5) 22 Water passage (5) 23 Sustain; experience (5)
No. 787
3 8
33 words: Very good
T P
Level: Easy
22 words: Good
C
N
SUDOKU
No. 004
6 1 9
5 6 3 2 7
7 6 2 9 7 6 8 4 3 5 9 8 3 6 5 1
WORK IT OUT!
Complete the list by changing one letter at a time to create a new word at each step. One possible answer shown below.
GROAN
_____ _____ _____ _____ CHEWS November 2017
Sunshine Coast
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November 2017 / YOUR TIME MAGAZINE 47
18/10/2017 1:46:45 PM
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