01 November VOL 07 Issue 25

We're here to help

Welcome to the 01 November @boutSeniors enewsletter.

Seek and ye shall find is the biblical advice and @boutSeniors website visitors certainly like to seek answers to their questions on health, wellbeing, finance, travel, Centrelink entitlements, technology and much more.

The good news is that we love answering your questions. This issue we are highlighting a range of recent Q&A across a variety of topics of interest to 50+ Australians. Read below for our answers.

Our fortnightly polls often ask you a question – to enable us to keep our fingers on the pulse of the type of information and resources of interest to our enews subscribers and website visitors. This week we are offering the opportunity for subscribers to win one of four DVDs of the classic BBC comedy, ‘Allo ‘Allo. We're also happy to offer you 10 double passes to the new British comedy reviewed in Movie junction below, Death at a funeral. Click here to win.

While questions of a spiritual nature often have no firm answer, they can create wonderful discussions. @boutSeniors resident blogger, Geoff Holt, asks the big questions – this week he is seeking the answer to death and taxes.

Our free personals section is also jammed with questions – mainly subscribers wishing to meet other likeminded men and women – but also those who wish to buy or sell or trade items, so visit the personals page now to see what's going on.

Our classified adverts are also a rich source of discounts and deals – and work, with a call for part-time ‘Nannies' and ‘Nanas' (what about ‘Pas'?) to care for children in Perth. This is paid work, with flexible hours and may just provide some extra income for our Perth subscribers.

Lastly, you may have noticed there is a federal election on – and a politician will be coming to a seat near you, soon. First contenders to remember older Australians are the Liberal-National Coalition with a mixed bag of handouts. Are you likely to be a recipient? This week we dissect the detail in the promises… and Kaye's Blog says no matter who promises what, pensioners shouldn't have to live in poverty.

Keep enquiring
David and Kaye Fallick

Government news

Kevin's rego rebate
Q. A friend informed me last night that he thought NSW Seniors Card holders were entitled to a rebate on their car registration and drivers licence. Is this actually the case and am I entitled to a refund for the past two years?

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Taking care of the pennies

Sue's early super payout?
Q. I am a 56-year-old lady who has worked in nursing positions for about 40 years. Early this year, I developed short-term memory loss. If I resign from my nursing position, will I be able to collect my Q Super?

Godfrey 's deeming rates
Q. As far as the Aged Pension goes, do the deeming rates apply to financial investments even when those investments are non-income producing?

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Women's super gap
ClearView Retirement Solutions is urging women over the age of 55 to look at ways to bridge the retirement savings gap through the use of pre-retirement pensions. Find out more

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A fixed-return, fixed-term investment
Perpetual is now offering a brand new return on our Term Fund (returns current as at 14 September) – a high seven per cent per annum for a nine-month term (income paid on maturity).

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Volunteering

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Get involved
Do you have Menopause and suffer hot flushes? If so, you may be eligible to participate in an international study investigating the treatment of hot flushes.

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Technology

Ivan's internet concession
Q. Are there any Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that offer seniors a concession on the price of an internet connection?

Anne's password pop-up
Q. I am really enjoying your comprehensive website, but I have a query. When I answered a personal ad, I got a pop-up request for my Bigpond password. Is this valid?

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Money & legal

Simon is making a will
Q. We are both getting on in age and are contemplating preparing a will. We have the plans in mind but need to put it into a proper and legal documentation. Could you advise us on the procedure and cost of the will preparation?

Carolyn's concern for her mother
Q. Our 92-year-old mother, who has Macular Degeneration, lives alone on her 50 acres and has been stripped of her life savings by a conman doing a botched asphalting job. What can we do?

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Wellbeing

Elizabeth's pensioner dental scheme
Q. Do you know anything about a new dental scheme/plan for pensioners? I really would like some information about this if you know about it. I believe this new dental scheme will commence 1 November 2007.

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Enjoy a cuppa?
Tea is the second-most popular beverage worldwide to water. But are you aware of the health benefits of your cup of tea?

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Hear well
The ion™ 200 sits discreetly behind the ear and enables air to flow naturally into the ear canal. So, not only will no one know they're there, they won't give you a blocked-ear feeling so common with other hearing-aid styles.

