Why I Rejected George Clooney Snow Siren Antarctica's Icy Charms
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February | March 2014 Snow Siren Antarctica’s Icy Charms Classic Chocolate Mousse The French Way Taking Flight Sochi’s Older Skiers Your Medicines Question! Question! Question! Setting Up A Business All You Need to Know Kathy Lette Why I Rejected George Clooney contents February | March 2014 20 In It Together No one First Up expects to get Alzheimer’s 9 Letters 18 Live & Lette Live at age 63. Sandra Kimble London-based shares her personal journey. 12 News Australian author, 14 Executive Diary Kathy Lette, gives 24 Open For Business Rosemary Desmond Every good business 16 Campaigns a glimpse of her starts with a plan. hectic life. Lawyer Natasha Maynard Epicurean outlines the basics. 35 Books & Movies 28 Drum Beats Byron 37 Top S helf A light mauve Bay’s older residents have flower found in Cape York a novel way of dealing is our most coveted orchid, with loneliness. Casey-Ann says Mark A Clements. Seaniger checks it out. 38 Smooth as Silk Emmanuel 30 Agony Planner Mollois shares classic chocolate Struggling with mousse and crème caramel with superannuation, pensions Sarah Saunders. or property investments? 40 Snow Siren Adventurer Tom Colin Lewis has the Muller braves the cold to discover answers. Antarctica’s legendary charms. 31 Spare Change If money’s tight you can Time Out draw on your super 44 Tech Spec The golden and still work part time. rule of photo composition Craig Hall explains. 46 Winter Olympics 33 Your Medicines Drug Sochi’s older athletes side effects can be mistaken 48 Puzzles for a new illness. Question your doctor and know what 50 The Last Word you’re taking. Change at National Seniors 28 38 40 Cover Kathy Lette, high on life Photo: Nicky Johnston © 50 SOMETHING February/March 2014 5 editor This issue is about love. It’s for her son Julius. On page 18, Sarah Saunders Deep enduring love. she tells of her experience raising Editor In “First Up”, we mark 50 years since a son with Asperger’s and of the [email protected] Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton incredible young man he is now. first married. In the photograph, On page 20, love shines through Taylor walks the Oscars red carpet adversity. Relationship counsellor wearing a gift from Burton – a 69.42 Sandra Kimble, more used to carat diamond. They met on the set navigating other couples’ lives, Publisher of Cleopatra in 1963. She played generously shares her own story National Seniors Australia the title role and he, her lover Mark about husband Tom’s Alzheimer’s A.B.N. 89 050 523 003 Antony. Their marriage lasted ten diagnosis at only age 63. Suddenly, ISSN 1835–5404 years. A year after their divorce she says, they were two ordinary they remarried. A year later they people facing extraordinary Editor divorced again. It was, people said, circumstances. Sarah Saunders s.saunders@ a love too big to last. This Valentine’s Day take a moment nationalseniors.com.au For the vivacious Kathy Lette, to honour your own deep enduring the love is not for actor George love. An exquisite mauve orchid National Advertising Manager Clooney who she turned down while (p37) and a silky chocolate mousse Mark Smith working as a Hollywood scriptwriter. (p38) will inspire. [email protected] National Office contributors Level 18 215 Adelaide Street Sandra Kimball has worked in mental health for over 25 years as a Brisbane Q 4000 therapist, writer and educator in Australia and internationally. She is a relationship counsellor who offers couples retreats in Northern NSW Phone: 07 3233 9191 and the author of Relationships in Our 50’s, 60’s and Beyond – How Fax: 07 3211 9339 Yours Can Survive and Thrive, available at www.byrontherapy.com.au www.nationalseniors.com.au Mark Clements is head of orchid research at the Centre for Australian Disclaimer National Biodiversity Research at the Australian National Herbarium, National Seniors Australia [NSA] in Canberra. His current research includes an orchid recovery plan for accepts no responsibility for the two nationally threatened species. He also maintains the Australian accuracy or completeness of any Orchid Names Index for all native orchid taxa. material herein and recommends readers exercise their own skill Natasha Maynard, from Brisbane firm CRH Law, completed a Bachelor and care with respect to the of Laws and Bachelor of Arts in 2005, and was admitted as a Barrister contents of the magazine. The magazine contains views and Solicitor in New Zealand in 2006 and as a Solicitor in Queensland and or recommendations which in 2008. Natasha’s practice areas are commercial, property and not-for do not necessarily reflect the views profit law. of NSA or its commitment to a particular course of action. Thomas E. Muller has spent a total of two