On August 9 AboutSeniors website lost a work colleague – and we all lost someone who has inspired us greatly.
Andrew Curwood was a relatively new member of the AboutSeniors team. He was recommended to us by a friend, and we first met him last November when he came to our offices to discuss a role which involved assisting prospective site advertisers. At this stage Andrew was working from home. Many years before he had suffered from cancer and was left with a legacy of heart and lung problems. This, however, did not deter him for working in our business enthusiastically, and with a great deal of skill and professionalism. His attention to detail and reporting systems were admirable, and any company would benefit from skills such as these. But most of all, his positive attitude was the thing which most impressed us.
Early this year his breathing was extremely compromised, and in the ongoing heat of Melbourne’s summer he had to spend time hooked up to a ventilator in order to function. When we called to ask how he was, he would say “fine”, and quickly change the subject to how we were going. We soon learnt this was characteristic of Andrew – the sicker he became, the more interest he showed in the rest of the world. Self-pity was not a word in his lexicon. He received further bad news when informed, because of other health issues, he was no longer considered a suitable candidate for a heart-lung transplant – something he had been hoping would create a dramatic and positive change in his health. His stoicism on receiving this news was humbling. Asking no pity, he merely told us he was disappointed, but would just have to get on with things.
Sadly, his days were numbered. He fell victim to a debilitating infection and spent his last weeks in intensive care in Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, surrounded by family and friends who were hoping that he would rally once again. 
Andrew passed away on August 9. He was just 42, but had packed a lot into his time. He was modest about his professional and sporting achievements, so it was only at his funeral we learnt about his many talents. He leaves behind him his wife, Helen, brother and sister-in-law Peter and Raelene, and an extended family.
We very much miss working with Andrew. We were, and remain, humbled by his strength and positive attitude, and we think of him often. He enriched our lives, and we feel better for having known him, if only for a brief time.

Geoff’s Blog - What’s in a name?

Gently rolling hills. The rural landscape of the artist Fuller. Reflected highlights in the afternoon sun. The paddock has been carefully prepared and with some late winter rain, has produced decent green pick for the small herd of miniature cattle which our friends Bruce and Carolyn have taken to their hearts. So much so, that each of them not only have the requisite ear tag, but a name as well.

“That’s Chloe, Mark, Glennis….and the new one is Lucretia!” It’s not long before we are entering the intimate lives of these animals. Their personalities, behaviour traits and their politics. It’s almost Lord of the Flies revisited or Animal Farm in person before your very eyes. How when the farm vehicle goes into the paddock they follow in the hope of dessert - a hay bale thrown to them to devour.

Having run a small group of cattle and some sheep on a previous farm, I am amazed at this herd’s docility. It is of course the breed. But there’s always the underground suspicion that their behaviour is influenced by their owner’s care for them.  What happens when it is time for Mark to go to market is not one I care to explore.

When we wanted the sheep in years ago it was simple, we let BJ out. BJ was named after BJ Honneycut in MASH and was a clinically surgical Border Collie sheep herder. I am a totally untrained animal custodian and this was the easy way out. No relationship with the sheep. Just let the dog loose. And the result was, when you got them into the enclosed paddock of shearing shed, they were hard work. No trust between animal and human. Quite the opposite. “You set the dog on me,” was in every pair of eyes.

And in the Australian psyche, that’s how sheep are treated. (This is not animal liberationist rant by the way.) It is no wonder then when Christians recount that their founder claimed to be “the good shepherd” that there is a lingering Aussie back-of-mind that in the great death round-up what he is going to do is to set the dogs loose. We poor human herd will be barked and bitten into place full of fear and mistrust.

Yet if you wander the countryside that Jesus wandered, today even still the shepherds operate their flocks with no fences, no dogs and only their voices calling each of the sheep by name. There is in this environment one of trust, mutual respect and comfort in the protection and leadership of the shepherd. The 23rd Psalm in the Jewish sacred writings, which we often use at a funeral, is unfortunately used in the old English translation, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” You certainly would not if he is like me and BJ.

Curiously, it really means I shall not want for anything. His care is total. He knows me by name. By who I am. That is why I rejoice in his shepherding of green pastures, in getting things right, in his guidance in the valley of deep shadows. We have, in our mass-production world reduced both animals and ourselves into images of being adversaries of each other and in doing so are totally ill equipped to understand ancient messages and metaphors which can reach deep into our souls and bring strength, comfort and security.

To read Geoff’s previous blogs, click here

Drew’s News - Second chances

When the subject of how many chances someone gets comes up, I always think of a second chance as something you are lucky to receive, so when I think of Robert Downey Jr, I think of someone who is extraordinarily lucky in life.

Having seen Ironman the movie, over the weekend and watching a captivating performance from Robert Downey Jr, it made me think how this talent had gone to waste in previous years, and how such past mistakes stick with you for the rest of your life.

Everyone in their lifetime becomes addicted to something, some which cause more pain than others, while others bring more joy. This addiction can be seen in many forms. A substance such as a drug, the addiction of gambling, or completely the opposite side of the spectrum, the addiction of a football team, online gaming, cleaning and two of the largest, food and work.

To overcome an addiction is one of the hardest things someone can ever achieve, and to earn themselves another chance to repay those people in their lives, who believed in them, helped them and supported them through that stage.

May we all have the strength to overcome our addictions!

”A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”
- Walter Winchell

David’s Blog - Airlines on the airways

Have you noticed how much media space the airlines have been attracting of late? Why, they’ve almost ousted sport and politics from the front page. And, not a lot of it is positive news. There are late flights, cancelled flights, fuel surcharges and discontinued services. Long before the spike in fuel prices, which is blamed by the carriers for most of these maladies, we had grown accustomed to spending inordinate lengths of time hanging around airport terminals. Summoned by the airlines to check-in for “domestic”, at least one hour before the scheduled departure time, and for “international” a whopping two hours, the pressure was on, and not just for the hopeful travellers. There’s the “domino effect” on nearest and dearest, the family or friends who’ve volunteered (or been conscripted) to ferry optimistic souls to the airport. Pressure also builds when your driver is confronted, at any major terminal with the dubious choice of merely slowing as he passes “departures” to allow passengers and their baggage to “eject”, or fighting for a space in the increasingly congested “short-term” car parks. And, by the way, literally, have you ever pondered what will happen when the “long-term” car paddocks collide with the ever-spreading urban-interface?

Now contrast all of this tension and drama with the joys of rail travel. Those fortunate enough to have experienced the fast, clean, efficient railways of Europe, or the resurgent long distance Australian trains, will appreciate the stress-free pleasure of departing and arriving actually in the centre of the city, town or village. There are few, if any hassles with baggage, the size and weight appear to be of little interest to the rail operator. Frequently, tickets can be purchased at the station or even on the train. When last could you do that at the airline counter? There’s little or no security so you don’t find yourself undressing in front of hordes of strangers or having the most private recesses of your personal effects displayed to all and sundry.

But, above all, (‘scuse the pun) by remaining on terra firma you can actually see stuff. And, whilst the confines of economy are a great deal more spacious than cattleclass, three-abreast, experiencing a close affinity with, and sympathy for, battery hens, should you wish to stretch your legs, though there’s little risk of DVT, you’re free to do so. In fact, go for a jog, to the lounge or dining car, or take a few photos to remind you of just how great rail journeys can be and to make those at home, jealous. Or, run off a few prints of your favourite images and, when next the PA announces yet another delay to your flight due to the “late arrival of the aircraft” or “mechanical problems” or, even, “wind”, you can gaze wistfully at these cherished pix and recall happier travels!!