Indoor Activities

Ballet Russes on show

Ballet Russes had a lasting impact on Australia’s cultural society. An exhibition of memorabilia celebrates the exotic beauty and skill of all creative aspects of Ballet Russes.

Until 20 July 2008, Adelaide Festival Theatre will host a collection of costumes, set designs, photographs and artwork, which highlights the Ballet Russes tours and how they shaped Australian Ballet in the 1930s.

Following the death of Serge Diaghilev in 1929 and the subsequent dissolution of his famous dance troupe, Ballet Russe, several Ballet Russes groups were formed.  This exhibition concentrates on the three tours by troupes created by Colonel Wassily de Basil.

Lose yourself in the romance and flamboyance of the ballet companies which paved the way for the establishment of the Australian Ballet. Entry to the exhibition is free and is open daily. For more information, click here.

SFF turns 55

From 4-22 June 2008, the 55th Sydney Film Festival will run throughout the city. This is your chance to catch up on what’s new in cinematography.

Featuring a wealth of feature length and short movies from all over the world, this year’s festival highlights Mexican and Chinese cinema, and has a special tribute to Deborah Kerr. The festival also focuses on Australian movies hoping to take the world by storm, and will host the inaugural Official International Competition for “new directions in film”.

The festival has grown considerably over the years, from its humble beginnings many years ago, when it was incredibly difficult to lure movies from overseas, to showcasing some of the world’s best known talents. There is something for everyone, from entertaining and harrowing documentaries, kid’s movies, live music performance on screen and short films.

Find out what’s screening during the festival and book tickets online.

Cultural diversity

Australia welcomes 14,000 refugees of war, famine and political unrest each year. Your skills and friendship can help make life better for them.

Imagine being driven from your home and arriving in a strange country, knowing no-one and not being able to communicate due to language barriers. This is only the start of the difficulties experienced by the vast majority of people seeking refuge in Australia. Programs such as Given the Chance in Victoria and the Refugee Mentoring Program in NSW, try to match refugees with members of the local community, who can in the main, assist them with finding a job, either through contacts they have, or offering practical support in the way of resume writing or interview skills.

This kind of support is invaluable to those enrolled on these programs and is vital to their success, and will also help alleviate the current skills shortage there is in Australia. For those involved in the mentoring program, they get to utilise the many skills they have gained, understand better the hardships and trials faced by refugees and learn about different cultures. Maybe the best part is they get to meet new friends, enjoy a wide social circle and really make a difference to peoples’ lives.

For more information on these programs or how you can give your time to similar programs, click on the links below.

Given the chance
Refugee Mentoring Program
Mentoring Australia

To read Your Life article, Given the Chance, click here.

Local history

A great way of meeting people is by having something in common and you can also benefit from experiences they’ve had and are willing to share. Why not try your local genealogy society?

With Australia having a history of people emigrating from other countries and travelling around to follow work in industries such as mining, many of us don’t have instant access to our family backgrounds.  Genealogy societies are a useful starting point if you’re looking for information on how to trace your family history or trying to find out what databases are useful for tracking down individuals.  As the common goal of all members is to trace their family history, there’s a wealth of knowledge to tap into.

For details of Family History and Historical Societies in your area, click here.

Learn to blog like Olive

Too tired, too old, don’t know how are all excuses we’ve used in the past when it comes to trying something new or different.  Olive Riley puts us all to shame, at 107 years of age she’s just created her own blog.

With the help of her friend, Mike Rubbo, who made an hour long documentary “All about Olive, which was shown throughout Australia on ABC, Olive keeps us up-to-date with her comings and goings, her thoughts on life and the amazing life she’s led and is indeed, still living.  Born two centuries ago, Olive hasn’t let technology stand in her way and has been crowned the oldest of the world’s 68.9 million Internet bloggers. 

Living in an aged care hostel in Woy, Olive is a great-great grandmother who despite being physically frail, still swims and drinks shandy and is mentally very agile.  With a life that includes 2 marriages, 3 children 2 world wars, the great depression of 1930’s and the birth of Australia as a nation, Olive has plenty of stories that are keeping the world entertained.

Let Olive inspire you to get out there and try something new this year!

Non Boring Writing Column

Hazel Edwards’ monthly column suggests ways to make the telling of your family history, a memorable experience for reader and writer.

