BULLETIN AUSTRALIAN WAR WIDOWS QUEENSLAND AUTUMN 2020 In this issue: • Benefits & entitlements • Power of attorney - what you need to know • Upcoming events • Recipe & home hacks • DVA & myagedcare explained AUTUMN EDITION 2020Page 1 AWWQ CONTACTS CONTENTS QUEENSLAND STATE PRESIDENT STATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2 Mrs Jennifer Gregory BAppSc Nursing Sc, GradDip HlthServMgt CEO’S REPORT 3 GROUP DIRECTORY 4 CHAIRMAN Mr Stephen Scott, AICD BENEFITS & ENTITLEMENTS 6 INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS MEMBER FEATURES: Mrs Michelle McGrath OAM DELAUNE POLLARD 8 Ms Jenny Walker NOELA STEPHENS 9 Mr Chris Richards RONA SHUTE 10 WAR WIDOW DIRECTORS NORTHERN FOCUS 12 Mrs Cathy Hartshorn Mrs Maureen Rush IN THE KITCHEN 13 Mrs Judy Smith ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY 14 Mrs Roslyn Wilkes MY AGED CARE 16 MEMBERS OF STAFF Natasha Oickle, Chief Executive Officer NEWS & REMINDERS 18 Rachel Johnson, Administration Manager HEALTH & WELLNESS 20 Susan Hilditch, Lifestyle Support Coordinator Jason Orchard, Operations Manager GROUP NEWS 24 Samm Mayrseidl, Administration & Member Support Suzi Vincent, Lifestyle Support Coordinator - North QLD EVENTS 30 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS 33 STREET ADDRESS 41 Merivale Street South Brisbane QLD 4101 CROSSWORD 34 POSTAL ADDRESS BOARD NOMINATIOS 35 PO Box 13604 George Street Post Shop ACCOMMODATION 36 Brisbane QLD 4003 PHONE 07 3846 7706 or Free call: 1800 061 945 EMAIL ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: [email protected] All materials published are subject to AWWQ terms WEBSITE and conditions. AWWQ accepts no liability for any www.warwidowsqld.org.au errors or omissions and does not endorse any companies, products or services that appear in the publication. GRATITUDE TO OUR PATRON His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC DISCLAIMER: Governor of Queensland The material in the AWWQ Bulletin has been checked and to the best of our knowledge is correct. However, errors may occur which are beyond our ADVERTISING IN THE BULLETIN: Advertising revenue will be used to increase the control. If this should happen, we apologise most number of magazines printed and circulated. If sincerely. you are interested in advertising, please contact the editor on [email protected] Page 2 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Anders, Elaine - Burpengary Moore, Fay - Moffat Beach Barnier, Patricia - Blackbutt Noonan, Karry - Amity Point Cliftow, Margaret - Regents Park O’Neill, Susan - Chapel Hill Crowe, Judith - Chermside Ramsey, Marie - Holland Park Deegan, Donna - Imbil Richards, Chris - Brisbane Eason, Edward - Southside Roberts, Charmaine - Bargara Ferguson, Glenda - Helensvale Rogers, Cherie - Beaconsfield Goodfellow, Sylvia - Tewantin Sayer, Irene - Scarborough Haines, Erin – Park Ridge Speis, Violet - Southport Hoch, Betty - Shelley Beach Thompson, Helen - Kawangan Houlsen, Victoria - Algester Turner, Jenny - Mountain Creek Maletz, Evelyn – Regents Park White, Julieanne - Biloela Mcintosh, Gwenda - Rochedale South McKeown, Joan - Noosa Heads PHONE NUMBERS AWWQ 07 3846 7706 or 1800 061 945 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Centrelink (MyGov) 1300 169 468 Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 Do Not Call Register 1300 792 958 DVA General Enquiries 133 254 DVA Transport 1800 550 455 Lifeline 13 11 14 Meals on Wheels 1300 909 790 My Aged Care 1800 200 422 Open Arms 1800 011 046 The devastating bush fires are a reminder of just Police / Fire / Ambulance 000 how stark things can be, but God willing, just as Policelink (Non urgent matters) 131 444 we War Widows do, we always find our way back. This little Kookaburra looks out at the bushland Seniors Enquiry Line 1300 135 500 devastated by the fires in Wallabi Point, NSW. SES (Flood & Storm Emergency) 132 500 Source: World Wide Fund Veterans’ Home Care 1300 550 450 for Nature Australia www.wwf.org.au Photo ©Adam Stevenson Shared by Bron Drinkwater Page 1 FROM THE DESK STATE PRESIDENT’S REPORT Well, haven’t we had a Other exciting news is that congratulations are very long, hot summer in order for Val Rooney who received an OAM in bringing with it, bush the Australia Day awards. Val has given a lot of fires, drought but also time and dedication to our organisation and to storms, hail and floods. many other community groups. I hope that you all have The Board has been busy planning for the stayed well and been future and held a planning day on 13 February able to stay out of the to set the direction for the next few years for heat. Our hearts go out AWWQ. You will be made aware of the fruits to all those affected by of their labour when the plans are