Quote of the day

Government Contact Listing

Aboutseniors has compiled a list of all current local members and senators with contact details. Click here to view this list.

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Welcome to the AboutSeniors Food and Wine page. Enjoy our recipies, updated weekly and don’t forget to check out our Wine Search page!

Seniors discount at Sydney Harbour Marriott

Enjoy a 15% discount for your festive season celebration at Icons seafood buffet lunch which includes traditional Christmas fair with all the trimmings and bon bons.

Or stay the night and save 20% off the best available rate!

Located within the Sydney Harbour Marriott on Pitt Street at Circular Quay, Icons Brasserie is a relaxed, contemporary restaurant. Enjoy our renowned buffet lunch serving fresh king prawns, oysters, smoked salmon, seven hot dishes, a huge selection of salads and our live cooking station. And there’s no better way to finish than our sumptuous dessert buffet!

To compliment lunch, we also offer an ‘Australian Wine Buffet’ with a sample of red and white wine varieties by the glass as well as sparkling wines. The ‘Australian Wine Buffet’ allows you to match your preferred style of wine with your choice of food from the buffet. The wine buffet is an additional $19 per person. Buffet lunch available Monday to Friday and reservations are recommended.

Why not make a night of it with a Special Seniors Rate for accommodation - 20% off best available rate of the day.

Please call (02) 9259 7330 to make a reservation or for more information, visit Sydney Harbour Marriott

Online bookshop

Q. Simon I like your lists of books and recipes. With the books I think it would be very helpful if you could provide us with links to on-line book sellers who have them in stock. This way they would be much easier to purchase especially for us folks who live out in the country areas. Also an indication as to whether the books you feature are recent releases or not.

A. Many thanks for your feedback Simon. Many people have their favourite bookshop, be it online or in a local shopping strip however, many of the books reviewed on AboutSeniors can be purchased online at our AboutSeniors Bookshop which you can access via the banner on our book review page. If books are published by Government or are available from certain organisations, then we do try to state this and give a link where possible.

Crazy John’s mobile phone

Congraduations to Patrica for her tip featured below, which has won her a Crazy John’s starter pack!

Sharing is my tip. A group of us Seniors get together once a fortnight to share a roast dinner at my home. None of us would cook a roast dinner for one or two. I provide the roast (always bought on special). Others bring dessert and any veggies they have growing. We swap petrol vouchers, two for one meal vouchers, any other saver vouchers, we share clothing we are discarding (its now too small, sometimes if we are fortunate it might now be too large!) we share excess fruit or vegetables that we have grown. We tell each other about great local bargains and cheap deals. We pass on the names of reasonably priced, competent tradesmen. All of this save us heaps of money and provides us with a lot of laughs as well as practical and emotional support. Try it, it takes off much easier than you think, just invite a couple of friends in a similar situation and watch it grow to the size you can manage. Another group can easily siphon off if it looks like getting too big.
- Patricia H

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The AboutSeniors travel pages provide you with extensive information and links to a variety of travel options. Plus there’s a page on travel insurance and answers to all our subscribers’ travel-related questions.

Hazel’s non-boring writing tips

This page is all about you, and how to help trace your family, write about in a way that will interest others and read the fantastic stories that other have to tell. Hazel Edwards shares with us her tips for writing in different genre’s and keeping it interesting! In this section she covers:

Non-boring family histories
Co-writing with family
Non-boring travel writing
Non-boring writing column
Non-boring autobiographies and memoirs
Choosing titles: committee-itis
Writing for and with grandkids
Hints for interviewing relatives
Writing eulogies
What is Faction?
Words as gifts

Your Quotes

Got some quotes you love and want to share with us?

Send an e-mail to with the quote and the author’s name, and we will endeavour to post it as soon as possible!

Chef Andreas’ Life Choices

Chef Andreas’ Life Choices:

Name: Andreas Donnerbauer

Born: Munich, Germany, 1971

Memories: Cooking with Mum & Nana for special occasions when I was a kid.

