GOALL
Growing Older And Loving Life!
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Issue 13 l March 2016
Page 1
POSITIVE AGEING
Wyong Shire Council is hosting a
Free concert to celebrate
Seniors Week
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Wyong Shire Council Civic Centre
2 Hely Street, Wyong
9am to 10am Information Expo
10am to 12.30pm Concert and Morning Tea
Information Expo:
Expo Participants: Heart Foundation,
Community Health, Delphis Australia,
National Seniors Group, Long Jetty
Senior Citizens Centre, Toukley Senior
Citizens Centre, Men's Shed,
Volunteering Central Coast, Community
Transport, Coastlink, ADSSI Home Living
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL:
25 March to Lyn Cooper
4350 5522
Page 2
Performers:
Central Coast Ukulele Group, Will Small and
Frances Kitson & Harry Moore
From the Editor
Welcome to GOALL 2016 and what a
huge year is instore for us again! Seniors
Week promises to be bigger than ever
starting a little later this year on 1 April
and running for ten days. It’s a time to
celebrate older Australians and Council is
holding a FREE Seniors Week Concert on
Wednesday 6 April. Bookings fill up very
quickly, so get your tickets by phoning
Lyn on 4350 5522. Details are in our pull
out calendar.
Following Seniors Week is Youth Week
from 8 – 17 April which coincides
with the NSW School Holidays (9 – 25
April). For those of you who look after
grandchildren or who have grandchildren
living close by, there are many free
activities being held during this period.
See Council’s website for all details
www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/events
For more information on the many and
varied events for Seniors Week and Youth
Week, as well as activities on during the
school holidays, go to What’s On later in
this issue.
If you are an older driver, make sure you
read our Fitness to Drive article on page
6. As we age we may think we are as alert
as ever but our reaction time may not be
what it used to be, or a medical condition
may affect our driving ability. Try the selfassessment checklist for older drivers on
page 9.
The Central Coast Local Health District
has a new Get Healthy Service initiative.
It is a free service to start your journey
towards a healthier, and happier, you. Go
to page 10 for all the details.
We also keep you updated on the Positive
Ageing Strategy including our outdoor
gyms and Picture Wyong.
We are excited to report that our long
awaited Art House is opening in April.
If you are not already a Friend of The
Art House, join up today – its free. Email
[email protected] or call
the Art House Team on 4350 5511. More
information on page 22.
We always look forward to reading
Betty Brown’s amusing stories and this
edition Mobile Mayhem does not let us
down. If you have grappled with the
new technology of smart phones you will
understand her frustration.
GOALL is always looking for story ideas
and activities of interest from our readers.
If you have a suggestion or want to know
more about something that happens in
Wyong Shire, let us know by contacting the
Editor via email [email protected] or
phone Lyn at Council on 4350 5522.
In the next edition of GOALL, due out
early June we will hear Vicki Buchanan’s
story and her contribution to keeping us
safe in Wyong Shire.
If you have missed any back issues of this
newsletter, go to Wyong Council’s website
www.wyong.nsw.gov.au.
Julie Vaughan
Manager Community Partnerships and
Planning
Page 3
Wyong is Alive with record breaking seniors
like Saul Moss
Saul Moss is one amazing local
resident. At 92 years of age, he holds
the Guinness World Record as the
oldest scuba diver from shore. At
the age of 85 years and 14 days, he
completed an unassisted dive at Bare
Island, Sydney, Australia, diving to a
depth of 13 m (42.65 ft) for a period of
40 minutes.
When quizzed if he had always been a
scuba diver Saul said “oh no, I took it
up at 64.”
Saul was watching Valerie Taylor
documentaries about the world under
the waves and told his wife Joan, if
he was a younger person he would
take up diving. So Joan just went and
bought a diving course for him and he
hasn’t looked back!
When Joan and Saul tried their first
dive in Fiji, Saul nearly drowned
because he was so busy watching Joan
that he forgot that he still had the
snorkel in and not the regulator! Joan
didn’t take to scuba diving like Saul so
he recruited his son-in-law to be his
diving buddy.