finalised. I the bush fires which would also like to extend a very warm welcome have ravaged the to our newest independent board director, countryside. Lives have been lost, much of our Mr Chris Richards. Chris brings a wealth of wildlife and habitat destroyed. experience and expertise to the board, including I know that some of our groups are collecting knowledge gained from his role as State money to assist with damage from the fires and President of the Australian Federation of Totally many will direct those funds to the care of affected and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen wildlife. Without our wildlife we suffer loss of and Women (Queensland Branch) Incorporated imagination, a loss of wonder, a loss of beautiful (TPI). possibilities. When we see ourselves as part of With Anzac Day fast approaching many of us nature, as we should, we understand that saving will be asked to lay wreaths at various services nature is really about saving ourselves.The summer on that day and I thank all those members who period has also been a sad time for us as we lost represent AWWQ at these functions. As we two of our members who gave great service to will be participating in the Anzac Day Parade our organisation. I attended the funerals of Noela in Brisbane I would like to see as many able Stephens and Rona Shute earlier this year. Noela bodied of our members as possible join us in served on the War Widows’ Guild QLD Council for representing AWWQ in this march. If you are many years and was the treasurer for the Ipswich able to be involved please let the office know. sub-branch right up to the time of her passing. In this Bulletin you will find a nomination Rona was the President of Cairns sub-branch for form for Board positions and for State President. over 16 years. We are very grateful for these ladies’ I am eligible to stand again for the position of commitment and dedication and we will miss them. President but any of our members who meet On a happier note we are happy to welcome the criteria are able to stand for the position. Suzi Vincent to the staff as the Lifestyle Support I hope that by the time you receive this Coordinator for North Queensland. Suzi has been Bulletin the bush fire crisis has passed and we working very hard to establish contact with our can welcome some cooler weather. Stay well. - war widows in the north and ensuring that there Jenny Gregory are support services available for our members in outback locations. Page 2 FROM THE DESK CEO’S REPORT Welcome back to On pages 6 & 7, I have given a fairly another wonderful year. comprehensive overview of both DVA and non- This issue of the Bulletin DVA entitlements and I hope this is useful for is absolutely packed! you. Also, on pages 14-17, I have written an You will notice that we article about Enduring Power of Attorney and have obtained some an overview for our members, outlining some of paid sponsors who have the differences between DVA and myagedcare placed advertisements in entitlements. this edition. The income The bush fires have been devastating - both for we get from these people and our wildlife. As if that wasn’t enough, we now have to be concerned about the Corona sponsors will help AWWQ cover some of the costs of virus that seems to be causing a bit of panic. It is producing and printing the Bulletin. While some of important to stay positive in the face of all these the advertisers are not organisations that we know, challenges! we are grateful to have their sponsorship. My report for this issue of the Bulletin will be Thank all of you for taking the time to fill out the short. I would like to keep room on this page for War Widows survey. We will publish the results and a poem I wrote in the early hours of the morning ensure they are available to members at the AGM. on Anzac Day last year. I wasn’t brave enough to One of the points that came up from your comments put my name to it and wrote it as ‘anonymous’, was the need to learn more about your entitlements. but I am a bit braver now as I’ve come to know many of you better. I hope you like it. ON THIS ANZAC DAY It is said that time can heal all wounds On this solemn Anzac Day and for some that may be true. I’ll sit on the shore and smile But on this solemn Anzac Day as I remember your laugh, your jokes, your ways I’ll be thinking of you. your comforting familiar smile. Everytime you cross my mind On this solemn Anzac Day I smile at the memories we made. sadness will replace my glee. Today I’ll be brave and think of how So I’ll tell myself to perk back up my love for you never fades. there are many who still need me. On this solemn Anzac Day Tomorrow I’ll wake and face the day I’ll look around and see with a heart that is pure and light.