Jan: Using Memorabilia
Question: How can I write around a family heirloom like a medal or brooch? 
Answer:

Memorabilia may include letters, jewellery or even items whose use was a mystery, at first.
• Contrast then and now. All stories need drama or the conflict of difference.
• .Who wore it? When ?  What was it used for? Any myths?
• Track and link owners’ stories, chronologically or in reverse. Who has it now? Why? Use as a theme to link the generational family stories.
• In what way is it valuable?
• Photograph or copy it. Use as screen saver inspiration.
• Smell it. Check workings.
• Ever lost or stolen?
• Was it commonly used by others at a special period? Why?
• Could you write from the perspective of the item?
• What might interest a child relative?

The National Museum invited me to write for 8-10 year olds around the auctioned telescope belonging to John Collinson Close from Mawson’s 1911 Antarctic expedition. A child had to be included, and there weren’t any in Antarctica then, or even when I was on an Australian Antarctic Division expedition in 2001. But the 1911 telescope was equivalent to the web cam now, in terms of ’seeing’, so I wrote a time-jump ‘faction’ story where telescope and setting were fact, but the imagined character of young John , the auctioneer‘s son was ‘faction’.

YOUR TURN:
Aimed at 8-10 year olds, tell a 200 word story of a piece of family memorabilia. Include a photo.

MORE:
www.hazeledwards.com has a W.I.P. (work in progress) log explaining how historic problems of writing around memorabilia were solved. Antarctic Closeup
ISBN 9781876944544 $A11.95
Interactive website www.nma.gov.au/play/making_tracks.’Faction’ series inspired by real items from the National Museum of Australia’s collection.

Bio:
Best known for ‘There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake’, (a recent official Australian government gift to the little Danish Princess Isobella) Hazel writes across media, including YA ‘FakeID’, a cyber family history mystery. Recently she co-authored ex blog “ Cycling Solo: Ireland to Istanbul” (Brolga) with her cartographer son Trevelyan Quest Edwards who was the original 3 year old mind behind the hippo concept. A national Literacy Champion,she is on the Australian Society of Authors’ committee and lectures on Non Fiction projects at Holmesglen TAFE. Hobbies are bellydancing and asking questions.

Art gallery online guide

With the click of a mouse, you can now find out what’s on at art galleries all across Australia.

An online version of the art magazine Art Gallery Guide Australia allows you to see over 200 images reproduced from exhibitions. The website is easy to navigate, with up-to-date listings of the what, when and where of Australian visual art. It also features previews of exhibitions, an artist’s index, links to gallery websites and articles of interest. Or browse the calendar for each state – either daily or weekly – then check out the location using the online maps. All that’s left for you then is to enjoy a stimulating visit to the gallery of your choice.

All that jazz

Eight active retirees have come together to perform old time happy jazz in the Okeh Jazz Band. The band’s unusual name comes from the American record company Okeh, which recorded most of the jazz classics from the 1920s and 30s.

The band members have a wide range of musical experience, having played in show, dance, concert and brass bands as well as traditional jazz over the years. The men and women of the band perform popular songs (both instrumental and with a vocalist) of the 1920s and ‘30s at private functions, senior citizens and service clubs, and nursing homes and retirement villages in and around Melbourne. To find out more about the band or book them for your function, call Keith on (03) 9807 9155.

Will I lose TV channels?

Q. Is it true that if you subscribe to SelecTV you will not be able to view the ‘free to air’ channels?

A. Rest assured that no, you will definitely not lose free-to-air channels by signing up with SelecTV – they wouldn’t sell much Pay television if subscribers had to lose channels 2, 7, 9 and 10 to get it. 

Bonzer!

A free, monthly online magazine encourages seniors to write fiction and non-fiction stories or articles. Bonzer website has readers and writers from across the world. So get those fingers tapping!

People tend to enjoy shorter stories if reading them on a screen, therefore Bonzer has kept their word limit to 750 words per piece. Ideally, your contribution should reach the editor by the 15th of each month, giving you the best chance to be published in the following month. Bonzer also has a sister publication called Bonzer Plus – a blog site where people can write longer stories, poetry or comment on other articles in Bonzer.

The editors and proofreaders at Bonzer are all voluntary, so no one, including the writers, get paid. But the fun and stimulation of composing, submitting and having your work published is reward in itself. To go to the Bonzer website now click here

Old Dudes rock

Looking for the perfect gift for the favourite Old Dudes in your life? Then newly-hatched entrepreneur Bob Carey has something for you. A youthful 64, Bob has just launched Old Dudes Pty Ltd, a company that promotes his philosophy that age is just a matter of attitude and that Old Dudes are not only not done yet, they rock!