“We went off diving near Taree one
time. The guy in the dive shop told
us to keep an eye out for Agro, the
turtle and gave us some pilchards
to feed him. My son-in-law went off
looking for Agro but I was happy just
exploring the reef. Next thing I know
I feel this poke in my side and there
is Agro, beside me waving his flippers
around! He was too close to my air
Page 4
hoses so I started waving my arms
around like he was and pushed him
away. My son-in-law came over but
he had lost the pilchards so we had
nothing to feed him.”
“Agro went up to get some air so we
thought we were ok but the next thing
we knew he had dropped down on
top of me and had me pinned on the
ocean floor.”
“Lucky I am a calm sort of a bloke so
I just rolled over and pushed him off.
We had just enough air to get back to
the boat!” Saul explained.
Saul met his lovely wife Joan in 1959
and they migrated to Australia in 1967.
“I used to smoke and drink rum. In
1962 I was in a pub and noticed the
nicotine stains on the wall paper.
Then as luck would have it they aired
a program about lung cancer on
the BBC that showed the lungs of a
smoker. I realised that the grime on
the walls in the pub was what
was going into me.
I wanted to live a long life so I
gave it up. Now, Joan and I eat
well, fruit and vegetables every
day”, said Saul.
So, if Saul is setting world
records at 85, and only prevented
beating it at 90 by a knee
replacement……..what is his secret
to positive ageing?
“Just because you are three score
and ten (70), you don’t have to
lay down and die,” says Saul.
“I exercise every day. Even when
I don’t feel like it I just do it
and then I feel better. We have
adjusted our food to match our
level of activity – excess food has
a negative effect. After the knee
operation I am back to swimming
for one hour a day, three times a
week and doing weights on the
other days.”
“A fit and healthy
body leads to a
clear and healthy
mind”,
explains Saul. And as his lovely
wife Joan says – “Keep on the go
- once you sit down its all over.”
Page 5
Fitness to Drive
There are many factors that contribute
to safety on the road including driver
health. Drivers must meet certain
medical standards to ensure that their
health status does not increase the risk
of a crash in which they or other road
users may be killed or injured.
Driving a motor vehicle is a complex
task involving perception, good
judgement, adequate response time
and reasonable physical capability. A
range of medical conditions, disabilities
and treatments may influence these
driving pre-requisites. Such impairment
may adversely affect driving ability,
possibly resulting in a crash causing
death or injury.
Page 6
Reporting – it’s the law
As a driver it is your responsibility
to report any health conditions that
might affect your ability to drive safely
to the Roads and Maritime Services
(RMS). Health conditions include any
permanent or long-term illness that
is likely to affect your ability to drive
safely. Your doctor is able to advise
you on whether or not you should be
reporting a condition. These laws have
been created to protect public safety.
A range of medical conditions, as well
as treatments, can impair your driving
ability. Common examples include:
• Blackouts
• Sleep disorders
• Vision problems
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Psychiatric disorders
• Heart disease
Licence renewal and retention
Conditional or modified licences
At each licence renewal, drivers will
be asked to complete a declaration
regarding their health, including
whether they have any conditions
that may include diabetes, epilepsy,
blackouts or medical, mental or
physical disabilities that may affect
their driving. Based on this information
a satisfactory medical report may be
required to confirm a driver’s fitness to
hold a driver licence. You can discuss
your individual circumstances with a
registry service.
Just because you have a condition
that might affect your driving, doesn’t
mean that you won’t be able to drive
at all. In many cases the licensing
authority is able to issue a conditional
or modified licence that lets you keep
driving under certain circumstances.
These circumstances are added to your
licence as conditions, which are printed
on the back of the card. This means
that you may continue to drive as long
as certain conditions or restrictions
are met when you are driving. If you
choose a modified licence, you do not
need to attempt a practical driving
assessment.
Will your medical condition affect
your licence?
How your licence will be affected will
depend on your medical condition, any
medications you take and your health
professional’s recommendations.
For example, if your only problem is
that your eyesight does not meet the
minimum standard for a driver’s licence
unaided, it will be necessary to have an
eyesight test before your licence can
be issued. If the doctor states that your
eyesight is satisfactory while wearing
spectacles or contact lenses, the licence
will be endorsed to say that corrective
lenses must be worn at all times when
driving.
If your medical condition means that
you cannot drive, or you simply don’t
want to, you should hand in your
licence. You have a right of appeal
against any licensing decision you
disagree with.