months in Antarctica, his A reference to a particular person, favourite continent. The 74-year-old retired professor and National product, organisation or service in an advertisement or elsewhere in Seniors life member explores the far reaches of the Earth, hoping to the magazine in no way implies any encourage others to do the same. His adventures are featured on form of endorsement by NSA of www.KnowYourEarth.net that person, organisation, product or service. NSA disclaims to the Ian Malin has written for the Guardian and Observer newspapers extent permitted by law all liability for for the last 30 years. He is the author of two books, Mud, Blood and claims, losses, expenses, damages Money, English Rugby Goes Professional; and a history of the England and costs the reader may incur as a result of, or associated with, the use rugby union team. This issue he goes in search of the Winter Olympics’ of the information contained herein oldest competitor. for any reason whatsoever. The publisher reserves the right to accept 50 something’s Agony Planner scribe is ipac technical services head, or reject any advertising or editorial Colin Lewis. Colin has over 20 years’ experience in superannuation matter. No part of this magazine and retirement incomes and has held senior may be reproduced, reprinted or otherwise duplicated without written regulatory, consulting and technical roles permission of the publisher. throughout the financial services industry. Printed by Horizon Media 6 50 SOMETHING February/March 2014 letters Men’s business Your 58-year-old patient, Vince, should have a cardiology referral for a number of reasons (Doug Lording, “Men’s Business”, 50 something, Dec 2013/Jan 2014). His GP should stop him smoking, as smoking is a contributing factor to his erectile dysfunction (ED). He should also be sent to a dietician, but because the ED is presumably caused by vascular disease, he should see a cardiologist, not only to have his blood pressure treated (any elevation of blood pressure should be treated and not ignored, provided the pressure rise is persistent and not just a one off “white coat” hypertension). He should have a full cardiac work up and, depending on the findings by the cardiologist, he may also have an angiogram (dye into the heart blood vessel) to see if he has a blockage of any vessels. Most importantly he must stop smoking. Dr Tibor Pietzsch Townsville Q Family home in the assets test? close neighbours, rules and regulations, Work and save We are concerned the federal not because they’re miserly. I am nearly 78-years-old and growing government or a lobby group may Free camps allow one to get close to tired of the complaining about how hard want to include the family home in nature, build camp-fires in appropriate life is for retirees. an assets test that would seriously places, and enjoy the beauty of the I divorced at 50-plus and had less than disadvantage a large number of night sky while listening to natural $8000 to see me out. At that age work people dependent on the Age Pension. sounds in peace and quiet. was scarce, so I went contracting, with no overtime, holiday pay, or penalty This would be an impost not on Some people prefer the natural rates, just a flat rate per hour. today’s value but later in life as the environment, rather than spending home increases in value over time. their time in a miniature “suburbia”, Over the next 20 years I worked in every state of Australia and also Papua Often government puts out these meeting people instead of native fauna. New Guinea, all on contract. suggestions to test public reaction These grey nomads are more likely before proceeding. We hope National than their city counterparts to enjoy the A lot of years were spent in outback Seniors looks into this and provides environment and treat it with respect. mine sites but by working up to 60 hours serious opposition on behalf of per week, not buying caravans, boats, Don’t knock them. current model cars and such, I managed those currently receiving the pension H Beneke to gradually build up a bank balance. and those who would be eligible in Banksia Beach Q the future. I put any spare money into properties over a lot of years and by frugal living Ian & Sandra Gillies created my own ‘superannuation’ at Angaston SA Enjoy time left the time the government brought in Ed: National Seniors will oppose any My experiences tell me that behind their compulsory system. moves to include the family home in Peter Talbot’s brief note there is a I retired at 71 by realising my assets. the age pension assets test. This is great deal of pain, bewilderment and I now own my modest home, my car, a proposal raised by another interest a sense of hopelessness (“Letters”, have more shirts than I will ever wear group in the Commission of Audit 50 something, Dec 2013/Jan 2014).