His first products are a range of stylish black men’s t-shirts with a logo featuring a stylised kangaroo, a sun that’s still at least half-up (which is how Bob see Old Dudes’ stage in life) and, in most cases, figurehead Old Dude, Max. Messages include the generic ‘Old Dudes with Attitude’ and ‘Old Dudes Rock’, plus salutes to Old Dudes Still Fishin’, Still Golfin’ and Still Rockin’. Polo shirts are already on the production line and a women’s range and other products – including Old Dude events – are planned for down the track.

Bob began his business life working for General Motors Holden for 42 years, at times moonlighting with a business partner as a restaurateur. He’s also a long-time muso who’s backed acts including Normie Rowe and The Platters. Read more about Bob in the September issue of Your Life magazine; for a taste of his story and to order Old Dude products, click here

Telecommunications museum

There’s a new website to show off the work of a dedicated group of volunteers in Queensland who has preserved Postal-Telecommunication artifacts, photographs, records and equipment.

Their collection includes pictures and information on everything from Semaphores and Morse Code to Exchanges and Teleprinters. Visitors to the museum are welcome, and groups or school groups should book ahead to get the most out of the experience. To take a look at some of the old photographs and to find out more about the museum, call (07) 3862 2958. Click here now

Cyber Strorytelling

@bout Seniors was delighted to hear from Eddy J in Western Australia, who writes stories online with his grandchildren.

Here’s how it works. The children select the subject. The only stipulation from Eddy is that homework comes first and that the spelling and punctuation be checked. Eddy writes the first chapter and finishes off in the middle of a sentence. He then emails it to his grandchild, who continues the story and sends it back to him. Eddy says his last attempt with granddaughter Stephanie, aged 12, covered 16 chapters. Sometimes the children also design a cover.

Eddy says he finds it thought provoking and educational for both child and adult – and great fun. It’s a brilliant idea, which he says other grandparents may enjoy doing. 

Calligraphy

• Australian Society of Calligraphers Incorporated. Aims to perpetuate an interest in calligraphy in Australia and to encourage the appreciation and use of traditional and contemporary calligraphy. Links to Australian and international sites.
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• Cynscribe's Calligraphy Compilation. Over 1000 links.
  Go there

Art and Craft

• Australian Photographic Society Inc. (APS) - Sections on activities and exhibitions, improve your photography, APS information and galleries, links to Australian Camera Clubs in each State/Territory, plus links to many other photo sites. Divisions include Nature, Print, Slide, Contemporary , Digital Imaging (DIG) and Audio Visual (AV).
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• Digital Photography Review is an online independent resource dedicated to the provision of news, reviews and information about digital photography and digital imaging. This large and popular site includes a vast digital camera database, timeline, forums, galleries a glossary and learn section. Of course, the core of the site are the all-day news updates and regular in-depth digital camera product reviews.
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• New York Institute of Photography Digital Photography Tips has four instalments:
  • Tip for Beginning Photographers: Take Control of Your Flash
  • Tip for Advanced Photographers: Testing Your Digital Camera's Time Delay
  • Digital Camera Buying Guide: What Features Do You Need?
  • What is the Digital Revolution?
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• "Taking Great Pictures" page from Kodak and particularly the "Guide to Better Pictures" could well make the difference to your photos. There are also online tutorials on light, composition and darkroom techniques. While on the site, go to "service & support" (on the navigation bar) for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) covering a vast range.
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• Scanning Tips - Some scanning tips and hints, help with fundamentals and other basic scanning information to help you get the most from your scanner.
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• About Folk Art. Find out about folk art basics, learn from tutorials and projects, many patterns and folk art clip art, all free.
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• All Crafts. Projects and patterns for many crafts, with many links - plenty of free stuff. It's a US site so it's not so good for suppliers to Australia.
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• Craftbits.com. An Australian site providing resources for teachers, therapists, and craft enthusiasts. Plenty of projects. You have to become a member (no charge) to access most of the site.
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• All-About-Fabrics.com. This is a free site to help find fabric. Whether you need fabrics for fashion, furnishings, or industrial use, we'll try to help you find the best supplier. Also contains a fabric dictionary, wanted notice board, details of clearance sales, and more.
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• Downunder Quilts - All you ever wanted to know about Australian quiltmaking, with links to other Australian and overseas sites.
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• Scrapbooking is a creative hobby which safely preserves photos and memorabilia. It is more than a photo album; it is a store of journal notes, memorabilia and personal items which tells a story about your life and those around you. One of the best sites to get you started is Scrapbooking 101.
  Go there