Conditions may include driving during
daylight hours, within a certain distance
of your home, must wear corrective
lenses when driving or attending
your doctor for a periodic review. You
should discuss your options with your
doctor, who can help you work out
ways to keep you safe on the road. Your
doctor may make recommendations
to the RMS about a conditional licence
but the authority will make the final
decision.
If you are issued with a conditional
licence it is your responsibility to
comply with any driving restrictions or
other conditions and to be reviewed by
your doctor as required.
Page 7
Practical Assessments for Older Drivers
The RMS has developed a Guide to
Older Driver Licensing in which you can
find information about how to continue
driving safely, your licence options,
a self-assessment questionnaire, and
suggestions about how to overcome,
or limit the impact of the aging process,
on your driving ability.
RMS will post you a copy of this
guide, when you reach 84 years and
six months. It’s also available for free,
at any registry or service centre, or by
phoning 13 22 13.
Medical
Driving
Other
review
Assessment
every year
Test
70-74
No
No
If you hold an MC licence, you’ll need to pass
years
a practical driving test every year to keep
your MC licence, once you turn 70.
75-79
Yes
No
When you reach 75 years of age, you will
years
need to have a medical examination each
year to retain your licence. RMS will send you
a form approximately eight weeks before your
birthday for your doctor to complete.
80-84
Yes
No
If you hold a heavy vehicle licence (classes LR,
years
MR, HR or HC), you need to have a medical
review and a practical driving assessment
every year. You must pass all the reviews and
assessments before your birthday.
85 and
Yes
Yes
If you wish to keep your unrestricted licence,
older
you’ll need to successfully pass a practical
driving assessment, every second year.
Are you fit to drive?
Try the self-assessment
In this magazine you will find a
Self-assessment Checklist – use this
questionnaire to help you assess your
driving performance. The rating form
after the questions is for your use only.
Road Safety Forums – May 2016
In May Council will be conducting
Years Ahead road safety workshops for
people 65+. The program will help you
drive safer for longer, clarify road rules,
vehicle safety, understand the safest
way to use pedestrian facilities within
our community, mobility alternatives
and much more.
For more information contact Council’s
Road Safety Officer on 4350 5232.
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Page 8
8
Self-assessment
CHECKLIST
Road Safety for 65+
Are you fit to drive? Try this self-assessment
If you answered yes to any of the above you may want to have your driving assessed by a professional driving
instructor. There are also 'Refresher' lessons available for people of all ages. Use a driving assessor that holds a
Driving Instructor Licence who can provide you with the experience of having someone independently observe
your driving skills and provide you with the appropriate feedback to sharpen your skills and keep you safe on the
road. These lessons can be particularly useful if you are approaching licence renewal.
For further information please refer to http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/licence/older-drivers/index.html
Reference - http://www.nrmasaferdriving.com.au/senior-assessing-your-driving.htm
Page
9
Get Healthy Wyong
Clothes getting a bit tight? Weighing
more? Lacking energy? Been told by
a doctor or health professional that
you are at risk of developing a chronic
disease? If any of these ring a bell, why
not take advantage of the Get Healthy
Information and Coaching Service ®.
The Get Healthy Service ® is a free,
confidential, telephone-based program
which helps NSW adults:
• Eat healthier
• Be more physically active
• Achieve and maintain a healthy
weight
The Service offers two options: a
six month coaching program or
information-only, allowing you to pick
what’s right for you.
As a coaching program participant you
will receive:
• Your own personal health coach
• One-on-one support and
motivation in the form of up to 10
free coaching calls over six months
• An Information Booklet that
provides you with information and
tips on healthy eating, being active
and achieving and maintaining a
healthy weight
• A coaching journal to write down
your goals and actions and keep
track of your progress
• Access to a secure website,
providing you with further
information and giving you an
Page 10
alternate means of receiving
support including a way of
recording and tracking goals. You
can also receive emails including
helpful advice and tips.
As an information-only participant you
will receive:
• A one-time coaching call
• Printed information on healthy
eating, being active and achieving
and maintaining a healthy weight
The benefits of the coaching program
are many, the main one being the
added advantage of having your
own personal health coach who will
help you develop your health goals,
create an action plan, identify barriers
and maintain motivation to help you
achieve your goals.
Getting started is easy!