School: I was good at maths

Turning Point: In Year Nine we started our career planning and I was told that hospitality would also be an avenue which could be good for me…

What Happened Next: I went home and asked my mum about her advice and she told me all the good and the bad, as she and my grandmother had their own little deli (take away shop)

Next Steps: After training I was apprenticed to a Munich Restaurant called Kreitmair, Kerferloh.

Career Path: Sheraton Hotels in Munich and London, Hilton Munich, Robinson Club, Canary Islands and Apuglia in Italy, next stop Zurich. In 1997: I arrived in Australia with dive equipment, a suitcase and a laptop …

Big Break: Becoming Senior Sous Chef at the Four Seasons (Then called the Regent) Hotel, Sydney. I stayed with the Four Seasons group for seven years – including stints in the Caribbean and Hawaii.

Right Now: I have just been appointed Executive Chef at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel in Circular Quay, where I am responsible for the day-to-day running of the whole kitchen operation which includes room service, banquets, conferences, and the Icons Brassiere.

How I will make my mark: These are early days, but I think it is time to reintroduce more “homestyle” food… this is what I think the customer enjoys most.

How I keep learning: I love reading the books of “elite” chefs such as Charlie Trotter, Marco Pierre White, Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay. When I came to Australia, I was inspired by chefs such as Serge Danserau, Kylie Kwong, Stefano Manfredi and Tetsuya Wakuda.

My Secret to successful cooking: Use fresh ingredients and keep it simple…

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Post an advertisement on AboutSeniors, an established and highly respected website within the fastest growing demographic in Australia, 50+, and give your business the best chance of capturing your target market online.

Go Green

While we are getting ready to welcome the colder winter months, spring is on its way in Europe, a great time to visit Ireland and trace your roots.

Maybe your ancestors came over on the convict ships a couple of hundred years ago, or were part of the more recent migration of Brits to head over to Australia. Either way, it’s great to know where you came from and discover some of those amazing family stories along the way.

Tourism Ireland has developed a fun website that can help you trace the origin of your surname or give advice on how to start your genealogy search. Don’t worry of you’re technically not Irish, you can check your Irish personality, sure to give you a chuckle.

Go Green with Tourism Ireland for the chance to win a trip to the Emerald Isle or enjoy some of the special offers. For more information, click here.

Discover Ireland

Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of the city, the eerie stillness of the mountains, the lush green of the countryside or the crashing of the waves on the cliffs that you crave in a holiday, Ireland has it all.

As an island that can trace its history back thousands of years, culture and heritage are in abundance and you’ll not be disappointed by the famous hospitality that the Irish are known for. Regardless of whether it’s a top class hotel, remote bed and breakfast or hostel accommodation that your budget stretches to, the charm of the Irish will win you over.

For more information, contact Tourism Ireland on 02 9299 6177 or click here to visit their website.

Active Ireland

No matter what you enjoy doing on holiday, walking, golfing or fishing, Ireland offers all this and more, with scenery that is second to none!

How do you make the most of your trip to Ireland? Tourism Ireland should be your first port of call when planning any trip. They can arrange golfing, motoring and fishing tours and much more besides, making sure all members of the family are catered for.

Go Golf
Home of the Ryder Cup in 2006 and boasting 30% of the world’s natural links courses, Ireland is a golfer’s paradise. With an estimated 440 courses throughout the island, you’re never far from some of the most challenging and picturesque courses in the world, and with so much on offer for golfing widows and widowers, everyone’s happy.

For more information on golfing in Ireland, click here.

Fishing fun
If fishing is more your thing, The Great Fishing Houses are 20 of the finest fishing establishments in Ireland. The guide offers details of where you can fish for your fish of choice, stay and eat, while making the most of what fishing in Ireland has to offer. For more information, click here.

Cycling around
With its quiet country roads, small welcoming communities and glorious countryside, cycling in Ireland really is a pleasure. You can take part in an organised tour, follow a pre-arranged route or head off under your own steam, whatever your preference, you won’t be disappointed. If a full cycling tour of Ireland is more than you can manage, then maybe hiring a bike for a day or two is more your thing. This can easily be done in most towns and cities. For more information on routes and cycling holidays in Ireland, contact Cycling Ireland (www.cyclingireland.org) or click here.