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Getting out there

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?

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TV you can afford
22 premium channels, including 350 movies a month for just $29.95 a month! SelecTV, Australia's newest satellite Pay TV service, provides everyone with a great mix of TV channels.

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November is Thai Select month
Enjoy a 15 per cent discount off your food bill during November at any Thai Select restaurant, when you present your Thai Select card. Dine twice and you can enter a competition to win a fabulous ‘foodie' holiday for two in Thailand.

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For a good cause

Sponsor a cow
It's not cheap to feed a cow – one hay-only fed cow costs a minimum of $1200 a year. You can now help struggling dairy farmers through becoming a sponsor.

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Travel express

Patricia's visitor concessions
Q. We are 61-years-old and will be travelling to Australia for five months holiday, visiting relatives in Australia from January 2008. What we are wondering is: do they allow travellers like us to get senior citizen discounts, like we do in the UK, and if the answer is yes, what 'proof' of age would we have to show – a passport?

Sheila's UK pension news
Sheila has written in to inform the @boutSeniors online community that if they are British and returning there from Australia for a visit they can receive a full pension whilst in Britain.

Deanna's Italy tours
Q. I am wondering if you have a list of tour operators who conduct 'guided, escorted' Tours in Italy. In Kaye Fallick's book, Get A New Life, one of the participants mentioned they started a travel company in 1998 doing small, independent tours in Italy under the company Valentine Tours. When searching the web, however, this company doesn't exist.

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Eastern Canada with Creative
Discover eastern Canada with Creative Holidays. Take an unforgettable journey incorporating Prince Edward Island, the setting of Anne of Green Gables, the rugged coastlines and fishing villages of Nova Scotia, a VIA Rail train trip, plus much more.

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Thai airlines on sale
Thai's European 'Early Escape' fares for 2008 are now on sale! Economy class fares from $1319 per person plus taxes to a choice of 12 on-line cities in the UK and Europe.

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Train travel for less
Concession fares on The Ghan have been reduced, thanks to the generous support of the Australian Government, which is now funding travel for concession cardholders all the way to the Top End.

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Affordable New Zealand
New Zealand – fly from just $99 each way (plus air taxes)
Valid on all FreeSpirit Touring of 10 days or more, ex SYD/MEL/BNE, subject to availability, enquire for other ports, book by 30 November 2007. FreeSpirit Touring combines the best of small-group touring, with the freedom and choice of independent travel.

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Travel deals

Other great deals in our Holiday ideas section...

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Bookshelf online

This week we highlight some useful Centrelink publications which can help you navigate their services and deal with some of the trickier issues around ageing.

Guide to concessions
This Centrelink booklet clearly explains what concessions are available and helps you understand how to and whether you qualify. You'll find information on the Pensioner Concession Card, the Health Care Card (includes the low income health care card) and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, as well as exactly what concessions you'll get with what card. Download and save the Guide to Centrelink concession cards now

 Planning retirement
 You'll find much useful information in the Centrelink publication entitled, Are you planning for or needing help in retirement? It includes sections on the pension bonus scheme, grandparents who care for their grandchildren and much more.

When someone dies
 We don't like to think about it but, should you ever be confronted with such an situation, it's important to have some idea of your entitlements and responsibilities.

These titles and many more can be purchased in the @boutSeniors online discount bookstore. Go there now

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Movie junction

Uproarious undertakers
Keeping a stiff upper lip is what the British do best, even at the funeral of a loved one. Throw into the mix a blackmailing dwarf, unrequited lust, family rivalry, hallucinogenic drugs and incompetent undertakers and the scene is set for a laugh-a-minute farce. Death at a funeral will have you cringing at the unravelling of a genteel British family.

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Comfort food

Authentic Thai dish
 Thanks to Chef Kritsada Pruitthanplahul of Ying Thai 2 in Melbourne for this recipe for Pad Kaphrao – stir fry mince chicken with chilli and Thai basil.


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Here to help

And don't forget the staff at @boutSeniors are here to help with all your queries, whatever the topic, on help@aboutseniors.com.au

To subscribe to the free fortnightly @boutSeniors enewsletter, put your email address into the subscribe here box on the left hand side of our homepage. Go there now.

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