• Simply call 1300 806 258, Monday
to Friday, 8am-8pm; or
• Send an email with your contact
details to contact@gethealthynsw.
com.au and a qualified health
coach will call you back on the next
business day; or
• Visit www.gethealthynsw.com.au,
click on the ‘Get Started’ button
and fill in the registration form; or
• Talk to your General Practitioner
(GP) or Health Professional about
Get Healthy and ask them to refer
you to the Service.
What’s On - Pull Out Guide
Long Jetty Senior Citizens
Open Day
Toukley Senior Citizens
Open Day
Date: Monday 4 April
Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm
What’s on: “Come-and-Try” gentle
exercises, Zumba Gold and Tai chi
followed by a free morning tea and
a showing of several short Australian
films starring older Australian actors.
Also on display will be a variety of art
works by the group. All welcome.
Date: Tuesday 5 April
Time: 9am – 3pm
What’s On: Open Day at the Centre
including a free screening of the
Young at Heart Short Films and a
performance by the Central Coast
Ukulele Club. All welcome.
Page 11
Seniors Week Concert
Get connected
Date: Wednesday 6 April
Time: 9am (Expo), 10am (Concert)
Venue: Wyong Shire Civic Centre,
2 Hely St, Wyong
What’s On: Come celebrate Seniors
Week with an Information Expo
followed by a Concert featuring the
Central Coast Ukulele Club, Will Small
– spoken word artist, and music by
Frances Kitson and Harry Moore. This
free concert includes morning tea.
Bookings are essential as numbers are
limited – call Lyn Cooper on 4350 5522
to reserve your ticket.
Date: Thursday 7 April
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Tuggerah Library
What’s On: Join us at this special
Seniors Week class where you can try
out a range of digital gadgets including
e-readers, tablets, smart phones and
get advice on how to use them. Limited
spots available! Reserve your place on
4350 1560.
Camp Breakaway Seniors Day
Date: Thursday, 7 April
Time: 9am – 2pm
Venue: Camp Breakaway,
80 Highview Avenue, San Remo
What’s On: Enjoy a free morning tea
and lunch, sing along with popular
entertainer Clair Hayes and learn how
to stay active, healthy and socially
connected.
Bookings essential phone 4390 7624
or email [email protected] by
Monday, 29 March
Page12
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Page
Household Chemical CleanOut
Date: Saturday, 12 March
Time: 9am – 3.30pm
Venue: Morris Place, Bateau Bay
(Long Jetty Depot)
What’s On: Cleanout is a free service
for the safe disposal of a range of
common household chemicals,
many of which could cause harm to
human health or the environment if
not disposed of correctly. Household
quantities only of 20kg or 20L
maximum container size can be
dropped off. Car batteries and motor
oils can be recycled for free at the
Buttonderry Waste Management
Facility (max 20L per visit) all year
round.
Neighbour Day
Wadalba Markets
Dates: Sunday 13 March from 2pm at
Watanobbi Community Centre
Wednesday 16 March from 3pm at
Lakelands Community Centre
Friday 18 March from 3pm at Blue
Haven Community Centre
What’s On: Neighbour Day is
Australia’s annual celebration of
community. Connect with your
community and enjoy FREE fun for
everyone at Neighbour Day events.
Date: Sunday, 13 March
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: Orchid Way, Wadalba
What’s On: A range of stallholders
selling clothing, jewellery, toys, arts
& crafts, woodwork, gourmet & fresh
produce, cake stalls, plants, coffee
vendors and live performances. All
funds raised are returned to the school
via equipment, resources and capital
projects. Recent fundraising has enabled
the purchase of iPads for the primary
school, curtains for the hall and a much
needed library furniture upgrade.
Harmony Day
Date: Saturday, 19 March
Time: 11am – 3pm
Venue: Kibble Park, Gosford
What’s On: Come along and celebrate
our cultural diversity on the Central
Coast with international food, music,
dance and stories.
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Page 13
13
Do you need help planning your financial future?
Come along to our free seminars, conducted by the Department of Human
Services financial information service, which provide you with independent and
unbiased information on all aspects of financial planning. All workshops are
10am-11.30am.
Light refreshments provided at all sessions. Reserve your spot on 136 357 or
email [email protected]
Understanding the costs of
Aged Care
Date: Wednesday 23 March at Toukley
Library or Wednesday 1 June at
Tuggerah Library
What’s On: Get an overview of
home care and respite care as well as
detailed information on residential
care fees and charges, the family
home, pension considerations and
learn more through case studies.