Walking out
Untamed coastline, rolling countryside and wild mountains are just some of the temptations for walkers heading to Ireland on holiday. With daytime summer temperatures ranging between 150 and 260 in the summer, it’s pleasant enough for those heading off on their own two feet to enjoy the scenery and experience. You can indulge in costal, mountain, historical and city walks, depending on what you hope to encounter on your way, and one thing’s for sure, you’ll never be disappointed.

For more information, click here.

Driving around
By far the easiest and most relaxing way to travel Ireland is by car. With its quiet country roads, visitor attractions and welcoming accommodation, road rage won’t be a problem. See Ireland at your leisure, visit anywhere you want and be amazed by this gorgeous country. You can drive the costal route between Waterford and Wexford in the south-east, the Ring of Kerry or Londonderry and Sparrins region in the north.

For more information on routes, accommodation and car hire, click here.

Foodie’s delight

Food features heavily in Ireland’s culture and history, with the emphasis on simple dishes, which rely on excellent local produce to highlight their brilliance.

For most of us food is very important and the availability of good food can make or break a holiday. Good Food Ireland aims to guide you through some of the best eateries in the country, make sure you sample the best food Ireland has to offer and that you experience the generous hospitality that make Ireland a foodie’s haven.

To order your touring map, book your foodie holiday or simply see what’s on offer, visit www.goodfoodireland.ie.

Blarney blether

Would like to learn a language but don’t fancy Spanish or Italian? How about the charm of the blarney?

There is no changing the fact that Ireland is the other side of the world from Australia but for many, the pull of the heart strings is strong enough to encourage them to make the trip. While you’re there, make the most of your time by learning the language and more about the culture.

Oideas Gael offer courses in the Irish language and culture. Why not try learning to play the bodhran or harp, make celtic pottery souvenirs or trip the light fantastic with Donegal dances!

Courses are held in Donegal and can be tailored for groups travelling from overseas to ensure you enjoy all on offer. For more information, visit www.oideas-gael.com.

Follow St. Pat’s footsteps

Now the political unrest is over, discovering the beauty of Northern Ireland is a real treat.

Eire has long been considered the most popular part of the Emerald Isle to visit but Northern Ireland has lots to offer, including the trail of St. Patrick’s journey to martyrdom.

St. Patrick resided in Britain towards the end of Roman rule and was captured and sold into slavery by Irish marauders. He worked as a shepherd for six years before escaping and travelling Ireland, preaching the Lord’s word and converting lost souls.

The heavenly countryside of Downpatrick and what is now the ecclesiastical city of Armagh, is where he carried out most of his spiritual duties. Armagh is the oldest Ecclesiastical See in the world outside Rome and holds many attractions which include two St. Patrick’s cathedrals (Catholic and Church of Ireland), St. Patrick’s Trian visitor centre and Ofiaich Memorial Library and Archives, for those wanting to follow in St. Patrick’s footsteps.

Downpatrick, or St. Patrick’s Town is the final resting place of the great saint, the later seat of the High Kings of Ulster and the medieval capital of County Down and offers plenty for those interested in scholars, saints and Irish heritage. You can travel on the only narrow gauge train in Ireland, visit Down Cathedral, where St. Patrick is buried, Down County museum and Struell Wells.

An area so rich in culture and history means many festivals and celebrations. Time your trip correctly and your visit to Northern Ireland could be one long party! Some of the festivals on offer are:

Armagh Comedy Festival
Armagh Festival of Traditional Song and Dance
St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Royal Ascot Downpatrick
William Kennedy Piping Festival
Feast of Fish, Kilkeel and Ardglass

For more information on festivals, attractions, food and accommodation, the following sites have an abundance of information, advice and ideas.

www.armaghanddown.com
www.discovernorthernireland.com
www.downdc.gov.uk
www.visitarmagh.com
www.www.culturenorthernireland.org
www.saintpatrickcentre.com
www.ntni.org.uk

Classifieds and personals

At AboutSeniors, one of our aims is to assist you to find affordable, if not free, ways to enjoy life and to connect and interact with those near and far.