Model Making

• Australian Plastic Modellers Association (APMA) - Catering to modellers of all ages and skill levels. Many links to modelling clubs and other sites of interest.
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• Meccano
  
  • Meccano Modellers' Association, in Australia. Collection of Meccano related information, plus a link to Meccano Web Ring offering another 40 sites.
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  • Melbourne Meccano Club Inc has members in all states. It meets six times a year and has a bi-monthly newsletter, and an annual exhibition.
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• Model Aeronautical Association of Australia (MAAA). The site has details of competitions and records, links to state associations and other aeromodelling pages, plus rules, regulations and model competition classes.
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• Newcastle Marine Modellers. An informal organisation of scale ship modellers.
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• TrainLink Web Site. Everything to do with model railways, with links to other sites.
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Movies

The Internet Movie Database is a huge database of films and DVDs. The site's search engine quickly brings up the movie with credits, story line, reviews, ratings and comment. Plus theres news and updates on the latest in cinema.
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Music and Radio

• ABC Streaming Radio. Audio and video from the Australian leader in streaming media, with live and recorded programs from many of the ABC websites.
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• Amateur Radio. The Wireless Institute of Australia - describes the activities of the WIA supporting the interests of Australian Radio Amateurs. You'll also find information here about becoming an Amateur Radio operator (or "radio ham"), and about enjoying the hobby of Amateur Radio in Australia.
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• Australian Music Centre. Online resources including composer biographies, searchable database of scores, books and recordings, the Australian Music Calendar Online, links and more.
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• Golden Days Radio - Popular Golden Days musical selections form the basis of the programming of this Melbourne FM station but it also features specialised information and entertainment segments.
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• Halcyon Days Music. Halcyon Days Music web site contains an ever growing collection of MIDI music files of American songs from the early 1900s through the 1920s and 1930s. Each song is accompanied with its lyrics and a scan of the sheet music cover.
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• mymusicindex.com. A comprehensive, quick-reference, informational music resource, with many links.
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• Radio-Locator. This US resource allows you to find a radio station by type of music, by country or for US by station call letters, city or state. Over 250 Australian stations are listed. You can select from some 50 different types of music and news.
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• Radio Yesteryear aims to provide well known artists and songs from the 1930s to the 1960s.
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Philately

Australian Philatelic Society (APS) - dedicated to the research, study, publication and display of all aspects of philately and postal history, both of Australia and its States, and worldwide. Many useful links.
Go there

Reference

• Australian Museum Online. The Australian Museum has an international reputation in the fields of natural history and indigenous studies research, community programs and exhibitions. The site is packed with information.
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• Maps. EmbassyWorld.com has, or links to, a wide variety of maps of Australia and comprehensive data. From this site you can also access maps and facts for many other countries.
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• WorldAtlas. Covers anything to do with geography including maps, landforms, political boundaries, flags, climate, facts and figures about countries, and a good deal more.
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• Virtual Library. The General Reference section offers encyclopaedias, dictionaries, biographical sources, geographical sources, statistics, almanacs and yearbooks, and directories and indexes.
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Woodworking

• Woodlink. The Victorian Woodworkers' Association website.
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• Woodworkers' Association of NSW Inc. Check the section on Tools and Techniques:
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Writing

Have a story you want to tell about seniors? Or maybe you're a senior, or senior-to-be, and have a poignant life episode you'd like to tell others about. You can have it published in our Senior Stories page

Check the Education section above for dictionaries, thesaurus, rhymes and other guides to writing.

For a list of writers' organisations, start here.
Go there

Here are some sites to get you in the mood:

• Bikwil. Bikwil is published bi-monthly and most contributors are over 50, so be in it!
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• Bonzer! - a free, monthly on-line journal by, for and about seniors. Written and read by seniors from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, the UK and USA.
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• Funny Poets. Whether you're a poet or not, submit your funny poem or read poems from 50 categories - twisted romantic love poems, silly birthday, wedding or adults only poems
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• International Penfriends (IPF). This Australian club is the world's largest penfriend club. The main objective of the club is to keep the art of letter writing alive and to use this form of communication to encourage worldwide friendship.
  Go there