Understanding Superannuation
Date: Wednesday 6 April
Location: Tuggerah Library
What’s On: Discover what
superannuation is, how to maximise
your contributions, the difference
between accumulation and pension
phase, taxes and social security and
your super at retirement.
Centrelink Payments and Carers
Date: Wednesday 20 April
Location: Toukley Library
What’s On: Find out more about your
payment options, respite care, the
review process, asset and income tests,
gifting, Special Disability Trusts and
concessions.
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Page
Retirement Reality
Date: Wednesday 4 May
Location: Tuggerah Library
What’s On: Improve your knowledge
on how to choose your retirement,
role of superannuation and savings,
age pension safety net, investment
choices and when to retire.
Investing with Safety
Date: Saturday 7 May
Location: Tuggerah Library
What’s On: Gain an understanding
of recent market trends, types
of investments, investing safely,
understanding market volatility,
investment timeframes and
diversification of investments.
Age Pension, Your Choices
Date: Wednesday 15 June
Location: Toukley Library
What’s On: Get to know about
claiming your pension, qualifications,
work bonus, income and assets tests,
concessions and your rights and
obligations.
Volunteers Needed for Homework Group
The Bateau Bay Neighbourhood
Centre is looking for reliable,
trustworthy, patient individuals to
assist the Program Coordinator of
our afternoon Homework Group.
The Homework Group is on Tuesday
and Wednesday afternoons from
3.30pm to 5.30pm and is held at the
Bateau Bay Neighbourhood Centre 10
Cynthia St Bateau Bay.
Duties will include assisting with
homework completion, home
readers, assignments, computer
use, food preparation and
supervision of children.
For more details, please call Cathy or
Kate on PH: 4332 7450
This would suit individuals
with experience working with
children and young people in an
educational capacity. A voluntary
working with children check will
apply.
Wyong Seniors
The Wyong Seniors group is a branch
of National Seniors Australia and hold
their monthly meeting featuring a
guest speaker at Canton Beach Sports
Club on the last Tuesday of every
month at 2pm.
During the course of the year, Wyong
Seniors organize outings, barbecues,
lunches and social get-togethers for
members, which are popular and allow
members to socialise and have fun.
An annual all-inclusive holiday is also
offered to members. New members
are always welcome. A small charge
applies.
For more information contact David
Allen (Publicity Officer)
Tel: 0401090741 or email
[email protected]
Page 15
Wyong is Alive with active seniors
like Sandy Hauraki
Sandy Hauraki is one active lady, being
the driving force behind her entire
family of paddlers. She is a Grand Master
(over 50 class) paddler, her son Tane is
an under 18 paddler and husband Dave
is a club paddler and an all important
international support crew member!
and wished she could do it, so when
she saw an advertisement for an open
day at the Central Coast Dragon Boat
Club, she went along, and her love for
the sport began. Tane and Dave were
dragged along as well, with Tane starting
paddling a year later once he turned 12.
However she wasn’t always like this . At
40 years of age Sandy weighed 120kgs
and was unhealthy. In 2007, she decided
it was time to change her lifestyle, and
as she put it, ‘get off the couch and shut
my mouth’.
Sandy and Tane have now represented
Australia at the last two Dragon Boat
World Championships in 2013 in
Hungary and 2015 in Canada.
After getting her weight under control,
she was ready to try something new. In
the past Sandy had watched the annual
dragon boat regatta on the Wyong River
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In Hungary Sandy’s crew bagged two
silver and a bronze and Tane’s crew
won two gold medals and one bronze
in the under 16’s. In Canada, Sandy’s
womens senior A crew took four silver
medals over 200m, 500m, 1km and 2km
and Tane and his crew won eight silver
medals; 200m, 500m, 1km and 2km for
under 18, 10’s crew and under 18, 20’s
mixed crew.
According to Sandy, the racing was very
close. “Although I didn’t get to sing our
national anthem on the podium I was
very proud to be part of a great team
standing in the second place position on
the podium so many times.”
So what do these champions love about
being in a dragon boat? Sandy says it
keeps you fit and gives you a reason
to go to the gym, which can be a bit
boring.