Our online community is growing every day: the personals page is running hot and the classifieds are offering more and better deals. As well, the AboutSeniors forum is proving to be a popular place for people to exchange information, throw around ideas and freely express themselves.

· We were delighted Zoe H posted a personal in order to get a group of women together to form a rowing team. Read her post now and find out more about what rowing has done for Zoe since she took it up at the age of 65, by clicking here
· Anne H wants to know where she might find a penpal. Read her query now
· Ross J has a friend with a fascinating, perhaps controversial, point to make about the amount of the Age Pension. Go there now
· George B has also made an interesting point about the tax rate for older Australians. Read what he has to say now

To view our Discount Directory, Click here

Maui Lyn

On 12 June, lucky winner Lynn O’Connor and her twin sister, Jennie, collected the keys to a Maui motorhome in Brisbane and hit the road for their month-long nomad adventure. Their blog and images from the journey are be featured now on the BigPond Bigblog site and below, so visit regularly to enjoy your vicarious journey through Australia’s outback.
To find a BIG4 holiday park near you, click here now
And to learn about Maui motorhomes visit the web page here

Retirement Income Streams

What are retirement income streams?
When we retire we all have a common issue – how are we going to produce an income for the rest of our lives? The main thing we lose in retirement is the ability to earn wages and salaries.
Whether you’ve built up savings from superannuation, investment property, equity in your home, money in the bank, inheritance etc., you will need to turn this capital into an income stream which is convenient, secure and tax effective.
You may also have other objectives in retirement such as gaining the most out of Centrelink and the Age Pension or the Veterans’ Affairs Pension, in addition to estate planning issues.
For an ever-increasing number of people the answer lies in the form of income streams and, in particular, superannuation allocated pensions, term allocated pensions and other complying annuities.

Where do you go to get one?
Most life insurance companies and financial services organisations provide these different types of income stream products. You can approach these organisations directly, at which point they will usually direct you to one of their financial planning groups, or you can seek the advice of an independent financial planner. You should always seek professional advice. It is very dangerous to attempt to set yourself up with an income stream without professional consultation, particularly professional tax advice.

How do you set one up?
1. Decide on your retirement date or year.
2. Ensure you have a clear and defined set of goals and objectives.
(e.g. required income per year, investment objectives, access to capital, Centrelink etc).
3. Do your research! Most providers’ websites have additional information on their income streams.
4. Arrange an interview with a retirement specialist, preferably an independent one.
5. Work together to use your retirement savings to the best effect.
Remember, you do not need to review all possible income stream products in order to choose the one best suited to your circumstances. Pre-qualify your needs by checking the table [here] for those points which do or do not relate to your priorities.
Richard Sheargold

Table supplied by Louise Biti, Asteron.

For more information on Retirement Income from the FACS website,
click here

InvestSMART, a discount broker of allocated pension investments, have provided the following table which shows a number of the top performing funds based on 12 month’s performance.

If you wish to look at any of the funds in the table below you will be taken to InvestSMART’s website where you can research these products more, compare it with other investment options and most importantly request or download a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).

Top Performing Retirement Funds

Managed Fund data is supplied by Morningstar Research and Standard & Poor’s Information Services and is subject to the following disclaimer.
Managed fund unit prices are indicative only.

Sourcing and comparing fixed term or Life Annuity style products from Life Insurance companies is not available online. Please call InvestSMART on 1300 880 160 for some comparable rates based on your timeframe. There is little doubt that by choosing wisely, a good retirement income stream will contribute to the basis for a comfortable lifestyle in retirement.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER : This information has been prepared for distribution over the internet and without taking into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. Neither InvestSMART Financial Services Pty Ltd nor www.aboutseniors.com.au make any recommendations as to the merits of any investment opportunity referred to on www.aboutseniors.com.au or any related websites. All indications of performance returns are historical and can not be relied upon as an indicator for future performance.