“I love the social aspect of paddling in
a dragon boat. There can be up to 21
other people in the boat all working
together so it can be great fun. It can
also be, as with me, a great opportunity
for being in a competitive sport for us
oldies.”
Tane has found dragon boat paddling to
be the greatest team sport. “Where else
do you have 20 people needing to do
the same thing at the same time? “
the heart and soul and the juniors and
premiers are the future.
“Paddling is my key to positive ageing –
it is a whole body workout without the
stress on your body of other sports like
running for example. The oldest paddler
in our club is 76 so I plan to be doing
it for many, many years to come,” said
Sandy.
Both Sandy and Tane are now busy
preparing for selection for the next
world championships in China in 2017.
Sandy will be looking for her place in
the over 50’s Senior B women’s side and
Tane will be competing for a spot in the
under 23 team.
If you would like to check out dragon
boating you can at 6.45am on Sunday
mornings at the Volunteer Coast Guard
base, Peel Street, Toukley. For more
details go to http://www.ccdragons.org.
au or call the coach, Joe Iacono on
0418 857 056.
For Sandy, training with the younger
crews gives her a lot of inspiration. “I am
impressed by their work ethic and how
intense their training sessions are. They
are so respectful and appreciative and I
am excited that they are our future.”
In dragon boating they say that the
masters and the grand-masters are
Family time
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Latest Positive Ageing Strategy
Actions
Priority Area: Staying Healthy
Priority Area: Being Involved
Action: Work with partners to facilitate
and promote an active and healthy
exercise program for older residents at
Council facilities (e.g. active over 50’s).
Action: Celebrate the role and
achievements of older people.
What we have done:
Across the Shire, outdoor gyms are
free and a great way to get fit. There
are five main outdoor gyms in Wyong
Shire:
• Lions Park, Chittaway Point on the
shared pathway – Note: this gym
is specifically designed for people
over 50, i.e. it has parallel walking
bars and flat incline benches.
• Picnic Point Reserve, The Entrance
• EDSAAC Oval North, Bateau Bay
• Colongra Hall, Colongra Bay Road,
Lake Munmorah
• Canton Beach, Toukley
To help keep your workout fresh, scan
the QR Code at the gym using your
mobile phone and it will take you to
video clips showing you how to use
the equipment. Personal trainer, Greg,
and models, Sara and Tamara will take
you through a range of exercises at
beginner, intermediate and advanced
levels.
You can download a free barcode
scanner from the Google Play Store or
the App store.
Page 18
What we have done: Picture Wyong
contains selected photos, postcards,
documents and ephemera from the
Wyong Shire Library’s Local Studies
collection. They showcase the history
of the Wyong Shire.
Through Picture Wyong you can
search, tag and comment on images.
Key words such as people’s names,
places and subjects can be clicked on
to view more images that have been
tagged with the same terms.
We welcome information on
unidentified people and locations
in our collections. Please email us at
[email protected]
with additional details.
We thank the Wyong Shire
community for their kind donations
of images.
Go to www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/
library and select ‘Picture Wyong’
under local heritage
Picture Wyong
Above:
Chapman Building Wyong
Left:
Dooralong Postal Service
Below:
Wyong Presbyterian Church
Page 19
Mobile Mayhem
A story from reader Betty Brown
I hate my mobile phone! There I’ve
said it. I’ve committed the ultimate
sacrilege as far as quite a few ‘oldies’
are concerned, but my frustration has
got the better of me.
I never really wanted a mobile phone,
despite the fact that I have embraced
computer technology and enjoyed
every moment. Yes, I know a computer and a phone are different – but they
are both a part of this ‘age of technology’ that we older people have had
to cope with after a lifetime of simple
things like writing letters, reading
books, paying our bills over the counter, and picking up the home handset
to ring our family and friends. I love
the idea of the old handset, sitting
quietly in the house – easy to answer,
easy to use, even though the length
of the cord dictated where you sat or
stood when talking!
My first mobile phone was declared
a necessity by my husband, who was
quite perturbed when he realised that
I had accepted the position of State
Coaching Director for Croquet NSW.
The position required me to travel all
over NSW to the different croquet
clubs and coach the players. So, a mobile phone became part of my travel
packing and on very rare occasions I
used it, but certainly felt safer when on
long road trips.