© 2007 Morningstar Research Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. To the extent that the above constitutes general advice by Morningstar, this advice has been prepared by Morningstar Research Pty Ltd ABN: 83 062 096 342, AFSL: 243 161 and does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Please refer to Morningstar’s Financial Service Guide (FSG) for more information at www.morningstar.com.au/fsg.asp and consider the product disclosure statement before making a decision to acquire the financial product.

Timeless Stories in 60 seconds

Our generation were often taught in ‘scripture’ at school. If you didn’t get them there, they were part of our folklore anyway: The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, The Lost Sheep, all attributed to a wandering Jewish carpenter turned teacher/philosopher/messiah.

The Parables are remarkable for their brevity and their deep insight into the human condition. But their teacher – a man called Jesus – often claimed more about them when he said, “The kingdom of God is like…”.
That they - so simple in form - reflect a glimpse of some other reality makes them worth a second look. Consider, for instance, this:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew13)

My daughters are shoppers. And how. GraysOnline, eBay are a more than routine part of their purchasing patterns. What are they buying? Anything that they perceive will make their lives happier, easier, richer. Have they got to the point in their lives of shopping for meaning? Not so sure. But when they do, they will shop! And then, watch out the bishops, new-agers and gurus. They’ll shop hard till they get the answers they want.

The pearl merchant shopped and searched for excellence. He wanted to posses the ultimate prize. He was prepared to dispose of everything else in order to achieve that magic joyous moment of exchange of the less valued for the ultimate prize. Is this what the kingdom of heaven is? The most valued sought after purchase of our existence? The thing in the light of which, everything else fades into insignificance? In our shopping experience, often the ultimate prize seems hidden from us. But once we see it, our focus can go nowhere else. I suspect that this was what Jesus hoped for all of us.

But there may be more. The parables about the Kingdom of Heaven to me often are about this Jewish teacher and how he saw himself. In telling this story was he talking about himself searching out the great and most valued thing to him in the universe? Each person. You. Me. That our value was beyond price? Was he prepared to make whatever spiritual transaction was required, no matter what the cost, to open the Kingdom of Heaven in all its happiness to us who are searching for meaning?

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Mobilise your team with Telstra Connected Seniors
Senior friendly phone
Lyn and Jennie hit the road
How to blog
Don’t be left behind
Discounts and Rewards
Home Phone Plans
Internet Services
Frequently Asked Questions
More information

Life begins at 50….

Meet new friends on RSVP today! After years of being married or in a committed relationship, maybe you have found yourself on your own. Or maybe, you have just found yourself at a stage in life where you are free and open to new life experiences, friendships and possibilities.

Over 115,000 Australians over the age of 50 have turned to RSVP, Australia ‘s largest online singles site. You will be surprised at just how easy it is to connect online with others who share your interests. It’s the new way to meet people – whatever your age or lifestage – and it’s a lot of fun. Log on to www.RSVP.com.au and investigate the possibilities for yourself.

Seniors Week

Here are the dates and links for Seniors Weeks across Australia.

New South Wales
6-13 April 2008. For more information click here

Victoria
To be advised. To check for latest information click here

Queensland
23-31 August 2008. For more information click here

Tasmania
1–7 October 2008. For more information click here

Western Australia
To be advised.

South Australia – Every Generation
Month of October 2008. For more information click here.
Northern Territory
To be advised.

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Personal advertisements are just that – a quick and easy way to advertise online to make contact with a like-minded individual for friendship, wining and dining, travel, reunions – or good old-fashioned companionship. You can use the AboutSeniors personal classifieds space to post your message (100 word limit) – ads will be listed for three months, with most recent up top.

Companies wishing to advertise goods and services with seniors discounts need to click here

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For techno types and those who’d like to be more techno-savvy, the @boutSeniors computer pages are here to assist. On the basics page there’s an extensive glossary of techno-terminology, plus loads of information on everything from broadband to spyware. On the Q&A page you’ll find answers to all your techno questions, plus there’s a page listing specific sites for seniors as well as the software downloads and games page.