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Fast forward several years, I retired
from the croquet scene, became a
‘loner’ in life and my mobile gave up
the ghost! Big decision – replace
phone or retire from the mobile phone
scene. Well, everyone now has a mobile, so down to the shop to see what
they had. I can remember saying, “I
don’t use a phone often; I only want
one to make phone calls, and I don’t
want it to be too expensive – oh and I
want it to be unlocked and pre-paid.”
I was offered three different models,
and trying to sound intelligent, asked
to see them working. Well, one looked
the goods – it was small, compact, had
a nice big screen and I could clearly
see the keypad. What I didn’t realise
at the time, it was a smartphone with
apps and goodness knows what else!
The salesman did the initial setup
assuring me it was ‘simple’ to use and
there was a manual. Away I trotted
to…. disaster!
Why does the screen go black when
I’m trying to use the keypad? Why
do I get a message ‘Google search is
not working’ - didn’t even know I had
Google search! Why can’t I turn the
damned thing off, when I press the
‘turn off” message on the screen – it
just won’t change colour as it should!
What do I do when a tinny voice tells
me to type in my postcode so I can be
transferred to somewhere else? What
do I touch to send 2261 to whoever
is on the other end? Ever tried to call
a number or send a text message on
a keypad that needs a midget’s little
finger to fit on it.
Why am I asked to unlock it when I’ve
dialed a number and am waiting for
it to ring? I breathe a sigh of relief
when I feel the gentle vibration that
tells me I have at last succeeded in
making my devil become an inanimate
piece of technology…..you can’t win,
‘cause I’ve turned you off!
So, at this point in time, I admit defeat
– that tiny, compact, piece of technology has me in its death grip! Like
the wrestlers you might see on TV, I’m
beating the floor in submission to its
superiority over me! But just wait….the
next round is in the wings…….I’m only
temporarily bemused (I hope) – in the
end, this little bit of technology will be
my slave….that’s my 2016 resolution!
-Betty Brown
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The Art House opening
The curtain will rise at The Art House
official opening celebrations on Friday
20 and Saturday 21 May.
The focus for the opening will be all
about the extraordinary artistic talent
connected to the Central Coast. A
free open day for the community with
backstage tours and entertainment and
an exciting opening season program will
also be part of the May celebrations.
Sydney based Monkey Baa Theatre
Company will bring The Peasant Prince
based on the iconic book by Li Cunxin,
to the stage from 6-7 May. Li, a 10year old peasant boy, is plucked from
his village in rural China and sent
to a ballet academy in the big city.
Over years of gruelling training and
determination, this boy transforms from
an impoverished peasant to a giant of
the international dance scene.
This delightful story will captivate
children and adults alike and is a must
for the whole family.
The opening of The Art House will
be the culmination of a $12.7 million
investment by Wyong Shire Council to
construct the 500 seat theatre, 130 seat
studio space, meeting room, exhibition
space and café/bar; incorporating
a state-of-the-art fly tower that can
accommodate professional touring
productions.
The performing arts centre is the
realisation of a long held vision for a
creative hub in Wyong’s town centre.
It will provide local artists and young
emerging creative talent with a much
Page 22
needed contemporary performance
space and it will be a significant addition
to the region’s arts infrastructure. It
will also be a new social and meeting
place for all residents with a café open
every day and featuring regular free
exhibitions in the foyer gallery.
The Art House annual program will
feature a multitude of events, with
interest from local and touring dance
companies, film makers, musical
theatre, drama, kids program, education
workshops and live classical and popular
music.
For more information on The Art House
go to www.thearthousewyong.com.au
The Peasant Prince Performances
Friday 6 May: 11am and 1pm
Saturday 7 May: 2pm
Celebrating Volunteers in 2016
Volunteer Trevor Wrightson
Council is supporting a
number of activities for
volunteers including
training and a picnic
day.
SHARE YOUR PHOTOS
2016 PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/volunteer
Page 23
Get your activities published
or share your inspiring stories
in the next Wyong Shire GOALL magazine out in June
Email: [email protected]
We look forward to receiving your news,
information and ideas.
Phone Lyn Cooper on 4350 5555 extension 5522.
Wyong Shire Council
2 Hely Street Wyong NSW 2259
PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259
Phone: 02 4350 5555
Email: [email protected]
www.wyong.nsw.gov.au
Connecting & Informing the over 60s
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