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Enjoy stories straight from the imaginations of the AboutSeniors online community. Read their experiences, ideas and histories or find some fun in the writings of Mr Eric Shackle.

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Whether you're an indoors or outdoors person, there's articles and links to organisations for all kinds of interests here. From calligraphy to birdwatching, you’ll find something to inspire a new hobby, or encourage and nurture an old favourite.

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Move it or lose it! Here we feature the latest news, information and the hottest links for those seeking an active lifestyle.

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Here you’ll find extensive information, resources and news updates on the latest in the world of wellbeing – with specific information on issues such as arthritis, diabetes and heart health, as well as general tips and guides to feeling fitter and healthier.

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Many seniors’ services and resources are provided by the Australian Government through the departments of FACS, Health and Ageing and Veterans’ Affairs. Centrelink also delivers services and is a source of information on matters financial. Here we feature the ‘need to know’ shortcuts to government departments and what they can offer you or your family.

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Welcome to the AboutSeniors Your Parents page, where you’ll find the links and information you need to assist your parents. Whether you’re looking for advice on reverse mortgages, hearing aids or accommodation options, these resources can simplify your search and give the direct answers you are seeking, as well as further useful links.

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Feel a holiday coming on? The AboutSeniors travel pages provide you with extensive information and links to a variety of travel options: cruises, house swaps, housesitting, road trips, train travel and international travel. Plus there’s a page on travel insurance and answers to all our subscribers’ travel-related questions.

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Whether you're a beginner or technologically advanced, here you'll find what you need to understand and make the most of your computer. There's also a page to help with buying a mobile phone and informative guides to digital technology such as digital cameras, MP3s, or podcasting.

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Welcome to the AboutSeniors finance pages. Find out about insurance and legal matters, retirement income issues, reverse mortgages and much more.

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What do you enjoy in your leisure time? Whether it’s books, DVDs, crosswords, card and board games, food and wine, clubs, literature, gardening or genealogy, it’s all here. Plus, of course, our ever popular Sudoku page!

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If you’re a grandparent raising grandchildren, there’s a special AboutSeniors page for you here. Or perhaps you are looking for something for your parents or want to cut through and get to the important aspects of aged care housing or issues such as elder abuse. On the Health, Wellbeing and Family page, you’ll find all the relevant resources and news about aged care, health or even sport and exercise.

Hit the road discounts

Avis is delighted to have been appointed as the Preferred Car Rental Company to @boutSeniors website…..and this means great savings for you! Avis is Australia’s Leading Car Rental Company, with over 240 locations around Australia and over 4500 around the world - so there’s sure to be a location that’s convenient, no matter where you’re travelling. And of course you’ll always get that famous ‘We try harder’ service wherever you go.

Avis is delighted to offer @boutSeniors 30% off standard rates or 2.5% off selected promotional rates, whichever offers the best discount, simply by quoting the @boutSeniors special Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number P725600 when calling to make a reservation anywhere in Australia on 136 333 or simply Click here, to make a booking online - the appropriate discount will automatically apply. Plus you’ll be delighted to know that each month Avis will have a new special offer just for you, check the website for more details.

Cruising

A cruise can take you to places you never dreamt you’d visit: Antarctica, the Bahamas, or Australia’s top end, amongst many others. Cruising is also relaxing – you only need to unpack once – and yet you will see many different destinations.

Welcome to the @boutSeniors cruising page, where you can find the latest cruise information plus deals that will make you want to scream, “All aboard”. Or subscribe to our enewsletter for the most up-to-date deals. Whether you jump on a Russian ice-breaker, cruise the Rhine or take a cargo ship in Mexico, a cruise is a stress-free holiday suitable for all ages.

Cruising Contacts

Royal Caribbean
Cruise Brokers
P&O/Princess cruises
Creative Cruising (Europe, Asia, Caribbean)
Star Cruises/ Norwegian Cruise line
Cruise Co
Jetset Travel
Captain Cook Cruises
Delta Queen, steam boat cruises in the USA.

Seniors Travel Q&A

Got a question about travel? In Australia, overseas, anywhere? Perhaps you’d like to learn more about a particluar topic or destination. Here’s your chance to ask @boutSeniors.

Questions & Answers

Opinions in the questions and answers are those of the correspondents and do not necessarily reflect those of @boutSeniors or its owners or management.

Readers’ Stories

Here's where you can contribute your own short story by and/or about Seniors. There is no prize but we will publicise stories on @boutSeniors and in our regular newsletters. Please keep the stories under 1000 words and email them to .

In 2002, there was a short story competition on @boutSeniors. The winning story was Moving in with the Kids by Bonnie Travers.

Click on the title to see the story.

Latest contributions

2007 ASCCA Creative Writing Competition

Adventurous Ian

Ilona’s story – My two cats

Zoe’s story

The Eucumbene Storm

The coffee shop in Kings Cross

Gena’s joke

Cancer survivor

Ilona’s tales

Don’s thoughts on Prairie Home Companion

My Diagnosis

Plight of the Desert Horses

Stories from the 2002 competition

Moving in with the Kids - Winning story
I Hated My Name
The Optimist

Green Thumbed Sites

Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants (ASGAP). For those interested in the cultivation, propagation, conservation and appreciation of Australia's native flora.
Go there
Australian Water Gardener. Comprehensive free gardening information site for garden pond owners.
Go there
Flora for Fauna. Attract birds, butterflies and other fauna to your garden. Find out what native plants will attract what wildlife in your part of Australia.
Go there
Gardening Australia. The ABC's gardening program website.
Go there
Garden Clubs of Australia Inc. Find your local club, seasonal tips and more.
Go there
Garden Web Australia. Hosts forums, garden exchanges, articles, contests, a plant database, a garden-related glossary and online catalogues.
Go there
Global Garden. National monthly online gardening magazine and resource.
Go there
Organic Gardening. Aims to encourage organic vegetable growing.
Go there

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What defines a senior? There is no one answer but you can check whether you might qualify under different circumstances.

To get an age pension you need to be of Age Pension Age which for social security purposes is 65 years for men. Women qualify at different ages depending on their date of birth in accordance with the table below so by 2014 the minimum qualifying age for women will also be 65 years.

What is a Senior?

Age Pension Age for Women

Date of Birth	Qualification Age
1 July 1938 to 31 December 1939	61.5
1 Jan 1940 to 30 June 1941	62
1 July 1941 to 31 December 1942	62.5
1 January 1943 to 30 June 1944	63
1 July 1944 to 31 December 1945	63.5
1 January 1946 to 30 June 1947	64
1 July 1947 to 31 December 1948	64.5
1 January 1949 and later	65

The qualifing age for veterans with qualifying service and a service pension is 60 for men. For female veterans the pension age is being raised by six months every two years so that by 1 July 2013, female and male pension ages will be the same; see the table on our Veterans' Affairs page.
Go there

Our Centrelink page has more information on pensions.
Go there

How about the seniors card? Australians aged 60 and over who are not working full time may obtain a Seniors Card.

There is also the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) which gives older Australians access to concessions on prescription medicines and to the Telephone Allowance. Many self-funded retirees will be eligible for the CSHC. Also war widows who do not hold a Pensioner Concession Card might be eligible for a CSHC.
Go there

Background

Grandparents sometimes take on the primary care and responsibility of their grandchildren on a full-time basis. In fact, some 22,000 Australian families have grandparents assuming the parenting role. Many who take on this role will need information on services and support available, including information on respite, financial assistance, medical care and legal matters.

For an introductory overview of the issues facing grandparents with the primary caring role of their grandchildren, see the COTA document Myth Busters.

In 2003, there was a series of forums and a survey facilitated by COTA National Seniors Partnership. The focus of the project was grandparents raising grandchildren full-time or as primary carers for extended periods. The report is available in several formats at this Family and Community Services page.

Grandparents raising grandchildren can access relevant Centrelink information here. Are you a parent or guardian?